| All of us, no matter how skeptical we claim | | | | would hold. |
| to be, have been impacted by Folklore at some | | | | |
| point in our lives. From those of us who | | | | |
| refuse to utter the words "Bloody Mary" in | | | | |
| front of a bathroom mirror because we believe | | | | Red Bearded Emperor |
| an Urban Legend, to those of us who still | | | | |
| peer out a snow covered window on Christmas | | | | We all know that red wine can stain. But, |
| Eve in hopes of seeing eight tiny reindeer, | | | | what we might not know is that its ability to |
| Folklore is a part of our lives. And, what's | | | | stain ultimately led to the offspring of |
| more, Folklore seems to have had a hand in | | | | white wine in Burgundy. According to |
| every aspect of our culture, with its clever | | | | Burgundy legend, an Emperor by the name of |
| fingers grabbing onto our customs and | | | | Charlemagne was an avid red wine drinker for |
| traditions and adding a new spin. | | | | the majority of his life. However, the more |
| | | | red wine he drank the more red wine would |
| | | | fall into his beard, leaving his naturally |
| | | | white beard, well, burgundy. He felt that the |
| Not immune to Folklore is wine. Wine, having | | | | look wasn't one an Emperor should possess and |
| existed throughout the travels of time, comes | | | | so he began to switch to white wine, |
| with its own legends and its own stories. | | | | demanding a portion of the vineyards of |
| Whether or not the tales are true, we will | | | | Corton Hill be replanted with white grapes. |
| probably never know. But, chances are, they | | | | This, ultimately, is how Corton-Charlemagne |
| are based on some truth. And, chances are | | | | found its way into the world of wine. |
| even greater, the stories will become more | | | | |
| believable with each glass of wine consumed. | | | | |
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| | | | German Superstitions |
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| So, pour yourself a drink and enjoy some | | | | Germany, a nation known for fine wines, also |
| wine lore. It's Folklore that's had a few. | | | | possesses fine wine superstitions, believing |
| | | | certain things can cause havoc on their |
| | | | vineyards and wineries. In a town called |
| | | | Varnhalt, located near the historical state |
| Women Invented Wine | | | | of Baden in southwest Germany, a tradition |
| | | | that has been carried down by generations of |
| The male species is credited with the | | | | wine makers perpetuates the belief that the |
| invention of both the wheel and fire, and we | | | | last grape harvest of the growing season must |
| can probably attribute farting and belching | | | | be brought home in a cart pulled by an ox. If |
| to them as well. Thus, it seems only fair | | | | it is brought home in any other manner, the |
| that, in lore, women would be credited for a | | | | grape harvest will be filled with sour |
| great invention, the invention of wine. | | | | grapes, producing undrinkable wine. |
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| As Persian legend goes, wine was invented | | | | In addition, the Germans also believe that |
| when a woman, plagued by a headache, drank | | | | when someone dies, the wine in the cellar |
| fermented juice from a jar used for grape | | | | must be shaken nearly immediately. If it's |
| storage. After consumption, she became | | | | not shaken, the wine stored will all turn |
| relaxed and at ease, eventually falling | | | | sour. |
| asleep and waking up cured. | | | | |
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| | | | When in Rome, Don't Spill Wine |
| However, it is believed in Greek Mythology | | | | |
| that wine was invented by Dionysus, | | | | Everyone has always lived by the notion that |
| appropriately named the God of Wine, | | | | there's no use crying over spilled milk. |
| Intoxication, and Fertility (the coupling of | | | | Spilled wine, on the other hand, is another |
| Intoxication and Fertility can probably | | | | story. The Romans possessed a belief that |
| explain the Greek's booming population). As | | | | spilling wine inadvertently was an omen of |
| was commonly accepted, he invented wine on | | | | disaster, as ominous as crossing paths with a |
| Mount Nyssa and soon began to cultivate | | | | black cat or having a snake fall from the |
| grapes around the world. | | | | roof into a yard. When wine fell to the |
| | | | ground or on a table, bad things - a storm, a |
| | | | plague, a betrayal by Brutus - were bound to |
| | | | be imminent. |
| While the Persians and Greeks disagree on | | | | |
| who invented wine, chances are they both | | | | |
| breathe a sigh of relief at the fact that at | | | | |
| least it was invented by someone. | | | | In fact, this is a belief that many people |
| | | | generally possess. Perhaps it's because there |
| | | | is some validity to it or perhaps it's |
| | | | because spilling wine is wasting wine, and |
| Abreast of Invention: The Wine Glass | | | | therefore bad luck in itself. |
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| Typically, we probably don't concern | | | | |
| ourselves with the history of the wine glass, | | | | |
| being more focused on what's inside. But, | | | | However, spilling wine, when done on |
| according to legend, the invention of the | | | | purpose, is believed to bring luck. The |
| wine glass was a bit more unique than the | | | | breaking of a wine filled glass is typically |
| typical run-of-the-mill appearance at the US | | | | thought of as a good omen when performed at |
| Patent Office. | | | | marriages. A token for a happy life, this act |
| | | | will lead to unyielding love and affection. |
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| Dating back to Greek Mythology, it is | | | | |
| rumored that the first wine glass was molded | | | | Wine lore is undoubtedly a part of our |
| from the breast of Helen of Troy. Because the | | | | culture. Because wine is essential to |
| Greeks believed that there was something very | | | | history, it's only natural that legends, |
| sensual in the essence of wine, they wanted | | | | stories, and superstitions come with it, |
| the glass that held it molded from the breast | | | | packaged in the bottle of every vintage. |
| of their culture's most beautiful woman. | | | | Because wine is so magical, having its lore |
| | | | in our lives has the potential to replace |
| | | | other types of Folklore: who needs a Bloody |
| | | | Mary when you can have a glass of |
| However, in what may have been one of | | | | wine?Jennifer Jordan is the senior editor at |
| history's first cat fights, Marie Antoinette, | | | | With a vast knowledge of wine etiquette, she |
| centuries later, decided she would create a | | | | writes articles on everything from how to |
| new glass, molded from her own breasts. But, | | | | hold a glass of wine to how to hold your hair |
| because Marie Antoinette was better endowed | | | | back after too many glasses. Ultimately, she |
| than Helen of Troy, the wine glass went from | | | | writes her articles with the intention that |
| the equivalent of an A-cup to a D-cup, | | | | readers will remember wine is fun and each |
| changing the shape of the glass entirely and, | | | | glass of anything fun should always be |
| ultimately, changing how much wine a glass | | | | savored. |