The surname of PERRIN was a baptismal name - the son of Peter, the name was from the Old French Pierre, a name brought to England with William the Conqueror in 1066. Apparently, family surnames were generally not in use until after 1200 except among royalty. It does seem odd that first names are the only way I [we] remember the identity of various royalty in history and the present: Henry the 8th, Catherine of Aragon, Louis XIV, King George and Queen Elizabeth. Do we use or even know their family surnames? Not as commonly as other titles such as the Duke of York, Prince of Wales and the same holds true for elected Papal personages, in that only a first name is commonly used: ie, Pope John.
As I have been trying to trace back Perrine family geneology and hoping to connect with the Chateauneuf du Pape wine producers Perrin et Fils, the fact that there were so many sons of Pierre or Peter all over Europe raises the probability of only being able to trace a family lineage through DNA comparisons and eliminations. At the very least, this has been challenging and mind expanding. Who needs drugs? Perhaps a little wine sets my imagination free to roam.
Cheers
Monday, March 7, 2011
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Perrin/Perrine
The Perrine Bridge presently crossing Snake River between TwinFalls and the hiway to Shoshone, Hailey, Ketchum, Galena Summit to Stanley is a replacement for the original cantiliever suspension bridge first erected in the 1920's. This is the bridge that people free jump off on the East side - parachuting and landing on the south bank of Snake River. Popular with daredevils from all over the world, most succeed without injury. There is a bridge across the river down in the canyon. Originally, built as a toll bridge replacing a "ferry or raft" method for crossing Snake River, it now holds the water cysterns transporting drinking water to Twin Falls from Blue Lakes.
IB Perrine designed the center of Twin Falls on a diagonal plat, to take advantage of sunshine with no cardinal facing buildings. The original center city Perrine Hotel was often a destination for political candidates, with a grand balcony used for campaign speeches. William Jennings Bryant, 2X presidential candidate, loved to visit Idaho and the Blue Lakes Ranch.
Thomas Edison and Luther Burbank were good friends to IB Perrine. He had the first electric light bulbs installed in the canyon house. The first Red and Golden delicious apples were grafted onto Blue Lakes apple trees. My aunt just found a document that invited IB Perrine to consult with orchardists in France, but he declined. At the peak of his fame and wealth, he would attend the Opera in Salt Lake City with his wife and my grandmother. They had a family box and the 'ladies' had to have the latest couiture dresses made by a French dressmaker in SLC.
IB dabbled in investments in others gold mines and the stock market. He lost everything in the crash of 1929. The Blue Lakes Country Club leased the land from him until he had to sell it to them to live on. IB died the same year I was born, HG [ GiGi] died in Boise when I was 4.
more to follow ...
IB Perrine designed the center of Twin Falls on a diagonal plat, to take advantage of sunshine with no cardinal facing buildings. The original center city Perrine Hotel was often a destination for political candidates, with a grand balcony used for campaign speeches. William Jennings Bryant, 2X presidential candidate, loved to visit Idaho and the Blue Lakes Ranch.
Thomas Edison and Luther Burbank were good friends to IB Perrine. He had the first electric light bulbs installed in the canyon house. The first Red and Golden delicious apples were grafted onto Blue Lakes apple trees. My aunt just found a document that invited IB Perrine to consult with orchardists in France, but he declined. At the peak of his fame and wealth, he would attend the Opera in Salt Lake City with his wife and my grandmother. They had a family box and the 'ladies' had to have the latest couiture dresses made by a French dressmaker in SLC.
IB dabbled in investments in others gold mines and the stock market. He lost everything in the crash of 1929. The Blue Lakes Country Club leased the land from him until he had to sell it to them to live on. IB died the same year I was born, HG [ GiGi] died in Boise when I was 4.
more to follow ...
Monday, January 31, 2011
Idaho/Oregon Rootstock
Recently, I was asked to describe the origin of my interest in Idaho wines.
My mother's family were Oregonians from the 1800's. She and her mother were born in The Dalles. One of those earlier Remington ancestors was from the Dr. Benjamin Rush lineage, who consulted at President Thomas Jefferson's request, by training Merriweather Lewis in medical knowledge and asked him to bring back samples of indigenous medicinal herbs. The voyage of discovery brought many pioneering families into Oregon and Idaho. My Robinson relatives became wheat farmers and livestock ranchers in the John Day and Redmond, Oregon areas. Not wanting to stay on the farm, my mother's father became a salesman and eventually a J.C. Penny Manager in Wenatchee, WA, Bend, OR and Twin Falls, ID.
My mother graduated from Twin Falls HS in 1938. She was the first "Miss Twin Falls" competing in the Miss America pre-lims at Sun Valley. She met my father in elementary school in Twin Falls. He was a 6'th grade student who instructed her 4'th grade class during a 1929 seasonal flu epidemic that knocked out a lot of teachers as well as students.
Photo of Grandmother Stella Haight, my mother Jeanne Robinson Haight and me on GG Perrine's lap.
Ira Burton Perrine left Indiana at age 18 to find his fortune in the Idaho mines. He was too small of stature to do much heavy lifting, but he learned how to use dynamite and knew enough about dairy farming to bring the first herd of milk cows to Hailey in the 1880's. When the snows of his first winter became too deep in Hailey for the cows to graze, he was told by hotelier Henry Walgamott about the Blue Lakes in the Snake River Canyon, where the snows rarely stuck and grasses grew year round - probably due to some of the warm springs. He drove his cows down an entrance through a box canyon, where his only neighbors were a white trapper and a native woman. The present day N. canyon wall double hairpin curved road to Blue Lakes Country Club east of Alpheus creek and the fish hatcheries to the west was a one-lane project that took him 7 years to complete. He was also hired by Mr Walgamott to drive the stage coach back and forth from Walgamott's canvas hotel to the train station in Shoshone, where he met and later married H.G. McKay known to me as GG or GiGi. IB Perrine built a fine house down in the canyon and became an early fruit farmer and orchardist. He took saddlebags of fresh strawberries to the pioneers on the Oregon Trail stopping at Rock Creek station. His prune plums and Roma apples won awards at the 1900 Paris World expedition, as well as the first Idaho State Fair in 1897 and fairs throughout the west. The only ranch building remaining is the bee-keepers cabin on Alpheus Creek.
Ward Hooper graphic of the IBPerrine bridge.
The Perrine family ancestry in the US began with the Huguenot, Daniel Perrin immigrating in 1665. He was granted 80 acres on Staten Island. Winegrape growing was a natural cultural necessity, along with the usual crops for feeding his family.
IB Perrine planted Delaware grapes [from Delaware, Ohio - some believe Napolean's son planted the Ohio vineyard - Lord De La Ware was honored with the common name for a grape which is neither native labrusca, nor a vinefera cultivar, but thought to be a french hybrid] IB made cider from his apples, but no one remembers him making wine. The Delaware grapes were my father's favorite grape. He lived down in the canyon while attending school in Twin Falls. I surmise he accepted employment as a Chemical Engineer with DuPont, thinking he could get those grapes in the state of Delaware.
Although the surname Perrin / Perrine is as common in France as Smith or Jones is here, we like to claim a family relationship with the reliable Southern Rhone family of winemakers - Perrin et Fils or the Champagne Perrins in the Aube/Ardennes between Reims and Dijon.
To be continued ....
My mother's family were Oregonians from the 1800's. She and her mother were born in The Dalles. One of those earlier Remington ancestors was from the Dr. Benjamin Rush lineage, who consulted at President Thomas Jefferson's request, by training Merriweather Lewis in medical knowledge and asked him to bring back samples of indigenous medicinal herbs. The voyage of discovery brought many pioneering families into Oregon and Idaho. My Robinson relatives became wheat farmers and livestock ranchers in the John Day and Redmond, Oregon areas. Not wanting to stay on the farm, my mother's father became a salesman and eventually a J.C. Penny Manager in Wenatchee, WA, Bend, OR and Twin Falls, ID.
My mother graduated from Twin Falls HS in 1938. She was the first "Miss Twin Falls" competing in the Miss America pre-lims at Sun Valley. She met my father in elementary school in Twin Falls. He was a 6'th grade student who instructed her 4'th grade class during a 1929 seasonal flu epidemic that knocked out a lot of teachers as well as students.
Photo of Grandmother Stella Haight, my mother Jeanne Robinson Haight and me on GG Perrine's lap. My father's family roots included Donald McKay who came 'round the horn' from Boston to San Francisco. [see picture of clipper ship] during the Gold Rush in t
he 1850's. He followed the rush to Idaho in the 1860's and became a "founding father" of Hailey, Idaho.
he 1850's. He followed the rush to Idaho in the 1860's and became a "founding father" of Hailey, Idaho. He must have made a good income from mining: he ordered Kangaroo skin shoes from Australia and wore 3 piece wool suits. He married Amanda Bartholemew, they purchased the McPhail Hotel in Shoshone,and raised two daughters, Stella and Hortense Genevieve. [my great grandmother]. He was a knowledgeable blacksmith as well and was remembered by my grandmother as always carrying mints in his vest pockets.
Ira Burton Perrine left Indiana at age 18 to find his fortune in the Idaho mines. He was too small of stature to do much heavy lifting, but he learned how to use dynamite and knew enough about dairy farming to bring the first herd of milk cows to Hailey in the 1880's. When the snows of his first winter became too deep in Hailey for the cows to graze, he was told by hotelier Henry Walgamott about the Blue Lakes in the Snake River Canyon, where the snows rarely stuck and grasses grew year round - probably due to some of the warm springs. He drove his cows down an entrance through a box canyon, where his only neighbors were a white trapper and a native woman. The present day N. canyon wall double hairpin curved road to Blue Lakes Country Club east of Alpheus creek and the fish hatcheries to the west was a one-lane project that took him 7 years to complete. He was also hired by Mr Walgamott to drive the stage coach back and forth from Walgamott's canvas hotel to the train station in Shoshone, where he met and later married H.G. McKay known to me as GG or GiGi. IB Perrine built a fine house down in the canyon and became an early fruit farmer and orchardist. He took saddlebags of fresh strawberries to the pioneers on the Oregon Trail stopping at Rock Creek station. His prune plums and Roma apples won awards at the 1900 Paris World expedition, as well as the first Idaho State Fair in 1897 and fairs throughout the west. The only ranch building remaining is the bee-keepers cabin on Alpheus Creek.
Ward Hooper graphic of the IBPerrine bridge.The Perrine family ancestry in the US began with the Huguenot, Daniel Perrin immigrating in 1665. He was granted 80 acres on Staten Island. Winegrape growing was a natural cultural necessity, along with the usual crops for feeding his family.
IB Perrine planted Delaware grapes [from Delaware, Ohio - some believe Napolean's son planted the Ohio vineyard - Lord De La Ware was honored with the common name for a grape which is neither native labrusca, nor a vinefera cultivar, but thought to be a french hybrid] IB made cider from his apples, but no one remembers him making wine. The Delaware grapes were my father's favorite grape. He lived down in the canyon while attending school in Twin Falls. I surmise he accepted employment as a Chemical Engineer with DuPont, thinking he could get those grapes in the state of Delaware.
Although the surname Perrin / Perrine is as common in France as Smith or Jones is here, we like to claim a family relationship with the reliable Southern Rhone family of winemakers - Perrin et Fils or the Champagne Perrins in the Aube/Ardennes between Reims and Dijon.
To be continued ....
Monday, January 3, 2011
2011
Happy New Year !
Resolve to try something new. Perhaps a wine varietal you have not yet experienced.
People often ask me how do you 'taste wine' ? How do you know the different varietals?
In my random tasting experiences, I have garnered a method based on the 'enotype of the varietal', the Davis 20 point system and my own preferences. However, if one is just beginning to explore wine, I would suggest the very logical method suggested by Terry Thies in his new book "Reading between the Vines" : take one white varietal and one red varietal - over the course of three months. You will train your palate to recognize the grape varietal from its basic characteristics. During those three months purchase wine from every region that those two varietals are produced. You will be training your palate to recognize terroir. Other variables you can study - age of vintage, whether the wine was aged in oak [what kind] or not, % alcohol, grape vs wood tannins, dryness or residual sugars and food matching. Take notes on what you find, read, taste and conclude.
Building on the basics - strengthens your knowledge, palate confidence and will lead to your individual preferences.
Resolve to try something new. Perhaps a wine varietal you have not yet experienced.
People often ask me how do you 'taste wine' ? How do you know the different varietals?
In my random tasting experiences, I have garnered a method based on the 'enotype of the varietal', the Davis 20 point system and my own preferences. However, if one is just beginning to explore wine, I would suggest the very logical method suggested by Terry Thies in his new book "Reading between the Vines" : take one white varietal and one red varietal - over the course of three months. You will train your palate to recognize the grape varietal from its basic characteristics. During those three months purchase wine from every region that those two varietals are produced. You will be training your palate to recognize terroir. Other variables you can study - age of vintage, whether the wine was aged in oak [what kind] or not, % alcohol, grape vs wood tannins, dryness or residual sugars and food matching. Take notes on what you find, read, taste and conclude.
Building on the basics - strengthens your knowledge, palate confidence and will lead to your individual preferences.
Monday, December 27, 2010
Boise Wine Club
Sometimes, especially this time of year, Boise feels like it is Restless .... always moving. On December 26, 2010, the Boise Wine Club held their third wine tasting at the Red Feather 
Lounge in downtown Boise. Tonight the tasting included some wonderful wines from Austria and Portugal.
Usually, there is no charge for this monthly event, just bring a bottle of themed wine to share. But it was decided that in order to have a Waite Person assigned to us by the Red Feather Lounge, we will start to charge a nominal fee of $10.00 per person and still bring a bottle of wine to share. We hope that you enjoy these photos of the evening party and we thank the Red Feather Lounge and their staff for their hospitality. They are always so very gracious and we do enjoy ourselves. Let's start with the wines Robin and I took and some Appetizers.
These are the wines that Robin and I took. The variety of others was great.
Country Pâté
(Pâté Maison Terrine)
Duck Confit
Cheese Plate
Here are the folks that attended. It was good to meet some new ones and see some of the others again.
Cameron
Jack and Kerry
Adele and Sean
Bobby
Bobby decants a port while Ted (hidden) and Michelle look on.
Michelle
Scott
Cheers!
Lounge in downtown Boise. Tonight the tasting included some wonderful wines from Austria and Portugal.
Usually, there is no charge for this monthly event, just bring a bottle of themed wine to share. But it was decided that in order to have a Waite Person assigned to us by the Red Feather Lounge, we will start to charge a nominal fee of $10.00 per person and still bring a bottle of wine to share. We hope that you enjoy these photos of the evening party and we thank the Red Feather Lounge and their staff for their hospitality. They are always so very gracious and we do enjoy ourselves. Let's start with the wines Robin and I took and some Appetizers.
These are the wines that Robin and I took. The variety of others was great.
Country Pâté(Pâté Maison Terrine)
Duck Confit
Cheese PlateHere are the folks that attended. It was good to meet some new ones and see some of the others again.
Cameron
Jack and Kerry
Adele and Sean
Bobby
Bobby decants a port while Ted (hidden) and Michelle look on.
Michelle
ScottCheers!
Sunday, December 19, 2010
Following up on communion wines and Paris
From my first posting about my first experience tasting wine, I have received information, feedback and comments about the wines served and the personality or lack thereof for the Reverand Mr. Ludlow.
The wines were often Sherries or Tawny Ports, according to my source, who was one of the altar boys. They were never allowed to see the labels as the adults of the Altar Guild filled the glass decanters that were ceremoniously used by the Altar Boys during communion to fill the Chalice. No deep red wines were allowed to be served as representing the 'blood' of Christ to avoid staining the sacred vessels and linens. The main consideration was the price. Often wines were donated by Parishoners. My sister remembers Kosher Concord wines - Manischevitz [Because she saw a bottle in the trash] and that could have been true, as she is 7 years younger than I and they could have taken advantage of some great bargain sales.
A long time friend who also attended St. Thomas, remembers The Reverend Mr. Ludlow as "Staid". In my opinion he had no 'joy' about him; he rarely laughed; he occasionally smiled. Most of the time he looked and acted like a sad bloodhound, down in the eyes and mouth.
From Le Café de Paris, we were delighted to receive a Pâté Maison Terrine and a Baguette from Mathieu - a Christmas gift. Mathieu has since shared his recipe and we may have to work on
perfecting our terrine making. A little more complex and elegant than meatloaf, but very practical daily fare in most of France. Bob has posted the recipe on the Boise Foodie Blog.
Jan thoroughly enjoyed the music - Frim Fram duet keyboard and fiddle/violin. She's thinking about taking lessons after New Years. Her son plays fiddle in a great modern 'pop' group, although trained in classical violin - fiddling seems to be a lot of fun for him.
Barbara gifted us with her latest book, "White Silk, Dark Chocolate, and a Little Bit of Magic." It was her birthday and she enjoys a generosity of spirit, good wine and great food.
Truly a little bit of magic in Boise is the Le Café de Paris!
The wines were often Sherries or Tawny Ports, according to my source, who was one of the altar boys. They were never allowed to see the labels as the adults of the Altar Guild filled the glass decanters that were ceremoniously used by the Altar Boys during communion to fill the Chalice. No deep red wines were allowed to be served as representing the 'blood' of Christ to avoid staining the sacred vessels and linens. The main consideration was the price. Often wines were donated by Parishoners. My sister remembers Kosher Concord wines - Manischevitz [Because she saw a bottle in the trash] and that could have been true, as she is 7 years younger than I and they could have taken advantage of some great bargain sales.
A long time friend who also attended St. Thomas, remembers The Reverend Mr. Ludlow as "Staid". In my opinion he had no 'joy' about him; he rarely laughed; he occasionally smiled. Most of the time he looked and acted like a sad bloodhound, down in the eyes and mouth.
From Le Café de Paris, we were delighted to receive a Pâté Maison Terrine and a Baguette from Mathieu - a Christmas gift. Mathieu has since shared his recipe and we may have to work on
perfecting our terrine making. A little more complex and elegant than meatloaf, but very practical daily fare in most of France. Bob has posted the recipe on the Boise Foodie Blog.Jan thoroughly enjoyed the music - Frim Fram duet keyboard and fiddle/violin. She's thinking about taking lessons after New Years. Her son plays fiddle in a great modern 'pop' group, although trained in classical violin - fiddling seems to be a lot of fun for him.
Barbara gifted us with her latest book, "White Silk, Dark Chocolate, and a Little Bit of Magic." It was her birthday and she enjoys a generosity of spirit, good wine and great food.
Truly a little bit of magic in Boise is the Le Café de Paris!
Friday, December 17, 2010
BienVenue a Bordeaux
In Boise, we are very fortunate to have some marvelous wine friendly restaurants. One of my favorites is Cafe d'Paris. The restaurant owner, Mathieu Choux, is from a Burgundian Hotelier and Restaurant family. He started the Cafe with a bakery / Baguettes and pasteries. From there he added Petite Dejuniers - breakfast, brunch and lunches. Then he opened a night club downstairs and a dinner /wine room upstairs. He has been creating 'theme dinners' including gastronomic adventures from France. Last night we visited Bordeaux in four courses. Le Menu:
Tarte a la Moutarde - puff pastry tart with gruyere, tomato and mustard. As an appetizer, a fun way to kick-start your salivary glands into action and anticipation.
We were given a sample of 2007 Chateau d'Angludet - a Bordeaux Superior from the Margaux commune on the Left Bank of the Bordeaux Region. A vineyard rescued from the 19'th century family apathy by the English wine collecter Peter Sichel. Margaux are gentle, yet sturdy wines - 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot. Floral nose of violets and lilacs with a light dusty rose. Full bodied, chocolate and brioche, lasting elegance at 13% alcohol, balanced fruit and worthy of at least 10 more years of aging. We ordered a full bottle, knowing our friends, Jan and Barbara would appreciate this wine.
Salade Landaise au Foie Gras - Oh, the decadence of silky foie gras, countered by a sharp sherry vinaigrette doused spring mix with croutons and toasted pine nuts. [note to self - does "Landaise" mean Hollandaise without the egg?]
Main Course selection of two Entrees - So for a fun 'Steven Spurrier' comparison, we ordered a bottle of Idaho's Parma Ridge 2006 Reserve Merlot - which I knew Christian had selected to carry in the cafe wine menu. This may have been infanticide! - When I first tasted this wine from barrel, I told Dick Dickstein that I wanted a case - it was soooo good then and had enormous aging potential. Subsequently, it has garnered gold medals and been selected as a "People's Choice" Best Red Wine after bottle aging a while. Compared to the Bordeaux, it is a big fruit bomb - at 15.2 % alcohol and notable Idaho soil - dust in/on the nose with sage, mint and cedar. Delightful with food and a lingering sweetness with full mouth feel. We agreed each of these wines are great ambassadors of their origin of place and will benefit from longer aging. It would be quite educational to compare these each year for the next 10 years. Or a wine from the Right bank, a St. Emillion or Pomerol with more Merlot.
A Choice of Duck Breast with red wine sauce, gratin dauphinois - crisp baked potato cake, and haricot verte - green beans. Lovely ! or Lotte a la Bordelaise - pan roasted monkfish medallions with a tomato white wine sauce, wild rice and green beans. Bob and I ordered one of each and shared. The fish with red wine was a superb pairing, the duck even more so.
Dessert: Grand Marnier Yule Log with a candied orange slice, holly leaf and berry decor. And a great cup of coffee. We were more than satisfied - in body and soul.
Tarte a la Moutarde - puff pastry tart with gruyere, tomato and mustard. As an appetizer, a fun way to kick-start your salivary glands into action and anticipation.
We were given a sample of 2007 Chateau d'Angludet - a Bordeaux Superior from the Margaux commune on the Left Bank of the Bordeaux Region. A vineyard rescued from the 19'th century family apathy by the English wine collecter Peter Sichel. Margaux are gentle, yet sturdy wines - 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot. Floral nose of violets and lilacs with a light dusty rose. Full bodied, chocolate and brioche, lasting elegance at 13% alcohol, balanced fruit and worthy of at least 10 more years of aging. We ordered a full bottle, knowing our friends, Jan and Barbara would appreciate this wine.
Salade Landaise au Foie Gras - Oh, the decadence of silky foie gras, countered by a sharp sherry vinaigrette doused spring mix with croutons and toasted pine nuts. [note to self - does "Landaise" mean Hollandaise without the egg?]
Main Course selection of two Entrees - So for a fun 'Steven Spurrier' comparison, we ordered a bottle of Idaho's Parma Ridge 2006 Reserve Merlot - which I knew Christian had selected to carry in the cafe wine menu. This may have been infanticide! - When I first tasted this wine from barrel, I told Dick Dickstein that I wanted a case - it was soooo good then and had enormous aging potential. Subsequently, it has garnered gold medals and been selected as a "People's Choice" Best Red Wine after bottle aging a while. Compared to the Bordeaux, it is a big fruit bomb - at 15.2 % alcohol and notable Idaho soil - dust in/on the nose with sage, mint and cedar. Delightful with food and a lingering sweetness with full mouth feel. We agreed each of these wines are great ambassadors of their origin of place and will benefit from longer aging. It would be quite educational to compare these each year for the next 10 years. Or a wine from the Right bank, a St. Emillion or Pomerol with more Merlot.
A Choice of Duck Breast with red wine sauce, gratin dauphinois - crisp baked potato cake, and haricot verte - green beans. Lovely ! or Lotte a la Bordelaise - pan roasted monkfish medallions with a tomato white wine sauce, wild rice and green beans. Bob and I ordered one of each and shared. The fish with red wine was a superb pairing, the duck even more so.
Dessert: Grand Marnier Yule Log with a candied orange slice, holly leaf and berry decor. And a great cup of coffee. We were more than satisfied - in body and soul.
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