Highlighting Female Winemakers of Washington

Submitted by mous on 12/08/08 2:41pm

Most of us know (and are quite proud) of Washington's booming wine industry; last time I checked the Washington Wine Commission, the number of wineries had increased to an impressive 580! While we refill our wine glasses and raise them in celebration, let's throw in one more celebratory fact; how many of these Washington wineries boast a female winemaker?

This idea crept into my head when I read Suzi Beerman's article about female winemakers. Aptly called From Grape to Glass, Women Make Washington Wine, the writer provides interesting background information about the people behind some of the popular Washington wines, stressing on gender mainly because in the traditionally winemaking has been hyped as a best-done-with-muscular-arms-on-a-man sort of profession.

And thus I came up with this list. Do note there is an impressive number of female winemakers but for this article I am writing about a few noteworthy ones who are making waves in the wine industry. A few of them are winemakers featured in Beerman's article but a number of them are names I came across via the Washington Wine Commission website.

1. Forgeron Cellars in Walla Walla. Marie-Eve Gilla, who is part owner and winemaker, definitely seems to have found her life's calling when she turned to winemaking. As it is, her name has been espoused by those who compare Walla Walla to "the next Napa"!

2. Chinook Wines in Prosser. Twenty-five years of winemaking means this winery is in a genre all by itself. Kay Simon and Clay Mackey are the experts behind this popular brand; Simon is the winemaker whilst Mackey is the viticulturist where their love for the profession blends with their vast expertise to bring us some rather delightful wines like the Chinook Wines Cabernet Franc Rosé which recently won the 2008 Washington Wine Award for best Rosé.

3. Nefarious Cellars in Chelan. Another husband and wife team. Dean Neff is the brains behind the red wines while Heather Neff adds the know-how to the white wines. Incidentally, Heather's 2006 Viognier was in the spotlight in the 2008 Washington Wine Awards; it was a tie with Rulo Winery's delicious Viognier.

4. aMaurice Cellars in Walla Walla. An excellent winery run by the Schafer family. Anna Schafer is the winemaker in this team where they pool together their knowledge and expertise to produce some of the tantalizing Washington wines. Interesting news bit - in 2007 Seattle Magazine referred to her as "Washington's hottest young winemakers who are changing the face of Washington wine ...".

Ami K.

Jill to Continue Teaching

Submitted by joe six pack on 12/08/08 2:37pm
Monday, December 8th 4:25pm Dear Diary, Jill has officially come out with a statement saying that she plans to continue working after I’m sworn into the Vice Presidency. I’m personally very glad that she’s made this decision. She’s always enjoyed working at the community college, and I’m certainly glad she’s not putting her career off the side while I’m in the White House. She certainly never did that before when I was a Senator for all those years, and I see no reason why she should now. Anybody who takes her English classes is lucky to have her, and I’d hate for those kids to miss out on one of the best English teachers around. Maybe I’m biased, and it’s true – I haven’t sat on in on any of her classes. But I know Jill is a brilliant woman, and she’s been a renowned teacher for years. Not to mention, I’m extremely proud that she’ll be one of the few Second Ladies to work while her husband’s in office. That not only shows where women are at, but how much she values working. I’ve always supported her work, and I’m so glad she’s continuing to do what she loves. In other news, tomorrow I have a meeting with Al Gore and Barack to discuss the state of the environment and what we can do within that sector to stimulate job growth. I’ve always respected Al and I’m looking forward to hearing what he has to say. I think this is a facet of the economy that has not been explored, but can be the keystone in turning around our recession. And, I’m glad to know that Barack wants to include me in the meeting. Until next time, Joe the Veep

Originally posted in The Secret Diary of Joe Biden

Stem Cell Breast Enhancements

Submitted by hellenwyeth on 12/08/08 2:37pm
Going beyond the magical pill, herbal supplements and ridiculous exercise routines that don't work for an all natural and larger bust line, scientists are now using stem cell research to aid those who want breast enhancements.
 
In the past, embryonic cells have been studied to help find cures and treatments for Alzheimer's, diabetes, heart failure and Parkinson's. While you can get stem cells from any living being, stem cells from embryos are much more flexible and can develop cell based therapies for repair and replacement of damaged tissues. For those that are opposed to embryonic stem cell research don't stop reading yet. Developments that scientists have at hand use stem cells retrieved from the individuals requesting the treatment.
 
In 2003 Tokyo Surgeon Kotaro Yoshimura broke ground in cosmetic surgery with his studies. Using stem cells, he was able to literally grow fully functional, soft and real breasts. Australia following suit performed their experiments of the same concept in 2006 where they grew these all natural breasts on a mouse with only a single stem cell. After practice on lab mice the next phase was to be a human volunteer.
 
That such volunteer found surgeon Yoshimura in 2008 where he reconstructed a 51 year old woman's left breast. The procedure was done by using a liposuction procedure that removed fat from the woman's thigh. The individuals fat and stem cells were then injected into the 51 year old woman giving her a new, all natural breast in addition to giving her thinner thighs. Kotaro Yoshimura claims to have successfully completed this procedure over 200 times since 2003 at the Cellport Clinic in Yokohama.  
 
With dangers of breast implant complications and possible recurring surgeries, this new science could turn out to be the end all solution. Though this procedure is not approved by the FDA at this point in time due to long term results still being unknown, you will have to travel overseas to benefit from this cosmetic advancement. Currently the procedure is only legal in Japan and Europe. Medical insurance companies are also with the FDA on this one and are refusing to cover the breast enhancement procedure.
 
Breast cancer survivors may benefit from this if they have had to undergo radiation therapy to overcome and battle their cancer, leaving them with virtually no breasts at all. During treatment radiation causes shriveled blood vessels. Grafts that would be used contain stem cells that would help regenerate those blood vessels and prevent shrinkage allowing the breast cancer survivor to keep their breasts.
 
As mentioned, silicone implants and the like have their own complications including ruptures and leaks in the bags which need immediate attention. Some argue that like implants, these all natural breast could contain their own complications that are well worth taking note of. Researchers worry and speculate that the re-injected fat will cause calcification in the breast which in turn would cause mammogram interference as well as increasing the risk of estrogen producing breast cancer fat cells. Even though it's only legal in Europe and Japan it sure to soon make it's way into the states revolutionizing breast enhancements for many.

An Extraordinary Beer with an Extraordinary Past

Submitted by beatriz on 12/08/08 2:31pm
My heart skipped a beat as I awoke to the words, "Hey, did you know that the Paulaner brewery is three blocks away?" This was coming from mouth of my travel companion on the first morning of our stay in Munich. I grew excited because I consider Paulaner to be one of the finest beers and one that is relatively easy to find in the US. Before he had finished his sentence I had already decided to make a stop and take a tour of the brewery. After the tour the hook that had been set during my first Paulaner experience last year was pushed even deeper into the flesh of my top 5 favorite beers list. While the tour was amazing, I found the facts surrounding the beer and its history to be even more tantalizing than a cold, crisp glass of the brewery's weisse bier. One of the biggest reasons why I've always liked Paulaner is because of its rich history. The brewery was started in the 17th century by a group of monks living on the outskirts of Munich. Back then the town was much smaller and the citizens enjoyed their beer enough to request that the monks, who were brewing it for monastery use, begin to sell it to the townspeople. A legend was immediately born from these very humble and very pious beginnings. Over the years the brewery has grown along with their product line. There are currently many varieties of Paulaner including their Bock, Octoberfest, and an extremely tasty Dunkel. Each has its own distinct taste and traditionally, its own season for enjoyment. The morning after imbibing, I find Paulaner to be a much kinder, gentler beer to my body. Because of Germany's Beer Purity Law or Reinheitsgebot of 1516, Paulaner used to be made only from four ingredients: water, hops, barley, and yeast. In 1987 the law was scrubbed but replaced by a slightly more lax version called The Provisional German Beer Law which allows for ingredients like cane sugar and wheat malt but no longer allows for malted barley. Because it's made with no preservatives I have never experienced a hangover after drinking Paulaner, which is certainly something considering all the chemicals and preservatives used in brewing many domestic beers. What's more, the people at the Paulaner brewery argue that the taste hasn't suffered one bit due to the changes in the German food laws and I would argue that even if the taste has changed, it's a taste that I've grown accustomed to enjoying both in Germany and back home. Nick DuBay

Vegetarianism Helps the Environment

Submitted by beatriz on 12/08/08 2:17pm
Are you tired of friends and family members harassing you about your vegetarian diet? Do you hate the superiority of carnivores? I have good news for you: there is another reason, in addition to ethical concerns, to adopt a vegetarian diet. It is good for the environment. According to a 2006 report by the U.N.’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), livestock accounts for 18 percent of all greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Although livestock only account for nine percent of carbon dioxide emissions, it accounts for 37 percent of methane, which has a warming potential 23 times greater than carbon. Livestock also account for 65 percent of nitrous oxide emissions (the majority comes from manure), and 64 percent of ammonia emissions, which contribute to acid rain. Every year, livestock produce over 100 million tons of methane, and 85 percent of methane is produced in the digestive tract of livestock. Methane concentrations since pre-industrial times have more than doubled. Global meat consumption has increased five-fold over the last 50 years. It is expected to increase to 435 million tons by 2050. In 1990, 229 million tons of meat was produced. The U.S. is responsible for the most methane emissions from livestock, producing almost 1.9 million tons annually. The largest amount of methane emissions come from cows and pigs. From 1990 to 2005, meat production in the U.S. has increased from 37 to 50 percent. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) blames the increase on the increased use of large facilities to house livestock that are equipped with liquid manure management systems. A person who consumes both plant and animal-based food causes an extra 1485 kg. of carbon emissions than a person eating only plant-based food. The typical American diet of mixed food sources accounts for six percent of U.S. GHG emissions. The FAO report recommended cutting the “environmental impact per unit of livestock production” by half in order to avoid increasing “the level of damage.” Cutting methane is the ““only way to stabilize climate in the short term is to reduce methane effect,” a 2007 Earth Save report said. Gina-Marie Cheeseman

The HumanCar

Submitted by msarko on 12/08/08 2:17pm
Looking at the signs of gas stations across America today, it's surreal to see prices lower than they were five years ago, especially considering how we were experiencing record high prices on a near-daily basis over the summer. During the steady incline in oil prices over the past five years, interest in alternative fuels also climbed. The most prominent change that interest contributed to our roadways is the presence of hybrid cars, but combination gas/electric engines are far from the only innovations of the era. The Flintstones were on the right track, but they got one detail wrong- It's not about the legs, it's in the arms. One of the most interesting concept vehicles to come out of our country's recent courtship with economic and environmental concern is GC Greenwood's HumanCar. While its practicability is questionable, you can't argue with the results. The HumanCar is essentially the principle of Low Mass Engineering brought to its logical conclusion. At a svelt 500 pounds, the Imagine_PS model is light enough to be propelled at a rate of 60 MPH by nothing other than the back-and-forth manual input of the hand-cranks. The best part? It doesn't use a single drop of fossil fuel. Whether you're looking at it from the perspective of an environmentalist, or just a shrewd accountant, that's pretty impressive. The HumanCar also has a full-electric mode that uses the onboard battery so you don't have to crank all the time. This is especially useful if you don't have four people to contribute to the manual generator. This is also used to help drivers overcome uphill resistance. Rather than being steered by a wheel, the Imagine_PS uses the front drivers to guide the vehicle in what HumanCar calls "skateboard style" lean steering. The Imagine_PS is certified street-legal for non-highway use in every state of the union. It retails for $15,500.00, more than half that of your average hybrid car. In addition, purchase of a HumanCar can be put toward a significant tax credit for those who live in states that reward the use of alternative energy products. While you can't go to a dealership and drive one off the lot right now, you can reserve a product number from HumanCar for $99. The current model of the Imagine_PS has existed for several years, but it has taken some time to be certified for street use and tested for safety. Everything in both departments has gone smoothly, so it's only a matter of time before you see hand-powered cars whizzing down the neighborhood streets of America. The work that HumanCar has done for the past thirty years isn't just a matter of fixing problems associated with oil-run automobiles. Their work is a matter of proving the applicability of manual power generation to everyday items. In a sense, it's not just an environmental or an economic concern, but a social one. HumanCar has plans for a person-powered Light Rail system we may see in our lifetime. Additionally, the sky's the limit for their generator technology, or maybe not. As humans push farther out into space exploration, manual input increasingly looks like a viable answer to powering personal technology. There's plenty to love about HumanCar and their Imagine_PS. Now, we just need to find a way to convince an entire society to embrace the idea of exercise as a mode of transportation.

Monday Madness

Submitted by mous on 12/08/08 1:39pm
Monday has become the new Friday. There are tons of concerts, bands, and singers performing tonight all around the city. Here are just a couple of the hottest shows that will be going down tonight. Downtown’s main action will take place at the Showbox at the Market in the Green Room. They will be featuring all Seattle-born bands tonight, with performances by Past Lives, Triumph of Lethargy Skinned Alive to Death, and Chk Minus. It all starts at 8pm tonight with tickets priced at $7. Past Lives is a native indie Seattle band, with such hits as “Strange Symmetry,” “We Meet in Sleep,” “Chrome Life,” and “Beyond Gone.” Triumph of Lethargy Skinned Alive to Death also hails from Seattle. Their music is self-described as experimental, psychadelic, and garage. Triumph of Lethargy Skinned Alive to Death has covered hits by several other bands and singers, including Neil Young, David Bowie, Huggy Bear, Bo Diddley, Muddy Waters, and Joanna Newsom. Chk Minus is an indie, post-punk, grunge band with hits like “12 Demo” and “Spark Plug.” Neumo’s, located on Capital Hill, will be featuring Kimya Dawson, L'Orchidee D'Hawai, and Akida Junglefoot Dawson, Kimya's brother. Performances start at 7pm, and tickets will be $12, sold on TicketWest.com to people of all ages. Kimya Dawson's songs were featured in the movie "Juno,” and much of her music was inspiration for the other composers in the movie. She is known both as a solo performer and as one half of The Moldy Peaches, an indie group based out of New York. L'Orchidee D'Hawai hails from France as a self-proclaimed garage, surf, rock band, and is in the midst of a tour around the West Coast.

Jill to Continue Teaching

Submitted by beatriz on 12/08/08 1:12pm
Monday, December 8th 4:25pm Dear Diary, Jill has officially come out with a statement saying that she plans to continue working after I’m sworn into the Vice Presidency. I’m personally very glad that she’s made this decision. She’s always enjoyed working at the community college, and I’m certainly glad she’s not putting her career off the side while I’m in the White House. She certainly never did that before when I was a Senator for all those years, and I see no reason why she should now. Anybody who takes her English classes is lucky to have her, and I’d hate for those kids to miss out on one of the best English teachers around. Maybe I’m biased, and it’s true – I haven’t sat on in on any of her classes. But I know Jill is a brilliant woman, and she’s been a renowned teacher for years. Not to mention, I’m extremely proud that she’ll be one of the few Second Ladies to work while her husband’s in office. That not only shows where women are at, but how much she values working. I’ve always supported her work, and I’m so glad she’s continuing to do what she loves. In other news, tomorrow I have a meeting with Al Gore and Barack to discuss the state of the environment and what we can do within that sector to stimulate job growth. I’ve always respected Al and I’m looking forward to hearing what he has to say. I think this is a facet of the economy that has not been explored, but can be the keystone in turning around our recession. And, I’m glad to know that Barack wants to include me in the meeting. Until next time, Joe the Veep

2008 Jazz Discs Through the Eyes of AMG

Submitted by cobwebsandstrange on 12/08/08 1:10pm
The Allmusic Guide today posted its editors favorite jazz albums of the year. As per usual, there’s a great deal of variety encompassed in this list. There are some legends included as well as some newer folks. As a service to you kind readers, I’ve cut out some of their selections in order to focus on the most unique or interesting releases from this list. If you’d like to take a look at the entire list – do it here.

Anthony Braxton - Beyond Quantum Braxton is one of the most difficult yet rewarding modern jazz players around. While switching between saxophone, clarinet and flute he’s able to evoke a range of sounds and emotions – some more volatile than the next, but always thoughtful. Joined here by William Parker, Braxton delves into more free jazz theoretical ideas. No doubt spurred on by John Zorn, whose Tzadik label released this disc, this album aptly continues Braxton’s legacy.

Charles Lloyd - Rabo de Nube Lloyd sits in some weird purgatory between traditional jazz and its freer improv inclinations. Probably most evident of this middle ground is his ‘60s live recording at Monterey along with Keith Jarrett. Rabo de Nube (roughly translated as Tail of a Cloud) is also a live disc, coming just in time for the sax player’s 70 birthday. The folks that he’s surrounded himself with for this outing seem to push Lloyd into creative spaces that not too many players of his vintage can reach any longer.

The Bennie Maupin Quartet - Early Reflections Having played with Herbie Hancock and releasing one of the all time great atmospheric jazz albums, The Jewel in the Lotus, Maupin’s music still has a great deal of opportunity to change. Enlisting European players for this date may have given him the chance to do so, but Early Reflections finds the multi-instrumentalist indulging in more laid back tones. Nothing can really be said against sticking with what works, and this disc again proves that point.

Willie Nelson/Wynton Marsalis - Two Men with the Blues No one should pretend that Wynton Marsalis is a great jazz musician. What he should be commended for is working to maintain the status of jazz in the greater American culture. Without his efforts the broad availability and general appeal of the music might be drastically different. And here Marsalis is paired with a great song writer and another musician who is as uniquely identifiable as an American. Working with Marsalis’ group, Nelson stays within the scope of what a jazzbo might traffic in song-wise. Considering Nelson’s background of incorporating as much as possible into his music, this combination of players recasts American standards with unique application and distinct voices.

William Parker - Double Sunrise Over Neptune Parker holds the distinction of being included on this list twice (he accompanied Braxton on Beyond Quantum). For this date, he assembled an enormous group in order to coax the sounds out of each player required for Double Sunrise Over Neptune. Again, Parker is noted for his freer playing and this date is no different. It plays as a singular offering, simply divided into tracks for the ease of digital playback. It’s not his musical thesis, per se, but it does go a long way to investigating his variegated approach to music.

Steve Reid Ensemble - Daxaar

If Steve Reid had not been recently playing with Four Tet (Kiernan Hebdon), it’s pretty likely that Domino wouldn’t have released this disc. Reid’s an unsung drummer who has had his profile raised in the last few years following the releases of Tongues and NYC. Both of those discs seemingly reinvigorated a career that has touched on all types of music. And here Reid and his group work in a percussion heavy African mode. While the performances are given to wanderings – like a great deal of “spiritual jazz” – rewards are bountiful upon repeated listening. There are sections that, while brief, sound as if they could constitute an entire track.

Storing your Wine

Submitted by lisala on 12/08/08 12:30pm

When you start buying specific wines because you like them, you start buying wine by the case, because, well, you're going to drink it, eventually, and it's cheaper by the case. Now, me, for instance, I found a Washington Shiraz I liked very much indeed, and then I found a Riesling, and a Gewürztraminer . . .

Before you know it, instead of a couple of bottles in a cupboard, and an opened bottle in the 'fridge, you've got 36 bottles of wine.

They won't all fit in the cupboard, and there's no sense in putting a Shiraz in the fridge, and so you start thinking about what to do with all your lovely wine. Now, oenophiles will buy wines with the intent of keeping it until it "ages," and "develops," for several years—but they're also buying wines that are upwards of $25.00 a bottle.

That's not what I'm talking about right now, though maybe, some day . . . I'm talking about the table wines that you find locally, possibly from artisanal winemakers, or bottles from a particular winery that you got an amazing deal on. We're talking storing wine so you can enjoy it later, rather than storing wine to age it. We're talking about storage for two years or less.

First of all, these are the things you want to avoid. Don't store your wine where it will be exposed to:

  • Light
  • Odor
  • Vibrations (from motors, or fans, or compressors, for instance)

You want the location to be:

  • Warm (around 54 degrees F. but not higher than say 68 F)
  • Dark
  • Quiet
  • Dry
  • Very little fluctuation in temperature

That means not on top of the fridge, or in an open wine rack in the kitchen. But possibly inside a cool cabinet, with a door you can shut, or a linen closet, or a coat closet.

You could certainly buy special shelves or wine racks, but honestly, an empty cardboard wine box meant to hold a dozen bottles from your local store, turned on its side, is quite adequate. You'll want to turn the wine bottles on their side, whereever you store them, to keep the cork moist. Traditionally, you'd store your wines "label side up," so you could watch for sediment, but with modern table wines, that's less of an issue—but do keep an eye on sediment with artisanal wines. You also want to make very sure that the temperature is fairly constant, not a lot of fluctuation on either side of 54 F. And you don't want to shift the bottles around, either. Store them until you're ready to move them in order to drink them.

Now, if you want special shelves/wine racks, there are a lot of possibilities that won't break the bank. Make sure that the racks will fit your space though, and that your cabinet or closet door will close properly. There are options at Ikea, ranging from Hutten 9-bottle $9.99 wood racks, to Omar, self-assemble metal racks that hold 24 bottles at $34.99. Or you can take a look at Crate & Barrel for something a bit more exotic.

Pages