Most of the wine we buy is contained in a standard size, 750ml bottle.

For special occasions or to serve wine to a larger group of friends and family, we may buy a “magnum” or 1.5 ml — equal to two bottles of wine.

Pictured at left is Native Leaf’s hand-woven romblon leaf, 750 mil bottle size wine gift bag in the colors Cacao Brown and Terra Cotta.

Some wineries will also offer smaller bottles — 375 ml or half of a standard bottle of wine, and splits – a quarter of a bottle or 187 ml (see photo on our previous blog post)

But did you know that wines can be stored and sold in rather gigantic bottles too?

The bottle size called Nebuchadnezzar — named after the neo-Babylonian empire’s king — is one of the largest wine bottle and can hold 15 liters…or about 20 bottles of wine!

I wonder what the best method is, to safely transport this giant-sized wine bottle?

Side-by-side comparison of champagne bottles (left to right), on the ladder: magnum, full, half and quarter; on the floor: Balthazar, Salmanazar, Methuselah and Jeroboam (Photo via wikipedia commons – by Walter Nissen)

Pictured on the floor of the above photo, from left to right:

• Balthazar – which contains 12 liters of wine, and named after one of the 3 wise men — or biblical maji —who gave a gift to Jesus after his birth.
• Salmanazar – containing 9 liters of wine, named after the biblical Assyrian king.
• Methuselah – containing 8 liters of wine and named after the Hebrew biblical oldest man to ever live.
• Jeroboam – 3.0 to 4.5 liters (sparkling Jeroboam bottles holds 3 liters and will contain 4.5 liters of regular wine) and named after the biblical first king of the northern Israelite Kingdom of Israel.

And no, we don’t make a wine bottle gift bag for that Nebuchadnezzar wine bottle! Well…at least not yet…it would have to go into one of our bayongs (market totes).

But we do make single bottle gift bags for standard sized 750 ml wines as well as  375 ml or split bottles of wine.

If you want to give a gift of sparkling wines, our single bottle gift bags work too!  Because the handcrafted leaves have a bit of a “give” you can present your sparkling wine bottle gift in one of our gift bags, too!

For more on  wine bottle shapes and sizes even bigger than the Nebuchadnezzar — like the truly super size Melchizedek bottle , click on this Wikipedia article link, here.

If you are  curious about the names, check out the World Wide Word’s website and article on wine bottle size — and what is up with these names???

To view our single / one wine bottle gift bag page, click here, or link here to our previous post on other unique bottle gift bag sizes made by Native Leaf.

Related link: Native Leaf blog post Weaving Hands about weaving romblon leaf products…

Instead of a bottle of Cabernet or Chardonnay, how about a gift of super premium California extra virgin olive oil, or a bottle of lush and aroma filled sweet dessert wine — like Semillon, or a late harvest Moscato for your hosts?

Oh… but where to find a gift bag for that unique or unusual bottle size…skinny and tall, or short…375 ml size?

Aside from regular size wine bottles, Native Leaf also hand-crafts beautiful and uniquely textured (and always eco- friendly) gift bags for skinny, tall bottles — the type used for premium dessert wines and olive oils, or shorter “split” wine bottles, and mini champagne bottles too!

We are putting together bottle gift bag kits, which will be available on our market pages later this month.

The bottle gift bag, set-of-3 kits will contain a standard size wine bottle gift bag, a tall and “skinny” olive oil / dessert wine bottle gift bag and a shorter “split” or 375 ml bottle gift bag, all hand-woven from sustainable and earth friendly romblon leaves, and always reusable and compostable, too.

Check back soon, or if you want a bottle gift kit sent to you today, give us a call or email us at nativeleaf@gmail.com.

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About Muscat / Moscato Grapes

Did you know…the Muscat variety of grape (vitis vinifera – common grape vine) is known to be among the oldest domesticated wine grape variety, and known for its sweet, floral aromas. Muscat varietals are grown around the world for raisins, table grapes and wine.

• The varieties of Muscat called Black Muscat and Orange Muscat (of course, with hints of oranges in its aroma) are types used for dessert wines in California and in Australia.

• Muscat varieties used for premium dessert wines grow successfully in California’s San Joaquin Valley.

• Muscat grapes are used for the sweeter, sparkling wines from Italy like in the “Asti” wines.

• Pisco, a Peruvian and Chilean grape-based, brandy-like drink, as well as Metaxa from Greece is also made from muscat grape varietals.  Pisco has been in production in Peru since the turn of the 17th century!

• Made from muscat wine and a secret bouquet of Mediterranean herbs and rose petals, Metaxa is exported from Greece to over 60 countries and reportedly the first liquor consumed in space. What?  Astronauts drinking alcohol in space?  Read more about this on the blog Cosmic Log, here…

What is your favorite dessert wine or muscat based wine or brandy?

Ready to order Native Leaf’s uniquely textured Single Bottle Wine Bags?  Click here…

In the wine industry, this is called a “punt”, and can be traced back to how glass wine bottles were created.

Wine bottles that were free blown left a scar referred to as a pontil mark or punt mark  where the punt was broken off blown glass.

This punt mark indicated that the glass bottles was blown free-hand, and not made in molds.

I heard years ago that finer wines are bottled in bottles with a punt, and the deeper the punt, the finer the wine.

Turns out that this is not always the case…

Read more from cjonwine’s blog post Pretentious Punts, here…  (a blog about wine, travel and culture)

And what about that cjonwine’s blog post title…did you end up with a silly smile on your face?

There are wine bottle gift bags made of…..paper (blah!) burlap with plastic (blah!)…and of course, Native Leaf’s earth-friendly, unique, reusable, natural and handcrafted wine bottle gift bags.

You get invited to dinner and want to bring a special occasion bottle of wine…or want to bring just a so-so bottle of wine.  Either way, put that wine bottle  in one of our beautifully textured wine bag, and when you arrive to present your gift, your hosts will be impressed.

Our customers repeatedly tell us how much recipients of our woven gift bags appreciate the simple beauty of Native Leaf’s handcrafted, reusable bags.

Yes — you can give a bottle of wine without a bag…but often, presentation and packaging is just as important as the gift itself.

The best part about our wine bottle gift bags?  Besides being eco-friendly, sturdy and reusable of course  —- is that our bags are also appreciated as a wine carrier by wine lovers who like to take their own wine bottles when dining out at restaurants.

Our sustainably made single bottle wine bags are now in stock in the colors Natural, Cacao Brown, Mango, Moss Green, Terra Cotta, Eggplant and Orchid Pink.  Link to our wine bag pages, here:

Pictured on this post — top of page — are the single bottle wine bag in the color Moss Green and Terra Cotta, and above is our popular Cacao Brown color.

I am submitting my pattern-filled photographs from the Philippines, starting with my favorite, rice fields!

I love looking at rice fields, and enjoy the symmetry.  I am amazed at the even rows of the rice seedlings, despite the fact most rural fields are still planted by hand.

In rural areas — the provinces, some homes or outbuildings still have traditional, woven palm leaf ceilings.  I like the fan-like pattern on this one…

And of course, variegated plant and leaf patterns!

And a common pattern for making baskets — here is the bottom of a Philippine rattan basket…

Repetitive patterns are standard for weaving designs, and below are some of the market totes Native Leaf has featured…

Did you know…

Out of all the days of the year, Mother’s Day has become the most popular day to eat out at restaurants in the United States?

Mother’s Day in its present form was established by Anna Jarvis with the help of a Philadelphia Merchant, John Wanaker, after the death of her mother.

Jarvis then campaigned to have Mother’s Day become a national holiday

In 1910, Mother’s Day was proclaimed as an official holiday by the state of West Virgina — other states soon followed.

In 1934, President Franklin D. Roosevelt approved a stamp that commemorated the holiday.

Anna Jarvis delivered 500 carnations at the first celebration in 1908 (they were her mother’s favorite flower).  This tradition of carnation flowers for mother’s day continues today…though I suspect most moms appreciate any and most types of flowers…orchids, roses or a nice bouquet of mixed flowers.

For me, roses and orchids are the favorites.

According to the Kew Royal Botanical Gardens website, Orchids (Orchidaceae) are the largest family of flowering plants, and there are over 50 species of Phalaenopsis alone. Pictured above is a popular newer Phalaenopsis cultivar.

There are many types of orchids native to the Philippines, and many of the orchids we see in the marketplace today  — especially of the Phalaenopsis hybrids — originated from the Philippines, Indonesia and other countries in southeast Asia.

In the Philippines, orchids are often sold at the market upside down like in this photo taken at at a festival marketplace. You take it home and place it in your own container or tie it to a post with growing mulch in your garden and backyard.

 Wishing all moms a restful day filled with love and appreciation!

And if you would like a unique gift container for mother’s day — especially for one-of-a-kind moms — visit our amenities bag and gift tote page. 

Here is a Phalaenopsis cultivar in one of our square weave (and square-shaped) gift tote, in the color Mango.

Right now, we have this square  gift tote in stock in the colors Mango, Rust Red, Eggplant, Cacao Brown, Orchid Pink and Natural.  It is perfect as an all around gift basket, whether for flowers, plants or for your one-of-a-kind mom’s favorite goodies and chocolates.

Please comment and let us know about YOUR favorite flower, and gift ideas for mother’s day.

—mj

Buddhist Temple Bell Tower – Photo Credit: www.SalinasAsianFestival.com

From the Salinas Asian Festival Website:

The Asian Festival celebrates the cultural and historical presence of the Chinese, Filipino, and Japanese communities in Salinas. The Buddhist Temple, the Confucius Church and the Filipino Cultural Center will open their doors to the community. 

Throughout the day there will be guided tours highlighting the history of the neighborhood including the Buddhist Temple and the Bing Kong Tong meeting hall and altar.

Confucius Church – Photo Credit: www.SalinasAsianFestival.com

There will be delicious food and demonstrations of tai chi, Filipino folk dancing, kendo ikebana (flower arranging), bonsai display, and more.

The community is invited to this free event. For more information, contact Wellington Lee, Asian Festival Chair at wleewriter@aol.com or 831-757-3592 or visit the  Salinas Asian Festival Website, here.

Visit Native Leaf at the Filipino Cultural Center – 250 Calle Cebu, where you can pick out one-0f-a-kind and earth friendly gifts and gift packaging, unique plant-based table accessories and of course, your fill of lumpia, pancit, adobo and yummy Filipino desserts from the Filipino community food vendors.

Here are photos from the Native Leaf exhibit area last year…

After a folk dance presentation, a photo opportunity presents itself in front of Native Leaf’s Exhibit area.  Photo www.NativeLeaf.info

Available at the Festival last year….Halo-Halo -  favorite treat for many Filipinos.  Don’t yet know about Halo-Halo? Click on this link to learn more…)

A festival visitor trying out icy halo-halo for the first time. The verdict? DELICIOUS! Photo: www.NativeLeaf.info

Ice shaver machine…key to making halo-halo in quantity! Photo: www.NativeLeaf.info

Last year, along with traditional folk dances, there were Philippine martial arts demonstrations (arnis / eskrima).

There are only four official national symbols in the Philippines  — enacted through a proclamation by the executive department.  They are the endangered Philippine eagle, the sampaguita flower, the narra tree, and arnis — the traditional Philippine martial arts, also known as eskrima.

If you live in the Monterey Bay Area, we hope to see you there to celebrate the ongoing renewal of Salinas’ Chinatown!

Note: FREE PARKING AT EXPO PARK (END OF CALLE CEBU)

a. Yard Trimmings

b. Food Scraps

c. Paper and Paperboard products

d. Plastics

e.  Rubber, leather and textiles

f.  Wood

g. Metals

Did you pick an answer right away?  Was it easy?

And the answer is…

c. Paper and Paperboard products, which makes up 29% of all municipal solid waste (MSW) —- and represents more material that any other that Americans throw away.  Source: US Environmental Agency (EPA)

Recycling and using alternative, compostable or reusable gift packaging  is a way that each of us can reduce trash that end up in landfills.

Each year EPA produces a report on MSW generation, recycling, and disposal.  Here is the most recent data compiled from the US Environmental Agency (EPA) website:

Cartoon Source: US EPA Website

For a list of waste management and reduction information organized by State or EPA Region or US territories click on this link (http://www.epa.gov/epawaste/wyl/stateprograms.htm)

Coconut bits, coconut milk, coconut butter lotion, coconut oil, coconut sugar and so on.

What I have noticed most of all, is a proliferation of brands of coconut juice or coconut water for sale at local grocery stores.  Coconut water is the liquid inside green, young coconuts.

And it turns out that coconut water is one of the fastest growing beverage category in the U.S. and in the U.K.

Coconut beverages — a nice selection — for sale at our local Whole Foods Market

Zico was founded by Mark Rampolla,a former Peace Corps volunteer who fell in love with coconut water while serving in Central America. An article from The Huffington Post noted that the Zico brand is backed by Coca Cola, but I did not see this information on the official Zico website (www.Zico.com)

Laguna Brand Coconut Juice for sale at a local Asian store — interesting that although Laguna is a Philippine brand, the juice is manufactured in Thailand.

Coconut water naturally contains a high amount of potassium, and is touted as an alternative to drinking Gatorade type beverages.

A serving of coconut water contains twice as much potassium as a banana.  Our bodies use potassium to promote regular heartbeat, to help build and contract muscles, and to regulate blood pressure.  Potassium also helps to control the water balance in body tissues and cells.

I grew up in the Philippines and have been drinking coconut juice (or coconut “water”) for as long as I can remember.

Young coconuts are picked fresh, piled on carts and sold by street vendors.  The top is lopped off, and you stick a straw through the soft coconut meat, or poked a hole through the flesh to drink the coconut water.

Photo via Wikipedia article on coconut water

In the Philippines, young coconut meat is also mixed with water, sugar, milk and ice and sold as iced buko or buko juice” — buko is the Tagalog/ Philippine language word for young coconuts — and ladled out of glass or plastic containers.  Icy cold and refreshing, it is a perfect drink for the tropical climate.

It is amazing to see all these coconut water products available in so many places, and that there are now many companies producing hundreds of beverages containing some form of coconut water.

When I go back home to the Philippines, one of the very first things I crave and ask for is a buko, so I can have fresh coconut water and eat the sweet and deliciously tender coconut meat.

Who knew that this humble, everyday drink from coconut producing countries would turn out to be the next big beverage trend in America!  What is nice is that I do not have to wait for a trip to the Philippines to enjoy this healthy beverage — though I do prefer coconut water from an actual young green coconut, rather than from a can.

For more on the coconut water trend, read this article by Chris Arnold, on Coconut Water – the next big trend and billion dollar market in soft drinks.

Ding climbing a coconut tree to pick a fresh young coconut for us!  Photo www.NativeLeaf.info

Did you know…in the Philippines is one of the largest coconut producing countries in the world?  There, the coconut tree is referred to as “the tree of life”.  Practically all parts of the coconut —  from the trunk, the fruit to the leaves and fronds are used locally or for a commercial purpose.

Oh, and yes, there is a connection to coconuts and Native Leaf, and why I wrote this blog post — aside from the fact that I do love coconut water.

We make coconut products, mostly from the  twig or flower spikelets.

The twigs (flower spikelets) behind & in between the coconuts pictured here, is what we use for our coconut twig table runners, coasters and soap holders. Photo www.NativeLeaf.info

Native Leaf’s 72″ coconut twig table runner

We also make coasters, sold as a set of four in a reusable abaca textile pouch.

Visit our Shop our Market, and rustic table runners category/tab or click on the photos above for more on this unique Native Leaf product, made from the tree of life, the coconut tree!

Coconut timber wood features interesting specks and makes a unique napkin ring. Perfect for our cacao brown color romblon placemats. Photo www.NativeLeaf.info

Coconut timber — or wood from the trunk of coconut trees is the material used for our one-of-a-kind napkin rings, fastened with copper wiring.  Click on the photo or here for more.

And please comment if you are a fan (or not) of coconut water.  Do you prefer one brand over another, or straight out of the young green coconut?

mj