People are often surprised how, even though we’re a winery, we get excited about a beer-soaked holiday like St. Patrick’s Day. Just because we’re proud of our Italian heritage, it doesn’t mean we can’t celebrate–everyone’s a little bit Irish on March 17th (yes, even Italians). Moreover, our co-founder Bryan is a St. Paddy’s Day baby, so just one more reason to get excited!
We enjoy a good celebration at Z&M, which is why there’s always something exciting going on, whether there’s a red-letter day on the calendar or just because. For example, we love celebrating Bryan’s birthday and the traditional Leavenworth St. Patrick’s Day Parade with FREE green pancakes every year at our downtown Leavenworth winery.
Make sure you check out our events page to see what we’ve got going on at either our Leavenworth winery or vineyard in Lawrence.
There’s more to Ireland and its people than legends about driving the snakes out of the country, little green men, and beer, however. For one thing, there’s wine (more on that in a minute). Read on for some truly Twisted Irish facts and history!
Irish Trivia for St. Patrick’s Day
If you’ve got some corned beef and cabbage on the boil and are looking for some craic to pass the time, we’ll keep you entertained with some little-known St. Paddy’s Day trivia and history.
Irish Wine?
According to the European Commission, Ireland is officially a wine-making country. It’s not as crazy as it sounds.
Some of the earliest records of Irish wine date back to the 5th century, when Celtic monks attempted to plant vineyards with the intention of making wine. Other evidence suggests this happened in the 12th century.
Today, the Emerald Isle is a site of a few small vineyards, most of which are located in County Cork. By latitude, it’s further north than most of the well-known wine regions Italy and France. However, it boasts fertile soil that’s agreeable to grape growing.
Mead: The Original Irish Wine
Ireland actually has its own original native wine. If you’re looking to imbibe something a little different this St. Paddy’s Day, maybe you can give it a whirl (or stop by Z&M for something just as yummy).
Mead is an alcoholic beverage that isn’t made from grapes or fruit or anything else that grows on the ground or off of trees. It’s made from honey! Mead also gives us the term “honeymoon”; it comes from the custom of gifting newlyweds enough of the stuff to last one full month (or moon), based on the belief that it increased health and fertility.
Known as “the drink of ancient Ireland,” it was drunk by the legendary High Kings of Tara.
Top Irish Wineries
Here are some of the top producers in Ireland today –although, admittedly, there’s not much competition. Like Z&M, these are small-scale operations that rely on native grapes, fruit, and produce for their ingredients.
- Dennison’s Farm & Artisan Produce
- Thomas Walk Winery
- Bunratty Mead and Liqueur Co. Ltd.
- Wicklow Way Fruit Wines
- Lusca Irish Wines from Llewellyn’s Orchard
The San Patricios: When the Irish and the Mexicans Went to War Against the US
Not many Americans are familiar with the story of the St. Patrick’s Battalion, but it’s a fascinating piece of forgotten US military history!
In brief, during the Spanish American War, a group of Irish immigrants who had fled the Great Famine in their home country defected from the US Army to fight with the Mexican Army.
Cultural and Religious Ties
The Irish deserters were predominantly Roman Catholic. They felt alienated culturally and religiously from the predominantly Protestant US, often experiencing discrimination due to their country of origin and religion. As a Catholic country, the Irish soldiers felt a connection to the Mexican cause, and joined to fight for it as the St. Patrick’s Battalion, or the Batallón de San Patricio.
Not Just Irishmen
The men of this battalion, also called San Patricios, at their height were more than 700. It wasn’t comprised solely of Irishmen, however.
Other members of the St. Patrick’s Battalion included Catholics from other countries, such as Germany, Poland, France, and Italy, as well as Mexico itself. Escaped enslaved persons from the US also joined the unit.
Traitors
Ultimately, the San Patricios met their end at the Battle of Churubusco in 1847. After fighting to the last bullet, they had no choice but to surrender.
Their leader, John Riley, had a “D” for “deserter” branded on his face. His men were executed for their crimes of defecting and fighting against the US in the largest mass execution in American history.
A Dramatic Execution
September 12th, the second of the three days the US Army took to execute the remaining 50 San Patricios, is observed in Mexico as a memorial to the men who fought for their country against the US.
According to an article on the San Patricios in Smithsonian Magazine, the last of the deserters was brought to the gallows at dawn on September 13th. With nooses around their necks, they had a view of Chapultepec Castle, where they could witness the US bombardment of Mexican troops.
American soldiers storming the castle was to be the last thing they saw, the officer in charge of their execution drawing their attention to the structure to make sure they understood they would be kept alive until this happened.
US newspapers described the men being “launched into eternity” at around 9:30 in the morning when the American flag was raised over Chapultepec Castle.
There’s More to St. Patrick’s Day Than Beer
Okay, so that last part was a little heavy, even we have to admit. But honestly, a lot of stories about the Irish are heavy. This one at least has a fascinating tie-in with US military history?
Anyway, if there’s one thing everyone loves about Irish culture it’s the importance they place on a well-told story, a good drink, faith, family, and friends. And you know what? We do, too.
Stop by our Leavenworth winery or Lawrence vineyard for a tasting and see what we’re all about. And if you don’t have a trip to Ireland on the calendar, we can offer you a tasting featuring some pretty tasty wines that we make in-house with local produce and grapes.
However you’re celebrating this month, we raise your Twisted glass to your health. Slàinte!St. Patrick’s DaySt. Paddy’s DayMarch 17thIrishSt. Patrick’s Day Parade LeavenworthLeavenworth St. Patrick’s Day ParadeIrish triviaSan PatriciosIrish wineIrish historyHistory