I tend to take things too literally and too personally, I know. But, forgive me, Marsala is a town of 80,000 on the far western edge of Sicily, home to fishing fleets, desalinization ponds, and glorious baroque architecture. There's a wine called Marsala as well, made from local white grapes, whose slightly sweet, fortified style was developed for the British market 250 years ago. It's a delightful aperitivo, a smooth digestivo, and a flavorful ingredient in recipes for chicken, veal, and desserts. (Chef Enza Sorrentino, who was born in Marsala, uses the wine to flavor the tiramisù she serves at Mondello Ristorante in Magnolia.) More on the wine itself in this excellent post from Seattle's own Madeline Puckette.
So you might imagine my surprise, this morning, to read that Pantone, the color people, have named "Marsala" as the 2015 Color of the Year, to follow 2014's Radiant Orchid, 2013's Emerald Green, 2012's Tangerine Tango. What? You didn't know there was such a thing? But of course! You don't really think all those appliances and purses end up being the same shade of puce by themselves, did you? Well! Go to the Pantone website for a quick primer on the color game.
Every year, a new color. It's obvious that someone is putting a lot of effort into this, and her name is Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute. Here's what she says: "Nurturing and fulfilling, Marsala is a natural fit for the kitchen and dining room - making it ideal for tabletop, small appliances and linens throughout the home."
(It's Pantone, remember, not Panettone, the sweet Italian Christmas bread.)
And to think of our chaste white grapes (grillo, inzolia, cataratta) end up turning this dark, reddish-brown shade as they oxidize. We'll remember you in your youth, even though you now want us to call you 18-1438. Pay no heed to the swift condemnation by a legion of online naysayers! Looks like you're going through that raw-liver complexion, a tough time, sweetheart. Er, 18-1438.
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