Wine tasting for an Afternoon Getaway

My wife and I and our close friends recently discovered wine tasting. We had not thought to spend a day touring the many vineyards that surround our home town. Recently, however, when some friends came in from out of town and suggested that they might like to go wine tasting we made the arrangements and set off for a day of unknown adventure. I enjoy an occasional glass of wine, but I had no idea how educational it would be to tour vineyards and get to taste a variety of wines. I quickly discovered during our day of wine tasting that my preferences in wine had been set only out of my ignorance. I found that the more kinds of wine I tried, the more refined my taste became and the more particular I became about what I wanted in other future wines. I had no idea one could become picky because of wine tasting, but I definitely did. In fact, each of the six of us that went wine tasting that day came out with new favorites and new least favorites. One of the things I liked most about going wine tasting was what a unique and enjoyable way it was to pass an afternoon. Typically we spend time with our friends fishing or lounging near one of the local lakes. Taking them wine tasting felt like a refreshing change of pace. I'd encourage anyone living near a vineyard or two to plan a visit with some of their friends or family. Wine tasting truly was an experience that I will never forget and that I doubt will be matched as my wife and I try to host guests in the future. Another great thing about wine tasting is that it is completely relaxing. One of the things I dislike most about about entertaining others is the level of stress that seems to inevitably follow. There is nothing worse than running around trying to clean your house, cook great food, and come up with great activities as well. Going wine tasting allowed my wife and I to be completely stress free and just enjoy time and good conversation with our friends. Each of the vineyards we visited on our wine tasting tour was absolutely beautiful. We walked away from each vineyard with new knowledge about wine, about wineries, and about the lovely area we call home. It was so fun to be able to learn new things as we enjoyed a leisurely afternoon. If you're looking for a great and relaxing way to spend an afternoon with friends or family, look no further than to a wine tasting tour at vineyards near you.

Resveratrol vindicated for anti-aging benefits and prevention of heart disease

So red wine is good for you.  Who knew?  We did!

Resveratrol vindicated for anti-aging benefits and prevention of heart disease

(NaturalNews) Resveratrol has been a popular buzz word around the alternative health community for more than a decade, touted for its anti-aging properties and potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory actions at the cellular level. Found in high concentrations most commonly in the skin of red grapes and in many red wines, resveratrol is thought to mimic the positive health benefits associated with calorie restriction by up-regulating longevity genes known as SIRT's.

Scientists from the Harvard Medical School have published the result of their work in the journal, Cell Biology that demonstrates how resveratrol provides metabolic benefits as a result of directly influencing the expression of genes that affect longevity. This research confirms conclusively for the first time that the metabolic benefits of the red wine ingredient disappear in mice that lack the famed longevity gene SIRT1.

Resveratrol directly influences genetic expression to increase lifespan

Resveratrol, commonly referred to as a 'dirty molecule', has gained notoriety for its unique ability to influence or alter the genetic expression of the SIRT family of longevity genes. Researchers have discovered that the naturally occurring ingredient has other effects; it influences dozens of other proteins critical to essential metabolic functions, and some evidence had pointed to the importance of another well-known gene (called AMPK) for resveratrol's cellular benefits.

Researchers using a mouse model determined that resveratrol did not affect a group of mice that were genetically bred to 'knock-out' the SIRT gene (mice are commonly used for this type of study as they exhibit similar metabolic traits with humans). This confirmed that the grape-derived compound directly alters longevity expression in a dose dependent manner. Higher concentrations of resveratrol were found to increase the degree of genetic influence exhibited by resveratrol supplementation.

Resveratrol lowers systemic inflammation to lower heart disease risk

Further evidence documenting the importance of resveratrol to human health is provided by researchers publishing in the American Journal of Cardiology. Scientists found that cardiac patients supplemented for a period of one year with the red nutrient lowered multiple markers of inflammation (including CRP, C-reactive protein) by 26 percent, as well as reduced clotting factors associated with stroke. The researchers for this study used low doses of resveratrol (8 mg for the first six months and 16 mg for the next six months) to achieve these results.

A vocal group of naysayers constantly degrade the ever-growing evidence to support the importance of resveratrol to human well-being. There is little left to dispute, as researchers are regularly demonstrating that small amounts of resveratrol taken from diet or supplementation can benefit overall wellness and cardiovascular diseases by lowering levels of inflammation, providing antioxidant support and directly altering genetic expression to extend our healthy lifespan.

Sources for this article include:

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cmet.2012.04.003
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120501134209.htm
http://www.wellnessresources.com
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22520621

About the author:
John Phillip is a Certified Nutritional Consultant and Health Researcher and Author who writes regularly on the cutting edge use of diet, lifestyle modifications and targeted supplementation to enhance and improve the quality and length of life. John is the author of 'Your Healthy Weight Loss Plan', a comprehensive EBook explaining how to use Diet, Exercise, Mind and Targeted Supplementation to achieve your weight loss goal. Visit My Optimal Health Resource to continue reading the latest health news updates, and to download your Free 48 page copy of 'Your Healthy Weight Loss Plan'.

Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/035805_resveratrol_anti-aging_heart_disease.html#ixzz2Hgw0yTJn

A Few Quick Food and White Wine Ideas

Okay--the Holidays have come and gone, and needless to say, you’re tired of turkey, ham or roast beef, green bean casserole, crackers and cheese, chips and dip, and in-laws.  Plus, you may be watching your diet after a couple of weeks of well-deserved indulgence. So here are some quick and easy food ideas that keep calories in check but are still yummy and are a nice change of pace to boot.  If you’re really trying to watch the calories, try to keep the wine to only one glass a day, and not too late at night.  The reason for this is that wine contains alcohol which will metabolize into sugar and
slow your body’s ability to burn calories.  Of course you can always forget the wine but just remember you might not enjoy your meal as much!

Variety is the spice of life, as they say, so I hope you enjoy these recipes and use them for meal ideas. As you know if you're reading this blog, there can be many befits to adding wine to your meal, and it can enhance your dining experience with the proper food matching.

Tuna Salad Sandwich Recipe

1 can of tuna fish usually packed water or oil
1/3 cup of cottage cheese
2 Tablespoons of mayonnaise
1/4 purple onion, chopped finely
1 celery stalk, chopped finely
1 Tablespoon of capers
Juice of half of a lemon
Pinch or two of dill
2 Tbsp minced fresh parsley
1 teaspoon of Dijon mustard

Mix all of the ingredients. Be sure not to drain the water or oil from the can of tuna. Use it instead in the tuna salad mixture. I like to serve on toast, either open faced, or in a regular sandwich with lettuce and tomatoes and pickles. For a low-carb option, serve on sliced lettuce. You can server this along with vegetables or cottage cheese.  For wine Sauvignon Blanc or Chenin Blanc other wine that you might like.

Shrimp with Avocado Salad

1/4 cup of white wine vinegar
1/4 cup grape-seeds oil
3 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 lb medium shrimp, cooked, peeled, and de-veined
2 ripe avocados
Lettuce - preferably butter lettuce or red leaf lettuce
Lemon slices for garnish
As and Option - 2 Tbsp chopped roasted walnuts or pistachios
1 Tbsp chopped cilantro

Combine oil, vinegar, and garlic in a bowl. Chop shrimp into 1/2 inch pieces and add to oil mixture. Arrange leaves of lettuce on individual plates. Cut avocados in half and remove pits. Remove some of the avocado around the pit area and mix in with the shrimp. With a spoon, carefully scoop out avocado halves from their skins in one piece. Place avocado half on plate with lettuce, spoon shrimp mixture on to avocado. Sprinkle with walnuts and cilantro (optional). Serve with lemon slices for garnish. You can server this along with vegetables or cottage cheese. For wine Sauvignon Blanc or Chenin Blanc or you choice of wine.

Spanish Rice with Chicken

2 tablespoons olive oil (can use up to 1/4 cup)
1 onion, chopped fine
1 garlic clove, minced
2 cups of medium or long-grain white rice
3 cups of chicken or vegetable stock if vegetarian
1 heaping tablespoon tomato paste or 1 cup of diced fresh or cooked tomatoes, strained
Pinch of oregano
1 teaspoon salt
2 pounds of chicken which can be grilled or fried and cut in to slices or chucks and added along side the rice or mix with rice as it simmers. This is a nice addition along with the rice and can be mixed in once the rice has been cooked as well.

In a large skillet brown rice in olive oil, medium-high heat the add onion and garlic. Cook onion rice mixture, stirring frequently, about 5 minutes, or until onions are softened.

In a separate sauce pan bring stock to a simmer. Add tomato sauce, oregano, and salt. Add rice to broth. Bring to a simmer. Cover. Lower heat and cook 15-20 minutes, depending on the type of rice and the instructions on the rice package and let sit for 5 minutes. For wine Chenin Blanc or maybe Gewürztraminer again depending on your taste for wines.


To further enhance any meal, enjoy it with a good wine and a better friend!

What's So Special About Ice Wine?

Although there are several types of wine that you buy, one of the most unheard of is ice wine. Ice wine is a very rare form of wine, a wine that is produced under certain types of weather conditions. Ice wine is mainly produced in the Pacific Northwest region, where the weather conditions are right for the wine.

As ironic as it is, ice wine is produced in very small quantities. With the wine requiring only the finest of quality and a lack of availability, the product is extremely rare indeed. Truth be told, there are only a lucky few who are actually able to purchase the wine. Ice wine, due to the scarce amount, can be extremely expensive, but there are some out there that are reasonably priced, relatively speaking.

Much like the beauty of owning a diamond, ice wine is something that many of us hope and dream to experience at some point in our lives. Although the materials are rare, the weather conditions are even more crucial to producing this wine. Once the right weather conditions arrive, the wine maker prepares to produce this extremely rare and priceless wine.

The basic requirements needed to produce ice wine are fully ripened grapes and a temperature of around 5 degrees C. The temperature needs to stay that way for several days, so that the wine maker can complete the process of making the wine. Grapes that are frozen during these extremely cold temperatures are hand plucked at night by the wine maker and his assistants.

To produce a bottle of ice wine, full vine grapes may be required. Once the grapes have been collected, they are gently pressed, in order to collect the running juice only. The temperature creates the frozen water crystals, which are fermented along with sugars and the particles that are found in the free running juices. Through this process, the wonderful and rare ice wine is created.

If you have been looking to try ice wine, finding it may be very difficult. As you probably already know, most alcohol and wine stores don’t sell this rare wine. Finding it online is very hard to do as well, unless you catch it at the right time. Even then, if you are able to find it, it can easily cost you hundreds of thousands of dollars for a single bottle.

The best way to experience ice wine is to find the right wine maker in the Pacific Northwest region. Even though bottles go extremely fast once they have been made, you may be able to catch a wine maker with some on hand. Be prepared to spend a hefty amount though. Although it can cost a lot and be extremely hard to find - the taste of ice wine makes it well worth the effort.