So, you have a video camera. You can use Windows Media Maker. You can cook. And you’re ready to seek your fame and fortune on the fertile landscape of the World Wide Web. Ready to start filming? Not so fast!

  

Walt Disney Co. plans to sell a "Ratatouille" wine as part of its marketing plan for its new feature animated film starring a gourmet rat, the Los Angeles Times reported June 29.

Disney has faced a challenge in marketing the film, which has a strange name, an unusual premise (a rat who loves gourmet food), and a lead character that doesn't lend itself to cuddly stuffed animals. In response, the company is looking for other ways to capitalize on the film's success.

Much of this alternative merchandizing centers on food, such as branded kitchen utensils and tableware. The Ratatouille branded French chardonnay will be sold only at Costco stores, at $12.99 per bottle. The wine goes on sale in August.

You probably know that wine is good for your heart and health. But did you know that drinking wine is good for teeth too? Wine contains polyphenols, a potent antioxidant that not only helps to stave off risks of cardiac illnesses and cancer and boost longevity, but also protect one from a slew of periodontal diseases that mainly affect the gum ad bone around the teeth. According to a scientific study, wine contains a cocktail of compounds that helps fight germs that causes dental plaques and cavities. However, the jury is yet to be out on white wine, which is believed to have adverse effects on teeth.

A mumbo jumbo article that I ran into. This is from ehow.com. Iv posted my comments in red, pls post yours too! 

 Introduction

Hi guys,

So here is my first post. I recently had the opportunity to taste Indian Wines in the Washington, DC area. I know the supplier personally and I must say that I highly recommend these wines, check out the website at www.SansaraWines.com

We tried a variety of wines, including red and white.

Rupen Rao

Alright, so I have been in California for a year, and spent a year in France before that, and believe you me, I have drunk more wine in these two years or so than I had ever before. And it has taught me a lot. For example, I never knew you could get drunk just drinking wine. Lousy jokes apart, even though I still cant taste one wine from the other, except my favorite – Zinfandel, I have at least learned enough to write a few blogs here.

 

My biggest problem when I started with wines was the names. To me they were just fancy names till I noticed that there were multiple companies that were using the same fancy name. Eureka! Most wines are made from just one or two grape varieties. Once you know them, you’ll able to talk the talk and drink the drink much better. Here is my 2 cents on key Red Grape varieties:

 

wow.travel (the online magazine of kiwicollection.com) edited by Mary Gostelow, introduces Seven Sensational Sleeps in Vineyards.

1) MEADOWOOD, ST HELENA, CA, USA

Part of the 250 acres of idyllic countryside here is home to the 85-room resort with superlative facilities, including championship croquet, with a professional coach. Private dining offers an excellent selection - including a Plump Jack Winery Chardonnay Reserve - chosen by Director of Wine Education, Gilles de Chambure MS, who also offers tours of local wineries. You are in fact adjacent, too, to the 80-acre Napa Valley Reserve private membership club, where members 'own' rows of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot vines (and the resulting bottles), and enjoy exclusive events and in-club facilities, www.thenapavalleyreserve.com. Resort GM is Alain Negueloua.www.meadowood.com

2) CLOS APALTA WINERY & LODGE, SANTA CRUZ, CHILE

Funny News I read on USA Today.

 A gunman who was attempting robbery ended up falling in love with the wine [Chateau Malescot St-Exupery] that the family was having and left the house without stealing anything.

According to USA Today - "The intruder had a sip of their Chateau Malescot St-Exupery and said, "Damn, that's good wine." The girl's father, Michael Rabdau, 51, told him to take the whole glass, and Rowan offered him the bottle. The would-be robber, with his hood down, took another sip and a bite of Camembert cheese and put the gun in his sweatpants."

http://www.usatoday.com/news/offbeat/2007-07-13-wine-robber_N.htm

Funny huh?!?

THE GAME PLAN

THE MISSION: Find friendly rosé wines, priced less than $20, suitable for outdoor entertaining or summer menus.

THE TASTERS:

Blythe Beck, executive chef, Hector's on Henderson

George Howald, Serendipity Wine Imports

Paul Pinnell, sommelier

James Tidwell, certified wine educator and sommelier at Café on the Green, The Four Seasons Resort and Club in Las Colinas

Cathy Barber, Taste editor

Tina Danze, freelance writer

TASTING NIBBLES: This was not a food pairing. But while tasting wines, we nibbled on blueberries, an Amish gorgonzola (not a creamy style), very thin crackers and roast chicken.

Details at http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/fea/taste/stories/DN-nf_winepanel_0725liv.ART.State.Edition1.5173195.html

iFood.tv send me a congratulations mails informing that my profile is the most watched profile on the site. Now many people think that it is because I am HOT. I just want to clarify that they are dead wrong . No No Not about hotness, but about hotness making me popular. Here is what has made me popular.

1. Being online as often as I can. It makes me visible. I always make sure to Login and do not surf as anonymous user.

2. Being an active member of community. I like to express myself. When I like something I say so, when I don't like something I say so. I love to appreciate good work and give improvement tips for bad work.

3. I am probably the most active user of "Add to Favorite" feature of ifood.tv. This ensures that my profile link is in maximum possible pages.

 Wine drinking continues to soar in it's popularity.  Instead of the Old Fashioned or Gimlet it's what are the wine flights.  Wine flights have become a very popular way to get to know wines, and better yet which wines you like.  Instead of wondering if you'll like a particular wine and ordering it by the glass - the opportunity to taste say 6 or 8 wines of a varietal, style or geographical region makes the choice much easier and at the same time you get to develop your palate.The  s

On the eastern shores of the Black Sea snuggled up to the Caucasus Mountain range rests a country of some 5,000,000 people, a land rich in ancient and modern history, agriculture, literature & extraordinary wines, it is. . . . . . . . .the Republic of Georgia!

Georgia, formerly part of the Soviet Union, has a long & ancient history of winemaking. The word "wine" is of Georgian origin. Ancient wine vessels dating back to 5000+ B.C., recently unearthed by scientists, offer evidence to support this theory. Alexander the Great, Julius Caesar & other notables of history enjoyed Georgian wines.

Georgia's moderate climate and moist air, influenced by the Black Sea, provide the best conditions for vine cultivating. Even though a small country, Georgia is home to over 500 varieties of wine, which have been enjoyed by Georgians, Russians & a great many Europeans.

Tamada Kindzmarauli a delicious Semi-Sweet Red Wine made in Kakheti, republic of Georgia. This wine is a dark, dark red that is a naturally semi-sweet wine that is perfect for a dessert wine especially iwth a trat fruit dessert or with especially pungent & strong cheeses. I is made from the ancient species of grape called Saperavi, a varietal that has been around for 3 thousand years +. Usually this wine is served chilled but in colder weather it is served at room temp.

The bouquet, texture along witht he superb body of this ancient wine is something thatmust be experienced tobe believed. Today's Kindzmaraulis are the best of ancient vinoculture married to the ebst of modern winemaking technology to produce wines of excellence that are hard to beat.

My bottle was brought to me about a month ago as one of a 3 bottle gift by a friend from Tbilisi, Republic Of Georgia. This great wine was chilled, served with some great Georgian Suluguni cheese.

1. Chocolate potsRich and dense, these puddings need to be made with the very best bitter chocolate - you only need a few mouthfuls. Think of them as a chocolate truffle in a pot and get creative with flavours. Spice the cream with star anise for an aniseed note, allspice for an Aztec twist, chilli for a bit of a kick, or orange peel for a comforting classic.

Saving split hollandaise

Most professional chefs have had a hollandaise sauce split in their time. The trick is not to panic, you won't need to start over again if you follow Paul Heathcote's advice.