Many people like to have a beer or other alcoholic beverage when socializing or relaxing. Consuming too much alcohol can certainly be unhealthy and lead to many types of problems. But research shows that consuming as little as one glass of red wine a day can actually have a whole host of positive effects on the body.

Image: sxc.hu

As long as you remember to keep your wine consumption within moderation, you may be protecting your body from certain cancers and heart disease. Studies have linked red wines, especially those of French origin, to a lower incidence of heart attacks among those who regularly imbibe. This is thought to have to do with the greater amount of antioxidants present in red wine, compared to the amount present in other wines.

If you think wine is too light or “girly” for you, think again. It’s sophisticated, hearty and quite tasty, if you pick the right one. Plus wine bars are fantastic places to pick up women. These bars have some of the best European and local wines. The atmosphere is normally very relaxing. You can kick back, socialize, and have a glass of wine or two, while enjoying appetizers and the company of fine women. Most wine bars offer wine by the glass or the bottle and have 100s of choices. So next time, you are headed out, definitely consider a wine bar.

In terms of alcohol consumption, always keep in mind the negative aspects on your health. Empty calories combined with a lack of physical activity can lead to weight gain, which has a negative effect on the heart. For this reason, it is important to balance red wine consumption with proper exercise (not at the same time, of course) in order to reap the benefits of both worlds. And always remember, don’t drink and drive.

Other interesting reading:

• Cocktails & Spirits
• Men’s Health

Post from: EveryJoe

Have a Glass of Wine

In the past, I’ve made red wine braised pot roast and it was amazing. The only problem was that I couldn’t remember what brand of wine I used. During our weekly grocery trip, I found myself walking up and down the wine and beer aisle at Target looking for something that appealed to me and something that I thought would work with what I was making.

3 Blind Moose

Two things to know about me when it comes to how I select a bottle of wine to try.

#1 The label had better be fantastic. The old adage that you can’t judge a book by it’s cover is complete crap and everyone knows it. People make snap decisions all of the time based solely on how something [or someone] is presented and I’m a glutton for good design.

#2 I know next to nothing about how wine is “supposed” to taste. I’m pretty much uneducated [though I'm working on that] when it comes to wines and if something tastes good to me then I go with it. I drink what I like…though I am trying to get away from the wino wines.

So, I knew that I needed “a red” for my pot roast and when I spotted a bright yellow label, I stopped and gave it a second look. How can you beat three moose [meese?] drinking? Answer:you can’t. The wine wasn’t expensive [less than $10] and I figured that even if it sucked that I wasn’t out much money so I gave it a try.

I knew going into it that I’m not a lover of dry wines and that red wine kind of makes my tounge feel “furry”. I took my first sip of 3 Blind Moose’s Cabernet Sauvignon and turned up my nose. I couldn’t help myself! The only “red wine” that I’ve ever liked was actually Port and that stuff is like drinking awesome grape juice that gives you a heck of a buzz. I willed myself to take a second drink since I was pretty much sure that I had biased myself into believing that I wasn’t going to like it. That second sip turned into me finishing the bottle. Now before you roll your eyes at me, I didn’t drink the entire bottle in one sitting-it was over two days.

I’ve got to say that it grew on me and I would definitely buy another bottle. In fact, I now find myself without any wine for my roast so I guess it’s back to Target tomorrow.

Bottom line: great cheap wine that isn’t scary and tastes pretty darn good-even to a wine novice like me.

Post from: EveryJoe

3 Blind Moose’s Cabernet Sauvignon Review

Anyway, I was as skeptical of the Vinturi as I was about the Reidel when I first heard about the concept. And then… I poured tonight’s Cline Syrah into my glass without using the Vinturi. My first instinct was to re-pour the wine. Then I realized this would be a good test.  

I A/B’d the wine. I tasted it, and … it was… closed. All wrapped around itself. It was … fine, but not good. So, I took a second glass and ran the wine through the Vinturi. The next sip was as though I were tasting a completely different wine all together. I was actually kinda stunned. This was a wine I’d expected would have sat in a premium decanter for the day. Or at least a couple of hours. It’s that different. 

So, what makes a Vinturi that much different? And how, exactly, does that little sucker work? Apparently, through math. 

This is the equation that the Vinturi site offers as part of the how it works section:

Yeah, I know. What? When I drink my wine, that up there is not what I’m thinking about. Just sayin’. But what does all that math mumbo-jumbo mean?? (there’s a reason I went into PR and writing people)

Well, according to Vinturi, all that P+ 1/2 – 3 stuff means that your wine has:

BETTER BOUQUET
Sample the nose. You’ll appreciate the subtle aromatic differences and the full aroma of the wine. Vinturi allows wine to display its intended aromas.

ENHANCED FLAVORS
Go ahead, take a sip. Vinturi’s wine tastes better. It is more flavorful and has better mouthfeel. It tastes like a richer, more expensive wine. It tastes like it was intended to and is more enjoyable.

SMOOTHER FINISH
Ahh. Vinturi’s aeration is very effective at softening tannins which results in a much more pleasant finish. Any bitterness or bad aftertaste is reduced or eliminated. [source]

Now, again, I thought this was all marketing hype. I’m a recovering PR girl. I know from hype, and yet… this is actually true, once you’ve tried the product. It really does do all those things. Blows my mind a little.

If you’re a wine lover, and you don’t yet have a decanter, or, you’ve got one but you don’t always want to decant the entire bottle, go buy a Vinturi. Seriously. These rock. If I, the most skeptical chick on the planet, can be convinced, you will too. 

(images courtesy of Vinturi)

Post from: EveryJoe

Gadgets: The Vinturi

Hellbent Wine is a new Australian Shiraz Cabernet created by Whitefish Group and winemaker Kevin O’Brien of Kangarilla Road Winery.

I have to say that for a $17 bottle of wine, Hellbent is damn good. The grapes are from the Southern Fleurieu region, and give it a rich red color and a signature blackberry and spice flavor. The nose is gorgeous and reminds me of a rich fruity jam.

I may have just found a new favourite red wine!  For more information on Hellbent wine, see the Whitefish Group (distributors and co-creators) site.

(image source: Whitefish Group)

Post from: EveryJoe

Hellbent Wine Launches

While I’m getting my images processed and posts written, I came across something that I just had to share. There’s a team of (young) students at Rice University in Texas who are trying to create a beer that mimics some of the properties that make red wine the boon to health that it is.

They’re attempting to grow a yeast with the anti-aging chemical found in red wines, called resveratrol, during fermentation, and then use that to make their “BioBeer“.  Resveratrol is already found in low levels in hops, and the boys and girls (undergrads – some of them are not even legally allowed to try their creation!) are simply trying to magnify that.

Resveratrol is mainly found in red wine, (in the skins of grapes, which are left on to make red wine) and also in small quantities in some berries and peanuts.

The team has engineered yeasts to produce resveratrol, and they’re about to brew their first batch of BioBeer. This particular chemical in yeast is susceptible to oxygen and light, and so beer, the students reason, is one of the best carrier liquids for the chemical.

The BioBeer project is an entry in the International Genetically Engineered Machine (iGEM) competition being held this weekend in Cambridge, MA. The event showcases student work in the field of synthetic biology.

Sounds complicated to me, but hey – if anyone can make beer good for you, sounds like it’ll be these guys. (Image Source: (CC) Rice University BioBeer Project)

Post from: EveryJoe

Beer, that’s good for you?

From a good friend of mine comes the following recipe:

Bottle of red wine
1 1/4 cups blackberry brandy
1/4 cup lemon juice
1/3 cup frozen lemonade concentrate
1 orange, cut in pieces
1 apple, cut in pieces
1/4 cup cherries halves (Optional. I use a cherry pitter to take the pits out.)
1 tablespoon of sugar
1 cup diet sprite (you can use regular if you want)

Mix in a large jug. Stick in the fridge for a few days and enjoy. If you make this today, you’ll have a gorgeous sangria to sip on Sunday!

Post from: EveryJoe

Summer Sangria