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Mondavi turns ‘water witch’ in drought
As severe drought continues to grip all of California, several of the region’s winemakers are turning an age-old practice to protect their precious vines, including winemaker Marc Mondavi.
Those who practice the ancient of dousing, also known as “water witching” believe it can help find water during severe drought, according to a report by NBC.
The practice, which dates back at least 5,000 years, involves the use of copper rods and prisms which act as “pointers” indicating if water is beneath the ground, when a douser walks over it, by tilting downwards.
There are many ‘dousers’ throughout Napa who will charge for their services, with demand rising in times of drought.
One such douser is Napa Valley winemaker Marc Mondavi who has been practising the art for 40 years and charges $500 a ‘douse’.
Speaking to NBC, he said his services had been called upon across northern California to as far away as Mexico.
He said: “There’s no guarantees, although I’m more than 95% successful.”
Mondavi is the eldest son of Peter and Blanche Mondavi and grandson of Cesare and Rosa Mondavi, who bought Charles Krug winery in 1943.
He studied viticulture and enology at UC Davis, and marketing at California State University, Sacramento returning to the family wine business in 1978.
With California’s wine country currently experiencing a historic drought, employing the services of water witches might seem worthwhile, but sceptics say it is not scientifically proven.
James Underdown, who heads the Center for Inquiry and the Independent Investigations Group in Los Angeles, told NBC that over the years they had tested many dousers abilities – non of which were able to perform in a scientifically controlled test.
Mondavi, however, dismissed sceptics simply stating: “It’s not a science.”
“Scientists don’t understand this. Therefore, they don’t believe in it.”
Every single year this jokester gets some publicity for this nonsense. The reason he can’t prove anything scientifically is because there’s so much water under the earth’s crust that you’re bound to find some. If anyone wants to hire me, I have two modified coat hangers and will charge only half as much as Mr. Mondavi. Guaranteed same results too.
These ppl using tool’s to work with elements , energies , are no more than geologist using an ancient methodology they may have studied and learnt to work with instead of a geosynchronous scanning scientifically produced equipments that cost thousands to hire an even more to buy, dowsing with all it its applications comes under paranormal that somehow gives it less validity, also hypnotism was once part of parapsychology and eventually dropped the Para and became part of mainstream psychology! Who created Wicca ? Buck, gardener, crowl, Ed, What is Wicca ! What is a terran ! What is the goetia ! What’s a Drayde ! Do Christians do ritual magik ! Does anyone have control over there pacebo affects…..
Mike, you seem upset. You said yourself, you’d gladly take advantage of anyone willing to pay you for nonsense services. It’s apparently not this guy’s morals you’re bothered by. Is it his success? The fact that people show him interest and not you? I mean, your just as talented with your coat hangers, right? Instead of writing jealous trash comments why don’t you get out in the world and rip people off yourself? Can’t tell much about a person from a comment online but i can tell you have what it takes to be a big time scam artist!