America's Top Wine Seller

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Costco's Wine Buyer Doesn't Think Wine Is Different Than Toilet Paper -- Eater

The most powerful wine buyer in the world, Costco's lead wine buyer Annette Alvarez-Peters doesn't understand why wine is any different than toilet paper. Last night CNBC ran a special called "The Costco Craze: Inside The Warehouse Giant," which featured Alvarez-Peters in what might as well have been a six-minute segment on wine ignorance. Here's a preview:

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My Comment: I do not buy my wine from Costco.

A Father's Day Gift From Remy Martin XO

Remy Martin XO and Thomas Lyte Gift Set for Father's Day

Remy Martin XO and Thomas Lyte Gift Set for Father’s Day -- Extra Vaganzi

Here is a chance to express your gratitude and respect to that special man for all the unconditional love and affection on Father’s Day (June 17th) – a day of commemoration and celebration dedicated to the extraordinary man in your life. Remy Martin XO , the French house’s Extra Old fine champagne cognac and Thomas Lyte, English luxury brand renowned for their leather goods and silver, have collaborated together and are launching a limited edition set ideal for Father’s Day Gift.

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My Comment: Nice gift set.

Wine Train Journeys

Napa Valley Wine Train, Hiram Bingham, More Incredible Train Journeys -- Daily Beast

A Champagne dinner aboard the Napa Valley Wine Train, fascinating history on the Venice Simplon Orient-Express—channel the golden age of travel aboard these amazing trains and more. Leigh Crandall offers a tour.

There is something timelessly glamorous about traveling by train. In a world where getting from Point A to Point B as quickly as possible is the goal, luxury rail travel has maintained the elegant features—porter service, bar cars, formal dining, extraordinary scenery, the opportunity for conversation with the other passengers (and occasional characters) aboard—that made getting there half the fun. From a few hours spent rolling through the vineyards of California wine country to a weeklong journey through Thailand, revisit the golden age of travel on seven trains worth hopping aboard.

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My Comment: Did the Napa valley Wine Train .... and yes .... it was worth it.

Take A Trip To A California Wine Ghetto

The Lompoc wine ghetto is a loose collection of wineries located in Lompoc, CA. You won't find rolling hills, lavish estates with acres of beautiful vines here. What you will find are warehouses that represent more than 20 local brands and world-class wine.

Bordeaux Wine Region Releases 2011 Vintage

Bordeaux, the world's largest fine wine region has just released its 2011 vintage. This follows two spectacular vintages in 2009 and 2010, which saw prices rise by as much 50% for some châteaux. WSJ's Will Lyons has been tasting the latest wines.

The Role Of Barrels In Changing The Aroma And Flavor Of Wine

Traditional bending and toasting at French barrel maker Taransaud. Taransaud-Stéphane Charbeau

Explaining The Aromas And Flavors Of Wine -- Wall Street Journal

Wine often reveals a cornucopia of flavors. Watching a connoisseur identify these may induce a few sniggers, but a fine wine can boast several competing aromas, all jostling for attention in the glass. These can range from fruit (apple, lychee and plum) and berry (blackberry, gooseberry), to floral (rose, violet) and plant (grass, tobacco), to spice (black pepper, licorice) or even vegetal (asparagus, green pepper).

One of the observations I hear most from those new to wine tasting is that they often detect aromas that are far removed from what they perceive a wine should taste like. If a red wine displays notes of coconut, grilled almonds, cloves, smoke, toast and sometimes bacon, they hesitate, not quite believing what they are smelling and certainly not trusting their own judgment. It is only when the expert identifies these flavors that they smile in recognition and agreement.

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My Comment: I concur with this analysis on the role of barrels in wine making .... which is why I find French oak barrels to produce most interesting smells/tastes .... but that is just my opinion.

Hong Kong Drinks The Most Wine In Asia

Hong Kong Drinks the Most Wine in Asia -- Wall Street Journal

Who’s the thirstiest in Asia? Hong Kongers, by a wide margin.

A new survey commissioned by French trade group Vinexpo and conducted by International Wine & Spirit Research showed that the average Hong Konger downed far more wine than anybody else on the continent. In 2010, the most recent year studied, a typical Hong Kong resident drank 4.7 liters of wine, the equivalent of 6.3 bottles. That figure is double the average consumption of Japan and Singapore and more than quadruple the 1.1 liters drunk per capita in China during the same period.

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My Comment: The Asian wine conventions and exhibitions are flocking to Hong Kong (see above video) .... the money and drinkers are there. But here is a prediction .... in a few years the focus will be on Shanghai and Chinese drinkers in China itself.

Is Bordeaux Wine Worth The Price?

Bordeaux Wine: Is It Worth The Money? -- The Telegraph

With the 2011 vintage decidedly average, and a grand name questioning the system, what is happening in Bordeaux?

This year, I learnt two new words while tasting in Bordeaux. The first was cramé (singed) which I picked up at Château Haut-Brion, where they were sighing over last June’s four-day heatwave – temperatures reached 40C (104F) and they lost 30 per cent of their cabernet sauvignon crop to sunburn. The second was échaudage, a more polite way of saying the same thing.

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My Comment: I agree with the last line in this article ....

.... Wine is like houses. Buy to drink, or for the sheer hell of it, not to invest, and you won’t be cramé.

Indeed.

French Wine Map Shows The Best Vintage, From 1978 To 2011

Interactive Graphic: French Wine Map Shows The Best Vintage, From 1978 To 2011 -- The Telegraph

Mayfair-based Berry Bros and Rudd, wine merchant to the Queen, has rated the wine from different regions of France out of ten for each year for decades. Browse by year to see the quality of each region's vintage, and click to see Berry Bros and Rudd's reviews.

Berry Bros and Rudd also suggest whether you should drink the wine now, or lay it down to mature in your cellar.

The quality of the wine each year depends on a number of factors, but the most important is the weather.

A sunny growing season, with occasional showers - particularly when the vines are in bud - is vital. Too much rain and the fruity "extract" in the wine will be diluted; too much sun and the grapes could be burnt.

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My Comment: An excellent graphic on French wines.

World’s Winemakers Are After Two Things: Moscato And China.

The Moscato grape is turning heads among winemakers around the globe. Agence France-Presse/Getty Images

What Winemakers Want: Moscato, China -- Wall Street Journal

These days, the world’s winemakers are after two things: Moscato and China.

The former is an in-demand grape varietal and the latter is a fast-growing market. And both have wine producers drunk on dreams of future riches.

“Moscato has captured everybody’s imagination,” said David Dearie, chief executive of Treasury Wine Estates Ltd., the Australian conglomerate that owns wine labels such as Penfolds and Wolf Blass. “It’s got great aromas, it’s slightly sweeter, it can be universal – made into white, red or sparkling. It’s lighter in alcohol. We want more of it.”

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My Comment: China ... I don't know. But Moscato wine/grapes are truly a joy to drink.

Wines Are Not Getting The Prices That They Got Last Year

A lot of six bottles from Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, each from a different year starting in 1996 to 2001, sold for HK$726,000 at a Christie’s auction last weekend. Christie’s

Young Wine Fails to Sell -- The Telegraph

The auction, held Saturday in Hong Kong, was only 74% sold, reflecting the choppy market for the world’s most coveted wines. Earlier in the month, Sotheby’s sold all of its wines at another Hong Kong event.

Christie’s results contrast with last year’s record-breaking sellout events, but these days, the market is fickle.

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My Comment: Money is tight this year .... expect future auctions to also disappoint.

Is Marijuana-Infused Wine The New High?

Marijuana-Infused Wine: The New High? -- This Week

Looking for a new way to get buzzed? You're in luck: California winemakers are livening up bottles of syrah and cabernet sauvignon by adding weed.

Travelers making their way through California's Central Coast may smell a pungent new aroma coming from their wineglasses — thanks to a little marijuana. What began as a novelty in the 1980s is becoming more commonplace as California winemakers look to ferment grapes with the sticky, THC-laden leaves. Here, a brief guide to the munchy-inducing trend:

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My Comment: Not for me.

Moroccan Wine Thrives in Face of Religious Bans, Sand Storms, And Heat

A map of Moroccan wine regions. Wine has been made in North Africa since ancient times, and today many regions of Morocco produce red, white and rose wines. Source: La Mamounia via Bloomberg

Moroccan Wine Thrives in Face of Religious Bans, Heat -- Bloomberg Businessweek

It’s easy enough to say “When in Rome drink as the Romans do,” but what’s a wine lover to do in Marrakesh?

For starters, Morocco is predominantly Muslim, and consumption of alcohol is forbidden in Islam, (though oddly enough, the word “alcohol” derives from the Arabic word “al-kohl”). Its production is allowed, and historically overseen by Christians and Jews.

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My Comment: I had some wine from Algeria a few years ago .... and it was delicious. I suspect that the wine from Morocco will be the same.

How Much Is That Bottle Of Wine Really Worth?

Wine: a massive confidence trick, that's basically what I'm saying

How Much Is That Bottle Of Wine Really Worth? -- Tom Chivers, The Telegraph

I'm not a wine expert. I enjoy it, but my expertise is limited to saying whether or not I like a given glass. All the heady-hints-of-pomegranate, redolent-of-a-misty-autumn-morning-in-Dijon, cheeky-zesty-little-number stuff is pretty much a closed book to me. Plus I prefer scotch, although again I can't get much more in-depth than "peaty" or "sweet".

I mention this because we reported the other day that the habit of selling wine "en primeur" has been ended by the famous Bordeaux winery Chateau Latour. What this means (I gather, from reading the news story rather than actually knowing anything myself) is that wine traders would buy it while it was still in the barrel, in bulk, and hold onto it in the hope that it would later become a great vintage. It's a sort of spread betting with wine: the vintners could confidently expect that some years' barrels will explode in value, with some bottles selling for thousands of pounds, thus easily covering any losses (or, more likely, lower profits) they might make on the more ordinary vintages.

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Don't Call It A Malbec

Malbec grapes. (Wikipedia)

Don't Call It A Malbec: Europe Sours On British Winery's Plan -- NPR

A British winemaker has finally been given official approval to release a limited-edition wine made in collaboration with Malbec grape growers in Argentina, on one condition: It can't sell the wine, or label it a Malbec. Actually, it can't even call it wine at all.

The Chapel Down winery's only option for getting rid of its wine is to give it away as a sample, calling it a "fruit-derived alcoholic beverage from produce sourced outside the EU."

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My Comment: I suspect the blend will be interesting.

Alaska Distillery Makes Hemp-Flavored Vodka

Alaska Distillery Makes Hemp-Flavored Vodka For "Pot Day" -- Reuters

(Reuters) - Fresh on liquor store shelves, in time for an unofficial holiday celebrating marijuana use, is a new vodka distilled in Alaska with hemp seed - but it won't give drinkers a pot-induced high.

Wasilla-based Alaska Distillery this week introduced "Purgatory," which it says is the world's only vodka distilled with the seed associated with the marijuana plant.

"For 4/20, it's a great alternative because it's legal," said Bella Coley, chief operating officer for the micro-distillery.

Among cannabis users, "420" is code for consumption of the drug, and April 20 is treated as a high holiday in the subculture.

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My Comment: A smart marketing gimmick.

Robert Mondavi Winery Summer Concert Series Kicks Off June 30

Robert Mondavi Winery Summer Concert Series Kicks Off June 30 -- Market Watch

Napa Valley Winery hosts five artists in festival's 43rd year.

OAKVILLE, Calif., Apr 19, 2012 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- In the spirit of Robert Mondavi's belief that wine, food and the arts are an essential part of American life, the 2012 Robert Mondavi Winery Summer Concert Series returns when O.A.R. takes the stage at the winery on June 30. Margrit Mondavi founded this annual concert series in 1969, quickly becoming an anticipated wine country tradition.

"With the goal of sharing our love for the arts with the local community, we couldn't imagine a better collection of artists to perform at this year's festival," says Carl Jaeger, Estate Director at Robert Mondavi Winery. "The diversity of acts coupled with the unique charities that will benefit from the concerts combines to bring evenings of world-class wine and entertainment, right here in our backyard."

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My Comment: Beautiful winery, beautiful wine, beautiful music .... I call that heaven.

Does Hyperdecanting Wine Work?

Photo: Shutterstock

Does Hyperdecanting Wine Work? -- Mopther Nature Network

Can a bottle of inexpensive red wine be improved by giving it a swirl in the blender?

Nathan Myhrvold, author of “Modernist Cuisine,” has introduced most of the wine world to hyperdecanting, a method of improving the quality of a freshly opened bottle of red wine by "torturing" it in a blender. When I read about the method, I knew I had to try it.

I just pour the wine in, frappé away at the highest power setting for 30 to 60 seconds, and then allow the froth to subside (which happens quickly) before serving.

Myhrvold recommends hyperdecanting in a blind taste test the first time, but I tortured my wine with eyes wide open, simply because you really can’t do this type of experiment blindly when you’re all by yourself.

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My Comment: This is an experiment that I will be trying in the next few days.

Price Of American Wine Is Set To Rise

Drink Up! Price Of American Wine Is Set To Rise -- MSNBC

Group predicts California vintages will see upturn first, then spreading through US supply.

NEW YORK — U.S. consumers are going to be faced with a choice this year: pay more for a bottle of domestic wine, settle for lower quality, or buy cheaper imports, the Silicon Valley Bank forecast on Tuesday.

SVB, a commercial banker to the wine industry, said in its latest "Annual State of the Wine Industry Report" that it expects vintners to raise prices as the supply of grapes declines and evolves "into a state of shortage that will last for some time domestically."

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My Comment: The imports are not that bad.

Captain Morgan Introduces Captain Morgan Black Spiced Rum

Captain Morgan Black Spiced Rum is the latest new variation on the spice rum theme, revealing the darker side of spiced rum. Photo credit: Captain Morgan

Captain Morgan Unveils Darker Side Of Spiced Rum -- Examiner

The legendary figure celebrated in countless stories of the golden age of pirates in the Caribbean, Captain Morgan now lends his moniker to a new version of spiced rum developed with deep, dark tones of molasses and charred oak.

Captain Morgan Black Spiced Rum was created to appeal to the whiskey drinker, someone who enjoys their drink of choice on the rocks and might have previously shied away from spiced rum, thinking it was not as refined or mature.

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My Comment: Being a rum drinker, I will definitely give it a shot.

Drew Barrymore's Own Pinot Grigi Wine

Drew Barrymore Launches Her Own Pinot Grigio Wine -- Luxpresso

Hollywood actress, producer and director Drew Barrymore teamed with Wilson Daniels wineries to launch her own wine titled Barrymore.The Wilson Daniels website describes the wine as an IGT Delle Venezie, made from grapes grown the Triveneto area, comprised of three of Italy’s most northern regions: Friuli Venezia Giulia, Trentino Alto Adige and Veneto – regions renowned for producing crisp and fruity white wines.

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My Comment: I wish her luck.

Wine Tasting In Sonoma

Vineyards along Duhig Road are in the Carneros region of Sonoma, which has an abundance of growers and wine choices. Photo: Lianne Milton / Special to The Chronicle

Top Sonoma Places For Wine Tasting -- SFGate

With the city of Sonoma less than an hour's drive north of the Golden Gate Bridge, a trip to Wine Country doesn't get much easier. The following Sonoma wineries, including two of the state's oldest, Buena Vista Carneros and Gundlach Bundschu - both more than 150 years old - have earned at least 2 1/2 out of a possible four stars for their tasting rooms:

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My Comment: My favorite is Buena Vista Carneros Winery

The Growing Appeal Of Organic Wine

Appeal Of Organic Products Seeps Into Wine Industry -- Reuters

(Reuters) - The popularity of farm-to-table restaurants and organic produce is seeping into the wine industry as more producers adopt green practices.

But their motives for making organic, sustainable and biodynamic wine may be more personal than business, although the practices also improve the quality of the wines.

"Most of the wineries are family-owned businesses and they saw this as a better way to farm. They wanted to pass on healthier farms and businesses to the next generation," said Gladys Horiuchi, a spokeswoman for the California Wine Institute.

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Update: The Wine Press: How organic is your wine? -- Kansas City

My Comment: I was also disappointed by 'organic wines' from a decade or two ago. But the batches that they are producing now .... yup .... they are getting better.

Chateau Latour Exits Decades-Old 'En Primeur' System

Chateau Latour. Wikipedia

Good News For Wine Buyers As Chateau Latour Exits Decades-Old 'En Primeur' System -- The Telegraph

For decades fine wine lovers have spent thousands of pounds buying wine before it has been bottled in the hope that they will one day own a classic vintage, only to be disappointed.

However in a move that will take the gamble out of buying expensive wine, feted Bordeaux wine producer Chateau Latour has said it will stop selling its wine en primeur – while it is still in the barrel.

Wine traders – or negociants – in France usually buy top wine long before it has been bottled and sell it on at high prices if the wine is expected to be high quality.

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My Comment: Kudos to Chateau Latour .... it's about time.

Wine Investors Lose Millions Investing In British Wine Investment Firms

Fine Wine Investors Lose Millions As Companies Go Under -- BBC

People investing money in fine wine are estimated to have lost over £100m over the last four years, the BBC has learned.

It is thought more than 50 UK-based vintage wine investment firms have collapsed in the same period.

Some individuals speaking to Radio 4's Money Box say they have lost over £100,000 after investments went sour.

Liquidators say they have uncovered examples of "colossal" mismanagement.

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My Comment: I always tell those who are interested in wine as an investment that they must first meet the following requirements.

(1) They must be passionate about wine, and understand what makes a good wine (or not).
(2) Do not invest your entire savings .... a small portion is OK
(3) Do your research, and always educate yourself.
(4) Always take possession of your wine, and have the proper storage facilities to keep it.
(5) Be willing to drink your investment .... and enjoy it while doing it.

Red Wine Helps Weight Loss

Red Wine Helps Weight Loss -- The Telegraph

Drinking red wine could actually reduce the chance of getting fat, according to a new scientific study.

The research shows enjoying the odd glass of Merlot may be less of a guilty pleasure and have an additional benefit.

Scientists have revealed a compound found in red wine can help control obesity.

The substance, called piceatannol, delays the generation of young fat cells and prevents them from growing into mature fat cells.

The compound blocks insulin's ability to activate genes that carry out further stages of fat cell formation.

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My Comment: I can drink to that.

Now That Is A Bar Bill

Heavy load: Two waiters were required to carry the 99lb double Nebuchadnezzar-sized bottle. Daily Mail

Reports: Financier, 23, Who Ran Up $315,000 Bar Bill Arrested In Trading Probe -- MSNBC

A 23-year-old financier who garnered headlines after reportedly running up a bar bill of more than $315,000 last month has been arrested over suspected unauthorized trading.

Alex Hope's spending during a night out in Liverpool, England, included a near-8 gallon bottle of Armand de Brignac Champagne known as the Ace of Spades that had to be carried to his table by two people. It alone was worth nearly $200,000, "the drinks business" website reported. It said this was a world-record bar bill at a nightclub, beating the previous record of $270,000 by U.S gambler Don Johnson in London last year.

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My Comment: No wonder he ran-up a huge bar bill .... it appears that it was not his money.

Hennessy Unveils It's Newest Advertising Campaign

Pacquiao, Scorsese, Badu Unleash ‘Wild Rabbits’ for Hennessy -- Mediabistro

Nearly a year to the day since picking up Hennessy’s creative duties, Droga5 is unleashing a new star-studded campaign for the “very special” cognac featuring boxing phenom Manny Pacquiao, legendary film director Martin Scorsese, and the “First Lady of Neo-Soul,” Erykah Badu.

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Update: Photos: Pacquiao Stars in Hennessy's Massive Campaign -- Boxingscene

Alcohol Sharpens The Mind

Men who drank the equivalent of two pints of beer answered 40 per cent more test questions correctly. Photo: REUTERS

Alcohol Sharpens The Mind, Research finds -- The Telegraph

Men who drink two pints of beer before tackling brain teasers perform better than those who attempt the riddles sober, scientists have found.

In findings that will be toasted by pub quiz aficionados, researchers found drinkers got more test questions right and were quicker in delivering the right answers.

It is thought alcohol hinders analytical thinking and allows 'creative' thoughts that might otherwise by stifled to take root, allowing test subjects to come up with more imaginative solutions.

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My Comment: I am an easy drunk .... 2 pints usually put me in a sleepy mood.

Making Whiskey In Space

Photo: The unmatured whisky was mixed with charred oak on board the space station to see how low gravity affected the maturation process

Where No Dram Has Gone Before: Whisky Company Matures New Malt In Zero-G On The Space Station -- Daily Mail

* Whisky mixed with charcoal to see how zero-gravity affects flavours
* Mix will remain on Space Station for two years

The astronauts on the International Space Station are used to rocket fuel - but even so, a delivery of a container of rough, unmatured whisky must have come as a surprise.

Thankfully, the delivery was for an experiment, rather than an impromtu celebration, so the astronauts carried out their duties with their usual sober dedication.

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My Comment: It should produce an interesting smell and taste.

Bordeaux Looking For Chinese Investors

Chateaus in Bordeaux, the world's top wine-producing region, hope to attract more Chinese investors.

Bordeaux Looks To China Amid Slump -- China Daily

French winemakers in Bordeaux, the world's top wine-producing region, are vying for more Chinese investors, said a senior official with the region's chamber of commerce.

"Their investment will create a win-win situation since many chateaus are currently experiencing sluggish business and an ever-shrinking market," said Pierre Goguet, president of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Bordeaux, during a promotional event for the China Dalian International Wine & Dine Festival, which is set to open on July 12.

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My Comment: My advice to a Chinese investor .... invest only if you love wine .... not because you want to make money.

Will Bordeaux Wine Prices Drop?

"Some wines will have to be half what they were in 2010". Irish Times

Bordeaux Châteaus Say They'll Lower Prices, But How Much? -- Wine Spectator

After Americans passed on the 2010s, the first-growths are hinting that they'll drop prices substantially.

Wine professionals from around the world have descended upon Bordeaux for the annual tastings of the new vintage. This is Bordeaux’s moment to dazzle, with Michelin-starred chefs cooking for hundreds, jazz concerts, art exhibits—and thousands of barrels of wine looking for buyers. But price seems to be the topic on everyone's mind.

Wine Spectator Senior Editor James Molesworth's 2011 Bordeaux barrel tastings have shown a vintage of mixed quality. Two things make a price reduction within the realm of possibility: lukewarm Chinese interest and a vintage that doesn’t incite wild speculation. “Logically, the prices should come down, and that would allow Europeans and Americans to come back to the market,” said broker Max de Lestapis. And the top châteaus have already begun to tell people that they will release the wines at much lower prices than last year. How low? They're not saying yet.

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Update: Wine buyers warn prices must fall as Bordeaux fails to tickle palates -- Irish Times

My Comment: I would love to see these prices drop appreciably .... but I doubt it.

Canadians May Soon Be Permitted To Ship Wine Beween Provinces

Wine Should Flow Freely, MP Says -- The Province

Okanagan-Coquihalla riding's Albas wants provincial barriers removed

Canadians are still living with a 1928 law that often makes foreign wines easier to find and cheaper to purchase than a bottle of wine produced in another province.

Conservative MP Dan Albas, whose Okanagan-Coquihalla riding is in the heart of B.C.'s winemaking region, wants to change that and give Canada's small wineries the ability to uncork national markets rather than limit them to selling their product provincially.

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Update: Open provincial wine barriers -- Vancouver Sun/Ottawa Citizen

My Comment: As a Canadian who lives in Quebec but loves BC wine .... I say FASTER PLEASE!

A Look At Rioja Reservas Wines

Evan Sklar for The New York Times

For Reservas, No Cellar Required -- New York Times

IT’S accepted wisdom today that most wine drinkers do not have the money, the storage space or the patience to wait years as their bottles age to maturity. Consumers expect wines to be ready, or at least enjoyable, immediately after they buy them.

That’s a marked departure from the old days, when it might never have occurred to our wine-loving forebears to pull the cork on, say, a decent Bordeaux before it was 12 or 15 years old. As a result, many producers around the world have altered their methods in an effort to make wines that are more accessible when young.

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My Comment: I agree. I have always been pleasantly surprised by these wines.

Treating Wine As A Conventional Investment Opportunity

Bankers Quit Wall Street to Find $50 Million for New Wine Trust -- SFGate/Bloomberg

April 10 (Bloomberg) -- Brian Mota didn't find it easy to give up the familiar turf of private equity for wine investing.

Mota, 38, had been evaluating more conventional investment opportunities at WallerSutton Capital in Greenwich, Connecticut, after leaving JPMorgan Chase & Co.'s investment-banking unit. Then he saw a way to treat wine in a similar fashion.

He hooked up with former investment banker Timothy Clew, 40, an active collector of wine, and after sending out feelers, they began The Wine Trust in earnest in 2010.

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My Comment: It is mentioned only in passing in this article, but the Live-ex Wine Exchange website is here.

Will New York's Finger Lakes Be The Next Great Wine Region In America?

Richard A. McGuirk/Shutterstock

New York's Finger Lakes: The Next Great Wine Region in America? -- The Atlantic

Prohibition pounded the region's grapegrowers, but small and medium-sized producers are finally starting to mount a serious comeback.

At a time when the local food movement has inspired many consumers across the nation to, for the first time, consider the wines being made in their own backyards, no up-and-coming domestic region has received as much serious attention as the Finger Lakes of upstate New York. To be specific, it is the Rieslings of the Finger Lakes that have generated the most buzz.

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My Comment: White and ice wines will be this regions specialties.

Enjoying Good Wine And Good Food In Canada's Okanagan Valley

Wine Country Cuisine Flourishing In Okanagan -- Vancouver Sun/Calgary Herald

OKANAGAN VALLEY, B.C. — B.C.’s Okanagan Valley has always been known for its bounty: the cherries, peaches and apples that thrive in the irrigated, fertile soil; the more than 65 grape varietals that ripen in the hot summer sun before being turned into award-winning wines; the astonishing cornucopia of vegetables, meats and cheeses found in local farmers’ markets.

Those lucky enough to live in the valley eat well; many grow prolific gardens, canning, drying and freezing their own tomatoes, peppers and plums, or turning them into salsa and jam. There is so much food, residents almost take it for granted. Sometimes, it’s literally falling on their heads. Ask a local with fruit or nut trees in their backyard, and they might beg you to come pick the stuff.

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My Comment: I agree with this article. Been to the Okanagan Valley twice .... and on both occasions enjoyed the good food and the good wine.

Saudi Man Splurges $136,000 On A Bottle Of Louis Roederer Cristal

Saudi Man Splurges $136,000 On Vintage Bubbly In Dubai -- Sydney Morning Herald

A Saudi millionaire splurged $US136,000 on a bottle of champagne at Dubai's glitzy Cavalli club over the weekend, a UAE newspaper reported on Tuesday.

"The Saudi Arabian and his friends guzzled" a bottle of Louis Roederer Cristal in the early hours of Saturday morning, the 7DAYS newspaper said, citing the club's manager David Lescarret,

The vintage bottle was "one of just three believed to be available worldwide," the paper added.

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My Comment: US136,000 for a bottle of champagne .... hmmm .... no.

One More Reason To Drink Red Wine

A compound found in red wine, grapes and other fruits, and similar in structure to resveratrol, is able to block cellular processes that allow fat cells to develop, opening a door to a potential method to control obesity. (Credit: © OlgaLIS / Fotolia)

Potential Method to Control Obesity: Red Wine, Fruit Compound Could Help Block Fat Cell Formation -- Science Daily

ScienceDaily (Apr. 4, 2012) — A compound found in red wine, grapes and other fruits, and similar in structure to resveratrol, is able to block cellular processes that allow fat cells to develop, opening a door to a potential method to control obesity, according to a Purdue University study.

Kee-Hong Kim, an assistant professor of food science, and Jung Yeon Kwon, a graduate student in Kim's laboratory, reported in this week's issue of the Journal of Biological Chemistry that the compound piceatannol blocks an immature fat cell's ability to develop and grow.

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My Comment: Hmmm .... that's probably the reason some of my heavy wine drinker friends are thin.

Drinking Irish Whiskey 101 (Video)