Deaf Grapevine eNewsletter

Vol. 8 No. 3, - Summer 2014

News about wine making and wine appreciation by our Deaf fellows and friends, news not about people

Editor: Rusty Wales, the vintner of Prince of Wales wines
Webmaster: Bobby Skedsmo, the creator of the Estate of Skedsmo wines

Wine Quotation: "Wine awakens and refreshes lurking passions of the mind . . ."

Alexander Pope
English Poet (1688-1744)

Question: How many grapes are there in one bottle of sparkling wine (champagne)?

(see the bottom of this newsletter for an answer)

Editor Rusty's Rap: Wine as a Healthy Beverage

Which Wine Is The Healthiest? From Dr. Andrew Weil (07/23/14)

About 71 percent of wine drinkers in United States choose red wine, and this majority is on the right track when it comes to the health benefits wine offers. Studies show that the compound resveratrol, found abundantly in red grapes (and blueberries), offers several heath benefits, including antioxidant properties that may lower the risk of type 2 diabetes and may even help prevent cancer. A two-year animal study found that when a daily dose of resveratrol was administered (the equivalent of the amount in two glasses of red wine daily), the risk of developing cancerous tumors went down 50 percent.

So next time you choose a glass of wine, opt for red for more health benefits, and consider these varietals:

Pinot Noir: It consistently has the highest concentrations of resveratrol, especially if the grapes come from cool, rainy climates (think Oregon's Willamette Valley or New York's Fingerlakes Region rather than California's Napa Valley).

Cabernets, Merlots and Syrahs: While they come from different grapes (Cabernet is made from tannat grapes, Merlot is made from blue grapes, and Syrah is flavored with black currants), all contain high levels of procyanidins - an antioxidant that has been linked to longevity and cardiovascular and arterial health.

In addition, seek out dry wines - they tend to have higher levels of flavonoids, which are beneficial to heart health and cholesterol levels. Sweeter wines tend to have lower levels of flavonoids. (submitted by Pattie Roles)

Other Deaf Grapevine reader, Rebecca Farovitch submitted a very interesting link on how to choose the healthiest wine, beer and cocktails (infographic). Visit this one: Click here the link

Winemaking Methodology:

Thanks to Bobby who sent me this graph that illustrates four ways to make wine. I have tried fresh grapes (red, white and other fruits) and, geez, it took a lot of work crushing, destemming (removing stems) and pressing. With a kit box (juice, already crushed, destemmed and pressed by a winery before shipping to customers), I have much less mess to clean! It is still a challenge to make a great wine as a finished product.

News in the Deaf Community: Deaf StompFest 2014 in Paso Robles (Sept. 13) SOLD OUT! Better luck next year in 2015 (location to be announced late this year).

At Steinbeck Winery, we will serve only great wines at $30 price range. See the chart from Wine Folly (thanks again to Bobby for sharing this with us).

Answer to the question above:

It may seem hard to believe but there are usually slightly more than 1,100 grapes in every bottle of sparkling wine in top California sparkles. These grapes are almost always pinot noir and chardonnay that have been picked by hand. (thanks to Larry Petersen for submitting this question/answer)

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