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News
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Banfi Brunello released!
Siena prosecutors have released Banfi’s 2003 Brunello, confiscated in April as part of an investigation into commercial fraud regarding grape blending.
Banfi’s proprietor Cristina Mariani-May made the announcement today (October 20th, 2008). ‘This clearance closes the case for Castello Banfi Brunello,’ she said. ‘Our Brunello has been liberated. She said the formerly impounded stock will be shipped worldwide immediately, and that the 2004 will be released in February 2009 as regularly scheduled.
Banfi was among several high-profile producers, including Antinori and Frescobaldi, whose wines were confiscated during what is still an ongoing investigation involving nearly 90 Brunello estates according to local sources. Banfi’s wine was cleared after a controversial laboratory test that measures the wine’s anthocyanin level demonstrated the wine was exclusively Sangiovese.
From Decanter Magazine at
http://www.decanter.com/news/270393.html
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Chateau Ste. Michelle
Named Wine Brand of the Year by Market Watch
Washington’s founding winery earns top industry
honors for wine quality and growth
Washington’s founding winery Chateau Ste Michelle was named “Wine Brand of the Year” by Market Watch at the publication’s “Leaders Choice Awards” ceremony Sept. 17th in New York. A group of “Leaders,” more than 200 top store owners whose combined annual revenues exceed $10 billion, vote for “the established and new brands in spirits, wine and beer.” In its October issue, the trade magazine cited the winery’s impressive growth over the last decade as the major factor for the winery’s recognition.
“Washington State’s most famous wine is on a stellar growth ride…At the start of this decade, Chateau Ste. Michelle’s volume sat at 775,000 cases. Last year, it reached 1.76 million cases…A number of factors are contributing to this trend, paramount among them is the newfound popularity of Riesling. Chateau Ste. Michelle has been a major Riesling producer for more than 40 years, and it was among the first to plant Riesling in Washington…But Riesling is by no means the only varietal in Chateau Ste. Michelle’s repertoire…Chateau Ste. Michelle shows plenty of diversity overall, coming in many creative expressions across a variety of tiers. That creativity, along with a relentless focus, has created a winner.”
“We are proud of this honor and the milestone it represents for the winery,” says Ted Baseler, president of Ste. Michelle Wine Estates. “After decades of investing in quality vineyards, leading winemaking equipment and top winemaking talent, it is gratifying to see it all come together in terms of quality and growth. It’s very rewarding to have our efforts recognized by leaders in the industry and our customers.”
It has been a banner year so far for the winery, which has earned numerous industry honors, including the Chateau Ste. Michelle 2007 Dry Riesling winning “Best Riesling of the New World” in the 2008 International Riesling Competition run by Rheinland Pfalz in Germany. Chateau Ste. Michelle’s 2006 Canoe Ridge Estate Chardonnay won the “Regional Trophy” for best American Chardonnay in the Decanter Magazine 2008 World Wine Awards. And the Chateau Ste. Michelle & Dr. Loosen 2007 Eroica won “Best New World Riesling” in the International Eastern Wine Competition held in New York.
Additionally, Chateau Ste. Michelle wines have received thirty-five 90-point or higher scores from leading wine publications to date in 2008, and 35 gold medals and six double golds in national wine competitions. Chateau Ste. Michelle has also received 14 Wine Spectator magazine “Top 100” wines in 13 years.
“I think the winery’s success is a combination of amazing grapes and amazing people,” says Bob Bertheau, Chateau Ste. Michelle head winemaker. “Entering my sixth harvest in Washington state, I now see how special our growing climate and soils are here, along with our great winemaking and vineyard teams whose passion rivals my own! I have a true appreciation of the fruit from each of our vineyards and the different viticultural regions around the state. And having just bottled the 2006 reds and 2007 whites, in the middle of blending the 2007 reds and starting to pick grapes for this year’s harvest, I think the best is yet to come.”
Founded in 1934, Chateau Ste. Michelle pioneered vinifera grape growing in Washington state and has been producing classic European varietal wines under the Chateau Ste. Michelle label since 1967. The winery combines an ongoing dedication to research with a commitment to classic winemaking traditions. The winery owns 3,500 acres of vineyards in the Columbia Valley of eastern Washington, including Canoe Ridge Estate and Cold Creek. Chateau Ste. Michelle enjoys winemaking partnerships with two of the world’s most distinguished vintners. Col Solare is an alliance with Tuscany’s Piero Antinori and Eroica Riesling is a partnership with the Mosel’s Ernst Loosen.
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Wine & Health
White wine also given a heart tick
Rats that were fed the equivalent of one or two glasses of white wine by researchers from the University of Connecticut in the US found their hearts suffered less damage during cardiac arrest than those fed water or grain alcohol, according to New Scientist.
The benefits from the white wine were similar to those found after animals ingested red wine - or the wonder ingredient found in grape skin - resveratrol. Previously, it was believed only wine made using grape skin could prevent heart damage. “The flesh of the grape can do the same job as the skin,” molecular biologist Dr Dipak Das said.
“In lab rats that suffered heart attacks, the animals that received wine or polyphenols experienced less heart damage, compared to rats fed water or straight liquor. “Their blood pressure and aortic blood flow plummeted less drastically as well. ”Molecular tests of heart cells suggest white wine protects mitochondria.
Director of the Hatter Institute for Cardiology Research, Professor Lionel Opie, in South Africa, agreed Mr Das’ evidence proved white wine protected lab rats, but said human heart attacks occur from blood clots and diseased arteries and not necessarily mitochondrial failure.
Other experiments in dogs showed benefits from red wine, but not white, Prof Opie said. But Dr Das expects similar studies to soon prove white wine’s worth. We can safely say that one to two glasses of white wine per day works exactly like red wine,” he said.
From The Australian Online Newspaper
at http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,24494412-2702,00.html
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