|
|
PATH: News
|
Paris Wine Collection Raises Top Dollar at Auction
Posted by perle0 on 2006-10-24 22:03:46
(4801 views) 
|
[News]
[France] |
 You heard it here first: we reported in July that the Socialist mayor of Paris, Bertrand Delanoe, was planning to auction off much of city hall's collection wine of fine and rare French wines. The collection, amassed between 1977 and 1995 during the mayoral term of later French President Jacques Chirac, was expected to earn around 650,000 eurosInstead, it raised 961,030 euros ($1.2 million) for the French capital's coffers, as bidding between English and Chinese wine merchants drove up the prices by over 75%. |
READ MORE |
|
Dan Aykroyd Becomes Latest Celebrity Winemaker
Posted by perle0 on 2006-10-02 17:50:25
(5142 views)
|
[News]
[Canada] |
 Canadian acting legend Dan Aykroyd and Diamond Estates Wines & Spirits will launch a new line of Dan Aykroyd-labeled wines in 2007, announced Murray Marshall, President & CEO of Diamond Estates Wines & Spirits Ltd.
Less than one year after announcing his $1 million investment into the four wineries owned by Diamond Estates – Lakeview Cellars, EastDell Estates, Birchwood Estates and Thomas & Vaughan – Aykroyd will further solidify his position in the Canadian wine business by launching two ranges of Canadian wines, the Dan Aykroyd Signature Reserve Series of super-premium offerings and the Dan Aykroyd Discovery Series of mid-priced wines. |
READ MORE |
|
Wine Discussed at Chemical Conference
Posted by perle0 on 2006-09-12 14:11:06
(4905 views)
|
[News]
[California] |
 At the 232nd annual meeting of the American Chemical Society in San Francisco, some attendees spent Sunday afternoon examining the prospects of making better wine through chemistry.
Using chemical analysis to improve wine, by adjusting elements during fermentation or simply using it as a tool to decide when to harvest grapes, could be the wave of the future. But there's some concern that the result could be wines that all taste the same. |
READ MORE |
|
Congress Recognizes Wine Anniversary; Katrina Who?
Posted by perle0 on 2006-08-22 01:26:43
(3763 views)
|
[News]
[USA] |
 In August 2006, the U.S. Senate unanimously agreed to a House resolution introduced by Congressman Mike Thompson (D-Napa Valley), passing the resolution recognizing the significance of the Napa Valley victory at the 1976 Paris Wine Tasting, 30 years ago. House Concurrent Resolution 399 recognizes the outstanding accomplishments of those who created the winning wines and the many successes of the California wine industry in the intervening thirty years.
A similar resolution to acknowledge the one-year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina's landfall failed to pass the House of Representatives--perhaps because it contained language suggesting that the government was committed to rebuilding New Orleans, only a year too late for most residents and business owners. (Better late than never, right? But then again, the non-binding resolution didn't pass.) |
READ MORE |
|
Allergy Warnings Coming to Wine Labels
Posted by perle0 on 2006-08-08 01:10:56
(4065 views)
|
[News]
[USA] |
 Let's say you're allergic to eggs. Deathly allergic, even. The smallest hint of eggs leads to salivating, stomach cramps, flushing of skin and eyes, lightheadedness, vomiting, diarrhea, and in extreme cases, even death. But at least you can relax with a glass of wine while you ponder which menu items might hide some wiley trace of egg.
Not so much. Egg whites are often used in the fining process during winemaking, which helps to remove sediments and clarify the wine prior to bottling. For other allergy sufferers, fining can also be performed with milk proteins or isinglass, a substance derived from fish. For anyone with severe allergies to these substances, sipping the wrong wine can produce a nasty reaction. The solution? Labeling. |
READ MORE |
|
Quelle Horreur! French Wine with Cutesy Labels
Posted by perle0 on 2006-08-03 14:04:54
(4528 views)
|
[News]
[France] |
 Let's be frank...the French make some damned good wine. But sales, especially in the lower end of the market, have been slumping; everyone wants a first-cru Bordeaux, but not everyone wants a vin de table that's the Gallic equivalent of Gallo Hearty Burgundy.
Some French winemakers think they may have the solution: instead of snobby names of obscure French regions and vinyards, give your wine a funny name and a whimsical label, to appeal to supermarket shoppers in far-away lands who don't speak French and wouldn't know a Burgundy from a Barsac, and won't pay more than $10/bottle for a wine under most circumstances.
You may already be familiar with Red Bicyclette (it's available at a Wal-Mart near me!), but how about Arrogant Frog--a label that has a little fun with the French stereotype and ethnic nickname? |
READ MORE |
|
Global Warming Threatens US Wine Market
Posted by perle0 on 2006-07-10 21:25:05
(3924 views)
|
[News]
[USA] |
 Bad news--a new scientific study predicts that global warming will have devastating effects on the US wine industry. (Use your imagination to figure out how it will affect regions like Australia.) The United States is the world's fourth-largest producer of wine.
It seems that the problem for grapes is not average temperature, but the number of days temperatures rise above 95 degrees. The hardiest grape varieties can only take about 14 such days, but the predictions for the coming century are that most of the US grape-growing regions will see 30 to 60 such days per season. The report will appear online in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, and could have multibillion-dollar implications for the U.S. wine industry. |
READ MORE |
|
Germans Worried about World Cup Beer Supplies
Posted by perle0 on 2006-07-05 19:25:06
(4601 views)
|
[News]
[Germany] |
 It's almost too ironic to be believed: Germany, the nation most associated with beer drinking, may be in danger of running out of the frothy brew before the World Cup soccer finals roll around. And it's not even the German fans who are causing the drought--it's the English fans drinking the local braureien dry. Even the German bartenders, who see some beer drunk on an average day, are astonished by the capacity of the English. |
READ MORE |
|
Paris Mayor's Wine Collection Up for Auction
Posted by perle0 on 2006-07-03 16:27:47
(4835 views)
|
[News]
[France] |
Thousands of bottles of vintage wine amassed by Jacques Chirac during his lavish two-decade reign as mayor of Paris are to be auctioned off from the town hall's vast cellar.
The majority of the cellar's 5,000 most prestigious bottles, including several 1990 Château Pétrus, worth more than $1800 each, are due to be sold in the autumn. |
READ MORE |
|
Long Meadow Ranch to Raise Heirloom Hogs
Posted by perle0 on 2006-06-27 16:15:13
(11237 views)
|
[News]
[Rutherford] |
 Yes, in honor of a program to preserve traditional hog breeds that are tasty and delicious--but not raised in today's factory farms--Long Meadow Ranch in Rutherford, CA, will be raising and breeding two Red Wattle hogs from piglets. This organic farm and winery will celebrate by participating in a benefit featuring tail-to-snout cuts of Red Wattle pork. |
READ MORE |
|
Large Wine Glasses Create Unwilling Alcoholics?
Posted by perle0 on 2006-06-13 17:01:36
(4498 views)
|
[News]
[England] |
 Did you ever order a glass of wine, and receive a small fishbowl containing roughly a third of a bottle? And did you then think, "Hey, it's okay...I only had one glass of wine!" If so, you're not alone--and you could be setting yourself up for problems later on.
A British clinic specializing in treating addictions warns that the trend towards larger wine glasses may lead people to drink more than they realize, making it easier for them to develop into alcoholics. |
READ MORE |
|
Global Warming Helps British Wines
Posted by perle0 on 2006-06-13 12:03:07
(4608 views)
|
[News]
[England] |
 As with every disaster, global warming does have one good side-effect: the increasingly warmer temperatures make for much better wines from England's little-known wine industry.
While England has in recent years had good results with white wine, whose grapes can thrive in cooler temperatures, the climate didn't have the sun and warmth to make good red wines. That's changing as temperatures rise worldwide, bringing the English countryside longer, warmer summers that are resulting in decent English red wines for the first time. |
READ MORE |
|
NOWFE 2006 Culinary Winners Announced
Posted by perle0 on 2006-06-09 14:02:38
(4243 views)
|
[News]
[New Orleans] |
 The New Orleans Wine and Food Experience (NOWFE) is proud to announce the Culinary Winners of 2006.
The list is a perfect example of how tough it was to sample everything at the Grand Tasting. I attended on Friday, and of the 8 winners, I only managed to taste 3 of them:
The Best of Show, Sweet winner, Key Lime Pie with Fresh Berries by Chef Tom Wolfe of Wolfe's in the Warehouse. This was, indeed, a tasty little treat.
Soft Shell Crab Bisque with Black Truffle Butter, by Chef Tory McPhail of Commander's Palace. This was probably my favorite of what I tasted; the black truffle butter really made the dish. What a perfect way to prepare us for the (we hope soon) re-opening of Commander's at last.
Duck and Cherry Terrine with Toasted Brioche and Fresh Herb Aoili, by Chef Tom Wolfe of Peristyle. That Chef Wolfe gets around!
For the full list of winners, READ MORE. |
READ MORE |
|
American Wine Blows Away French in Classic Re-Match
Posted by perle0 on 2006-05-25 23:40:57
(5751 views)
|
[News]
[USA] |
It was 1976. For the first time ever, in a blind taste test, American and French wines were compared head-to-head (or is that nose-to-nose) by judges of both nationalities who didn't know what nationality they were tasting.
The American wines won and stunned the wine world, especially the French, who had taken for granted their position as the finest winemakers in the world. The tasting, known as the Judgement of Paris, made clear to the whole world that California wines were the equal of--if not superior to--the best wines France could offer. This event marked the beginning of serious wine competition from outside Europe, first California, then other states, then Australia, Chile, Argentina, South Africa, and the list keeps growing. Thirty years later, how does this rivalry stack up? |
READ MORE |
|
Red Wine May Combat Deafness
Posted by perle0 on 2006-05-15 01:22:14
(9594 views)
|
[News]
[USA] |
 According to New Scientist, antioxidant compounds found in red wine, green tea, or aspirin may delay the onset of age-related deafness and hearing loss caused by loud noise and some powerful antibiotics. The delicate hairs in the ear can be damaged by oxygen free radicals, so in theory at least, antioxidants should protect against this oxidative damage. Researchers have already found that patients given aspirin with an antibiotic to prevent ear infection caused less damage to hearing than those treated with the antibiotic plus a placebo.
So, if you're heading to a loud concert, be sure to enjoy a glass of wine or two beforehand or during. Your ears may thank you. |
READ MORE |
|
World's First Wine-Tasting Musical Debuts at NOWFE
Posted by perle0 on 2006-05-11 20:20:27
(3891 views)
|
[News]
[New Orleans] |
 Wine Lovers, The World's First Wine-Tasting Musical, debuts at the New Orleans Wine and Food Experience, Memorial Day Weekend, 2006.
Audience members will see, swirl, smell, sip, and savor five wines during the show!
The 15th annual New Orleans Wine and Food Experience, (Memorial Day Weekend, May 24th-28th, 2006) proudly announces the world premiere of Wine Lovers, the wine-tasting musical. Wine Lovers tells the story of two mismatched students attending a wine class led by an effervescent teacher and their journey of discovery. Audience members enjoy five delightful wines along with the class, and everyone learns a little about wine...and love. Michael Green, nationally recognized wine educator and consultant to Gourmet Magazine, conceived and co-wrote Wine Lovers based on more than 20 years experience leading wine classes. |
READ MORE |
|
Hoppers Unveils New Website
Posted by perle0 on 2006-04-29 14:33:42
(3811 views)
|
[News]
[New Orleans] |
Ric Hopper of Hopper's Wines and Spirits has a brand-new website, on which he will offer wine recommendations and announcements of wine sales. Be sure to register to get the special offers only available to registered users! You can read Ric's personal message below by clicking Read More.
As an added bonus, Hopper's is sponsoring a contest to win a free champagne tasting, in conjunction with WWNO. Be sure to enter! You don't want to miss a chance to try these fine champagnes. |
READ MORE |
|
Britain's Private Cellars: A Wine-Lover's Dream
Posted by perle0 on 2006-04-20 23:20:10
(4032 views)
|
[News]
[England] |
 You may be rightfully proud of your wine cellar. But you're only one person, right? You have only your lifetime in which to buy and store wine, and at least some of what you lay down today will be left at the mercy of your heirs, unless you go on quite a bender on the ol' death bed.
This is not a problem for some of the great private cellars of Britain. The government alone has a stash of 40,000 bottles drawn on for state banquets and other forms of hospitality, spending about 100,000 British pounds a year on wine for future generations of monarchs, leaders, and diplomats to enjoy. Other private cellars belong to groups with a long-established tradition, making them eminently suitable to buying wine now for its members to enjoy in 20 or 30 years. |
READ MORE |
|
Hopper's 2001 Bordeaux Offerings
Posted by perle0 on 2006-03-29 16:40:06
(4147 views)
|
[News]
[New Orleans] |
A message from Ric:
While 2001 Bordeaux is not on par with the great 2000 vintage, there are some gems and sleepers to be enjoyed. They will also come around faster than the 2000s, which is not a bad thing, and there are some wines which are very attractively priced. On the attached list of 80+ wines, there are over 30 which are priced at $40.00 or less. |
READ MORE |
|
Wine Makes Your Gums Healthy (Drink Up!)
Posted by perle0 on 2006-03-10 12:24:49
(4390 views)
|
[News]
[Canada] |
 Scientists have found yet another health benefit from red wine. It helps to prevent, and reduce the damage caused by, periodontal disease.
Periodontal disease (known more colloquially as gum disease) is an infectious disease affecting the gums and bones surrounding teeth. It's very common, and can lead to tooth loss. On a more scary note, periodontal disease is also associated with heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and premature births. About 15% of adults between 21 and 50 years of age and 65% of adults over 50 are affected by this disease.
Now they've found that the polyphenols in red wine--the same things that provide the heart benefits and anti-oxident properties of red wine--also have benefits for preventing and treating periodontal disease. |
READ MORE |
|
Porn Star Turns Winemaker
Posted by perle0 on 2006-02-26 15:19:19
(11728 views)
|
[News]
[USA] |
 Savanna Samson is a porn star, and a noted one at that. She is the star of 25 sexually explicit films, a two-time winner of the Adult Video News Award for best actress, and her work with Jenna Jameson in "The New Devil in Miss Jones," a remake of a classic, won last year's award for the best all-girl sex scene.
And, she makes wine. Not just any celebrity-label vanity wine, either; Robert Parker has given her wine, a 2004 vintage of an Italian red wine that she calls Sogno Uno (Dream One), a score of 90-91. |
READ MORE |
|
Chocolate-Covered Wine for your Valentine
Posted by perle0 on 2006-02-09 18:33:42
(8910 views)
|
[News]
[USA] |
 Not sure what to get your sweetheart for Valentine's Day? Perhaps you want to consider that most inexplicabe combination of the traditional imaginable: a chocolate-covered bottle of Champagne. |
READ MORE |
|
Boxed Wine Gaining in Cachet
Posted by perle0 on 2006-02-07 01:26:17
(2878 views)
|
[News]
[USA] |
 Once the realm of cheap and nasty blended wines, wine-in-a-box is becoming more popular as it becomes available in higher-quality versions.
It's a good idea--since the boxes have no corks, there's no chance of cork taint. And because the wine has little exposure to oxygen even after you open it, the wine keeps much longer than an open bottle--some say as long as a month. |
READ MORE |
|
Brennan's Wine Cellar a Victim of Katrina
Posted by perle0 on 2005-12-12 17:50:09
(3209 views)
|
[News]
[New Orleans] |
 It's official--the world-class wine cellar of famous New Orleans restaurant, Brennan's, is ruined. Consisting of over 35,000 bottles of fine wine, the cellar--winner since 1983 of Wine Spectator magazine's Grand Award--was doomed when Katrina struck. |
READ MORE |
|
Ric Hopper Announces New Wine Arrivals
Posted by perle0 on 2005-12-01 11:57:36
(3790 views)
|
[News]
[New Orleans] |
A message from Ric Hopper of Hopper's Wine and Spirits:
We have sold about 70% of our pre-Katrina wine inventory at a 25% discount, and we are receiving new merchandise everyday. Last week we took delivery of over 130 cases of 2002 Domaine Bouchard red Burgundy including Savigny Les Beaune, Monthelie Les Duresses, Beaune Clos de la Mousse, Beaune Greves LEnfant Jesus and Volnay Caillerets Cuvee Ancien Carnot. |
READ MORE |
|
Don't Miss the Beaujolais Nouveau
Posted by perle0 on 2005-11-16 17:23:51
(4253 views)
|
[News]
[Beaujolais] |
| Don't miss your chance to celebrate the annual release of this year's Beaujolais Nouveau, scheduled for the third Thursday of November (Nov. 17, 2005). Generally the first wine released after harvest in France, Beaujolais gives people all over the world an excuse (as if we needed one) to drink wine. |
READ MORE |
|
Nazi Raccoons Attack German Vineyards
Posted by perle0 on 2005-11-14 17:57:27
(3645 views)
|
[News]
[Germany] |
| A spate of marauding raccoons have been laying waste to vineyards in the Brandenburg region of Germany. These raccoons' furry ancestors were released in Germany in 1934 with the encouragement of Hermann Goering, chief forester of the Third Reich, to provide more targets for hunters. |
READ MORE |
|
Warehouse Fire Consumes $100 Million in Fine Wine
Posted by perle0 on 2005-10-16 01:35:44
(5294 views)
|
[News]
[California] |
Tens of millions of dollars worth of vintage wine were believed to be destroyed by a relentless fire October 12 at a huge Vallejo, CA, warehouse that was considered one of the most secure places for wineries and individuals to store prized collections.
The three-alarm fire at Wines Central sent plumes of smoke more than 700 feet high that could be seen from miles and could not be controlled by firefighters because the Mare Island building -- which once housed Navy torpedoes -- had steel doors and 3-foot-thick concrete walls and a roof that could not be penetrated. |
READ MORE |
|
Some CA Wineries Targets of Anti-Smog Measures
Posted by perle0 on 2005-10-16 01:35:37
(4713 views)
|
[News]
[California] |
That glass of garnet-colored California merlot may caress the palate and delight the nose, but state officials say wineries also create a less agreeable byproduct: smog.
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. |
READ MORE |
|
M.Y.O.B.
Posted by Claritacola on 2005-09-28 14:06:50
(4332 views)
|
[News]
[California] |
| Make your own bottles of wine (no vineyard required!) at San Francisco's CRUSHPAD, where a budding enologist can become the winemake of an entire barrel--from harvest to bottling. |
READ MORE |
|
Interstate Wine Shipping Laws Begin to Relax
Posted by perle0 on 2005-09-26 16:49:31
(3250 views)
|
[News]
[USA] |
| A growing number of states are lifting longtime bans on out-of-state shipments of wine to residents' homes. Big wine-drinking states New York, Connecticut, Ohio and Texas have all removed their bans in recent months, bringing the number of states that no longer prohibit direct wine shipments to consumers to 30. More states may soon follow, thanks to a May Supreme Court ruling that struck down two states' laws that allowed in-state vintners to ship directly to consumers while denying that right to out-of-state wineries. The ruling focused on laws on Michigan (where the ban is still caught up in legislative wrangling) and New York, but at least four more states currently have prohibitions that wine attorneys feel are legally questionable: Florida, Massachusetts, Vermont and Indiana. The ruling is likely to prompt lawmakers in those states and others to re-examine their laws. |
READ MORE |
|
Saudis Shocked at Illegal Wine Factories
Posted by perle0 on 2005-09-21 23:00:54
(4173 views)
|
[News]
[Europe - other] |
 Recent reports in the local media giving details of raids on illegal wine factories across the Kingdom have shocked the Islamic Saudi society, where alcohol is banned.
Saudi society continues to refuse to admit alcohol use is rife in the country, with the authorities arguing that those who engage in the illegal activity aim to spread evil without realising that large amounts of alcoholic drinks are due to local demands, according to a report in the Arabic daily Asharq Al Awsat on Saturday. |
READ MORE |
|
No Castle, No Chateau
Posted by perle0 on 2005-09-19 02:51:09
(2958 views)
|
[News]
[USA] |
 Starting in 2006, wines grown in the U.S. will no longer be able to use "chateau" in the name of the wine unless the grapes are grown in sight of a castle. Since castles are a bit scarce in the U.S., they'd better start building now. |
READ MORE |
|
Paso Robles Winemakers Fund Hurricane Relief
Posted by perle0 on 2005-09-13 21:29:48
(2913 views)
|
[News]
[USA] |
Paso Robles Wine Industry Raising Money for Hurricane Relief
Goal of $100,000 is Set
PASO ROBLES, CA September 1, 2005 –
Paso Robles wineries and wine growers are responding with fundraising efforts to begin this Labor Day weekend to the massive need of their friends and business associates in New Orleans, and all along the Gulf Coast, whose lives have been dramatically altered by Hurricane Katrina.
The goal is to raise $100,000 dollars, or more, for relief efforts in the devastated region. |
READ MORE |
|
Bordeaux Growers Told to Make Less Wine
Posted by perle0 on 2005-09-09 22:24:03
(3884 views)
|
[News]
[France] |
| Makers of Bordeaux wines have been told to reduce their output this year by an unprecedented amount because of overproduction and falling prices, the body that controls French winemaking said. |
READ MORE |
|
Australian Army Spends 100K on Glassware
Posted by perle0 on 2005-07-18 10:56:16
(4681 views)
|
[News]
[Australia] |
As hundreds of Australian troops wait to be sent to Afghanistan, the army's top brass is preparing to spend up to $100,000 on champagne flutes, wine glasses, and brandy balloons.
The shopping spree comes after the Defence Department identified a critical shortage of wine and beer glasses, pitchers and carafes in the officers' mess.
At the top of the list is 2405 champagne flutes and 3710 wine glasses. Defence records show the department is also seeking a supplier of 105 brandy balloons--the traditional tipple of generals.
Also on the list of acquisitions is 364 beer pitchers, 70 wine or spirits decanters, and 350 carafes. |
READ MORE |
|
Eat, drink, win: Just one glass of wine with a meal may help you
Posted by Claritacola on 2005-06-28 14:55:19
(3546 views)
|
[News]
[USA] |
Cheers!
6 reasons why a little wine every day may do you good.
The list of wine’s benefits is long—and getting more surprising all the time. Already well-known as heart-healthy, wine in moderation might help you lose weight, reduce forgetfulness, boost your immunity, and help prevent bone loss. |
READ MORE |
|
Florida Legalizes Wine Doggie Bag
Posted by perle0 on 2005-06-18 11:01:28
(7786 views)
|
[News]
[USA] |
| A new bill has been signed into Florida law allowing restaurant patrons to take home an unfinished bottle of wine rather than polish it off and then hit the road. |
READ MORE |
|
Supreme Court Rules in Favor of Wine Shipping
Posted by perle0 on 2005-05-19 13:50:51
(3078 views)
|
[News]
[USA] |
| Today the Supreme Court ruled, in a 5-4 decision, that laws in states such as New York and Michigan were unconstitutional. These laws prohibited wine shipments from out-of-state wineries, while allowing them for in-state wineries. |
READ MORE |
|
Canned Wine Finds Favor in Japan
Posted by perle0 on 2005-05-14 00:11:02
(5773 views)
|
[News]
[Japan] |
 In 2002, Barokes Australia patented its design for wine in a can--the only patented canned wine in existence. And in a recent taste test, the Japanese gave it high marks.
This patented wine-in-a-can promises a shelf life of up to five years, so it's ready for cellaring. In the taste test among 3000 Japanese, only 5% said that they found it odd to drink wine from a can. No one complained about the quality, but a few did say it would take getting used to. |
READ MORE |
|
Deeper Dimples, Pricier Wine
Posted by perle0 on 2005-02-28 00:15:45
(16645 views)
|
[News]
[England] |
| A scientist in the UK has proved it...the deeper the dimple at the bottom of the wine bottle, the more expensive the wine. There's even a mathematical formula to represent the correlation.... |
READ MORE |
|
French Declare Wine Ads "Too Sexy"
Posted by perle0 on 2005-02-10 00:05:48
(4737 views)
|
[News]
[France] |
Although wine consumption in France is dropping, causing some winemakers to destroy their best wines, they still enforce laws prohibiting ads that are "too sexy"--even ones that show actual winemakers holding their own wine. This is the photo they allowed, of winemaker Catherine Gachet.  |
READ MORE |
|
You've defended your love of red wine by showing that it helps