Second Leaf

I’ve started to use Twitter again lately but this time with more of an emphasis on my winemaking experiences. If you haven’t checked out the site yet, give it a look. With Twitter you can sound off with whatever’s on your mind using IM, your cell phone, your browser, or any other Twitter-enabled device out there. Once connected up with friends, it’s a fun way to communicate. Of course in this era of the widget, you can also display your “tweets” on other sites and that’s exactly what I’ve done here on Second Leaf.

On the right side of every page, my latest “tweets” will be displayed. It will be an easy way for me to keep Second Leaf updated with the little wine bits that don’t warrant a full blog post. I expect the number of “tweets” about winemaking to be more seasonal and since I’m currently right in the middle of the busiest time of year for winemaking,  there will be more than usual. Once things settle down, I’ll start tweeting tasting notes and other random (wine) thoughts.

Thanks to Alex King for writing, and sharing, Twitter Tools.

As reported today in an article on Decanter.com, a new study has just been released that reports that moderate consumption of Cabernet Sauvignon “may reduce the incidence of Alzheimer’s Disease.”

Laboratory mice given Cabernet Sauvignon-based wine over a seven-month period experienced ’significantly reduced Alzheimer’s Disease-type deterioration of spatial memory function’.

Once I got passed the headline I was half expecting the study to have been funded by the Napa Valley Vintners association where the control group of mice were given Fred Franzia’s Napa Ridge Cab instead of “real” Napa Valley fruit (reference). But no, this study was actually performed at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York.

From what I could learn from the study it’s unclear why they chose Cabernet Sauvignon or if they tested other varietals. No matter, it’s yet another good reason to drink wine.

From now on when my wife accuses me of not listening to her or I forget where I left my car keys, I’ll reach for a glass of Cabernet. Cheers!

Read the full article here.

I would like to congratulate the Grape Radio team for winning the Podcast of the Year award from the Podcast & Portable Media Expo.

I have been a regular listener of Grape Radio since day one and find their podcasts to be very entertaining and informative. They report from many of the top wine conferences and land interviews with some of the most brilliant and influential minds in the wine industry. Show production quality is also top-notch.

If you’re not currently a Grape Radio listener, I encourage you to check out one of their shows. And if you don’t have an iPod or MP3 player, you can still listen on your computer.

Thanks to Tim at Winecast for the lead.