California Wine Country Tour

It’s that time of year. The giving time. And I need your help.

Increasingly, popular bloggers are overwhelmed with opportunities to use their blogs as platforms for the promotion of the worthy causes that are especially visible during the holiday season. Here at Vinography we have chosen to throw our energy and time into a single cause year after year, both because it is specific to the wine and food blogging community, and because it is increasingly effective in raising an awful lot of money for people in need.

A Menu For Hope was started by my friend Pim in response to the tsunami tragedy of 2004. Now in it’s fourth year, it has become one of the largest grassroots charity fundraising operations in the blogosphere, with 100% of its proceeds going to benefit the United Nations World Food Programme. Additionally, this year we will actually be working with the WFP to get the funds to a very specific community of farmers in Lesotho, Africa with 100% transparency and control over where the funds go.

For those who are not familiar with this initiative, it is essentially a raffle, with prizes donated by bloggers. Participating bloggers post a description of their prize (which is also listed on the main Menu For Hope page) and do all they can to attract donations (made on the designated donation web site) in increments of $10. Each $10 donated becomes a ticket for the raffle, which the person donating can specify as being used towards the specific prize they want.

A CALL FOR PRIZE DONATIONS
The most important part of this project, of course are the prizes donated by bloggers and companies. Which is where you come in. Last year we raised over $60,000. I think if we′re good, this year we can raise over $100,000.

In order to do that, however we need two things. We need great prizes donated by bloggers, and we need those bloggers to spread the word far and wide, so that lots of people want to bid on those prizes.

So I want you to consider donating a prize (whether or not you have a blog). If you’re curious, here’s the list of prizes donated last year. I have some caveats this year for those who are donating.

The last thing we want to do is discourage anyone from donating a prize to this event, but we do want to make sure that your gift is fully appreciated, and helps the overall cause. There were a number of gifts last year that received only one or two bids, or didn′t receive any bids at all, which was a bummer for everyone involved. There were also a number of duplicate prizes as well.

So I’d like to urge everyone participating to try to make their prize as valuable and attractive as they can, and to perhaps think beyond a copy of your favorite wine book, for instance. A good rule of thumb is to think of a prize that would get at least 20 of YOUR readers or customers to donate at least 10 bucks apiece.

The other thing I would suggest, this being the world of wine bloggers we’re talking about, that unless you are a winery or a wine retailer, or you are regularly used to shipping wine to folks in other states, that you don’t donate wine as your prize. Shipping wine across state lines as an individual without a distributors license is technically illegal. So if you donate wine as your prize, or as part of your prize, make sure you know what you’re doing. However, if you ARE a wine producer or distributor, then BRING IT ON. Donate a couple of mixed cases of the really good stuff. Some of the most popular prizes last year were such prizes.

HOW TO PARTICIPATE
Think of a prize and then contact me by sending me e-mail at alder at vinography dot com. I will then assign you a prize code, which is what your readers will need in order to bid on your prize, starting on December 10th when the campaign launches. I will also need a 100 x 100 pixel and a 250 x 250 pixel image of your prize by the time the campaign goes live.

If you are going to participate, YOU NEED TO TELL ME ABOUT YOUR PRIZE BY WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 5TH.

If you can’t think of a good prize, or if you’re not inclined to do so, you can also participate by blogging about the event, hosting banners for the event on your site, or simply buying raffle tickets yourself.

I hope you will consider doing your part to support this very worthy cause this year.

Original post by Calwineries.com Blog

It’s that time of year. The giving time. And I need your help.

Increasingly, popular bloggers are overwhelmed with opportunities to use their blogs as platforms for the promotion of the worthy causes that are especially visible during the holiday season. Here at Vinography we have chosen to throw our energy and time into a single cause year after year, both because it is specific to the wine and food blogging community, and because it is increasingly effective in raising an awful lot of money for people in need.

A Menu For Hope was started by my friend Pim in response to the tsunami tragedy of 2005. Now in it’s fourth year, it has become one of the largest grassroots charity fundraising operations in the blogosphere, with 100% of its proceeds going to benefit the United Nations World Food Programme. Additionally, this year we will actually be working with the WFP to get the funds to a very specific community of farmers in Lesotho, Africa with 100% transparency and control over where the funds go.

For those who are not familiar with this initiative, it is essentially a raffle, with prizes donated by bloggers. Participating bloggers post a description of their prize (which is also listed on the main Menu For Hope page) and do all they can to attract donations (made on the designated donation web site) in increments of $10. Each $10 donated becomes a ticket for the raffle, which the person donating can specify as being used towards the specific prize they want.

A CALL FOR PRIZE DONATIONS
The most important part of this project, of course are the prizes donated by bloggers and companies. Which is where you come in. Last year we raised over $60,000. I think if we’re good, this year we can raise over $100,000.

In order to do that, however we need two things. We need great prizes donated by bloggers, and we need those bloggers to spread the word far and wide, so that lots of people want to bid on those prizes.

So I want you to consider donating a prize (whether or not you have a blog). But I have some caveats this year for those who are donating.

The last thing we want to do is discourage anyone from donating a prize to this event, but we do want to make sure that your gift is fully appreciated, and helps the overall cause. There were a number of gifts last year that received only one or two bids, or didn’t receive any bids at all, which was a bummer for everyone involved. There were also a number of duplicate prizes as well.

So I′d like to urge everyone participating to try to make their prize as valuable and attractive as they can, and to perhaps think beyond a copy of your favorite wine book, for instance. A good rule of thumb is to think of a prize that would get at least 20 of YOUR readers or customers to donate at least 10 bucks apiece.

The other thing I would suggest, this being the world of wine bloggers we’re talking about, that unless you are a winery or a wine retailer, or you are regularly used to shipping wine to folks in other states, that you don’t donate wine as your prize. Shipping wine across state lines as an individual without a distributors license is technically illegal. So if you donate wine as your prize, or as part of your prize, make sure you know what you’re doing. However, if you ARE a wine producer or distributor, then BRING IT ON. Donate a couple of mixed cases of the really good stuff. Some of the most popular prizes last year were such prizes.

HOW TO PARTICIPATE
Think of a prize and then contact me by sending me e-mail at alder at vinography dot com. I will then assign you a prize code, which is what your readers will need in order to bid on your prize, starting on December 10th when the campaign launches. I will also need a 100 x 100 pixel and a 250 x 250 pixel image of your prize by the time the campaign goes live.

If you are going to participate, YOU NEED TO TELL ME ABOUT YOUR PRIZE BY WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 5TH.

If you can’t think of a good prize, or if you′re not inclined to do so, you can also participate by blogging about the event, hosting banners for the event on your site, or simply buying raffle tickets yourself.

I hope you will consider doing your part to support this very worthy cause this year.

Original post by Calwineries.com Blog

Wine Lovers , billed as “the wine-tasting musical,” makes its debut at the Triad Theater Dec. 1. From Dec. 1-3 and Dec. 8-10, theatregoers have the chance to enjoy six different wines while watching the Manhattan premiere of the new musical.

Original post by Tim

NEW YORK, Dec 1 (Bernama) — Drugs that mimic the health-protection effects of a chemical compound in red wine could form the basis of the next generation treatment for diabetes, the Press Trust of India (PTI) quoted a research as saying Friday.

Original post by Tim

Figuring out which (if any) organic wine to buy can feel like navigating dawn with a hangover.

Original post by Tim

Review by Cole Danehower.

If I were a grape, and someone wanted to write a book about me, I

The term “food wine” has always been one that has baffled me. From my understanding of the term it does not simply mean a wine that is good with food.

Original post by Tim

Missouri’s wine and grapes had an estimated economic impact of $701.2 million on the state’s economy in 2007, according to a research report released by the Missouri Wine and Grape Board.

Original post by Tim

Drugs that mimic the health-protection effects of a chemical compound in red wine could form the basis of the next generation treatment for diabetes, a research said.

Original post by Tim

Louisa Hufstader, writing for the Napa Valley Register, gets the prize for Best Line of the Week:

“Men are from Parker, women are from Robinson?”



Hufstader is writing in the context of a story on women in the wine business, which was the topic as a recent event at Copia. In the course of writing her story on this topic, Hufstader brings us around to a salient point made by Elizabeth Thach, Ph.D., a professor of wine business and management at Sonoma State University and Keynote Speaker at the event:

“Genetic differences between the sexes include extra taste buds for most
females, Thach told the group

Scientists at Sirtris Pharmaceuticals have conducted research on fattened rodents to test the utility of a chemical that mimics resversatrol. Resversatrol is a key compound in red wine. After examining 500 thousand compounds, the scientists located a compound that is a thousand times more potent. Human studies will begin in 2008. The results could lead to treatment for Diabetes and other age …

Original post by Tim

Beer can be bought on Sundays in Bossier City at retail grocery stores and other outlets that sell alcoholic beverages. If voting at the next City Council meeting mirrors that of Tuesday

For a high-class experience close to home, take a drive out to the northwestern edge of Rockingham County. Sitting on 100 acres of land just outside of Mayodan is Autumn Creek Vineyards’ wine tasting room/ special events center. “It’s a hidden treasure,” said Bud Cardwell, Mayodan town councilman-elect. He was one of the dignitaries who came to the grand opening of the wine tasting room Thursday …

Original post by Tim

DEERFIELD, Ill.—-Beam Global Spirits & Wine, Inc. [Fortune Brands, Inc. ], a global leader in premium spirits and wine, is pleased to support The Century Council in their launch of several educational programs throughout November.

Original post by Tim

Shop for gifts from the designer-makers at Gabriel’s Wharf and enjoy mulled wine and Christmas carols.

Original post by Tim

NEW YORK: Adding to evidence that a little wine can do a heart good, a new study suggests that women who drink moderate amounts may have less inflammation in their blood vessels.

Original post by Tim

Plan your own California Wine Tour with this guide to the wineries, restaurants, and accommodations. Print free wine tasting coupons and winery maps for your California Wine Tour.

Original post by Tom Wark

A new wine suggestion every Friday - just in time for the weekend.

Original post by Tim

The Ohio Wine Producers are launching two major trail events this month. The Tannenbaum Trail along the Vines and Wines Trail in northeast Ohio begins Nov. 30 and extends for three weeks.

Original post by Tim

Residents of Cologne may soon be the beneficiaries of another restaurant in town that will provide a greater range of dining experiences. Whether or not that happens relies in large part on whether the business can obtain a wine license from the city.

Original post by Tim

The Montpelier Chamber Orchestra is holding a benefit party, an evening of wine, conservation and music with Gov. James Douglas, Saturday, Dec. 8, 7 to 9 p.m., at the Lazy Pear Gallery, 154 Main St. in Montpelier. Tickets are $50, $75 per couple (benefiting the Montpelier Chamber Orchestra); for information, go online to www.montpelierchamberorchestra.org. …

Original post by Tim

The Moldovan wine industry is at a crossroads and must look to the new world for inspiration, the first wine conference in the beleagured republic has heard.

Original post by Tim

Raise a glass to Crystal Cruises, which is upgrading its offerings for wine lovers. The luxury line is putting its entire staff of wine sommeliers through additional training this year so they can pass muster with the worldwide Court of…

Original post by Tim

Sure you live in Wine Country, but that doesn’t mean you automatically know the best wines to serve at your holiday gatherings.

Original post by Tim

Iwon’t flamboozle you with the fiction that I have actually finished any of the more than 20 new wine and spirits books that have landed on my desk this fall. I find it difficult to drink and read at the same time, and you know which takes priority.

Original post by Tim

Like a viticultural magician, Scott Schoenen can double the value of a bottle of wine without aging it for years. The owner of Fresh Northwest…

Original post by Tim

Sam Beam didn’t pick up an acoustic guitar Wednesday at the Orpheum until he was a dozen songs into his mesmerizing 95-minute set with Iron & Wine. For most bands, that bit of information would mean more for the roadies than for the musicians.

Original post by Tim

Kader Asmal, chairman of the South African Wine Council and trustee of the South African Wine Industry Trust (Sawit), has welcomed with “relief” a deal in which the trust’ s loan book in Phetogo Investments, the black empowerment partner of KWV, will be bought by a third party.

Original post by Tim

The Sun and The Fog

“This is one of the coolest vineyard photos I’ve ever seen. The sun breaking through the fog above the ghostly forms of this vineyard evokes Middle Earth or some otherworldly landscape. I’d never in a million years guess that it was shot in Sonoma County” — Alder Yarrow

INSTRUCTIONS:
Download this image by right-clicking (Mac users, click and hold) on the image and selecting “save link as” or “save target as” and then select the desired location on your computer to save the image. Mac users can also just click the image and drag it to your desktop.

To set the image as your desktop wallpaper, Mac users should follow these instructions, while PC users should follow these.

PRINTS:
If you are interested in owning an archive quality print of this image, or any of the other vineyard images featured here on Vinography, you can purchase one on the Michael Regnier Photography web site for $85.

ABOUT VINOGRAPHY IMAGES:
Every week, Vinography features a new image from photographer Michael Regnier for readers’ personal use as desktop backgrounds or screen savers. We hope you enjoy them. Please respect the copyright on these images.

Original post by Calwineries.com Blog

Jason Fletcher, a graphic artist for The Post and Courier, won the poster competition for the 2008 BB&ampT Charleston Food + Wine Festival. His design will be on retail items and storefront windows across the city. He received $1,000 and will be recognized in the December issue of Charles…

Original post by Tim