News Category: Science & Technology

• Antioxidant Found in Red Wine Selects, Kills Cancer Cells in Experiment

  A pigmentation chemical that makes grape skins and wines red has been found to kill human leukemia and lymphoma cells cultured in a lab, according to research to be published May 4 in the Journal of Biological Chemistry. However, the compound, a type of anthocyanidin common in plants, left healthy blood cells alone.

  Posted on 2007-04-26 at 02:40

• Two Buck Chuck going green?

  Fred Franzia marked the fifth anniversary of his popular “super-value” Charles Shaw wines Tuesday by announcing that he is “exploring the possibility” of building a glass bottle factory near the Napa County Airport.
  
  Franzia is president of the Bronco Wine Company, which produces wine under 49 different labels, the best known of which are the Charles Shaw “Two Buck Chuck” wines sold at California Trader Joe’s stores for $1.99 a bottle and elsewhere in the country for $2.99.

  Posted on 2007-04-19 at 01:44

• Inoculation could save wine grapes

  At a test plot, Phil Brannen injects a grape vine with a bacterium similar to a deadly grape disease. If he pokes the needle into just the right spot, the vine's xylem, or central vein, will suck the bacterium right up, possibly giving the vine protection against the disease.

  Posted on 2007-04-05 at 03:51

• Technology helps to produce world-class wines

  In the last days of the Franco era, the Marquis of Grinon was an agricultural outlaw -- applying forbidden irrigation systems to his vineyard and importing foreign grape plants illegally.

  Posted on 2007-04-03 at 01:26

• New meets old: Emerging technologies help in managing biodynamic farm

  Ceágo Vinegarden is all about blending old technologies with the new, according to owner Jim Fetzer, who runs the vineyard on his organic and biodynamic farm in Nice.

  Posted on 2007-03-28 at 01:46

• Halsey Bottling Doubles Capacity - Purchases Mobile Bottling Line From North Coast Bottling Company

  Halsey Bottling LLC, a locally
  owned fine wine mobile bottling company announced today the acquisition of
  the assets of North Coast Bottling Company. Dan Halsey, Jr., the Company's
  President, said, "The ability to double our capacity in our first year in
  business has provided us with the flexibility to serve not only the
  customers of Halsey Bottling but also the customers of North Coast
  Bottling, many of whom I have had relationships with during my twenty three
  career in the bottling business.

  Posted on 2007-03-14 at 12:58

• Screw cap wine sales surge in U.S.

  U.S. wine sales with screw cap closures increased 24.6 percent in 2006, according to research released recently by ACNieslen at the Unified Wine & Grape Symposium in Sacramento.

  Posted on 2007-02-09 at 02:25

• Man or machine?

  A new process gives winemakers more control but, Jeni Port asks, what happens to the art?

  Posted on 2007-01-31 at 03:00

• Don't panic, this wine's biodynamic

  A new winery called Cowhorn is coming on line in the Applegate Valley, and it's different in several ways. It's organic. More than that, it's biodynamic.

  Posted on 2006-12-27 at 02:15

• University of California Pierce's Disease Grants Program Now Accepting Research Proposals

  The University of California (UC) Pierce's Disease (PD) Grants Program and the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) Pierce's Disease/Glassy Winged Sharpshooter Board are accepting proposals for research projects aimed at seeking solutions to the problem of Pierce's disease, a devastating disease that threatens California's grape industry.

  Posted on 2006-12-20 at 12:23

• Application of micro and nanotechnologies for the rapid detection of pesticides and pathogens

  The III Hispano-French Conference on micro and nanotechnologies was held recently in Donostia-San Sebastián, one of the participants being AZTI- Tecnalia which presented part of its research carried out within the framework of the European GOODFOOD - Food Safety and Quality Monitoring with Microsystems programme

  Posted on 2006-12-19 at 01:32

• Wine grape growers may run out of water

  Some wine grape growers in South Australia's Riverland could run out of irrigation water as early as next month.

  Posted on 2006-12-12 at 01:12

• The dangers of genetically modified wine yeast

  Despite the Wine Institute’s recent statement that no genetically modified organisms (GMOs) should be used in winemaking, the Sacramento Bee recently reported that, according to American Tartaric Products, the first wines made with a genetically modified wine yeast, ML01, will be released this year.
  
  This yeast is available only in North America where GMOs are unregulated. It was modified by inserting two foreign genes, one from the pombe yeast, a yeast found in Africa and used to make beer, and one from the bacteria O. oeni, so that the alcoholic and malolactic fermentations, normally a two-step process, occur at the same time. While this may be a convenience to winemakers, especially those producing large quantities of wine, I am concerned for both consumers and our local economy.

  Posted on 2006-12-12 at 01:03

• Thriving middle-aged, overweight mice drive up red wine sales

  Sales of red wines in food, drug and liquor stores surged in the four weeks ending Nov. 18, following extensive media coverage of a study that found resveratrol, a substance found in red wine, extended the life and improved the health of middle-aged, overweight mice. The study was co-authored by researchers from Harvard University and the National Institutes of Health.

  Posted on 2006-12-08 at 12:52

• Old Fashioned Red Wine Helpful For Heart Protection

  British researchers revealed that old fashioned red wines from the vineyards of France and Italy are helpful for protecting the heart. Those wines contained high concentrations of 'oligomeric procyanidins', the antioxidants which are good for cardiovascular health.

  Posted on 2006-12-05 at 01:03

• Nomacorc synthetic closures at wine contests

  Just in case wine professionals were still in any doubt, synthetic closures are making bigger and bigger inroads, with international competitions supplying the proof. The statistics from the last three most important wine events held in 2006 speak for themselves. The results from the Vinalies Internationales in Paris, Mondial du Rosé competitions and the Mundus Vini, were conclusive every time. Synthetic closures are gaining ground and Nomacorc is the sector’s leading authority.

  Posted on 2006-11-21 at 03:22

• Grape juice is for the birds: New method deals humanely with pests

  Narens said specialized machinery he has breaks down Concord grape juice extract into microns, vaporizing them and sending a plume of vaporized grape juice over the birds.
  
  
  That causes them to feel discomfort and, most importantly, associate that discomfort with where they are sitting. The point, said Narens, is to teach the birds to find “some other place to sleep.”

  Posted on 2006-11-20 at 12:55

• Mining The Solar Gold Rush

  Earlier this month, Fetzer Winery flipped the switch on a new installation of solar panels that cover 75,000 square feet atop its bottling plant and barrel room in sunny Hopland, Calif.--the largest solar energy project at a U.S. winery. The 430 panels will produce 80% of the electricity needed for its bottling operations on the site.

  Posted on 2006-11-16 at 03:25

• Respected Cardiologist Breaks Ranks with Medical Establishment; Adults Must Start Taking Red Wine Extract Supplements Daily Now

  Dr. William Gruss -- a well respected Internist and Cardiologist who specializes in preventive cardiac care for patients who suffer from chronic heart problems, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and diabetes -- is recommending that adults should begin taking supplements with red wine extract immediately as a way to protect their organs from the ravages of the typical, high-fat diet currently consumed by most Americans.

  Posted on 2006-11-13 at 03:24

• Canadian researchers aim to unlock grape genetics

  Backed by CAN$6.2m in funding from Genome Canada, and in collaboration with Genome Spain, Steven Lund and Joerg Bohlmann of the University of British Columbia are trying to understand how the grape's flavour is affected by the interaction between genes and environmental factors such as water and light.

  Posted on 2006-10-31 at 01:00

• Using DNA to build a better chardonnay

  Two B.C. professors are at the cutting edge of research into understanding grape genetics, PETER KENNEDY writes

  Posted on 2006-10-17 at 01:25

• Terroir and technology

  In the wine world more people discuss the merits of technology over good ol’ common sense farming techniques and tricks than actually drink the wines coming from both these schools of reference. And that is the irony of wine — always discussed, seldom drunk!

  Posted on 2006-10-16 at 01:49

• Investment in Facilities Demonstrates Cork Supply Group’s Commitment to Quality

  Quality is more than just a word to the Cork Supply Group which is investing over €2.8 million ($3.55 million U.S. dollars) to construct a new cork production facility and upgrade an existing cork preparatory facility in Portugal.

  Posted on 2006-10-04 at 01:32

• Genetic Mapping Used To Probe Red Wine Headaches

  A small percentage of wine drinkers steer clear of red wine because it can trigger headaches, but a local researcher is working to change that

  Posted on 2006-09-29 at 03:02

• Biodynamic body for Chile

  A new association of biodynamic wine producers has been formed in Chile.
  
  The group aims to encourage others to adopt biodynamic practices, and work with scientists to validate the theories behind a method of agriculture that is still seen as contentious.

  Posted on 2006-09-15 at 12:43

• GPS guides vine planters

  An advanced GPS system which is being used on vineyard developments in Marlborough is keeping the industry on the straight and narrow.

  Posted on 2006-09-13 at 01:16

• Seven Reasons To Go High Tech In Your Vineyard

  Grapegrowers and vineyard managers, like other farmers, pride themselves on knowing their land and their crops on an almost intuitive level, and may be reluctant to adopt the new high-tech vineyard monitoring devices and software options that are now available. Is that old-school philosophy holding them back?

  Posted on 2006-09-11 at 01:00

• Peeling away the secrets of color and flavor

  Scientists looking for ways to enhance wine's appeal in the glass and on the tongue are untangling the interactions of flighty, fickle pigments and tannins

  Posted on 2006-09-07 at 01:22

• 'Robo-sommelier' offers wine tips

  The so-called robot-sommelier, or "wine-bot", can "taste" and identify types of wine, and also has the ability to discern and analyse foods.

  Posted on 2006-09-05 at 03:36

• Interplanted vineyards produce some of California's most captivating wines

  When you uncork one of California's great old-vine Zinfandels, you're likely to get a lot more than just Zinfandel. The bottle probably contains some Petite Sirah, a little Carignane and a whole lot of history.

  Posted on 2006-08-24 at 01:52

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