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Wine is produced all over the world from single varietal grape selections to popular varietal blends to please almost every palate, from the novice to the seasoned wine taster. Red wine happens to be the most popular choice the world over.
Barolo and Barbaresco
Derived from the Nebbiolo grape, Barolo wines are typically deep red with a thick and complex flavor that is sometimes flowery, reminiscent of violets and roses. Other flavors are fruit, licorice or oak. Barolo should be enjoyed at 60F and can age for 5-10 years. Barbaresco is a red wine that is more elegant and aromatic, though still powerful. In a way, Barbaresco is the younger brother of Barolo. Both of these red wines are made in the Piedmont region of Italy and pair well with grilled meats.
Beaujolais Nouveau
A very young, light, fruity wine meant to be served chilled, around 55F, with dominant flavors of strawberry and raspberry along with a grapey appeal that is virtually free of tannins. It is grown from the Gamay grape in the Beaujolais region (part of Burgundy) of France. Beaujolais Nouveau is released annually on the third Thursday of November. In food pairing, it goes well with grilled or roasted meats both light and dark, a variety of pastas, salads and cheeses.
Cabernet Franc
Originally from the Bourdeaux and Loire Valley region, Cabernet Franc enjoys the growing climates of California, Washington State, Australia, Chile, Canada, and South Africa. It is a wonderfully fruity wine, having lower tannin levels and a more distinct flavor reminiscent of berry; mainly blueberry, raspberry and at times plum. Cabernet Franc is more subdued and softer than its cousin Cabernet Sauvignon and is sold as a single varietal. However, it is ideal for blending with its cousin Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Cabernet Franc is best served at 59-64F and pairs well with Mediterranean Greek and Middle Eastern dishes as well as poultry and pasta.
Cabernet Sauvignon
Originally from Bordeaux, Cabernet Sauvignon has a tremendous presence in the California wineries where the grape favors the warmer climate, and enjoys the popularity as the most sought after red wine. Cabernets are medium-bodied to full-bodied and characterized by a high tannin content which provides structure and intrigue to the wine and supporting flavors reminiscent of a rich, ripe berry, tobacco and sometimes green pepper. Cabernet Sauvignon is an ideal wine for aging, with 5-10 years being optimal for peak maturation. The longer maturation process allows the wine's flavors to mellow, and makes the Cabernets ideal for blending with other grapes, primarily Merlot to add appealing fruit tones, without sacrificing character. Cabernet Sauvignon is best served at 59-64F, and pairs wonderfully with red meats, lamb, cheeses of strong flavor and dark chocolates.
Cotes du Rhone
Southeastern France's Rhone Valley produces some of that country's best bargain red wines offering good flavor, generally full-bodied with rich but smooth tanins, with plenty of food pairing options. Grenache, Syrah and Viognier are the primary varietals grown in the region. Red and rosé wines are made from Grenache Noir, Syrah, Cinsault, Carignane, Counoise and Mourvèdre grape varieties. With the exception of Northern wines using a majority of Syrah, product must contain a minimum of 40% Grenache to be blended into the Côtes du Rhône. Best served at 59-64F and pairs well with game and other rich meat dishes.
Malbec
Originating from Bordeaux France, Malbec is generally a grape used for blending. In the sun-drenched climate of Argentina, Malbec has found renewed appreciation and acclaim and has become Argentina's signature grape producing a medium to full-bodied red wine. Malbec wine is reminiscent of ripe fruit flavors of plums and blackberry jam. The tannins are typically a bit tight with an earthy, wood appeal making for a fairly rustic wine that is quickly making a new name for itself with red wine lovers. Malbec is best served at 59-64F and pairs well with tomato-based sauces, Italian fare, red meat, Mexican, Cajun, and Indian dishes.
Merlot
A soft, medium-bodied red wine with juicy fruit flavors reminiscent of plums, cherries, blueberries and blackberries mixed with black pepper tones. Tannin levels are fairly low. Merlot is a prime wine for consumers just getting into red wines. Merlot originated from the Bordeaux region of France and is often blended with other varietals, such as Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Blending Merlot with these wines mellows and softens the Cabernets. Merlot wines are very versatile with food pairings and are best served at 55- 60F degrees and enjoyed with poultry, red meat, pork, pastas, and salads.
Pinot Noir
Pinot Noir is a lighter flavored and colored red wine with flavors reminiscent of plums, tomatoes, cherries and red berries and, depending on the varietal's growing conditions, an earthy or wood flavor. Pinot Noir is planted in California, Oregon, Germany, Italy, New Zealand, Australia, and other regions around the world. You are likely to pay a little more for Pinot Noir because it is produced in smaller quantities than most of the other popular red wine types. Pinot Noir is a versatile food wine best served at 55-60F, pairing well with spicy seasonings, creamy sauces, beef, ham, lamb, pork, poultry and fish.
Sangiovese
Italy's most commonly planted red grape varietal predominantly producing the popular wines Chianti and Chianti Classico, wines of medium- to full-body with a tannin structure range from medium-soft to firm, and a medium to high acidity content. Flavors associated with Sangiovese wines are reminiscent of cherry, plum, strawberry, cinnamon and vanilla with a finish that can range from elegant to bitter. Best served at 59-64F, Sangiovese varietal wine pairs well with chicken, red meat, fish, lamb, pork, pastas, stews or well-aged cheeses
Shiraz/Syrah
Australia and South Africa call it Shiraz. In France, it is known and grown as Syrah, but it happens to be the same grape varietal that produces a deep-purple color and bold, spicy, red, medium- to full-bodied wines with firm tannins with rich flavors reminiscent of black cherry, blackberry, plum, bell pepper, black pepper, clove, licorice, dark chocolate and smoked meat. Best served at 59-64F, Shiraz/Syrah pairs wonderfully with spicy Mexican, Cajun and barbeque dishes, grilled fare, beef stews, red meats, even pizza and meat lasagna.
Zinfandel
California's #2 most widely planted red wine grape. Originating in Croatia, not southern Italy as previously thought, where it is a kin to the Primitivo grape . DNA "fingerprinting" recently proved that both Zinfandel and Primitivo are clones of the same grape. California is the largest grower of Zinfandel and produces various styles, ranging from a blackberry and black pepper, to light and juicy-fruity, to rich, elegant, oaked red with medium to high tannin levels and higher alcohol content. "Zin" is frequently blended with other grapes. Best served at 59F, Zinfandel pairs well with grilled red or white meat, fish, lamb, gorgonzola cheese and dark chocolate. Lighter Zinfandels can also pair well with rich, creamy pastas, rotisserie chicken, duck, baked Italian dishes like lasagna, cannelloni and Cajun to Asian fare.
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King Wicker Headboard Panasonic Lumix Camera Accessories High Optical Zoom Digital Camera
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You have heard the message by now: Melanoma is deadly. You also probably know that it is the fastest growing cancer in the United States and that one American every hour dies from melanoma. Millimeter for millimeter, it is the deadliest cancer. Rather than bore you with statistics on this horrid disease, allow me to share with you some fascinating background you may not have heard before.
There are few historical accounts of melanoma. It was not officially recognized as a disease until 1806 in France. Several years prior in 1787, a perplexed Scottish surgeon named John Hunter was confronted by a large black growth on the jaw of a thirty-five year man. He described it as a "cancerous fungus". Not knowing what it was, he did what surgeons do: he cut it out. Amazingly, it wasn't until 1968 that somebody first looked at it under a microscope confirming it was a melanoma. It had been preserved all this time at the Royal College of Surgeons of England Hunterian Museum in London and still can be viewed today I'm told. The patient evidently sought out Dr. Hunter a few years later for a recurrence of the growth in the same spot. In a drunken brawl he had been beaten with a stick and the "soft black mass" returned. The fate of the patient is lost to history. But we do know that it was highly unlikely his melanoma returned due to the beating he took.
Since then, there has been no shortage of melanoma. It might surprise you to learn that many of the leading researchers for melanoma are based in Australia, not the US. In the 1870's the British government established an Australian penal colony and sentenced criminals to live out there days with kangaroos. The forced emigration of pasty white English convicts to the sunny continent has led to an epidemic of melanoma several generations later. Australia holds the distinction of being the melanoma capital of the world. We are not far behind however. In 1935 it was estimated that only one in every 1500-2000 Americans would get melanoma. Several decades of bikinis and tanning salons later, the rate is now 1 in 65 and worsening each year. Predictions are now being made for 1 in every 33 of us in the near future; a staggering increase.
Interestingly, melanoma is one of the few diseases I can name that tends to affect people from higher socioeconomic groups disproportionately. It is believed this is due to disposable income taking families to equatorial destinations for vacations. Vacations in Cancun and Florida equal short but intense periods of sun exposure-the exact same exposure one gets from a tanning bed. It is believed that all those high school girls who tanned for prom back in the 80's and 90's account for the skyrocketing rates of melanoma we are seeing in women under 40 currently. Along with breast and thyroid cancer, melanoma is one of the most common cancers in young women. If you watch Grey's Anatomy you know that one of the favorite lead characters (a thirty-something blond) died from melanoma a few seasons back. While normally, I don't pay much attention to those shows, I applaud the effort of the writers in raising awareness of this issue. Governor Brown just outlawed tanning bed use for those under 18 in recognition of the link between ultraviolet light and melanoma.
Tanning is not the sole cause for melanoma however. If only this horrid disease were that simple. Genetics play an equally sinister role in this story. We've known for a long time that if you have melanoma, your first degree relatives are much more likely to get melanoma as well. Many of the new treatments specifically target various genetic mutations and genes associated with melanoma. Shared genes with pancreatic cancer and possibly now even some forms of breast cancer are being studied. But tanning is not off the hook. If someone's genetic makeup is the dry cornfield, tanning is the match and kerosene.
As far as mammalian skin goes, human skin in general is a disaster. It offers virtually no protection from the sun. Even very dark African American skin has only a natural SPF of around 13-20. Pig skin is the closest equivalent to human skin in its make-up and organization. Surgical trainees usually begin their studies by operating and sewing pigs' feet and we still sometimes use pig skin grafts when necessary. It has been said "Also like humans, pigs enjoy lying in the sun, tan in response to the sun, and enjoy drinking large quantities of beer."
Now to bore you with a little scientific background: The melanocyte is a cell in our skin that makes our color. Melanoma is the uncontrolled growth of melanocytes. One bad mutation begets two. Then two begets four. Four begets sixteen, and on and on. The normal melanocyte resembles an octopus and makes the pigment in our skin. Its long tentacles deliver the pigment (melanin) to the other skin cells. The purpose is to shield the other skin cells from sun damage by absorbing the rays from the sun. When you tan, the melanocytes rev up production to make more of this shield. When you see tanning, you know DNA damage has occurred in the skin cells. Thus I like to think of a tan as tears of the melanocytes cried over their neighboring cells.
We are in the midst of a skin cancer epidemic with no end in sight. While most skin cancers are not life threatening, they can necessitate extensive surgery and cause deformities that need surgical correction. However, melanoma is a different story. Luckily, the North State enjoys a stellar collection of dermatologists and surgeons skilled in these arts. While almost 100% curable if caught early, melanoma has a dismal survival rate once it spreads beyond the skin and into other organs. There is no known definitive cure. (please read that last statement again)
Up until the last few years, we have really been no better off in the treatment of advanced melanoma than Dr. Hunter was back in 1787. The lack of progress in almost 225 years is embarrassing to me as a dermatologist. Now the research pipeline is full of treatments coming our way. A melanoma vaccine led the way and has been extensively studied but has not lived up to the hype yet. One recent breakthrough medication turns the immune system against the melanoma cells. Unfortunately for Brits, it has just been rejected by England's national health care panel as not cost effective for their society. The drug boasts a 20% three-year survival rate (or put another way a full 80% of people with metastatic melanoma who take it, will pass away in three years). At 0,000 per patient per year, it certainly raises a lot of philosophical and ethical quandaries. Luckily, there are handfuls of other promising new treatments on the horizon. Hopefully they may be priced more reasonably.
If you or someone you know has metastatic melanoma, talk to your doctor about enrolling in a study. Gone are the days when you will be randomly selected to receive the study drug or doomed to unknowingly receive the sham placebo treatment. I have several patients with advanced melanoma doing quite well in a few studies thus far. It also gives meaning to their suffering and a chance to fight back. While preparing this article it dawned on me that perhaps no other cell in the body has been responsible for more misery in mankind than the melanocyte. Historically, the functions of your melanocytes could doom you to a live of slavery, limit your martial prospects, curb your economic potentials, or simply make you drink from a different water fountain.
In conclusion, I would encourage each of you to see a dermatologist for a full skin exam. You may say to yourself, "My moles look fine. Nothing has changed". To which I would ask, "Would you bet your life on it?"
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There are several different types of furniture available today to suit diverse styles and tastes. The environment that you live in portrays the person you are. Your furnishings and the décor that you style your home in represent your choices as well as your personality traits. Thus, not only should the living space designed and created by you be comfortable, but also adaptable to changing fashions and trends.
Let's take a closer look at some of the most common styles of furniture being designed today.
Contemporary
Also known as modern, it is created to be comfortable, solid and more than anything natural. With not too many trappings, the colors mostly resonate around black, white, beige, brown and taupe. Polished surfaces, sleek and geometric designs are often the characteristics that represent contemporary furniture. Though the colors are simple, they are used in a bold and vibrant way for a true contemporary look. For instance, stark white cushions on black upholstered sofas makes for a bold statement. A lot of metal, fibreglass, aluminium is also used. The most essential feature of this kind of look is that every piece of furniture is striking and sophisticated. Most people today enjoy designing their house and office both, in the contemporary style.
Traditional
The quintessence of traditional furniture is dark woods with ornate carvings and a majestic appearance. The final look is busy with floor layouts matching the details of the furniture. With classic features of form and ornament, the lines of traditional furniture tend towards being elegant. Queen Anne, Chippendale, Hepplewhite etc are some of the common types of traditional furniture.
Urban
The more modern trend, urban leans towards the minimalist. The woods have either a black finish with brushed aluminum highlights and glass or light, blond woods with brushed aluminum and glass. The pieces are small scaled and designed to fit small apartments.
Country and Cottage
Lighter shades of woods, muted colors, simple lines and vintage fabrics make for country and cottage styles. The most important aspect of this type is comfort and color. Furniture is sometimes painted or decorated and furniture lines are simple and graceful. Textures include baskets, bead-board walls, natural fibers in floor and window coverings, and weathered finish on wood furniture.
Transitional
Simpler lines than those found in more traditional styles, but not as simple as contemporary. Transitional furniture is about melding comfort and simplicity of the contemporary with the graceful styling of traditional furniture.
Eclectic
An eclectic style is a reflection of an individual's love of different design aspects from different time periods or styles. The overall look of an eclectically styled room though unique, is amalgamated harmoniously through the creative use of color and finish, shape and texture.
Rustic
This style of furniture represents lots of exposed woods, walls, columns and beams, simple lines and a practical feel. Often wood panelling and stone are also used. Rustic furniture looks tough and durable while the accessories are primitive and somewhat minimized.
Amish
If you are looking for good handcrafted furniture, Amish furniture is a great style to consider. Most Amish furniture is composed of oak, cedar or pine. You can find everything from living room to bedroom to office furniture in the Amish furniture style.
Art Deco
Art Deco is both, geometric and streamlined with bright colors, strong vertical lines and rounded corners. While often Art Deco pieces are made of exotic woods, the use of use of bakelite and Formica also abound. Juxtaposition of opposing elements is common to this style - for instance, rare and expensive jade and inexpensive bakelite.
Colonial
It simplifies the look of European furniture and leans greatly towards Queen Anne and Chippendale styles. Chairs characterize spindled legs and backs rather than ornate designs.
When it comes to home improvement, putting your best foot forward means having a front door you can be most proud of. More than the porch or patio, the front door is the focal point of a house. In the eyes of onlookers and visitors, it is the platform on which you convey your house's personality. Aged wood doors might suggest an easygoing unit whereas sleek steel doors might hint at an urban household. Certainly, fiberglass entry doors signify that you are getting the best of both worlds. They are lightweight yet hardwearing. Long after your neighbors' wooden doors can no longer stand fluctuating temperatures and repeated use, fiberglass will continue showing its worth. It is only a matter of finding the right one for your functional and aesthetic needs.
1. Do not settle for just one.
Wood, fiberglass and steel are the current choices of surface material for doors in the market. In the past, a door would have been built from one of these materials alone but there are newer doors made from a combination of materials. Some doors have a steel interior and wood exterior. Steel rusts and dents while wood rots, cracks, splits and bows. Wood expands and contracts as the weather changes. Fiberglass is not vulnerable to such wear and tear as wood and steel are. Your best option is an entry door of composite material in which fiberglass is the main make, perhaps with a wood frame where handcrafting and other exquisite detailing are achievable.
2. Look at the big picture.
The door is an entryway to the house and must harmonize with it. Fiberglass entry doors straddle looks, with classic and modern styles complementing the natural and man-made elements of the outdoor environment. Be sure to browse through a broad selection of panel styles, glass configurations, pre-finishes and finishes. These diverse features have come to be offered with architects, remodelers and homeowners in mind. A wood grain finish like oak or mahogany approximates real wood, evoking warmth and traditional beauty against a siding like brick or concrete. Remember that exterior doors should go with interior and patio doors as well as windows, which in turn should not clash with important furniture like a sofa or bed, so having hints of wood on the front door might be sensible.
3. Consider name-checking.
Big brands are in the lead of advancing fiberglass entry doors in the market, recognizing that they have become increasingly popular. Long trusted names like Masonite and Milgard are focused on quality control, as with the former's high-end Barrington product line and the latter's vertically integrated production. Benchmark by Therma-Tru, recognized product pioneers, and Feather River are zooming in on innovation, both having entry door systems that offer security and peace of mind. As door makers vie for market leadership, they would naturally make a wider variety of better products available to you conveniently. Test these products as a point of reference - latch one, lock another, swing them open and close. Taking cues from name brands when fiberglass door shopping should help you make informed choices in regard to functionality and design.
4. Think long-term.
Fiberglass door products already come at competitive costs due to rising customer demand. In addition, they insulate 3 to 5 times better than doors made from wood and help brighten rooms with natural light, which means you can save energy. On top of these, they are unlike wood doors that necessitate constant repairs and quicker replacements. Fiberglass entry doors are a smart investment for their durability, efficiency, contemporary appeal and staying power. Buying one will cost you less in the long run.
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