While hanging out with some of my favorite family members, “Buttercup” and “Bear”, I witessed some of the most intense wine smelling I’ve ever seen. Buttercup smelled strawberries and Bear smelled grapes in this Cabernet Sauvignon…. They’re on to something…
Hey Winos… I know you all are in need of another reason to drink wine. So I’m here for you… to give you another excuse…. errr… reason.
This morning, my ears perked up while I was listening to NPR’s Morning Edition. Yet another study has come out noting the positive effects of moderate alcohol consumption and bone density. Non-drinkers and heavy drinkers had less bone mineral density versus “moderate” drinkers who had a glass or two of wine per night. This new study was specific to women in their 50s and 60s, when “resorption” (which is the process by which “bits of bone are dissolved and new bone formed”) increases due to menopause (or those pesky hormonal changes involved with menopause anyway). The study showed that when the women stopped drinking wine each night, their bone resorption increased compared to when they had a glass of wine each night.
So basically, a glass or two of wine per night led to a slower turnover rate of the bone. Why is that important? Well, because it can help prevent bone fractures. And let’s face it. No one wants a bone fracture.
Read the whole story (link below) – NPR explains it far better than I have. But really, I just wanted to make a point – drinking wine is not only fun… it is proven (again and again) to be healthy! (At least for the 50 and 60 year old women out there!)
NPR Article: Nightly Glass of Wine May Protect Boomer Women’s Bones
Did you wine know that one vine produces between four and six bottles of wine per year?? That equates to about 20-30 glasses of wine…. total (per year).
All the sudden it makes a lot of sense why a single vineyard keeps so many vines!! And I’m going to rethink planting the single vine in my very small yard.
This weekend marked a milestone for my family… my Dad officially entered “retired” status as of Saturday… a change that will allow his impressive energy level to be dedicated to other lovely life activities… like boozing on sparkling wine on a Saturday afternoon. And that’s exactly what we did to celebrate his new life “status”. Seriously, is there a better way to spend your first Saturday of retirement!?!
Divine Wine of the Week: Zardetto Prosecco, Conegliano, Veneto, Italia
Zardetto Prosecco
Price Range: $12.99 at Total Wine
Wino Assessment: I am admittedly a bad judge of sparkling wine. I like them all! And I struggle to find the differences in taste… so my Wino Assessment is going to be lackluster at best. It is a dry sparkling wine, but not bitter – it hint of a honey like sweetness to it that balances the dryness nicely.
The (Sparkling) Wine:
Zardetto Winery says of its Proseccos: “Simple, fragrant and light, they are at the heart of happy get-togethers and are perfect as an aperitif.” (I must agree!)
Total Wine says: “Crisp, Pear, Dry, Light-bodied”
Wine Advocate says: “One of the finest widely available Proseccos in the marketplace, this fresh, lively wine exhibits notions of orange rind, brioche, and honeyed grapefruit. Light-bodied, effervescent, and packing plenty of flavor in its delicate personality.”
I presume you are already grabbing your keys to run out and grab a bottle of this enjoyable bubbly, given all these great descriptions!
The Bite:
So what to munch on while enjoying this Prosecco? Since sparkling wine is normally enjoyed as an aperitif, these pairing suggestions are in the nature of appetizers/small bites. Most lighter bodied Proseccos, like this one, go well with salty foods like prosciutto or smoked salmon. You might even consider enjoying this with a bit of sushi (which seems counterintuitive to me, but now that I’ve had the wine, I wish I would have had it with sushi!). If you’re looking for a lighter snack, try it with some a little bowl of mixed nuts!
May we all celebrate the little things and the big things in life with a delightful bottle of bubbly! And many congrats to my Dad and looking forward to sharing many more bottles of bubbly with this new retiree!
Source: Source for all wine know (particularly with The Bite section) is What to Drink with What You Eat.
Happy Fourth of July, Winos!! W2WK offers you this little wine fun fact regarding wine and America…
Did you wine know…
In 1562, the French Huguenots arrived in Jacksonville, Florida and made America’s first known wines from the native variety of the Muscadine grape called Scuppernong.
Wow… to think I lived in Jacksonville for several years and never knew that (a) it was the birthplace of America’s wines, and (b) “scuppernong” is a word. It’s a word that I’m happy to now have in my vocabulary.
Scuppernong
(Courtesy of ncagr.gov)
Wine Fun Fact Source: Vintage America: A Brief History of Wine in America
Did you Winos ever see that movie, Sideways? It’s about two dudes taking a road trip into wine country as a sort of bachelor party for one of them. The other is a bit of a Wino (or perhaps a Wine Know). And throughout the movie he talks about his dislike of Merlot. Because the movie had a sort of cult following, it actually did make an impact on the wine industry due to less popularity with Merlot purchases. Oh Hollywood… you ARE powerful after all.
Anyway, I admit that this Wino is just returning to Merlot drinking after seeing that film. And yes, I am embarrassed to admit that. But I’m here to say publicly that I have reopened my taste buds to Merlot and, so far, have very much enjoyed them! So today’s Divine Wine is a personal celebration of Merlot and one that I think you Winos will enjoy as well!
The Velvet Devil Merlot
Divine Wine of the Week: The Velvet Devil 2009, Charles Smith Winery, Walla Walla, Washington
Price Range: $12 from the winery, $9.99 at Fry’s Food
Wino Assessment: Ok, so this will sound a little cheesy. But I swear upon trying this wine, I truly understood what it meant when someone described a wine as “velvety”. It is literally a soft smoothness to the wine that quite frankly tastes like you’re drinking liquid velvet. This wine is obviously smooth, and while it has some fruity flavors (I’d say a hint of strawberry), it also maintains a nice – but not overwhelming – dryness. I suppose the “devilish” part about this wine is that you just want to guzzle it.
The Wine:
You might recognize the style of this wine label due to a previous Charles Smith Divine Wine of the Week on W2WK – Kung Fu Girl Riesling. I have tried a couple of this winery’s other wines as well, and have been more than delighted by all of them! This is what Charles Smith says about The Velvet Devil:
“PURE VELVET! Milk chocolate, wild blackberry, baking spice, rose oil…beautifully perfumed Washington in a glass….Velvet Devil? HELL YEAH!”
I kinda wish all wine descriptions were as exciting as this one. Obviously, I agree – it IS pure velvet!
The Bite:
Merlot has a lot of tannins which gives the wine a bit of a bite (among other characteristics that give the wine “structure”). But because it is rather hearty, Merlot goes well with hearty dishes such as lamb or beef tenderloin. For my veggie Winos, try some Merlot with your next eggplant parmesan or portabello burger. You will enjoy!
Wino to Wine Know 