Checkmate Fizz

21st July 2021

Chess and Sparkling Wine

The strategic game of chess is one that requires you to think multiple moves ahead, to see what moves not only you have available, but what moves your opponent has as well and sometimes you have to sacrifice a piece to capture another or lull your opponent into a trap.

Welcome to the world of Chess

To accompany our journey across the board, let’s pop open a bottle of CV Cehovin Penina Pinela from Slovenia.

The Chekhov Estate is located in the village of Gaberje, in between the Vipava Valley and the Karst in Slovenia, the first vine was planted in 1989 and it was the rebula variety, today they have 9 hectares of vineyards to take care of in their sunny village.

Posestvo Čehovin – Penina Pinela Tasting Notes

Aroma – “Yellow floral, citrus, hay and yellow stone fruits on the aroma.”

Flavour – “Citrus and yellow and green fruit flavours.”

This Slovenian Sparkling Wine Won a Silver Medal in the Spring Fling Category at the Glass of Bubbly Awards 2020.

Interesting Chess Facts

  1. To where Chess was invented, it is debated whether it came from India or China, the legend says that chess was invented around 200 B.C. by a commander, Hán Xin, who invented the game to represent a particular battle.
  2. Back in 1770 a machine was invented called the ‘andriod’ which got the nickname of The Turk, it was a machine that could play chess against humans, it wasn’t until 1857 when it was discovered that it was a hoax, that a chess master was actually hiding inside.
  3. Because one competitor wasn’t enough, Chess Grandmaster Garry Kasparov decided to play the whole world, it lasted over four months and had over 50,00 people take part from more than 75 countries, each move was decided by a majority vote, Garry won the game on the 62nd turn when 51 % of the world decided to resign.
  4. When Benjamin Franklin was in France, he decided to play a game of chess, he took his opponent’s King after she inadvertently put it in check, When she said, “Ah, we don’t take kings so” Franklin replied, “We do in America.”

Short Facts

  1. You can put someone in checkmate in just two moves.
  2. Theoretically, the longest game of cheese can last up to 5,949 moves.
  3. Checkmate comes from the Persian phrase “Shah Mat,” which means “the King is dead.

World Champion Chess Players

  • Wilhelm Steinitz (1886-1894)
  • Emanuel Lasker (1894-1921)
  • Jose Raul Capablanca (1921-1927)
  • Alexander Alekhine (1927-1935, 1937-1946)
  • Max Euwe (1935-1937)
  • Mikhail Botvinnik (1948-1957, 1958-1960, 1961-1963)
  • Vasily Smyslov (1957-1958)
  • Mikhail Tal (1960-1961)
  • Tigran Petrosian (1963-1969)
  • Boris Spassky (1969-1972)
  • Robert James “Bobby” Fischer (1972-1975)
  • Anatoly Karpov (1975-1985)
  • Garry Kasparov (1985-2000)
  • Vladimir Kramnik (2000-2007)
  • Viswanathan Anand (2007-2013)
  • Magnus Carlsen (2013-current)

Checkmate, we have come to the end of this game, it was well played and I’d be happy for you to join me again in a different article, but until next time, enjoy the fizz!

Sources:
https://www.kickassfacts.com/chess-facts/ https://www.chess.com/blog/QuodVici/40-chess-facts-that-you-dont-know https://www.ichess.net/blog/history-of-chess/
The Spruce Crafts Written by Edward Scimia

Oliver Walkey

Champagne and Sparkling Wine Writer, Focused on Bringing the Exciting and Fascinating World of Bubbly to You.