Do not be afraid of the image that opens this article. I am well aware of being in a site dedicated to wine and that the figure seems a long way from this kind of argument. It’s actually really very “distant”, about 7000 light years, which, in other words, it means that the light of what you see, who travels to the remarkable speed of 300,000 kilometers per second, well it took 7000 years to reach us. But the thing you see is by no means small. The white segment at the bottom left indicate the size of 2000 AU, which means 2000 Astronomical Units. Recalling that the astronomical unit (equal to the distance between Earth and the Sun) is 150 million km, one gets that this segment is 300 billion miles, more than one billion, billion less. Me you might say, “Yeah, okay, but never got to do what with the food or the wine?”. Got to do, got to do. Another moment of patience.

Do you remember the famous and tragic scandal of methanol in 1986? A clever vintner had seen fit to add this unhealthy alcohol wine to increase alcohol content. There were 23 deaths and dozens of serious poisoning. Our character thought (maybe) that there was nothing wrong in using the substance at low prices, as during the fermentation of grapes if they still get a bit ‘, with his more important brother ethanol. More or less in relation to one percent. Within months, our “crime of wine” I used two and a half tons. A bit ‘too much, maybe …

How much space does two and a half tons of methanol? It depends on whether in the form of liquid or gas, but certainly not enough to fill the entire solar system. Such an extension of the methanol would seem a real amateur winemaker in 1986 of sophistication. Yet someone or something is doing it!

We return, finally, to the figure. It represents an area of ​​star birth. Recall that it is from clouds of gas and dust, as shown in the image, the new lives that spring cosmic our Sun will shine like the greenish halo around the rose bush, and the “puff” on the left, have However, a composition very special: they are rich in methanol. No, I mistyped! Speak directly of methanol or methyl alcohol, whose chemical formula can be written CH3OH. A molecule consisting of four hydrogen atoms, one carbon and one oxygen atom. In the end it is not difficult to produce. Just handle it. And interstellar space has unexpected capabilities.

At this point, I remember the site where we are and I get many questions and strange thoughts. The first and foremost: the existence of methanol in space must derive from some natural process and not fraudulent. Above (or below) there are no fraudulent vintners. Could it be that perhaps in that area so far is taking place (in fact already been seven thousand years ago …) a real “fermentation”? We know that the Cosmos has already been identified in sugar and simple so why could not also exist fructose? Furthermore, fructose is good for “children” and that area of ​​the sky is just a kind of nursery where there are dozens and dozens of newborn stars.

Having ascertained this fact, the presence of methanol becomes intuitive. If the fermentation is to produce methanol. However, we also know that good wine in it represents only one percent of ethanol. So here’s my shocking question: “If there is all that monstrous amount of methanol, ethanol because there will be heavenly in that region? And the wine? “. I’m afraid to come to terms, but certainly a lot indescribable!

There followed some serious concerns, which will be shared by both insiders that enthusiasts. First, an ethical and moral: all the wine and quell’alcol right in the middle of a kindergarten? Mamma mia! And to think that the universe has always been thought of as a place pure and perfect. As I was hit hard. And to think that I was convinced I know him pretty well. Ah, the Cosmos is not the same, like the seasons …

Then the problem is not negligible trade-related. What if there are aliens behind this enormous production of wine? Maybe you are coming to invade the market. Surely at bargain prices, given the number available. Not enough of the economic crisis and the emerging nations pose problems for Italy? We bring you also the ET of the day.

Finally, the quality of the product. I fear it is remarkable. On the other hand, do not say “astronomical” to describe something really fantastic and exceptional? Well, what’s the most astronomical of a wine that comes seven thousand light years away?

All that remains is to launch an action choral around the world to tackle the looming danger. Immediately send a spaceship full of “breathalyzer”, before the unwelcome guests arrive in our country. Finally, a proper and useful of the infamous and diabolical machine. Just raise the value of the now famous “conversion” to seize the aircraft aliens and their occupants to jail. As we all know is not very difficult to prove that it is enough to turn a drop of wine drunk in all licensed. Even the distant cosmic tenants.

Tags: fermentation, grapes, Review, wine, winery

This entry was posted on Wednesday, April 20th, 2011 at 5:53 am and is filed under Millie Howie's Reviews, Wine review. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.