Two pints a week could cut risk of heart attack!

Drinking two pints of beer a week could help cut the risk of heart attacks in women by up to a third, according to research carried out by the University of Gothenburg.

 

The conclusion follows a study of more than 1,500 women over a 50 year period, tracking the frequency of their consumption of beer, wine or spirits from “daily” to “nothing in the past 10 years”.

Over a 32-year follow-up period, 185 women had a heart attack, 162 suffered a stroke, 160 developed diabetes and 345 developed cancer.

Comparing instances of heart attacks to the frequency of alcohol consumption, researchers at the Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg found that women who drink beer at most once or twice per week run a 30% lower risk of heart attack, compared with both heavy drinkers and women who never drink beer.

The study was not able to confirm if wine carried the same protective affect, while drinking spirits appeared to increase the risk of cancer.

“Previous research also suggests that alcohol in moderate quantities can have a certain protective effect, but there is still uncertainty as to whether or not this really is the case”, said Dominique Hange, researcher at Sahlgrenska Academy. “Our results have been checked against other risk factors for cardiovascular disease, which substantiates the findings. At the same time, we were unable to confirm that moderate wine consumption has the same effect, so our results also need to be confirmed through follow-up studies.”

Conversely, the study showed that those with high consumption of spirits (defined as more frequent than once or twice per month), had an almost 50% higher risk of dying of cancer, compared with those who drink less frequently.

The study was published online in the Scandinavian Journal of Primary Health Care.

Source: www.thedrinksbusiness.com



Bond Boost for Bollinger and Belvedere!

Advertising works, if searches for James Bond-related drinks are anything to go by.

Although it won't be released for another five weeks, the latest James Bond movie has already left the drinks industry stirred, if not shaken – and it's also having an impact on our users.

Spectre, the 24th installment of the seemingly ageless franchise, opens in cinemas on November 6, but the hype has gone beyond mere product placement, with Champagne house Bollinger once again releasing a special edition and Belvedere vodka also getting in on the act.

Bollinger's Spectre Limited Edition Champagne is a cuvée from the 2009 vintage, which chef de cave Gilles Descôtes described as "the best, the richest wine". It comes in a black cool-box covered in embossed Bollinger and 007 branding. The outside of the case is designed to imitate the texture of the handgrip of Bond's favored sidearm, the Walther PPK.
It's the latest in a series of Bond-related releases by Bollinger, which has had a commercial relationship with the movie franchise since 1979's Moonraker.
Polish vodka producer Belvedere is the latest name to attach itself to the famously brand-friendly Bond franchise with a 007 Spectre bottling and a Silver Saber version, which will be limited to 3000 bottles.
Belvedere president Charles Gibb said that the association with Bond was all about growing the vodka brand in a way that simple advertising could not. After all, what could be better for a vodka brand than having Daniel Craig order your product on the big screen?
"The release of Spectre this year is a cultural event in many, many countries, which allows us to put ourselves into culture on a global basis, as we wouldn't have been able to in any other way," Gibb said.
"I think Bond is a man of style, taste, and character, and he's a man who knows the difference – he makes distinct choices in what he drinks, what he drives and what he wears, and those choices are universally respected and admired."
And while some may scoff at the idea that seeing an actor order a drink might influence them into doing the same, it certainly appears to work. Since the launch of the Bond-aligned drinks, searches on Wine-Searcher for both Bollinger's Spectre release and the Belvedere have gone through the roof, and the movie is still more than a month away.

Source: http://www.wine-searcher.com

Obama serves ‘$30 screwcap wine’ at state dinner

A screwcap 2014 Penner-Ash Viognier was on the menu at the White House to honour Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife, Peng Liyuan.

Designed to “highlight American cuisine with nuances of Chinese flavours,” according to a statement released by the White House last week, the dinner also featured a Shaoxing rice wine, a 2012 Proud Mountain Vineyards Vintner Select Merlot and a 2011 Schramsberg Cremant demi-sec sparkling wine.

The food options included wild mushroom soup, Maine lobster, Colarado lamb and bread and butter pudding.

The cork-loving Chinese media has made much of the fact that one of the wines was a screwcap and all come under $80 – especially since Obama served former President Hu Jintao with a $115 Cabernet, said the Washington Examiner.

Guests included 100 politicians, executives and artists including Apple CEO Tim Cook, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Microsoft’s Satya Nadella.


The Menu:

Source: www.thedrinksbusiness.com



Grapes of wrath: fury in Crimea as Putin and Berlusconi drink 240-year-old wine!

Ukraine’s head prosecutor opens criminal case against Russian leader and former Italian PM for consuming a 1775 Jeres de la Frontera during cellar tour.

 

Vladimir Putin appeared to be having a great time when he and the disgraced former Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi popped a 240-year-old bottle of Spanish wine in Crimea this week.             
During a visit to what is claimed to be the biggest wine collection in the world at the Massandra winery, Putin and his longtime friend tried a 1775 Jeres de la Frontera that was brought to Crimea by Count Mikhail Vorontsov, during the reign of Catherine the Great.
But the prosecutor general of the former Crimean government, which has been operating in exile since Russia annexed the peninsula in 2014, didn’t find the VIP degustation amusing.
He opened a criminal case for large scale theft over the incident, estimating the loss at two million hryvnia, or about £60,000, the Centre of Journalistic Investigations reported.
Berlusconi had joined Putin in Crimea for a day of sightseeing, visiting a historic church and laying flowers at a monument to Sicilian soldiers who fought in the Crimean war. State television showed the pair walking through the wine cellars and asking questions as they were shown especially valued bottles from the collection.
In the footage, Berlusconi is seen picking up a 1891 vintage and asking “Can we drink them?”The two leaders apparently had such a good time at the winery that Putin even joined in for an uncharacteristically lighthearted photo, raising his hands above his head with Berlusconi and the winery employees. After the visit, Ukraine’s national security council issued a decree banning Berlusconi from the country for three years for the “security of our government”.

Prince Lev Golitsyn started the first winery in Crimea in 1894, and since then its wines have been celebrated in the Soviet Union and Russia. The Massandra wine cellars hold about 500,000 bottles, including five bottles of the 1775 Jeres de la Frontera. Director Yanina Pavlenko was reportedly the one who uncorked the bottle for Putin and Berlusconi.

The Kremlin has not commented on the criminal case but it’s not clear how the Ukrainian authorities could hope to bring Pavlenko, Berlusconi or Putin to account.
The Ukraine foreign ministry said Berlusconi’s visit was contradicting the European Union’s condemnation of the annexation of Crimea. Berlusconi last visited Putin in June, when the two fished and relaxed at a spa complex in the Altai mountains in Siberia.

Source: www.theguardian.com/



The Airlines With the Best Wine Lists!

Oenophiles, rejoice: these days, some of the best wine you might ever drink could be at 35,000 feet.

From Taittinger champagne to 40-year-old tawny ports, the wines offered onboard the world’s top airlines are reaching completely new heights. But which carriers are doing wine programs best? We asked a panel of sommeliers and wine experts from across the country to pick out the top five wine lists in the air this fall for premium class passengers.

1. Emirates
Though their business class wine list varies by route and regularly changes to complement the chef’s latest menu, passengers can expect a beautifully curated selection of old and new world wines from both large and small producers across the globe. This fall, on outbound flights to New York from Doha, Dubai, and Abu Dhabi, passengers will enjoy complex white blends like the Gerard Bertrand Cigalus 2013; crisp, floral sauvignon blancs like the Saint Michael-Eppan Sauvignon Lahn 2014; and powerful reds like the Couvent des Jacobins Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 2006.

“Emirates’ wine list is very focused, well-balanced, and really goes after quality in the bottle versus the marketing factor,” says Alex Berlingeri, the beverage director at New York’s Sant Ambroeus, Casa Lever, Felice, and Regency Bar & Grill. “The 2011 Coup de Foudre Cabernet Sauvignon is a great wine that’s perfect with red meat dishes, and the 2000 Warre Colheita Tawny Port is a good dessert wine with many layers—complex with a touch of mineral finish—and should drink perfectly now.”

2. Singapore Airlines

Considering that Singapore Airlines’ wine list is curated by not one but three wine consultants—including Master of Wine Jeannie Cho Lee—who collectively test over 1,600 bottles a year, it’s no surprise that the carrier makes the list. Business class passengers can expect to enjoy everything from Taittinger Prelude Grands Crus Champagne, to vibrant reds like the ripe and plummy 2012 Mr. Riggs “The Gaffer” Shiraz from South Australia. First and "Suites" classes are famous for their champagne selection, which includes Dom Perignon and Krug Grand Cuvée in tandem.

“Singapore Airlines offers the best variety and really covers all of the bases,” says VINEBOX wine club founder and CEO Matt Dukes, who studied traditional winemaking in Bordeaux. “I like the Balthasar Ress Riesling and 2012 Cambria Santa Maria Valley Chardonnay. And I love the tawny port: post dinner, after a bit of work or a movie, it’s exactly what I want before my in-flight nap.”

3. American Airlines

American Airlines’ award-winning wine program was recently revamped with the help of wine consultant Ken Chase, who tasted his way through nearly 5,000 different varietals to develop the carrier’s impressive new wine list. (To keep up with its newly redesigned in-flight menu, no doubt). Louis Roederer Brut Vintage champagne kicks off a thoughtfully curated wine program that highlights both local and international producers. Standouts include the Aaldering Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot from Stellenbosch, South Africa, and the Chateau St. Jean Robert Young Vineyard Chardonnay from Alexander Valley, California.

“I’m excited about American Airlines’ wine list because it highlights smaller producers. GD Vajra is a producer I work with, and so I love to see them on a large commercial airline—the 2012 Barbera they offer onboard is lovely,” says Kathryn Weil Coker, sommelier and wine director at the newly-opened Esters Wine Shop & Bar in Santa Monica, California. “I also love the fact that American offers multiple sherries—the Lustau Amontillado La Plaza Viejo and Pedro Ximenez—which is unconventional and very current.”

4. Qatar Airways

Qatar Airways takes its wine seriously: last year, the Doha-based carrier hired Master of Wine James Cluer to climb atop 19,331-foot Mount Kilimanjaro armed with nine bottles of wine, in order to learn how altitude affects their taste. In his arsenal: Taittinger rosé champagne, a 2007 Château Monbousquet Saint-Emilion Grand Cru, and a 1974 Kopke tawny port from Portugal’s Douro Valley. (Not surprisingly, all three made the cut and can be enjoyed on flights this fall).
“The St Hallett Faith Barossa Valley Shiraz 2011 and Bouchard Père et Fils Beaune du Château 2010 are both good wines,” adds Berlingeri of Qatar’s selection. “But the Taittinger rosé is my favorite.”"Qatar's list is stunning—you can't go wrong," concurs Dukes. "But for me, the standout is the Château Monbousquet Saint-Emilion Grand Cru. Then again, I lived about 30 minutes away from the lovely Saint-Emilion, so there may be a bit of bias there."

5. Etihad Airways

Etihad’s wine program, curated by a team of independently-qualified sommeliers, varies per route and is widely lauded for favoring lesser-known boutique estates from around the world. Should you need help deciding between the Brancott Sauvignon Blanc from Marlborough, New Zealand or the Grauer Burgunder Trocken from Rheinhessen, Germany, there are in-flight beverage managers on hand to assist.

“I like Etihad’s wine list because it's well-rounded but not obvious, with lots of familiar varieties, but not from the expected big-name commercial producers, which is awesome,” says Coker. “I'm particularly excited about the Chenin Blanc from Cederberg Private Cellar—it’s a crisp, high-acid white that will turn Sauvignon Blanc lovers onto this variety.”

Honorable Mention: KLM

“KLM is quite heavy on new vintages—but sometimes a young wine is exactly what you want on a flight,” says Dukes of the Dutch carrier’s wine list, which is selected by a blind tasting panel. “They do a great job of offering wines from around the world. I’ll have the 2014 Matetic Corralillo Chardonnay at take-off, and the full-bodied and balanced 2011 Dehasa La Granja with my meal.”

Source: www.cntraveler.com/



Wine bar fined £100k after teen loses stomach!

A Lancaster wine bar has been fined £100,000 after giving a teenager a free liquid nitrogen cocktail which resulted in her having her stomach removed.

The incident happened at Oscar’s Wine Bar and Bistro in Lancaster, where Gaby Scanlon, now 20, had been celebrating her 18th birthday with friends.

A bar tender offered Miss Scanlon a Nitro-Jaegermeister shot, which usually cost £3.95, free of charge.

Moments after Miss Scanlon drank the shot, smoke began pouring from her mouth and nose. She was left “in agonising pain” after experiencing an “explosion” in her stomach, Preston Crown Court heard.

Miss Scanlon, from Heysham, Lancashire, was rushed to Lancaster Royal Infirmary where she underwent emergency surgery to remove her stomach and part of her small bowel in order to save her life.

Oscar’s Wine Bar and Bistro pleaded guilty to one count of failing in the duty of an employer to ensure the safety of persons not in its employment, admitting it failed to ensure the cocktail was safe to drink, the Telegraph reported.

The Nitro-Jaegermeister cocktail was one of several liquid-nitrogen cocktails served at the wine bar after its director, Andrew Dunn, saw similar drinks being served at the Berkeley Hotel in London, the court heard.

Dunn, of York, pleaded not guilty to being part of a corporate employer which failed in its duty to ensure the safety of persons not in its employment. No prosecution was made against him after a £20,000 payment towards court costs was received.

A verdict of not guilty was accepted against barman Matthew Harding, who denied failing in his duty to take reasonable care for the health and safety of others at work.

The court heard how no risk assessment had been carried out by Oscar’s Wine Bar and Bistro regarding the dangers of liquid nitrogen, but that staff were told to wait 10 seconds until the liquid nitrogen had boiled off before consumption. The 10 seconds was described as an “arbitrary figure”. 

As reported in the drinks business, the incident, which happened in 2012, prompted MPs to debate whether to ban drinks containing liquid nitrogen.

David Morris, MP for Morecambe and Lunesdale, told the Commons: “As we know, there are lots of laws and regulations on the food and drink we consume, and it is illegal to serve anything that is injurious to health, but how many people know of the dangers of liquid nitrogen used in this fashion? Gaby Scanlon did not know, and, had I been in that bar at the time, I would not have known.

“When someone walks into a bar or restaurant in this country, they have a right to know that what is being served is safe, and the House has a duty to enforce that right.

“I do not support greater vigilance; I support an outright ban.”

Source: www.thedrinksbusiness.com



Visit wineries for free on World Tourism Day

Twenty wineries from across the world are offering wine lovers free tours and tastings to mark World Tourism Day next week.

 



Held on Sunday, 27 September, this year’s theme is “one billion tourists and one billion opportunities”, with wine food and travel site Winerist working to raise awareness of the day within the drinks trade.

Over 20 wineries from England and Moldova to Croatian and Greece will be taking part, offering free wine tours, wine tastings, food pairings and meet-the-winemaker sessions to their guests on on 27 September.

Organised by Winerist, anyone already nearby or travelling to the following regions will be able to take advantage of the events being hosted by each of the participating wineries by mentioning World Tourism Day and Winerist.

It is hoped the event will create opportunities for these wineries to diversify their activities into the wine tourism sector, and sell their story and product directly to consumers.

Wineries taking part are listed below. For information on what each winery has on offer click here. Get involved by using the hashtag #WTD2015 on Twitter.

• Familia Zuccardi – Argentina, Mendoza
• Kingston Family Vineyards – Chile, Casablanca
• Posada Campo Tinto – Uruguay, Carmelo
• Bodega Garzon – Uruguay, Punta del Este
• Dry Creek Family Vineyards – USA, Sonoma
• Bolney Wine Estate – England
• Clos Figueras – Spain – Priorat
• Bolfan – Croatia, Uplands region, near Zagreb
• Mas du Soleilla – France, Languedoc
• Champagne Beerens – France, Champagne
• La Raia – Italy- Piedmont
• Cascina Cucco – Italy- Piedmont
• Isolabella della Croce – Italy- Piedmont
• Fratelli Vogadori – Italy, Veneto
• Poggio al Casone – Italy, Tuscany
• Barone Ricasoli – Italy, Tuscany
• Casa Sola – Italy, Tuscany
• Cantina Todi – Italy, Umbria
• Chateau Vartely – Moldova
• Lacerta – Romania, Dealu Mare
• Ktima Voyatatzi – Greece, Velvento
  
  Source: www.thedrinksbusiness.com