Healing properties of wine

We have all heard (and told of) the benefits of wine. Well for those who didn’t believe it or would like to know more (to make that glass go down a little smoother) read on:

Chilean wine enjoys great prestige at an international level, so it is no surprise that it is the favourite of millions of people all over the world. However, its body, taste and aroma are not its only virtues. At present it is also being used as a body treatment and rejuvenating therapy. (Anon, 2010)

Wine therapy consists of an extraordinary antioxidant treatment based upon wine baths and massages that provide a series of curative benefits for the skin. Among its advantages are the rejuvenation, toning and strengthening of the skin, dissipation of wrinkles, regeneration of dead cells, detoxification of the body and improved blood circulation. (Anon, 2010)

But apart from being an aesthetic treatment, wine therapy also seeks to provide a sense of relaxation and well-being to people, in addition to constituting a medicinal aid to prevent future illnesses. (Anon, 2010)

The herbaceous parts of grapes contain highly energetic and beneficial elements. Among these are tannins –which help to prevent heart disorders–, calcium and potassium. The antioxidants present in wine are polyphenols and bioflavonoids, which help to retard aging in people. In addition, wine possesses many vitamins such as A, C and E, as well as proteins, mineral salts and enzymes. (Anon, 2010)

For a free e-book  on the Nutritional and Therapeutic Benefits of wine click on the links below:

Taking a scientific look at a popular and controversial topic, this book examines both the composition of wine and its possible health benefits, particularly its potential for preventing cancer and cardiovascular disease. The book discusses antioxidents in wine and looks at the environmental influences on antioxident content. It also covers problems associated with measuring phenolics, stilbenes, and other reducing substances in wine, and reviews the impact of ecology and agronomic practice on crop yield and quality.

Direct download: Wine: Nutritional and Therapeutic Benefits

Source:

Anon, 2010, June 22. Wine therapy: the therapeutic benefits of Chilean wine. Last accessed on 24 January 2011. Available online at: <http://www.apecdoc.org/post/7/6999>

 

This article was first published on 26 January 2011 on www.fortheloveofwine.co.za as part of the Kleine Zalze Summer Edition Wine Ambassadors competition.

10 Interesting facts about wine

1. Although red wine can only be produced from red grapes, white wine can be produced from both white and red grapes. (For source: click here)

2. There are approximately 20 million acres of grapes planted across the world; thanks to this number, grapes are ranked as the world’s number one fruit crop. (For source: click here)

3. On average, there are about 75 grapes in each cluster. (For source: click here)

4. Wine is considered more complex than blood serum as it has so many organic chemical compounds. (For source: click here)

5. A glass of wine contains about 85 calories. (For source: click here)

6. The first corkscrew was invented in the mid-1800s. (For source: click here)

7. The world’s leading cork producer is Portugal. (For source: click here)

8. Wine is South Africa’s biggest agricultural export – earning R6.2 billion in 2009. (For source: click here)

9. Italy is the world’s biggest wine producer. (For source: click here)

10. South Africa is the world’s seventh-largest wine producer, accounting for 3 percent of world production. (For source: click here)

This article was first published on 24 January 2011 on www.fortheloveofwine.co.za as part of the Kleine Zalze Summer Edition Wine Ambassadors competition.

Wine Tasting as a Sensory Experience

You don’t have to be a connoisseur to really enjoy a bottle of wine. Therefore the next time you go wine tasting don’t just get lost in the ambience, rather try these tips to involve all your senses in the wine tasting experience to extract more from your wine.

See: Look at the colour of the wine, you don’t have to know a lot about wine to know that a darker colour often means that the wine is heavier in tannin structure (i.e. has had more wood contact).

Smell: Don’t be afraid to stick your nose in your glass and take a nice deep whiff, often you will immediately be able to pick up specific notes in the wine. And don’t hesitate to share what you smell; there is no right or wrong answer.

Feel: Focus on the feel of glass in your hand, the cool wine in your mouth and sun on your back. Relax and soak it all in.

Hear: Listen to the sound of the wine as it pours from the bottle into your glass and focus on its serenity.

Taste: Of course the most important aspect is the taste, focus on each sip and try to remember the different hints of flavour. Also remember if you are new to wine tasting to not judge a heavy red wine immediately, most people have to train their palette to appreciate wine. Therefore I would suggest, if you are a new wine taster to start off with a light white wine such as a Sauvignon Blanc and then work your way up to the reds.

And lastly:

Enjoy: This is the most important sensation to feel when tasting wine as it often overwhelms all other senses. And remember not every person will love every wine they try, but the important thing is to try and try again!

This rticle was first published on 18 November 2010 on www.fortheloveofwine.co.za as part of Kleine Zalze’s Summer Ambassadors.

A new take on the “wine rack”

I found this quirky invention online and even though I’m a girl I can definately see that the guy (I’m almost certain a guy invented this) that designed this did it for the love of wine.

The rather plain looking bra is quoted as “a sports bra fitted with a bag for liquids that can be filled with up to 750 ml of wine, a.k.a. an entire bottle, thus creating the illusion of big chest”. To read the entire article click here.

For a laugh, check out the picture below.

She looks like my kind of girl, fun loving, out going and with a passion for wine.

Marketing Shiraz to the East

The spicy and fruit filled notes often found in a Shiraz makes it the perfect wine to market to countries such as India and China where most dishes are of a spicy nature.

Australian Shiraz’s are already very popular in the East and with a similar climate and ripening period, South African wineries should grab at the opportunity to market their wines to both India and China.

I found four Shiraz’s that would be perfectly suited to an Indian curry or great Chinese food, the nominees are:

Kleine Zalze Family Shiraz 2006

With its blackcurrant, spice and ripe fruit flavours on the nose and intense, spicy plum and dark fruit flavours on the palate, this wine is a perfect companion to Indian or Chinese Cuisine.

Grande Provence Shiraz 2007

With a complex and powerful nose of white pepper and coriander and a palate that is concentrated and balanced with plenty of lush, dark fruit, sweet vanilla and spice makes this a beautiful example of South African Shiraz.

Asara Shiraz 2007

The cherry and blackberry fruit aromas that complement the spicy wood flavours on the palate and hints of cigar box smokiness on the nose make this a flavouful and affordable Shiraz to pair with your next spicy meal.

Circumstance Shiraz 2007

Waterkloof’s elegant Shiraz shows pure aromas of red berries, violets and spices, enriched with a hint of cocoa. This cool climate Shiraz is a subtle and elegant wine that will pair well with a Chinese slightly spiced dish.

The Ethics of Marketing to Children

A recent study done by a South African company, Youth Dynamix, has shown some interesting results which lead to an article in yesterday’s Sunday Times.  

The Sunday Times article titled, Material world reels in the young, painted a picture of South African youth as more materialistic than the previous generation. The study done by Youth Dynamix studied South African tweens between the ages of seven and fifteen and used a range of four different methodologies. The BratTrax 2009/2010 study (the fourth study of its kind done) showed that 85% of the respondents interviewed believed that money made them happy.  

The children in the study fall in the age cohort[1] of the Generation Y market. The members of Generation Y are children of baby boomers and, depending on the source were born between 1977 and 1994, or between 1982 and 2000. The members of Generation Y can be divided into three sub segments: Gen Y adults (ages 19-28); Gen Y teens (ages 13-18) and Gen Y “tweens” (ages 8-12). (Schiffman and Kanuk; 2010:410)  

The Gen Y tweens spend and influence roughly $1.18 trillion in purchases worldwide, know brand images better than an advertising expert, spend a lot of time online and affect their parents’ brand choices. (Schiffman and Kanuk; 2010:411) The result of these findings is that a lot of money, more than $15 billion, is being spent annually to directly target and advertise to children.  

Parents aren’t helping the situation along, as fast-paced lifestyles have resulted in parents from middle and upper-middle income homes, are using money to compensate for their lack of involvement in their children’s lives.  

I have no direct experience as a parent, and therefore can’t attempt to understand the delicate nature of the relationship between parents and their children. But I have witnessed many hysterical fits and tantrums in shopping centres, which clearly indicate who the controlling force in many South African households is.  

In conclusion, I would like to paraphrase a quote by education specialist Janine Shamos from the Sunday Times article, “We have manoeuvred ourselves into a situation where we are going to have a mentally and physically unhealthy generation who are confused by what they want and need”.     

Sources:     

Schiffman, L.G. & Kanuk, L.L. 2010. Consumer Behaviour. Tenth Edition. Pearson Education, Inc. New Jersey.  

Naidoo, S. 2010. Material world reels in the young. Sunday Times Newspaper. South Africa.  

    

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[1] A cohort is a group of individuals born over a relatively short and continuous period of time. (Schiffman and Kanuk; 2010:410)

Wine Packaging Trends

In doing research for an assignment on new wine packaging trends for class, I have come across a few more noteworthy trends in the wine industry and am happy to note that quite a few of them have been adopted here in South Africa.

PLASTIC WINE BOTTLES

According to an article on Business Day, the South African Wine and Spirit Board this year approved the use of an innovative PET soft bottle produced by Mondi for bottling wine. The article continues that the PET bottles are fully recyclable and have a much lower carbon footprint than glass.

Backsberg is the first winery in South Africa to adopt the use of the new plastic wine bottles. Their Tread Lightly range consisting of a Sauvignon Blanc and a Merlot will be the first certified wine sold in the PET bottles. Backsberg’s proprietor, Michael Back is quoted on their website as saying that “The enjoyment of a great bottle of wine should never be at the cost of the environment”. And I agree.

WINE POUCHES

The Saflite pouch was developed by the South Africa company Astrapak Flexibles together with its first commercial user, The Company of Wine People. According to an article posted on PackingNews.co.uk the three-layer packs – with outside and middle layers of metallised PET and an inner layer of linear low-density polythene – come in 250ml and two-litre sizes that can be flattened when empty.

The Company of Wine People website cites sustainability as a key driver for the implementation of the pouches. It also claims that a single pouch’s carbon footprint is 80% smaller and represents 90% less waste in a landfill compared to two 750-mL glass bottles. The company currently packages its Arniston Bay range in the pouches.

WINE IN A CAN

According to can manufacturer Rexam, the can is the most recycled drinks pack in the world and are 100% recyclable and infinitely recyclable, with no loss of quality. This is great news for manufacturers who are continuously seeking out new ways to impress the growing number of environmentally conscious consumers.

Australian company Barokes Wines are the inventors of the innovative and patented Vinsafe™ wine packaging system which enables premium quality wine to be canned with stability and longevity. They boast several awards and patents in a number of countries. Elkan Wine Company was also the first and (so far) only Chilean company to produce wines in aluminium cans. I have yet to see wine cans in South Africa, but I’m sure they’ll make their way here eventually.

NEW WINE CLOSURES

According to an article on the Glass News website, Zork wine closures were introduced in the U.S. market in 2008, and since then, have won over dozens of wineries with their wine-protection benefits, practical features, and eco-friendly attributes. The Zork low-density, linear polyethylene closure consists of three components: an outer, tamper-evident cap, an inner foil oxygen barrier, and a plunger that “pops” like a cork when extracted and is easily reinserted.

WINE IN A BEER BOTTLE

I saw this at a braai the other night and had to share. A South African company Boer and Brit have come up with a new packaging design for one of their wines. The Bob’s Your Uncle Red Wine Brew, is packaged in a 500ml beer bottle with a crown cap closure. The wine is sligtly sweetened to allow for more easy drinking (straight from the bottle). Though this idea will have to grow on me, the website does boast that you can return the bottle for a deposit and “save a tree”, which is a plus point for me.

That’s all I’ve got for now but watch this space for more wine trends.