Wine Sex, Beauty in the Bottle - Wine & Well-Being

Wine and Health: the People Factor

nospam@example.com (Sondra Barrett) — Thu, 04 Jan 2007 08:44:34 -0800

There's been lots of news on resveratrol in red wine that influences our health. Hooray for the grape! Of course to reproduce the results in animals we'd need to drink an amount of wine that would kill us. The reported health potential includes delaying or preventing "Oldtimers," lowering our risks for heart disease and cancer, and it's said to even make women's memory better.

Incredible BUT and..... are the health benefits only due to the molecules in wine? Could it possibly be the social situations in which we share wine that contribute to our well-being?

My idea about wine's contribution to health is that the community aspect is a major component. To explain the difference between French and American health we might just consider the social situations around meals, drink, and relaxation.

To add to my learning, when do you drink wine, is it usually alone or with other people?

Happy new year and may this be a vintage year for all of us.

BIODYNAMICS

nospam@example.com (Sondra Barrett) — Wed, 16 Aug 2006 11:13:20 -0700

Biodynamic wine is a controversial yet ever-growing approach to viticulture. Top winemakers are not only experimenting with these labor-intensive practices, more and more are embracing them 100%. Biodynamic, at its most essential, is SUSTAINABLE VITICULTURE. Pioneering biodynamics in California are Benziger, Grgich, Sinskey, Bonnie Doon, Quintessa, a slew in Mendocino - Jeriko, Pattiano, the whole Fetzer family. You can see these are respected producers of fine wines. Of course, in France and Germany another huge round of excellent wines are made biodynamically. Nicolas Joly, pioneer of modern BD viticulture of the Coulee de Serrant, produces highly esteemed wines. Read his "Wine from Sky to Earth" if you want to learn more.

I will explore Biodynamics in this blog and welcome feedback from any of you who have explored these and organic wines.

This is an image of GRGICH HILLS' first 100% biodynamic cabernet - a barrel sample 3 months old. PRESS the lovely image to learn more about BD viticulture which is ORGANIC PLUS sacred cosmic forces.

The Heart of Wine Drinking

nospam@example.com (Sondra Barrett) — Tue, 08 Aug 2006 21:49:20 -0700

Have you ever noticed that we are more likely to drink wine with friends, and maybe a beer when we're alone?

Well, it could be that wine's contribution to our heart health is because we share wine with friends... In the new medicine of bodymind health scientists are discovering the common sense of people everywhere, that being with supportive people, sharing some of life gives us a merry heart, and perhaps helps keep the cholesterol down.

Next time you toast, toasting friendship and the grape, Salud!

This is a "Heartful" wine - Quintessa 2001 - a Bordeaux Blend from Napa valley. It was the first heart within wine I had ever seen through the microscope. Quintessa adds heart to their wines since they grow their vineyards biodynamically, adding spirit to the spirits. Quintessa wines