A team at the Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC) has demonstrated for the first time that the wine contains a significant amount of healthy dietary fiber, as reported by the Council today in a statement. In particular, those responsible for the investigation say that fiber is the third major component of wine after the water and alcohol. The work was led by Fulgencio Saura-Calixto, a researcher at the Instituto del Frio (CSIC) and have been used for studying red and white wines from La Mancha, Ribera del Duero, Rioja, Jumilla, Rueda and Penedes. This study was presented at the American Journal of Enology and Viticulture. ”

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Chardonnay, Chablis, Bourgogne or Montrachet. Whatever you call it, they refer to the same wine but then again, maybe not. One thing’s for sure, Chardonnay is the undisputed King of white wine, the most noble white grape in the world. To some, Chardonnay taste of butter and hazelnut but to others, it taste of tropical fruits. The difference can be attribute to the region where the grape is grown as well as the method of making the wine.
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With the onset of summer, it is time to put the case for this much maligned style of wine. Many people consider rosé to be unsophisticated, and not for serious wine drinkers. It is all too often associated with slightly sweet wines lacking in flavour and made for easy drinking. Perhaps it is because for many people, their first experience of rosé wine was drinking Mateus rosé back in the days when this wine was produced in a sweeter style than it is today. In fact some of the rosés of southern France and Spain are very complex wines and far removed from the light styles often encountered in Portugal.
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My first encounter with Zinfandel was back in the early 1980s, on holiday in Hawaii. I chose the wine from the restaurant wine list because the name was so unusual, I didn’t know whether Zinfandel referred to the grape, the name of the wine or the grower. Since this was early in the 1980s what came to the table was a salmon pink off-dry wine which was an ideal accompaniment to the seafood on offer. And at the risk of putting off readers so soon in the story, I enjoyed this wine and thought no more about it.
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De Loach Vineyards

I arrived at the tasting room of De Loach Vineyards somewhat jaded after a 11 hour flight from London followed by a 2 hour drive from San Francisco in the rush hour. The folks were very welcoming and after I had been given some Zinfandel to revive my spirits I was taken for a drive around the various De Loach vineyards by Laura Sarong their marketing manager.
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A very common misconception that still remains among wine lovers is the relationship between sulfites and headaches. Far too often, the sulfite is perceived as the main culprit for causing headaches, especially after consuming red wines. And more often than not, these wines are from the New World region – California, Australia and others. But before we pass the guilty sentence on sulfites, let’s examine some facts and clear some misconceptions.
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Varietal:Blend
Appellation:New Zealand, Hawke’s Bay
Style:Red
WOW Rating:92

“Within this region, the unique micro-climate of Gimblett Road, in the lee of Roy’s Hill, is particularly renowned,” proclaims John Hancock, “Here, vines reach deep into the stony, free draining soil of the old Ngaruroro riverbed, sheltered from the prevailing Westerly winds, basking in an abundance of dry, warm weather. At Trinity Hill’s Gimblett Road Vineyards, the river stones gently release their heat long after the sun has set. This helps to promote perfect ripening of the grapes.
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Varietal:Cabernet Sauvignon
Appellation:California, Napa
Style:Red

Aromas of green pepper corn, black fruit and a dash of pepper are followed by flavors of jammy blackberries, cassis, with bits of cedar in the long length. “It has a beautiful deep garnet color and an incredibly inky texture. Notice the overall bouquet of black berries, white pepper, toasty oak and a surprising note of jasmine,” says winemaker Chris Pisani.

Some wine-lovers thrive on seeking out small wineries, with small production of very fine wines. So, here’s one for that list. The winery is Collier Falls Vineyards, located on West Dry Creek Road at the northern end of Dry Creek Valley near Healdsburg in Sonoma, California. Its winery carries the Dry Creek Valley appellation. The first Collier Falls wine, the 1997 Zinfandel (100% estate grapes) was released in spring, 1999. There were only 500 cases, so a good bit of it is already gone. Those who collect numbers will be impressed by the 90 points the wine was given by the Wine Spectator, and the two stars (out of a possible three) granted the wine by Connoisseur’s Guide.
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• 1 package fresh cranberries (12 oz.)
• 1 1/4 cups sugar
• 1 cup St. Clement Rosenbaum Blush
• 1 cinnamon stick (3 inches)
• 1 piece orange zest (7 inches)

Pick over cranberries removing stems and shriveled or soft berries. Rinse under cold running water, drain. Combine sugar and wine in noncorrodible heavy medium saucepan; stir over medium heat to boiling.
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