Ultraviolet tool may reduce need for sulfites

A new piece of technology built in South Africa and being tested at various wineries around the world, including California, may have a solution. It uses ultraviolet rays to zap unwanted microbes and yeasts, reducing the need to add the sulfites that have traditionally done the job of preserving the wine - and making some people feel lousy.  Click on this link for the rest of the article

Rielle 2009 Charity Wine Tasting Calendar

2009 Rielle Charity Wine Tasting Events

Sunday, March 29, 2009
4:00pm - 6:30pm
Symphony of Food, Wine and Art
Benefiting: Santa Rosa Symphony Music Education Programs
Wells Fargo Center For the Arts
Santa Rosa, CA
707-546-8742

Saturday, April 4, 2009
6:00pm - 8:30pm
Pick of the Vine Wine Tasting
Benefiting: Senior Advocacy Services of Sonoma County
Garrett Hall
Sonoma County Fairgrounds
Santa Rosa, CA
707-526-4108


Saturday & Sunday April 25th & 26th 2009
10:00 am - 6:00 pm
Apple Blossom Fair Wine Garden
Benefiting: Sebastopol charities
Ives Park and the Sebastopol Veterans Memorial Building, 282 High Street, Sebastopol (Parade on Main St.)
Sebastopol, CA
877-828-4748


May 16, 2009
Tiburon Wine Festival

May 23, 2009
Newport Beach Food and Wine Festival

May 30 & 31, 2009
Wine Country Classic
Infineon Raceway Historic Car Races

June 2009
Cigarbq
Santa Rosa, CA

August 29, 2009
Petaluma Wine, Jazz and Blues Festival

August 15, 2009
San Rafael Food and Wine Festival

August 29 & 30, 2009
Bodega Art, Wine and Seafood Festival

Rielle St. Patrick's Day Food and Wine Pairing Menu

Rielle St. Patrick's Day Menu

(with wine pairing)

Recipe link at the bottom

Starters

Rielle 2006 Anderson Valley Chardonnay
or Rielle 2004 Russian River Valley Chardonnay
Pub Salad
Irish Soda Bread and Butter

Main Courses

Rielle 2006 Anderson Valley Pinot Noir
Irish Lamb Stew
Corned Beef and Cabbage
Irish Roasted Salmon
Buttered Cabbage
Parsley Champ

Desserts

Strawberry and Apple Crumble

Rielle Chardonnay Caramel Sauce

Rhubarb Bread and Butter Pudding

Rielle Zinfandel Chocolate Sauce

Recipe Link

Sonoma's Tough New Vineyard Rules

Sonoma County, Calif. -- Though Napa County was the first to require erosion control in new vineyards, Sonoma County has its own version. Last year, it updated the Vineyard Erosion and Sediment Control Ordinance, or VESCO, first implemented in 2000. Napa's ordinance is generally regarded as very demanding; Sonoma's version is somewhat easier to comply with in many respects..................

Under the new rules, all vineyards and orchards more than one-half acre in size must meet a number of requirements. These include:

• No planting on slopes greater than 50%. (It's 30% in Napa County.)
• Setbacks are extended to unnamed streams as well as blueline streams, including 25 feet from the top of bank if it contains native vegetation, with no work allowed on this area. As an option, growers can maintain a 25-foot vegetated filter strip if there's no vegetation already there.
• For developing new vineyards, differing plans are required depending on the slope and soil conditions.
• Level 1 conditions are slopes less than 15% without highly erodible soils, or slopes less than 10% with highly erodible soils. In this case, the erosion control plan does not have to be prepared by an engineer.
• Level 2 situations are slopes more than 15% with no highly erodible soils; or slopes greater than 10% with highly erodible soils. These require an engineered erosion control plan.

Click on this link for the rest of the article

More wine and health news:

 Wine May Protect Against Throat Cancer

Study finds that a glass or two a day lowers risk by more than half

Drinking wine in moderation may offer protection from the onset of Barrett's Esophagus, a precursor to esophageal cancer, according to a study released Monday. Researchers found that subjects who consumed between seven and 14 glasses of wine weekly lowered their chances of developing the disorder by 56 percent. Those who drank beer showed no reduction of risk, and moderate to heavy consumption of spirits may raise the risk, according to the research conducted by Kaiser Permanente in Oakland, Calif., and published in the March issue of Gastroenterology. Heavy consumption of any alcohol may raise the risk.  Click on this link for the rest of the article.