wine news stories on Newser

How a 1909 Law Is Holding Back the Post Office

Matt Cantor — Sat, 05 May 2012 09:42:08 CDT

The Senate has an idea to help save the Postal Service: Let people mail alcohol. After all, FedEx and UPS carry the stuff all the time. But a law from 1909—established 10 years before Prohibition came into effect—bars the Postal Service from shipping "all spirituous, vinous, malted, fermented,...

Drew Barrymore Wades Into the Wine Biz

Evann Gastaldo — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 10:21:19 CDT

Celebrities seem to be practically required to launch their own alcohol lines these days, and Drew Barrymore is the latest to enter the game. Her Barrymore 2011 Pinot Grigio, already available in California and coming to New York next month, won a gold medal earlier this month at France's biggest...

To Stay Slim, Try Nuts, Wine, Sleep

Matt Cantor — Sun, 15 Apr 2012 14:23:05 CDT

A wealth of findings offer some new tips to keep off the pounds. Looks like tree nuts, red wine, and plenty of sleep can all help you stay fit. Researchers found that nut eaters weighed less and had a lower waist circumference and BMI than those who don't eat nuts,...

British Plan: No More Super-Cheap Booze

Matt Cantor — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 09:22:05 CDT

Britain's heaviest drinkers could soon find themselves paying an extra $200 a year for booze. Despite resistance from his health secretary—and despite his own limited-government philosophy—David Cameron is today announcing a plan to set a minimum price of 40p, or about 63 cents, per unit of alcohol, the...

After Pouring a $300 Bottle, White House Mum on Wine

Kate Schwartz — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 09:38:33 CDT

Last night, British PM David Cameron enjoyed his very first taste of March Madness, compliments of President Obama. At tonight's state dinner, he'll likely enjoy some American wine as well—but don't expect too many details about the winery, year, or appellation. That's because Obama put a stop to the...

Why You Shouldn't Bother Splurging on Fancy Wine

Evann Gastaldo — Sat, 10 Mar 2012 19:00:05 CST

Ever wondered why you can't quite detect those hints of vanilla and cardamom touted in a pricey bottle of wine? A new study finds that wine experts—like the wine writer who likely informed you of that cardamom in the first place—simply have a better sense of taste than...

Now Found in Some Australian Wines: Laxative Agent

Kate Schwartz — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 13:43:05 CST

Those with delicate bowels may want to steer clear of wine from the Land Down Under. Winemakers there are now allowed to add sodium carboxymethyl cellulose to wine—a chemical lauded for its laxative powers. But in small quantities it can thicken liquids, and when it comes to wine, adding...

Drink Up! FDA OKs Hangover Pill

Kate Schwartz — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 08:15:17 CST

Who needs Santa when you have the FDA? The government agency handed boozy partygoers everywhere a big holiday gift: It recently OK'd a hangover pill called Blowfish. The over-the-counter tablets, designed to be taken upon waking, Alka Seltzer-style, contain some not-too-foreign ingredients: 1,000 milligrams of aspirin, 120 milligrams of...

Brewing at Chicago Starbucks: Beer, Wine

Rob Quinn — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 03:30:00 CST

There's still no chance of getting an Irish coffee in Starbucks, but beer and wine will soon be available in up to seven of the coffee chain's Chicago-area outlets. Following a model first introduced in Seattle and Portland, Starbucks aims to boost traffic in the evenings by offering beer and...