Winemaker set to leave mark on Niagara

Hundertmark recently found himself looking for a pet project.


For the last three years, Hundertmark has gained loads of experience working with robust red grape varieties, mainly Cabernet Sauvignon, during his time as head winemaker at Marynissen Estates Winery in Niagara-on-the-Lake.




But Hundertmark wanted another challenge: Working with the fickle, hard-to-grow Pinot Noir grape, which Marynissen does not produce.
Also, he wanted a taste of what it was like to run his own winery. Problem is, it takes a lot of start-up cash for equipment, buildings, etc., to open a full-fledged winery.


So when friend and grape grower Steve Murdza offered up his 3.5 acres of Pinot Noir grapes ffrom his St. Davids vineyard, Hundertmark jumped at the chance.


The first Pinot Noir grapes for Hundertmark's burgeoning "virtual winery" were picked earlier this month. This makes Hundertmark the latest in a string of talented winemakers who have started up their own line of wines under the licence or umbrella of an existing winery. Think Steve Byfield, who makes vino under the brand Nyarai Cellars, a virtual winery run out of Calamus Estate Winery in Jordan. Or Charles Baker, marketing and sales director at Stratus, who has sold his Riesling-focused wine line under his own label for several years.


Hundertmark plans to call his virtual label 100 Marks and sell the majority of his product through a yet-to-be-created website.


"I can't afford to have a winery," said Hundertmark, who is running the new venture with wife, Kimberly, "I can't afford to buy the equipment necessary.


"I looked at (virtual wineries) as giving me something of a chance to explore something I don't do in my regular job."


Murdza, who is partnering with Hundertmark, said he supports the idea of virtual wineries and thinks it's a great way of getting the word out about Niagara's viticultural area.


"I think it also gives winemakers a little more prestige as well as the winery they're usually at," Murdza said.


Murdza said his Line 9 property in St. Davids is an ideal site to grow Pinot Noir grapes. Fruit ripens a little earlier in this wine appellation, and grapes are able to hang on the vine a little longer for maximum ripeness and flavour, he said.


"I think it's a great Pinot," Murdza said.


"I think it's really earthy, but it also has that much richer, deeper colour in that black heavy clay."


Hundertmark said the new virtual winery venture gives him a chance to work with grapes from a different part of the region and with a variety that he loves.


"It was a challenge. That's the way I look at it -- it's a challenge."


Hundertmark said he plans to produce about 3,000 bottles or 250 cases of wine from the spectacular 2010 vintage. The wine won't be available for about a year and a half.


For more information on 100 Marks, go to Facebook and search for the fan page.


In other vines and wine news:


Tawse Winery has been named Canada's winery of the year by Wine Access Magazine.


The Vineland winery is the first Ontario vintner to be given the distinction during the 10 years the magazine has run the Canadian Wine Awards.


To earn the top honor, Tawse scooped up 18 medals at the competition, including five gold medals for its 2008 Robyn's Block Chardonnay; 2008 Quarry Road Chardonnay; 2008 Wismer Lakeview Vineyard Riesling; 2009 Riesling and 2008 Lauritzen Pinot Noir. A panel of wine experts judges submitted wines through blind tastings


by the standard-By MONIQUE BEECH

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Feng shui gives Italian wine the feel good factor

Nestled in the rolling hills of Tuscany in Italy, a new vineyard is using the ancient Chinese art of feng shui to make its wine in harmony with nature — and give it an extra marketing zing.



“We have created a feng shui cellar in order to retain a bond with nature,” Solene Genot, who manages the Caiarossa vineyard with her husband, Dominique, told AFP on a visit to the picturesque area in central Italy.
“The cellar is located in a place where the energy is highest — half way between the top of the hill and the bottom of the valley,” she said.
“Even the colors of the building — red on the outside and yellow on the inside — are the colors of nature, the sun and the earth.”
Caiarossa is in the village of Riparbella in a region called Val di Cecina close to the Mediterranean Sea and the historic port of Livorno.
It was bought in 2004 by Dutch businessman Eric Albada Jelgersma, who also owns two vineyards in the Bordeaux wine region in southwest France.
In its marketing literature, the wine company talks about “the luxury of Mother Nature, which man has helped to produce.”
“The inspiration for the winery comes from geo-biological architecture and Oriental Feng Shui discipline,” it says.
The vines are spread out over 16 hectares (39 acres) and annual production is around 70,000 bottles, with 70 percent going for exports, Dominique Genot said.
“It's a young vineyard, it's still expanding,” he said.
“We are trying to make the most natural wine possible. We don't use any tannin or enzymes. We don't use chemical products, not even weed killer, and we work with manual, natural methods, not mechanical ones,” he added.
“We wanted a wine that is an expression of the territory. I think that this could be the future for independent vineyards, while larger companies that cover hundreds of hectares would have difficulty implementing it,” he added.
The cellar is on three levels, with a conveyor bringing in the grapes.
“Feng shui is used in our case so that we feel as good as possible when we work in the cellar. It has large spaces, large volumes and a lot of natural light,” he said.
His wife added: “It's true that technically the large windows in the cellar are not practical since it is cold in winter and hot in summer. But the light brings a positive energy.”

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‘Dream Girl’ to dance for breast cancer charity

Hema Malini-
MUSCAT: ‘Dream Girl’ Hema Malini, a Bollywood star and accomplished danseuse, will perform along with her two daughters and a 12-member troupe to raise awareness about breast cancer in Oman at a major charity dance event titled Parampara (Tradition) to be held at the Oman Auditorium in Al Bustan Palace Hotel on October 21.
Hema Malini, who will be accompanied by daughters Esha and Ahana Deol, will also be present at the charity dinner, which will be held on October 20 at the Shangri- La’s, Barr Al Jissah ballroom, a day prior to the dance event.
Social cause
The charity dinner and dance event are being organised by the Black & White magazine in association with the NACA (National Association for Cancer Awareness).
Omantel is the major sponsor, while Air-India and National Travel and Tourism are the travel partners of the show.
“As a publication, we have decided to do only events that make some social sense and or for a charitable cause,” Mohamed Issa Al Zadjali, editor-in-chief of Black & White, said.
“Since October is the ‘pink’ month, we have decided to focus on breast cancer. We have roped in the famous Bollywood star Hema Malini, who is considered to be the ‘dream girl’ of moviegoers even today. She is a popular face among the Omani art loving community too,” Mohamed Issa added.
Efforts
“Yuthar Al Rawahi, founder of NACA and currently its chairperson, has been making great efforts in spreading awareness and raising funds for the cause of breast cancer. But, there is a need to get their mobile mammography unit (MMU) to reach across a wider section of the community. We have decided to take up that task and spread much-needed awareness on this dreaded disease,” he said, adding that these were humble efforts from their end in the hope that it will benefit Oman and Omanis. 

The MMU offers mammography for ladies belonging to all communities in society and the main thrust of the event is to raise much-needed awareness about this fact and also woo more women to avail the facility provided by this unit free of cost and also in support of the Home Away from Home initiative of NACA. 

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Third of women not tested for breast cancer

One-in-three Polish women do not have regular screenings for breast cancer and one-in-two men express little interest in the matter, finds a new survey commissioned by Polish Radio.

The opinion poll for the Homo Homini research company found that while 71 percent of women said they do have mammograms and other tests, 29 percent admitted that they didn’t. 

Poles are unanimous, however, for the need for regular testing. Ninety eight percent agreed that tests are necessary with just two percent disagreeing.

Director of Homo Homini, Marcin Duma, says this unanimity should be regarded positively, nothing that “"virtually every Pole believes that women should be tested. We should rejoice that we have such a state of awareness”.

More worrying, however, is that half of men (51 percent) declared little interest in whether women were tested for breast cancer or not. “the role of men is huge as they can encourage women to go and be tested. With only half of men declaring an interest men have nothing to feel proud about,” Marcin Duma told Polish Radio. 

The poll was conducted by telephone from a sample of 1,084. 

The survey comes after last Monday‘s Campaign for Combating Breast Cancer in Warsaw which saw bridges illuminated in pink light. Every year over 13,000 women in Poland are diagnosed with breast cancer, over half discovering the illness too late for successful therapy. (pg)

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Breast cancer attacked the man is more dangerous?

Men in this country are reminded not to underestimate breast cancer risk as well as their attack was even more severe implications than women.

Breast Cancer Resource Center Coordinator Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia (HUSM), Dr. Munirah Nik Nik Mahdi said, breast cancer that attacked the man is more dangerous because the cancer cells more aggressive cancer that attacks against women.

"Thought breast cancer only caused many men to attack women who are still looked down on these things while they are actually the same risk of illness.

"According to the study of the National Cancer Council, from 1999 to 2006 in this state, a total of six men have died of the disease, most breast cancers that strike men far worse impact due to cancer will spread to other organs so quickly lead to death," she told reporters after the launch of the blog site for the Breast Cancer Resource Center by the Chairman of the Board of USM, Professor Emeritus Datuk Dr. M. Zawawi Ismail, at Kota Bharu, Kelantan today.

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Singaporean man dies of breast cancer

A 43-year-old man in Singapore who thought he was having rashes on his chest subsequently died of breast cancer.

Han Ming Shou, who died on Tuesday, had initially found a tiny growth on his left chest almost two years ago but chose to ignore it, said his 38-year-old sister, known only as Miss Han.

Nanyang Siang Pau quoted her as saying that her brother woke up one morning and found a large patch of blood on his bed.

He went to the hospital for check-up about five months ago and was diagnosed with third stage breast cancer. The cancer cells had spread to his bones and lung.

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Knock some back for knockers

In honor of breast cancer awareness month, the KK holds a fund raiser called ‘booze for boobs,’ which raised more than $1,400 last week.

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10 tips for breast cancer patients undergoing treatment

Undergoing breast cancer treatment? Well, here are some things to keep in mind.

October being the Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Julie Gralow of Breast Medical Oncology at the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance and co-author of ‘Breast Fitness’ (St. Martin’s Press) has offered “10 Tips for Breast Cancer Patients During Treatment”.

1. Get specifics on your diagnosis and treatment. In order to maximize your time with your providers, bring your questions with you in writing to your appointments. Make informed decisions; learn as much as you can about your diagnosis and treatment.

2. Spend time choosing your doctor. Breast cancer specialists who work at dedicated cancer centres offer specific expertise as well as access to the latest treatments that are part of clinical studies. Such centres can provide other specialty services, usually under one roof, such as physical therapy, nutrition and social work.

3. Get the support you need for talking about your diagnosis. Breaking the news to your friends and family that you’ve been diagnosed with breast cancer can be just as difficult as first hearing the news yourself from your doctor. You may feel concerned about upsetting your family and friends or worried about how they will react. Even after you have shared the news, at times you may find it difficult to communicate openly.

4. Seek help in navigating financial issues, if necessary. Your hospital or clinic should have a social worker, patient navigator or financial services department to help you manage financial issues and deal with private insurance companies, Medicare and Medicaid. If you have concerns, request an appointment.

5. Talk to your doctor about coping with menopause symptoms. Breast cancer patients who have undergone chemotherapy, ovary removal, or who have had to discontinue hormone replacement therapy upon diagnosis may experience symptoms of menopause. Talk to your doctor about how to safely minimize menopausal symptoms.

6. Get good nutrition. Your cancer treatment may influence your ability to taste and smell, and it may alter your digestion. You may prefer and tolerate more cooked versus raw vegetables, so a vegetable stew or soup may be more appealing than a salad. You may have more energy and less nausea if you eat smaller amounts of foods more frequently rather than eating three big meals per day. Try not to gain weight by overindulging and blowing your calorie budget.

7. Take steps to prevent lymphedema. Lymphedema is a side effect of breast cancer treatment that involves swelling of the soft tissues of the arm, hand or chest wall. It isn’t life threatening, but it needs to be treated to avoid getting worse. The swelling may be accompanied by numbness, discomfort and infection. There’s no reliable way to assess your risk for lymphedema, but by taking proper precautions you can greatly reduce your chances of developing the condition.

8. Get exercise. Gentle exercise during treatment, such as regular walks, can help with both the mental and physical effects of treatment. After treatment is completed, increasing your exercise gradually will help improve your fatigue and rebuild muscle tone.

9. Bone up on bone health. Keeping your bones healthy throughout your life is important; however, if you’re a woman who’s been diagnosed with breast cancer, bone health is especially important. Research shows that some breast cancer treatments can lead to bone loss.

10. Treatment and work. Some people are able to work throughout their cancer treatment. Yet for some, reducing one’s work capacity or taking a break altogether may be necessary. If you take time off and then return to work shortly after your treatment ends, you may find that it helps you maintain your identity and even boosts your self-esteem, not to mention your income. (ANI)

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