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Wine has been around for millennia, but not the corkscrew. In early days, wine was stored in earthenware vessels or in wooden barrels.

It was just a few hundred years ago that wine began to be stored in corked bottles. However, even before that, a variety of other substances were stored in a bottle with a cork, and therefore required an implement to pull the cork out.

So, where did the first corkscrew come from, and who was its inventor?  Well, we don’t really have a clear answer to that, but here is what Ron McLean, a corkscrew historian—who knew there was such a thing!—with the Virtual Corkscrew Museum has to say,

“It is unknown when and who made the first corkscrew. The first corkscrews were derived from a gun worme, a tool with a single or double spiral end fitting used to clean musket barrels or to extract an unspent charge from the barrel. By the early 17th century corkscrews for removing corks were made by blacksmiths as using a cork to stopper a bottle was well established.”

McLean’s research also lists five patents, filed in England, France, Untied States, Germany and Canada, in that order, from 1795 to 1883.

It’s interesting to note that the style of manual corkscrews hasn’t really changed much since those early days.  When the lever style corkscrew became popular in the recent past, many thought, “ooh, what an original idea.”  Many thought wrong.  The lever, or winged style wine bottle opener, has actually been around since the late eighteen hundreds and the newer designs are based on that.

Of course, today in the twenty first century, we like our gadgets and gismos.  If there’s a way to automate a day to day task, we’re all for it.  So the electric wine bottle opener is now a common thing.  Oh, you likely won’t see the sommelier at your favorite restaurant using one to open that fine cabernet or merlot  you ordered, but many a household use them and love them for the ease of extracting a cork from a bottle.  For those who find using an old style corkscrew next to impossible, or are just tired of picking crumbled cork out of their wine, investing in an electric model may be the right choice.

And if those YouTube videos you stumble across are to be believed, you can also use a phone book or the trunk of a tree to open a bottle of wine if you’ve lost your corkscrew somewhere! 

So, however today’s corkscrew came to be available, we have a variety of different styles to choose from. From the very simple screw on a handle to much more sophisticated models.

And once you get the cork out of the bottle, please drink responsibly!

You can follow me at Wine Bottle Opener, where I document and review a variety of different corkscrews and share info about wine in general.

Elle Greene

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/wines-and-spirits-articles/wine-bottle-openers-corkscrews-a-little-history-1640898.html

One would need proof of course, in order to deduce these things. And tons of evidences were then gathered. These evidences convey that humans who lived a long, long time ago already had sufficient knowledge in the basic processes of homemade wine making. If we ask them now “how do you make wine?”  they will tell us that they did so at their very own homes and backyards, using the grapes they picked from their own vineyards.

“How do you make wine?”

The following will tell you many details:

-    Georgia and Iran were the two regions where early evidences of wine making were first found. The evidences date back to 6000-5000 B.C.
-    In Macedonia and Europe, there were evidences dug up by archeologists depicting that people 6,500 years ago already had knowledge in wine making.
-    Ceremonies were the center of life among the Egyptians. True enough, there have been paintings on ancient tombs and walls depicting wine making as being included in their rituals and ceremonies.
-    In China, evidences of wine making among the Chinese trace back to 2000-1000 B.C.

The diets of the classical Greeks and Romans were not complete without at least a glass of wine. This is very essential in their meal plans and couldn’t actually eat without being served a glass of it. They make sure that this is the case because they were very proud of the technology they have discovered at that time. This technology I am referring to is what they called the Wine Press technology.   This technology particularly made wine making very simple, easy and fast for them. “How do you make wine?” They used it to produce wine from various kinds of grapes, it helped them create various techniques in land growing and made them become creative in barrel making, wine storage and shipments.

We ask them again, “How do you make wine?”  We all know that a time came called the fall of the Roman Empire. When this happened, the Catholic Church imbibed their tradition and incorporated wine in their ceremonies particularly in the celebration of the holy mass. The use of wine as a symbol of the blood of Christ is a high point in the Catholics’ Eucharistic celebration. Wine then became a necessity for them which brought about the spread of wine use sometime in the 15th century. This is the case for the Catholics. For other religion like Islam, use of any alcohol was forbidden unless it was for healing or remedies.

During the prehistoric times, there were little or no evidence at all as to wine making. “How do you make wine?” Archeologists only speculated that prehistoric people also concocted their own homemade wine from wild grapes and fruits and eventually led to other evidences in the early times.

With these things, we can say that it is indeed quite hard to pinpoint where wine making really started. Evidences point to all sorts of different directions. Some say it originated from the vastness of the African continent while others point to the huge lands of South and Central Asia. We can never really know for sure.  What we can be sure of is that our contemporary or current wine making activities did stem from the ancient Greeks’ tradition. This is because the grapes being used in modern day Greece are similar to those used in the ancient Greek period.

Simon Thomas is a homemade winemaker, enthusiast and author. He lives in California and spends his time teaching others how to setup an amazing boutique winery. You can find more information about how to make professional quality wine at your own home, at Simon’s popular site: www.homemadewinesecrets.com

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/wines-and-spirits-articles/how-do-you-make-wine-a-short-history-1551282.html

If you are familiar with our world history, particularly that which is related to agriculture, civilization, cuisine and humanity as a whole, then you would be amazed to know that the history of wine making is very much related to these topics and it also covers a lengthy period of time, spanning thousands of years, discussing topics such as the how to homemade wine.

Tons of proofs were gathered that suggest people of long ago had very distinct knowledge about the how to homemade wine or the process of producing their own wine right at their own backyards or homes, how to produce this from grapes they picked right out of their vineyard and how to use wine in general.

Here are some instances that tell us so:

-       In 6000 to 5000 BC, the earliest evidence of how to homemade wine or wine processing were found in Iran and Georgia and Iran.

-       Around 6,500 years ago, archeologists dug up proofs in Macedonia in Europe, telling us that they also had knowledge in the how to homemade wine at that early age.

-       In Egypt, their way of life was centered in their ceremonies. It was very crucial to them. There were records showing that these ceremonial rites that they had included the making and use of wine among Egyptians. There are even drawings in their tombs and walls depicting such rituals.

-       Among the Chinese race, archeologists have evidence showing the implementation of the how to homemade wine and use of wine which can be traced back from 2000 to 1000 BC.

In the Roman and Greek classical times, wine was incorporated in their diet. It was actually an essential part of their meals that they couldn’t eat without at least having a glass or two. This was brought about by their adaption of a developed technology at that time. They called this technology Wine Press. This technology made it easier and faster for them to produce wine from different kinds of grapes, formulate effective land growing techniques, and making of barrels for wine storage and shipments.

In the Catholic Church, when the Roman Empire fell, they also incorporated in their rituals the execution of the how to homemade wine  and its use particularly in the celebration of mass which was a high point of their Eucharistic celebration. Wine use was necessity at this point. Because of this, there was a proliferation of wine use in the 15th century. But this was only among the Catholics. Other religion like Islam forbade the use of alcohol unless it’s for medicinal and healing purposes.

If we trace the use of wine in the prehistoric times, we might be disappointed because there is very little data. There is only speculation that the people at that time also practiced on the how to homemade wine and did their own wine concoction from wild grapes from which grew their other winemaking endeavors.

It is quite difficult to really locate where wine making first started. Proofs and evidences gathered by archeologists all these years point to several different directions. Some point to the very vast continent of Africa while others point to the equally immense land of South and Central Asia.

In terms of the wine that we have today, a lot of its influence came from the tradition of the ancient Greeks. It is good to note that the grapes used in modern Greece is very similar to those used during the ancient times.

Implementing the how to homemade wine is simply an activity that will blow you away. It’s so amazing ad fantastic! The mere fact that you can make some right at the comforts of your own home the way the ancient people do makes you honored to be included in this long lived tradition of wine making. And as you continue this practice, you will be able to discover special new wine recipes and even create your own too. In time, you will be able to sell your own produce. Now, wouldn’t that be fantastic? This will prove to be one of the best things you’ve ever done for yourself!

Simon Thomas is a homemade winemaker, enthusiast and author. He lives in California and spends his time teaching others how to setup an amazing boutique winery. His latest book, “Homemade Wine Profit Secrets – Big Profits from Your Wine Hobby” and four other amazing wine books (Great Wines Made Simple, Liqueurs and Party Specials, Healthy Fruit and Herbal Wines, Ladies’ Wines) are available at http://www.homemadewinesecrets.com.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/wines-and-spirits-articles/wine-making-history-1449354.html

For many years, fuming product experts have agreed that the best tobacco has been and is still matured in Cuba. This little country has been home to tobacco plantations since the aboriginal 18th century, when farmers first got down implanting the blue-chip crop on the east end of the island

Since that time, the tobacco farms have spread progressively, until they now can be happened in all regions of the country. The best tobacco is stated to be mature in the higher and most acknowledged region, which is turned up in the Pinar del Río province. If you desire to go a truthful lover of cigars, you should larn the basics of Cuban cigar history

One of the most crucial things you can cognize about Cuban cigar history is not an autochthonal plant of Cuba. As far as scientists and anthropologists can state, the tobacco plant uprised in South America

Although they are not exactly bound when it first made it in Antilles many believe it to be between 3000 or 2000 years B.C. This makes tobacco one of the oldest crops actively civilized by anthropoid beings. People have been fuming tobacco for its taste and loosening up effect for centuries

Something else you should cognize about Cuban cigar history is that the natives of the island originally identified it “Cohiba” tobacco. Early Cubans considered tobacco to have much more value than just a nonprofessional substance

They believed that tobacco had extraordinary immaterial and healthful qualities and made it a steady part of their churchgoing and governmental ceremonies, much like the Native Americans did. As it matured in popularity around the world, and European nations all desired to see to it that they would get the biggest share

In 1717, King Felipe V set up the “Tobacco Monopoly”, and destructed the business of many independence tobacco farmers. This trade restriction endured until June 23rd, 1817, when loose trade was again reconstructed

Eventually, the world came to respect Cuban tobacco for its superiority to the crops that were matured in North America and elsewhere. As a result, Cuban cigar history has go the stuff of legend, and the cigars themselves have go begrudged additions to people’s ad hominem collections

While some restriction on the trade of tobacco products still exists between the United States and Cuba, most people in other countries have no problem finding retailers that are selling the genuine article. England, Canada, and Spain are cognized for eminent quality cigar stores

The Blog Entry that Accompanies this Vlog is at: investorandtrader.blogspot.com My Daily Blog is at: investorandtrader.blogspot.com My channel at BlogTV is: www.blogtv.com My Podcast is at: airelon.podbean.com and embedded in the daily blog when I release a new podcast. Ok. Good information. But I want to trade. How do I begin? How do I get started. Great question. Some people want to invest in the stock market. Some people want to day trade. Some people want to swing trade in the stock market. How do you begin? I discuss that in thisvideo . . . NOTE: This is not an investment or trading recommendation. The losses in trading can be very real, and depending on the investment vehicle, can exceed your initial investment. I am not a licensed trading or investment adviser, or financial planner. But I do have 13 years of experience in trading and investing in these markets. The Challenge accounts are run for the education of other traders who should make their own decisions based off their own research and risk tolerance

The first POS systems appeared in the latter parts of the 1800s. In1870, James Ritty was fed up with his dishonest employees who pocked cash instead of depositing it with the OH Saloon in Dayton. So, he started to search for ways to automate the cash registry of the Saloon what specialized in pure Whiskies, Wines and Cigars.

It was during a trip that Ritty took on a ship when he got the idea of an automated mechanical cash register. He, being technical minded himself, was quick to catch the technique that the ships maintenance staff used to keep track of the number of revolutions the ship’s propeller for maintenance work. When James returned of Dayton he teamed up with his brother John and got to work making the first automated mechanical cash register that recorded transactions at the saloon. They called this patented device the ‘Ritty’s Incorruptible Cashier”.

This first cash register allowed a clerk to calculate the transaction and return the correct amount of change to the customer. The mechanical cash register had a cash draw that opened each time a transaction was negotiated to allow the clerk to make changes to the deposit by putting in cash and taking out the correct change before the draw was closed. It was mandatory for the draw to open and close before the next transaction could be carried out.

The cash register allowed the streamlining of the accounts to be maintained. These were the basic mechanical cash registers and nothing much changed for a very long time. Then the electronic cash registers come in frontier.

The mechanical cash registers had many drawbacks. For example, they could not maintain a record of the inventory in the store. If an item was sold the item would have to be manually removed from the inventory. Cashiers had to manually type in the amount. This was not the case with the electronic cash register that was fully automatic and allowed for streamlining of the checkout system.

Electronic cash registers had an additional tool called the “bar code scanner”. The product just had to be passed over the barcode reader and the cash register would automatically calculate the amount and add it to the bill. There was little need for typing in the amount of the item being sold. One more action the electronic cash register carried out was to automatically delete the item sold from the inventory. This reduced a lot of work for the staff on the shop floor and thus saves time.

The cash register has come a long way in history from the time it was invented. From the simple mechanical cash register to the today’s complex networked computerized electronic cash register, the cash register obviously does a lot more than just manage cash.

Today’s point of sale systems are faster, safer,  more secure, and more reliable than their ancestors, and allow retailers to operate every aspects of their business with a single, integrated point of sale system.

The history of the hookah comes from way, way back somewhere in the Middle East. For centuries, this has been considered as a form of art which was passed to generation to generation. These hookahs are a mainstay in coffee shops for decades, which just goes to show that even before; hookahs were already popular among many people. Hookah Pipes are also referred to as narghile, narghila, shisha, water pipe or hubbly bubbly.

During its time in India and Persia, this was smoked through the use of a coconut shell. As this slowly evolved into the hookah that we see today and was passed to other countries like Turkey. This is where the first modern hookah was used. The hookah pipe was even considered a fashion icon or a social distinction. This was when people in upper class were photographed with their hookah pipes. Since then, hookahs have become a status symbol during the 20th century.

Hookahs continued to become popular among many people. And up to today, this is common among younger people when they get together. This is best used when smoking in groups. Hookah uses the five senses as you smoke. Visually, it is very appealing to see. Touch is when you operate the pipe; taste and smell is during the smoking proper and hearing is when the water starts to bubble and gurgle. This is why it is very relaxing and comfortable to use.

Today, the tobacco being used for hookah is called shisha. It contains fruit pulps, molasses, honey, glycerin and 0.5% of nicotine. Shisha tobacco comes in different flavors with the use of the extracts of different fruits like apples, bananas, cherry and pineapple. You may also add some more ingredients to make the experience more relaxing and pleasurable like adding fruit juices to the base. You may also add ice to the water for a cooler effect of the smoke once inhaled.

As the hookahs slowly become more and more popular in the United States, other people have learned that this can be a good source of income for them as they venture into selling hookah and shisha to the public. Also, some people have put up places called hookah bars and lounges where you can rent hookahs and have unlimited refills of the shisha tobaccos. This is just a proof of how famous the hookah pipes are.
As of today, many still do not know anything about the hookah, but since younger generation are slowly becoming more and more hooked to this smoking adventure, hookahs will soon be used openly in the public. However, though this is part of a social gathering for many people, you should still take this in moderation like any other vices should be.

Hookahs are totally different from smoking cigars or regular tobaccos. This is not intended to be an addictive vice but more of a pleasurable gathering between friends and other groups of people. Learn how to control your self in using the hookah.

To purchase the original, patented and lowested priced Modern Hookahs, Medium Hookahs, Small Hookahs and other Hookahs for Sale, Hookah Vases, and Hookah Accessories go to HookahPlus.com

The indigenous inhabitants of the islands of Mexico and the Americas smoked cigars as early as 1100 A.D. This is evidenced by the discovery of a ceramic vessel at a Mayan archaeological site located at Uaxactun, Guatemala. A painted figure of a man smoking a rudimentary form of cigar adorns the vessel.
 
It was the Italian explorer Christopher Columbus who officially inaugurated Europe to the pleasure of smoking tobacco. Because of this, he is credited with being the catalyst for the advent of the modern handmade cigar. He visited the indigenous population and noticed that they used tobacco for medicine, tribal rituals and for spiritual practices.
 
Rodrigo de Jerez and Luis de Torres, two crewmen who sailed with Columbus, are said to have been introduced to tobacco for the first time on the island San Salvador in the Bahamas. There, during the famous voyage of 1492, natives offered them fragrant dry leaves with an aroma that lingered after it was lit. Further exploration revealed that tobacco was widespread among the other island tribes, such as Cuba, which is the location where Columbus and his men established their first official settlement.
 
Columbus exported tobacco back to Europe and it was immediately all the rage. In fact, tobacco was such hit that, to much of the European population, the idea of farming tobacco served as a rationale for the colonization of North America, South America and the Caribbean.
 
Ship manifest records of 1592 recorded that the Spanish galleon, San Clemente, brought 50 kilograms, or 110 pounds, of tobacco seed over the Acapulco-Manila trade route to the Philippines. There the seed was allocated to Roman Catholic missions, where the clerics discovered that the climate and soil were ideal for growing high-quality tobacco.
 
In the centuries that followed, the use of tobacco became widespread. Its use for recreational purposes and as a stimulant became popular among people who worked long hours. By the 1700’s, Cuba became the premiere location for the best tobacco and for the development of what we know today as the modern cigar. The origins of the English word “cigar” come from the Spanish word cigarro, which in turn was a derivative from the Mayan word for tobacco, siyar.
 
From the 1700’s to today, Cuban cigars and Cuban tobacco became recognized as the world’s finest. However, the Communist take-over of Cuba by Fidel Castro in the early 1960’s, and the subsequent U.S. embargo, challenged that country’s title. Former Cuban cigar-makers took their skills and seeds to the Caribbean, Dominican Republic, Honduras and Mexico, producing high-end cigars categorized as premium and super-premium.
 
Today, the exquisite pleasure of the premium cigar remains one luxury that connoisseurs enjoy worldwide. Handmade cigars that are part of this remarkable heritage may be obtained online through premium companies.
 
Enjoy laughter. Enjoy life. Enjoy a fine cigar.

Nobody who saw the movie “Titanic” will ever forget Leonardo di Caprio’s exuberant proclamation “I’m king of the world!” And while the ships created in the image of HMS Titanic are no more, the experience of being treated like royalty is still available for all those who choose the seven to sixteen day seagoing experiences offered by Crystal cruises.

Crystal Cruises Ports Of Call

From the sunny Caribbean an the shores of Puerto Vallarta to the dazzling white of Arctic glaciers and ice floes; from the quaint Guernsey Isle village of St. Peter’s Port to the tropical breezes of Polynesia’ and from the Greek isles to Scandinavia, Crystal Cruises will transport its clientele to six of the seven continents in elegance and style.

The hospitality of Crystal Cruise ships does not end with their gangways. Crystal Cruise guests will enjoy onshore accommodations at the very best hotels in all Crystal Cruises ports-of-call, and will have access to onshore activities more suitable to James Bond than to the regular traveler. Crystal Cruises can arrange such adventures as Porsche test drives or MiG flightseeing.

Onboard Activities

Crystal Cruises will make sure that its guests are well-informed about the cultures they are visiting by providing lectures on the history and customs of local populations. Crystal Cruise ships have movie theaters showing new releases, name entertainment and plenty of live musical acts, including live Jazz at the Avenue Saloon, and cigar smoking at the Connoisseur Club. They of course offer casino fun, with their Caesar’s Palace Casino staffed by Caesar’s Palace professionals, and as a twist, offer bridge lessons for those with an aversion to poker.

All Crystal Cruises passengers have access to the ships’ fitness centers, where they can indulge in exercise lessons or yoga instruction. Swimming pools and Jacuzzis, driving ranges and putting greens, shuffle board and table tennis are all available.

The Dining Experience

Like all cruise lines Crystal Cruises pay special attention to their passengers’ dining experience. The Crystal Dining Room offers fine French cuisines at breakfast, lunch, and dinner, with an alternative selection of vegetarian and low cholesterol meals. Other restaurants include Italian Prego and Asian specialties at the Jade Garden on the Crystal Symphony.

Those passengers who would prefer to take their meals on deck are pampered with a range of buffets and those who like to sleep in after an evening’s entertainment can find late breakfast at the Trident Grill and Ice Cream Bar. The British tradition of Afternoon Tea is observed each afternoon in the Palm Court, to music from a live string ensemble.

The three ships of the Crystal Cruises fleet are usually booked up months in advance, but the chance of feel like ocean-going royalty is worth the wait!

European discount cruises will not shortchange you on your shipboard amenities, gourmet meals and snacks, live music and stage shows, movies, and casino fun. You will be pampered by ship staff throughout your cruise and return from your onshore adventures each evening knowing that your cabin will be ready with a freshly turned-down bed so that you can get the sleep you need to prepare for the next day’s excitement!

The Colibri lighter has had a long and illustrious history ever since its start in 1928, it was founded by Julius Lowenthal  who started with the idea of a lighter which would help people avoid the contact of the thumbs to the flint wheel. From this idea came the Colibri Original, though there were technical difficulties to the original design, it was eventually overcome and some of the Colibri Originals are still serving their owners until today.

In 1933, Julius was able to establish Colibri Lighters Ltd in London, and after the war, the company was able to establish its own Development Department that produced and are still producing a wide range of lighters until today.

With the Colibri lighter, one can always expect functionality with quality, and added to that, lighter designs that would fit any personality. Just to name a few of their lighters, there are Colibri Cigar Lighters, Colibri Windproof Lighters, Colibri Women’s Lighters, Table Lighters, and All Purpose Lighters. And that’s not even a complete list, to say that their Development Department have been busy since its founding is quite the understatement. It was even Colibri who produced the ingenious design for the golden gun in the James Bond film “The Man with the Golden Gun”; this was assembled from a Cobliri 88 lighter, cigarette case, cuff links and fountain pen.

Pricewise, these lighters can range from the under $25 to $200. The choices presented would be from your All Purpose Colibri Lighter priced at $8.99, to the Colibri Miata Lavender Silver Lighter at $32.99, then there’s the Colibri Wellington Basket Silver Lighter at $50.99, then the Colibri Hybrid Lighter with brushed chrome finish at $84.99, to the Colibri Carbon Fiber Humido 3-Piece set at $148.99. Needless to say, the Colibri Lighter doesn’t just present a wide-range of designs; it also gives choices depending on the budget.

With that said, the Colibri Lighter is a definite must-have for lighter aficionados, and for people who can appreciate quality design and engineering. It’s history is also one guarantee of any Colibri lighter as a keeper and one that will definitely live up to expectations that only this brand can deliver.

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