win March 2010

win@thebarn.com

6 participants
7 discussions

by Jim L. Ellingson

Greetings, After a bit of research, it appears we have a quorum. We'll be meeting to sample Italian wine on Thursday at 6:30. No foolin'. My first choice is Risoto, so I will call there. called. We're in, reservation for ten people. (2nd and 3rd options would be Al Vento and Arezzo.) I've updated the list - from memory. Cheers, Jim http://www.theonion.com/articles/study-finds-link-between-red-wine-letting-… Risotto 610 W Lake St. Minneapolis MN, 55408 612.823.4338 ----- Forwarded message from "Jim L. Ellingson" <jellings(a)me.umn.edu> ----- Date: Thu, 25 Mar 2010 16:08:31 -0500 From: "Jim L. Ellingson" <jellings(a)me.umn.edu> To: wine(a)thebarn.com Cc: "Jim L. Ellingson" <jellings(a)me.umn.edu> Subject: The 411 on 4/1/10 User-Agent: Mutt/1.5.17 (2007-11-01) X-Spam-Score: 0 () X-Scanned-By: MIMEDefang 2.63 on 128.101.142.226 Greetings, Is anyone interested in meeting for dinner next week? Is Thursday the best night? I'm on break all week. Styles? Destinations? I'm open - will toss out Italian at Risoto for a discussion starter - plus I can count on Dave. Who: Jim/Louise Russ/Sue Dave T. (I left a message) Janet S. Lori A. Fred P. is a maybe. Bob will be out of town. -- ------------------------------ * Dr. James Ellingson, jellings(a)me.umn.edu * * University of Minnesota, mobile : 651/645-0753 * * Great Lakes Brewing News, 1569 Laurel Ave., St. Paul, MN 55104 *

15 years, 8 months

[wine] The 411 on 4/1/10

by Jim L. Ellingson

Greetings, Is anyone interested in meeting for dinner next week? Is Thursday the best night? I'm on break all week. Styles? Destinations? I'm open - will toss out Italian at Risoto for a discussion starter - plus I can count on Dave. Who: Jim/Louise Russ/Sue Dave T. ??? -- ------------------------------ * Dr. James Ellingson, jellings(a)me.umn.edu * * University of Minnesota, mobile : 651/645-0753 * * Great Lakes Brewing News, 1569 Laurel Ave., St. Paul, MN 55104 *

15 years, 8 months

[wine] Awash in Barbera

by Russell McCandless

Dear friends, Those for whom no amount of information about Piemontese wines is too much may be interested in these current reports on a series of Barbera tastings going on in Italy: http://barbera2010.com/ Cheers, Russ

15 years, 8 months

[wine] Tips on how to start a winery

by Russell McCandless

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qcjVfXBxvdg

15 years, 8 months

[wine] breathable wine glasses!?!?!?

by warren gregory

sure, right ...... Latest NewsRiedel wins 'breathable glass' caseMarch 17, 2010 Tim Teichgraeber Austrian glassmaker Riedel has declared victory in its lawsuit against its rival Eisch Glasskultur over false claims for breathable glass. Riedel, Nachtmann and Spiegelau filed suit in Munich, Germany alleging that Eisch's advertisement boasting 'breathable glass' constituted false advertising. On 19 January the two parties agreed to settle after Eisch's claim that its 'breathable' glasses were made using a secret process that 'opens bouquet and aromas within 2 to 4 minutes' was not supported in court. Related stories: Riedel sues Eisch over breathable glass claimsThe court ordered Eisch to cease claiming its glass is 'Breathable' or 'Opens bouquet and aromas within 2 to 4 minutes', or face penalties of up to €250,000, or imprisonment of up to six months for senior directors. No compensation was ordered in favor of Riedel but Eisch was ordered to pay costs. According to Dr Jo Dresel, business advisor to Riedel managing director Georg Riedel, the court found that, 'as regards the physical characteristics of the glass composition and of the glass surface, the wine glasses with the designation “Breathable Glass” do not differ in any respect whatsoever from structurally identical wine glasses produced by the same manufacturer.' It was also found that the wine in both types of glasses did not differ, 'neither in a food chemistry analysis nor in a gustation (tasting) test carried out by experienced wine tasters.' The weight of court-appointed expert opinion shifted the burden of proof to Eisch, which opted to settle the case rather than submit expert opinion supporting its advertising claims. The glasses had been endorsed by American MW and Master Sommelier Ronn Wiegand, who partnered with Eisch on a line of glasses incorporating the technology. Georg Riedel had previously told decanter.com that he had been offered the same technology by a third party before Eisch began producing 'breathable glass,' but had 'passed' on it because he was sceptical of the scientific validity of the process. A spokesperson for Eisch said, 'To remove this nuisance from our business path, we have agreed to change the terminology we use to describe the benefits provided by our glasses, which we have renamed Sensis-plus. In the legal and technical milleiu of the German Courts, we cannot prove that this glass does, in technical fact, breathe.'

15 years, 8 months

[wine] off topic, for men of a certain age - Prostate Mistake

by Jim L. Ellingson

FYI, March 10, 2010 Op-Ed Contributor The Great Prostate Mistake By RICHARD J. ABLIN Tucson EACH year some 30 million American men undergo testing for prostate-specific antigen, an enzyme made by the prostate. Approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 1994, the P.S.A. test is the most commonly used tool for detecting prostate cancer. The test.s popularity has led to a hugely expensive public health disaster. It.s an issue I am painfully familiar with . I discovered P.S.A. in 1970. As Congress searches for ways to cut costs in our health care system, a significant savings could come from changing the way the antigen is used to screen for prostate cancer. Americans spend an enormous amount testing for prostate cancer. The annual bill for P.S.A. screening is at least $3 billion, with much of it paid for by Medicare and the Veterans Administration. Prostate cancer may get a lot of press, but consider the numbers: American men have a 16 percent lifetime chance of receiving a diagnosis of prostate cancer, but only a 3 percent chance of dying from it. That.s because the majority of prostate cancers grow slowly. In other words, men lucky enough to reach old age are much more likely to die with prostate cancer than to die of it. Even then, the test is hardly more effective than a coin toss. As I.ve been trying to make clear for many years now, P.S.A. testing can.t detect prostate cancer and, more important, it can.t distinguish between the two types of prostate cancer . the one that will kill you and the one that won.t. Instead, the test simply reveals how much of the prostate antigen a man has in his blood. Infections, over-the-counter drugs like ibuprofen, and benign swelling of the prostate can all elevate a man.s P.S.A. levels, but none of these factors signals cancer. Men with low readings might still harbor dangerous cancers, while those with high readings might be completely healthy. In approving the procedure, the Food and Drug Administration relied heavily on a study that showed testing could detect 3.8 percent of prostate cancers, which was a better rate than the standard method, a digital rectal exam. Still, 3.8 percent is a small number. Nevertheless, especially in the early days of screening, men with a reading over four nanograms per milliliter were sent for painful prostate biopsies. If the biopsy showed any signs of cancer, the patient was almost always pushed into surgery, intensive radiation or other damaging treatments. The medical community is slowly turning against P.S.A. screening. Last year, The New England Journal of Medicine published results from the two largest studies of the screening procedure, one in Europe and one in the United States. The results from the American study show that over a period of 7 to 10 years, screening did not reduce the death rate in men 55 and over. The European study showed a small decline in death rates, but also found that 48 men would need to be treated to save one life. That.s 47 men who, in all likelihood, can no longer function sexually or stay out of the bathroom for long. Numerous early screening proponents, including Thomas Stamey, a well-known Stanford University urologist, have come out against routine testing; last month, the American Cancer Society urged more caution in using the test. The American College of Preventive Medicine also concluded that there was insufficient evidence to recommend routine screening. So why is it still used? Because drug companies continue peddling the tests and advocacy groups push .prostate cancer awareness. by encouraging men to get screened. Shamefully, the American Urological Association still recommends screening, while the National Cancer Institute is vague on the issue, stating that the evidence is unclear. The federal panel empowered to evaluate cancer screening tests, the Preventive Services Task Force, recently recommended against P.S.A. screening for men aged 75 or older. But the group has still not made a recommendation either way for younger men. Prostate-specific antigen testing does have a place. After treatment for prostate cancer, for instance, a rapidly rising score indicates a return of the disease. And men with a family history of prostate cancer should probably get tested regularly. If their score starts skyrocketing, it could mean cancer. But these uses are limited. Testing should absolutely not be deployed to screen the entire population of men over the age of 50, the outcome pushed by those who stand to profit. I never dreamed that my discovery four decades ago would lead to such a profit-driven public health disaster. The medical community must confront reality and stop the inappropriate use of P.S.A. screening. Doing so would save billions of dollars and rescue millions of men from unnecessary, debilitating treatments. Richard J. Ablin is a research professor of immunobiology and pathology at the University of Arizona College of Medicine and the president of the Robert Benjamin Ablin Foundation for Cancer Research. -- ------------------------------ * Dr. James Ellingson, jellings(a)me.umn.edu * * University of Minnesota, mobile : 651/645-0753 * * Great Lakes Brewing News, 1569 Laurel Ave., St. Paul, MN 55104 *

15 years, 8 months

[wine] Sunday Bubbles; April 18th

by Joyce Hegstrom

I've arranged for us to have brunch at La Fougasse at the Hotel Sofitel (Highway 100/494) on Sunday, April 18th at 11:30 AM. Cost is about $40 which includes tax and tip (no corkage!). It's a buffet brunch which includes three stations (salads/fresh fruit/cheeses; hot entrees/carved roast beef/made to order omelets; and beautiful desserts). They typically pour J. Roget but let's each bring our own "sparkling" bottle to share! Reservation is for 12. Let me know if you'd like to spend a Sunday afternoon drinking bubbly! Joyce

15 years, 9 months

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win March 2010