Grosse Lage

A term used by members of the VDP in Germany to indicate a vineyard that is of the highest quality. The term roughly corresponds to the Burgundian term Grand Cru. The term Grosse Lage will appear on the neck label. See VDP.

The Japanese rice cracker known as jibachi senbei contains what ingredient?

A. Sea urchins

B. Wasps

C. Pickled radishes

D. Ants

Jibachi senbei, or digger wasp rice crackers, contain an insect called digger wasps. Hunters set traps for the wasps in the forests surrounding Omachi, a town about 120 miles from Tokyo where these crackers were invented, specifically to make jibachi senbei. After being boiled and dried, the wasps are added to the rice cracker mix. According to Gastro Obscura, the snack was invented by a wasp fan club (who knew?) and a cracker-baker. It’s now a favorite among the elderly population (Omachi’s youth aren’t so keen). A reviewer claims the crackers taste slightly sweet and savory, with the wasps coming across “like burnt raisins.” A wine to pair? Hmmm. Port to mirror the sweet/savoriness or Champagne to amplify the crunch?

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Number of new Masters of Wine recently announced. There are now 419 MWs globally— 268 men and 151 women, working in 31 countries. Since the first exam in 1953, 496 people have become MWs. The… Continue reading

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