|
A quarter century can seem like such a long time ago. In many ways it really is; then again, in many ways, it really isn't. On the long time ago side, there was no internet, there was an unnamed disease killing thousands of young people that has since been named AIDS. When applying for a job, the topic of healthcare never even came up, it simply was not all that important.
On the short side, who can believe John Lennon has been gone so long (he was murdered in 1980). Nineteen seventy nine marked the beginning of the dark ages for New York Yankee fans whose quest for winning the fall classic began a fifteen year long hibernation. The ESPN sports channel began its maiden voyage on the airwaves as executives hotly debated its ability to sustain an audience.
When it comes to alcoholic beverages and drinking trends, 1979 represented a time when California wines were just beginning to have an impact. The Wine Spectator was barely in its infancy. Who knew who Robert Parker was? It was a time when wines were rated by stars, puffs, and by actually tasting a wine, instead of today's "palette surrender" to hysterically quoted numerical wine ratings. Wine was ordered by generic terms like chablis or burgundy. At that time no one even knew words like merlot, shiraz, and sauvignon blanc even existed.
Robert Mondavi Winery's initial bottling of the now famous super premium Opus One wine was not yet in the bottle. Dom Perignon could be purchased at retail for about $35 a bottle, and Cristal Champagne could be had for five bucks more. Stolichnaya was riding high, before the introduction of Absolut vodka, while Smirnoff vodka was still leaving us breathless. Bali High and Boone's Farm apple wine were the wine coolers of the day. Zinfandel was a red wine, while blush wines were simply called rose wines. Wine in a bag meant drinking wine outside from a bottle that was draped in a brown paper bag. Screw tops and synthetic corks would have seemed low rent, while smokers reveled in that practice without a thought or care in the world.
The great bottled water phenomenon was yet to be born, and the thought that we would stand in long lines on hot days to pay $3 a bottle would surely have seemed absurd. Today one of restaurants' greatest profit margins is-you guessed it-bottled water.
Light beer in 1979 was an empty beer while the term low carb beer would have invited the question: what's a carb?
There were no single barrel bourbons to be found and when someone ordered a Johnny Walker, we only had to recite two colors. Back then few stickmen knew that Tio Pepe and La Ina sherry should be refrigerated once opened.
Any other significant events that took place in 1979? Well, there is one more that deserves special mention. This is an event that should be celebrated by all those employed in the crazy bar and beverage business we call home. The year 1979 also was the year that Ray Foley transformed his passion, insight, and vision into Bartender Magazine and gave all of us a much needed voice.
|
