Not-so-crude aromas of petrol and Zippo!
I have recently learnt that crude, as in “crude oil”, does not mean uncouth or rude, but rather means raw or unrefined as in the very same thing as “petrol”, yes that stuff we put in our cars, and that the word “petroleum” is derived from Greek, meaning “rock oil”.
The price of “crude oil” is quoted in dollars or cents per barrel. Phew, finally, “barrel” – a term I am very familiar with. The price of a barrel of oil is highly dependent – “… uh, on whether French oak or American oak barrels are used?” – but sadly no, it seems it’s dependent on its grade, sulphur content, and its location!! Terroir?
And also, according to wikipedia, crude oil has been trading between US$35 a barrel and US$73 a barrel in 2009. Sounds like my beginning of the month wine purchases (ZAR73 a bottle) vs. my end of the month wine purchases (ZAR35 a bottle).
And what has petrol got to do with the price of eggs, uh wine, you ask? Well, this may be an exciting whiff of news for some of you, if you like the smell of Zippo fluid as much as I do (did I say that aloud?… ) As it matures, the German white wine Rhine Riesling, also called Weisser Riesling, acquires aromas of petrol, diesel and kerosene, much like an old Merc. It’s true, ask the google teacher! Now you know why wine lovers are always “sniffing” the wine.