Today is the 11th anniversary of the big "Berlin Wall Bash," so let's clink and drink to that momentous event with, if you will, a white wine. I propose something German -- a riesling from Nierstein, a bone-dry Wurzberg Muller-Thurgau, or a sekt from Adolf Schmitt near Trier (excellent also with sushi). And, on the well-founded assumption that next week they'll come through yet again, let's toast France's Beaujolais producers with -- what else? Beaujolais Nouveau 2000.
Wine is great on special occasions, but frankly, with a chill nipping at our heels as we straddle the crisp cusp between autumn and winter, a tummy-warming taste of something more bracing than wine can be glorious. Consider wine-based brandies and marc, both centuries-old distilled products.
Brandy belongs to the spirits category and is still, today, known as aqua vitae (water of life), a Latin term coined by a Catalan physician in the 13th century to suggest healthful invigoration. The French call their spirits eau de vie, the Celts uisge beatha, the Scandinavians aquavit and so on.
With your current subscription plan you can comment on stories. However, before writing your first comment, please create a display name in the Profile section of your subscriber account page.