Making Wine

Traveling to Hawaii on nonstop flights is about to get a whole lot easier.

What’s more, considering that COVID-19 restrictions are easing, there is a great deal of pent-up demand for travel, and the school year is nearing an end, the timing of the announcement from Southwest Airlines about its expanded service to Hawaii comes as welcome news to anyone planning a tropical vacation.

Here’s why: Southwest just announced it will begin nonstop service to Hawaii from Los Angeles, Las Vegas, and Phoenix. When combined with the service it already offers to Hawaii from five other airports in California, the announcement means travelers from more than 40 cities in the continental U.S. will now have same-plane or connecting access to Hawaii, Southwest announced.

“These new flights bring Hawaii service closer to more of our customers who live near airports across the west, and make it possible to choose Southwest to fly between the Aloha State and cities as far east as Nashville, without spending an entire overnight in the air,” Andrew Watterson, chief commercial officer and executive vice president for Southwest Airlines, said in a statement.

Los Angeles

Southwest already offers nonstop flights to Hawaii from five cities in California: San Diego, Long Beach, Oakland, San Jose, and Sacramento. Adding Los Angeles service means Southwest now serves four airports in Hawaii directly from six gateway airports in California, Watterson explains.

Southwest will begin nonstop flights from Los Angeles to Honolulu, Oahu, and Kahului, Maui, on June 6. Nonstop flights from Los Angeles to Kona, Island of Hawaii, and Lihue, Kauai, will begin later — on June 27.

Las Vegas

Watterson says the largest request the airline has had from people in Hawaii — after beginning interisland flights in 2019 — was to connect Hawaii with Las Vegas via nonstop flights. This new service meets that demand, he says.

Daily nonstop service to Honolulu, Oahu, from Las Vegas will begin June 6, followed by nonstop service to Kahului, Maui, on June 27. Next up: nonstop flights from Las Vegas to Kona, Island of Hawaii, and Lihue, Kauai, beginning in September.

Phoenix

Southwest’s Phoenix operations have grown to serve nearly 60 cities with more than 180 nonstop departures a day, Watterson says. Adding nonstop service to Hawaiian islands from Phoenix has been another long-time request from travelers because it makes their journeys simpler, he explains.

The nonstop flights from Phoenix to Honolulu, Oahu, and Kahului, Maui, will begin June 27. After that, nonstop flights from Phoenix to Kona, Island of Hawaii, and Lihue, Kauai, are scheduled to begin September 7.

Know Before You Go

Hawaii is open to travelers. However, the state is still relying on its Safe Travels pre-travel testing program — even for fully vaccinated passengers — to minimize the spread of COVID-19. Travelers who wish to avoid a mandatory 10-day quarantine upon arrival in Hawaii must have negative COVID-19 test results and enter them into the system before leaving for Hawaii. For full guidance on how the process works, be sure to check here. And once you understand testing program requirements, get inspired by all our Hawaii content here.

If you lost part of your thumb, do you think it would grow back? Michael Levin, a developmental biologist at Tufts University, writes, “Regeneration is not just for so-called lower animals. You may or may not know that human children below 11-years-old can regenerate their fingertips.” I’m way more than 11-years-old, but last year I got to test this theory.

It happened the day three cows died because, I believe, of a change in feed. That morning husband Bruce and I delivered a bale of hay and a tub of mashed berries leftover from making wine (also known as “must”). Three of the dominant cows, Missy, Kelsie, and Penny, got to the fruit ahead of the others, binge eating on the delicious, fermented berries. A cow’s digestive system is designed to digest hay, grass, and moderate amounts of fruit. Too much fruit and bloat is the result; gas builds up and cannot escape. Those three over-ate and became victims of bloat. I found Missy and Kelsie dead in the field and a third, Penny, struggling for her life.

The veterinarian administered medicine via a tube down Penny’s throat to relieve her bloat. Penny was somewhat better after the vet left but could not get up; her stomach still distended. A dairy farmer, who has seen this condition with his milking cows, suggested that I put a hose down the cow’s throat into her stomach to help relieve the pressure.

Cows only have one set of top teeth in front but have a complete set of back teeth — uppers and lowers. I reached into Penny’s mouth to position the hose, and my thumb slipped between her back teeth just as she chomped down. “Ouch!” I extracted my hand and stumbled away, dizzy with pain. The end of my right thumb was gone — thumbnail and all.

The Emergency Room doctor gave me a pain killer, then numbed and bandaged my thumb. She also suggested I see a hand specialist. The specialist’s advice was simple: wait. He said, “Keep your thumb clean and wait.” He was right.

I’m more than five times older than the 11-year-old whom Levin mentioned in the New Yorker article, but still, my thumb re-grew. It’s a little crooked and not as sensitive to touch as my left thumb, but it’s there, complete with a thumbnail. I don’t know how my body’s programming knew to recreate the end of my thumb, but it did. In that same article, Levin asks, “Why couldn’t human-growth programs be activated for other body parts — severed limbs, failed organs, even brain tissue damaged by stroke?” I wonder.

That wasn’t my only trip to the ER for a cow-related injury, and there will probably be more. I made it through, but unfortunately, after a brave fight, Penny died later that night.

Some lessons are expensive and not broadly illuminating. Here are my takeaways:

1. Feed your cows fruit in moderation.

2. Keep your hands out of the back of a cow’s mouth.

3. If you ignore lessons 1 and 2 and lose part of your thumb, it should come back.

•••

Carole Soule is co-owner of Miles Smith Farm, in Loudon, N.H., where she raises and sells beef, pork, lamb, eggs and other local products.

She may not give off country vibes in the slightest, but that’s exactly where Pink has decided to raise her two children with husband Carey Hart. More specifically, the “Beautiful Trauma” singer lives on a sprawling property with a literal vineyard. Let’s take a deep dive into her gorgeous ranch.

Where does Pink live now?

Pink and her family now live on a 200-acre ranch in the Santa Ynez valley, which is located in Santa Barbara County, Calif.; they purchased it for $12 million in 2013. The sprawling property featured a variety of already-planted grapes when they moved in, including: Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache Blanc, Grenache Noir, Cab Franc, Petit Verdot, and Malbec.

Source: Instagram

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Since living on the ranch, Pink, Carey, and her team have enhanced the property in a number of ways. They’ve planted 7 additional acres of vines, built a small winery, and purchased an adjacent estate, where they planned to plan even more vines in the future.

“All in all, this is the best that this property has looked since we got here,” Pink told the Santa Barbara Independent in 2018. “We’ve put a lot of heart and soul into this place.”

Source: Instagram

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Pink and Carey even run a winery called Two Wolves right from their home.

“After years and years of fantasizing and making terrible carboys of wine in my closets, we took our baby girl and left the city, and plunked ourselves down on an organic vineyard in Santa Barbara County,” Pink explains on the business’ website. “I immediately signed us up for classes at Allan Hancock College, and we started making wine in the garage.”

If you want to get a feel for what the outside property of Pink’s ranch is like, all you have to do is watch the music video for “Cover Me in Sunshine,” which features vocals of her daughter Willow. That’s because the video was filmed on the family’s property in the Santa Ynez valley.

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Source: Pink/YouTube

Meanwhile, the inside of Pink’s home features vibrant colors, aka it “looks like Dr Suess threw up,” as she told the Independent. You can get a better idea of the “Dr. Suess” colors she’s talking about in the video, below.

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Source: Instagram

Here’s another look at the inside of Pink’s home. Seriously, though — doesn’t it look like such a fun, cheery place to grow up. (We’re super jealous of Willow and Jameson.)

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Source: Instagram

Before moving to her ranch in Santa Ynez, Pink sold her mansion in Point Dume, Malibu, for $12.5 million. And before that, Pink and Carey lived in a much smaller Venice Beach bungalow by the ocean, which reportedly sold for $1.25 million.

These days, though, Pink appears to be living her best life in her Santa Barbara County home. Between tending to her vineyard, making wine, harvesting vegetables, and still finding time to make music and be a rockstar mama, she’s definitely kept busy. And it seems like she’s exactly where she wants to be.

Across the country, purchase rates of second homes and vacation rental homes continue to soar. Owning a beach house is a dream for many, but when it comes to actually finding one, the process can seem a little overwhelming. 

In order to help prospective buyers, Vacasa recently published its 2021 study on the best places to buy a beach house. By studying both home sales data and vacation rental performance data, the rental management company was able to rank its top 10 locations for a beautiful beach house in the United States.

10. Bolivar Peninsula, Texas

When thinking about beaches in the U.S., most people’s first image is not of Texas. However, this 27-mile stretch of land in the upper Texas Gulf Coast is about as beautiful as it gets. The area is made up of the self-described “laid back communities” of Crystal Beach, Gilchrist, High Island, and Port Bolivar. The area is unique in that it has no big chain stores, instead operating on local, family-owned businesses. Swimming, fishing, golfing, barbecuing, dining out — everything you’d want from a beach house is always right around the corner.

Bolivar Peninsula homes have a median home sale price of $299,354 and an average cap rate of 5.6 percent.

9. South Kohala, Hawaii

South Kohala is known as one of Hawaii’s most sought-after destinations. It sits on the Big Island in the middle of Hawaii’s ranching scene, meaning the landscape is filled with green, rolling hills, and locals are treated to a weekly farmers’ market. South Kohala is made up of Puako, Waikoloa Village, and Waimea, as well as unincorporated Kawaihae and Kawaihae Harbor. With some of the best dining in Hawaii and a sun that shines 350 days a year, South Kohala makes a dream destination for a beach house.

South Kohala homes have a median home sale price of $639,908 and an average cap rate of 5.6 percent.

8. Wailea, Hawaii

Located in South Maui, Wailea is most known for its five gorgeous, crescent-shaped beaches and its incredible golf courses. Wailea Beach was once named America’s Best Beach, and Polo Beach offers incredible snorkeling opportunities. World-class restaurants and shops line the streets, and the Ahihi-Kinau Natural Area Reserve and La Perouse Bay are only miles away. With an abundance of opportunities for golfing, hiking, swimming, snorkeling, and watching a sunset on the beach, it’s hard to compete with the beauty of Wailea.

Wailea homes have a median home sale price of $885,086 and an average cap rate of 5.6 percent.

7. Isle of Palms, South Carolina

Located just 18 miles from Charleston, Isle of Palms boasts a six-mile stretch of serene, white sandy beaches. Local boating opportunities are unmatched, as the shore fills with kayaks, canoes, sailboats, fishing boats, and even luxury harbor cruises. This coastal town always features intermingling tourists and residents, all taking in the golf, tennis, biking, beach volleyball, beachcombing, and live music. The area’s claim to fame, however, is its local population of turtles, who nest along the beaches.

Isle of Palms homes have a median home sale price of $708,920 and an average cap rate of 5.8 percent.

6. Kauai South, Hawaii

Add a third Hawaii location to the list. With the nearby beaches — Allerton and McBryde Gardens, Sprouting Horn, and Old Koloa Town — no one will ever be bored in Kauai South. The area has the expected charms of a Hawaiian coastal town, such as beautiful beaches and incredible sunsets as well as features entirely unique to the area. Old Koloa Town, a downtown area with stores, ice cream shops, and historical centers, is hundreds of years old. Meanwhile, the Sprouting Horn, a mini blowhole, is one of the most visited attractions on Kauai. This area combines unbelievable coastal beauty with a quaint, small-town charm.

Isle of Palms homes have a median home sale price of $593,554 and an average cap rate of 6.2 percent.

5. Corolla, North Carolina

The other Carolina shows up in the fifth spot, thanks to Corolla, a town bordering both the Atlantic Ocean and the Currituck Sound. Corolla has sandy beaches, luxury shopping centers, and fine dining. However, the town’s most unique pastime comes from its surrounding wildlife: wild horses. Personal treks and guided tours to see the wild Colonial Spanish Mustangs are one of the town’s most popular activities. Dine out for a world-class pizza, try out the water sport of your choice, or shop at a local bookstore — Corolla has it all.

Corolla homes have a median home sale price of $560,599 and an average cap rate of 6.9 percent.

4. New Buffalo, Michigan

Located just 70 miles from downtown Chicago, New Buffalo is a charming Lake Michigan beach town. With a lake so expansive, it’s easy for beachgoers to forget they aren’t walking along an actual ocean. Known as the “Gateway to Michigan,” New Buffalo sets a high bar for the rest of the state. The town features beautiful beaches, gorgeous parks, and landmark restaurants. An acclaimed wine region, the area is home to beautiful rolling vineyards and nearby tasting rooms. The charming town has something for everyone.

New Buffalo homes have a median home sale price of $319,306 and an average cap rate of 7.1 percent.

3. Dauphin Island, Alabama

Dauphin Island, known as the “sunset capital of Alabama,” sits south of Mobile Bay, accessible by its three-mile-long high-rise bridge. Surrounded by Gulf Coast waters, the area is overflowing with beautiful white sandy beaches. Dauphin Island Public Beach and Marina are popular destinations for taking in some Alabama sunshine, while Historic Fort Gaines, Dauphin Island Sea Lab, and the Audubon Bird Sanctuary offer educational and entertaining pastimes. The island has boat rentals, deep sea fishing, and outdoor sightseeing cruises, perfect for local adventurers and vacationers alike.

Dauphin Island homes have a median home sale price of $289,623 and an average cap rate of 7.8 percent.

2. Ocean Shores, Washington

The Pacific Northwest offers a beach experience unique from anything else on this list. The appeal of an Ocean Shores property is less about a desire for constant sunshine and much more about incredible property value, proximity to metro hubs, and unbeatable coastline views. The area offers just about every beach activity imaginable — biking, bird watching, fishing, golfing, horseback riding, and even kite flying. The streets are lined with casual eateries, luxury fine dining, and unbeatable ice cream shops. The area is near both Seattle and Portland, but feels fully detached from high-speed, metro lives.

Ocean Shores homes have a median home sale price of $250,255 and an average cap rate of 7.8 percent.

1. Cape Hatteras, North Carolina

Claiming the list’s top spot is Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, located on a bend on Hatteras Island. Cape Hatteras National Seashore, with more than 70 miles of gorgeous beach, is a dream Outer Banks beach house experience. Surrounded by both the Pamlico Sound and the Atlantic Ocean, the area is almost entirely made up of beaches and coastline. Known for the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse — the tallest brick lighthouse in the country — and fishing opportunities, the area has the perfect mix of tourists and residents, as well as beautiful shores, great dining, and endless activities.

Cape Hatteras homes have a median home sale price of $379,248 and an average cap rate of 8.6 percent.

                                                                                                             

Skook News Obituaries:  May 8th, 2021

Obituaries published from the Schuylkill County area.

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Edith Grace Gottschall, 80, of Minersville, died Sunday at The Gardens at York Terrace.

Born on November 28, 1940 in Pottsville, she was the daughter of the late Kenneth and Ruth Purdy Travitz. She was a 1958 graduate of Branch Township High School, and worked as a waitress at several area restaurants.

Her love for family was undeniable. She also enjoyed her garden and flowers, as well as the seasonal visits by hummingbirds to her yard.

She was preceded in death by her first husband, Edward Mennig, in 1999; two daughters, Michelle Mennig, in 1997, and Germaine “Geri” Mennig, in 2012.

Edith is survived by her husband of twenty years, Quentin “Ed” Gottschall; her remaining daughter, Judy Mennig, Minersville; five grandchildren, Brandon Yates, Brianne Panak, Richard Oswald, Kaylee Bender and Cole Rumpf; three great-grandchildren, with another expected. She is also survived by a brother, Kenneth Travitz (spouse, Linda), Houston, Texas; a niece; a nephew.

The family will accept visitors at Dutcavich Funeral Home, 200 Sunbury Street, Minersville on Friday, May 14, from 7:00 A.M. until the time of services at 8:30 A.M. Interment will be at Indiantown Gap National Cemetery, Annville.

Shirley R Troutman, age 86, of Klingerstown, passed away Friday, May 7, 2021, at her home surrounded by her family.

She was born on Thursday, July 26, 1934, in Lykens Twp, a daughter of the late Jay Laudenslager and the late Mary (Crawley) Laudenslager.

She was a 1951 graduate of the former Hegins Twp High School.

Shirley worked for area garment factories, the former Muskin Shoe Factory, Millersburg, and was also a sales clerk for Troutman Brothers Meats in Klingerstown and at the Crossroads Auction for fifty years.

She was a member of St. Michael’s Lutheran Church, Klingerstown.

She was also a member of the Herndon Senior Center.

Shirley enjoyed crocheting, tatting doilies, painting ceramics, bird watching, baking pies, playing bingo, going out eat, listening to classic country music, and filling her home with flowers. She loved shopping with her sister Joyce. She also loved making wine; a hobby that she passed on to her granddaughter Courtney. Her greatest joy in life was spending time with her grandchildren.

Her husband, Bryant A Troutman, to whom she was married for 59 years, passed away in 2012. She was also preceded in death by her parents; and by a brother, John Laudenslager.

She is survived by two daughters, Sharon G Shadle and her husband Thomas of Hegins, and Lori A Scott and her husband Robert of Hebe; six grandchildren, Joel Shadle and his wife Anjali of Jamison, Jesse Shadle and his wife Kirsten of Hegins, Blake Scott and his wife Keri of Dalmatia, Tristan Scott of Hebe, Courtney Scott of West Newbury, MA, and Cameron Scott of Hebe; seven great grandchildren; four sisters, Joyce Geist of Klingerstown, Sandra Huff of New Columbia, Nancy King of Elizabethville, and Susan Lucas of Joliet; a brother, David Laudenslager of Shickshinny; and many nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held at St. Michael’s Lutheran Church, Klingerstown, on Thursday, May 13, 2021, at 11:00 am, with Rev. Jonathan Jenkins officiating.

A viewing will be held from 10:00 am to 11:00 am on Thursday at the church.

Burial will be made at Zion Lutheran “Klinger’s” Cemetery, Erdman.

Buffington-Reed Funeral Home, Valley View, is in charge of arrangements.

Condolences can be left for the family at www.buffingtonreed.com.

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Hugs? Hugs?? When the clock strikes 12 on Sunday night – after a year of zero contact with friends & family – I want a game of Twister!

How much have I missed the human touch? Well, there have been times I’d have settled for a sleepy cuddle with Alex Salmond.

Careful, Tam.

Even though I’m the least politically-minded person on the planet (I genuinely delayed my 2014 summer holiday until September as I had NOTHING to say about the referendum on radio or in the paper) I received a complaint this week after cracking a joke on Off The Ball.

On the back of Dundee Utd boss Micky Mellon accusing Hibs of time-wasting in their Scottish Cup semi-final, I said: “The Hibs players have denied wasting time by pointing out that not one of them voted for Willie Rennie…”

Pretty tame stuff, eh? But I got an angry message on my Instagram page accusing me of “anti-Lib Dem” bias.

It was a joke!

And – no harm to Mr Rennie who seems a thoroughly nice chap – the punchline simply required the name of someone who stood no chance of winning last week’s election.

(So that’s a drink you owe me, Patrick Harvie.)

It was maybe even a wee nod to the opening question Charles Kennedy was asked on the C4 chat show Clive Anderson Talks Back: “So, Charles, the Liberal Democrats – what’s the point?”

Anyway, folks, I then received ANOTHER complaint for the following gag:

The famous black chair from Mastermind is being raffled to raise money for Children In Need. A thousand tickets have already been sold to Alex Salmond who says he’d LOVE to win a seat…

Again, just a daft joke. But that didn’t stop one fella sliding into my DMs to say: “Aye, I didn’t hear any wisecracks on the show about Nicola Sturgeon.”

You know why, mate? I’d already done them to her face in the canteen.

Yep, an hour before our programme started, me and Cosgrove were having our usual coffee when the First Minister – after doing The Andrew Marr Show live from BBC Scotland – stopped for a quick chat.

“Don’t tell us the Election result,” I pleaded. “I’ve recorded it.”

After that gentle ice-breaker, I tried my luck with a gag that’d been rattling about my head for weeks – and thanked her for all the free plugs when she admitted taking her eye “off the ball”…

I’m happy to report she laughed.

Wonder if I’d have got the same reaction after seeing Tory minister Michael Gove (also appearing on Andrew Marr) getting into a lift with two of his colleagues?

With the BBC operating a strict “one in, one out” Covid policy with the elevators, I was going to point to the signs and tell the BoJo’s wee pal: “Come on, mate, we can’t let the bodies pile up…”

PS. It’s also the return of the big screen on Monday and, to celebrate, a Showcase Cinema poll has revealed the Top Three movie moments of all-time.

1. ET’s “phone home”.

2. “You’re gonna need a bigger boat!” from Jaws.

3. Titanic’s “I’ll never let you go, Jack.”

Number one on my list? The closing credits of Spice World.

There’s two hours of my life I’ll never get back.

Meanwhile, an outdoor cinema has been approved for the Queen’s back garden at Sandringham.

Upcoming releases include Singing In The Reign, Corgi And Bess, The King And One and No Tax, Please, We’re British.

I can’t wait to visit the pun-believable Airdrie takeaway

Airdrie already boasts a child-friendly cafe called Weanz World and the ice-cream parlour Coney No Dae That.

But with restrictions relaxed, the place I REALLY want to visit – and it went viral this week – is the Italian takeaway located behind an Aldi supermarket.

It’s called – wait for it – Bacchialdi’s!

The German giant thinks this is “genius” and so do I. But it’s not my favourite Aldi story. During the festive season a few years ago, my pal Billy was driving his old mum to her local store when he explained Aldi was owned by two German brothers.

“So are you sure it’s open?” she asked. “They’ve maybe gone home for Christmas.”

Great news – UEFA have given permission for a “limited number of spectators” to attend the Scottish Cup Final at Hampden.

But that’s bad news for Aberdeen who offered to host the match and were looking forward to seeing the trophy at Pittodrie for the first time in 31 years…

Meanwhile, only one contender for Quote of the Week. After four St Johnstone players were ruled out of the cup semi-final against St Mirren due to Covid, defender Jamie McCart said: “It’ll bring us closer together.” Isn’t that what caused the problem in the first place…?

Bananas over hobbies

Favourite old hobbies like sewing and baking made a comeback in the UK during lockdown (I’m convinced I’m STILL the only person in the country who hasn’t made my own banana loaf).

Also on the list were making wine and learning magic tricks.

I combined the two and made lots and lots of wine disappear… Another one was origami which reminded me I received a letter this week advertising local origami classes.I still don’t know what to make of it.

PS. Coincidentally, the World Origami Championships are being televised live from China this weekend. It’s paper view.

Restrictions are turning us into idiots abroad

If travel broadens the mind, travel RESTRICTIONS must narrow it.

How else do you explain the geography dunces who contacted a US travel site to ask what language they speak in France and if New Zealand is a real place?

A lot of Americans also thought Africa was a country. D’oh! Everyone knows it’s a Lynx deodorant.

Line Of Duty was the most- watched TV series during the pandemic.

In fact, with the final episode pulling in a huge audience of 15.25 million, it’s officially the No1 telly drama of the 21st century.

Sure, the disappointing finale had its critics, but here’s my prediction: I still reckon it’ll be remembered for having a better ending than Katie Price’s EIGHTH engagement.

Then again, Katie says she’s definitely marrying Carl Woods and she can’t wait to be Katie Woods. So it could be the real deal as she knows this one’s surname.

Scotland’s biggest light festival – The Enchanted Forest at Pitlochry – has been cancelled. Is that due to Covid? Or, looking at the weather we’re currently “enjoying” was it solar- powered?

Suggestion: move it to the east end of Glasgow and FINALLY make some use of Celtic’s disco lights.

A lucky student from the West Midlands won £250,000 on a scratch card just before going on a first date with his new lockdown love.

The same thing happened to me years ago – I won £250k before a first date.

At least, that’s what I told her. And I have to say I had a cracking night…

She had the last laugh, though. Let’s just say a Lottery card wasn’t the only thing I scratched that week.

Bread and circuses

One of the posh papers posted a tweet this week announcing that Gwyneth Paltrow had gone “totally off the rails” during quarantine by (gasp) eating bread.

And they asked: what was your lowest point? Hats off to Trainspotting legend Irvine Welsh who replied: “Reading this f*****g p*sh.”

Brilliant. Listen, we ALL went off the rails with food and drink during lockdown, but don’t forget Gwyneth also launched a range of candles with the scent of her vagina. How many other people did that? I know I didn’t.

My congratulations to Brian Welsh and Sharon McKenna who got hitched on Saturday at the top of a Munro. As one of the guests said: “It’s all downhill from here…”

My fav funny photos of the week

Hands up if you won’t miss Scottish beer gardens?

A scary side-effect of the Covid vaccine?

As the tattoo parlours re-open, a reminder to speak very clearly…

Typical – first day out for a drink and someone else is wearing the same outfit.

Text jokes of the week

When the holiday ban is lifted, my wife wants me to take her to Las Vegas to see The Temptations. Instead, I’m taking her to Primark to get her four tops.

The beer gardens have made me realise why this month is called May. It may rain, it may snow, it may be six

An apple teaser for the Prof

Only one daft question this week for Professor Jason Leitch from the boys on my WhatsApp group: Is it true that an apple a day keeps the doctor away – or is that just one of granny’s myths…?

I’d love to hear his thoughts on this story.

According to reports, Death Row inmates in South Carolina may have to face the firing squad due to a lack of lethal injections.

Erm, so what happened to all the lethal jabs? I trust the Covid conspiracy theorists and anti-vaxxers will have a field day with that one!

I can’t let this story go without repeating the gag I included in my eulogy at Sydney Devine’s funeral.

Two guys facing the firing squad were allowed one last wish.

“I’d like to hear Steak ’n’ Kidney singing The Crystal Chandeliers,” said the first one.

And the second fella said: “Shoot me first.”

PS. No.1 on the list is always a cheeseburger, but if you ever find yourself on Death Row, folks, take your Uncle Tam’s advice and ask for an all-you- can-eat buffet. Then simply graze for the next 25 years…

That’s a houndful

Here’s the story of 2021 – a Rottweiler needed a life- saving operation after scoffing 30 PPE gloves.

Sadly, surgeons couldn’t save the 15 pair of hands that had been wearing them.

And finally…

More than a third of Big Issue vendors now use Covid- friendly contactless tech. That’s terrific.

Now all you miserable sods will have to come up with a NEW excuse.

This week on a bonus episode of the “VinePair Podcast,” hosts Adam Teeter and Zach Geballe are joined by winemakers Michel Gassier from Château de Nages and Franck-Lin Dalle from Château de Campuget. The four discuss Costières de Nîmes, an ancient wine region located in the southernmost part of the Rhône Valley. Listeners will learn about the region’s vast history and unique geography, and how the wines produced there are affected by both.

Costières de Nîmes is the only southern Rhône appellation where Syrah is the dominant red varietal. And though there are myriad wines produced in Costières de Nîmes, rosé reigns king. Dalle and Gassier explain how rosés from Costières de Nîmes are different from those coming out of Provence, as well as why the region has embraced Mediterranean culture.

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Or Check out the Conversation Here

Adam Teeter: From Brooklyn, N.Y., I’m Adam Teeter.

Zach Geballe: And in Seattle, Wash., I’m Zach Geballe.

A: And this is a bonus “VinePair Podcast.” You are getting a double dose this week. Congratulations, you lucky ducks.

Z: Two episodes, same great price.

A: It’s amazing, right? It’s not a “Next Round.” It’s a real podcast. We are talking about a cool wine region we’re excited about. Before we jump into that, what’s going on man?

Z: Oh, man. I have been so excited about being able to sit outside and drink because we’ve had some pretty good weather in Seattle. I feel like I spent all of 2020 after March and because of the weather in Seattle, indoors. Now, I can just stand in my yard and drink a beer. It shouldn’t be this big, exciting moment for me. I took my son to the park and he met some friends who have a son of a similar age. So did we take our kids on the tennis court so they could ride their scooters and we could drink beers? We absolutely did.

A: Amazing.

Z: That is what has been going on with us. How about you?

A: I’ve been doing a lot of outdoor dining, which is a lot of fun. It’s been getting really nice, so I respect what you’re doing. Besides that, I’m getting excited about late-spring and early summer entertaining, and changing the moods in terms of the drinks we’re surveying. My favorite cocktail of the year last year was the Daiquiri. I think it might be again this year because it is such a great drink. Also, I am getting excited about, obviously, rosé. It’s the best, but we’ll talk about that a little bit in a second, but I guess that’s a good segue, right? I butcher French names all the time, so can you introduce the wine region we’re talking about?

Z: I’m going to do my best. I think I’m slightly more proficient, but our guests can gladly correct pronunciation. We are talking about Costières de Nîmes, and we’ll let our guests know a little bit more where exactly in the Rhône we are. It’s one of these great regions of the broader Rhône Valley. I think, of late, we’ve seen more exciting wines come out of interesting expressions of terroir. Also, there is this broader realization that’s gone on throughout the region and I hope our guests can shed some light on these great appellations. American consumers may not be as familiar with this region because it hasn’t been as present on labels or they haven’t had the same presence in the past, but now it’s really exciting. It’s super cool to talk to two folks from Costières de Nîmes, joining us late at night for them, which we also appreciate making it doable for all of us here around the globe. Michel Gassier from Château de Nages and Franck-Lin Dalle from Château de Campuget. Thank you, gentlemen, so much for joining us.

Michel Gassier: Thank you for having us.

Franck-Lin Dalle: Bonjour, our pleasure.

Z: Let’s start with each of you giving an explanation about your winery projects and tell us a little bit about what you’re doing in Costières de Nîmes and a little bit of background.

M: Do you want to start, Franck-Lin?

F: Go ahead, Michel. You are older than me

A: That’s how we’re starting, wow.

Z: That’s why I let you talk first on the podcast.

M: You mentioned locating the appellation on the map, and we’re in the Rhône Valley. We are the very south of the Rhône Valley where the Rhône actually dumps into the Mediterranean. It overlooks the Rhône delta or region known as Camargue, which is a marshy area. The type of terroir is the rolled pebbles that Châteauneuf-du-Pape has so well exemplified. Everyone that loves Rhône wines is familiar with those big, round rocks. That’s the soil that we have. In terms of my family estate and vineyard, I am the fourth generation of my family. Even though I’m old, I’m already the fourth generation. We’ve been around for a while and we’re managing different vineyards in different locations throughout the Costières de Nîmes area. We actually have two main estates and labeled Château de Nages for one and Domaine Gassier for the other.

F: I’m the third generation of this family estate. Campuget is an old estate where we know there has been a vineyard since 1753. We will talk later about history here, but there is a long history between wine and the estate. We produced in Costières de Nîmes from the very beginning. And hopefully, there will be the fourth generation soon.

Z: Oh, exciting.

M: Oh, so you’re not that young.

F: Come on, please.

A: Hilarious. All right, so set the stage for us. Obviously, we know we’re in the Rhône, but can you paint a picture of what it looks like? If we were to be standing in the region, what would we be experiencing and what style of wines would we be getting?

F: What I’m going to do is like a blind tasting which I think is the best way to let you enjoy this area.

A: I love this.

F: You are truly in what I call a magic triangle. You have the town of Nîmes, the town of Avignon, and the town of Arles. Three gorgeous cities that we have around us, and Costières de Nîmes are really in the middle of the three. From there, you can enjoy the, of course, the Rhône Valley. You can enjoy the beauty of the Palais des Papes. You can discover some fantastic places like Pont-de-Crau. You also have the magnificent Colosseum in Nîmes. When you are in the middle of this magic triangle, you are, in fact, deep within our history, specifically from Roman history. You have to come here because you can enjoy this magic triangle.

M: There is a lot of diversity. We are about 35 minutes from the beach, about an hour from the mountains. As Franck-Lin said, there are a lot of historical monuments from Roman times, and a lot of great restaurants as well. Our area has a lot of Michelin star restaurants, but also a lot of bistros where for very little money you can have a great meal. The quality of life here is excellent.

F: Yeah, I would also add that you have the Mediterranean culture here, and it is revealed in the food and in the countryside, of course, in the wine. That’s truly the key of this place.

Z: I want to talk about culture and food in a minute. One thing that I’ve read about Costières de Nîmes is that despite what you know, on a very surface level, you would think, “Oh, it’s the southernmost appellation in the Rhône, it must be hot.” It’s the proximity to the Mediterranean that actually makes it relatively cool. Is that right? If so, for both of you, how does that affect the wines you make? How does that shape the wines?

M: Yeah, it’s absolutely true. The Mediterranean is a large body of water that has a fairly constant temperature. When the temperature rises in the middle of summer, it provides a cool, refreshing impact on the land that’s close by. We have what we call thermal winds. In the afternoon, during the summer when the sea is cooler than the land, colder air blows from the sea onto the land. That air, because it comes from sitting above a body of water, brings moisture so the air is not quite as hot, but also not quite as dry. It helps the vines survive those tough conditions. As a result, the fruit stays a little fresher. The grapes retain their acidity a little better. It enables us if we desire to make wines with more freshness, tension, or dynamic to make them further inland in the Rhône Valley. That’s a great feature that we can play with when we pick our style.

A: What is the style of the wines we can find in the region? If someone were to find wines with the appellation’s name on them, what should they expect?

F: That is a good question. First of all, on the appellation, we produce some reds, whites, and rosés. White is a tiny part of the total production. When people buy a bottle from Costières de Nîmes, freshness is important. People can expect some wine with fruits, with freshness, and also with elegance. Since the wine is not too concentrated, they keep elegance, and they have rounded tannins. This is clearly what people can expect when they buy a bottle of fresh wine with elegance. Those are two words that are important for me when I talk about wines from this appellation.

M: If I may add, the benefit of the microclimate that we have and the depth of soil that we have because that accumulation of pebbles and clay is usually anywhere between 30 and 50 feet. There’s no barrier for roots to go deep. We are the only southern Rhône appellation where Syrah is the dominant red varietal in terms of acreage. Most of the reds from Costières are blends of Syrah, Grenache, with some Mourvèdre and Carignan in it. Unlike Côtes du Rhône which is predominantly Grenache with a little bit of Syrah. We’re predominantly Syrah with Grenache, so it gives more black fruit character. Syrah, because of the microclimate, is not that baked, heavy, thick Syrah. It’s a more lifted, more violet profile and sometimes it can really border on northern Rhône style. Even though whites are about 9 percent of the production in the appellation, they are very interesting. Again, because of the microclimate and its production that is actually growing quite a bit, we rely on the classic varietals Chenin Blanc, Roussanne, Marsanne, Claret, a little bit of Viognier. They make for really interesting wines as well.

Z: I’m curious, you mentioned this idea of the Syrah-dominant wines. Are there producers — yourselves or others — who are making varietal Syrah or co-fermenting it with a little bit of white wine as you might see in the northern Rhône more traditionally? Or are producers who lean heavily on Syrah blending with other red varieties?

M: It’s a good question. As you know, appellations are very keen on rules for what and what is allowed and not allowed. We are not allowed to blend white grapes in our reds in Costières de Nîmes. We can do it for rosés, but we can’t do it for reds. Even though it’s a great idea, if you step outside of the appellation and, for instance, you try to ferment Syrah with Viognier, the results are great. But it’s not part of the appellation.

Z: As Adam mentioned, it’s rosé season. What is a rosé from Costières de Nîmes typically like? What varieties would you typically see used to produce the rosé wines?

F: Rosé wines from the appellation will be what a rosé must be. It will be a wine with a lot of freshness. You will never see a heavy and difficult rosé from this appellation. We truly have some fresh rosé, and I think every single producer from the appellation is really focused on that. We have the climate to do that. We are lucky to have these climates to make some very fresh rosé. If we talk about rosé, of course, we will talk about colors. You will see different colors, but most of the rosés made in the appellation are usually quite pale. Not as pale as other appellations like Provence sometimes, but quite pale. On top of that, you have a few producers trying to expand, research, and improve the quality of some wines. As you just mentioned the co-fermenting process, you have some Syrah and Viognier, Syrah and Vermentino, or red Grenache and white Grenache. The rosé is very creative and still full of freshness. I’m very sorry to insist on that, but I think the true quality of the rosés from the appellation is that they are fresh. They won’t be heavy on your palate

M: I’m sure the first question that comes to most consumers’ minds is how do they compare to Provence rosé? We make our rosés with pretty much the same varietals as Provence. Our climate is pretty similar, and what’s different is our terroir. I concur with Franck-Lin about aromatics and freshness. I’d say in general they have a little more mouthfeel perhaps than Provence. I don’t know whether it’s the rocks that we grow our vineyards on, but they might be a little more body, more mouth-filling than the Provence, which is not for all of them, but for the most part, looking for leaner styles.

A: One thing I know I want to talk about a little bit is the history of the region. Obviously, it’s a very, very old wine-producing region. As I was doing some reading on my own, I think there are some histories that say it’s a region that’s producing wine that the Greeks were drinking. How far back can you trace the history of the region? How has the region evolved since that time to where we are now? I think a lot of people don’t think about that. Wine regions, especially in the New World, have only been around for 50, 60, 70 years, but this region can go all the way back. I’m really curious as to the picture you can paint for listeners of what that history has done. How it has influenced the region and its winemaking?

M: First of all, thank you for that question. Because as we are one of the newer appellations on the Rhône Valley, people automatically assume that we’re new to the wine trade or to making wine. But in fact, when the Romans conquered this part of France in 150 B.C., the local populations were already making wine because they were taught by the Greeks. Wine production around Nîmes started in about 600 B.C. The region had a lot of fame, and there are documents that show that wines from Nîmes were exported to Italy and Greece during the popes of Avignon. In the 1300s, they were served at the pope’s palaces. I think where the region fell off the map is after the phylloxera crisis about 100 years ago when all the French and European vineyards were uprooted and replanted. I don’t think the region took more of the qualitative turn, but more of the quantitative turn. I think that’s when we lost a step in terms of the quality and the reputation that we had in the past. Now, new generations are coming back. The youth has made wine throughout the planet. They have ambition. The potential has always been here, but the new generations are unleashing it. That’s what’s really exciting about what’s going on in our appellation. We’re seeing the quality meter rise so quickly. It’s a very exciting time to be part of that.

F: Michel, that was perfect. We came from 600 B.C. to today, so that was perfect.

Z: I want to talk a little bit about food. This is true all over France, but I think you see it especially in the Rhône and in areas closer to the Mediterranean, which is the unique cuisine that is French but also has some similarities with Mediterranean cuisine. For the two of you, when you’re thinking about your wines, what are some of the classic dishes from the region that you think your wines pair well with? Also, outside of the paradigm of the classic southern French cuisine, other foods that people could enjoy these wines with.

F: Luckily in this area, we have a very diverse agriculture, so it gives us a chance to taste and discover a lot of different things. It can be, of course, from the sea. We are very close to the Mediterranean, so we can enjoy some gorgeous fishes. We also have a lot of lamb and sheep. We have this grilled lamb. Nîmes used to be a big place of lamb production in the past, but less today. Still, we have a few flocks, and it gives us fantastic meat. Of course, we have a lot of vegetables like you have all over the Mediterranean gastronomy. Again, the agriculture here is very diverse. You can have some gorgeous tomatoes, basil, garlic. A lot of beautiful Mediterranean classic food can be made here. We have this chance to match our wines with very classic Mediterranean food.

M: Just to perhaps change a little bit what was said about it being French cuisine with Mediterranean influence. No, it’s Mediterranean cuisine. We are by the Mediterranean. Our culture is Mediterranean. When I see your classic Julia Child French cuisine, I don’t see anything that I’ve ever grown up with because of the classic butter, cream, and everything, you’ll never see it here. Our fat of choice is olive oil, and the vegetables we grow are Mediterranean vegetables. I’d say our cuisine would have a lot to do with Spanish or southern Italian because northern Italian is also cream and butter. It’s tomato-based, it’s olive oil-based, and it’s garlic-based. It’s a lot of herbs. As I said, the meat of choice is lamb rather than beef, for instance. Lots of seafood. Naturally, the wines go well with that. They could be very versatile, too.

F: I think when we talk about gastronomy in our area, and when you say Costières de Nîmes, you have the word Costières, which is even difficult to pronounce for the French. The gastronomy here is like denim. We all have denim, we all enjoy denim. We like it because it’s simple, but we like it because it can be very elegant. It can be casual, and it can be for everyday. Mediterranean food is clearly the food that you enjoy easily every day, and it brings you a lot of pleasure. For me, this is a small shortcut, but this is the way I would describe it. You can enjoy your denim, and you can drink your denim, and you can eat your denim.

Z: There you go. I never thought about the all-denim diet there, but that’s a good one. I like that.

F: You can never forget that denim has been created in the town of Nîmes. That’s why it’s named denim.

Z: I have forgotten that I knew that. I should have sort of led with that. One last question for the two of you before we wrap things up here. We talked a little bit about this at the beginning, but one of the compelling things about the region, in addition to the quality of the wine, is the relative accessibility as far as price point. What should a consumer expect to pay for wines from the Costières? I’ve certainly tasted plenty of the wines, including your wines, and found them to be quite comparable to many other appellations within the Rhône. Where do these wines sit price-wise?

M: I’d say if you look at the range of prices, you’ll find most of the Costières de Nîmes will be between a little above $10 to $25 a bottle. Of course, you have the outliers that will be a little higher or you might get some cheaper price at Costco or a similar store. More or less, the consumer will find a price range between $12 to $25 of Costières de Nîmes on the U.S. market.

A: Very cool. Michel and Franck-Lin, I want to thank you both so much for taking the time to come on and tell Zach and I a little bit more about the region and to explain it to the listeners. It’s been a really fascinating conversation. I can’t wait to get to drink more of these wines. I want to thank you for sending me some of your wines. They were very delicious.

M: Thank you.

A: I hope that everyone goes out and tries to find these wines as well, because they are really special. It’s super cool to be drinking wines from a region that’s been making wine for centuries. You can’t find that every day, and it makes these wines really special, so thank you both so much.

F: Thank you very much.

M: Thank you for having us.

A: Zach, as always, see you next week, man.

Z: Sounds great.

Thanks so much for listening to the “VinePair Podcast.” If you love this show as much as we love making it, please leave us a rating or review on iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever it is you get your podcasts. It really helps everyone else discover the show.

Now for the credits. VinePair is produced and recorded in New York City and in Seattle, Wash., by myself and Zach Geballe, who does all the editing and loves to get the credit. Also, I would love to give a special shout-out to my VinePair co-founder, Josh Malin, for helping make all this possible, and also to Keith Beavers, VinePair’s tasting director, who is additionally a producer on the show. I also want to, of course, thank every other member of the VinePair team who is instrumental in all of the ideas that go into making the show every week. Thanks so much for listening and we’ll see you again.

Ed note: This episode has been edited for length and clarity.

Published: May 12, 2021