In a column in today's Sacramento Bee about the origin and meaning of the term "stone wine" from the Civil War era, I mentioned that it may have been a reference to Stone's Original Green Ginger Wine, created by London grocer Joseph Stone in 1740.

I also mentioned that Stone's Original Green Ginger Wine no longer is sold in the United States, if it ever was. This word came down from a representative of Constellation Brands in New York, which owns Stone's.

Subsequent word has come down from Darrell Corti, president of Corti Brothers grocery store in Sacramento. He stocks the stuff, he was quick to note, which came as news not only to me but to the folks at Constellation Brands, who have resumed looking into the matter.

In the meantime, Stone's Original Green Ginger Wine can be found at Corti Brothers for $12 per 750-milliliter bottle. Regardless of whether it inspired the term "stone wine" in some stanzas of "When Johnny Comes Marching Home," it could be just the sort of refreshing beverage that would be welcome this Memorial Day weekend.