Guy Lombardo or Dick Clark and Cold Duck

New Year's Eve growing up was quiet.  We got to stay up late, but I honestly can't remember if I ever made it to midnight.  One unique thing that stands out in my memory was the traditional bottle of Cold Duck that was opened for the occasion.  This was unique, because neither of my parents drank alcohol on a regular basis.  Every now and then, something would be in the house, but it was rare.  Dad wasn't a beer drinker, but would partake out on a special occasion.  I remember one year I asked for a taste (I had to have been over 10 years old) of the champagne, and it was nasty and bitter.  One year, I remember Dad putting some of the bottle into the cat's dish to see if our cat (probably Lele or Frosty) would partake.  No such luck. 

Picture courtesy of Wine Chef Blog

According to Wikipedia, Cold Duck is the name of a sparkling wine made in the US that was at one time (mostly 1970s) the best-selling "champagne" in America.  The wine was invented by Harold Borgman, the owner of Pontchartrain Wine Cellars in Detroit, in 1937.  The recipe was based on a traditional German custom of mixing all the dregs of unfinished wine bottles with champagne.  All I know was it just confirms my opinion of it, as it must have been an acquired taste of the time. 

If we were home with Grandma Wood, we'd watch Guy Lombardo as he was Mr. New Years' Eve in the 1970's .  Apparently, his last show was ringing in the year 1977, at the end of the Bicentennial in 1976.  As a youngster, I was happier with Dick Clark, the following year, which is probably a generational thing.  My mother and grandmother loved Lawrence Welk and the big band sound, while I preferred contemporary music of the pop, rock and disco era.  There was not a selection for country music fans at the time, but I do remember Dick Clark incorporating various music styles as the years wore one.  I was saddened when Dick Clark passed this year, as I'm sure my mother was with the loss of Guy Lombardo.  He will be missed.  It truly is a generational thing and I'm not as impressed with Ryan Seacrest, Dick Clark's hand-picked replacement.  

I didn't start going out for New Years' Eve until I was married, and even then, we would typically plan to stay over at the guest's house to avoid drunk drivers on the roadway.  In the 1970s and 1980s, drunk driving on New Years' Eve was a particular concern, and still is to a degree.  

I have finally acquired a taste for champagne, but only over the last five (5) years or so.  My favorite is Rondel, as it has a smooth, crisp flavor and is available in Brut or Rose.  I continue to stay home or hang out with friends on New Years' Eve, and still prefer a quiet evening of reflecting on the past year and remembering my family and the simple joy of being together and the hope of a fresh start that a New Year brings.