Category Archives: Lifestyle

What’s the Difference Between “Natural wines,” “Organic Wines” & “Organically Grown Wines?”

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The term “natural” as a wine descriptor has occurred more frequently  in recent years. So, what is difference between “natural wine” and “organic wine” and “organically grown wine?” The answer is nuanced, but we’ll break it down as best we can. Essentially, there are 4 tiers of “Organic Wine” available in the U.S. today. Here’s what you can expect to find in the Organic Wine section at the store: “Wines made with Organic grapes” also known as “Organically Grown Wines”:   These are made with Certified Organic grapes and with carefully regulated added sulfites. These account for the bulk of wines … Continue reading →

Harnessing Our Energy With Qi Gong

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This week we are focusing on physical wellness, which is critical and foundational to any healthy lifestyle. Qi gong is a series of body movements that, much like yoga, focus on breath work and mental focus, with its literal translation being “energy work”. However, unlike yoga, the majority of qi gong poses are performed while standing, though there are a few seated positions as well. The practice of qi gong is rooted in Taoist philosophy and traditional Chinese medicine and has been around for over 5,000 years. Many of the sequenced movements facilitate opening in the pathways of the energy … Continue reading →

Can Drinking Red Wine Enhance Exercise Performance?

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Sounds too good to be true. We dive into the truth behind this claim. Red wine contains significant amounts antioxidants, which neutralize healthy-cell-damaging free radicals. Among these antioxidants in wine (called polyphenols) one is known as resveratrol, and it’s been attracting scientists’ attention. According to “Science Has It: Drinking Red Wine Enhances Exercise Performance” by Robert Locke, “A University of Alberta study showed that high doses of resveratrol produced similar benefits for the heart and muscular strength as physical exercise.”  In small quantities, alcohol can help cholesterol levels, prevent blood clots and preserve arteries. However, scientists are not yet able … Continue reading →

Can Drinking Wine Ward Off Depression?

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There seems to be a clear connection between Stay-At-Home orders and people’s urges to consume alcohol. Drinking in varied capacities seems to be the collective pastime of the moment, and in the absence of bars and restaurants, people are digging into their cellars, signing up for wine memberships, and teaching themselves how to make their own cocktails. We also all seem to be struggling to stay positive in light of all that is happening-which is perfectly normal given the circumstances-but with things ramping up again, we thought now would be a good time to explore the question: Is there a … Continue reading →

Do Sulfites Really Cause “Red Wine Headaches?”

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Drinkers tend to blame sulfites in red wine for a range of health issues, including breathing difficulties, allergy symptoms and headaches, but the jury is still out on whether sulfites are actually the culprit. Histamines, which are produced by yeast and bacteria, and Tyramine, an organic compound in red wine, have also been cited as possible causes. But while white wine generally contains more sulfites, they are more often associated with red wine. In fact, many of the foods we eat have far higher sulfite levels than those that naturally occur in wine. Given all of this, it stands to … Continue reading →

Organic Wines: A Sip in the Right Direction

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  At The Organic Wine Company, we believe that organic growing is both the honorable past and the certain future of the wine industry. More and more people are coming to the realization that the application of massive amounts of pesticides and chemical fertilizers are harmful to the environment, public health, and our own bodies. This holds true for agriculture in general, but for viticulture specifically. Grapes receive one of the highest doses of pesticides, and wine grapes are sprayed even more than table grapes. We are asking wine lovers to take a stand as responsible consumers by supporting a … Continue reading →

Rebirth

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Dear friends, Have you been wondering where our Easter egg tradition came from? I went looking to refresh my memory so permit me to refresh yours briefly. For eons the egg has been a self-evident symbol of life and rebirth. In the Christian culture, painting them red at Easter time was meant to remind us of the blood that Jesus shed on the cross. The egg itself represented the empty tomb in which Jesus’ body was laid to rest and later cracked open to bring about the resurrection, otherwise known as spring time. Remarkable men like Mircea Eliade in the … Continue reading →

In Praise of Childhood & Family

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  Dear Friends, Isn’t this picture of a Southern French pigeon house enchanting? Well, it certainly was full of mystery when my mother would send me to stay at La Bousquette as a 6-year-old with my great aunt, Tatie Charlotte and her husband, Uncle Georges at Easter and at Harvest time. Both of them, born in 1897, were characters if ever there were any, as eccentric as they come. Poor Tatie had been raised to be a mouse, was afraid of her own shadow, was afraid of everything and its opposite. There was absolutely no limit to her imagination when … Continue reading →

Wine As A Bedtime Snack Could Help With Weight Loss

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Have you ever finished your dinner, but then found yourself hungry close to bedtime? You’re not alone – plenty of us feel the need to snack as the night progresses, and luckily, studies have deduced the perfect nightcap: a glass of wine. You heard us. Recent studies have pointed out that wine can help diabetics and improve your sex drive, but apparently, wine is also a great way to prevent midnight munchies. According to Linda Monk, a 47-year-old woman who’s lost 6 pounds in three weeks, the benefit of having a nightly glass of wine is that the treat suppresses … Continue reading →

Why I Drink Organic Wine, By Peter Rieks

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I am not really much of a wine drinker. And, I have to say that I never go down the organic aisle in my supermarket as my perception is that organic wines always come at a premium. But then I started doing some work for Veronique on the OWC website and she would send me home with bottles of wine which my wife and I would drink. It was lovely wine and we enjoyed it. It wasn’t long before I started to develop a taste and an appreciation for good wine. A few months ago my job required that I … Continue reading →