Things with Legs.
17-Across. Baton-passing race with co-ed teams: MIXED RELAY.
26-Across. German white wine with a high sugar content: SWEET RIESLING. With respect to wine, "legs" refers to the droplets of wine that appear on the inside of the glass after the glass is swirled. The sweeter the wine, the stronger the "legs."
43-Across. Start of something great: PROMISING IDEA.
And the unifier:
55-Across. Surprised shout when a spot on the wall starts moving, and what can
be said about 17-, 26-, and 43-Across: IT'S GOT LEGS.
This will be a minimal commentary today. It has been a difficult and harrowing week.
We have lost friends and I have spent much of the week on numerous
Zoom calls.
Across:
1. Buckwheat noodle: SOBA.
5. "Blam!": KAPOW!
10. Wander: ROVE.
14. AFB no-show: AWOL. AWOL = Absent WithOut Leave.
15. Sports venue: ARENA.
16. Profoundly bad: EVIL.
19. Time in office: TERM.
20. United: ONE.
21. Desire: WANT.
22. Second longest African river: CONGO. The Congo River is also the deepest river in the world.
23. Go along with: AGREE TO.
25. Tennis star Osaka: NAOMI. Naomi Osaka (b. Oct. 16, 1997)
celebrated her 26th birthday just yesterday. She is a four-time Grand
Slam singles champion, with two Australian Open and two US Open titles.
She is of Japanese and Haitian descent. [Name # 1.]
30. Jimmy Kimmel's network: ABC. Jimmy Kimmel (né James
Christian Kimmel; b. Nov. 13, 1967) got his start on Win Ben Stein's Money. [Name # 2.]
31. Yardstick unit: INCH.
32. Bruno, to Mirabel, in "Encanto": TIO. Today's Spanish
lesson. [Names # 3 and 4, fictional.]
33. Now and __: THEN.
36. Vision-correcting surgery: LASIK.
38. Not very much: A TAD.
39. Slump: SAG.
40. Iron-rich leafy vegetable: KALE. Not a Yummers for us.
41. Disc golf number: PAR.
47. Helps a thief, maybe: ABETS.
48. Annual fact book: ALMANAC. Probably the most famous is
Poor Richard's, which was first published by Benjamin Franklin (1706 ~ 1790)
in 1732. Franklin added an additional "K" at the end of the word.
51. Bedroom noise: SNORE.
52. Wrinkly citrus fruit: UGLI.
53. Miracle-__: fertilizer brand: GRO.
54. Wide-eyed: AGOG.
58. Source of inspiration: MUSE.
59. Connective tissue: SINEW.
60. Inky stain: BLOT.
|
| Hence the need for a nerdy pocket protector. |
61. Full collections: SETS.
62. Coin flip call: HEADS.
63. __-serif: SANS.
Down:
1. Pago Pago's land: SAMOA.
2. In debt: OWING.
3. Stocky dogs: BOXERS.
4. Brewery order: ALE.
5. Lesson one might get a kick out of?: KARATE CLASS.
6. "We __ amused": ARE NOT. Did Queen Victoria really say this? Was Queen Elizabeth amused?
7. Attack with snowballs, say: PELT.
8. "I'm __ roll!": ON A.
9. Route: WAY.
10. Overhaul: RETOOL.
11. Kitchen glove: OVEN MITT.
12. Shenandoah Valley state: VIRGINIA.
13. Muppet who refers to himself in the third person: ELMO.
Last week Jinx informed us that how the toy company ensures that all
Tickle Me Elmo dolls are male. [Name # 5, fictional.]
18. Socially inept sort: DWEEB.
22. Yard sale payment: CASH.
24. Actor McGregor: EWAN. Scottish actor Ewan Gordon
McGregor (b. Mar. 31, 1971) has starred in a number of films. He
portrayed the young Obi-Wan Kenobi in the Star Wars prequel.
[Name # 6.]
25. Aids for airplane napping: NECK PILLOWS. A necessity for
long international flights.
27. Like proofed dough: RISEN.
28. Suffix on pasta names: -INI. Everything you wanted to know
about pasta suffixes but didn't know to ask.
29. Supreme being: GOD.
33. Vanilla extract amt.: TSP. As in a TeaSpoon. The Teaspoon first appeared in London in 1686 as a measure for making the perfect cup of tea.
34. Rant: HARANGUE.
35. Confidence builder: EGO BOOST.
37. "Beef" actress Wong: ALI. Ali Wong (née Alexandra Dawn
Wong; b. Apr. 19, 1982) is probably best known for being a racy stand-up
comedian. [Name # 7.]
38. Painter's calculation: AREA.
40. Toy for a windy day: KITE.
42. Confess: ADMIT.
44. Joins the flow of traffic: MERGES.
45. Had trouble swallowing: GAGGED.
46. Bassett who plays Marvel's Queen Ramonda: ANGELA. Angela
Bassett (née Angela Evelyn Bassett; b. Aug. 16, 1958) portrayed Tina Turner
(née Anna Mae Bullock; Nov. 26, 1939 ~ May 24, 2023) in the 1993 film What Love Got To Do With It. Earlier this year, Time magazine named her as one of the 100 most influential women in the world.
37-Down is also on that list. [Name # 8.]
|
| Angela Bassett as Queen Ramonda |
49. Noble gas used in welding: ARGON. Why Argon is used in welding.
50. Is priced at: COSTS.
51. __ Club: bulk-buying chain: SAM'S. Sam's Club is named
after Sam Walton (né Samuel Moore Walton; b. Mar. 29, 1918 ~ Apr. 5, 1992),
also the founder of Walmart. [Name # 9.]
52. Annapolis military sch.: USNA. As in the United States Naval Academy.
55. "More or less" suffix: -ISH.
56. Knotted neckwear: TIE.
57. Scale units: Abbr.: LBS. How did Pounds become to be abbreviated as Lbs?
Here's the Grid:
חתולה
I will leave today with a song of hope.
40 comments:
I must admit, until I saw Hahtoolah’s commentary, I had no idea what “it’s got legs” had to do with such things as wine, for example. Now I understand (I think). The rest of the puzzle came fairly easily, FIR, so I’m happy.
And may I say, Hahtoolah, that you, and all Israel, will be in my prayers. God bless !
Good morning!
Guess who read the full reveal clue? Guess who still didn't get the theme? It wasn't needed for the solve. Those vertical 11s and stacked 8s were nice. Thanx, Henry, Kate, and Hahtoolah. (I think we're all hoping for a quick resolution to the situation in Israel with minimal further loss of life.)
Hurray, this week has two Mondays! Zipped through this CW to FIR in better-than-Monday time. I DNK SOBA, but knew all the perps, so what coulda been a rough start flowed right along. By my expansive count, 15 names; surprisingly, I knew most. It’s amazing how Elmo sneaks into so many CWs. As for the theme, I was so thrilled to beat my usual Monday time, I forgot to look for it. I would have seen it had I looked, but I would have scratched my head at the wine legs. Anyway, a thoroughly enjoyable CW, thanx HL-D&KL. Thanx too to Hahtoolah for the write-up. I’m so sorry about your losses, Susan. “No politics” forbids further comment.
Thanks for only having 3 names of people, as well as no clues where you look at it and say, "Wellll... a bit of a stretch." Yes, a "Monday" type puzzle, but enjoyable when you don't have to feel like, "I have no idea who these ton of minor celebrities are."!
Took 4:42 today to run the table.
I didn't see the theme, until coming here. Wouldn't have gotten the wine reference anyway.
I knew today's actress and today's female athlete. A rare perfecta for me.
I am sincerely sorry for the loss of your friends.
Good morning, crossword friends.
That wine can have legs was new to me, also. That's part of what makes doing the crosswords so much fun ~ you even get to learn something sometimes.
QOD: Don’t trust a brilliant idea unless it survives the hangover. ~ Jimmy Breslin (né James Earle Breslin; Oct. 17, 1928 ~Mar. 19, 2017), American journalist and author
FIR, again on line due to RDS. Only correction I remember is lasex-->LASIK. (I not only had the wrong term, but misppeled it (UNTIE!) LASIx has been used in horse racing for years to prevent them from bleeding from their lungs while racing, and many people believe that horses race better with Lasix, especially the first time the drug is administered to them. The drug is being phased out of the Sport of Kings, and is banned from the big races in the US, including the Triple Crown races.
Today is:
NATIONAL MULLIGAN DAY (oh c’mon – just say “national cheat at golf” day)
NATIONAL EDGE DAY (youth refraining from using alcohol, tobacco, and other recreational drugs)
BLACK POETRY DAY (Amanda Gorman was the highlight of Biden’s inauguration imo)
NATIONAL PHARMACY TECHNICIAN DAY (reduces the pharmacist’s workload by helping to misfill prescriptions)
NATIONAL PASTA DAY (I partially blame pasta for making me look like the Michelin Man)
Although I've never been into sweet wines, I knew about its legs. I'll bet Steve does too.
DO said "I think we're all hoping for a quick resolution to the situation in Israel with minimal further loss of life." I disagree. I'm hoping that the IDF doesn't stop until it eradicates every single person complicit in this act of terrorism. They won't, but they should.
Thanks to Henry and Kate for the fun, Monday-easy Tuesday puzzle, and to Ha2la for the fine tour. Even your abbreviated posts are entertaining.
FIR. At least there were a minimum of proper names so as to solve them via the perps.
The theme and theme answers seemed a stretch to me. Especially the wine reference. I don't drink alcohol so this thing about wine and legs is lost on me.
IT'S GOT LETS? I could see it after the PROMISING IDEA and MIXED RELAY but not being a wino I had no idea about either the SWEET RIESLING or the 'droplets of wine'.
TIO, ALI, and ANGELO were 'Names 1,2 & 3' filled by perps
NECK PILLOWS- I couldn't get comfy with them. Tried them multiple times. Gave them away.
SAM'S- do a lot of shopping there since it's close and the roasted chickens are still $4.99; hot dog and drink combo is $1.38.
NAOMI Osaka was doing great until she started hanging out with the 'wrong crowd', who I'm sure were sponging off her money. The press was claiming mental issues but the smart money says it's other things.
KAPOW!, “blam!” (blam?) successfully smashed right through this one. No Inkovers. But the theme? IDEAS have LEGS and can “take off”. RELAY races obviously have LEGS ….but the wine clue? 🫤 what am I missing? One of those hokey “oaky” taste descriptors 😳? (Nope “droplets”…. hands up, if ewe gnu)
Thought HARANGUE was to vociferously nag someone, guess not.
My cousin Ed Lasek has owned and operated “Lasek’s Optical World” downtown for decades. Told him years ago he should sue the LASIK people for copyright infringement 👓🤓😎
“Bedroom noise” SNORE ? Oh that kyna noise….. 😄😉
AGREED TO …. another coincidental
layover from yesterday, hmmm
After Christmas Canada/Brit Day Pooches….. BOXERS
“____and what army!!”…. EWAN
Affirmative RSVP…..CONGO
————
H2HL thoughts go out to you and your family.
Musings
-Have you ever done this MIXED RELAY?
-SWEET wines are not my fav
-A baseball pitch clock was a promising idea for years that had LEGS and eventually came to fruition
-An estimated 325 Civil War combat actions occurred in VIRGINIA’s Shenandoah Valley
-TERM limits: Nikki Haley calls the U.S. Senate “The most privileged nursing home in the country”
-ABETS: Some long-term jail residents merely drove the getaway car
-We had an very old OVEN MITT with a small hole in it and used it until…
-Two days ago, a man was in the middle of a lengthy HARANGUE towards his 5-yr-old son. It took a lot to not say something.
-Painters just started on our house an hour ago. Their COST is only $100 more than ten years ago.
-So sorry about your losses, Susan. EVIL does exist in this world.
Trouble-free Tuesday. Thanks for the fun, Henry and Kate, and Hahtoolah (thoughts and prayers at this hard time).
I FIRed in very good time and saw the LEGS theme. Thanks Hahtoolah for explaining how LEGS was linked to the SWEET RIESLING.
I had Roam before ROVE, plus Itch/Ini before I read the clue for 31A and scratched the T to an N.
Any unknown-to-me names perped.
I immediately thought of Queen Victoria with that “we ARE NOT amused” phrase. Queen Elizabeth had a very droll sense of humour. Her parachute drop with Bond for the Olympic opening, and her Paddington Bear tea and marmalade sandwiches skits are priceless. Are you all familiar with these or should I link? (Hahtoolah- that Queen Elizabeth link is hilarious!)
I thought of the Farmer’s ALMANAC. It is predicting a cold winter with more than A TAD of snow for our area. Brr!
Favourite today was the clue for KARATE CLASS.
Wishing you all a great day.
Greetings, my deepest and sincere sympathy to our wonderful Hah2lah for the loss of your friends. Thank you for posting at this difficult time.
Thanks, Henry and Kate, for your puzzle. It’s my favorite kind when the fill goes smoothly from one word to the next in my crisscross pattern.
One WO: ROam -> ROVE.
Perps for NAOMI & ALI.
I sussed the theme for the first and third fill but waited to read the blog to see how 26A fit in. New to me that wine has “legs.”
Obviously the regulars here are not into wines! Legs are very important to us
Anon@9:12 -- Not all regulars -- legs are very important to Splynter.
Hola!
First, Susan, I am deeply sorry for your loss and also for the turmoil that caused it.
Hey! RIESLING is my favorite wine! I usually have some on hand, that is if I haven't finished it.
I rarely use CASH and usually have only a few dollars in my purse but generally have a debit or credit card. Yesterday I had an embarrassing time when I went to pay and had no cards with me! Earlier in the day I had bought something on the computer and left my card case on the table. I left my full cart at the store then rushed home to retrieve the cards.
CSO to my late aunt ANGELA.
Have a peaceful day, everyone!
Yes, this felt like an old-fashioned Monday puzzle. But it took some head-scratching to discover the theme. I caught a glimpse of the LEGS, but couldn’t make that stick to the wine, so thanks Susan for the reveal.
So sorry also for your loss of friends. You are in my thoughts. Thank you for taking the time to write your recap. I always enjoy them.
Zipped right through this one. The lack of obscure names was quite refreshing. The theme, however, completely escaped me, though I didn't spend a lot of time looking for it. I'll Echo what Jinx said earlier. When the barbarians are at the gates, the time to turn the other cheek has passed.
A Tuesday fun 🏃♂️ 🏃♀️ run. Thanks Henry and Kate.
Any Bosch fans here?
Bosch:Legacy season 2 premieres on Friday. Fans are in for an intense ride…. kkFlorida
Finally got around to CC's Atlas Obscura. FIR, but had to noodle on "D and C in D.C. for WAY too long. Oh yeah, like the famous "K" st, where most of the lobbyist vultures nest.
Hahtoolah, I have been thinking of you all week, knowing you had friends in Israel. So tragic! Thank you for taking the time to post.
Thanks, Henry & Kate, for a tricky but doable puzzle. Didn't get the LEGS theme until Hatoolah explained.
The only red-letter run today was for the X in the BOXER/MIXED cross. I wanted Beagle for the dog & MIlER for the race. Duh!
ALI was the only name I didn't know, but I WAGd it on the first try, so all was well.
Being over 80, for me this year has been a big loss of old friends or close family of old friends who have died. Learned of two more yesterday. I lost count somewhere around 20 deaths in this year. Three of them had a direct effect on my finances. I am grateful that none were my close family members, but I am sad none-the-less. None were because of war. But old age is definitely a kind of war to be fought.
First and foremost, Hahtoolah, my condolences on the loss of your friends.
As for the puzzle, it was a fast & fun fill. Thanks to Henry and Kate!
I knew red wine had LEGS but I never thought about whites. Now I know.
= )
Thank you for your write-up, Hahtoolah! I enjoyed the music at the beginning and end. The reason for "lb" was interesting, too.
It felt like there were a lot of G's today. Eleven.
I get that relays and wines have legs. And long running Broadway plays have legs. But I have never heard that a promising idea has legs. That was a clunk for me.
LIBRA also means pounds in Spanish so I always assumed it was pounds in Latin as well. I know that I weigh muchas libras.
Hahtoolah I am very sorry to hear of your lost friends. Were they in Israel? I am impressed that you still came through with a well-illustrated commentary. Learning moments about the Queens and about Argon.
Enjoyed the LEGS theme. I was pleased to know all of the idiomatic LEGS expressions.
Here is my article on our big KITE Festival in Santa Barbara.
My dear friend Vandana in the second photo ran a KITE store here for years. She and her family started the KITE Festival to spread the joy of KITEs.
From Sunday:
I have many Indian friends and I was still stumped by the rather unfair cross of SAR?E and G?RARD. "I" seemed to be the most likely letter. Too bad. I enjoyed the movie theme, even though I didn't know all the movies.
From Saturday:
AnonT, TTP, Tante Nique, sumdaze Thank you for the kind words about my eclipse photos, thanks to the extraordinary coincidence and alignment in our STAR SYSTEM.
AnonT Yes, I indeed read A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court. The eclipse bit was highly improbable. But there were other parables that were brilliant. One was about using science instead of magic to fix a dry well. Another about disproportionate punishment. I plan to write an article on it for my "Big Questions" column.
Back home on the red eye!
(The plane flight, not from wine drinking...)
One thing you should know about wine tasting in Napa,
it is bad etiquette to say this wine has legs.
(They would know you are a newbie right away.)
It would be like playing stairway to heaven in a guitar store.
(All good wines have some legs, here's some info... )
Also, there is a proper technique to clinking glasses. Hold your glass at a 45 degree angle, the person opposite does the same, and lightly tap the widest part of the glass together and it will ring like a bell...
Also, since Covid, you may want to bring your own tasting glass. here is how I approach the wineries...
Here's a tip to try if your dog hates taking baths...
In a Italy it is consider bad luck to pour a glass of wine by tipping the bottle back handed into the glass (for the receiver of the wine) 🍷
Thanks, Hahtoolah, for taking us through this Lin-David/Luo PZL...
Tuesday XWDs seem to be taking the place formerly occupied by EZ Monday challengers. Today's was a breeze.
~ OMK
____________
DR: Three diagonals, far side.
The center diag yields a JACKPOT ANAGRAM (all 15 of 15 letters!--WooHoo!!)
Now, don't sneer at this--and No, it's not cheating, just bending sense a little, when I tell you this phrase refers to a batch of "stable but laughable snake-like fish."
That's right, we're speaking of...
"SANE, RIOTOUS EELS"!
Did not know about wine legs. Why hasn't Moe taught us about that? :>)
Thank you, Hahtoolah. Saddened to hear that your friends perished.
Thank You Henry Lin-Dvid and Kate Luo for a relatively easier Tuesday. The long answers were easier to suss, and (even I - ) was off to the races.
After solving the main gist of the puzzle, I tried to make sense out of 'Legs' - especially for the sweet Reisling Wine ... but, I thought maybe you cant 'see' legs, until you're truly inebriated...
Thank You Hah2lah, for your commentary, especially at such a sad and harrowing time, like this. May I offer you my sympathies, empathy and condolences. Your link on the Israeli national anthem, and its history, was very reflective and thought provoking. Our closest neighbor used to be a jewish couple, whose husband was an israeli immigrant ... I was, of course, very familiar with the song 'Jerusalem of gold', from 1967, in a REader's Digest article at that time ...
Picard, its is very fascinating about your eclectic and multi -varied interests !! Your indian friends, from their last name, appear to be Gujrati ( west central india ) , and that would be most likely because that state has traditionally, the largest kite festival in the country.
The largest International Kite Festival(s) in Gujarat, Wikipedia
The kites flown at that time, especially, are used as a competitive sport, ...
... note the similarity in : The Kite Runner, a novel written in and about Afghanistan ...
... and the strings to run the kites, are coated, by hand,... with sharp shards of glued powdered glass ... to be used through manipulation, to cut other people's kites !! This is of course, extremely dangerous, even for humans, because the string can slice through the better part of a human neck, if you are unfortunate enough to get the string snagged around your neck, whilst riding a bike etc.,
Have a good week, you all.
Vidwan
I loved reading The Kite Runner which was a book club selection! Not only was it interesting about the KITE traditions but also about family life.
It has been eerily quiet here without anyone else home and I am enjoying the solitude.
CEDave
I'm so glad you are enjoying your trip to Napa. It is one of my favorite places. Did you go up the hill to visit the Monasteries? They are quite interesting. First is the Christian Brothers Monastery and higher up is another one whose name I don't recall at the moment.
Puzzling thoughts:
TTP, as if "on cue" I decided to come here today to add some comments about the wine reference ... but first, I must offer condolences to Hah2Lah and any others who have lost loved ones/friends in Israel
As to the puzzle and the wine reference:
When I saw the SWEET RIESLING entry and then its being part of the reveal (ITS GOT LEGS) I was a tad bit perplexed. First off, thanks to CrossEyedDave for linking the Wine Folly video regarding wine tasting. Madeline Puckette (Wine Folly) is a bright young lady in the wine world. I love how simply she captures the geekiness of wine drinking, and explains wine tasting in a way that will appeal to beginner wine drinkers and/or long-time quaffers. As she mentions, "LEGS" in wine are those tear-like droplets that form on the side of the glass - usually following a swirl - and are related to alcohol. Generally, the higher the ABV (alcohol by volume) in a wine (14-15%) the more pronounced are the LEGS. When I think of SWEET RIESLING I think of a white wine that has a dramatically lower alcohol content (5-8%), and thus, less pronounced LEGS.
Please let me explain ...
The process of yeast consuming sugar (to produce alcohol) is inherent in all wines. Typically, RIESLING is grown in cooler climates and takes a longer period of time to ripen fully (develop sugar). This results in a couple of things: first (and foremost) is a wine that is high in acidity. Second, is a wine that tends to be lower in BRIX. The BRIX (sugar level) in Riesling that is harvested "on time" will often be around 17-22. Chardonnay (another white wine grape) is between 22-25. What this basically means is that there is less sugar for the yeast to consume, and since winemakers are usually limited to the time that the grape juice ferments, it will result in lower alcohol and more residual sugar (the sugar that remains after fermentation) or, a sweeter wine. Chardonnays are NEVER sweet
The characteristic sweetness in most RIESLING is actually quite good when it comes to drinking it with food. The more tart/spicy/acidic the food, the more the sweetness of RIESLING balances it on our palate. RIESLING is a perfect match for Thai, spicy Chinese, and Indian food as it helps tame the "heat" of the dish. Likewise, drinking RIESLING with a very sweet food item will bring out the acidity in the wine for the flavor balance
When I performed wine tastings I always had tasters try a sip of RIESLING by itself (no food) to assess how "sweet" they imagined it. Most people thought it more sweet than dry. Next, I would ask them to try the RIESLING after they bit into a lemon. In this case the wine ALWAYS tasted extremely sweet, and offered a balanced contrast of the tart lemon. Last, I would have the tasters eat a peppermint candy, followed by another taste of the RIESLING. The expressions on the tasters' faces were priceless! All of a sudden this seemingly "sweet" wine became quite the opposite. Almost tasted "bone dry". Why? The high acidity level in the RIESLING wine "took over" and balanced the sweetness of the candy
There are very few dishes that a good RIESLING won't complement. It is one of the better choices to make (for a white wine) when a table of diners are having dissimilar meals. It has a "bad rap" to many uninformed wine drinkers. I highly recommend your trying some. Look for ones from Germany (Mosel) that have the word "Kabinett" on the front label. Prosit!
C-Moe. Thank you for the Riesling lesson. I don’t usually drink white wines, but you made my taste buds perk up. Next trip to the store, I’ll have to get a bottle, making sure the word Kabinett is on the front label. I
I'm sorry, I messed up the wikipedia link, as above.
The Largest International Kite Festivals held in Gujarat, Wikipedia
Hope this works ...
Tante Nique @ 6:03:
I looked at your profile ... I was unaware that you live in Baton Rouge. Geaux Tigers!! My daughter graduated from LSU in 2004 as a music performance major. I have very fond memories of my visits there!
I checked both Martins and Total Wine for what they might have available. The one that caught my eye is @ Total Wine and it's called: Dr. Loosen Blue Slate Riesling Kabinett. I LOVE this producer. Their example of the grape is beyond comparison for the price. That said, it's about 22 per bottle. Don't be fooled that it comes with a screw cap as that is perfectly OK. And honestly, if you don't want to consume the entire bottle in one sitting, it'll store perfectly well in the fridge for 3-4 days
I will send this to your email on file as well ... enjoy! BTW, this would be a PERFECT match with some Crawfish Etouffe from Chimes!!
Moe, thanks. That was very informative, and I appreciate it. I spent three years in Germany, and was fortunate enough to have spent all of that time in the Rhine, Neckar and Mosel valleys. My preference was towards the biers, with Eichbaum in Mannehein and Wolfbrau in Karlsruhe being my go to standards. In Munich, it was Hofbrau, Paulaner and Lowenbrau. Other places, other biers.
Early in my first year though, a few of us G.I.s went to the Bad Durkheim wine fest. That was my introduction to wines and wine fests, and most importantly to white wines. As well as, great regional wursts and brats and sausages. Prior to that, the only wines I had ever tried were MD 20-20, Boone's Farm Strawberry Hill, and some other popular cheap brand that I don't remember the names of now. Most of that was time imbibing was while going to great rock-n-roll concerts in Pittsburgh while you were paying attention to your collegiate studies at U Pitt... circa 72-75 for me. Did you ever go to concerts at the Syria Mosque or the Civic Arena? So many great concerts back in the day. I digress.
Not so much in Mannheim, but in Karlsruhe, "spritzers" became a thing in the barracks. Big bottles of white wine, mixed with glasses of Coca Cola. The wine was cheap, as was the Coca Cola. For those serving, it was an escape from the doldrums of being a soldier. Especially for those G.I.s that didn't venture far from the barracks. Most of those guys had "short timers" attitude and "fly-away" calendars, scratching out the days until they ETS'ed back to the states, and what we called the "world."
Zeller Scwartz Katz was my favorite white wine. I think that is how it was spelled. I didn't need to know. If you went to the PX or were "out on the economy," sending you Deutsch Marks, it was the most easily recognized. The bottle of wine most commonly featured a black cat with an arched back. I probably missed having many other great German white wines, but that was the one that everyone recognized, and it the one that was best mixed with Coca Cola for the perfect spritzer.
TTP, we used to say, "I'm so short I have to look up, to look down."
TTP @ 8:43
Oh yes, saw at least a handful of concerts at Syria Mosque but I killed far too many brain cells to remember them. The one concert I DO recall is seeing Blood Sweat and Tears at the Fitzgerald Field House - and yes, I was in Oakland from the fall of 1970 and left in the spring of 1975. Never lived there again but as you know I am a huge Steelers fan
As for the various alcoholic beverages you mention, when I was in college I drank mostly Iron City beer and occasionally one of those wines you mentioned! Probably was in a wine skin that I snuck into a Pitt football game
And it was Zeller Schwartze Katz that was a big wine then, and for all I know it still exists today. That and Blue Nun Liebfraumilch. They were both "serviceable" wines for the $. My first trip to Deutschland was in 1980 when I went to Oberammergau to see the Passion Play. I had many a full liter stein of beer while there, but many years later discovered that the Belgian beers were much more interesting and enjoyable
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