BEER . . . IT’S NOT FOR BREAKFAST ANY MORE
It’s not just Homer Simpson who considers beer to be food. Lagers, ales, and pilsners were long considered “food” by the Russian government, but thanks to a new rule that went into effect on January 1, beer is going to be more difficult to come by. The story has more... Read More
BEER TREND TO WATCH: NANO-BREWING
For the last few years craft brewing has been the darling of the beer industry. One of the traits that sets a craft brewer apart is the micro element; creating quality brews while staying small. But now there’s an even smaller segment growing within the craft industry: nano-breweries. Growing demand... Read More
THE BEER DID IT
Talk about a lack of personal responsibility. Five inmates in Idaho are suing several beer companies, claiming the companies didn’t warn them alcohol could be addictive and they never would have ended up in jail if it wasn’t for alcohol. In December, inmate Keith Allen Brown along with 4 co-plaintiffs,... Read More
NO 2012 FOR CHATEAU D’YQUEM
Sad news for Sauternes lovers: Chateau d’Yquem will not be producing a 2012 vintage after harvest rain prevented the grapes from reaching the levels of concentration required to make the world’s most famous sweet wine. Pierre Lurton, who runs the celebrated estate behind the Sauternes wine for its main shareholder... Read More
MAGICAL MICROBES AND FUNKY FUNGUS
This takes wine geekiness to a whole new level. While it’s common knowledge that vintage, type of grape and terroir all play a role in affecting the taste of a wine, scientists have found that the type of yeast variety present on the grapes may play a role as well.... Read More
CRACKING THE CASE OF THE SPILLED WINE
This takes being a disgruntled employee to a whole new level. Police in Tuscany have arrested a man on suspicion of breaking into the cellar of a producer of a rare and costly red wine and pouring 8O,OOO bottles’ worth on the floor. Talk about a heartbreaking act of vandalism! ... Read More
MORELLINO di SCANSANO – ANOTHER TASTY TUSCAN
Tuscany is most generous in sharing its treasures. Some come in bottles. I’d like to call attention to one of its less familiar, more affordable wines, Morellino di Scansano – sangiovese informed, grown in the region’s southwest bordering the Tyrrhenian Sea. We’ve not heard much about this portion of the... Read More
OREGON CHARDONNAY
0regon’s wine reputation rests squarely on the high quality of Willamette Valley Pinot Noir. The state’s Pinot Gris has also hit the radar screen of many wine lovers. Yet, even after a few decades of consistently outstanding production, 0regon Chardonnay remains an untold story outside of its region. Invisible though... Read More
THE SKINNY ON ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION
Looking to shed some weight in this New Year? Here’s an additional incentive. A new study has found that moderate alcohol consumption may only be beneficial for your heart if you are thin. Scientists at Australia’s Curtin University have discovered that if you are overweight, rather than boosting your heart’s... Read More
LIFE-SAVING LIQUOR, FOR HUMANS AND ANIMALS
When it comes to unique life-saving techniques, the use of alcohol does not typically come to mind. But when Ronald Aldom from Portishead, England developed ventricular tachychardia (an unusual heart rhythm) doctors decided to treat it a little unconventionally. Doctors gave a shot of neat alcohol, or pure ethanol, via... Read More