Winemaking Not for Amateurs

Or... "Don't Try This at Home, Part Deux"

Jane Anson in Bordeaux
October 23, 2008 – Two amateur winemakers died last weekend treading grapes for home-made wine.

Daniel Moulin, 48, and Gérard Dachis, 50, of Roiffieux, northern Ardeche died from carbon dioxide poisoning. They were crushing grapes in the traditional manner with their feet, in a vat that was approximately four square metres in size.

The grapes belonged to a small-scale winemaker who had recruited three friends to help vinify his 2008 vintage. The wine was intended purely for personal use. It is thought that, with inadequate ventilation, they were rendered unconscious by the carbon dioxide fumes that are produced during fermentation. The two men did not regain consciousness, despite attempts to resuscitate them.

The owner of the estate, and the other friend who was helping with the winemaking, survived.
A fireman and the third friend were also treated for inhalation of carbonic gas in a hospital in Annonay. An autopsy to confirm the cause of death is due to be carried out this week, Le Post newspaper reports.

Source: www.decanter.com

The photo is a Wine Spa in Japan, containing real red wine. The huge wine bottle is 3.6m tall. Bathing in wine is a rejuvenation treatment for the body, and it has been said that the Queen of Egypt, Cleopatra loved to bath in wine.
There are regular performances of pouring real wine into the spa a few times a day.
Come San Luis Obispo County wineries, let's build one of these!

The Spice Girls and Boys Invade U.S.

I'm dreaming of dinner at Thai Palace with a bottle of Wolff Vineyards dry Riesling. Heaven.
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By Sarah Hills, 02-Oct-2008

The Hispanic and Asian influence on the US food and beverage market is growing stronger as ethnic flavors become mainstream and the spending power of these cultural groups increases, according to an industry expert.

Asians and Hispanics are no longer a minority in large cities across the US and census figures predict that they will form a majority by 2050, according to John Corella, spokesman for the Expo Comida Latina and All Asia Food industry event which will take place this month.

The result is more food and drinks specifically targeting these groups, as well as capturing a wider market of consumers who enjoy their culinary influence.

Corella said: “There are a lot of products coming out that are uniquely flavored to address the cultural shift.

“The US is becoming spicier”

He gave the example of lime flavored products with chili, which is typically Hispanic. There are also more fresh and frozen vegetables of Asian origin and the ingredients used in products can also target certain markets.

READ MORE ...

Grapevine Radio Show airing Saturday, August 16, 2008

One this show we meet Steven Hagy, self proclaimed "cork dork," and author whose second book, Faces in the Fog has just been published.

Steve works weekends in the Doce Robles Winery tasting room, whose owner Jim Jacobson is our second guest. Jim and his wife Meredith are third generation Central Coast growers and lean a bit about their history and how the heck they sell their premium boutique wines as such affordable prices.

Then we get to hear an incredible tale of moving 2,000 century old olive trees from Oroville to Creston, CA from Frank Menacho, owner of Olivas de Oro olive orchard. Plus a live report from Shannon at the 17th Annual Basil Festival in Paso Robles.

I've Seen Some Crappy Wine Labels but ...

... this one take the, er, cake. From the www.vinography.com blog

One doesn't normally don't look to French winegrowers for a source of amusement -- they are a famously unfunny lot -- but apparently desperate times have brought out some humor in some wine producers in the Languedoc.

Faced with low demand for their cooperative produced wines in the face of their region's reputation for producing plonk, a group of winemakers have decided that they might as well meet the consumer's expectation.

So they've produced a wine labeled "Vin de Merde." And for anyone who didn't learn any French swear words when they got the chance in Fifth Grade, that means "Shit Wine." Or as the ever so proper BBC commentator puts it: "Crap wine." The rest of the text on the label says: "The worst signifies the best."

Here's a little piece from the BBC on the brilliant new label, which just happens to be selling faster than they can get it into shops.

Don’t Try Cooking This at Home. No. Really. Don’t.

England – This research just in from the Brits; 10 percent of their population – six million people – have had a kitchen accident trying to copy a celebrity chef.

No wonder real chefs are made of iron!

A United Kingdom insurance company (Esure Home Insurance) took a poll that showed that although 73 percent of the respondents described themselves as “amateur,” “novice,” or downright “useless” in the kitchen, that didn’t dissuade 75 percent of them from attempting a complex culinary technique, risking injury to themselves, to others, to their pets, and to their homes (I made up the pets part).

Damage estimates were in the $9 billion range! Makes the Bush Bailout look appetizing by comparison.

Numerous hazards were sighted from fast chopping to deep frying, but the chart toppers were creme brulees and roasted peppers. The prime culprit? Industrial strength blow torches.

A large percentage of injuries seem to be related to budding gourmets attempting complex culinary techniques in “real time,” dashing between the cooking show on TV in the other room and the kitchen. Slippery when wet!

And these “recipes for disaster” afflict women and men in nearly equal proportions with 83 percent of men and 87 percent of women, who although they claim “no cooking experience,” still fearlessly attempt these gourmet acrobatics.


Source: A “Front Burner” story by Julie Mautner for Food Arts Magazine, October 2008

Wine Whisperer Nominated!

Your Soft Spoken Seeker of Sommelier Secrets has been nominated for "Best Profile Pic" on the great wine industry social/business blog site, Wine 2.0.

So for those of you who mocked the Caped Purple One for donning the elaborate get-up for a weekly radio appearance ... put a cork in it!

Show Airing August 9th, 2008

Another jam packed show. We open with author William Ausmus talking about his new book, Wines & Wineries of the Central Coast.

Then Phillip Krumal, winemaker-owner of Asuncion Ridge Vineyards & Inn describes the wines (including one of Jan's favorite Pinot Noirs) and the Inn on Paso Robles westside.

Finally Chef Robert Root tells us about the 16 day Pallet to Palate events with featuring area chefs pairing with San Luis Obispo County’s farmers to create delicious, gourmet dinners ... with local wines, of course!