Songs For The Soul

    “Yoga teaches you how to age gracefully just like a great bottle of wine ages gracefully."

-David Romanelli

     
     Along with juicing and a new-found interest for meditation at night- I love yoga and practice it regularly. As with wine tasting, music plays an instrumental part in my yoga experience. I attend class but will happily set up a home yoga room when I do not have time for class. I have included a list of songs that would be/are wonderful additions to a home yoga workout. In fact, I am finding that yoga and wine make a great combination. Here is a link about yoga and wine. Interesting read. A New York Times article also discussed yoga and wine combination retreats. Yoga and wine-making are both aged practices and have been around for centuries- no wonder they are both awesome. 

1. My Friend- Groove Armada (for power yoga moves and/or vinyasa)

2. Into Dust- Mazzy Star (for those meditative positions) 

3. Alternate Thursday-Platonic (for warm-up yoga stretches) 

4. Obsession- The Un-Calculated Some (for breathing exercises) 

5. Exzebache- Tommy Guerrero (for those hard standing poses)

6. The Hop- Radio Citizen (for any pose- it's an AWESOME song)

7. Throw It All Away- Zero 7 (for those deep stretch poses)

8. Ghostwriter- RJD2 (for harder, detailed poses) 

 Tree- one of my favorite poses.

Put A Cork In It

    As promised, below are some craft ideas to make out of wine corks. I have also included a link for those interested in the origins of the wine cork.

Me on Port Cros Island, just off of France in front of a cork tree.

Corks can be glued together to make a coaster for hot drinks.

Or, use them for card/sign holders. Just slice it down the middle and insert.

Apparently, they make great shower mats.

source:craftynest.com

Cut shapes to make stamps.

source:3.bp.blogspot.com

Obviously, they can be made into a cute cork board.

source: 2.bp.blogspot.com

     If you have a cat, like I do, I have read that you can put a whole in the corks and fill them with catnip. A great idea. I might try. There are hundreds of craft ideas for wine corks- these were just a few of my favorites. Enjoy!

Spring Into White Zin (On a Budget)

    A few weeks ago, Valentine's Day actually, I had dinner at an extremely upscale restaurant. Since it was a special occasion, I ordered wine. I decided to try something light and "springy", something smooth and sweet...I ordered a White Zinfandel. Maybe it was the ambiance, maybe it was the music (we know it influences taste, see blog below), or maybe it was the fact that it ran $12 for a 1/3 of a glass; whatever the reason, it was the best White Zinfandel I have ever had. Unfortunately, I do not remember the name, all I remember was that it was from Sonoma, California. Ever since, I have been trying to recreate the experience and find a similar tasting wine. Last night I failed. Well, kind of.

    I live on a college budget and, because of that, last night's purchase was a $5 wine. I bought a cheap wine for several reasons past the fact that I am a student: 1. I bought another bottle, so the overall cost felt higher and 2. The White Zin I purchased was the only one I could find from Sonoma, County in Kroger.

source:classicwinesofcalifornia.com

    Some of you budget drinkers might be familiar with this brand. It typically does not cost over $5, a good option, in my opinion, if you are wanting to test something out. I by no means expected to open the bottle and taste what I tasted a few weeks ago but for $5 I thought I would give it a try. Let's get to its pairing:
_______________________________________
Hue: Rose 
-Crane Lake
-Sonoma, California
-White Zinfandel
-2009
-Kroger: $5
________________________________________
Tunes:
- "Estelar" Captain Melao
- "Little Talks" Of Monsters of Men
- "Eyes" Peter Bjorn and John
________________________________________

Pairing: White Zin tastes a little like Spring time in your mouth. It's fresh and light, crisp, and to-the-point. It is refreshing and does not linger. This Zin had hints of melon and citrus and was a little on the acidic side. I would drink this wine with chicken or seafood. Very easy drink, obviously not top quality but its 5 bucks. In our region, the weather has been high 50's, low 60's, so a delicate wine goes well with our current climate. All of the songs above have fun, upbeat tunes (kind of how a White Zin hits the taste buds). Warm weather makes me want to dance around the apartment and these songs provide the right tempo to do so.

   Would I buy this again? Maybe. Once I have more disposable income, I will kiss Crane Lake goodbye. Until then, this is not a bad option. Crane Lake also makes a decent Sweet Red.

What's Music Got to Do With It?

    I consider myself an open-minded person. I have my own beliefs but I am always interested in learning about new ways, techniques, thought processes, and ideas. I also believe that almost everything in life has two sides to it, you either believe it or you do not. I have found that you can almost always find research to support either way.

   As for this post, I tend to agree with the study I will share. Music impacts me in many different ways. When I was an athlete in high school, I listened to hard, rap music before every basketball game (I know, shocker). When I am taking a bubble bath and wanting to unwind, I listen to albums by artists like Zero 7. When I take a run outside, I jam to Coldplay, etc. etc. My point is, at least for me, music changes my mood and accompanies me differently depending on the activity. Hence, I am a firm believer that music has an affect on...well...everything. Below is an article about how it affects the taste of wine:

 The British Journal of Psychology recently came out with a study (September 7, 2011 to be exact) that found that people described the taste of wine based on an emotional connotation of background music that played while they drank it. For example, while listening to the song "Slow Breakdown" by Michael Brook, they described the wine to be "mellow" and "soft". I typically do not take research seriously unless it is from a reputable source (thank you, graduate school) so when I came across this study I was impressed. The British Journal of Criminology is a reputable journal and one that I am very familiar with. Auditory stimuli, according to the article, may influence other modalities, causing the taste of wine to be perceived differently. Here is the PDF for those interested to read more. It is interesting to see which songs the study used and how participants described the wine during each song. Maybe I should try a home experiment?

source: winedigs.com

   As future research continues to explore this new phenomena, the wine and music industry could change as we know it. Now, how much fun would that be? Fun. Very fun.

Reuse, Recycle

     My graduate studies are centered on sustainability and while it is an ever-changing, environmental-loving field...it has definitely altered my (buying/consuming/eating) lifestyle and the way I look at, well, everything. Another new hobby of mine is to reuse materials and turn them into crafts. Since this blog is centered on wine and music, anytime I make a craft with one or the other, I will share.

     Below is a picture of three wine bottles I reused for table top decorations. My apartment is a rustic theme with maroons, burnt oranges, browns, creams, and forest greens. These bottles literally are the kaleidoscope of my color scheme. I thought I would also include a brief description of each for fun.

     From left to right they are:

7 Deadly Zins is a Lodi Appellation 2008 Zinfandel. I like this brand, especially because I am in the process of becoming a red wine drinker. 7 old vine Zins are combined to create a smooth, spicy taste.

Aconga is a 2009 Chenin Blanc-Chardonnay, so it is sweet. It is from Argentina and has melon & citrus fruit aromas. Apple flavors stand out and the wine has a smooth finish. Pairs with chicken (many whites do).

Sterling Vinter's Collection is a 2009 Central Coast Pinot Grigio. I am not a fan of Pinot Grigio but I thought I would give this one a try. The bottle says the wine has kiwi and golden apple flavors but I do not recall them. This wine pairs well with chicken, seafood, and sushi (my favorite).

     So, the next time you finish off a bottle of wine, think about reusing it for a craft or decoration. I will have more to come on wine crafts. My roommate and I have collected numerous bottles, 17 to be exact.

     Old music magazines can be remade into a bowl. It is extremely functional. In fact, I keep it in my bathroom and put all of my bracelets in it. Cut Out & Keep is a great website that gives step by step instructions on how to make these.

Music for Life

    I listen to music every single day. Clearly. If not, this blog wouldn't be dynamic and that wouldn't be fun.

    Depending on the day, my preferences change (i.e working out, running, relaxing, etc.) but there are five songs that I consistently listen to no matter my mood or activity. I would consider these to be some of my favorite songs OF ALL TIME. That is a pretty bold statement but I stand by it. I listen to these songs mainly at night and of course paired with wine. If you are looking for a playlist to listen to while you sip away (I have included the Youtube link), try this one:

1. "A Walk" Tycho (when you just want to close your eyes & relax)
2. "Love Love Love" Of Monsters of Men (when you want that raspy, soft female vocal)
3. "I'm Good I'm Gone" Lykke Li (when you feel a little sassy)
4. "How I Feel" Wax Tailor (mentioned this before but it's that good)
5. "Hayling" FC Kahuna (soothing, hypnotizing beats)

   In my opinion, this playlist goes well with red-wine-kinda nights. In particular, I enjoy Cabernet Sauvignon during these songs, mainly because it has an earthy, woody taste. A favorite winery of mine that makes a great Cab is Two Vines. Specifically, the 2009 Columbia Crest. Smooth finish. I had this the other night and was impressed. It is sold in Kroger and relatively inexpensive (I live on a college budget).

   Additionally, I have compiled a playlist that is wonderful to listen to while cooking. I believe that a good cooking playlist is essential and should always accompany a few hours in the kitchen. Below are some songs that get me in the mood to cook:

1. "Bistro Fada" Stephane Wrembel  (when you are making spaghetti)
2. "Quelqu'un m'a dit" Carla Bruni" (because we all love to cook to French music, right?)
3. "Feeling Good" Michael Buble  (when you want a strong male vocal, pump up song)
4. "Andare" Ludovico Einaudi" (classical and wonderful)
5. "Ketto" Bonobo (when you do not want vocals, just a beat)

   The first song, "Bistro Fada", is from the soundtrack, "Midnight in Paris".  It creates a French escape, something many of us day dream about from time to time.

                                                                        source:soundtrack.net

   Along with the songs, I am fond of this album because of the cover photo. Little known fact about me, I love "Starry Night" by Vincent Van Gogh. In fact, he is my favorite artist and therefore anything that incorporates the painting is an instant winner in my book. Give me a glass of wine, a good song, and walls painted in a Starry Night scene and I am in heaven on earth. 

Red Wine, Feeling Fine?

    Is red wine your favorite? Me neither...but there are reasons it should be considered.

    I am (and probably always will be) a white wine drinker; however, lately I have tried to "acquire" a taste for red wine. I love the sweetness of Riesling and Moscato and red wines, at least the ones I have tried, tend to be dry and bitter. Currently, I am on the lookout for smoother flavors and have stumbled upon Menage a Trois red wine. Very smooth, great finish- I will blog about it later.

    Why am I trying to alter my preferences for wine? Well, according to many researchers, red wine is healthier.

    I read an article from The Mayo Clinic, which did a great job of explaining exactly why red wine is healthy. So not only is red wine tasty (to some, I am not there yet), it helps prevent heart disease among other things. There are numerous other websites, studies, and publications about the health benefits of red wine. Drinking antioxidant-rich wines is all the hype right now and something that all wine lovers should look into (if you haven't already).

    Of course, drinking too much wine has health issues as well. So how much should men and women drink daily? A Harvard article suggests 5 ounces a day. Therefore, each night before I go to bed, I measure out 5 ounces... and sometimes 6, depending on the day.

Source:ecosalon.com

    I routinely pour my wine after a workout at the gym. Coupled with a tall glass of water, I enjoy sipping wine while I get ready for bed or have a late night snack (cheese anyone?). Wine after a workout? I thought this too. An interesting article by Men's Health found that wine after a workout is good for you, as it has been shown to slow muscle deterioration. "Resveratrol preserves muscle fiber that would normally be reduced by inactivity", according to the study. To put two and two together, TIME magazine published a study on the health benefits of wine and exercising. So there you have it. Wine after a workout is okay, better yet, it's good for you. Isn't the world of wine amazing?

"Life is one grand, sweet song, so start the music" - Ronald Reagan

source:donaldgruener.com

 
   First and foremost, this blog is an adventure. I am, by no means, a sommelier.  I am a graduate researching, wine loving, regular, ordinary joe; however, because I am a graduate student, I love to research (yes, I am an undercover nerd) and since I have finished my master thesis early...wine is my new topic of interest. In addition, I am currently taking a class on wine. Therefore, this blog serves not only as a reference for myself to remember and revisit but for anyone who is interested in the quest to better understand the world of wine and music. For a reference, I frequent Hugh Johnson's "Pocket Wine Book 2012" and even took it into Kroger the other day while I shopped for wine. It is a great little book, chalk full of wine talk, and it fits perfectly into my purse. I am in love.

   Today is my first blog and a good day to start at that. We just had our first snow storm of the year, needless to say, I have spent the better part of yesterday and today indoors. Last night as I snuggled up in my warm apartment, burning cinnamon bun candles (wonderful scent for the winter), I poured a glass of wine and increased the volume. Here is a wonderful combination that I experienced last night:
__________________________________
Hue: Red
-Ravenswood
-Sonoma County
-Old vine
-Zinfandel
-Vintage 2008 (good year for California)
-Kroger: $15
__________________________________
Tune: "How I Feel"
-Wax Tailor
-great way to end the night in anticipation for tomorrow
-Youtube Link: Wax Tailor
___________________________________
Pairing: This vintage Zinfandel is very spicy, full-bodied, and full of berry undertones. It warms the body when the first sip is finished; a comforting feel for late, cold nights. In addition, I found this wine to pair well with dark chocolate (but what wine doesn't?). I found the low, raspy voice of Wax to be a wonderful paring to this song. The small clips of trumpets and drums created a wonderful jazzy feel and underground blues scene vibe. A great song to end a hard day at work or school.


I plan to add a pairing almost every night. Let the adventure begin.