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Who’s afraid of the big, bad wolf?
Today terrifies about 10% of Americans. Specifically, those suffering from triskaidekaphobia, more commonly known as the fear of the number 13. To this day, architects design high-rises minus a 13th floor. Ditto for many airlines who skip a row.
In the words of Bob Seger, “Don’t go ’round tonight, It’s bound to take your life. There’s a bad moon on the rise.” Not only is today Friday the 13th, which people fear because of its religious ties to Judas, the 13th person who sat at the last supper with Jesus Christ then went on to betray him, but the lunar phase is waxing gibbous at 100% illumination. In plain English, this means that it’s teetering on full moon territory. And this, my friends, is the stuff that nightmares are made of.
Why? Because of the werewolves, of course! Many believe that the transformation from man to beast happens on the night leading up to a full moon. Werewolves have been broadly popularized from Nordic lore to Greek Mythology leading some folks to be convinced that they’re real. So, beware out there…
Sipping in the moonlight
Red blends are having a bit of a moment. We’ve previously featured them here at Grit Daily back in April and May. Nielsen has been tracking wine sales for some time. No surprise, Cabernet Sauvignon is the country’s most popular varietal. Indeed, my favorite and one that we routinely feature here.
The newsworthy bit is that red blends have now taken the number two spot and account for about 11% of all wine sales. Experts cite the “smooth, round mouth feel” as the driver for its double-digit growth. In contrast, the offshore cynics cite that Americans, generally regarded as non-oenophiles, buy red blends because they recognize at least one varietal listed on the label. Ouch!
Why stop at one moon when you could have 7?
Today’s wine down and chill features a red blend, deliciously cultivated on the dark side by 7 Moons Winery. Their Dark Blend features seven varietals, Syrah, Merlot, Petite Sirah, Zinfandel, Cabernet, Malbec, and Grenache. Their slogan compels you to try it, “Uncork a bottle, pour a glass, and find connection in the moonlight.”
This blend is more than clever marketing, it’s wonderful weekday – or any day – sipping wine with its smooth, rich finish and tasty notes of dark berry, caramel, currant, blackberry, and toasty oak. Its flavors pair well with comfort foods like burgers and BBQ chicken. Economically priced at $14 per bottle, it’s also easy to find nationwide. That said, as a marketer, I fully appreciate the brilliance of their campaign:
“Each phase of the moon invites you to slow down, relax, and reflect with a glass of 7 Moons in hand. As you savor our red blend, be sure to hold onto your cork. Collect all seven, uniquely inscribed with each phase of the moon.”
Cue music to wine down and chill
Given today’s double-themed column with a full moon looming on Friday the 13th, here amid the harvest season, I thought it made sense to select two albums. And, in all transparency, I couldn’t pick a favorite. I love them both!
Dark Side of the Moon by Pink Floyd is spellbinding with its musings on the human condition juxtaposed against a transcendental soundscape. A curious factoid or two is that the album spent 937 weeks on the Billboard charts and was originally called Eclipse. This timeless classic was released by Harvest Records in 1973.
Cue segue. Harvest Moon, a lyrical masterpiece by a Canadian hero, Neil Young, was released in 1992. The weird co-inky-dink here is that he originally released some of the content on one of his first albums, Harvest, which dropped only a few months before Pink Floyd released their album.
‘tis the harvest season
The harvest has begun. Yummy grapes hanging on the vine are just waiting to be picked, smashed and fermented. Cheers to that!
