I was putting away some new wine purchases in storage, when I looked at the fixture that I was filling with bottles and smiled. There on the top of this fixture I have a couple of empty wine bottles that I just kept for the ambiance of the room. I know that they are there, but normally I don’t think of them as I am either putting bottles away or fetching some wine for dinner or a party.
The bottle that caught my eye and imagination today was a bottle of Brights Canadian Champagne in a magnum. I was very young when that bottle entered into my life. My family is from Canada, my Father was born in Hamilton, Ontario and we have relatives all around that area.
An uncle of mine came to our house in Detroit and I do believe he was celebrating some very good news. He had started the first pizzeria in St. Catherines in the 1950’s, sold that business and was going to start a fast-food venture. Each time when he would come to Detroit, he would study and observe trends, hence first the pizza business and then the fast-food concept. He was one of the most personable men, you would ever meet, and quite an entrepreneur. Excuse my haziness of memory, but I am sure this was the reason for the celebration and the champagne. The house was full of company and the bottles were popping, some were opened improperly and champagne would erupt like a volcano when the cork popped. Very exciting scene for a young man to observe, and I remember someone even handing me a glass of champagne so that I could join in the festivities.
My first tasting of real wine (prior to that I had tasted what was referred to in pre-PC times as “Dago Red” the wines that some of the older immigrant men would make in their basements). I remember that the wine tickled from the bubbles and it was just a little sweet, but the occasion was heady and it was fun, and I was part of the “boys.”
T.G. Bright & Co. Ltd. of Niagara Falls was or is the largest winery in Canada; they survived the aftermath of Prohibition in the States, the Depression, and World War II. They were the first company to plant French wine grapes in the area and they were successful. The company is still in existence and still making wines. My Bride and I are going to Niagara-on-the-Lake this summer for a wedding, so I am going to make some time from the nuptials of my cousin to go to some of the wineries. There is always more to learn and more to taste.
As I am writing this, I think back about my uncle, who later on sold his fast-food enterprise and created a steak and lobster restaurant. He was very eclectic in his businesses, but always successful and had the pulse of the public. I mention this, because on one of my many trips to St. Catherines my uncle gave me one of his extra swag light fixtures with leaded glass. I had this fixture for years safely packed in a carton, not quite sure what to do with it, as it had more of a tavern appearance or maybe it was just my pre-conceived thought about it. When I built my wine cellar, I remembered the lamp and placed in the cellar as the sole illumination.
Now that I reflect, it is a small but honoured salute to my late uncle, who may be gone, but not forgotten.
The Wine Raconteur 
I also store empty bottles for memory’s sake…except that when I moved across the Atlantic, none made it with me. That was sad. Because, as you beautifully demonstrated, they bring back good memories…
I do hope you did get a chance to at least soak the labels off, for reference. That would be an added extra expense to move empty bottles across the Atlantic. I hope that you did move your “live” collection.
I would be lost without my little cellar, though at times it seems inadequate for what I ask it to do.
I see that you are in Ann Arbor, I also reside in Michigan, but in Livonia. One day we should share a bottle and talk about wine.
Oh, no worries. I did bring my (limited) stocks, mostly Moselrieslings. It did not even occur to me to soak off the labels; some of them also seem to be glued like stickers and not like older labels…I saw your frequent mentions of Detroit but was not aware you still reside in Michigan. We should definitely try to get together with some bottles!
Yes, we should try to have a bottle and talk about wine. I tried to see if you had a page on FaceBook, with no luck. I really don’t at this time want to publish my email address. If you are on FaceBook, leave a “message” for John Torosian. Unless there is a way here to private message. I am a novice here.
You can try to soak some of the tougher labels off the bottles by soaking in hot water, and adding white ammonia to the water, then let it set for a while. This was a suggestion I got a one of the wineries in Napa.
Hello, we found this exact bottle in our parents basement. We were searching on the internet to get some background information, which brought us to your blog. We have a sealed bottle identical to the image you posted.
Joanne,
That bottle that I showed was from the 1960’s. The only thing I can say is ice it, or put it in the refrigerator and hope for the best.
I would like to hear the results, after you try it. I am not sure how long that wine will be good.
– John
Father in Law bought a Magnum 104 fl. oz. bottle back we think back in the 90’s?… for his granddaughter ‘ wedding. After he passed I forgot to open it for my daughters wedding! Now she has s baby! We will open it toda after all these years!
Richard, I would be interested in how the wine tasted. I hope it had been stored well. There is always time to celebrate and remember the moments. Enjoy and thank you for stopping by. – John
J’ai une grosse bouteille de champagne (vide)1950
a-t-elle de la valeur
Colombe,
Merci d’avoir trouve mon artice. Je derais que la bouteille n’a de valeur qu’en tant que curiosite. Je pourrais usggerer d’offrir la bouteille a un restaurant ou a une taverne comme piece d’exposition. J’ai le mien expose dans ma cave.
– John