/oss/taxonomy/term/1372/all en /oss/article/general-science/bubbling-new-year-0 <p>A fascinating story is told by the guide on a tour of perhaps the most famous champagne house in the world. Moet et Chandon in Reims is the producer of Dom Perignon, the king of bubblies. The traditional saucer shaped champagne glasses, the guide explains, were actually modeled after the shape of Madame de Pompadour's breasts.</p> Thu, 29 Dec 2022 02:30:00 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 9342 at /oss /oss/article/general-science/shaking-champagne-bottle <p>People readily understand that solids can dissolve in a liquid. Salt or sugar dissolve in water and the warmer the water, the faster the rate of dissolution. We learn this in elementary school. But for some reason, the idea that gases can dissolve in water causes more confusion. Indeed, they do dissolve. If oxygen from the air did not dissolve in water, for example, fish could not survive. And if carbon dioxide did not dissolve in water, we wouldn’t have carbonated beverages. Temperature, on the other hand, has a different effect as to how gases and solids dissolve in water.</p> Tue, 17 Dec 2019 15:00:00 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 8044 at /oss /oss/article/general-science/bubbling-new-year <p>Louis the fifteenth's favourite paramour, as the fable goes, commissioned a glassblower to make the glasses in order to please the king who was so enamoured of her bosom. The story goes down well with the tourists, probably better than champagne goes down from the saucer shaped glasses.</p> Thu, 27 Dec 2018 17:00:00 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 7503 at /oss /oss/article/history/happy-new-year-all-pour-champagne <p>Champagne time! Make sure you drink it from the right kind of glass!</p> <p>First a little background. Champagne is produced mainly from black grapes in the Champagne region of France. From the moment the Pinot noir grapes are pressed in the vineyard, where almost fanatical care is taken to ensure that not even a trace of black skin ends up in the white juice, to the moment the cork pops, champagne receives more care and attention than any other wine in the world.</p> Wed, 01 Jan 2014 00:47:33 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 2055 at /oss /oss/article/health-you-asked/what-does-blanc-de-noirs-mean-when-referring-wine <p>By removing the grape skins after red grapes are pressed. Many people believe that red wine is made from red grapes and white wine from green grapes. They are wrong. When grapes are pressed, the juice is white, no matter what variety of grape is used. But if the juice is left in contact with red grape skins, pigments leach out of the skins and colour the wine. These pigments belong to a family of compounds called anthocyanins which are responsible for the colouration of many fruits and vegetables.</p> Sun, 10 Jul 2011 18:30:58 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 1585 at /oss