Vineyards Of My Mind

Beer is good too!

2006-01-30T10:14:00.000-08:00

I have a subscription to Bottom Line's Daily Health News. I scan my daily messages to see if there's any developments or ideas in the health field that's interesting for me.

Today they have one section titled, Raise a Glass to Beer. I have copied that section for those of you who are fans of beer as well as wine drinkers:

Raise a Glass to Beer
Beer drinkers tend to get the short end of the stick. While wine connoisseurs are thought of as chic and sophisticated, beer drinkers are routinely portrayed as slothful, pot-bellied creatures planted in front of TVs. In one memorable news exposé several summers ago, beer drinkers on working-class Rockaway Beach in New York City were arrested (no open containers please), while the mayor sat comfortably ensconced among wine sippers at a philharmonic orchestra concert in Central Park.
But now there's good news for beer drinkers -- it turns out that by and large alcohol is alcohol, and socioeconomic stereotypes aside, the health benefits of beer are not all that different from the benefits of wine. Of course the key word here is moderation -- most experts advise no more than two alcoholic beverages a day for men and no more than one for women. So what's so good about beer?
HERE'S TO YOUR HEALTH
An increasing body of serious research backs up beer's benefits...
Bone protection. According to a medical team at Tufts University in Boston, beer may help prevent bone-thinning osteoporosis. Dietary silicon in grain products such as beer appears to reduce bone loss and promote bone formation. Beer contains silicate, a highly absorbable form of silicon that works by facilitating the deposit of calcium and other minerals in bone tissue.
Margo A. Denke, MD, clinical professor of medicine at the University of Texas Health Science Center, cautions that excessive alcohol intake is a risk factor for bad bones, perhaps because calories from nutrient sources are replaced with calories from alcohol.
Lower risk for cardiovascular disease. Like wine, beer has well-documented heart-healthy benefits. Regular moderate drinking has a protective effect in both men and women against cardiovascular disease, confirms Meir J. Stampfer, MD, DrPH, chair of the department of epidemiology at the Harvard School of Public Health. He told me that moderate alcohol consumption in any form has an equivalent benefit -- "Wine is not better than beer, red wine is not better than white and spirits in moderation are also associated with lower risk."
Better heart attack survival. A study at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston noted that moderate drinkers (who consumed more than seven alcoholic beverages a week) had a 32% lower risk of dying from a heart attack than those who drank no alcohol. Light drinkers (less than seven drinks weekly) had a 21% lower risk. Like other alcohol, beer acts as a blood thinner to help prevent clogged arteries. Other research links moderate alcohol consumption with improved blood circulation in the brain and lower risk for stroke.
Improved cholesterol levels. In her research, Dr. Denke discovered that people who consumed one to three drinks daily had higher levels of HDL, the "good" cholesterol. She also found that regular moderate intake of alcohol resulted in lower blood insulin levels. In a related US Department of Agriculture (USDA) study, women who drank one alcoholic beverage daily lowered their LDL ("bad") cholesterol and levels of harmful blood lipids known as triglycerides.
Sharper brains. In the long-term Nurses' Health Study, Dr. Stampfer and his colleagues found that moderate consumption of alcohol seemed to preserve the mental abilities of older women. From 1995 to 1999, more than 9,000 women between ages 70 and 79 were interviewed regarding their alcohol use, and seven different tests of mental function were administered. Moderate drinkers scored better on five of seven tests, and on total overall scores.
Healthier kidneys. At Harvard Medical School, Tobias Kurth, MD, ScD, assistant professor of medicine, and his colleagues examined data from 11,023 men enrolled in the long-term physicians' Health Study. Over a period of 14 years, the participants reported their alcohol consumption and underwent regular physical exams and blood tests. Researchers found that men who consumed seven or more drinks a week experienced a 29% lower risk of developing kidney problems. (Read more about this study in Daily Health News, January 17, 2006.)
Antioxidant effect. Japanese scientists have found that antioxidants such as polyphenols in beer may offer protection against cancer-causing chemicals. This echoes earlier research conducted in Portugal, which suggested that antioxidants slow the proliferation of breast cancer cells. According to Dr. Denke, isoflavonoids in beer are phytoestrogens that mimic the activity of the natural human hormone estrogen. In laboratory experiments, isoflavonoids have also been shown to inhibit the growth of breast, prostate and colon cancers.
PROCEED WITH CAUTION
Promising as all this research appears, talking about alcohol always requires special caution. It's all too easy to slip over the line from healthful consumption to overconsumption and physical damage, warns Dr. Denke. Yes, regular moderate consumption can benefit the heart, kidneys, bones and more... but by the same token, drinking too much alcohol can seriously harm vital organs and processes in the body.
While we all think of beer as having more than its fair share of calories, in fact it is not significantly higher than other forms of alcohol. As always, moderation in all things is the best path to follow.

Oh, no! No more wine and cheese parties

2006-01-19T10:05:00.000-08:00

Can you believe it? A new research published in American Journal of Enology and Viticulture shows that

"The cheese suppressed almost all flavors, even strong ones, ... "

It seems like, unless your accompanying cheese is brie or camembert, it is not a good idea to have chees with your wine.

Read more about it at BBC News: Wine and cheese 'not best match'

Cool it!

2005-11-16T10:28:00.000-08:00

It seems like I am not the only one trying to figure out how to store wine and what temperature is good for bringing out the flavors of the wine.

This participatory column (Hollister Free Lance -- Living) has now fielded more questions from the public. Two basic questions that keep arising are, “How should we store wine?” and “What temperature should wine be served?”

There are a few suggestions for those of us who cannot afford fancy wine storage devices (though Christmas is coming and you may want to put it on your wish list : ) )

Constant vibrations or machinery can disturb a wine much as it does our sleep. Do not store your wine on top of the refrigerator or in the garage.

Wine-related gift ideas for the holidays

2005-11-16T09:57:00.000-08:00

A new game has appeared for the wine-lovers. "Wine Teasers is a complete wine course in an easy-to-play game!" says their site.

You can read all about their press release on the eMediaWire site.

The game has gone to market in fall, 2005 and is available at http://www.wineteasers.com/, Amazon.com, and at wine and grocery stores nationwide (see list at http://www.wineteasers.com/buy.htm).

Done with your Christmas shopping?

2005-11-11T10:35:00.000-08:00

Do you know that as of today there's only 43 days until Christmas? Check out the Countdown to Christmas site, if you don't believe me.

If you have not done all your shopping done yet, here's the good news:

Le Vin Nouveau Wine Tasting of the Fresno State Winery is going to take place on November 17th, 5:30-8:30. It is open to the public and a good chance to try the new wines and purchase some for the holidays. I do believe there's a discount if you purchase on the day of the event.

Terroir is good?

2005-11-11T10:24:00.000-08:00

Article from the Slowfood site, "World Wine? We Want Terroir! " is making a plea for not uniforming the taste of wines.

'Wines of the world, don’t unite, for pity’s sake!’ Maybe this should be the battle cry of those wine lovers who are tired of the uniform, one-dimensional taste of wines formatted for an international market. Fortunately, in the ‘old Europe’ so beloved of George Bush, there are ever-increasing numbers of forward-looking growers who are striking back at this dumbing-down and are nurturing differences. It is provenance that wins over internationalization.

On a related note, I would like to remind you of the event that's coming up:

9th Annual Central Coast Viticulture & Enology Conference in San Luis Obispo, February 23-24, titled "The Economics of Terroir -- Image is Everything".

Time to pick the grapes?

2005-11-10T10:28:00.000-08:00

"Harvest's over, let the grape 'hang time' debate begin" by Brett Ascarelli in The Napa Valley Register is discussing the pros and cons of the time the grapes are picked.

"Many vintners favor longer hang times, because they say the extra time grapes spend on the vine develops the full flavors that have lately been lauded by wine critics, whose opinions have had increasing influence over industry standards. However, longer hang times often translate into higher brix, or sugar, levels. When wine ferments, yeast processes the fruit sugars into alcohol, therefore fruit with more brix results in wines with high alcohol. Another side effect of high brix is "stuck fermentation," when the alcohol concentration of fermenting wine gets so high that it kills the yeast before it can convert the remaining sugar. Some winemakers add water to the wine when this happens to revive fermentation."

Nice article.

It is okay to cheat a little

2005-11-10T08:49:00.000-08:00

Essential Wine Tasting Guide is a handy little tool for those of us who are not sure about our tasting abilities. Sandra Silfven has a nice column about it in The Wine News section of the The Detroit News, titled "Aussie's wine cheat sheet puts the right words in your mouth."

"Written for the American wine taster (though versions for six other world markets are available, and six more are in the works), it compiles standardized words to describe color (including a palette); tactile descriptors (acidity, tannins, etc.); flavor descriptors; wine faults; points for scoring wine; a temperature serving guide; and general descriptors for all common wine varieties grown in this country."

This is the first time I came across her column but apparently she has a new column every Thursday. It may be worth checking out every once in a while.

It just may be smoke and mirrors

2005-10-13T13:56:00.000-07:00

Even USA Today talks about it: California Wineries Targeted for Smog.

There is a new concern for the winemakers in California. They are being told to cut down on the emission caused by the winemaking processes.

"Now air-quality managers in California's San Joaquin Valley, where nearly two-thirds of domestic wine is produced, are cracking down. By year's end, local officials will propose the nation's first restrictions targeting pollution from winemaking."

But please note that when the authorities talk about it,

" 'We have regulated virtually all other significant (non-vehicle) sources, some a lot smaller than wineries,'says San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District planning director Scott Nester. Winemaking pollution 'is significant, and it is completely uncontrolled.' "

they do emphasize "non-vehicle" sources. I wonder if that includes the "emissions" that cows produce, or the carbon dioxide produced by all those plants around us.

Think outside of the box

2005-10-13T13:43:00.000-07:00

Wine drinkers are no longer snobbish about their wines, as long as the quality is preserved. That could be in a bottle, in a box, corked or with a screw top.

The Mercury News has a nice article, "Wine anyone? Sure just pass the box".

We are proud of our graduates!

2005-09-08T10:31:00.000-07:00

Yeah... While perusing my Google Alerts this morning, my eye was caught by the name Tish Cooper. She is mentioned in an article, "Different Body of Work" at DailyBulletin.com.

While in France, fellow university students told Cooper that Fresno State was the best place to study enology. So she headed back to the States and enrolled there.

Tish is one of our recent graduates at the Viticulture and Enology program at California State University, Fresno. I am glad to see she is having fun with her degree, playing with yeast up to her shoulders!

Way to go, Tish!

Be American, drink American!

2005-09-08T10:23:00.000-07:00

The rise and fall and rise of Zin, in the San Francisco Chronicle, is a nice article about a variety that has not always been popular with the wine drinkers.

-- When Prohibition ended, most Americans celebrated with liquor, not wine. Cocktail parties were the fashion. Wineries sold their old inventory of oxidized Zinfandel and that destroyed the grape's reputation overnight. It was widely derided by East Coast-based writers; its lack of the French noble heritage of Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinot Noir didn't help.

Do you hear what I hear?

2005-05-20T09:14:00.000-07:00

I received my new copy of Wine Maker magazine. Glancing through it, in their Must Haves section I came across "A 'must hear', winemakingradio.com". Checking out the site, I found out they have had six episodes so far; about twenty minutes of program which includes interviews with different people who are interested in wine-making, or the wine culture.

An interesting recipe for Army Worm Wine is included on one of the pages! Any one heard of that?

Good news

2005-05-16T14:36:00.000-07:00

I was on my way to work this morning when I heard the news on NPR: The Supreme Court has ruled on wine direct shipping. The news is good for the wineries.

The U.S. Supreme Court overturned laws barring out-of-state winemakers from shipping directly to customers in Michigan and New York, potentially boosting Internet and mail-order sales in the $23 billion wine industry.

Many links became available when I received my mailing from Benson Marketing Group:

Family Wineries, Consumers Triumph in U.S. Supreme Court Ruling Supporting Wine Direct Shipping; Coalition for Free Trade Calls Win Historic (Business Wire)

Free the Grapes! National Toast Scheduled Tonight to Celebrate Supreme Court Justices' Support for Wine Direct Shipping (Business Wire)

Court rejects ban on out-of-state sales of wines (Associated Press)

Court OKs direct interstate wine sales (Reuters)

Wine-Shipping Limits Overturned by U.S. High Court (Bloomberg)

States May Not Block Out-Of-State Wine Shipments (NBC11.comnews)

Supreme Court Rules on Wine Shipping (30 Second Wine Advisor)

Texas clears hurdles preventing wine shipments by mail (San Francisco Business Times)

Texas Becomes 27th State to Allow Interstate Wine Shipping (Business Wire)

Texans can now ship wine legally (Austin American-Statesman, By Mark Lisheron)

Subscription Sites:
U.S. Supreme Court Overturns Wine-Shipping Bans (Wine Spectator, By Dana Nigro)

TX Governor Signs Bill On Direct Wine Shipping (Market Watch, By Laura Pelner ) (Ed. Note: Paid Subscription)

But a word of caution (Oklahoma Wine News):

Although the court overwhelmingly found the state wine shipping bans, such as we have here in Oklahoma, to be discriminatory and anticompetitive, their decision leaves open the possibility that state legislatures can ban both in-state and out-of-state wine shipments.

Let's Do the Blend

2005-04-01T09:06:00.000-08:00

If you are a winemaker who likes to experiment with different fruits, varieties, whatnot, the article in Wine Maker, Grape/Non-Grape Blending by Jack Keller may be of interest to you.

Why Blend Wines?
There are several reasons we might want to blend wines. Among these are to correct complementary deficiencies (as in the above example), to integrate complexities from varying bases or to create a new flavor profile.

Wine Maker is a new magazine I had not seen before. They have some good, informational articles. Click on the link of articles and have a look around.

Cat and dog smells are not the same!

2005-03-24T11:29:00.000-08:00

I loved the way the article from San Francisco Chronicle, "Here, kitty kitty Wine critics love cat pee, but hate wet dog. We explain why talks about how the experts describe their wine tasting experiences."

"It's a conundrum to some who read wine publications: How can cat-pee aromas in wine be good, yet horse manure be bad? Wet slate is in, wet dog is out? Sweat is positive, but dirty gym socks are not? And why don't critics say that wine tastes like grapes?

I hope you enjoy the article as much as I did.

It is an antioxidant (the label says so!)

2005-03-01T10:47:00.000-08:00

Willamette Valley Vineyards has succeeded in having TTB approval in including the word "antioxidant" for two of their Pinot noir labels. (Vineyard claims first on wine antioxidant labeling -- Nutraingredients-USA)

Last year scientists at the University of Virginia concluded that resveratrol is the compound primarily responsible for the health benefits of red wine and claimed to have discovered its function in the prevention of cancer - starving cancer cells by inhibiting the action of nuclear factor- kappa B (NF-kB) protein that feeds them.

The vineyard itself has a comment piece on their site for the continued effort to get the antioxidant labeling for their other wines as well.

It's all in the dimples

2005-03-01T10:28:00.000-08:00

Dimples determine the wine's value.

Is it a hoax, or a scientific truth? It seems like it all depends on who you talk to. According to Martin Field, it is one of the wine myths that deeper the dimple, the more valuable the bottle of wine. But a new study publicized today in PRWeb says that, "Scientists Prove How to Value a Bottle of Wine, Just by Feeling its Dimple."

Read the article and you be the judge!

For some attitude, have a look at Vinography, too!

Taking a break for the holidays

2004-12-22T09:39:00.000-08:00

Holiday season is here. This blogger has decided to take some time off to relax and think about where the blog should go.

If you have any ideas, or suggestions, please email me. You can also let me know of your views of the blog so far.

Have a merry Christmas and a wonderful new year!

VERC makes the news

2004-12-06T15:59:00.000-08:00

This seems to have been Viticulture and Enology Research Center, Fresno's week.

It is good to see that in being compared to "the" wine school, UCDavis, California State University, Fresno's Viticulture and Research Department is head-to-head. (Wine School Wars: Two of the best enology programs in the country are right here, but which makes a better winemaker, Davis or Fresno? -- sfgate.com)

Of course, for those of us who are working in Fresno, we are the best! Just check out our awards, if you don't believe me.

Chinese were first?

2004-12-06T15:51:00.000-08:00

A new study coming out this week (China the Motherland of Booze? -- WCCO) is out to show that wine did not originate in Middle East as was previously thought, but in China.

The ceramics were dated to about 7,000 B.C. -- 9,000 years ago -- and the scientists analyzed residue that had collected inside the pots.

The results showed chemicals that matched residues from modern rice and rice wine, grape wine, grape tannins and ancient and modern herbs. There were also indications of hawthorn fruit.

On a remotely related note, check out "Chinese offered wine-tasting classes" from statesmenjournal.com.

Spanish invasion

2004-11-29T13:37:00.000-08:00

Tempranillo, from Spain, is a new favorite with the Australian grape growers.

One of the reasons for its popularity is its broad flavour spectrum. It can show strawberry/raspberry/blackberry/mulberry characters, as well as tobacco/herb/olive/tar/spice and sometimes an earthy, farmyard character. It can be quite silky, with fine chalky tannins.

On another note,

Cropping levels must be kept low. "Treat it mean," Fernandez says. "Don't allow it to sprout like a rampant adolescent," Adams adds. "It has large leaves," Leske points out, "and they're great for people in nudist colonies."

Funny!

Check out Spanish conquistador (theage.com.au)

Listen to some views about wine

2004-11-19T10:21:00.000-08:00

I came across the link for Wine for Every Occasion in NPR.

When I followed the link, it led me to an interview of the writers of the book, Wine for Every Day and Every Occasion : Red, White, and Bubbly to Celebrate the Joy of Living, Dorothy J. Gaiter and John Brecher being interviewed by NPR's Tony Cox on the The Tavis Smiley Show.

Listen to the quite pleasant, informative online interview by clicking on the button on the web page.

You can get the book on Amazon for the holidays, for yourself, or someone who may need an easy introduction to wine drinking. And, if you have to read it right now, you can even download it.

Cheers!

Wow! Color me happy!

2004-11-18T09:16:00.000-08:00

I just read about a new Google service, scholar.google.com in my daily posting of Science in the News:

GOOGLE PLANS NEW SERVICE FOR SCIENTISTS AND SCHOLARS
from The New York Times (Registration Required)
SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 17 - Google Inc. plans to announce on Thursday that it is adding a new search service aimed at scientists and academic researchers.
Google Scholar, which was scheduled to go online Wednesday evening at scholar.google.com, is a result of the company's collaboration with a number of scientific and academic publishers
and is intended as a first stop for researchers looking for scholarly literature like peer-reviewed
papers, books, abstracts and technical reports.
Google executives declined to say how many additional documents and books had been indexed and made searchable through the service. While the great majority of recent scholarly papers and periodicals are indexed on the Web, many have not been easily accessible to the public.
http://snipurl.com/aq4b

I tried it with keywords "micro-oxidation" and" grape" and the search came up with 437 scholarly articles. As an online researcher, I am impressed. This is good stuff, Google. Keep up the good work.

Getting to know Zinfandel

2004-11-10T16:55:00.000-08:00

Grape Expectations has another good article, this time about Zinfandel.

Seeing red (The Publican) is helpful in learning more about Zinfandel. Oz Clarke believes cabernet sauvignon is “the world’s most famous red wine grape”. Master of Wine Jonathan Pedley is even more gushing: “It is the great aristocrat of black grape varieties. If chardonnay is a bit of a slapper these days, then cabernet sauvignon has that touch of class about it.”

When experts have such high opinions, isn't it time you got to know Zinfandel?

How to eat, drink and recover...

2004-11-10T16:40:00.000-08:00

You have problems?

What wine to drink with what kind of food? Where to get your favorite wines? And, most importantly, what to do when you have overdone it?

Check this site out: Websites to help you wine and dine (startribune.com). Nice links!

Send over that California wine

2004-11-08T15:10:00.000-08:00

Ah! The convenience and mischief of the internet! Putting the U.S. Supreme Court justices to work just so we can exchange bottles of wine and beer over the state lines.

You may want to read Prohibition Redux! (CNet News.com) to have an idea about what's going into the the concerns of online alcohol purchases.

A new book for your shelves

2004-11-08T14:48:00.000-08:00

For the wine lovers who desire to learn more about Pinot Noir, a book just came out in September. Article from San Francisco Chronicle, "Most delicate grape gets a thorough probing" has very good things to say about North American Pinot Noir, by John Wintrop Haeger.

Chewing through 425 pages about one grape variety would be a chore if one were in the hands of a less capable author. But Haeger, a China scholar whose last book was the 1975 "Crisis and Prosperity in Sung China," writes with a sense of clarity and curiosity that makes his second book a pleasure to digest.

Check it out!

40 interesting facts about wine

2004-11-08T13:30:00.000-08:00

Here are a few....

34 Wine is a sterile medium because of its high acidity, alcohol and low pH. Pathogens cannot live in it, which means it's very safe to drink. In fact, people used to mix wine with polluted or suspect water, in an effort to make the water safe.

23 The indent you see on the base of most wine bottles is called a punt. It collects the sediment in old reds and makes decanting easier; it strengthens a champagne bottle which has to withstand 4.5 atmospheres of internal pressure; it aided the stacking of inverted bottles in olden times; and the earliest bottles were more stable than if they had flat bases, which tended to be a bit wonky. Increasingly these days, the punt is for appearance.

7 Our most popular wine-grape, shiraz, originated in a Muslim country where the people don't drink wine: Iran.

(From TheAge.com -- What's in a bottle)

One sip at a time

2004-10-27T15:50:00.000-07:00

Where training your palate for wine tasting is concerned, it is better to take it slowly and in a certain order.

Article from Staten Island Advance, "Tips on learning the progression of wine tasting", is a good introduction to advancing your knowledge of wines, and how and when to drink them.

Let me know if you like the suggested progression of wine tastings.

Time pressure's on...

2004-10-27T15:26:00.000-07:00

I have been caught in non-bloggy activities today.

As I will be gone for the next few days for the Wine Librarians meeting in Pomona, I feel like I should at least post the links that might be interesting to check.

Here they are:

-- Grape growers seek study of late harvests (NapaNews.com)
-- Chardonnay is so passe; sip a sampling of viognier (FortWayne.com)
-- Grant to help wine industry (Californian.com)

Enough wine for all your friends

2004-10-25T14:09:00.000-07:00

Cute!

If you get the wine mentioned in the article, How much for King Kong of wine (Chicago Sun-Times), you'll have no trouble offering wine to all your friends, at Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's.... Really! You really can't go wrong when you have 12,000 glasses of wine.

I am in a New York state of mind..

2004-10-25T13:47:00.000-07:00

"A small, but growing, number of vintners in Niagara County have begun to tap into New York State's $40 million wine industry, the third-largest in the United States."

With that kind of growth, it is no wonder that

"U.S. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, a member of the Congressional Wine Caucus, is pressing to have the Niagara Escarpment designated as an American Viticulture Area, which would provide a marketing boost for area wineries." (Wineries producing growth, excitement -- Buffalo News)

And, if you want to check out the wines in the region, here's a list of Web guides to New York's Finger Lakes wine district (canada.com)

Old wine books provide nice reading

2004-10-22T10:48:00.000-07:00

Antique books on winemaking are as much a passion as winemaking itself for Sean Thackrey, who says he was looking for a classical education about wine when he began collecting texts in 1996. (Fun facts from wine history -- sfgate.com)

There are various places (other than garage sales and Salvation Army stores) where you can get some nice old wine books. According to Sean Thackrey, they are not very hard to get hold of. Thackrey not only collects them, but also translates the foreign language ones and posts them on his site, wine-maker.net. VERY nice site for people interested in wine-related writings from the past.

If you would like to learn more about old wine books, a nice publication is Wayward Tendrils Quarterly. They do not have a website of their own but if you check the link, you can find out how to subscribe to the newsletter of the Wine Book Collector's Society. Gail Unselman, who is one of the publishers, is a wonderful person who I am sure would love to help.

Heard of Brazilian wine?

2004-10-22T10:33:00.000-07:00

Even though Chilean wines are mentioned continuously, it seems like not many people are aware that Brazil also has a wine industry.

An informative article from www.gringoes.com (don't you just love the name?), South American Wine Guide: Brazil is a good introduction.

Also, check out the previous articles in this series:

South American Wine Guide: Argentina
South American Wine Guide: Chile
South American Wine Guide: Uruguay

To ban, or not to ban

2004-10-22T10:00:00.000-07:00

Time to do your homework before the election day that is fast approaching.

One of the issues that is going to come to vote in some parts of California is Measure Q-04, Prohibit Growing Genetically Engineered Organisms in San Luis Obispo County. This is a good time to educate yourself before the decision lands on _your_ doorstep.

Check out League of Women Voters of California Education Fund and SanLuisObispo.com to get the views on both sides of the discussion.

Mexican winery dreams

2004-10-19T11:33:00.000-07:00

The California wine industry was built on the backbreaking labor of a largely Mexican seasonal work force. But the rise of the fine-wine business created a growing demand for year-round workers with special skills in Napa and other regions. Many former migrant workers settled down in wine country. They sent their children to school and taught them how to tend the vines. Some saved money and bought land, and soon began growing their own grapes.

Article from NYTimes, "Pickers to vintners: A Mexican-American saga" makes interesting reading about how what started as seasonal Mexican labor has developed into the workers becoming wine makers themselves.

Sisterhood of the wine

2004-10-18T14:31:00.000-07:00

One of the fastest growing sections of the wine-drinking population is women. Many of the advertisements nowadays are gearing their advertisements to take advantage of this development. "Not only are women the majority of wine consumers, they are the largest of today's buying power markets."

Marketing wine to women (Wine Business Monthly)

and

Sipping sisters (New York Daily News)

are two of the many articles that talk about how more and more women are getting involved in the wine business.

Time to think outside the box

2004-10-18T14:09:00.000-07:00

Corks are on the way out and screw caps and boxes are in. It is said, "Americans are losing their aversion to wine in a box." (BeverageWorld)

"It moves wine into an everyday beverage and not just a special-occasion beverage," she said. "It (the box) can protect the wine for two or three months as opposed to one or two days. It works well for casual consumption, at picnics, barbecues, sporting events, anywhere where wine wouldn't be taken because of the equipment needed or breakable bottles."

Three Muscateers?

2004-10-18T13:54:00.000-07:00

From the I-didn't-know-that! department:

Muscat, muscadet, muscadelle. All for one and one for all? Hardly. These are three separate creatures encompassing an enormous variety of red, white, sweet, dry and fizzy wines. Similar names _ along with aliases including muscatel, moscato and muskateller _ make it quite a puzzle sorting out just
who's who.

Read more about it in Scrips Howard News Service, "Our noses make scents of the wine family tree."

My kind of program

2004-10-15T14:18:00.000-07:00

A not-to-be-missed TV program, starring John Cleese of Monty Python fame is coming to your screens this week.

"The purpose in doing the program ["John Cleese's Wine for the Confused"] was to simply inform myself better. I realized I would have the wonderful opportunity to talk to sommeliers and the winemakers and discuss wines, and through the process of sipping a wine with them say, 'Now there's a funny taste in there. What is that?' And then they suggest a word and sometimes it means nothing, but sometimes you say, 'Yes! That's exactly the word.'"

To find out when it is on in your area check out the article, John Cleese offers a Python's guide to wine (Miami Herald)

Sweet baby steps

2004-10-14T10:58:00.000-07:00

New drinkers who are just being introduced to wines are more likely to prefer sweeter ones. (Sweet is smart for beginners -- Oregon Daily Emerald)

"For a person who is just starting to drink wine, he or she would drink fruitier wines first," Cornucopia Deli wine buyer Louis Rodie said. "Drier wines are an acquired taste; fruitier wines are more user-friendly."

But if they get too sweet, it may be a turn off for some.

"I don't know any guys who like sweet wine," she said. "Guys tend to stay away from the fruity stuff.

If you want to give wine to someone special that keeps on giving, (A rare dessert wine honors St. Nick's spirit of giving --Wine Spectator Online), Dolce may be the one that fits the bill.

Legend has it that in the third century, Bishop Nicholas traveled around, using his inheritance to give gifts to needy families. That prompted the custom of children leaving out stockings or shoes by the fire to receive gifts. St. Nicholas is now often associated with Christmas and is one of the origins of Santa Claus.

In honor of Saint Nicholas, who is the patron saint of children, Dolce will donate $100 to the Greater Bay Area Make-A-Wish Foundation® for every bottle of Dolce Saint Nicholas sold.

See, a good reason to be sweet to someone!

Some white, some red should do the trick

2004-10-13T16:20:00.000-07:00

Educate yourself about white (The grape that thinks it's a brand -- The Publican) and red (Unusual reds are hard to pronounce but easy to sip -- Contra Costa Times) wines and experiment with new choices.

For healthy wine drinking, don't brush your teeth!

2004-10-13T08:33:00.000-07:00

eeeeeeooooooooooooo..... yecchhhhhh!

A professional dentist suggests that if you don't brush your teeth before drinking (and, a few hours afterwards), the plaque you have on your teeth acts as a protective barrier against the acid of the wine. (Furry teeth can be a wine drinker's friend -- News in Science) Thankfully, also

Chewing sugar-free gum and drinking water helps to stimulate saliva production, as does application of fluoride gel the night before tasting.

What next? Don't shave? Don't wash your face?

Just go and brush your teeth. I don't want to hear that I am going to taste 100 wines today excuse!!

Good for the grape, good for the wine, good for the environment

2004-10-12T14:44:00.000-07:00

Sustainable agriculture (see: What is Sustainable Agriculture?) is the new buzz word these days.

In essence, sustainability is doing the right thing — managing environmental, human resource and community issues so that the industry survives and prospers far into the future.

There are articles you should not miss like,

Local Wineries More Sensitive to Environment -- Oakland Tribune
and
Wine Notes: Wine industry makes plans for decades of vintage years -- Modesto Bee

And since sustainability is aimed at assuring that California will have a healthy wine industry for many decades to come, it benefits anyone who wants to continue enjoying the state's signature beverage.

In the meanwhile, some of the grapegrowers want to have their grapes to mature on the vine longer. They think this practice will increase the levels of brix in the grapes resulting in better quality wine. (Growers, winemakers at odds about when to pick up fruit -- Napa News)

But others in the wine industry say that the practice threatens the economic viability of grape growers, by reducing crop levels and adversely affecting the health of grape vines.

Today is the day to drink those wines

2004-10-12T14:07:00.001-07:00

Good article, "Can you tell me when a wine reaches its golden age? " -- SFGate.com, where the writer is talking about his experiences with various types of wine.

"One of the questions our readers ask most often is: When will a wine be at its peak? In most cases -- maybe nine out of 10 or more -- the answer is simple: today. That's because the vast majority of wines are meant to be drunk right away... "

Become a Lodi convert

2004-10-11T10:45:00.000-07:00

California is one big wine producing area. Even though Napa has been the choice for the serious wine drinker for a long time, with new areas producing good wine, it is time to try wines of different regions.

Case in point: Lodi at this point boasts of 175 labels. Vintage Lodi: region boasts for major strides in wine industry -- (from Sacramento Bee) does a good job of describing how far Lodi has come.

Go ahead. Make your day!

Are you free on Saturday?

2004-10-07T13:36:00.000-07:00

An event in our backyard has recently come to my attention (Thanks to Bill Carlton):

October 9th, Saturday, is the date to keep in mind if you are crazy about chocolate. Apparently, “Oakhurst's Wild Wonderful Chocolate Festival” is now going on its sixth year.

With all of their projects Wild Wonderful Women have raised money and contributed to these organizations over the past 6 years: - The Oakhurst Boys and Girls Club - The Children's Museum of the Sierra - Manna House - Laurel House Women & Children's Shelter - Fresno Flats Historical Park - Wild, Wonderful King Vintage Museum - Yosemite High School Girls Basketball - Scholarship Award Yosemite High School. (Chocolate Festival set for October 9th -- Sierra Star)

What's that got to do with wines, I hear you ask. Well... Haven't you heard how chocolate is as good for you just like a glass of Merlot? hmmm....? If you don't believe me, check out the Wine Spectator article, "New studies link wine and health benefits."

In good news for candy lovers, chocolate and wine may share similar health benefits. In a five-year study of 7,841 male Harvard graduates who were 65 and older, chocolate and candy eaters lived almost a year longer than those who abstained.

Miracle drink?

2004-10-06T14:01:00.000-07:00

Another thing wine is good for: Alzheimer's.

With each new research publication it is becoming obvious that wine, drunk in reasonable quantities, will keep you young and healthy. Not to mention happy!

If you would like to read the news from Japanese researchers:

Compounds found in wine could inhibit Alzheimer's (from NutraIngredients.com)

Here's to good health and happy life!

You, too, can become a master wine taster

2004-10-06T13:31:00.000-07:00

Must be the time of the year, or somethin'. A lot of the articles this week seem to be about how to taste wine. I thought I will direct you to a few that are good, entertaining, informational, or all of the above.

From Kansas City Star:

Dick and Jane go to wine school

and

More wine school

From Contra Costa Times:

1, 2, 3, 4 --Wine tasting doesn't have to be intimidating any more!

It is interesting that "cat pee" is an accepted term for describing wine, don't you think?

Cruise enjoying the C Wines

2004-10-05T14:12:00.000-07:00

Now that's doing it in style! Crystal Cruise line has come up with its own wine label.

Building on its reputation for excellence and innovation in the culinary arts, luxury cruise specialist Crystal Cruises has created its own proprietary label called C Wines. Debuting aboard the line's fleet of three award-winning, luxury ships this month, C Wines features six new appellations including three reserve and three premium selections of Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay and Merlot.

From Cruise@ddicts: C Wines Debuts as New Proprietary Label for Crystal Cruises

Let the machines take over

2004-10-04T13:21:00.000-07:00

Neat article from Tri-City Herald, "Handling a divine crop," which includes videos that show the grape harvester at work.

"If you look at what the harvester can do in a day, it would take 100 people to do the same work," said Powers, owner of the harvester and Badger Mountain Vineyard and Powers Winery in Kennewick. "Picking by hand? Life's too short."

Check it out!

Wine a little, you'll feel better

2004-10-04T10:51:00.000-07:00

With the most recent move, Mondavi seems to be in the process of developing cheaper wines for the masses rather than serving the elite with higher-priced products.

Of course, the idea of making a bundle selling cheap wine isn't new. Last year, Bronco Wine Co.'s Charles Shaw brand drew huge attention with its $1.99 bottle of what became known as "Two Buck Chuck."
"The whole Two Buck Chuck phenomenon showed people that wine doesn't have to be expensive to be good," said Marc Engel, head of the wines practice at BRS Group, a marketing research firm in San Raphael, Calif.

If the business model Mondavi is planning on following (Mondavi sees value in wine for the masses -- Seattle Post-Intelligence) means quality wine at affordable prices, that is good news for the average drinker.

Would you like some Fat Bastard with that?

2004-09-29T10:45:00.001-07:00

Yes, I know; it is much more impressive to your company to order Chaeauneuf-du-Pape with your meal. But wouldn't you like to get them sometimes with your knowledge of the new labels?

Leonard M. Zunin, in his book, Contact: the first four minutes, makes the point that it takes only that long to make an impression on the person you meet. Now the winemakers are coming up with labels that will catch the consumers' attention as they are scanning the shelves of wines. "Wacky wine labels lure younger customers" (pressconnects.com) is exploring what works.

I know I am not the only one to buy a wine because the label is so attractive!

You, too, could easily become a millionaire winemaker. Not!

2004-09-29T10:05:00.000-07:00

Anyone, who is interested in making his/her own wine and hoping to make money at it, needs to read "Don't give up the day job" (theage.com.au) to find out how much work and money goes into building up a successful personal winery.

"It will be eight years before it makes a profit (which could be next year), with serious costs each year - over $100,000 every year," he says matter-of-factly.
"That just means more working hours and that’s been quite a pressure, working longer hours to make it happen."

So, why do it? Here's a response:

"I love the natural ebb and flow of the seasons," he says. "I love the almost restful, artisanal quality of winemaking at the rather small level that I undertake it. This enables me to do it with a degree of Zen, if I can put it that way. And I value that."

Gambling with grapes in Nevada

2004-09-29T09:44:00.000-07:00

"Fermenting on the farm" from Lahontan Valley News and Fallon Eagle Standard is talking about the efforts of one vineyard owner in trying to see if the wines produced from his grapes naturally will result in good wine.

With the aid of a retired vineyard owner from northern California, the grapes will go through a "textbook" wine making process. There will be virtually no tweaking of sugars and acids, so the unadulterated taste of Fallon-area grapes can be evaluated in the form of grape juice-plus.

Barley wine! Is it beer, or is it wine?

2004-09-29T09:13:00.000-07:00

Reading the article in Kansas City Star, made me think of the kids' discussion in the movie Stand By Me, the 1986 movie, when they are trying to figure out what kind of animal Goofy is. Is it a dog? Is it a person? Well, so what is barley wine? "Like beer? Give barley wine a try" may be able to answer the question about that.

About Goofy? You are on your own!

Racism in grapes

2004-09-24T09:22:00.000-07:00

"Winemakers protect 'outlawed' grapes" (International Herald Tribune online) is an interesting look at the unwelcome the American grape varietes have received in Europe.

Gale, the American grape expert, believes nationalism was often the subtext of efforts to keep American grape varieties out of European soil. Hitler ordered American varieties uprooted in Germany during the 1930s because he said they were of lower culture. French farmers only reluctantly used rootstock from America when diseases ravaged their crops.

Interestingly, at one point the European varieties have been saved by the strong character of the American grapes.

Ironically, the European vines were ultimately spared by the American ones: Well-known European varieties like Cabernet, Merlot and Pinot Noir were grafted onto the resistant American rootstock.

See, we can all benefit from a multi-national approach to viticulture!

Parker in your Palm

2004-09-23T11:20:00.000-07:00

Time to put your PDA to work.

If you are wondering what else you can do with your PDA, you may want to give the "Parker In Your Palm" a try. Read the article from LATimes.com, "Download, then uncork" to find out more about it.

Better salaries on the horizon?

2004-09-23T10:45:00.000-07:00

Winemakers from every winery size earned 24 percent more this year over last year, with an average salary of $84,019. Winemakers from the smallest wineries (less than 10,000 cases) and the largest (more than 500,000 cases) saw the most significant increases.

Good news (Salaries in wine world are on the rise -- SFGate.com) for people who are going into the winemaking to know that they won't have to suffer and drown their problems in wine!

Marilyn Merlot exposed!!

2004-09-22T10:43:00.000-07:00

It is obvious sex sells.

The makers of Marilyn Merlot have been using the star's likeness on their labels some time. But now they have come up with a new twist to the label. To find out what it is, check out the article from Wine Spectator Online, "Marilyn Merlot Bares All With A Peek-A-Boo Label."

Also, "Once you have studied the label, it's time to test the wine," (heraldtribune.com) makes interesting reading to understand what is on the wine labels.

Men have a healthy reason to drink red wine

2004-09-22T10:36:00.000-07:00

According to Yahoo!Finance article, "A Glass of Red Wine a Day May Keep Prostate Away," research shows

"... that men who consumed four or more glasses of red wine per week reduced their risk of prostate cancer by 50 percent," Stanford said. "Among men who consumed four or more 4-ounce glasses of red wine per week, we saw about a 60 percent lower incidence of the more aggressive types of prostate cancer," said Stanford, senior author of the study. "The more clinically aggressive prostate cancer is where the strongest reduction in risk was observed."

Letting the gin out of the bottle

2004-09-21T15:04:00.000-07:00

Here we go again:

Another article (Red Wine May Clear The Arteries Better Than Gin, Study Finds -- winespectator.com) praising the virtues of drinking red wine over gin.

Parting is such sweet sorrow! *

2004-09-21T14:29:00.000-07:00

* With a tip of my hat to Shakespeare...

As you know, Michael Mondavi has resigned from his position as the president of the Robert Mondavi winery. It looks like he will have many goodies (Vintner Michael Mondavi gets 50 cases of wine as parting gift -- From indystar.com) to make his early retirement a little easier.

His severance agreement includes more than $1.5 million cash, the right to buy the winery's six season tickets to San Francisco Giants games at fair market value and up to 50 cases of wine, according to a document filed Friday with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Not a bad deal!

I am a Master Grape Grower. How about you?

2004-09-21T09:49:00.000-07:00

Learned of this link through Oklahoma Wine News.

The McCarthy Company has a link to an online test of your ability to be a good vineyard manager called Vineyard Challenge! Try it and see if you have the skills to retire after 29 years as a Master Grape Grower like I would.

Turning the pages...

2004-09-20T11:13:00.000-07:00

If you have not already, have a look at the August/September 2004 issue of The Wine News.

Some articles that can be read online:
- Great Grapes and the farmers who grow them -- Richard Kinssies & Jeff Cox
- Merlot anyone? -- Todd M. Wernstrom

How cold is too cold

2004-09-20T10:49:00.001-07:00

As someone who usually likes her wines "a little chilled," it was interesting to read the article in TheStarOnline, "Ideal temperatures for wine" about the optimum temperatures as well as the better conditions to store wine long term.

How about rice wine?

2004-09-20T09:42:00.000-07:00

In Viet Nam, expensive scotch, imported whisky, French wine and even Russian vodka may be gaining popularity among urbane tipplers, but most Vietnamese men still prefer local liquor commonly known as ruou (rice wine).

Nice article from Vietnam News, "Toasting Vietnamese Rice Wine," that talks about different kinds of rice wine.

Picture caption: Party drink: Ruou cannot be drunk alone, but rather requires a group of friends willing to share in revelries. - VNA/VNS Photo Thanh Ha

Make it your own

2004-09-20T09:12:00.000-07:00

You want to make your own wine but don't have the vineyard? Here's what a Boston winemaker has done:

Take California grapes, add Italian know-how, savor that Boston wine Winemaker blends his Old World training with a new age palate, and corks the result

See the article in Boston.com: "Our grapes? No, but purely our wine."

Science of wine benefits

2004-09-20T08:50:00.000-07:00

A recently released report by the National Science Foundation (NSF), "Mechanism Behind Beneficial Effects of Red Wine," sheds light on why the red wine is good for you.

“This research demonstrates the power of protein engineering in producing value-added traits, and in solving synthetic puzzles using modern techniques,” said William Nes, program director in NSF’s division of molecular and cellular biosciences, which funded the research. “The study provides new insights into the relationships among plant proteins.”

So $$ = quality is not true?

2004-09-19T14:40:00.000-07:00

"Wine is priced at what winery can get" (from The Oregonian) is an interesting follow up to my previous blog, "Here's to two buck Chuck!".

Here's to Two Buck Chuck!

2004-09-18T10:53:00.000-07:00

"Charles Shaw Winery Celebrates 10 Million Cases" (BusinessWire) is a good example of finding a niche and pricing the product appropriately.

Red, or white?

2004-09-17T11:27:00.000-07:00

"California's New Red Wine Values" (from http://www.winespectator.com/)

This report and the accompanying chart spotlight the new world of red-wine values from California. We have listed 50 wines that cost less than $20 and scored 85 points or higher (or very good, on Wine Spectator's 100-point scale). All are produced in generous quantities and are from recent vintages, and so should be widely available across the country. (And don't forget that many of these producers make good value whites, too.)
Our diverse list includes 13 Zinfandels, 10 Pinot Noirs, eight Cabernet Sauvignons, seven Merlots and a few Syrahs and blends. Many of these wines are from well-known appellations such as Russian River Valley, Amador County and Santa Barbara. Others represent appellations you may not be familiar with, such as Suisun Valley, which is southeast of Napa; growers there have been selling Suisun Valley grapes to Napa and Sonoma vintners for more than 20 years.

and

"The World's Great New Whites" (from www.foodandwine.com)

Good white wine is now being made in more places than ever before. While serious winemakers once aspired only to make serious reds, they've discovered white wine has equal—and perhaps even greater—rewards. They have been lavishing more time, attention and talent (to say nothing of money) on grapes like Albariño, Sauvignon Blanc and Falanghina. And yes, on Chardonnay, too.

give you the information to choose what kind of wine you would like to have.

Your retirement future may be in wine

2004-09-17T11:19:00.000-07:00

CalPERS, the nation's largest public pension fund with assets totaling more than $150 billion, is investing $100 million in a project aimed at developing high-end vineyard sites in Oregon, Washington and California. A significant slice of that money is being funneled into more than 440 acres of prime wine-grape-growing land near the Yamhill County town of Carlton.

Interesting article from The Oregonian, "Wine Money Moving North."

I guess it IS rocket science!

2004-09-17T10:58:00.001-07:00

Improving wine with satellites (ESA Portal) talks about how technology is being used in the vineyard.

"Earth observation satellites now have remote sensing instruments operating in a variety of modes, optical, radar, infra-red. The scientific data that can be extracted is considerable. Depending on the satellite's resolution, we can obtain data on precise soil composition, the slopes, exposure to sunlight, and the humidity of agricultural regions. With future satellites we will monitor how vineyards have been cared for during the year."

No eBay for wine selling!!

2004-09-16T16:08:00.000-07:00

Isn't that interesting..

Regulators for now are targeting only people selling what they deem to be large quantities of wine. But the crackdown points up the uncomfortable fact that there is no legal framework for consumers to buy and sell wine from each other -- on the Internet or off.

But that has not stopped the federal regulators.

Neil Monnens, a San Francisco ad executive and wine buff, decided last year that his taste was veering away from Bordeaux and Napa Valley Cabernets. So he went online and sold 500 cases of his 2,000-case collection at WineCommune.com.
In late August, Monnens received a letter from the federal Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB), the successor agency to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, asking for the money. An estimated 50 to 75 WineCommune members received similar notices, which they are entitled to appeal.

Read the full story at "Feds bust collectors who sell wine online." (SFGate.com)

Wine for women's health

2004-09-16T15:32:00.000-07:00

Pros and cons of drinking wine for women are discussed in "Should Women Drink Wine for Their Health" at bgh.com.

Red wine is good for you but there are other ways of getting more anti-oxidants into your system without overdoing the alcohol consumption.

Merlot has got the "soft" touch

2004-09-16T15:21:00.000-07:00

Now what? Merlot is suffering because it is too soft on the palate?

"What should we work towards? Bicknell believes we have over-emphasised the "softness" of merlot. It's the first thing drinkers and producers alike associate with the grape, but it's turning merlot into sloppy, wishy-washy wines." (Ugly Sister Syndrome from SMH.com.au)

All kinds of ideas seem to be expressed about how to go about improving Merlot.

Bring over the wine and the CD

2004-09-13T09:30:00.000-07:00

A new marketing ploy by an Australian wine company "Foster's uses music to sell its wine" (theage.com.au), CD's will be given away to purchasers of wine. The music by an unknown Australian singer is "soft jazz" chosen according to marketing research. Accordingly, the wine labels are to be changed as well as the character of the wines themselves.

Sundance Kid has a wine label!

2004-09-13T09:10:00.000-07:00

A new label is rising over the Sundance Resort horizon. The resort, owned by Robert Redford, is bringing the same kind of idea as his film festival to wines.

Just as the film festival highlights the independent voice of the filmmaker, "our wine program celebrates the independent voice of the winemaker," said Raymond Grant, executive director of the resort.

See the article, "Sundance Creates Its Own Wine Label," from Wine Spectator.

Put a (good) cork in it!

2004-09-13T08:56:00.000-07:00

With the debate about whether to cork or not to cork heating up, the manufacturers are working on ways of improving the best way to seal the wine bottles.

News from Yahoo!Finance, "Coveted Vinitech Gold Award for Sabate's New Diam Wine Closure," is talking about the improved composite cork: "The product's manufacturing technology selectively extracts undesirable compounds like TCA from raw cork granules with supercritical CO2."

How Gallo came up with the Red Bicyclette label

2004-09-11T10:57:00.000-07:00

I had mentioned Red Bicyclette in a previous blog, Get on that bike!

In today's Modbee. com there is more on how Gallo decided to work with the French grapes to come up with a label that would appeal to the American tastes.

... the Gallo marketing executives say Red Bicyclette combines the fruit-forward, drink now style of new world producers like California and Australia with the mineral flavors that define French wine “terroir.” Terroir is the characteristics a particular geography brings to wine — the influence of soil and climate on the wine.

Grape juice is the best!

2004-09-10T15:17:00.000-07:00

When you are checking out the shelves for your juice needs, look for grape juice. New data as mentioned in BusinessWire, "Grape Juice Ranks #1 of All Juices and Beverages Tested in new USDA 'Proanthocyanidin' Database," show that grape juice is the best for your cardiovascular well-being.

Personality counts

2004-09-10T11:08:00.000-07:00

The first and, so far, the only wine to receive DOC status, Spain's highest classification, Rioja is without doubt the country's greatest fine-wine region. (The New Sotheby's Wine Encyclopedia -- DK Publishing, 1997)

An article from BBCNews, "Why once-dowdy Rioja reigns in Spain," talks about what the winemakers in Spain are doing to improve the image of Rioja in the market place.

Required prerequisite: Maybe some wine?

2004-09-10T10:19:00.000-07:00

My apologies to the more serious minded, but could not resist some "literary!!" humor on a Friday.

ANALOGIES AND METAPHORS

1. Her face was a perfect oval, like a circle that had its two sides gently compressed by a Thigh Master.

2. His thoughts tumbled in his head, making and breaking alliances like underpants in a dryer without ClingFree.

3. He spoke with the wisdom that can only come from experience, like a guy who went blind because he looked at a solar eclipse without one of those boxes with a pinhole in it and now goes around the country speaking at high schools about the dangers of looking at a solar eclipse without one of those boxes with a pinhole in it.

4. She grew on him like she was a colony of E.coli and he was room-temperature Canadian beef.

5. She had a deep, throaty, genuine laugh, like that sound a dog makes just before it throws up.

6. Her vocabulary was as bad as, like, whatever.

7. He was as tall as a six-foot-three-inch tree.

8. The revelation that his marriage of 30 years had disintegrated because of his wife's infidelity came as a rude shock, like a surcharge at a formerly surcharge-free ATM.

9. The little boat gently drifted across the pond exactly the way a bowling ball wouldn't.

10. The Bride fell 12 stories, hitting the pavement like a Hefty bag filled with Quentin Tarantino's vegetable soup.

11. From the attic came an unearthly howl. The whole scene had an eerie, surreal quality, like when you're on vacation in another city and Jeopardy comes on at 7:00 p.m., instead of 7:30.

12. Her hair glistened in the rain, like a nose hair after a sneeze.

13. The hailstone leaped from the pavement, just like maggots when you fry them in hot grease.

14. Long separated by cruel fate, the star-crossed lovers raced across the grassy field toward each other like two freight trains, one having left Cleveland at 6:36 p.m. traveling at 55 MPH, the other from Topeka at 4:19 p.m. at a speed of 65 MPH.

15. They lived in a typical suburban neighborhood with picket fences that resembled Nancy Kerrigan's teeth.

16. John and Mary had never met. They were like two hummingbirds, who had also never met.

17. He fell for her, like his heart was a mob informant and she was the East River.

18. Even in his last years, Grandpappy had a mind like a steel trap, only one that had been left out so long, it had rusted shut.

19. Shots rang out, as shots are want to do.

20. The plan was simple, like my brother-in-law Phil. But unlike Phil, this plan just might work.

21. The ballerina rose gracefully en pointe and extended one slender leg behind her, like a dog at a fire hydrant.

22. It was an American tradition, like fathers chasing kids around with power tools.

23. He was deeply in love. When she spoke, he thought he heard bells, as if she were a garbage truck backing up.

24. Her eyes were like limpid pools, only they had forgotten to put in any pH cleanser.

Dollars and sense about the glassy-winged sharpshooter

2004-09-08T14:59:00.000-07:00

NapaNews article, "Solano County funds tripled to fight grape pest", talks about how when Solano County is increasing funds to eradicate the initiator of the Pierce's Disease when Napa County is cutting them. When so many vineyards are at risk, hope is that there is a decrease in the number of the insects.

Looking into the future...

2004-09-08T14:31:00.000-07:00

Food & Wine Magazine has an article by Robert Parker in its most recent issue where he makes 12 predictions for wine.

"Parker Predicts The Future" makes interesting reading. Check it out!

I'll drink to that!

2004-09-08T10:26:00.000-07:00

Is it the state of the economy? The PR about the benefits of wine? Enjoyment of it? Or, all of the above?

The latest figures show (U.S. Wine Consumption Hits All-Time High) that domestic or imported, wine is becoming more popular.

News from Down Under

2004-09-07T13:15:00.000-07:00

Australia is marching on.. "A World Class Industry" is growing in leaps and bounds.

Today, Australia is the second-largest source of imported wine in the US - having shipped $US600million worth last year - surpassed only by Italy. In UK supermarkets recently, Australian wines have outsold French wines. Other strong markets are Canada, Germany and New Zealand. Australia is the largest New World wine exporter, surpassing Argentina, Chile, South Africa and the US.

And the Australian winemakers are looking for an identity for Merlot as discussed in the "Ugly Sister Syndrome".

Happy Labor Day!

2004-09-06T13:50:00.000-07:00

For the grape growers Labor Day means laboring.

With the early ripening of the grapes this year, grape growers do not have the luxury of taking a day off. When you drink your wine today, toast the people who have worked hard to bring you the taste you enjoy.

From PittsburgLive.com: For grape growers, September is a month of labor.

Summer is over. Let's camp!

2004-09-06T13:32:00.000-07:00

This is not your grandchildren's camp! Check out the opportunity to learn about winemaking by visiting the vineyards and sampling the wine while you pick grapes and crush just like I Love Lucy!

From Newsweek via MSBNC, It's Camp Chardonnay talks about various wineries that are offering the experience to the visitors to Napa Valley.

Second labels? (Is that like "Second-hand Rose"?)

2004-09-06T13:19:00.000-07:00

"Want to drink the best but can’t afford it? Think about this: In haute couture, second labels provide affordable products that incorporate the style, quality and cachet of flagship items. Donna Karan, for instance, also has DKNY and Giorgio Armani has Emporio Armani. "

Similar situation exists for wines. See the article, "Anyone for seconds?" from The Star Online about how wineries use second labels.

Hope for a new tool for Pierce's Disease

2004-09-03T08:30:00.000-07:00

A new tool that is in the development stage may speed up the diagnosis of Pierce's Disease. West Farm Press has an article, "Pierce's Disease monitoring continues with a new tool" about the testing going on at the University of California Cooperative Extension.

It's a small world after all

2004-09-02T10:14:00.000-07:00

International winery news from

Australia: "Australia's wines expanding their global shelf space" (The New York Times - subscription req'd)
England: "'Sensational' vintage for English wine? " (decanter.com)
Germany: "German Wine Sparkles Again!" (LA Times - subscription req'd)
Peru: "Wine land buyers back" (The National Business Review)
South Africa: "Wine drinkers toasting South Africa's equality" (Modbee.com)

and some concerns about wine imports
"Bioterror rules could raise import wine prices" (San Francisco Chronicle)

Milk, eggs, and fish in your wine

2004-09-02T09:56:00.000-07:00

If you were blaming the sulfites in wine for your allergic reactions, read on. Article from San Francisco Chronicle, "Sleuthing out what's in wine", talks about what goes into making the wine you enjoy. Who would have thought!

What? No Marilyn Merlot?

2004-09-01T15:39:00.000-07:00

What-will-they-think-of-next department presents.... (drum roll.. ) Ta da!

Cult Wine Classics!

This is the second year of the annual event. Sounds like another fun way to have a party with wine.

Tickets are available on the internet. Don't miss it!

(Also, how about RedNeckRed and WhiteTrashWhite? from Harper's Hill Oildale Winery)

Impress your date with your wine vocabulary!

2004-09-01T15:21:00.000-07:00

Just a short list of wine terms while you are expanding your wine knowledge:

Wine tasting terminology from www.stuff.co.nz

Smokeless

2004-09-01T14:38:00.000-07:00

Well... Seems like North Carolina has decided to quit the smoking business!

"The state now boasts 300 commercial vineyards and 40 wineries. Half the wineries were established in the past two years, according to the N.C. Grape Council in Raleigh.

The number of commercial vineyards may increase if Congress passes a bill to buy out farmers' tobacco allotments, said Larry Somers, a Reidsville grower who helped start the N.C. Winegrowers Association in 1985."

You can read the article, "BOTTOM LINE: Industry bearing fruit, jobs in Piedmont" from The Miami Herald.

It is interesting that so many states have been getting into the winemaking.

And you thought wine judging would be easy!

2004-08-31T09:36:00.000-07:00

As many have learned, wine judging is not the easiest job. For the uninitiated it may seem like fun, but once you have sampled past a certain point, your taste buds do not really care how good the wine is.

The column from LATimes (may need a one time registration) titled, "To Sip and Spit With the Experts" does a nice job of describing one novice's experience in a wine judging contest.

Links on my desktop today

2004-08-30T15:07:00.000-07:00

Through a Glass Darkly (The New Yorker)

Somewhere in the middle pages of “1984,” Winston Smith is being inducted into the shadowy and, as it turns out, nonexistent “Brotherhood” of resistance to Big Brother, and, to celebrate, the Inner Party member O’Brien pours him a glass of wine. Winston has never had wine before, but he has read about it, and he is desperately excited to try it, since he expects it to taste like blackberry jam and to be instantly intoxicating.

California Adds the San Bernabe Appelation (Business Wire)

NAPA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 30, 2004--America's newest American Viticulture Area (AVA) became official today. "San Bernabe," as the AVA is officially named, was approved by The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB). The appellation is located in Southern Monterey County, framed by the Salinas River on its eastern border, the Santa Lucia Range on its western border, Pine Canyon to the north and San Lucas to the south. Delicato Family Vineyards applied for the 24,796-acre area that includes its San Bernabe Vineyard property which is home to the Delicato-Monterey Winery and several Delicato wine brands.

Grapes of Math (San Luis Obispo Tribune)

For San Luis Obispo County growers, the wine-grape glut appears to be coming to an end.
Tonnage is lighter than in past years, and quality is good, following a statewide trend. The result could be more grapes being sold and at higher prices, said Dallas Holt, founder of the Independent Grape Growers of the Paso Robles Area.

U.S. Finances Vineyard on National Parkland (WashingtonPost.com)

Northeast Ohio is not famous for its viticulture, but now a public watchdog group has turned its spotlight on a winery on the grounds of Cuyahoga Valley National Park.

That's because the National Park Service has, since 1999, spent more than $475,000 to fund the winery, along with two organic vegetable and free-range chicken farms and other activities on park grounds, according to documents released Wednesday by Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER).