The Desert WIne Guy - The Hangover Myths

   Hey everyone. Since New Years Eve is quickly coming. I thought this would be a great time to write an article on the morning after .... the hangover. Read on and see why we get hangovers and what  if anything can be done to prevent them.
   It's what ever o'clock and for what ever the reason you have to get up from your warm, safe bed where the room is dark and quiet. There are no kids running around. There is no T.V on. There is simply piece & quiet and that is nice. All that is about to change however. Wow that was some night last night. You drank so much. We all know that you didn't intend to drink so much after all you have so many responsibility's the following day. What ever the reason was you did drink a lot....a real lot. You were sucessful and killed some brain cells that will never come back and said and did some things you still don't remember but don't worry there were plenty of people there that will remind you....perhaps forever. You have made a lot of memories that will go down in history. The stories will start like this.  "Do you remember that one New Years Eve when you....." or the old "I can't believe that one time when you....." . Well you will deal with that stuff when it comes up (and it will). Before we get into this article. let me say something we all should know. Alcohol is poison. With that being said here we go.
   Right now your head is pounding and you need it to stop. There are many old wives tales such as a Bloody Mary. That's right your body is hurting from an overdose of too much Alcohol so the thing to cure it is more Alcohol. I assume that "remedy" is dead now. There is another "remedy" that has been around for many years and that is a greasy breakfast. According to doctors there is no evidence that a greasy breakfast helps in any way with a hangover. There are lots of hangover "cures" in a bottle out there such as Chaser, PreToxx, and RU 21—but very little evidence to back up claims. How about sports drinks like Gatorade "Even though the diuretic effect of alcohol may cause the body to lose some electrolytes, it's not so much that you need to replace them right away," says Samir Zakhari, Ph.D., director of the Division of Metabolism and Health Effects at the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. And research has shown Gatorade is no better for a hangover than water from your tap, so save your money. How about drinking juice? The problem with juice is that it would take gallons of juice to get enough sugar in your system to really change your metabolic rate—an already suspect line of reasoning since researchers in the 1970s established that drinking lots of juice slows down the metabolizing of alcohol. Then, even if the questionable trick worked, you'd have to deal with the massive insulin spike and sugar crash that followed—which can be just as nasty as a hangover. Hydration is important, especially after drinking it up, but juice doesn't do anything special to help you. What about Aspirin? Ibuprofen while you are drinking is also not advised as it may increase the risk of liver damage when combined with large amounts of alcohol. The last one is probably the most popular and that is coffee. This is part myth and part truth . It's a myth that coffee helps sober you up and ease a hangover. Coffee is actually a diuretic and drinking it will further dehydrate you. It is true in the sense that if you drink a weak cup and have plenty of water, the caffeine in a cup of coffee may help prevent or alleviate a headache because it constricts your blood vessels, according to the American Headache Society. We can go on and on with busting different myths concerning curing a hangover but the bottom line is they don't work.
    There are things you should do BEFORE you go out for that night of drinking. The first thing to do is eat. Eating a meal high in protein or carbohydrates should be done BEFORE drinking. This helps alcohol absorb slowly into your blood stream. Not in the mood for spaghetti? Other meal options that prepare your body for drinking is steak, which is high in fat, or tuna, which is high in protein. Fat and protein help slow the rate of absorption, according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. What about Asparagus? You might not have heard this one but the Plant Green Discovery Communications Research has found that enzymes in asparagus help break down alcohol in the body. Having some before or after a night of drinking may ease a headache and speed up detoxification. Have a shot of Wheat-grass. Wheat-grass is known to hydrate cells and give you healthy energy because it is full of antioxidants that help detoxify and hydrate. Replacing one of your tequila shots with a shot of wheat-grass may help your body prevent a hangover the next day, this according to Discovery Communications Planet Green once again. How about honey? Add a few tablespoons of honey to your water or tea, or just have a tablespoon of it. This will help metabolize the alcohol in your body faster and help to stabilize your blood sugar levels. The potassium in honey is also believed to decrease cravings for alcohol, according to Health911, a natural health and wellness company.
   There are things that you CAN do to to help a little with the effects of over doing it or least help or shorten the time you pay for over doing it. In ancient Roman times, sufferers were advised to try downing raw owl eggs, which might have helped, since eggs contain an amino acid called cysteine that is depleted by alcohol. Pliny the Elder advised lining the stomach with a meal of roasted sheep’s intestines before hitting the town  probably to some effect. In America, party hosts of the 1950s were told they could save their guests from the hell of the morning after by passing round Quaff-Aid as part of the evening’s fun. Quaff-Aid was actually brewer’s yeast. Rich in minerals and B-complex vitamins, it is still used as a remedy  but, as with all hangover cures, it can’t suddenly eradicate the poison from the system. H2O (water) is a must. As you likely know from the frequent trips to the bathroom during a night of debauchery, alcohol is a diuretic and can cause dehydration. Before falling into bed, down 16 to 20 ounces of water, says Daniel K. Hall-Flavin, M.D., a consultant in addiction psychiatry at the Mayo Clinic. And the next time you go out, he recommends ordering a glass of water with every beer—and alternate between the two to replace lost fluids as you go.
   However you decide to handle the Alcohol either today, tomorrow or at the company Christmas party please do it responsibility and DO NOT DRINK & DRIVE please. Have a safe outing.


                                                                                                         The Desert Wine Guy
     

The Desert Wine Guy - Wine Tradition Versus Wine Reality

   Today I was doing some playing around on wine a couple of wine blogs and I kept coming across articles that treat the consumer, you and I like idiots. Here are examples of some actual article titles I came across. The first one is "How To Taste Wine". The next is "Good Wine for Beginners" Here is a great one "best $20 choice". O.k folks.... wine actually isn't that complicated. It is true that some wines taste better when chilled and some taste better at room temperature. Remember though that cold takes taste away. It is true that some wines taste better with certain some foods BUT and I do say BUT I said it before and I'll say it again wine really isn't that complicated.
   There is a certain standard that is set for wine by the wine industry. They represent the Vineyards and are made up of the Vineyard owners themselves in some cases. A Merlot should taste like this a Cabernet Sauvignon should taste like this. I understand that and I do agree with that. Since a type of wine is created to be that type of wine there are standards set for what that wine should include. Here is an example. A "Merlot" is a Red wine. A Riesling is a White wine. These things cannot change. There can be a "White Merlot" such as Sutter Home wines make and these are fine for a cheap, non serious wine however the wine is a "White Merlot" NOT a Merlot. This wine is a blend probably of inferior or reject grapes of different types. To put it simpler a white Merlot is like saying you have a 100% electric car that also runs on gas. Bottom line it isn't happening. A Merlot is a Red wine, a Riesling is a White wine....Period. I hope this makes what I am trying t say clear.
   Having explained the above should not make or cause you readers to think that there isn't any merit to at least some of the "wine snobs" thinking. Lets take storing wine as an example. I don't want you to think that you can store a wine anywhere or any way you like, you can't. If you store a wine to hot the wine will be ruined. If you store a wine to cold it will be ruined. For more on wine storage see my blog please. If you store a wine standing up then the cork can dry up and allow air into the bottle. Remember cold food or drink effects what we taste. There are people talking about the shape of the glass. Does the shape of the glass matter? I have to say to an extent, yes. A good wine glass is shaped to force the bouquet to come together at the exit point (the top of the glass) so that as much of the bouquet is directed at your nose. will that be instrumental in determining a good wine from a bad? I say no, but it does help.
   Lets deal with tasting a wine. There is protocol for pouring a wine.The protocol does not effect the taste of the wine if the wine is stored properly. The location of the server (left hand of you or right hand) doesn't matter. The amount of pour the wine server pours doesn't matter. These things are done so that wine can maintain it's uppity feel, so you will believe that you have the best. Remember that for most people perception is reality and the wine industry knows this. There are parts of the wine tasting that do serve a good purpose. We swirl the wine because it releases the aroma (bouquet) which does add to the taste. If you don't believe me hold your nose and taste some wine while keeping your nose sealed off. You will taste nothing. Go ahead I'll wait. O.k your back now, good. There is a lot of tradition in wine and that is O.k just don't mistake these things for tradition forcing you to determine what makes a good or bad wine.
   Lets talk about the price of the wine. Oh boy here we go. Does the amount of money we spend on a bottle of win mean that we have bought a good wine? I say no way. I made the mistake of purchasing a $100 bottle of  wine at the store (Total Wine & Spirits) and I thought "wow this is going to be great". Boy was I wrong. The wine was nothing and I do mean nothing special. The wine tasted like a $5 dollar bottle of wine I once drank. The wine should have tasted better though going under the assumption that the more expensive the wine is the better it is. This is another tradition or belief that money means a good wine, don't believe it.
   There are a couple of ways to determine if a wine is good or bad. At the risk of putting myself out there I will tell you a wine secret. Are you ready to hear it? The first step is to pour a taste in the glass. The second step is to swirl the wine. Here is the third (secret) and final step......TASTE THE WINE. Wow that was crazy wasn't it?  One other good way to determine if you will like a wine is to pick a reviewer (say for instance The Desert Wine Guy) that feels a particular wine is good. You then should go buy that wine and drink it. If you like that wine and taste the same things in it that he tastes then you know can trust his opinion. You know that your tastes are similar to his so you have a starting point. If you have company coming over and need a wine really fast then go to his recommendations and you can be reasonably sure that you are serving a good wine. On the other hand you still risk the possibility that some in your company might not like a deep Merlot or Cabernet Sauvignon or a semi-sweet Riesling. One or two or even more or more might like a sweeter wine. What I am trying to say here is that a good wine to you might not be a good wine to me. There are plenty of people who like Jug Wines, the wines in the boxes. You might be one of these people, I am not. To me Jug wines are junk wines, to you they might be the best wines.
    I know I'm coming across sarcastic in a lot of this article but I'm just being funny because I think a lot of the tradition surrounding wine has lead to wine being avoided by "regular" people and has allowed vineyards to put prices on wine that really shouldn't be there. The wine industry is separating drinkers by creating this artificial separation by price. The industry, however is starting to smarten up to a large extent by expanding the "middle of the road" price for a bottle of wine. They realize that here is a market that is or has been largely untapped. That market is where my blog http://desertwineguy.blogspot.com/ fits in. I might do an article on higher priced wine one day I'm not sure but for now, at least I will stick to wines of the "common Man" lie you and I.


                                                                                                         The Desert Wine Guy

The Desert WIne Guy - Wine At The Movie Theater?

     So here we are on a Saturday night in Las Vegas and my wife and I just walked into the Galaxy Green Valley luxury Theaters in Henderson Nevada. I know that you are probably saying so what, what does that have to do with a wine blog? That would normally be a good question however not in this case. To answer your question, here is what that has to do with a wine blog.  This particular theater you see just so happens to sell wine (and beer) to it's customers. The theater actually has a list of 6 red wines, 7 white wines and 3 Champagnes to be exact.  My lovely wife had the idea to see Will Ferrell's new movie and surprise me with the fact that there is wine served in the theater. Well since I do write a wine blog I figured here is an opportunity to do an article. OK, I'm game so here we go.
    When you first walk into the theater you head to the left and you will see the wine section. It is actually one large counter where you buy the popcorn & candy  but the wine is confined to that left area. I ordered a 2011 Josh Cellars Merlot which is located in Rutherford California. I actually got the first pour of the bottle so there was no worries about just how long the wine was sitting opened. The first taste of this wine was that of cherry followed by plum and blackberry. This is not a complex wine and is on the lighter side of a Merlot.  It is a very light bodied wine with no real Tannins to speak of. The bouquet was nothing to speak of either. With all this being said this is not a bad wine however it is not something I would head out after either. I would say that the wine is fine if you are planning for some chicken or lightly seasoned pork (or just sitting in a movie theater). This wine is not for someone looking for a deep Merlot though. The bottom line here is that while this is not a bad wine it is defiantly not something I would write home about or seek out. There are plenty of wines like this one out there. This is one of those wines you see again and say "oh yeah I had that wine once" as you walk by. You can also forget the heavy or seasoned meats with this wine. I don't think the two combinations would blend together very well. The overall experience by the way of the movie and a glass of wine was ....just o.k. I guess when I know can stay home and drink a glass or even for that matter a bottle of wine and watch a movie here, going to a movie and having a $20 glass of wine just doesn't cut it. One real negative I feel is that the theater charges $10 dollars for what I consider a very small pour of what ever wine you order. In order to enjoy a glass of wine you have to spend $20. That's right $20 for a glass. This is of wine that sells for $15 max for a bottle.
    While the theater was clean and comfortable I think I will be skipping the alcohol next time though. If I want a bottle of wine then I'll leave the movies and go across the street to Lee's Liquor and buy a bottle. By the way the movie was very funny. I recommend you see it.


                                                                                                         The Desert Wine Guy

The Desert WIne Guy - 2011 Peirano Estate Cabernet Sauvignon

   O.k everyone here is the promised review of the 2011 Peirano Estate Cabernet Sauvignon from Lodi, C.A. I'll start off  with the beginning of the review by giving the end of the review right away. Are you ready? Get a bottle NOW!
   This review was prompted by the fact that I had already done a tasting for the 2009 Periano Estates Six Clones, Merlot (see my review already posted below) also from Lodi, C.A. I went to the store to buy another bottle  and there were no more on the shelves, they were sold out. Oh no, what do I do now, I thought. I started to look over the shelves and came across the Cabernet Sauvignon from Peirano Estates (http://peirano.com/vineyards.html) and figured, why not. Boy am I glad I did because this wine is a winner in every way. To start off the price on the bottle is around $11 which makes this wine accessible to everyone and when you taste it will please you even more. The big question is what do you get for $11? The short answer is, an outstanding wine that's what you get.You get an incredible Cabernet Sauvignon at an incredible price that's what. Please read on.
   This delightful wine starts off with a very light in color pour but don't let that disuade you from giving this wine a taste. The first taste was done without Decanting and at while at room temperature. The first taste to hit your palette is Oak which is quickly followed by Current, Black Berry and ending with a very Black Cherry and the slight hint of chocolate. All of the flavors are combined to create an incredibly smooth, evenly balanced Cabernet Sauvignon. The wine even lends to a hint of spice which I find is most interesting and welcome in the Cabernet. Tannins, for the most part are absent in this wine but they are not really missed or needed to be honest since the flavors are combined so well. The Oak is the most powerful taste here but yet not overpowering as it combines well with all the other flavors as I have already said. I think that the Oak combined with the Current sets this wine off. The Black Berry and the Cherry just continue to drive the wine over the top and into the area of fantastic.
   My suggestions for drinking this wine is that you chill it but only slightly. I think that room temperature for this particular wine might be too warm. I would Decant it also since I feel the flavors would express themselves even more. If drank this wine with dinner I would make it on a night that a heavy meat is served. This wine lends itself to a steak or roast or perhaps even a strongly flavored Sausage .Having said this I would stay away from Chicken or Pork with this wine since the texture of the meat I feel would not be dense enough to enjoy this powerful Cabernet Sauvignon masterpiece with.

                                                                                                       The Desert Wine Guy

The Desert WIne Guy - It's Wine After All

      I personally am very opinionated and while not in any way involved with politics I do have very strong opinions and try and live my daily life standing up for them by way of words and actions. What my beliefs are is not the subject of this article. The purpose of this article is to discuss and review wine and anything associated with wine. Have you ever totally loved a movie, an actor or actress or song and then found out they made some big speech at a concert or interview where they were totally opposed to your political opinion? What is your reaction the next time you see them in concert or in a movie? That is exactly why politics or my beliefs on social issues should and  will remain off limits here. You as the reader will come here to get reviews on wine or the wine industry ONLY. You will make the final decision as to whether to buy a product or to believe in a wine regulation or not. Does it really matter if I am Liberal or Conservative? Does that really come into play as to whether I like a wine or not? The answer is no, it does not. My advise to all the blogs (and for that matter actors) about wine is to stick to wine. Doing so will serve your readers much better since they come to get opinions and reads articles on wine that's what they want. Those whose choose to go off into the area of politics does so at the risk of loosing their readers. Review wine, wine gear, wine news, after all you are a wine blog are you not?
     Here is an update on what I am working on. I am going to be looking into redoing my Facebook page. I haven't been giving it the time I should and I will be attempting to change that. I also did a tasting on two wines. I tasted the 2011 Peirano Estate Cabernet Sauvignon form Lodi C.A as well as (yesterday) the 2009 Madella Real - Gran Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon. I will be posting those reviews very soon. The next few days it's back to work at my real job. I also am going to be looking into ordering my Cabernet Sauvignon seeds to start off my new Vineyard. I will also be doing a white wine grape but I haven't decided on what it will be yet. Check back soon for updates to the Blog.


                                                                                                     The Desert Wine Guy

The Desert WIne Guy - Seared Ahi Tuna Steaks

The following receipe comes from http://allrecipes.com/recipe/seared-ahi-tuna-steaks/detail.aspx


Ingredients:

2  (5 ounce) Ahi tuna steaks

1  Teaspoon Kosher Salt

1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

1/2 tablespoon butter

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 teaspoon whole peppercorns

Directions:

1) Season the tuna steaks with salt and cayenne pepper. 

2) Melt the butter with the olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Cook the peppercorns in the   mixture until they soften and pop, about 5 minutes. Gently place the seasoned tuna in the skillet and cook to desired doneness, 1 1/2 minutes per side for rare.


                                                                                                        The Desert Wine Guy

The Desert WIne Guy - 2009 Peirano Estates Six Clones Merlot

  In 1879 Giacomo Peirano (http://peirano.com/vineyards.html) moved to San Francisco from Genoa, Italy with $50. After trying his hand at the Gold Rush, where he was unsuccessful he moved to Lodi, C.A where he went into business selling goods to the miners. Giacomo became very successful and was able to go back to Italy to be with his wife, Maria. Giacomo came up with the idea to be a Jeweler. He moved back to Lodi, this time bringing his wife as well as some Italian Zinfandel vine cuttings from his family's vineyard. Giacomo bought 300 acres of land. He planted the Zinfandel and started the first vineyard in Lodi. After enduring Prohibition, The Great Depression & World War II the Peirano vineyards still are making wine. Today the fourth generation is running the vineyard. Lance Randolph is heading the vineyard and making wine. How good is that wine? Read on and find out. 

   After some time off of wine tasting I decided to jump right back into it. I went to what I call my "non serious" wine rack and pulled out a Merlot that I have been interested in tasting for some time now. I like to buy most of my wines without knowing about them. I like the experience of opening a bottle of wine without knowing anything about the taste other than from the bottle. This time I picked the 2009 Peirano Estates, Six Clones Merlot. This tasting was done with the wine at room temperature, which is how it has been stored. The color of the wine was medium red in appearance with the body being a what I would consider medium bodied. I would say this wine was perfect for a nice dinner of Lamb, pork or sausage or a seasoned or smoked meat. I would avoid cheap or bland or salty meats since it will take away from the quality of wine. This wine demands a hearty meat maybe even a stew. If I was relaxing while sitting at the fireplace with a book, I would love to have this wine. There are no Tannins to speak of but this wine doesn't need them.I tasted mostly Blackberry mixed with black Cherry and a hint of Chocolate. There was an Oakey taste to it that also added to the great taste.

   The bottom line here is this wine is on my favorites list. The price I paid for it was $15 at Total Wine & Spirits. I have had $100 bottles of wine and they couldn't compare to this wine. The bad news here is I have tried finding this wine again but they do not carry it any longer. I have done some searching on line but haven't had any luck as of yet. If you have luck finding this wine I would pick up three bottles. One to drink and enjoy now and realize that my review was right on and the other two to put away for special company or for a few years down the road. Peirano Estates, 2009 Six Clones Merlot. What a great Merlot is all about.


                                                                                                        The Desert Wine Guy