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Dallas, Oregon 97338
Phone/FAX 503.831.4703
Web site Address
Happy Holidays from Amalie Robert Estate!
As the burden of holiday entertaining falls squarely on our collective shoulders, we offer two comfort culinary selections and a wine offer. First, you will find squash stuffed whole wheat pasta and fennel with Alfredo sauce. This selection was designed by Ernie to match with our stainless steel fermented white wines, especially the Viognier. (Don’t forget the capers!) Stuffed Pasta and Fennel with Alfredo Sauce The second selection is a year round staple, but especially rewarding during the holiday season. This is Ernie’s Roast Duck Recipe that you can pair with Pinot Meunier, but we usually find Pinot Noir to be the perfect foil. Whole Roast Duck and Pinot Noir Our 2006 Dijon Clones Pinot Noir and 2006 Syrah are on offer through the end of the year. Current Releases In light of what might be some extra time on your hands, Ernie has put together a few thoughts he would like to share regarding the 5th of the month. Kindest Regards, Dena & Ernie
The 5th of the month The 5th of the month has more significance than Ernie was previously aware. A thirst for knowledge and a little research has greatly expanded his appreciation for the 5th of the month. January through March is a write-off. We are just too busy working to be bothered. However for some, the 5th of the month is payday. April 5th is a day we wake up and realize the government is about to get more of our money than ever before. However, we owe ourselves about $12 trillion, that’s just about $40,000 per person living in the United States. Hmmm, back to work. As you well know, the holiday Cinco De Mayo is a celebration on the 5th day of the 5th month. The purpose of which is to celebrate the victory by the Mexican Army over the French Army in the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862. Of course, and as always, there is more to the story. Here is a link with more details: http://clnet.ucla.edu/cinco.html We transition right to June 5th. This date is very significant to Ernie, as it is Dena’s birthday! As many of you know, Dena’s middle name is Amalie and is the palate behind Amalie’s Cuvée. July 5th is the day we would have declared our Independence, however as Americans, we just couldn’t wait. Somewhat like opening a gift, or maybe two, on Christmas Eve. August 5th brings little pink berries to the vines. Ernie likes this, a lot! September 5th is significant to all children and parents. It usually is about the time the children are going back to school. October 5th usually finds us in the middle of harvest. Due to the protracted nature of harvesting and fermenting Pinot Noir, Ernie has dubbed the 10th and 11th months “Octo-vember.” On December 5th we find ourselves at the end of the calendar. 2009 marks the 76th year of the repeal of the social experiment known as prohibition. On January 16th, 1919, the United States Congress passed the Volstead Act. The Volstead Act led to the 18th amendment to the Constitution of the United States. This marked the beginning of Prohibition. We wonder what Congress’s approval rating was that year. This is an excerpt of section 1 of the 18th amendment:
During the following 13 years, the people of the United States bore witness to the effects of prohibition. Further, they were able to compare the politicians’ promises and pontifications to the experiences in their daily lives - aka reality.
Winegrowers of the time were a hearty breed, they had to be. The manufacture, distribution and sale (including export offshore) of alcohol was illegal. If your livelihood depended on growing some 50 tons of grapes and selling the fermented juice, you were out of business (and so was your labor force), or so the politicians thought. Now, let us introduce the law of Supply and Demand (Note: Much like gravity this is a law not subject to political presure.) Despite a small minority trying to legislate morality on the entire citizenry, the American public sought to exercise their rights as citizens living in a free country. After all, that’s why they were here. It turns out that many people had unexplained illnesses during those 13 years. In visiting their family physicians, it seemed the most cost effective treatment was the prescription of alcohol, wine in most cases, for medicinal purposes. Thankfully, there was not a government run healthcare system at the time to prevent such low cost and effective treatment. It would have been illegal! Even today the debate continues over the health benefits of alcohol, red wine in particular and Pinot Noir specifically, for the high content of Resveratrol. If only the climate debate were this simple – we can’t even learn all the facts to decide. To learn more about Resveratrol follow this link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Resveratrol We now come to the presidential election of 1932. FDR, as he was known, achieved many things. The most wide sweeping change affected nearly everyone in the United States and for generations to come, including several of our foreign trading partners. Recall, the importation of Canadian, Irish and Scotch whisky was also illegal. As an aside, Ernie’s time in Ireland taught him that the Scot’s never acknowledged prohibition and kept the pipeline open. On December 5th, 1933 the 21st amendment was ratified by the United States Congress. In what may be the most effective and efficient legislation known to this great country, here is Section 1 in its entirety:
As you enjoy the holiday season, please take a moment to reflect on your constitutional right to keep and bear spirits, especially Pinot Noir!
Please enjoy our wines with friends, food and in moderation. |
As
the season turns to friends and family, we would like to extend our warmest
wishes for a very Merry Christmas and a fruitful New Year. We also welcome
new members to the Amalie Robert community.
