Wednesday, April 09, 2003

Wine Racks, etc.

"I recently received an email from a new wine accessories site, and the sender managed to pique my interest enough that I was willing to put a little of his info here.

The owner is a guy named Mike Quarles, and he genuinely seems to be trying to treat people right with this site. I haven't purchased anything from him yet, so I can't speak to this firsthand, but he says he will bend over backwards to make people happy.

In fact, as part of this commitment to giving people what they want, he is making an offer exclusively to readers of this page. If you find anything on his site that you like, but you don't want to pay the listed price for whatever reason, you can email to referredbymartin@wineracksplansandmore.com with an offer, and, as long as he can afford to do it, he'll honor the price.

Can you tell why this guy piqued my interest? You have nothing to lose.

Lastly, he has also requested that as many people as possible tell him about their experiences shopping for wine accessories on the web. He wants information on what went well, what didn't go well, what made you purchase or kept you from purchasing, or any other rants and raves you might have. Please email those directly to Mike at mfq@wineracksplansandmore.com.



The site is at Wine Racks, Plans & More.

Hey, what have you got to lose, guys? Let me know how it goes, and maybe we've found something worth talking about."
----Martin----
Martin L.W. Hall
Wine Blog!

Some Wine News -- Very Belated!

New Zealand winemaker charged over ship protest: "New Zealand winemaker Logan Petley, 33, was among a group of 10 protesters arrested Tuesday after disrupting the departure of the Australian warship HMAS Sydney as it left for the Persian Gulf ...."

In Wine News


Why Wine Costs What It Does: "Last year, when Paul Hobbs, a California winemaker, was about to release his 1999 Beckstoffer cabernet sauvignon, lots of things were going through his mind. He had investments to pay off and a reputation to build on the wine, but he was also facing a market that had softened tremendously......"

In Wine News

Dealer Wonít Sell US $2M of French Wines: "Michael Zeiger, owner of Admiral Wine Merchants in New York City, has over $2 million worth of French wines in stock and he won't sell a single bottle. Moreover, he says the idea is catching on among fellow wine merchants....."

In Wine News

Question: What kind of wine is made with vacuum distillation: "In short, dealcoholized wine. Vacuum distillation is one of a few methods that is intended to extract all of the alcohol from a wine, without removing any of the key elements that define its flavor......"

In Wine News

Wine Buffs Gathering to Taste Wines From Six Continents: "Bay Area wine lovers will have an unprecedented opportunity to sample and compare wines from all over California and sixteen other countries at the third annual World Wine Market Exhibition and Conference, May 3, 2003, Fort Mason Center, San Francisco......"

In Wine News

Australia: Proposal to fortify wine tax: "Cask and cheap bottled wine prices will increase under proposed reforms to Australia's taxation laws being considered as part of a strategy to combat alcohol abuse....."

In Wine News



South Africa; Stellar Parker Points For Vin de Constance: "Klein Constantia's Vin de Constance 1997 has received the accolade of 93 points out of 100 from wine critic Robert Parker, dubbed 'the Pope of wine' for his power as a reputation maker (and breaker)....."

In Wine News

Cheval-Blanc's Owners to Release Red From Argentina: "The owners of Bordeaux's famed Château Cheval-Blanc and the French luxury goods conglomerate LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton have founded a new wine venture in Argentina, called Cheval des Andes....."

In Wine News

First growths may come down to US $64: "The Bordeaux first growths are set to release their 2002 wines at around the US$64 mark but there is still no real indication as to when the majority of top Bordeaux will go on the market....."

In Wine News

US: Taking root - couple running new winery: "Morton Hallgren, the Danish-born, French-trained winemaker at Dr. Frank's Vinifera Wine Cellars, is setting down real roots in the region. He and his wife, Lisa, have launched their own boutique winery and have begun planting a vineyard and running a new Keuka Lake winery they call Ravines Wine Cellars......"

In Wine News

Volatile or vinegar?: "In times past, wine left in an open bottle or cask would so quickly turn to vinegar that the word "vinegar" itself comes directly from the French "vin aigre," or "sour wine." To this day, many people assume that wines too old to drink turn to vinegar in the bottle....."

In Wine News

Why the indentation at the bottom of some wine bottles?: "As you may have noticed, some bottles have these indentations and some do not. Back in the time when wine bottles were hand-blown, the glass was more susceptible to breakage, and the indentation (punt) served to help strengthen the bottle's structure...."

In Wine News

New Zealand voted best wine region: "New Zealanders are the best in the world at making wine, according to an international publication. Wine Enthusiast Magazine awarded New Zealand the prestigious title of Wine Region of the Year, at their 2002 Wine Awards......"

In Wine News

Australia: ACT wineries expect excellent season: "The ACT region's wine crop appears set for a bumper season, despite concerns about mould after recent rains. Wine Producer Ken Helm says the white wine crop is almost in, with little damage from mould...."

In Wine News

World's largest charity wine event set for June: "The Napa Valley Vintners Association (NVVA) announced today that the 23rd Annual Napa Valley Wine Auction will be held at Meadowood Napa Valley, June 5 - 8, 2003. The Trinchero family, headed by brothers Bob and Roger Trinchero, and sister Vera Trinchero Torres, will chair the event, assisted by Bob Trinchero's wife Evalyn, and third generation family members Tony and Bob Torres, and Gina Trinchero......"

In Wine News

US: Mondavi Aftermath: "Inexpensive wines are flying off the shelves. Retailers can't keep them in stock. They're going to bring the price of other wines down, and it'll hurt the industry. Sound familiar?...."

In Wine News

Boycotts target France, Germany, Canada: "Some U.S. consumers have started to boycott products from France, Germany and Canada because those countries don't support the U.S. war efforts in Iraq....."

In Wine News

Bottled Up Frustrations: "In 1980, the University of Arizona published the results of a seven-year study that promised salvation for failing family farms in southeastern Utah. Technical Bulletin No. 239, "Grape and Wine Production in the Four Corners Region," had big news: wine grapes -- vitis vinifera -- grow vigorously in the sandy desert soil. Furthermore, one acre of grapes uses just 20 percent of the water needed to grow a field of alfalfa -- Utah's main crop....."

In Wine News

Australia: Great Grape Stomp hits Riverland Region: "The time of year has come for another south-east South Australian Riverland tradition, with Loxton North Primary School's Harvest Festival. The festival would not be complete without that other tradition, the running of the Great Grape Stomp....."

In Wine News

What The Experts Are Saying About Screwcaps: "In its December edition, the US Wine Enthusiast, when voting New Zealand Wine Region of the Year, comments: 'Contrary to fears that these closures (screwcaps) might cheapen the image of New Zealand wines, this willingness to innovate has struck a chord with American consumers....."

In Wine News

Landlord says 'au revoir' to French wine in war protest: "An innkeeper whose son is fighting in Iraq has vetoed French wines and replaced them with bottles from countries sympathetic to the British war effort...."

In Wine News

Consumers File Fraud Suits Against Colorado Wine Merchant: "Frustrated consumers have filed at least three civil lawsuits -- seeking a total of more than $800,000 in compensation -- against Rare Fine Wines LLC, claiming that they never received wines they had ordered from the Basalt, Colorado based wine merchant......"

In Wine News

Wine and Food Festival stays true to Texas: "The Saveur Texas Hill Country Wine and Food Festival is out to prove everything really is bigger and better in Texas. Now in its 18th year, it's the second largest wine and food festival in the country. One difference in this year's lineup is that nothing is from France....."

In Wine News

A great winter white from New Zealand: "When it comes to wines with body and weight, there are few better whites than a good gewürztraminer. The best of them come from Alsace, in France, but cooler parts of Australia, and, especially, New Zealand, can make some marvellous wines which closely resemble their French counterparts....."

In Wine News

Australia: Eyre Peninsula grape grower enjoys bumper crop: "WITH South Australia's total wine grape crop expected to be down by about 20 per cent this year, Eyre Peninsula winegrowers could be in for a windfall with their bumper crops. Local vigneron Brian Turvey said his 55-acre crop, located at Greenpatch, harvested about 200 tonnes of grapes - the best on record yet....."

In Wine News

NZ: Pressure on to harvest grapes before rain arrives: "Forecasts of weekend rain have put pressure on Marlborough winemakers to get rapidly ripening grapes off the vine and out of the path of botrytis infection. There has been a small window of harvest opportunity between the rain earlier this week and tomorrow's predicted follow-up......"

In Wine News

The life of a vine: "It's 6:30 on a spring morning and a silvery frost reflects sunlight off the grasses and flowers carpeting the vineyards of Wine Country. On some of the vines, tiny oval buds start to appear, signifying the commencement of another growth cycle in the life of a vine...."

In Wine News

South Africa: Of Patriotic Pleasures...: "On stage at the Coppoolse Finlayson Winery, in the heart of the exquisitely named Okavango industria, was my friend, Cheryl Carolus, head of SA Tourism. Although she was time-pressured, on her way to a major German business appointment, she had given her word. She had promised to come and see Kaya, the glorious cat that the winery had acquired for the Cheetah Outreach Project and after which one of their popular wine brands is named - ready for the big sell....."

In Wine News

US: What part of Sonoma County creates your favorite wine?: "Not so long ago in vinous history, around the late 1960s, Sonoma County stood for very good jug wines, often sold to you in your own jug, and relying on very old vines full of character. No one then knew what a bounty of varietal goodness lay in the county's fertile soils...."

In Wine News

Freak flood leaves R10m bill for wine producer: "Cape Town - Van Loveren cellars, the family-owned grape growers and wine producer at Robertson, was still counting the costs of the freak flood that destroyed 100 000 litres of wine as it raged through the town eight days ago, Phillip Retief, a partner, said this week...."

In Wine News

Saturday, February 15, 2003

California Label Takes Humanitarian Approach to Wine: "Giving to a good cause is something for which the wine industry is known, but a new label named Humanitas hopes to take charity a step further by donating all of its net profits to organizations fighting hunger, homelessness and illiteracy.... In Wine News



Wines rich in flavonoids best for your health: "Red wine's ability to benefit your health has just been, well, refined. Not just any red wine will do, it seems.... In Wine News



Grapes 'may prevent cancer scarring': "Grapes could help women to avoid the painful scarring often associated with breast cancer treatment. Doctors at The Institute of Cancer Research in London believe the antioxidants in grapes may protect against radiation fibrosis.... In Wine News



WA white wins wine show honour: "A Western Australian white wine has taken out the top award at the Sydney Royal Wine Show. Ferngrove Vineyards Cossack Riesling 2002 from the Frankland River in the state's Great Southern region has beaten more than 2,000 wines to win the Best Wine of the Show.... In Wine News



India: Woman & Wine: "What strikes you most about Daniele Raulet-Reynaud is her absolute passion for wine. For her, wine is much beyond being just a drink. "Wine is inimitable like haute couture, it's like a good perfume - just a little is enough. It is a reflection of season, of environment... it's a memory...," she goes on.... In Wine News



Join Wine Spectator for 2003 Bordeaux Marathon: "Wine Spectator will be formally participating in the Médoc Marathon with a team of its own. We are inviting Wine Spectator readers who are distance runners to join our team.... In Wine News



U.S. lawmakers suggest banning French water & wine: "Some members of Congress are suggesting the United States impose trade sanctions on France and withdraw U.S. troops from Germany to retaliate for opposition to U.S. policies on Iraq, the Washington Post reported Wednesday. House Speaker Dennis Hastert has told associates he would like to target bottled French mineral water and wine, the paper said... In Wine News



Sports deals hurt Foster's: "Troubling wine market conditions and over-blown beer sponsorships at major Australia sporting venues blew the froth from diversified beverage maker Foster's half-year results yesterday.... In Wine News



New Zealand wines produce vivid flavors: "If, like many people, you are stuck in the same old rut of drinking Chardonnay, Merlot or Cabernet Sauvignon, maybe you should follow the current trend and try a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc.... In Wine News



Good Food & Wine Show Raises Glass To Wine Industry: "An entire exhibition hall of Cape Town's Good Hope Centre will be allocated to South Africa's world-class wine industry when the 6th annual Good Food & Wine Show throws its spotlight on local wines from 22-25 May.... In Wine News



Sharpshooter eggs found in Napa: "The glassy-winged sharpshooter, scourge of California vineyards, has been found in Napa County for the first time in nearly two years.... In Wine News



Burgundy Or Bust: "Faced with a growing surplus of regional wines, Burgundy's producers are divided on the extent to which the problem may be solved by what's on ñ rather than in ñ the bottle.... In Wine News



French Court Ruling Leaves Bad Taste in Wine Critics' Mouths: "By fining a French magazine more than U.S.$375,000 for using a scatological reference to describe Beaujolais wines, a French court has created a test case for freedom of speech in the country.... In Wine News



Have Fun While Learning About German Wines: "If it's German wines that you're interested in, you're in luck. The German Wine Academy is not a regular 'school,' but a guided wine region tour, traveling throughout several of Germany's famous wine growing regions, where you can visit world-renowned wineries and estates, and, of course, taste a vast array of German wines, many times with the wine makers themselves.... In Wine News



Sweet white wine for Nelson Mandela: "Thirteen years ago, Nelson Mandela walked to freedom through the security gates of Paarl's Victor Verster Prison. The former president plans to mark the occasion quietly, with a glass of sweet white wine and the company of close associates and friends at his Bishopscourt residence in Cape Town.... In Wine News



From IT to wine bar: "After more than 20 years of working on big business systems in Australia and Britain, applications development specialist Kal Phull decided six months ago that the time was ripe to try something different. Wine Down, with a Tuscan decor in the heart of trendy High Street, Armadale, in east Melbourne, is a bar with a difference. .... In Wine News



Popularity of wine collections good for cellars and buyers: "The price of wine is down, and Harvard Medical School says a couple of glasses a day can keep your blood pressure low, too. Now could be the time to invest in a wine collection of your own. But how should you store it to protect your investment?... In Wine News



Wine Bars Are New Rage in Argentina: "While the history of Argentine winemaking dates back centuries, the wine bar is something new in a country whose bountiful grape harvest has long languished in the shadows of fabled vineyards abroad, even though this vast South American nation has long been the world's fifth-largest wine-producing country.... In Wine News



Saturday, February 08, 2003

Onion, garlic, red wine keep heart forever young: "Treat your heart - healthy or ailing - to onions, garlic, grapes or red wine and you will never have to visit a cardiologist. This healthy heart tip came from a team of US-based doctors visiting PGI to attend a conference on cardiology and to install pacemakers in five patients, free of cost.... In Wine News



New Zealand: Wine festival promises to be a great party: "Organisers are expecting a sophisticated day at tomorrow's BMW Wine Marlborough festival, but emphasise that it is wine appreciation, not snobbery, that has seen the festival change over the years. In Wine News



'Passionate About Pinot': "Are you passionate about Pinot Noir? Does your mouth start to water just thinking of this supple and sexy wine? The true Pinot Noir enthusiast has reason to take note and celebrate. Sonoma Coast Villa Inn & Spa is offering the ultimate Pinot Noir lover's experience as it hosts a Passion and Pinot Weekend April 4-6, 2003.... In Wine News



Australia: Wine industry unfazed by domestic sales fall: "A drop in domestic sales of Australian produced wine is not concerning Western Australia's wine industry. The Australian Bureau of Statistics says $36 million of Australian wine was sold domestically last December, a 4.4 per cent drop from the same period last year.... In Wine News



For 2 bucks, go with the Merlot: "If you're Fred Franzia, owner of Bronco Wine Company, you buy a lot of bulk wine, blend them together and release four cork-finished varietal wines under the Charles Shaw Winery label. And you sell them at Trader Joe's for $1.99.... In Wine News



It's here, it's queer, start drinking it: "Out of Rome comes Rosso Gayardo, the first wine celebrating gay culture .... In Wine News



Villagers rebel against sale of vineyard to Depardieu: "They are not toasting the health of Gérard Depardieu in the small southern French village of Aniane, where local wine producers claim the movie star and multimillionaire wine buff has done them out of a vineyard that should rightfully be theirs.... In Wine News



Tough markets to curb Australian winemaker profits: "Australia's major wine and beer producers face a sobering profit-reporting season, with earnings growth limited by tough conditions in key domestic and international markets.... In Wine News



Sauternes: spinning rotten grapes into gold: "The "oohs" and "aahs" were audible as professional connoisseurs gargled and spat vintages spanning nearly a century, all from the same chateau in Sauternes.... In Wine News



In Vino Veritas: When is a Chablis not a Chablis?: "French wine makers from Bourgogne -- or Burgundy -- do not agree that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. Show them a California vintage with "Chablis" on the label and they are far more likely to cry foul than take it as a compliment.... In Wine News



Learn everything you ever wanted to know about wine: "At the height of Hong Kong's dizzying economic success, a bottle of 1982 Chateau Mouton Rothschild sold for as much as HK$18,000 a pop. Since then, the price for this sought-after trophy wine has dropped to.... In Wine News



Winery Owner to Donate All Profits to Charity: "A new winery founded by industry veteran Judd Wallenbrock brings a new business plan to a very traditional industry. Wallenbrock's winery, aptly named "Humanitas," (Latin for "Philanthropy, kindness and human nature") is dedicated to giving all profits to charities working on issues of hunger, sheltering and illiteracy.... In Wine News



Red-Wine Extract Extends Shelf Life of Fruit: "Apples that turn mushy a few days after being purchased from your local grocery may one day become a thing of the past -- thanks to a natural preservative found in grapes. Researchers in Spain have found that dipping fruit in trans-resveratrol, a chemical compound in red wine, keeps it fresh longer.... In Wine News



Winegrower says 'Balls' to spy base spending: "Winston Oliver's Big Balls wine is about communication, goodwill and fun. Pleiades vineyard has been a neighbour of the huge white spheres of the Waihopai, 20km west of Blenheim, spy base for more than a decade now.... In Wine News



Lacoste refuses to be made ward of court: "Lily Lacoste, the 96-year-old former owner of Château Pétrus in Pomerol, last week resisted efforts to place her under the legal guardianship of the local court of protection.... In Wine News



New Zealand Wine Hits Trendy Suburb: "A trendy offshore suburb of Auckland held its first wine festival last weekend, making it the latest beneficiary of New Zealand's ongoing wine boom.... In Wine News



Wine from Italy, label from Malta: "The European Union does not allow wine, which has been bottled in Malta but is made from Italian grapes, to be marketed and labelled as a quality wine.... In Wine News



Trouble in Aust's wine industry: "Premium Australian wine has been selling at bargain prices for months now as the top wine makers compete aggressively for market share. But the days of the cheap drop may be numbered following the sacking of Southcorp's Chief Executive, Keith Lambert.... In Wine News



Australia: Torbreck back in business: "Torbreck winery, whose wines have been described by Robert Parker as 'some of the most exciting on planet earth' is back in business after winning financial backing from fast-food businessman Jack Cowin. The company was forced into receivership in October when winemaker David Powell's marriage to co-owner Christine Powell collapsed.... In Wine News



Cabernet Franc now charging ahead as its own varietal: "Cabernet Franc is known primarily as a grape to blend with one of the four other Bordeaux red varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec and Petit Verdot. Now Cabernet Franc is making a bid in California to become a significant stand-alone varietal wine.... In Wine News



New Zealand: Food industry ready to grow: "Hawke's Bay's reputation for fine wine should pave the way for the development of the region's food industry, the newly appointed manager of Food Hawke's Bay says.... In Wine News



Taste The Great Wines Of South Africa: "Cape Wineland Tours is pleased to announce its partnership with Great Wines International, a leading U.S. importer of South African wine, to present a simply delightful, behind-the-scenes wine and gourmet journey to South Africa!... In Wine News



Wine firm offers help in Super Bowl bet: "An online wine company has offered to make good on a Super Bowl bet between Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and California Gov. Gray Davis that got stymied by Florida alcoholic beverage laws.... In Wine News



French Scientists Develop White Wine That Acts Like a Red: "Finally, a promising innovation for those who don't drink red wine. A team of French scientists has developed a Chardonnay that, at least as indicated in tests on diabetic rats, could have the same health benefits associated with red wine.... In Wine News



The many pleasures, and history, of champagne: "Like many of life's seductive pleasures, champagne and its "foaming whirls as white as Cleopatra's melted pearls" is an accident of geography. In Wine News



Wining and Dining, the Bordeaux Way: "The wise old men of Bordeaux, whoever they were 60 or 70 years ago, made a remarkable discovery: the press. Not the kind that crushes grapes; the Romans knew about those presses. I mean the press that tells the world about Bordeaux wine. It is not too much of an exaggeration to say that few business groups anywhere are as astute as the Bordelais when it comes to presenting their image to the rest of the world. In Wine News



Wine festival's auction raises $5.14M for local charities: "Hold a glass of 1961 Latour up to the sun, and it glitters like a jewel. But that's not why Retta Singer paid $180,000 for it. The real jewel, Singer said, was the help that money would funnel into local children's charities. In Wine News



Baja wine industry aims to showcase its 'Grape Corridor': "California has the Napa Valley, and France its Bordeaux region. Now, Baja California wants to create a "Grape Corridor" to showcase its growing wine industry. In Wine News



Humanitas Winery Bottles a Business Plan Based on Giving: "A new winery founded by industry veteran Judd Wallenbrock brings a new business plan to a very traditional industry. Wallenbrock's winery, aptly named "Humanitas," (Latin for "Philanthropy, kindness and human nature") is dedicated to giving all profits to charities working on issues of hunger, sheltering and illiteracy. In Wine News



Champagne is made in Champagne: "The winemakers in Champagne are trying to educate people about the difference between sparkling wine and authentic champagne, made in the region about 90 miles east of Paris.... In Wine News



Monday, November 11, 2002

Multi-millionaire offers poetry and fabulous wine

"Poetry might not be the easiest thing to sell nowadays ñ unless you're offering a glass of 1982 Haut Brion or 1988 Richebourg at the same time...."

On Wine News



Wine and cheese perfect remedy for dengue fever threats

"Far-north Queensland scientists are seeking a Federal Government grant to trial an unusual strategy for reducing dengue fever threats. Australian researchers have found dengue fever carrying mosquitoes have a taste for red wine and blue cheese."

On Wine News



Australia claims EC wine regulations break WTO agreement

"The long running trade spat between Australia and the EC over the labelling of wines exported into the EU has run into further problems. This time Australia is threatening to involve the World Trade Organisation over new labelling regulations to be introduced at the beginning of next year...."

On Wine News



Wine world in your pocket

"I don't know what wine expert Oz Clarke's favourite tipple might be, but, whatever it is, it sure gives him stamina. Having just received a couple of review copies of his latest wine books, I notice that he has no less than seven different volumes in publication, at the moment...."

On Wine News



Grape Expectations: Poor Quality Italian Wine

"Lovers of Italian wine have little reason to toast after a dry winter and a wet summer ravaged Italy's grapevines, causing the worst harvest in half a century. Producers of the more sought-after wines are warning consumers to gird for higher prices and smaller quantities when the 2002 labels hit stores...."

On Wine News



New Zealand: Wine ambassador feels at home in Marlborough

"There was a certain sparkle in the Marlborough air on Friday as Pierre-Emmanuel Taittinger flew from Auckland to Blenheim to dine at Herzog Luxury Restaurant, the reputation of which reached him on the other side of the world...."

On Wine News



US fine wines win over French sceptics

"Difficult French palates gave California wines a glowing reception as over 70 winegrowers from the US state kicked off a European road-show here this week...."

On Wine News



New Zealand: Toast to Gisborne

"With tasting glass in hand, Denise Irvine sets off to sample the wines and food of Gisborne's annual festival. It's amazing the number of people you meet who have never been to Gisborne....."

On Wine News



Canada: B.C. vineyards dominate nation's top competition

"British Columbia wines stomped the competition at the Canadian Wine Awards Thursday night, taking 152 of 268 medals handed out...."

On Wine News



South Africa: Wine Snipers

"While the Washington snipers who terrorized the US capital for a few weeks in October are now safely behind bars, South Africa's wine snipers are still in the news as they pick over the results of the various wine competitions...."

On Wine News



Wineries thinking inside box

"Sometimes, you have to get in the box in order to think outside of it. I'm talking about boxed wine here, those big 5-liter cartons on grocery store shelves. The wine offered in boxes has traditionally been at the lower end of the wine spectrum in price and quality...."

On Wine News



Following Paul Newman's lead with Humanitas wine

"One day Judd Wallenbrock connected the dots and realized he could have his own winery and donate the profits to charity -- a la Paul Newman's Newman's Own food products. - Humanitas wines were born."

On Wine News



Now Bull Hits Out At Cork

"Jeremy Bull, chief winemaker at Taylor Fonseca for 40 years and now a wine consultant to Quinta do Portal, is the latest wine trade figure to hit out at cork stoppers...."

On Wine News



Know how to judge the wine critics

"What is good wine? Unquestionably, our tastes are our own. No one can or should tell us what we like and don't like. But does that mean that there are no points of reference? Are human beings not sufficiently alike to appreciate certain characteristics, flavors or aromas?..."

On Wine News



Tuesday, September 24, 2002

Unique wine book a modern success story

"When wine writer Richard Best decided to self-publish, he had no idea his book would be such a hit. The Frugal Oenophile's Lexicon of Wine Tasting Terms has become a popular item at wineries both in Canada and the US."

On Wine News



Learn about wine online

"Take your wine education to the next level with one of Spectator Magazine's on-line courses. Through interactive classes with videos and tutored tastings, you'll visit the world's great growing regions, meet fascinating winemakers and develop a deeper appreciation for wine."

On Wine News



Caro's Case Club Plan

"Wouldn't it be great to know you always have a superb selection of wines on hand - without having to stock up yourself? The Caro's Best Buys plan is a convenient way to enjoy a constant supply of excellent yet affordable wines."

On Wine News



Making chardonnay is a cool process

"Good chardonnay has a luxurious creaminess to it. When balanced by adequate acidity, which imparts an appealing tartness, the charm and complexity of the wine is impossible to resist - one reason, perhaps, that chardonnay remains America's favorite white wine."

On Wine News



Gene 'prevents heavy drinking'

"Cultural differences that discourage alcohol misuse among Jews may be backed up by a gene that has much the same effect, say scientists. Statistics suggest that Jews have fewer problems with alcohol than Caucasians in general."

On Wine News



Milk makes wine fine

"Milk could be used to make organic wine. Sprayed on grapevines once a fortnight, milky water seems to control powdery mildew as effectively as sulphur and copper fungicides, without tainting the grapes' taste."

On Wine News



Overseas tour operators sample NZ's wine trails

"Tourism New Zealand is hosting 20 top international tour companies this weekend to encourage them to take visitors on the country's wine trails."

On Wine News



Learn about wine online

"Take your wine education to the next level with one of Spectator Magazine's on-line courses. Through interactive classes with videos and tutored tastings, you'll visit the world's great growing regions, meet fascinating winemakers and develop a deeper appreciation for wine."

On Wine News



In high spirits over alcohol-free wine

"McGuigan Simeon Wines has turned to wine-flavoured drinks and silver packaging to fuel its growth in the domestic market, hoping to position itself as a group that can offer a kind of wine - or something approaching it - for every occasion."

On Wine News



NZ: Hawke's Bay's vineyard growth continues

"Hawke's Bay's producing vineyard area is expected to increase from 3375 to 3813 hectares in the next two years. On that basis, Hawke's Bay will remain the second-largest wine region in the country, behind Marlborough and ahead of Gisborne."

On Wine News



Call for Canterbury winegrowers to export

"North Canterbury winegrowers are producing quality wine, but now need to increase their marketing to boost export sales, says Waipara Winegrowers chair Kym Rayner."

On Wine News



A Cold Observation about Wine (with recipe)

"Show this story to your boss, and she might just offer you a glass or two of wine. After all, downing this beverage - especially the red varieties - appears to help ward off the common cold, according to a new study."

On Wine News



Oktoberfest at Onetangi Road Vineyard

"From 18-20 October Onetangi Road Vineyard, home of Waiheke's boutique brewery and award winning Baroona beers, will be transformed into an Oktoberfest."

On Wine News



WineThingies

"WineThingies wine glass charms are the fashionable way to keep track of wine glasses. They are the latest buzz for wine lovers and party hostesses alike!"

On Wine News



The Ultimate Island Experience

"A warm and sunny climate, idyllic vineyard surroundings and pure Pacific Ocean deliver the perfect environment for the ultimate island experience. The inaugural Waiheke Island Wine Festival, being held on Saturday 1st and Sunday 2nd February 2003, offers an opportunity to celebrate fine wine, food and entertainment in a unique, maritime location."

On Wine News



A wine with a sense of occasion

"Bubbles, bubbly, champers - no matter what you call it, a flute of your favourite "fizz" seems to epitomise a celebration. Unfortunately, with the success of New World wines, European nations such as France have clamped down on what we can actually call wine made in the same way, but outside the original region. Consequently, unless a wine is made in Champagne, it can?t be given that name."

On Wine News



Caro's Case Club Plan

"Wouldn't it be great to know you always have a superb selection of wines on hand - without having to stock up yourself? The Caro's Best Buys plan is a convenient way to enjoy a constant supply of excellent yet affordable wines."

On Wine News



The Sexist Restaurant Waiter

"The letters page of the Guardian on August 10 provided ample evidence that The Sexist Restaurant Waiter is still lurking. Ms Mitchell of Cambridge and Dr Childs of London both rightly beefed about waiters who assume that it is the man, or the men, in the party who must be handed the wine list and the first glass to taste, and cough up the wherewithal at the end of the meal."

On Wine News



Bobbing Through Portugal on Boat Made of Wine Corks

"This summer, John Pollack and Garth Goldstein took an old trade (shipbuilding), a basic principle (buoyancy), and created an ingenious, two-ton, 27-foot craft made of (what else) 165,321 corks. Confident that their vessel was of sound design, the two set sail from the northern Portuguese city of Barca d'Alva, near the Spanish border, where hundreds of Portuguese gathered to watch them embark upon an improbable, 17-day journey on the Douro River."

On Wine News



Professional Wine Tasting Tips

"Entire books have been written on wine tasting. The best single work remains Emile Peynaud's The Taste of Wine. While you may never earn your living tasting wine, there are techniques that can increase the pleasure of everyday drinking."

On Wine News



A Competition For Back Labels - Both Good and Bad

"Given the limited space for communication on a wine bottle, it's sometimes surprising what people choose to put (or not put) on their labels - particularly the rather overlooked one on the back. Some of them are fantastic, some of them are humorous, some of them are delightful ñ and some of them are Ö well, a bit strange."

On Wine News



The State Of The Fourth Estate

"Wine writers spend much of the time lobbing verbal hand grenades and garlands from the safety of their PCs. Are they making and breaking the reputations of wines, or is their scribbling merely a self-indulgent irrelevance?..."

On Wine News



Is Terroir Dead?

"It is a small fact, but one that speaks volumes: There is no word for winemaker in French (or in Spanish, Italian or German). The word the French use is vigneron, meaning vine grower."

On Wine News



Making chardonnay is a cool process

"Good chardonnay has a luxurious creaminess to it. When balanced by adequate acidity, which imparts an appealing tartness, the charm and complexity of the wine is impossible to resist - one reason, perhaps, that chardonnay remains America's favorite white wine."

On Wine News



On the prowl for wine labels, corks

"I'm not a wine drinker, so it's hard to explain why I find myself drawn to the bottles, corks and labels...."

On Wine News



NZ: No bull - Spanish like our white wine

"The rain may fall on the plains in Spain, but in the homes they'll be drinking sauvignon blanc created on the plains of Marlborough."

On Wine News



Allied Domecq predicts another record harvest in California

"Allied Domecq, the UK-based wine and spirits group, has reported a good start to harvesting at its various Californian vineyards and is predicting a bumper harvest in 2002."

On Wine News



Milk makes wine fine

"Milk could be used to make organic wine. Sprayed on grapevines once a fortnight, milky water seems to control powdery mildew as effectively as sulphur and copper fungicides, without tainting the grapes' taste."

On Wine News



Drink (grape juice) to your health

"It's not quite the "French Paradox," that widely touted theory of the last decade that suggested that the French habit of drinking red wine may prevent heart disease in a population that also favors cigarettes, cheese, cream and other animal fats..."

On Wine News



Portugese Cork Assn Calls For Recycling & Better Labelling

"APCOR, the Portuguese Cork Association, has called on UK retailers to take part in a national cork recycling scheme and also to improve labelling about closures."

On Wine News



Mellowing Southern Highlands toasted as a new red centre

"One of Australia's newest declared wine regions will almost certainly produce the nation's best bottle of red within 15 years..."

On Wine News



NZ: Testing a few imports

"Well-known Australian winery Banrock Station has a varietal range in the under NZ$15 per bottle bracket that is readily available at the supermarket."

On Wine News



NZ: Wine quality excellent but output goes down

"Nelson's wine production in 2002 was down against the national trend, but growers report the quality has been exceptional, especially in the pinot noir, sauvignon blanc and riesling varieties."

On Wine News



Chateau Latour sets record for Christie's first Paris sale

"A rare imperial of Château Latour 1961 has made nearly twice the expected price at Christie's' first Paris wine auction..."

On Wine News



Saturday, September 07, 2002

Internet Wine Sellers Still Woozy on Web Fumes

"As we comb through the dot-com rubble, we come across a lot of failed e-commerce companies that had everything going for them but nevertheless missed the mark. They faced bad timing. Bad management. Bad luck. Some combination of the three. Internet wine sellers have other demons to blame."

On E-Commerce Times



23 Kosher Wines, in Time for the Holidays

"Wine Spectator"

On Consumer: food and drink



Wine lakes

"Throwing away the Beaujolais"

On BBC Europe



New for September 5:

"Wine Spectator"

On Consumer: food and drink



Beringer Blass Buys Carmenet Brand

"Wine Spectator"

On Consumer: food and drink



Wining, Whining and Winning on EBay

"This month, EBay is testing sales of wine on its site, and also backing away from making its new "Checkout" system mandatory. How are these two things related? They are both examples of EBay's willingness to try new things and, even more important, to fail and/or admit when it is wrong."

On E-Commerce Times



T-Mobile SideKick - Integrated PDA-Phone from Danger

"T-Mobile Danger Integrated PDA-Phone
Sidekick Desktop
"

On bLOGical



Grid Compuring

"MSNBC .  Where do you think Grid computing is going?  I have three scenarios:
1) An application specific backwater.  Networks of voluntary PC networks slaved to work on specific projects/games and clusters of servers dedicated to specific apps.
2) Virtualized PCs.  People would run a terminal on their desk and connect with a pool of rack mounted 1U PCs that allocate resources via a grid.
3) Virtualized Servers.  People would continue to run PCs on their desktop but they would share resources with a central system that would crunch through tasks normally reserved for expensive server systems.  Apps would run against this generalized system depending on need.
Basically, the push here is being driven by companies (IBM and Sun) that see an increasing imbalance between centralized resources vs. decentralized.  For example, this year 140 m or so 1.5 GHz PCs with 60 Gb hard drives will be sold.  Only 4-5m servers will be sold, with capabilities not much greater on average than what is being sold to individual users.  The business opportunity for IBM and Sun is to get these desktop PCs (mostly built by Dell, Gateway, and a large number of independents) running software they have a hand in developing, customizing, and managing.  However, will this desire translate into a major change in the way we use computers (scenarios 2 and 3)?  Probably not (or at least not until Microsoft jumps in), but it is interesting to think about. [ John Robb's Radio Weblog ]
"

On bLOGical



Elvis Sighted (Several Times) at Sonoma Valley Auction

"Sunday's tenth annual auction sponsored by Sonoma Valley Vintners and Growers Alliance was the centrepiece of a series of eight events which raised over US$1million for charity."

On Wine News



UK: Booths breaks Oddbins deadlock to win Wine Challenge

"Booths Supermarkets has been named Overall Wine Merchant of the Year in the 2002 International Wine Challenge - breaking Oddbins' four-year domination of the title."

On Wine News



New Zealand: A classic taste of summer

"The Golden Mile is the central route through the Rapaura area, a region renowned for its production of fine fruit and intense flavours."

On Wine News



Hardys Nottage Hill Chardonnay 2001 collects Gold

"A wine from South Australian vineyards first established 150 years ago at McLaren Vale has been voted "Best Value Wine in the World" at one of the largest global wine competitions...."

On Wine News



Ten Things You Didn't Know About Harvest

"1. Sometimes, winemakers look for a little help from above. No, we don't mean the sun. Throughout much of Europe, the church still plays a central role in harvest tradition..."

On Wine News



Red-wine headache a scientific mystery

"For some people, a glass of red wine is an invitation to a roaring headache. There are many theories about what causes the syndrome, but few facts, says Dr. Fred Freitag, associate director of the Diamond Headache Clinic in Chicago."

On Wine News



Thomas Coyne: Wit, whimsy, wine

"A I once again pass the multimillion dollar homes of Ruby Hill on Valecitos Road, I'm looking for one of those innocuous signs that -- I'm learning -- are the humble trademarks of many Livermore wineries. On my right, by a sign, is an old outhouse, a bed frame overgrown with weeds, a bathtub and a sink. The sign reads: "Iris Bed and Breakfast.""

On Wine News



New Zealand: Wine Tourism Venture given go ahead

"The Big Picture, a wine tourism venture that will include a restaurant, wine outlet, bar, an aroma area, and an auditorium, has been approved by the Central Otago District Council...."

On Wine News



South Africa: Wine bottle battle goes to court

"Liquor giant Distell and supermarket group Shoprite Checkers are set to meet in court over a bottle of wine. Not just any kind of wine, but a brand with the hearty label "Muchas Gracias"."

On Wine News



Australia: Pialligo paves the way for new cellar

"Canberra's newest cellar door must surely have one of the most unique locations of any vineyard in the world...."

On Wine News



Wine Co. program educates restaurant waiters and waitresses

"Michael Peacock has witnessed wait staff with "shaky" wine confidence in his 20 years as a chef. Now that he's got his own restaurant in Mickey's Chophouse, at 5 Beeman St., Peacock and his wife, Debbie, have put a premium on wine knowledge. Aside from planned wine seminars for their staff, Peacock plans on taking advantage of Canandaigua Wine Co.'s crash course in serving wine."

On Wine News



Land of liqueurs

"Travel along the N74 road in Burgundy, through towns whose names appear on the world's greatest wine labels, and the view is vineyards, vineyards, vineyards, as far as the eye can see."

On Wine News



Hopelessly Devoted to ... Shiraz and Chardonnay

"Australian wines are red, white and now -- Koala Blue. Australian superstar Olivia Newton-John is giving wine lovers something to sing about with her Koala Blue Shiraz and Koala Blue Chardonnay. Both wines come in a distinctive blue bottle."

On Wine News



Bring on the grapes

"A growing breed of hobbyists are getting serious about the quality of wine they make at home. Before very long, Eugene Osentoski's well-appointed ranch in Northville will smell like a California winery, and in fact, you could almost call his homestead a wine chateau -- on a small scale..."

On Wine News



Tuesday, September 03, 2002

Wine Co. program educates restaurant waiters and waitresses

"Michael Peacock has witnessed wait staff with "shaky" wine confidence in his 20 years as a chef. Now that he's got his own restaurant in Mickey's Chophouse, at 5 Beeman St., Peacock and his wife, Debbie, have put a premium on wine knowledge. Aside from planned wine seminars for their staff, Peacock plans on taking advantage of Canandaigua Wine Co.'s crash course in serving wine."

On Wine News





"British Wine Site to Charge for Advice: Superplonk.com, the website set up by The Guardian's wine expert, Malcolm Gluck, is to launch a subscription service..."

On PAID: the economics of content



Wine prevents repeat heart attack

"Scientists say they have found a way for coronary patients to minimise the risk of a second heart attack - drink wine every day."

On BBC Health



Bring on the grapes

"A growing breed of hobbyists are getting serious about the quality of wine they make at home. Before very long, Eugene Osentoski's well-appointed ranch in Northville will smell like a California winery, and in fact, you could almost call his homestead a wine chateau -- on a small scale..."

On Wine News



Australian wine exports face Europe threat - report

"CANBERRA: Australia's wine industry, which has enjoyed phenomenal growth in the past decade, faces lower sales growth as European producers pull out all stops to protect their home markets, the nation's commodity bureau said yesterday."

On Stuff - Business News



Why red wine is healthier

On BBC Health



EC urges more wine barriers

On The Age: Business



Red wine 'protects from colds'

On BBC Health



A little wine for the wounded heart?

"CNN"

On Drinks and Beverages



Wine cheer

"Regular drinking reduces second heart attack risk"

On BBC Health



Wisconsin University students show their stuff in a Food and Wine study tour.

On ABC News



Who Spilled Merlot on the E-Book?

"Electronic wine lists help diners at Aureole restaurants in Vegas and New York match their meals with the perfect vintage. Also: E-publish in minutes.... E-books en español.... and more in M.J. Rose's notebook."

On Wired News



Hopelessly Devoted to ... Shiraz and Chardonnay

"Australian wines are red, white and now -- Koala Blue. Australian superstar Olivia Newton-John is giving wine lovers something to sing about with her Koala Blue Shiraz and Koala Blue Chardonnay. Both wines come in a distinctive blue bottle."

On Wine News



Wine Co. program educates restaurant waiters and waitresses

"Michael Peacock has witnessed wait staff with "shaky" wine confidence in his 20 years as a chef. Now that he's got his own restaurant in Mickey's Chophouse, at 5 Beeman St., Peacock and his wife, Debbie, have put a premium on wine knowledge. Aside from planned wine seminars for their staff, Peacock plans on taking advantage of Canandaigua Wine Co.'s crash course in serving wine."

On Wine News



Land of liqueurs

"Travel along the N74 road in Burgundy, through towns whose names appear on the world's greatest wine labels, and the view is vineyards, vineyards, vineyards, as far as the eye can see."

On Wine News



Hopelessly Devoted to ... Shiraz and Chardonnay

"Australian wines are red, white and now -- Koala Blue. Australian superstar Olivia Newton-John is giving wine lovers something to sing about with her Koala Blue Shiraz and Koala Blue Chardonnay. Both wines come in a distinctive blue bottle."

On Wine News



Bring on the grapes

"A growing breed of hobbyists are getting serious about the quality of wine they make at home. Before very long, Eugene Osentoski's well-appointed ranch in Northville will smell like a California winery, and in fact, you could almost call his homestead a wine chateau -- on a small scale..."

On Wine News



Cliff sets date for wine and song

"The man who put the "ever" in evergreen, Sir Cliff Richard, has two wineries on his gig itinerary for his Australian tour early next year."

On Wine News



Hawke's Bay Wine Country comes to Auckland

"The Hawke's Bay Wine Country Food Group is joining forces this month with five-star hotel Stamford Plaza Auckland, to celebrate the Best of the Bunch extravaganza. A fabulous line up of Hawke's Bay tour operators, winemakers, food providers, artists, and musicians will take part in the Best of the Bunch, which begins on 6 September until the end of the month."

On Wine News



Washington's wineries came of age quickly

"The Washington wine industry is now recognized internationally by leading wine authorities as producing wines that rival the best the world has to offer. The challenge remains to share the news - and the beauty of the region ó with the rest of the world..."

On Wine News



Little pretense at wine auction

"As if slipping through a porthole, the auction-goers at the Sonoma Valley Harvest Wine Auction on Sunday found themselves in the 1950s, mingling with Elvis in stripped-down leather and Marilyn Monroe in a white flyaway dress. The 10th annual wine auction raised $586,390 this year, slightly less than last year's $592,100."

On Wine News



Wine and Vine: Has chard met its match?

"As a dry white wine, Chardonnay is the current international best-seller in its field - deservedly so, since it is a grape of great adaptability, which can yield a decent wine in a range of climates and locations. Whether it be France, the Americas or Down Under, the finished product should be recognisable as Chardonnay, though the style may differ radically...."

On Wine News



New Zealand: Savvys make it in record time

"The Marlborough selection of 2002 sauvignon blanc wines made it to Wellington on Saturday in record time. Thirty-six different Marlborough sauvignon blancs were raced across Cook Strait on 26 yachts to officially launch this year's vintage."

On Wine News



Real opinions from real people in the Real Cork debate

"Throughout June and July 2002, over 4,000 people visited corkmasters.com site to share their thoughts on wine closures. There was a wide range of opinions and a huge number of comments from professionals and wine lovers alike. Here's a summary of the results..."

On Wine News



Sudden impact

"There are many ways of classifying wines - white and red, oak-aged or not, old world versus new world. In terms of understanding why the wines we like don't always shine in competitions, an equally useful distinction - often made by the winemakers themselves - is between "impact" wines and "subtle" wines...."

On Wine News



Hot dry summer bad for cranberries, good for grapes

"The hot, dry Massachusetts summer, which followed a practically snowless winter, has cranberry growers worried they won't be able to flood their bogs for the harvest. However, vinifera grapes -- table wine-producing vintages like chardonnay and merlot -- flourish in such conditions."

On Wine News



Why a wine's taste can be in the glass

"What wine snobs have been telling you for years really is true: the shape of a glass does make a difference to how wine tastes. The reason is that some wine glasses allow more of the subtle chemical reactions with air because a greater surface is exposed to it."

On Wine News



Klein Constantia Judged One Of The World's Great Vineyards

"Up there, with Clos du Mesnil, Lafite Rothschild, La Tache and Yquem, that's where you'll find Klein Constantia. The Constantia wine estate was listed as one of the world's twenty-five great vineyards by US Wine & Spirits magazine in their summer 2002 issue."

On Wine News



Michigan State Uni professor launches winemaking program

"Blended into the pastoral landscape on the fringes of the Michigan State University campus is a flourishing 3-acre vineyard, along with a 3,500-square-foot winery lab, for the country's only intensive winemaking and viticultural program this side of the Rockies."

On Wine News



Wright kind of wine

"AS a businessman, Michael Wright seems to have it all ñ he earns about $11 million a year from a Rio Tinto mine he's never worked at. He also owns the revered Voyager Estate winery in Margaret River, although he doesn't drink wine, and, with $220 million in personal wealth, he isn't worried that the winery isn't making money..."

On Wine News



Wine fails to shake "intimidating" image with drinkers

"Almost 50% of Canadians find wine intimidating, a recent survey has found. A consumer poll sponsored by E&J Gallo Winery found that while consumers were keen to build knowledge of wine it is still often viewed as a drink for the "the elite" or "for special occasions only"."

On Wine News



Harrier Rise Vineyard: Country Reds of Auckland

"The country reds of Auckland from the late 1960's were one of the inspirations for Harrier Rise Vineyard. Back then, well before New Zealand wine became respectable, most local wine was fortified and sweetened, and labelled as sherry or port."

On Wine News



China Wants Wine

"The government in Beijing estimates that within eight years, China's population will stand at an incredible 1.4 billion people, with the number exploding by some 14 million a year. Michael Parr, Wente Vineyards' export manager and an old China hand, says that just the core target of potential wine drinkers is roughly equal to the entire population of the United States."

On Wine News



California: Quality up, quantity down

"The 2002 Northern California wine grape harvest, just underway, will likely be remembered as much for the fruit that wasn't picked as for the clusters that were."

On Wine News



Farmers have less than grape expectations

"On the rich farmlands along Lake Erie, grape farmers were expecting a banner crop this year. Temperatures had soared to 80 degrees in mid-April, promising vines heavy with grapes come the September harvest. But with the harvest less than a month away, many of those same farmers anticipate devastating losses."

On Wine News



Some 'ugly duckling' grapes surpass their reputes

"Grapes such as chardonnay and cabernet sauvignon are known to the wine world as "noble" grape varieties. Chardonnay - a classic white wine grape grown all over the world - is most famous in the Burgundy and Champagne regions in France. Cabernet sauvignon is one of the main grape varieties..."

On Wine News



Wine New Zealand a success

"Wine New Zealand, reconfirmed its standing last week as the wine industry's premier sampling forum, with its impressive offering of over 1,300 wines enjoyed by 2, 212 trade and public (up 1.4% on last year)."

On Wine News



Winemaking in Pictures

"All wines, from the most sought-after Bordeaux to the simplest table wine, navigate a series of steps along the journey from vine to bottle. It's a complex process, full of science and mystery, and this slide show makes no claim to cover it comprehensively."

On Wine News



Winegrowers smash hundreds of bottles in supermarket attacks

"Around 200 French wine growers, protesting at cheap imports, targeted two supermarket chains, smashing several hundred of bottles of wine."

On Wine News