La Dulce Vita

Drink up, for your health...SERIOUSLY!

noreply@blogger.com (Liz) — Tue, 05 Dec 2006 01:07:00 +0000

According to new research performed by British scientists, red wines from Italy and (ugh) France may be much more beneficial to your health than wine from any other region.

These scientists, after careful research, have found that the wine coming from the Italian region of Nuoro province in Sardinia and French foothills of the Pyrenees, contain around 10 times more of the healthy antioxidant called procyanadins , which protects the condition of a persons blood vessels.

The research team was led by Professor Roger Corder of Queen Mary, Univerisity of London and Professor Alan Crozier of the University of Glasgow. Both Corder and Crozier found that the wines from these Italian and French regions substantially beat out all other wines from Australia, South Africa and the United States with the amount of procyanidins found in the Italian and French wine.

Moreover, these regions were then tested to see if indeed they people generally had a longer life expectancy and in fact, they did.

The reason these two regions produce more procyanidins in their wine comes from the fermentation process. First, in order to produce a substantial amount of procyanidins within a wine, fermentation must be done with the grape seeds and skins in tact for around three to four weeks. However, newer fermentation procedures are done with the seeds and skins usually for no longer than one week, therefore leaving out a good amount of procyanidins in their final product.

Therefore in reality, those people who think that having a drink is a horrendous health mistake might want to reconsider, since procyanidins, which is found in all wines, counteracts endothelin-1, a protein that constricts blood vessels and causes heart disease. Consequently, numerous studies show that the moderate drinkers are much less likely to suffer from heart disease than those who “don’t touch the stuff.”

Therefore, drink up… SALUTE! (FYI: it means “to your health” in Italian,)

Check out the full article:
The Timesonline
By: Mark Henderson, Science Editor of The Times
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,3-2478251_1,00.html

Podcast: Interview with Italian Hotel Owner and Business Man, Filippo Signorini

noreply@blogger.com (Liz) — Tue, 28 Nov 2006 23:33:00 +0000

View and listen FULL podcast:
Podcast.

Filippo Signorini is a native Italian and takes pride in his small family-run hotel in Northern Italy, located directly on the Adriatic Sea. Being also a savvy business man, Signorini discusses Italy's previous election between Prodi and Berlusconi and tells his opinion about Italy’s new president.

Signorini also comments on some of the changes he sees with Prodi’s new administration. For example, Prodi’s idea to implement a tourist tax throughout Italy would be a big change, especially for Filippo’s hotel, the Hotel Ducale. If this tax is put in place, the Ducale could possibly experience some negative effects.

Also check out Hotel Ducale.

View FULL podcast:
Podcast.

Wood chips banned in Italy

noreply@blogger.com (Liz) — Sun, 05 Nov 2006 03:32:00 +0000

Italy has banned the use of wood chips in it's wine production.

Apparently, some Italian wine makers have used wood chips in past wine productions to simulate the flavor of wine that would have been stored in authentic oak barrels.

Italian wine makers as well as lawmakers have come to the agreement that this practice could and might therefore, hurt the quality of their wine.

Ironically, the European Union had actually relaxed the wood chip usage rules however, Italy's Agriculture Minister signed a decree which said that the chips may NOT be used in any top quality wines.

Luckily, other Italian winemakers have agreed with the rule and declared that this was the key to furthering and insuring the quality of Italian wines.

Italy bans use of wood chips to simulate oak-cask flavor in quality wines
ReutersPublished: Friday, November 03, 2006
http://www.canada.com/nationalpost/financialpost/story.html?id=65c797c8-adae-4f7d-a6a1-f746ecaceb5e

R.I.P Mussolini...or not...

noreply@blogger.com (Liz) — Thu, 02 Nov 2006 01:24:00 +0000

Mussolini’s “March on Rome” marked its 84th anniversary just a few days ago in late October, which has apparently sent the current Mussolini family into an uproar about whether or not to have the remains of the former Il Duce transported from its present tomb in Predappio to Rome or left alone to R.I.P.

As is stands, Mussolini’s remains are located on Italy’s eastern Adriatic coastal town of Predappio, where Mussolini himself had previously requested to be buried. The fact that his remaining family has thrown themselves into frenzy about whether or not to move his remains to a “grander location” such as Rome is almost ludicrous and irrelevant, especially since Mussolini himself requested to be buried with his wife and four children in Predappio.

This insane idea of a corps relocation was actually that of Carla Puccini, widow of Romano Mussolini, a jazz pianist who died this year.

“For me, Benito deserves to rest in Rome, in a suitable setting,” Puccini argues.

May I be so bold as to ask who this woman thinks she is, making such radical statements about how this Italian dictator, who unmistakably threw Italy into a backwards spiral for nearly 20 years with his outlandish propaganda and strict censorship, should be worthy enough to be buried in a more “suitable” setting...let alone ROME???

Mussolini requested to be buried where his remains are now located…which is probably more than he should have EVER received!

Another Mussolini devotee, who is close to the family, also feels that his remains should be relocated to Rome, directly across from the balcony where Mussolini made many of his ridiculous speeches.
Had either of these people been alive to experience the madness of the Mussolini reign, I fear they would experience a vast change of heart.

On the other hand, the town of Predappio, where Mussolini currently rests, might experience a great loss if Mussolini is moved, since there are many shops that continually sell flags, lighters, beer tankards, bottles of wine, caps and other items emblazoned with Fascist, Nazi and SS symbols to those easily influenced and inexperienced people who come to visit and pay their respects to Il Duce for whatever reason; personally however the mere thought of such conduct is utterly baffling.

Apparently there are still those who believe Mussolini to be great. However there are still those who believe Bill Clinton to be great, and the list continues.

I suggest re-reading history and re-thinking one’s morals.

(I must add a comment to this title...has not Mussolini been burried now for 61 years...so why then does this title suggest that he is now being buried for the first time?)
Italy confronts its demons with debate over burial of Mussolini
By Peter Popham in Turin
01 November 2006
http://news.independent.co.uk/europe/article1945771.ece

Transvestite law maker causes trouble in women's restroom

noreply@blogger.com (Liz) — Tue, 31 Oct 2006 18:16:00 +0000

The fact that Italy has a transvestite law maker is shocking enough, let alone the fact that this transvestite is now trying to use the women's public restroom and causing havoc among others in the Italian parliament.

Apparently, this "female" transvestite was found in the bathroom by former actress Elisabetta Gardini, turned spokesperson for Berlusconis' Forza Italia party.

"I was traumatized," she said.

According to Gardini, "It was violence, sexual violence.''

The transvestite, whose name is Vladimir Luxuria wears womens clothes anproclaimsms "herself" to be a transgender, although there has not yet been an operation indicating any official sex change.

The fact that the Italian Parliament have recently been experiencing credibility issues only heightened the political cartoon jokes and mockery when the press heard of this latest "crisis."

Ironically enough, the issue of where Luxuria goes to the bathroom was apparently more important than say, the passing of the budget in parliament; since the time allocated for discussion of the budget was taken up by arguing about which restroom was appropriate for use by a transvestite.

Some lawmakers felt that Luxuria was being attacked, however others felt that the issue was so prominent that a special bathroom specifically designed for "her" should be created!

Luxuria said she had no idea that this would become such a hot topic.

Evidently actresses turned politicians surely can create a mountain out of a molehill.

Italy Lawmakers Debate Restroom Rights
Tuesday October 31, 2006 3:16 AM
By ALESSANDRA RIZZO
Associated Press Writer
http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-6181666,00.html

California's art of schmoozing puts Italy at a loss

noreply@blogger.com (Liz) — Tue, 31 Oct 2006 00:25:00 +0000

Apparently, “Vintages,” the well-known wine catalogue has just released in it's newest edition, 123 wines with 22 “in store discoveries,” which lucky for some, are tucked away in only a few select stores.

However, according to Michael Vaughan from the National Post, “Vintages” hurt its sales by choosing to not allow wine writers taste their open bottles. Strangely enough, although it has arguably reduced sales, “Vintages” has still refused to let wine writers taste their open bottles.

“Vintages,” in their latest release, have devoted 16 pages to California produced wines; a paltry four pages were given to Italy’s outstanding wines. This is due in part to politics…since California spent massive amounts on LCBO (the Liquor Control Board of Ontario) marketing projects together with sending LCBO executives on lavish trips, which therefore resulted in California wines commanding the pages of “Vintages.”

The LCBO is the world’s single largest purchaser of alcoholic beverage products. The LCBO is a provincial Crown corporation established in 1927 by Howard Ferguson.

Therefore, regardless of whether or not some of Italy’s wine is legitimately superior to those in California, schmoozing never hurts when you want V.I.P treatment.

They have wine in Italy? Really?
Michael Vaughan, National Post
Published: Saturday, October 28, 2006
http://www.canada.com/nationalpost/news/toronto/story.html?id=a595a59c-0767-4be0-b1b9-8f3da4243259&p=2

Italians uncover uncanny link to cancer

noreply@blogger.com (Liz) — Sun, 22 Oct 2006 14:53:00 +0000

Generally speaking, when the world thinks Italy, they immediately say 'bread and pasta!'

However, Italian researchers performed a study on more than 2,300 people in which they may have found a link between pasta and Kidney cancer.

Who would have thought that Italian researchers could possibly blame their beloved bread for causing cancer?

The study was conducted by Dr. Francesca Bravi in Milan at the Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche "Mario Negri," which showed that a diet Consisting of high refined cereals and bread could lead to the development of kidney cancer.

However, Ed Yong of Cancer Research UK said, "We will need more evidence from much larger studies before we can say if this link is real."

Hopefully for carb loving Italians and others worldwide, this crazy link is false.

Check out these TWO articles:

High bread consumption tied to kidney cancer
SOURCE: International Journal of Cancer, online October 20, 2006
http://today.reuters.com/news/ArticleNews.aspx?type=healthNews&storyID=2006-10-20T182944Z_01_ARM066534_RTRUKOC_0_US-BREAD-KIDNEY-CANCER.xml

Eating bread 'raises cancer risk'
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/6067908.stm

Paris poses for canned Prosecco

noreply@blogger.com (Liz) — Sun, 15 Oct 2006 15:25:00 +0000

An Australian company recently hired Paris Hilton as part of their marketing scheme for their new product idea called "Rich Prosecco." Prosecco, which is a famous Italian sparkling wine has has Italians worried about the reputation of it's prized sparkling wine after the new canned wine adorned with Paris Hilton is distributed.

“Rich Prosecco is a blantant example of exploiting the Prosecco name. The name means everything and Prosecco’s success has come thanks to decades of hard work by over 3,000 vineyards and 130 producers,” said Franco Adami, chairman of the consortium of Conegliano and Valdobbiadene producers.

Prosecco is made in the north of Italy's Venice and the name comes from the specific Prosecco grape.

“Prosecco has became synonymous with our region. Now we are seeing the reputation we have worked to build exploited in order to make an easy profit,” Adami said.

On the other hand, Veneto Region Vice President Luca Zaia feels that this is a great marketing idea since he thinks that more people will be drawn to buy a bottle of the Prosecco wine after drinking it of the Austrialian/Hilton canned verson.

The outcome now has Prosecco producers aiming to launch some major advertising in order to showcase the quality of the genuine Italian Prosecco and the differences between the 'rich' canned product.

Check out the article:
Prosecco in a can stirs controversy
By Web Editor. Filed under News from Italy, Food & Drink on September 27th, 2006
http://www.italymag.co.uk/2006/news-from-italy/prosecco-in-a-can-stirs-controversy/

Follow up: Italy abandons bridge idea

noreply@blogger.com (Liz) — Sun, 15 Oct 2006 11:56:00 +0000

As a follow up to the 9/25/06 posting, "Sicily and Italy--joined...now literally?"

The BBC reported that Italy has officially dropped it's impractical idea of building a bridge that would join Italy and Sicily.

Check out the Article:
Italy drops Sicily bridge plans
http://www.topix.net/forum/world/italy/TC36LURLQGB74MBR8

Italy loses wine war to Hungary

noreply@blogger.com (Liz) — Mon, 09 Oct 2006 01:29:00 +0000

Italy will lose the name of one of its most popular wines, "Tocai," in the near future.

The battle over this famously named white wine, Tocai, dates back centuries when the Hungarian wine firm Monipex, obviously feeling deprived, took legal action against Italy, arguing that only wine produced in Tokaji, Hungary could bear the name "Tocai."

Therefore, Italy must now re-name/re-launch this once famous wine as "Friulano."
Wine connoisseur Bruno Pizzul from the centre of the Italian Tocai vineyards in Gorizia, said, “It is not easy to relaunch a wine which has lost its name. In the wine industry, labeling is all.”

Although both Hungary and Italy were given the rights by the European Court of Justice in Luxemburg for the wine to bear the name, "Tocai," it was revamped in 2004 when Hungary agreed to join the European Union (EU) and given the sole rights of the Tokai label. Thus proving that the Tocai brand wine must be an extremely important staple to the Hungarian society.

Although an appeal was made by the Friuli-Venezia-Giulia region of Italy to the European Court was made, it was rebuked. The judges then decided that the Italian version of Tocai, “does not qualify as a geographical indication” because “it has no special quality, reputation or characteristic that is attributable to its geographic origin”.

Oddly enough, the Italian version differs vastly from that of the Hungarian version in that, the Italian Tocai is a pungent and dry white wine, made solely from the Tocai grape, verses the Hungarian Tokai (or Tokaji) which is a sweet, after-dinner dessert wine, made using Furmint and Haréslvelü grapes.

According to Count Filippo Formentini, whose family has been producing Tocai wine for centuries says that this name could be traced back to 1632 when his female relative, Countess Aurora Formentini, married Count Adam Batthyany of Hungary, thus acquiring 300 Tocai vines as part of her dowry.

Although the European government has promised €15 million (£10 million) in financial aid to the Italian wine producers to help promote the newly named “Friulano" wine, formerly known as "Tocai," Italians are still skeptical.Marco Felluga, a leading Friuli wine producer, feels that the loss of the Tocai brand wine is “incredible . . . Italy has lost its wine war with Hungary. It’s like saying that from tomorrow Italians cannot call pizza, pizza any more.”

check out the article from:
The Times
Oct. 9, 2006
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,5-2394850,00.html#cid=OTC-RSS&attr=Business

Venice...vacant?

noreply@blogger.com (Liz) — Fri, 29 Sep 2006 13:03:00 +0000

According to recent city council data, flooding and massive tourism are driving Venetians straight out of Venice!

Whoever thought Venice would be compared to Disneyland? Apparently La Repubblica Daily warns Italians that because of the colossal shift in Venetians moving out of Venice, mixed with the huge increase in tourism, Venice could be the Italian equivalent of America's beloved Disneyland.

The cost of living has skyrocketed due to increased water levels and pesky tourists. Naturally, Venetians can find a better way to spend their hard earned euro and it's not on rent.

"If you ask me, Venice has already lost its soul," said Paolo, a manager of a small bar in Venice. He may be correct, considering the fact that most local Venetian residents are now aged 60 or older.

City council housing chief, Mara Rumiz said, "We can't charge an entry ticket -- Venice is not a theme park." Yet...

So, will Venice slowly transform itself into the magical world of Disney? Only time will tell.

Check out this Article by:
Silvia Aloisi
A city with no residents? Venice frets over future
http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=2373302&page=1

Sicily and Italy-- joined...now literally?

noreply@blogger.com (Liz) — Mon, 25 Sep 2006 18:52:00 +0000

"The most useless and harmful Italian project of the past 100 years," said Transport Minister Alessandro Bianchi, when he referred to Silvio Berlusconi, the former Prime Minister of Italy's idea to build a bridge that would connect Sicily to Italy's mainland.

Thousands of angry Italians rallied throughout Rome until they reached the office of the current Prime Minister Romano Prodi, demanding that Prodi's new, centre-left government follow through with Berlusconi's former bridge plans.

Prodi's government insists that more urgent projects in southern Italy are far more necessary, highway improvement for example.

Most of the protesters were from Sicily and Italy's southern region of Calabria, regions that are often linked with Mafia ties. Berlusconi himself has frequently been accused of having Mafia ties and although this notion has never been proved totally accurate, no thanks to his ridiculous affluence, his notion of connecting Sicily and Italy via bridge in order to promote modernization of Sicily could be seen as a plea to help the Mafia. (Just a hunch...)

Check out the Article:

Thousands demonstrate in Rome; demand government build bridge to Sicily

http://www.macleans.ca/topstories/news/shownews.jsp?content=w091921A

Roll out the wine and lets party, literally...

noreply@blogger.com (Liz) — Wed, 13 Sep 2006 23:24:00 +0000

In the Tuscan town of Montepulciano, pairs of men train and compete in an annual wine barrel race.
Each year, these dynamic duos race through the tight streets of this medieval Italian town, rolling in front of them a 175-pound oak wine barrel.
Apparently this is a big deal, since everyone makes their way to watch his honorable race, which roughly started back in the 14th century as a tribute to Montepulciano’s patron saint, John the Baptist.
The festival lasts for 10 consecutive days, culminating with the wine barrel race on the 10th day.
Besides the Italian food, fun and merriment, the festival allows Montepulciano wine makers to endorse their wine, which has seen some competition from other sources such as the U.S., Australia and New Zealand. But despite competition, Montepulciano has a quite good superiority since they have been able to retain their Italian, German and Switzerland clients for years.
Apparently others have been catching onto this wine trend, since Montepulciano wine sales increased 17.4 percent in 2005 and have continued to increase.
One thing Italians pride themselves on, besides delectable food, is their superb wine. It has the power to make men perform wild races and gets whole towns to celebrate for almost two weeks! But honestly, Italians will uphold any tradition as long as they can let loose and enjoy the fruits of their labor…literally!

Check out the article:
Italian wine barrel race celebrates past and future
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/09/07/AR2006090700548.html?referrer=emailarticle
By Svetlana Kovalyova Reuters

Sicily, too proud for Viagra?

noreply@blogger.com (Liz) — Wed, 06 Sep 2006 23:42:00 +0000

According to a recent study by IMS Health, Sicily is at the bottom of Italy's list for consumption of Viagra, the male sexual enhancement drug.

Throughout their entire study, they paid specific attention to Sicily and it's consumption patterns, or lack there of.

IMS Health put together a list of the Italian cities where males used the most sexual enhancements with Rome coming in first, followed by Pistoia, Rimini, Florence and Pisa. Out of the other high profile cities, Milan came in fifteenth place and Sicily ranked eighteenth place.

The Agenzia Giornalistica Italia, (AGI) article concluded that Sicilian men seem to be too proud to use the drug. However, promotion for the drug against impotence is steadily increasing and has been since the first launch of Viagra in October of 1998.

Maybe the "problem" is that Italians just have much more sex. By the time they get older, they are naturally tired. Certainly their not going to stop engaging in sex, therefore Viagra comes in handy. As for the Sicilians, it's unlikly they'll stop having sex. Could it be possible that Sicily made someone an offer they couldn't refuse in order to rig the study and keep their "honor?" Ponder away...

Check out the Article
Agenzia Giornalistica Italia (AGI)

Viagra: Boom in Italy, Little used in Sicily

http://www.agi.it/english/news.pl?doc=200609061133-1041-RT1-CRO-0-NF11&page=0&id=agionline-eng.oggitalia

Robots becoming wine aficionado’s!?

noreply@blogger.com (Liz) — Sun, 03 Sep 2006 21:30:00 +0000

(I know I said this blog was going to be about Italy and/or Italian wine, but Italian wineries could be affected by this new technology and personally, I don't think they'll agree.)

Robots can be programmed to do anything, but wine tasting…who knew?

In Japan, Hideo Shimazu, Director of the NEC System Technology Research Laboratory said he wanted to create a robot that could distinguish wines and make recommendations about which cheeses and hors d'oeuvres go best with that specific wine because it seemed like a “real challenge.”

By using real time technology, the researchers in Japan equipped this robot with an infrared spectrometer that uses a beam of infrared light to determine the chemical composition of any object. Apparently the robot has already identified someone’s hand as prosciutto, an Italian ham. (haha)

Shimazu said wineries could start using the robot to taste wines without having to uncork any bottles.

Hmmm, sounds like this robot could be sucking the fun right out of a wine connoisseur’s mouth…literally!

Check out this bizarre article
"New Robot Can Identify Wines, Cheeses"
http://www.denverpost.com/business/ci_4283339
By: Eric Talmadge
The Associated Press

(Day one re-do) Sister Causes Soccer Brawl

noreply@blogger.com (Liz) — Wed, 30 Aug 2006 22:01:00 +0000

Anyone who watched the Italy v France World Cup final knows there were obviously some choice words exchanged between Italian player, Marco Materazzi and French opponent Zinedine Zidane which lead a massive head-butt by Zidane that got him kicked out of the game.

Until now, those words were a mystery however Materazzi opted to tell all at an interview with the Gazzetta dello Sport.

Apparently when Zidane opted to give Materazzi his shirt (hypothetically after France won) Materazzi responded with, "I'd prefer your sister."

Materazzi said he knows it was not a "particularly nice thing to say," however he noted that many players say worse things. He claims he did not know that Zidane even had a sister.

Who would have thought Zidane's sister would be the fall of his career?

Check out the article
Materazzi said: I prefer Zidane's Sister
http://article.wn.com/view/2006/09/06/Materazzi_I_said_I_would_prefer_Zidanes_sister/

(I still can't figure out if I am ecstatic about this class or stressed...I'm thinking more ecstatic though...I wish all my upper level MCOM classes seemed as "fun" as this one. Today was literally crazy. First, I woke up (on purpose) at 7:30 and drove to campus in order to buy books before class. I got my books, no problem...but when I reached for my class schedule, which had EVERY important class detail written down on it, it was missing. I made a frantic dash back to the University Store where I luckily was able to recover my precious schedule. Off to my class...Art 100 (obviously a Gen-Ed). Honestly, I had never had classes in the Center of the Arts building before and today I was "privileged" to have a tour of the ENTIRE building. No, NOT from my Professor, a staff personnel or even another student. Since the sign for my class number was pointing in the wrong direction, I along with 30 other students in the class, wandered around the ENTIRE building until we all finally stumbled upon the class. All during class the only thing I could focus on was the fact that I had to add one more class in order to graduate on time. Long story short, the BIO (Gen-Ed) class that I was told I could take in order to fulfill the requirement turns out that I could NOT after I was already registered. SO, of course MCOM classes are ALWAYS filled up as soon as the classes are opened and I was stressing out about that and the fact that the ONE other Gen-Ed category was seriously "cutting it close" to fit into my schedule. I emailed about 3 teachers telling them I wanted to be in the class and I was waiting for replies. I guess it was my "lucky day" when the only class I really wanted...Writing for New Media, was made available to me when 2 people did not show up. SO here I am. Enjoy my blog! VIVA ITALIA!)