That opening line from the first season (1966) of that seemingly unending series known as Star Trek has long been a source of irritation for schoolmarms, pedants with way too much time on their hands, and free-floating cranks. Of course, there is nothing wrong with using a split infinitive now and again! Today, the schoolmarms are relatively quiescent and hostile scrutiny is now coming from other quarters and focused on the three-letter word in the utterance—no, no, no, not “has.” Well, we are going “to timidly avoid that issue,” at least for now, after which we intend “to meekly hide where no…” Well, you get the picture, right?
The original series was quite a success and much has been written about its significance. The Star Trek crew entertained TV audiences in a way that was novel and refreshing for the time and indirectly plugged America’s space program to boot. To us here at drinkingjapan.org, though, it is the opening line that is significant, for long after the plots have faded from memory that line has remained embedded in ours and probably yours, too.
Okuizumo Vineyards has taken wine drinkers to a place they have not gone before with their Mori no Wine Aka (Forest Wine Red), a blend containing Merlot, Black Pegase (apparently a cross or hybrid related to Yamabudo) and what they refer to as “miscellaneous Yamabudo.” This is a wine well worth trying. There’s plenty of candy and berries on the nose, equal amounts of sweetness and acidity on the palate, noticeable but appealing tannins, a medium (+) finish, and 12% abv. They produce 50,000 bottles of this wonderful wine annually.
Drinking Japan 