This week at O’Darby’s Too we’ll be tasting five really nice wines from Mirassou. Come on out Friday, December 7th from 4:00 to 7:00 and join us for a taste of these wines. See you then!
On Friday, December 14th, we’ll end our weekly wine tastings for 2007 with wine selections from Biltmore Estates. A rep will be on hand to serve and discuss wine tasting notes. This will be a great opportunity to sample some very nice wines from Biltmore.
Pulitzer Prize-winning political cartoonist and animator Walt Handelsman has posted a hilarious cartoon animation on his blog. Take a peek here and have a laugh (but don’t hurt yourself!)
It’s a big weekend for O’Darby’s! Make plans to attend our free wine tasting on Friday, 
November 30 (4pm-7pm) at O’Darby’s (Riverchase). We’ll be tasting fantastic Shelton Vineyard wines. There will also be a Shelton representative to serve and talk about Yadkin Valley (NC) vineyards and introduce award-winning vintages. This tasting event is a great opportunity to experience local wines.
Then, on Sunday, December 2, O’Darby’s will sponsor a wine tasting at Rock Hill’s Christmasville. Come on out and enjoy this festival and get yourself ready for the holidays!
Uncle Doug is pretty excited about the upcoming events this weekend! 
California vintners in the Napa Valley area, which primarily produces Pinot Blanc, Pinot Noir and Pinot Grigio wines, have developed a new hybrid grape that acts as an anti-diuretic. It is expected to reduce the number of trips older people have to make to the bathroom during the night.
The new wine will be marketed as Pino More.
Thanks to: http://quackfiles.blogspot.com/2005/06/new-wine-for-seniors-humor.html
Sustainble vineyards - ”Often billed as the new buzz-word in the wine business, “sustainability” is defined as a holistic approach to growing and food production that respects the environment, the ecosystem and even society.” (Sarah Berkley Sonoma Index-Tribune)
Made with Organic Grapes - wines produced from least 70% organic grapes. These wines may have sulfur dioxide added.
Organic - wines that have are at least 95% certified organic. These wines may have an additional 100 ppm of sulfur dioxide added to them.
100% Organic - wines produced with grapes that are certified 100% organically grown and do not have any added sulfites.
Biodynamic wines – wines produced in vineyards designed as and practiced as a single, living, self-sustaining system. In other words, biodynamic practices involves more than agriculture itself. Biodynamic vineyards revolve around more cosmic philosophies including lunar and cosmological cycles. It is the most holistic method of agricultural production and frequently viewed as a “supercharged system of organic farming.”
First, there’s a difference between “sulfites” and “added sulfites.” All wines contain natural sulfites that keep them from spoiling in the bottle. “Added sulfites” means that an extra dose has been added to the mix for stability, to enable a longer aging process, and to extend the consumption date. Most wines do have added sulfites, including those labled “made with organic grapes. Only organic, 100% organic, and biodynamic wines cannot have added sulfites according to the USDA.
Second, only 1% of wine drinkers are sensitive to sulfites and experience physical reactions. The availability of wines without “added sulfites” allows sensitive drinkers to enjoy an organic label without the worry of how it might affect them physically. One of the wines is Our Daily Red by Nevada County Wine Guild. It’s a nice red table wine that I happen to enjoy a lot myself. Although I don’t have trouble with sulfites, it’s nice to have a couple bottles of organic wines in the rack just in case I have guests with “special wine needs.”
Of the five categories listed above, one bears caution: Sustainably-farmed, sustainably-grown, etc. DOES NOT guarantee the wine is organic. In fact, grape farmers can initiate more toxic methods of farming including synthetic fertilizer and additives if the need arises. Currently, the sustainable winegrowers are self-governed and do not have USDA required policies and standards.
Personally, the only thing I’ve noticed in particular about organic wines is that they just don’t last very long after being opened. But I rarely have a bottle that isn’t polished off the same night it’s opened. My personal favorite: Our Daily Red.
In case you missed it on 60 Minutes, this is what Andy Rooney thinks about women over 40…As I grow in age, I value women over 40 most of all. Here are just a few reasons why:
A woman over 40 will never wake you in the middle of the night and ask, “What are you thinking?” She doesn’t care what you think.
If a woman over 40 doesn’t want to watch the game, she doesn’t sit around whining about it. She does something she wants to do, and it’s usually more interesting.
Women over 40 are dignified. They seldom have a screaming match with you at the opera or in the middle of an expensive restaurant. Of course, if you deserve it, they won’t hesitate to shoot you if they think they can get away with it.
Older women are generous with praise, often undeserved. They know what it’s like to be unappreciated.
Women get psychic as they age. You never have to confess your sins to a woman over 40.
Once you get past a wrinkle or two, a woman over 40 is far sexier than her younger counterpart.
Older women are forthright and honest. They’ll tell you right off that you are a jerk if you are acting like one. You don’t ever have to wonder where you stand with her.
Yes, we praise women over 40 for a multitude of reasons. Unfortunately, it’s not reciprocal. For every stunning, smart, well-coiffed, hot woman over 40, there is a bald, paunchy relic in yellow pants making a fool of himself with some 22-year old waitress. Ladies, I apologize. For all those men who say, “Why buy the cow when you can get the milk for free?”, here’s an update for you. Nowadays 80% of women are against marriage. Why? Because women realize it’s not worth buying an entire pig
just to get a little sausage!
Andy Rooney is a really smart guy.
Thanks to http://www.mail-archive.com/funny- jokes@yahoogroups.com/msg00484.html for this little laugh.
| Alcohol Drinks Not D… on wine me up | |
 | Walter Patton on Friday, Oct.5 Wine Tastin… |
 | Charlie Jordan on If… |
 | southernchalice on Friday, Oct.5 Wine Tastin… |
 | writemyline on |
