3

Day in August when the 2020 grape harvest officially began in the Napa Valley. Sparkling wine producers are typically the first to pick since high acidity and low sugar levels in the grapes are desirable for making sparkling wine. Mumm Napa and Schramsberg were the first two wineries to begin picking. In years past, this day was marked by large boisterous festivities. This year, celebrations were more muted.

What do the following numbers have in common: 19, 29, 33, 74?

A. They were all legendary years in the 20th century when vintage Port was made

B. They were the capacities, in milliliters, of original wine bottles from the 18th century

C. They are the leading cabernet clones used in the First and Second Growth vineyards of Bordeaux

D. They are the route or highway numbers associated with some of the world's famous wine regions

They are the route or highway numbers associated with some of the world’s famous wine regions. B19 (aka Barossa Valley Way) is the main road linking most of the major towns of the Barossa Valley in South Australia. 29 is the highway running north to south through the Napa Valley in California. A33 is a key highway connecting the two wine regions Asti and Alba in the Langhe area of Piedmont. And the wine road N74 (also called the Route des Grands Crus) is the main route in Burgundy’s Côte d’Or.

Wine comes in at the mouth
And love comes in at the eye;
That’s all we shall know for truth
Before we grow old and die.
I lift the glass to my mouth,
I look at you, and I sigh.

—”A Drinking Song” by William Butler Yeats (1865-1939)

3

Get WineSpeed