Names are so interesting.

Are you named after a favorite relative, a place or a thing? I’ve only met a very few people who could initially correctly pronounce my last name. What does that mean? Just that we come from differing backgrounds and our names reflect our history or an event.

For instance, I know people who are named after whatever was happening around them at birth. If the moon was shining fully, they were named after the full moon. If it was raining, they got rainy names and, if there was a beautiful flower in the room, they were called after that flower.

All of our children are named after grandparents. I have my father’s middle name. My neighbor was named after a saint — although, he wasn’t much of a saint and that’s why we got along so well! I know a couple whose first names, although spelled differently, are pronounced the same way — I call them Number One and Number Two. Guess who’s Number One? She’s amazing, well, they both are and I always let them know that.

Along with that whole naming matter, goes how big of a deal is it to you? Do you even think about your name or has it become something you just take for granted? Probably, the answer is a bit of both — my name is my name and that’s the way it is. Sound familiar? But what if … your name was connected to size? Hmmm…so much could be done with that, right? So, let’s have a glass of wine and discuss.

Perhaps we pour a glass of Line 39 Pinot Noir from our Jeroboam and enjoy the wines pleasing soft raspberry and vanilla tastes, okay? Wait! Pour the wine from what? A Jeroboam — what the heck is that? Well, let’s just say that you better be ready to lift a container weighing over 10 pounds and to pour it gently into one’s glass.

Oh, a Jeroboam isn’t enough for you? Well, then lift a Methuselah filled with Bogle Old Vine Zinfamdel and carefully pour out a glass of the wine’s intense black cherry taste that’s enveloped in a soft blanket of oak. Have you been working out and lifting some weights? Methuselah weighs in at about 21 pounds. Go ahead, lift it over your head a few times and build those biceps because there’s more coming.

A good German Riesling is always welcome so let’s lift a Salmanazar of Josef Friederich’s Oppenheimer KrÅ’tenbrunnen Spätlese and salute the newness of this year! But, I forewarn you to be on the alert — this container of Riesling comes in at a hefty 31 pounds! Even though you will have to use both hands to hold this container, the late harvest sweet tasting wine will reward you for your efforts.

After the sweetness of the aforementioned Riesling, maybe we should have a nice Italian Pinot Grigio with a bit more dryness made by Placido. Oops, watch out for those Italians! They place this wine in a Balthazar which only weighs a bit over 41 pounds! Come on! You can do this — the reward will be the dry lemon/lime taste of the wine. A little effort to lift the Balthazar is worth it!

Wow! After all that weight lifting and sipping, I think it’s time to celebrate and who doesn’t do so but with a Nebuchadnezzar? Oh, just a quick question for you? How many 50-pound bags of bird seed have you lifted? I hope quite a few because the Nebuchadnezzar comes in at 52 pounds and if you can lift it, I hope it’s full of André Extra Brut California Champagne! Not only is this a nicely valued champagne but it has nice crispness and acidity to honor your efforts in lifting the rather heavy container. Maybe someone should help you pour from good old ‘Nebuchadnezzar, maybe?

These names for oversized wine bottles are obviously Biblically driven and about 200 years ago, they begin to be used to describe large goblets filled with fabulous wines. How would you like to be the sommelier at a party that only handled those containers? If nothing else, you would look fit!

Yes, names are interesting to me and I always try to strike up a conversation about a new friend’s name. Some of the time, I’m met with a blank face but most of the time, I get a story. A story that’s filled with history and love.

What’s your name mean to you?

As always, eat and drink in moderation but laugh with reckless abandon!

Cheers!