Happy Columbus Day or Indigenous People’s Day everyone,

Not sure what day it is anymore on so many levels……But today is officially some holiday, originally celebrating when Christopher Columbus, most likely a Jewish explorer hiding his identity from Spain’s Catholic Monarchs during the Inquisition, arrived in the new world about this week in 1492.    Yes, both scientists using a new genetic study believe he was both Spanish and Jewish from Valencia, concealing his identity or converting to Catholicism to escape religious persecution.  Its’ also found in much of his writing, but how ironic that this Federal holiday in the US, celebrated since 1792, and inherited by Italian immigrants, has become a disputed controversy for decades. In 1892, with a flood of Italian immigrants entering the US, intense bigotry resulted in one of the largest lynching in our history, prompting Italy to recall its ambassador and cut off diplomatic relations.  In response, President Harrison proclaimed the day a celebration of “Discovery” and the two countries made up…    In 1992, 500 years later, various U.S. cities began to celebrate Indigenous People’s Day given the lasting harm Indigenous tribes suffered because of European colonization of the Americas.   There is no question we stole American soil in the name of advancement.

My guess is Trump and many on the right will say today, “this is an example of the radical left eradicating our history”.  And many on the left will say Columbus was a bad guy and we need to wake up to the truth.  And what is the truth, but that Columbus was himself a persecuted person getting away from tyranny.  The world is filled with hypocrisy and politicians who get themselves mixed up pushing agendas and forgetting why they got into public service to begin with.  Let’s study history, learn from it, and move on already.   So let’s celebrate something today--let’s celebrate life and wine lists.  Let’s celebrate how we can drink delicious wine from Spain and Italy and the America’s on one unified list.  A true representation of all cultures, cabernet from both sides of the Golan Heights.  From Argentina to Australia, what a wonderful world of wine.  Raise a glass!   The early explorers might not have been perfect and history has left a hurricane of borders disputes, but let’s see the glass half full today.   There are almost no tariffs affecting the free flow of delicious wine coming to our lists. Yummy Assyrtiko from Greece, Pinots from Burgundy, and California Zin.  Let’s go find a great wine list, and order some wine today.  That is how we should celebrate this day!   Cheers, Gan Bay, Prohst, L’chaim!