The film, “Sideways”, ended up only winning one Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay last night. I really didn’t think that it would do too well, as comedies don’t usually win Oscars. It was good to see that script win and the other screenwriting award going to Charlie Kaufman for, “Eternal Sunshine of The Spotless Mind“.

“Sideways” did pick up a bunch of Spirit Awards, however.

Today’s show is about Petite Sirah and I continue my basic wine tasting series focusing on wine’s color and appearance.

Wines tasted:

- Foppiano Petite Sirah, Sonoma County 2000 ($20)
- Concannon Vineyards, Petite Sirah, Central Coast 2001 ($13)
- Bogle, Petite Sirah, California 2002 ($12)

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Enjoy this quiz; I’m an “A”, but I still like Zinfandel, Cabernet and Petite Sirah best

“Resveratrol, a compound found in the skins of red grapes, blocks a key protein that cancer cells need to survive; without it, they starve to death, University of Virginia researchers found.”

“Resveratrol is in raspberries, peanuts and red wine in addition to red grapes. The resveratrol from one glass of red wine three or four times a week may be enough to starve any nascent cancer cells, the scientists say.”

�? Prevention magazine

Source: http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/living/10972403.htm

As mentioned in my Merlot show, I have updated my audio setup. For podcasters and others who want more details, here they are:

Computer: AMD Athlon XP CPU
OS: Windows XP Home Edition SP2
Mixer: Behringer Eurorack UB802
Microphone: Shure RS130
Clip Playback: iPod 40GB connected to mixer RCA input
Recording software: Audacity v1.2.3 (IMPORTANT NOTE: make sure you select “line-in” as your source in the mic toolbar)
mp3 Encoder: dBpowerAMP Music Converter using LAME codec
mp3 Tag editor: Media Tagger
Cable to PC sound card input: 6-Ft Specialty Y-Adapter, Catalog #: 42-2483
Cable to ipod headphone jack: 6′ Gold Series Y-Adapter Audio Cable, Catalog #: 42-2551
(Note: either of these cables can be used, so you could get two of one kind if you like)
Microphone Windscreen, Radio Shack Catalog # 33-373A
Microphone Desk Stand, Radio Shack Catalog # 33-370
Microphone Holder, Radio Shack Catalog # 33-4005

Post processing in Audacity:
- Edit show
- Apply “Compressor” from “Effects” menu
- Apply “Normalize…” from “Effects” menu
- Apply “Amplify” from “Effects” menu to -0.02 dB
- Export as WAV

Encoding to mp3 with dBpowerAMP:
- Select WAV made with Audacity
- Encode using LAME codec at 96 kbps bit rate & 44.100 kHz sample rate

Creating & editing ID3 tag in Media Tagger:
- Select the mp3 and click on the ID3 tab to edit
- Save tag by selecting “F2″ key

Upload file to server and post to blog
Ping audio.weblogs.com and technorati.com

Today’s show is focused on the great grape of Bordeaux: Merlot. I also begin my basic wine tasting series and share some listener comments.

Wines tasted:

- Robert Hall, Paso Robles Merlot 2001 ($18)
- Simi, Sonoma County Merlot 2001 ($16)
- Markham Vineyards, Napa Valley Merlot 2001 ($22.50)

Direct mp3 Download
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Last night I was doing the tasting for the Petite Sirah show and one of the three bottles was corked. It will go back to the wine store tomorrow for a replacement bottle, but it reminded me of the alternative closure segment on the Willamette Valley show. Until more wineries adopt sccrewtops and other alternatives to cork, up to 5% of the bottles will be like the one I experienced last night.

For sports fans, that’s two bottles out of the 41 bottles tasted so far for a “bad bottle” percentage of 4.9%. It doesn’t have to be this way…

I upgraded my audio setup this week, adding a Behringer Eurorack UB820 mixer and Shure RS130 mic. I’ve been testing the setup this weekend and have just arrived at what I think are the right settings. The Merlot show will be recorded tomorrow night, with another show about Petite Sirah planned for later in the week. Sorry I’m a day late, but the sound quality will be worth the wait.

Here’s a piece that is both encouraging and distressing at the same time. For the US to really become a wine drinking nation, the average price will need to be more in line with France and Italy.

“The average U.S. retail price of a bottle of wine, according to VinExpo, is more than twice as expensive as the typical bottle sold in France, and more than three times the average in Italy.”

I did a wine-food pairing segment on Anne Bramley’s EatFeed podcast earlier this week and she has posted the show today. I will be appearing on her podcast every so often to pair wine with the recipes she presents. I will play a clip from our first collaboration on my next show. It was a lot of fun and I am looking forward to the next time.

Thanks, Anne!