Some Popular Wines Have Dangerous Levels Of Arsenic

[From article]
"The lower the price of wine on a per-liter basis, the higher the amount of arsenic," he said.
They included Trader Joe's famed Two-Buck Chuck White Zinfandel, which came in at three times the limit, a bottle of Ménage à Trois Moscato was four times the limit and a Franzia White Grenache had five times the EPA limit for drinking water.
He took the test results to some of those wine companies.
"Most wine companies, when I mention arsenic and wine in the same sentence, literally almost hung up the phone on me," he said.
The next step, he said, was to supply the data to a law firm.
"He was trying to get their attention; he was trying to blow the whistle on them," attorney Brian Kabateck said.
[. . .]
The federal government doesn't regulate wine like it does water,
[. . .]
Trader Joe's, which sells Two Buck Chuck, said "the concerns raised in your inquiry are serious and are being treated as such. We are investigating the matter with several of our wine producing suppliers."

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/lawsuit-claims-high-levels-arsenic-found-some-california-made-wines/

CBS NEWS

March 19, 2015, 7:39 AM
"Very high levels of arsenic" in top-selling wines

Glamour Model Hit With Wine Glass in New York City Club

Brittani Bader, 22

[From article]
Brittani Bader, 22, and another girl, Kathleen Ward, 23, butted heads inside Provocateur nightclub in the Meatpacking District around 2:50 a.m. Saturday, police sources said.
Ward grabbed a wine glass and allegedly threw it at Bader, hitting her in the right temple above her eye, according to a criminal complaint.
“I had a glass thrown at me!” said Bader.
Ward was charged with felony assault, and using a weapon with intent to cause physical injury.

http://nypost.com/2015/03/11/model-gets-head-smashed-with-wine-glass-at-posh-nyc-club/

Model gets head smashed with wine glass at posh NYC club
By Dana Sauchelli
March 11, 2015 | 2:50pm

New York Post

Harvard University Invests in California Wine Country Land

[From article]

Harvard University has quietly become one of the biggest grape growers in California’s drought-stricken Paso Robles wine region, securing water well drilling permits to feed its vineyards days before lawmakers banned new pumping, according to records reviewed by Reuters.
The investment, which began as a bet on the grape market, has turned into a smart water play as the wells boosted the value of its land in the up-and-coming wine region of Paso Robles. But it has also raised questions about the role of big investors in agriculture in the midst of a water crisis.
“It remains to be seen what commitment they have to the business of agriculture,” said Susan Harvey of environmental advocacy group North County Watch, which has been following the drought closely. “Is Harvard going to keep pumping ground water, or cut back on returns to protect water quality and quantity?”
Brodiaea Inc, wholly owned by the secretive $36 billion Harvard endowment fund, has spent more than $60 million to purchase about 10,000 acres in Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties since 2012, making it one of the top 20 growers in Paso Robles.

[. . .]

The company got permits for seven 800-foot wells on Aug. 21, 2013, six days before a ban on new pumping from the hardest-hit part of the basin took effect, according to previously unreported data from the records.
[. . .]
Harvard’s investment arm, often a pioneer in new asset classes, has faced criticism in the past for some of its timber and energy investments and last year the school signed on to U.N.-backed principles for responsible investment.

http://www.cornucopia.org/2015/01/harvard-buys-water-rights-drought-hit-wine-country

Harvard Buys Up Water Rights in Drought-Hit Wine Country
January 27th, 2015
[NOTE: The Harvard’s endowment fund has also been a key owner of Aurora Dairy, the nation’s largest factory farm producer of “organic milk.”]
Reuters
by Richard Valdmanis

Frenchman Accused of Extortion Of Vintner Kills Himself in Prison

[From article]
This lengthier note explained that a sabotage operation had been under way for “a year” by a “team of six” conspirators. An unspecified number of vines had allegedly been poisoned deep at the roots and well concealed. In spring, as water and nutrients begin to rise from the soil, the poison would flow through the vines and leave them shriveled and dead.
The vines had been “kidnapped,” and the ransom was 1 million euros.
For that, the blackmailer would reveal the exact location of each sabotaged vine. But, Villaine thought, exactly what was the threat? Even if it was true, no grapes would be picked from visibly poisoned and withering vines, which in turn would be uprooted and replaced. That vintage’s yield may be lessened, fewer bottles of wine produced, but that’s hardly different than a year with unusually lousy weather.
The blackmailer had considered that.

http://nypost.com/2014/07/19/how-the-worlds-best-wine-was-kidnapped-for-a-1-3m-ransom/

How the world’s best wine was ‘kidnapped’ for a $1.3M ransom
By Michael Kane
New York Post
July 19, 2014 | 11:11am

French Woman Lived to Be 122

Jeanne Louise Calment

[From article]

She ascribed her longevity and relatively youthful appearance for her age to olive oil, which she said she poured on all her food and rubbed onto her skin, as well as a diet of port wine, and ate nearly one kilo of chocolate every week.

http://encyclopedia.thefreedictionary.com/Jeanne+Calment

Jeanne Louise Calment (21 February 1875 – 4 August 1997) [1] had the longest confirmed human life span in history, living to the age of 122 years, 164 days (44724 days total). [2] She lived in Arles, France, for her entire life, and outlived both her daughter and grandson.

Wine Helps Avoid Cancer

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2243173/Glass-red-wine-day-cuts-bowel-cancer-risk.html

Drinking a large glass of red wine every day ‘can cut bowel cancer risk’
Resveratrol, found in the skins of red grapes, has been known to have
cancer-fighting qualities but scientists didn't know how much was
needed
Tests have revealed that a dose equivalent to five milligrams halved
the growth of bowel tumours
By JENNY HOPE
Daily Mail (UK)
PUBLISHED: 20:41 EST, 4 December 2012 | UPDATED: 03:27 EST, 5 December 2012

My Friend

A woman was sipping on a glass of wine, while sitting on the
patio with her husband, and she says, "I love you so much, I
don't know how I could ever live without you" ... Her husband
asks, "Is that you, or the wine talking?" ... She replies, "It's
me...talking to the wine."

Handbags, Drugs, Perfume, Wine May be Imitations

[From article]
"FRANK Abagnale, the real life "Catch Me If You Can" person Leonardo DiCaprio played in the movie, says beware of counterfeit goods come summer. Besides handbags, suitcases and so-called name-brand jeans, which won't kill people, besides shoes with imitated logos, "which get bought every seven seconds," he claims: "There's also fake baby formulas, expired aspirin repackaged under a generic name, which thieves buy once its outdated and off the shelves, bogus bigname fragrances containing urine and antifreeze, recorked wine which is big business in China." He also warns "copied machine parts are sold cheaply to airplane manufacturers." Abagnale works in the FBI's anti-fraud department."

http://www.nypost.com/p/pagesix/cindy_adams/genius_avoids_reality_1JrvjgCvThPtdrUzu60W5O

Genius avoids reality
By CINDY ADAMS
New York Post
Last Updated: 3:01 AM, May 16, 2011
Posted: 11:38 PM, May 15, 2011