Turn Organic Wine into an Elegant SauceSeptember 6th, 2010 - Barbara Feiner
Drinking organic wine: a pleasurable way to help protect your heart. Cooking with organic wine: a quick way to add sophistication to any dish. One of the easiest, but underutilized, ways to glaze meat, fish and seafood, salads and veggies, and desserts is to make a wine reduction sauce. As the name implies, you’re simmering wine over a low heat until it reduces by half and becomes syrupy: Organic Beer is Bubbling Up in New ZealandMay 18th, 2010 - Gerald "Gerry" Pugliese
Go to your local vegan restaurant and you’re sure to find organic booze. They usually come in brown bottles with artsy labels. And the organic beer trend is not only picking up steam in the United States, but a brewery in New Zealand is changing the countries perception of what good ale is. Mike’s Organic Brewery is seeing a major up tick in sales, especially as more and more young people get hip to organic – those whippersnappers sure love their hooch! Special beers or “craft beers,” like organic brews, are getting popular in New Zealand. So much so that Mike’s is having a hard time keeping local stores stocked. Instead of slogging back pint after pint, people in New Zealand are drinking fewer beers when they go out, so they want a higher quality cocktail. Organic beers are a lot like micro-brews. They’re all pretty different; usually stouter and darker, not watery like conventional drinks. Mike’s brewery mixes it up, offering a porter, strawberry ale, pilsner, and others. And they’re so popular one retailer had to place an emergency order days after the store received it’s first delivery. I chill out in New York City a lot and at my favorite vegan joint they sell a few organic beers. They taste interesting and they do the job too – wink, wink. Image Credit: Mike’s Organic Brewery Read More:Organic Beer is Bubbling Up in New ZealandDo Certified Organic Wines Contain Sulfites?December 14th, 2009 - Laura Klein
The National Organic Program (NOP), has set the same standards for wine as it has for food. USDA certification is strict. It guarantees that grapes are grown without synthetic pesticides or chemicals; and the wine is processed without added sulfites or sulfur dioxide. Bottom line, you can’t add preservatives to certified organic food products or wines. And sulfites are considered by the USDA a preservative. Certified organic wines, can have naturally occurring sulfites (all wines contain naturally occurring sulfites as a byproduct of the fermentation process), but the total sulfite level must be less than 20 parts per million. So for the for those who are super-sensitive to sulfites (asthma sufferers, for example), certified organic wines are the way to go. If sulfites are added to the wine and the total count of sulfites in the wine is taken above 10 parts per million, it must make the statement, “Contains Sulfites.” There are four wineries in California that take the additional step of processing their wine without added sulfites and are certified organic. They are Frey Vineyards, Coates Vineyards in Orleans, La Rocca Vineyards in Forest Ranch, and Organic Wine Works. If you want to buy organic wines that don’t contain added sulfites, my top tip is to read the label. The ingredients and process used to make the wine will determine the label it carries. Check out our articles and videos on organic wines: Red Organic Wine Tasting – Episode 19 Wine and Cheese Tasting – Episode 23 Organic Vines for Better Wines Interviews with Two Italian Organic Winemakers Organic Wine – Crush and Fermentation – DIY wine making.August 17th, 2009 - John Klein
We measured the grapes and found they had a sugar level of 24 to 25 which would give them a potential alcohol of 12.5% which is right where we want it, these organic grapes were picked at just the right time by Charlie Barra of Barra of Mendocino to have this perfect sugar level. We also measured the acidity which came out to .76 and the pH 3.3 to 3.4 as well as the relative gravity which was 1.092 to 1.096 which were all desirable measurements. That night I started the yeast in 50% juice and 50% water and added the yeast to the grapes ever waiting patiently in the trash cans the next morning. This process of fermenting the grape juice with crashed wine berries is known as maceration, during this process the red wine acquirers its structure and color. As a general rule of thumb, the longer the juice and grape solids are in contact, the more tannin and color that will be extracted, and the more full-bodied and colored a red wine will be. Maceration can take from 3 to 21 days but there is a lot to get into for the ease of this wine we macerated the wine till the yeast fermented all or most of the sugar which for this wine was 9 days. While the wine is fermenting in the trash cans the yeast will raise the solid grape parts to the top, thus you need to punch down the solid grape parts, you can easily do this with an oversize spoon or paddle all you’re doing is just pushing the solid grape mass down into the grape juice. I love punching down the grapes for it releases amazing aromatic smells of a winery, you truly know you’re making wine at this point. The fermentation process will vary based on the temperature that the grapes are at. I measured the grapes specific gravity percentage of alcohol and temperature on a daily basis to know when we would be ready to press the grapes. For this organic zinfandel it took nine days till it was ready to be pressed. If you want to read the first part of the series : Organic Wine – A Tasting – DIY wine making.You may also be interested in these other articles about wine: Interviews with Two Italian Organic Winemakers New Credit Cards Won’t Charge the EnvironmentDecember 22nd, 2008 - Gerald "Gerry" Pugliese
Now, for you charge-oholics, there’s a new card out there, you can feel a lot better about using. Sorry, it doesn’t have a magical spending limit. It’s biodegradable. This Discover card is made from biodegradable PVC. Meaning, after it spends 5 months in water, dirt, compost or whatever’s in a landfill, it breaks down 99%, leaving no toxic effects on the environment. However, your credit rating is another story. Discover encourages people to wait until their current card expires before placing an order. Biodegradable cards are only 1 of Discover’s green innovations. The company’s also making an effort to convert to paperless billing statements and setup a company-wide recycling program and employee rideshare website. Via inhabitat. Read More:New Credit Cards Won’t Charge the EnvironmentPennsylvania Wine Week Includes Organic Wine TastingsMay 7th, 2008 - Barbara Feiner
The state’s annual Wine Week kicks off today with the first-ever Wine Festival in Hershey, followed by the Sixth Annual Pittsburgh Wine Festival tomorrow and the Seventh Annual Philadelphia Wine Festival on Saturday. “Regular attendees know that each year the festivals are bigger and more exciting than the year before,” says Patrick “P.J.” Stapleton III, chairman of the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board, the events’ sponsor. “This year is no exception. With more than 200 wineries participating, we have the largest, most diverse group of wines ever represented at Wine Week.” The week includes a series of wine seminars, auctions and dinners, highlighted by a grand festival tasting in each city. All events raise funds for local medical institutions. The tastings will feature wines from some of the world’s most renowned vintners—from France’s Chateau Mouton Rothschild to California’s Rubicon Estate. Many smaller, undiscovered winemakers from around the world—from the Pacific Northwest and Canada to South America, Australia and New Zealand—will also be pouring. Highlights include organic wine tastings from producers like Frey Vineyards and Bonterra, as well as locally made wines from notable Pennsylvania producers. Suggested Reading
Fall Entertaining: Pair Artisan Sausages With WineAugust 29th, 2007 - Barbara Feiner
The following tips have been provided by the experts at Don Sebastiani & Sons and Emeril’s Smoked Sausage. Tune in tomorrow for a Stuffed Mushrooms recipe that pairs gourmet sausage with Syrah, a full-bodied red wine.
Healthy Alcohol Consumption May Reduce Heart Attack RiskOctober 24th, 2006 - Barbara Feiner
Yesterday’s Archives of Internal Medicine reported that men with healthy lifestyles who drink moderate amounts of alcohol may have a lower risk of heart attack, compared with those who drink heavily or not at all. Previous studies have confirmed this finding. Researchers suspect these individuals have increased levels of HDL (“good” cholesterol”) in their blood. But because there are many risks associated with heavy drinking, physicians do not typically recommend that patients begin consuming alcohol to reduce their heart disease risk. Instead, they focus on other proven lifestyle interventions, including diet and exercise. These habits, however, are not mutually exclusive, according to Dr. Kenneth J. Mukamal and his colleagues at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston. “For individuals who exercise, abstain from smoking, maintain optimal weight and adhere to an appropriate diet, there may be few other standard lifestyle interventions to lower risk,” they write. “Whether alcohol intake is related to a lower risk for myocardial infarction [heart attack] in such individuals is unknown.” The 8,867 men in Dr. Mukamal’s study had healthy lifestyles, defined as not smoking, having a body mass index (BMI) of less than 25, getting at least 30 minutes of exercise per day and eating a healthful diet, including large amounts of fruits, vegetables, fish and polyunsaturated fats, with low amounts of trans-fats and red meat. Between 1986 and 2002, 106 of the men studied had heart attacks. This included eight of the 1,282 who drank 15 to 29.9 grams of alcohol per day (about two drinks). This group had the lowest risk for heart attack; those who did not drink at all had the highest. “There is a complicated mix of risks and benefits attributed to moderate drinking in observational studies, and the individual and societal complications of heavy drinking are well known,” the authors conclude. “It is easy to understand why clinical guidelines encourage physicians and patients to concentrate on seemingly more innocuous interventions, despite the relative paucity of effective, straightforward and generalizable methods for encouraging regular physical activity, weight reduction and abstinence from smoking in clinical practice. Our results suggest that moderate drinking could be viewed as a complement, rather than an alternative, to these other lifestyle interventions, a viewpoint espoused by some authors.” Organic Vines for Better Wines Beat the heat with our Rose Geranium SangriaAugust 4th, 2006 - Laura Klein
Rose Geranium Sangria 6-8 Servings Ingredients: 1 ½ cups of water Method: Bring the water and sugar to a boil in a small saucepan. Stir in the rose geranium leaves, cover and remove from heat. Let steep for 20 minutes. Strain and press liquid out of leaves using a wooden spoon. Chill infused syrup in an ice water bath or refrigerator until cool. In a large glass pitcher or medium size punch bowl, combine the chilled wine, syrup, orange and lemon slices, and fresh berries. Chill for a minimum or up to several hours to let the fresh fruit infuse their flavors. Before serving add the sparkling water or club soda if desired. Serve chilled. * You can find organically grown rose scented geraniums at a local nursery or farmers market. They must be pesticide and chemical free in order to be fit for consumption. Note: Because you follow an organic lifestyle, OrganicAuthority.com recommends using certified organic ingredients, when available, in all recipes to maximize flavors and nutrition while minimizing your risk of exposure to pesticides, chemicals and preservatives. Read More:Beat the heat with our Rose Geranium Sangria A Great Reason to Buy Organic WineJuly 27th, 2006 - Barbara Feiner
Light to moderate consumption of alcoholic beverages may protect your heart and extend your life, according to the latest research from the Institute on Aging at the University of Florida, Gainesville. Older adults who consume one to seven alcoholic beverages a week may live longer and have a reduced risk for cardiac events than those who do not drink, according to Dr. Cinzia Maraldi and her colleagues, whose study was published in the July 24 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine. First, the caveat: Alcohol may worsen some chronic diseases, and the overall effect of drinking on survival is not clear. But several studies have shown that alcohol may reduce the risk of coronary heart disease and heart failure and contribute to a lower death rate. Light to moderate alcohol intake has been shown to reduce levels of C-reactive protein and interleukin-6, two compounds that circulate in the blood due to inflammation. Researchers have therefore suspected that the mechanism linking alcohol to reduced risk of cardiovascular disease may be related to inflammation. The researchers studied almost 2,500 older adults without heart disease, grouping them by the number of alcoholic beverages they consumed in a typical week over the last year. Those who drank lightly to moderately (one to seven drinks a week) had a 26% lower risk of death overall and an almost 30% lower risk of cardiac incidents than those who never or seldom drank alcoholic beverages. In contrast, heavy drinkers (more than seven drinks per week) were more likely to die or experience a cardiac event than those who never or seldom drank alcoholic beverages. Alcohol’s anti-inflammatory properties alone do not explain the reduced risk of death or cardiovascular disease associated with light to moderate drinking, the authors note. Alcohol may have cellular or molecular effects that reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, or it may interact with genetic factors to produce a protective effect. In addition, the health effects of alcohol may not be the same for everyone, the authors caution. “The net benefit of light to moderate alcohol consumption may vary as a function of sex, race and background cardiovascular risk,” they conclude. “From this point of view, recommendations on alcohol consumption should be based, as any medical advice, on a careful evaluation of an individual’s risks and benefits, in the context of adequate treatment and control of established cardiovascular risk factors.” Read More:A Great Reason to Buy Organic Wine |
Truth be told, any kind of beer is good beer – I’m not picky – but nowadays new types of beer are popping up…organic beer.
As you start developing a trained green, consumer eye and become a savvy label reader, you’ll notice in the wine world there are quite a few wines that are “made with organic grapes,” and few carry the USDA’s certified organic seal. Certified organic wines are a rare find on store shelves. So what’s the difference between these two wine labels? I get this question all the time and here’s your answer.
Having acquired 500 pounds of organic grapes we were now ready to crush and de-stem the grapes. Fortunately we had access to a crusher-stemmer which makes this process easy. Once the grapes had been crushed and de-stemmed we divided them equally between three clean trash cans. Here they will go through maceration and fermentation.
My credit card hates me. I hardly use it and when I do, I pay my bills on time. So, my credit card company hates me too.
Organic wine lovers who live in the Pennsylvania area will have a chance to participate in tastings geared to their special lifestyle needs. 
Artisan sausages have become extremely popular, and they’re readily available in natural and organic food stores. Paired with wine, they can be the star of any fall dinner party. 
One of the top medical stories dominating press coverage this week focuses on men who drink moderately and their lower risk of heart attacks. It’s a topic 
Enjoy an evening cocktail or glass of organic wine with dinner?
