/usr/web/www.marshallindependent.com/wp-content/themes/coreV2/single.php
×

Heresy

Over the years, I’ve used the word “heresy” many times, but there’s a catch!

Except for the occasions when I was teaching theology to folks, I’ve always used heresy in a jocular manner. The Lord knows too many evils and mishaps have been done by all kinds of institutions in the name of heresy and we need to understand that heresy can mean something other than those misguided moments.

So, to lighten up the mood, allow me to discuss my experience with cars.

I grew up in a family that only drove Fords. According to my father, it was the best car no matter what you wanted to accomplish. Whether it was taxiing the family around the country side, hauling bales of hay in the back of the pickup or having a conversation about cars, Fords were the only car that existed.

Interestingly enough, our farm only had John Deere tractors — no Ford tractors allowed. I never got a good answer why we couldn’t use Ford tractors — maybe Dad just liked John Deere green!

While growing up, we had a long line of Ford vehicles in the family, and I’m not even going to try to remember all the models because, you see, to me, a car is a necessary evil. My father liked cars and his interest didn’t rub off on me. I know they can look cool, fashionable, sexy, fast, family and all the rest, but to me, vehicles are to get me from point A to point B — as economically and safely as possible.

Also and very simply, almost all cars are worth less the moment you drive them off the car lot. You haven’t even driven a mile and you’ve lost thousands of dollars in value and that bugs me.

One more thing about my family’s cars — the only car in our family that wasn’t a Ford was a Pontiac. We got it from my grandfather and I drove it back and forth to college. I’m not sure if there’s a message here but the good old green (Yes, green!) Pontiac did a good job of getting me from Point A to Point B and back again in an economical and safe manner.

Green! That color is near and dear to my heart today. Why? Because of a bottle of wine!

One of the first bottles of wine I consumed while stationed in Germany was a green bottle that held a Josef Friederich Zeller Schwarze Katz Mosel. For someone who had grown up not drinking alcoholic beverages, I was committing family heresy and I enjoyed every second of it.

This Mosel is slightly sweet but still has enough crisp acidity to cleanse your throat and to satisfy your palate. Since my only wine tasting experience before drinking this Mosel was having a sip of Mogen David wine, I was creating family heresy, and, as said, I enjoyed every memory making moment.

As I write this, I am enjoying a glass of that old friend Mosel but I’ve noticed that it’s not quite cold enough to bring the fine tastes forward. Maybe there’s a story here…

For many wine aficionados, the temperature at which a wine is to be consumed is critical information. In their world, whites should be consumed between 45-55 degrees and reds should be sipped at temperatures between 55-65 degrees. Anything else is heresy!

Well, let’s talk heresy!

It’s summer, it’s hot and you want a glass of wine and you want the wine to be cold! Okay, no matter the color of your desired wine, let’s throw out conventional wisdom and drink wine … cold! For instance…

Let’s put that bottle of wine in the fridge, chill it down to the 30s and when you’re ready to drink it, bring it out and enjoy.

If you’re drinking a glass of Rueda’s Honora Vera White Wine, take it out of the refrigerator, pour a glass of the great tasting Vedejo grape based beverage and by the time you’ve taken a few sips, the wine will be at the professionally approved temp of between 45 and 55 degrees. The fresh fruit tastes are extremely refreshing on a hot summer day.

If you like a sweet wine, try a bottle of Belview, Minnesota’s Grandview Valley Winery’s Old Red and White — a sweet blend of Frontenac Gris, Brianna and Marquette grapes. Put it in the refrigerator, chill it down, take it to the patio and cool down — you’ll love this sweet locally made wine. That’s the truth — no heresy here!

You know, maybe wine came into my life for a reason. Maybe it arrived to tell me things in life can be a necessary good — like a car and a good bottle of wine at any darn temperature I want to drink it.

My father would be proud of me to finally admit that cars are a good thing in life. But I still think he would like me to drive a green car — if possible, John Deere green and that’s the truth!

Next week, mid August brings…?

Newsletter

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
   

COMMENTS

[vivafbcomment]

Starting at $4.38/week.

Subscribe Today