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You Asked: Could Wine Give Me a Headache?

FitSugar — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 05:50:53 -0800

Dear Fit,
In college, I was more into sipping cocktails and drinking beer, but recently I started drinking wine with dinner. I love the taste and how it pairs with more complicated dishes I have started to cook. I've noticed that I get this dull headache when I drink it though. Is this common? Is there a way to prevent it?
- Whining About Wine

As Thomas Jefferson said,"Good wine is a necessity of life for me." Although Jefferson's "necessity" is considered a relaxant and offers a variety of health benefits, drinking wine can cause some unfortunate side effects, including headaches. To find out why, continue reading

An Afternoon at Argentina's Flichman Vineyards

partysugar — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 07:50:48 -0800

This story was written by member Eleuthera and comes from the Wine Cellar group in the YumSugar Community.I recently had a chance to attend a wine tasting for Flichman from Argentina. I especially enjoyed the experience because I had a chance to chat with the winemaker, Luis Cabral de Almeida. From my standpoint, it didn't hurt that he was pretty hot also. We began with a bottle of their Chardonnay for $8. Frankly, I didn't want to taste a bottle of $8 Chardonnay as I hate that overly oaked buttery flavor of vanilla predominating, but I was pleasantly surprised. It was delightful and easily equal to wines I have enjoyed at twice the price. In fact everyone of the wines' price points was spectacular.

To learn more about these amazingly priced Argentine wines read more.

Although there were some I preferred more than others, I enjoyed all of them. All the others, with the exception of an interesting and delightful champagne (for about $8!!) were red. In fact, even the champagne was made in part from Malbec also! The biggest surprise of the afternoon was how much I enjoyed Malbec.

Several years ago a friend tried to tell me how great the Argentinian (and Chilean) Malbecs were, but I wouldn't even taste them. However, the grape I knew from living in Bordeaux was a far cry from the one I finally tasted in South America: Malbecs from Argentina are rich, jammy, and luscious with some surprising complexity. Malbec thrives in Argentina, Luis explained, because of the low humidity. This explains their ability to get the delightful jammy qualities which I thoroughly enjoy.

One I liked is called Gestos (2007) (gestures in English) and it was made from Malbec at two different elevations. You have to be careful because there are several varieties of Gestos, including one with Cabernet. The first thing one notices was the lovely aromas, like blackberries and maybe blueberries. The taste was even richer with jammy qualities mixed with the French oak and the earthy background.

Luis was kind enough to explain to me at length that he uses two different elevations of Malbec in order to achieve an extremely well-rounded wine. It is somewhat interesting that Argentina seems one of the few places where this combination can be exploited, although to a lesser degree, California winemakers have been touting mountain grown fruit for years. I rated this wine at least 88 points and perhaps even 89 out of 100. It was $12 or 13 and worth every penny.

Another wine I liked and purchased was the 2007 Expresiones reserve which was 60% Malbec and 40% Cabernet. I would rate this slightly better, perhaps 89-90 points as it had a lingering finish. The complexity reminded me greatly of a Bordeaux style wine and it had the great structure of the Cabernet with the luscious sweet berry qualities of the Malbec. Personally I think this will do better with a few years of patience, although it is delightful now.

The last one I tasted was called Dedicado (2004) and it was clearly the top of the line. At almost $20 it was hitting my price point, but rarely have I had a wine this good for this money...so I bought two. The bottle weighs a ton and it is a mixture of Cabernet, Syrah, and Malbec (30%,10% and 60%). It spends 12 months in new French french oak and 12 months in the bottle according to the label, but I thought Luis told me this one spent 2 years in wood. In short, I thought the result was stunning, perhaps even 91-92 points. The deep intensity and aroma of the berries and black pepper is wonderful and its opulence is nothing short of amazing with a lovely lingering finish. It will benefit from a year or two more in my estimation but it's fantastic just the way it is, at least with an hour or two of breathing.

Because of the high inflation in Argentina and the fact that they are tied to the Euro which is strong (the owners are a Portuguese group) the wines get the benefit of great prices on oak barrels. As far as price point is concerned, I thought each of these wines was wonderful and they certainly impressed me a great deal. Luis wasn't all that bad either!

Have you been to an amazing winery? Join the Wine Cellar group, upload your photos and a description of the experience, and it could be featured on YumSugar! If you are new to the YumSugar Community, here's a detailed guide to posting to groups.

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Michelle! Claudia! Two More Celebrity Fashion Lines in the Works

FabSugar — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 10:00:22 -0800

The celebrity designer wheel keeps on turning. The latest star to join the club is Gossip Girl Michelle Trachtenberg. She is teaming up with Coach to design a costume jewelry line under its Poppy label - faux pearls and colorful crystals hit stores in the Spring.

Though there isn't an official deal in the works, Super Claudia Schiffer has also expressed interest in designing. "I have no definite first product in mind, but I would love to do cashmere. It's something I wear all the time myself, but I'd love to do something a bit more price-friendly. . . . Or I could imagine doing handbags," she said. Cool, but not everyone is thrilled with these celebrity designer deals. According to fashion writer Robin Givhan, "I can't imagine Donna Karan saying I'm going to cut an album because her friends say she can sing karaoke." Ouch. Do you agree?

One-Shoulder Holiday Dresses For Under $100!

Fab Community — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 05:50:22 -0800

Here's a fun post frugalfashion22 shared in The Frugal Fashionista group.

It’s holiday time and you know what that means: shopping for party dresses. This season I decided I want to show a little skin. What better way to do it than with an off-the-shoulder cocktail dress? I’ve found three show-stoppers all for $100 or less! This dress from T-Bags is sure to make a statement at your party. Made of a stunning gold jacquard fabric, it features a large asymmetrical bow across the bust area. The bubble skirt and empire waist will give you an instant sexy hourglass silhouette. And you won't believe the price - originally $335, it’s now 70% off, and yours for $100. Find it at theoutnet.com.

Hear more from our Fab reader.

Ginnifer and Chloe Join the Jessicas at a Prada Party

PopSugar — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 08:30:00 -0800

The Prada store in LA was packed on Friday night with starlets celebrating the launch of the label's new book. Jessicas Biel and Alba kept things simple in black, as did mom-to-be Camila Alves. Christina Ricci took a break from her bikini fun with her new boyfriend to get decked out in a bejeweled white number. Chloe Sevigny, meanwhile, sported a bra-bearing look to pose for photos with pal Liz Goldwyn and Big Love costar Ginnifer Goodwin. Rachel Zoe added a little color to the proceedings with her husband Rodger. The Prada party was a prelude to the even more star-studded bash at LA's Museum of Contemporary Art on Saturday, and it looks like the ladies got a head start on their fashionable partying.

To see more from the bash, just read more.

View 40 Photos ›

Images include: Camila Alves, Carine Roitfeld, Chloe Sevigny, Liz Goldwyn, Christina Ricci, Joey Kern, Ginnifer Goodwin, Zoe Saldana, Jessica Alba, Jessica Biel, Rodger Berman, Rachel Zoe, John Cho

Uh Oh! Counterfeit Condom Factory Discovered in China

TresSugar — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 07:00:00 -0800

Condoms might top the list of things that should never be counterfeited. Unfortunately, there may be as many as one million ineffective knock-off condoms on the market in China right now.

Four people were arrested this week at a factory allegedly producing and selling condoms that provide little to no protection against disease or pregnancy. What's worse? Authorities said they found "bare-chested" employees using vegetable oil to lubricate the condoms that they then packaged without any sterilization. Whoever came up with this fake factory sounds like they were fulfilling some sort of bizarre fantasy.

This story is scary enough to make someone outside of China paranoid. If you're freaked out, just make sure you never buy condoms labeled as "Jisson, Durex. Rough Rider, Six Sense and Love Card."

Breaking News: Luella is No More

FabSugarUK — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 07:30:03 -0800

I unfortunately have to break some very sad news to you as one of London's best loved fashion labels, Luella, is no more. The announcement came today as WWD revealed that the long term investor Club 21 have walked away from the design house.

According to a statement, VSQ Limited who operated the Luella business have reluctantly “taken the decision not to invest further in its relationship with Luella Bartley Limited.” Bartley commented,

"This is a very disappointing situation for everyone involved with the brand…I very much appreciate the support that VSQ has given me, but it is upsetting not to be able to protect jobs in this difficult economic climate. We have a number of options open to us, and are considering these over the coming months.”

Just last year, Bartley scooped designer of the year at the British Fashion Awards and her designs have a strong celebrity following. You also voted Luella your number one designer of 2008. Let's hope that somebody can save the brand.

Demi Has Lots to Say About Cougars and Marriage

PopSugar — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 11:00:55 -0800

Demi Moore struck a gorgeous pose for the cover of December's W. She's the latest member of her extended family to pose for the publication, following Bruce Willis's saucy spread with his new wife Emma Hemming earlier this year. Demi is out and about promoting her movie with David Duchovny, The Joneses, as well as Happy Tears with Parker Posey. She sat down with the magazine to chat about her marriage to Ashton Kutcher and what she thinks of being labeled a cougar. Here's more:

On being married to a younger man: "I’m certainly not the first person to be in a relationship with a younger man, but somehow I was plucked out as a bit of a poster girl. . . I don’t know why that is. But I just kind of step back sometimes and say, 'There is some reason, and what is it that I have to share in a positive way?'"
On being labeled a cougar: "I’d prefer to be called a puma. . . [I] Twittered it out. People wrote back hilarious stuff, saying, 'I’m going to get T-shirts that say PUMA POWER.'"
On meeting Ashton six years ago: "The most overwhelming part of meeting someone that you already felt you had such a deep and old connection with is that your feelings are greater than the time you’ve had to actually be with one another. Now we’ve had the physical time together. The love he has for me makes me a better person by giving me the courage to take risks. I can fail and have someone who loves me just the same. I never knew it was quite possible."

View 2 Photos ›

There are lots more photos at W's site, and the whole issue will be available on newsstands on Tuesday, November 24.

Trendtotting: Baby Eggi For Lil Chicks

babysugar — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 04:00:35 -0800

I don't know much about the Korean language but if it's as logical as this one word, I have a feeling I'll like it: eggi means baby. I love the simplicity and cuteness of it, much like the company that includes it in their brand: Baby Eggi.

A clothing label made just for kiddos, Baby Eggi is sweet, sassy and cool all in one. The stylish 3-button bell sleeved jacket is easily one of the most chic pieces of apparel I've seen for wee ones and its price tag is quite reasonable at $48. Young lads will look dapper but sporty in the long-sleeved jersey button-up that is suited for a dressy occasion or a roll in the mud. New moms, who are known to be dazed and confused, will enjoy the days-of-the-week onesies that will help keep her mush mind in line.

If mommy needs to legitimize her shopping cart, she might feel better knowing that Baby Eggi donates 20 percent of its net proceeds to partnering children's charities. Oh, and they're offering a 15 percent discount to our LilSugar readers for the entire month of November. Use the code LILSUGAR09 at checkout. Happy shopping!

Smarter Eats: Use Chalkboard Labels on Jars

FitSugar — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 10:30:28 -0800

Take a peek into my kitchen cabinet for a healthy eating tip. If you can't tell from the picture those are jars with chalkboard labels. I've been using them for almost a year now and for two good reasons: health and money.

I love nuts but find that it can be easy to eat too many at one sitting. I use the chalkboard labels to remind myself of the nutritional breakdown of the stored nut and its serving size. For instance, on my almond jar I've written 20 almonds equal 180 calories, 14g fat, 7g protein, and 6g carbs. This method has been a really great way to keep me from overindulging.

Having these jars is also an incentive to buy from the bulk aisle. Most food, especially organic, is cheaper when purchased in bulk. Plus buying in bulk cuts down on wasteful packaging, and I don't confuse things that look alike. The labels create an easy way to remember cooking ratios - if I'm storing a whole grain or beans, I write the name of the grain and the ratio of the grain to how much liquid it needs to cook.

You can either buy chalkboard jars for cheap or make your own using chalkboard paint. As an alternative you can use paper or sticky labels but using the chalkboard method helps cuts down on waste.