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Wine Ebooks:
| | The Complete Grape Growers Guide. |  | | A Complete Guide For Growing Grapes. Converts Very Well At A Reasonable Price! Growing Grapes And Making Wine Is A Very Popular Topic Right Now.
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| | Fool-Proof Wine Values. | | | Learn How To Easily Find Wines Of $50 Quality For $10 Or Less. Impress Friends With Your Expanded Wine Knowledge. Eliminate Your Dependence On Wine Salespeople. And Take The Hassle Out Of Buying Wine.
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| | Making Wine From Home. | | | A Fun And Very Informative Book On Home Wine Making. The De Facto Standard For All Home Wine Enthusiasts With Recipes, Advice And Tricks.
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Blogs & Sites:
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| [01/07/2008, 00:18] | New for 2008: The Wine Book Club | | | From popular wine reviewer "Dr. Debs" at Good Wine Under $20: "In the spirit of the New Year, a group of bloggers decided to start an online Wine Book Club. Many of us want to read more--hands up if you've got a stack of books sitting on your bedside table with an inch of dust on them . . ." The first bi-monthly book is Vino Italiano: The Regional Wines of Italy, and the discussion will be hosted by Philadelphia retailer David McDuff at McDuff's Food and Wine Trail. This online meme-slash-wine club will appeal, I think, to those seriously... | | | |
| [05/06/2008, 15:59] | Will Asian buyers refocus on Riesling? | |  Robert Parker goes to China. It doesn’t quite have the same geopolitical impact as Nixon goes to China, but the magnitude for the wine world may be similar as Parker heads there later this month for the first time. Jancis Robinson stopped by earlier this year too. And two big auction houses have resumed wine auctions in Hong Kong this spring after a seven year drought. The removal of the wine tax in Hong Kong has driven a “thirst for top-level wines” in the city “is growing at an exponential rate,” according an auctioneer quoted in Bloomberg.
Apparently Asian buyers are getting much more wine savvy. It wasn’t long ago that they only bought wines with 100 point Parker scores, perhaps a sign of slavish following more than connoisseurship. But now I am wondering if the locals are waking up to the joys of pairing Riesling with the cuisine. And the quality of German Riesling just keeps getting better and better. Perhaps they now have confidence to venture away from Bordeaux and cult Cali cabs. Actually, since I am really getting into the sublime pleasure of German Riesling, dry and off-dry, young and mature, the thought of demand from Asia is something of a doomsday scenario for me. The last thing I need is to have investors pile in and run up the price in yet another category of wine! | | | |
| [05/02/2008, 08:26] | Garnish: Is there a better olive? | | | Yes…and no. So beware over-fancification of your martini basic and don’t get too cute. Concerning the Olive in this issue of the Seattle Weekly Can’t blame a girl for trying. | | | |
| [05/08/2008, 04:12] | An Italian's Love For New York | |  ?Oshpett, oshpett,? the beer vendor barked on a sunny Sunday afternoon in Yankee Stadium. He was clearing the way for fans to get to their seats when I heard the remnants of a southern Italian dialect, several generations removed. For the folks he was selling beer to, he?d often end his transaction with a parting ?Chin-tann.?
Layered under decades of time and waves of subsequent immigrations, the Italian voice is stretched but not silenced. One needs only to scratch the surface only slightly to see the Italian presence in New York.
?Dig down into New York and you?ll reach Rome,? I once heard on a cold winter night several decades ago. I?m not sure how that applies in today?s world, but looking around the city today, it seems Italians are exploring the new New York, and loving every minute of it.
 Once a section at the ballpark would be filled with suited up gentlemen, hats and all, with their mandatory cigar, looking after the legacy of Lazzeri, Rizutto and DiMaggio. These days the field has altered and they sit in their seats along fellow fans from Japan, from all over the world, and follow the careers of Giambi, Jeter and Matsui. E la nave va.
 Hungry? Get yourself a Nathan?s, a kosher dog or a hot Italian sausage. You can even find a cannolo in the stadium if you dig deep enough.
Traveling in the subways and walking along the streets upside one can hear the ring of Italian being spoken. From the southern dialects now woven into a new patois? to the fresh staccato sounds of tourists from Friuli or the Veneto. The city is crawling with all kinds of Italians looking for a slice of New York to love.
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| [09/12/2007, 21:57] | The Vineyard Owner | | 
For an in-depth look at starting up your very own vineyard, check out Vineyard Owner. It's still a work in progress, but it currently sports some nice articles on Disease and Pest Management, and Climate factors. | | | |
| [03/25/2008, 11:57] | Many Wine Consumers 'Overwhelmed' | | | Tina Caputo (winesandvines.com) writes: 
St. Helena, Calif. -- As wine consumption in the United States reached an all-time high in 2007, wine producers celebrated the long-awaited arrival of a "wine culture" in America. But according to an 18-month study commissioned by Constellation Wines U.S., a large segment of the consumer population is still "overwhelmed" by wine. The results of "Home & Habits," the second phase of Constellation's "Project Genome" study, were released March 7 at a press conference.
"Our industry needs to do more to become more customer focused," said José Fernandez, president and CEO of Constellation Wines North America.
The original 2005 study of 3,500 wine drinkers was one of the largest consumer research projects ever conducted by the wine industry. The new study examined the purchases of 10,000 premium-wine consumers--defined as those who purchased wine priced at $5 and higher--over an 18-month period. While the first Project Genome study asked online survey participants to recall their wine purchases during the last 30 days, the Home & Habits study tracked the actual purchases of Nielsen Co.'s Homescan® consumer purchase panel, which employs in-home bar code scanners and surveys to map consumer buying behavior across a demographically balanced sampling.
Nielsen measured consumer attitudes and purchase behavior within multiple purchase channels, including warehouse clubs, supermarkets, mass merchandisers, drug stores, liquor stores and wine shops. The scan data were supplemented with online interviews to classify consumers by Project Genome consumer segments identified in Constellation's original study: Enthusiasts, Image Seekers, Savvy Shoppers, Traditionalists, Satisfied Sippers and Overwhelmed.
» Full Story Tags: melgab, wine, survey, consumer, united states, south-africa, South Africa | | WorldWine Tags: melgab, wine, survey, consumer, united states, south-africa, South Africa, | | | |
| [04/05/2008, 10:41] | Italian Officials Block Shipment of Brunello Wines | | 
The magistrate of Siena, an appointed judicial authority, has questioned the controls exercised by the consortium of Brunello di Montalcino, which governs the stipulations of how the wine is made in both the vineyard? and the cellar?.
Authorities are scanning thousands of documents, including winemaker? notes, harvest and bottling records, Consorzio? registrations and DOCG? stamps.
If the slightest discrepancy is found, even if subject to interpretation and explanation, the existing stocks of the 2003 vintage? Brunello, the year in question, will be sequestered from distribution, the company said in a statement.
Stocks already on store shelves and restaurant cellars will not be affected.
"The situation has quickly become political and threatens the commerce of innumerable small businesses and the pleasure of millions of consumers around the world,? Marc? Goodrich, chief operating officer of Banfi Vintners, a US importer of the wines, said.
?The promise of Brunello to the consumer remains valid and unquestioned, but has been caught in crossfire between warring factions in what amounts to a political disgrace.?
Goodrich claims the majority of Brunello producers are likely to come under scrutiny. This could lead to the sale? of the 2003 vintage suspended, potentially for several months if not longer.
?We will not know what really happened until all the political dust settles and the authorities retreat,? he said. "But in the meantime, they have put at risk the commercial, social and governmental reputation of all Italy.?
» Full Story (via wine.co.za) ... good thing we've already received our '03 shipment. *phew* Let's hope they sort this out by the time we need to reorder. Tags: melgab, wine, controversy, brunello, italian, south-africa, South Africa | | WorldWine Tags: melgab, wine, controversy, brunello, italian, south-africa, South Africa, | | | |
| [06/28/2007, 20:23] | What We CAN Do! by Lynn Ogryzlo | | | Prince Edward County (PEC), the most-talked about new wine region in Ontario, may be scoffed at as being too intemperate for vines to survive there, but wineries like Norm Hardie, the Grange, Rosehall Run and Long Dog are changing the... | | | |
| [05/10/2008, 17:52] | All About Sake | | 
Sake is a Japanese alcoholic beverage, made from a series of fermentations using steamed rice. The process removes the millet and the protein from the rice, leaving the starch-similar to how beer is made from grain. Over time, the starch is converted to sugar naturally and a little yeast, called koji, is added in later stages of the fermentation, which acts to create alcohol out of the sugar. At the end of the process, the liquid is filtered to remove any millet or other particles. The resulting product is clear and about 15 percent alcohol. Sake has been made in Japan for over 6800 years.
Types of Sake
There are two kinds of sake: junmai (with no alcohol added) and honjozo (with alcohol added during the fermentation process). Over 80 percent of the sake made in Japan is honjozo sake. Within those broad classifications, there are different grades of sake: - Futsu - economy sake
- Ginjo - premium sake
- Daiginjo - ultra-premium sake
How to Drink Sake
Futsu (ordinary) sake is warmed for drinking. (Ginjo and Daiginjo are served chilled.) Traditionally, sake is poured from a stoneware carafe, called a tokkuri (pictured above). Warm the sake in the tokkuri by placing it in a partially-filled pan of boiling water. (Don't overheat the sake; it should be warm-a little over body temperate, not hot.)
To serve the sake, pour it from the tokkuri into individual sake cups, called ochoko. It is proper sake etiquette to hold your cup while the sake is being poured. Inhale the sake's aroma gently before sipping. Sake is meant for sipping, not throwing back like a shot of whiskey.
Storing Sake
Sake does not improve with age, like fine wines or Scotch whiskey. Instead, buy sake with a recent bottling date. Once open, a bottle of sake should be kept in a cool, dark place (such as the refrigerator), as the liquid is sensitive to heat and light. A bottle, stored properly should last around a year.
(photo © istockphoto) See full article.
Related Entries:
SK-II poisonous? - 02 October 2006 For health's sake - demand full disclosure! - 08 May 2007 Benedict XVI Should Shut His Mouth, For Catholics Sake - 23 May 2007 Matching Wine with Sushi - 23 February 2008 
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| [02/04/2008, 22:24] | For Love or Money | | Just read an very interesting essay that makes parallels between blogging and the open source movement in software. There was a discussion about a year ago in the wine blogosphere regarding professional versus amateur and what the distinction is. This essay points out some really interesting ideas relating to this topic is worth a read. In particular, I enjoy these passages: First this on that actually relates open-source to blogging Like open source, blogging is something people do themselves, for free, because they enjoy it. Like open source hackers, bloggers compete with people working for money, and often win. The method of ensuring quality is also the same: Darwinian. Companies ensure quality through rules to prevent employees from screwing up. But you don’t need that when the audience can communicate with one another. People just produce whatever they want; the good stuff spreads, and the bad gets ignored. And in both cases, feedback from the audience improves the best work.
Then there is the comments on amateurs versus professionals… There’s a name for people who work for the love of it: amateurs. The word now has such bad connotations that we forget its etymology, though it’s staring us in the face. "Amateur" was originally rather a complimentary word. But the thing to be in the twentieth century was professional, which amateurs, by definition, are not.
That’s why the business world was so surprised by one lesson from open source: that people working for love often surpass those working for money. Users don’t switch from Explorer to Firefox because they want to hack the source. They switch because it’s a better browser.
More great insights here… Actually, the fad is the word "blog," at least the way the print media now use it. What they mean by "blogger" is not someone who publishes in a weblog format, but anyone who publishes online. That’s going to become a problem as the Web becomes the default medium for publication. So I’d like to suggest an alternative word for someone who publishes online. How about "writer?"
Those in the print media who dismiss the writing online because of its low average quality are missing an important point: no one reads the average blog. In the old world of channels, it meant something to talk about average quality, because that’s what you were getting whether you liked it or not. But now you can read any writer you want. So the average quality of writing online isn’t what the print media are competing against. They’re competing against the best writing online. And, like Microsoft, they’re losing.
And finally, this passage is probably my favorite… The third big lesson we can learn from open source and blogging is that ideas can bubble up from the bottom, instead of flowing down from the top. Open source and blogging both work bottom-up: people make what they want, and the best stuff prevails.
Does this sound familiar? It’s the principle of a market economy. Ironically, though open source and blogs are done for free, those worlds resemble market economies, while most companies, for all their talk about the value of free markets, are run internally like communist states.
This essay really is worth a read. Its a couple years old by Paul Graham, an essayist, programmer, and programming language designer. Wine bloggers are a very powerful force especially when you consider that its driven pretty much by love of the community’s past time rather than money. And like open source, the job of following and documenting wine requires more than a single entity with several dozen people. Its going to take a cast of thousands with a shared passion and the best will naturally rise to the top. Enjoy the Wine Life!  | | | |
| [11/25/2006, 15:17] | | | 
Preparations for Christmas.
Santiago of Chile prepares itself to receive the Christmas.
While hurried wayfarers travel the Plaza of Weapon, a group of workers raised in nets, prepare a gigantic tree.
It will be finished in a few days more and be be almost so high as the centenary Cathedral, Satiago's former relic. | | | |
| [05/12/2008, 22:07] | LiveSTRONG With A Taste Of Yellow Round Up 2008 Part 1 | | 
Drop dead gorgeous
I'm dying to know
I nearly died of embarrassment
To die for
I'm dying to go on holiday, give up work, move house, get married, whatever.
I don't think so.
No one ever died because they were attractive.
No one died because they didn't know the latest gossip.
No one ever died of embarrassment.
Did you die when you ate that creme brulee, chocolate cake or drank vintage champagne?
.............and no one ever, ever died because they didn't go on holiday, continued to work, stayed in the same house, didn't get married, or whatever.
People die from accidents, heart attacks, any number of diseases like liver disease or kidney disease. Some people die because they are born into poverty in a third world country and some people die in war.
Then there are those who die from cancer. Mothers, fathers, grandparents, sons, daughters, sisters, brothers, aunts, uncles, friends, work colleagues, nieghbours.
Happily there are also those who beat cancer. The ones who discover it early. And that is the secret to beating cancer - early detection. Which is why they have tests like mammographies, PAP smears, colonoscopies, PSA's, skin and mole checks. If you have a history of cancer in your family these checks are even more important. Discuss cancer screening with your doctor next time you visit. It could save your life.
I would like to thank the 179 fabulous bloggers who cared enough to participate in LiveSTRONG With A Taste Of Yellow - 2008. Thank you for sharing your stories. I cried, I laughed and I rejoiced at the stories you shared. I'm honoured some of you chose to share your very personal stories with me via email, stories too painful to share with the world.
While I was writing the round up I received a call to tell me a friend had lost her battle with cancer. There was a big difference in our ages and until we were both diagnosed with cancer we weren't close. Our friendship developed as we shared our cancer journey. Some of our conversations were about death and our theories on an after life. Those around us found it hard to comprehend how easily we talked about death. How we could laugh about how we wanted to look in our coffins. For her it was to be no make up at all , for me it is to be no rosy cheeks or red lipstick. She'd chosen her outfit already - something simple. I'm in no hurry to choose my outfit. I'm thinking something white and angelic :) No harm in looking the part. Don't be shocked when your loved ones use humour to talk about their cancer - it helps us overcome our fears.
As much as I use humour to talk about my cancer, I no longer use the expressions - drop dead gorgeous, I'm dying to know, this chocolate is to die for, I'm dying to go on holiday, whatever.
I'd like to dedicate A Taste Of Yellow 2008 to my friend Augusta . A remarkable woman with a great sense of humour, she enjoyed whiskey, Scotch Finger biscuits, good cheese and semillon wine.
Because there were so many entries I have split it into two posts. There will be a link to the second part at the end of this post. I'd like to thank everyone who participated in LiveSTRONG With A Taste Of Yellow 2008. The following is in no particular order apart from entries with the wristband being featured first.
Lynn in Augusta Gorgia at Cafe Lynnylu persuaded her husband Alex to pose for her entry in the photo competition. I'm sure he was rewarded with the bowl of this delicious Lemon Ice Cream with Lemon Curd Swirl.
Some days I achieve very little (apart from a lot of laughter) when I spend far too much time on line chatting with Bron Marshall back in New Zealand. This Yellow Patty Pan Squash with Lemon and Currant Quinoa is just one of her many brilliant creations.
Bev at Yummy In My Tummy in Kortenaken, Belgium made Lemon and Ginger Muffins in honour of her grandfather . Her handsome, smiling grandfather lost his battle with cancer only four years ago when he was just 68 years of age.
Laurie from Astoria, New York with the delightful blog name Heaven is Chocolate, Cheese and Carbs has made these Sunny Caramel Cupcakes decoareted with yellow and white fondant.
Chris at Mele Cotte runs another cancer themed event Cooking To Combat Cancer. She honours her gran who lost her battle with pancreatic cancer with a Mango Pepper Salsa.
If Helene that lovely French Tartelette in the US comes to visit me I would hope she would pack her suitcase full of macarons. She makes the most delicious sounding (and looking) ones I've ever seen. Today she serves them in her Tropical Fruit Verrine with Peach Macarons. How good does that sound!
Kalyn you all know from Kalyn's Kitchen in Salt Lake City said this about her Chipotle-Lime Deviled Eggs - these deviled eggs were so good, I ate the ones in the photo before the pictures had even loaded into my computer. She had me craving deviled eggs when I read the post.
I decided to put these two dishes together as they both involve eggs but are totally different, which is the beauty of food blogging. I love how we see things differently and share our ideas. These Ouefs Mayonnaise are a favourite of Fred's and after previous mayonnaise attempts everything finally came together and Sam at Becks and Posh in San Francisco was happy with her home made mayonnaise.
Recently I've been on a similar cooking wave length to ChichaJo at 80 Breakfasts in Manila in the Philippines. We both made labnah the same week and there I was eating a bowl of semolina when her Semolina Porridge popped up for A Taste Of Yellow.
Arfi at HomeMadeS in Auckland New Zealand contributed two entries. She had some time to herself while her little ones were visiting their Grandmother so she whipped up this wonderful Banana and Coconut Pudding.
Tami at Running With Tweezers in Atlanta Gorgia contributes a Tangy Tarragon Vinaigrette to serve with Yellow Tomatoes.
Lori at Lip Smacking Goodness honours an aunt and her mother in law lost to cancer and celebrates those who have triumphed with this recipe for Mini Passionfruit Cheese Cake with Passionfruit Curd.
Bron Marshall couldn't resist a second entry and as it is the end of summer in New Zealand corn is everywhere. I often bought it from road side stalls when driving on the outskirts of Auckland. Bron served the family a snack of Yellow Grilled Corn with Chilli Butter.
My favourite Cream Puff in Canada, Ivonne at Cream Puffs in Venice is another blogger touched by cancer with the loss of her father in 2001. Thank you Ivonne for finding the time to participate with another fabulous cake. This year she lays a little yellow on us with a Lemon-Lime Cocounut and Macadamia Nut Cake.
A healthy and colourful Corn Salad from the sweet Paz at The Cooking Adventures Of Paz. I get to enjoy the streets of New York through Paz's weekly photos.
Tammy at Wee Treats By Tammy in Auckland dedicated her recipe from Cuisine for Lemon Rice Pudding With Cinnamon Ice Cream to her aunt undergoing chemo at the moment.
Jennifer at Use Real Butter in Nederland Colorado has kicked cancer's ass. To make these Lemon Petit Fours despite currently undergoing chemo shows her strength of character.
Ilva from Sweden now lives in Tuscany, Italy and daily shares her impressions of Italy with her photos at Lucullian Delights. She shares her recipe for Saffron and Carrot Cupcakes With Cardamom and Pinenuts.
Arundathi at My Food Blog in Chennai, India contributes with an intriguing recipe for Lemon Rice.
This fabulous looking Lemon Layer Cake is from Karen at Do Better in the San Francisco Bay Area.
From Bristol in the UK, Sam's Mum Chris at Ms Cellania shared her delicious Lemon Curd last year. This year she has gone savoury with a delicious Kedgeree.
From the family comments at the bottom of the post at Bake at 350 I can see Bridget's Mom Gayle was special and much loved. Bridget from Spring Texas made Rose Sugar Cookies in tribute to her mother.
In New Zealand Morven at Food Art and Random Thoughts dedicates her recipe for Sicilian Peppers to friends and family touched by cancer.
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