Is a Glass of Bordeaux the Secret to a Long Life?

The world’s oldest twins have recently revealed the secret to their longevity. This startling admission has prompted the Ideal Wine Company to ask; is a glass of Bordeaux the secret to a long life?

Life expectancy in the UK  

It’s hard to deny that living conditions in the UK have improved in the last century. The Daily Mail reported that researchers from Imperial College London found that in 1981, average life expectancy was 71.4 for men and 77.4 for women. However, this rose to 79.5 for men, and 83.3 for women by 2012, and is predicted to increase to 85.7 for men, and 87.6 for women by the time we hit 2030. 

Secret to a long life 

This begs the question, how do you live a long life? The answer to this question may be found in recent comments made by Belgians Pieter and Paulus Langerock, who at 102 years old apiece are the oldest set of twins in the world. 

The Langerock twins now reside in Ter Venne nursing home in Ghent, Belgium, and they recently spoke out on why they believe they’ve lived to the grand old age of 102. Paulus was quoted by Yahoo News saying that if you want break the 100 year age mark, “don't waste your time fooling around, don't eat too much and don't run after women."

Paulus, who along with his brother was born on 8th July 1913, also revealed that wine has played a role in pro-longing his life. The Langerock brothers are known to indulge in a glass of fine Bordeaux wine each every day. Paulus is often heard asking his nurse at Ter Venne, to "get us a Bordeaux, but a good quality one," and he cites it as another reason why he’s been alive since 1913. 

Try a Bordeaux 

This doesn’t mean that drinking a glass of Bordeaux every day will help you live longer. Yet the story of the Langerock brothers does suggest that it can’t hurt to indulge in a glass of the fine French tipple every once in a while. If you want to try out the world’s oldest twins’ theory for yourself, why don’t you buy a Chateau Lafite Rothschild 1978 from the Ideal Wine Company, and get pouring!

Turning Slag Heaps into Vineyards

The Ideal Wine Company has recently learned about something extraordinary. A wine producer in the north of France has turned one of the region’s infamous ‘slag heaps’ into a vineyard.

Blight of the skyline

France has been mining the coal seam that runs along its border with Belgium for roughly 300 years. Mining is a dirty game; it leaves behind a lot of coal residue and the miners had to put it somewhere.
They dumped it in the countryside, and over time mountains of the residue, or ‘slag heaps,’ grew up to blight the Northern French skyline. These heaps were once regarded as a national embarrassment, but the BBC has recently reported that the citizens of this region have decided to turn their greatest embarrassment into their greatest asset.

Charbonnay

They’re transforming these slap heaps, called ‘terrils’ by the French, into exciting new projects that have ignited a fondness in the hearts of our continental cousins for these environmental eyesores. Wine-grower Henri Jammet decided to do something truly revolutionary; he transformed one terril into what has become France’s most northerly vineyard.

He planted vines on the slopes of a slag heap in Haillicourt, Northern France, in 2011. Jammet created a vintage that he’s lovingly called ‘Charbonnay,’ a play on the words ‘Chardonnay,’ arguably the world’s most famous wine, and ‘bonnay,’ the French word for ‘coal.’ The novel winery produced 150 bottles in 2013, before doubling its capacity to 300 bottles last year.

“The wine is great.”

Speaking about the project, Jammet said "people here were very surprised, but the wine is great. The terril is stony - it drains well because it is on a slope; the earth is black which keeps in the warmth; and we face south - all things that help the vines."

The innovative wine producer elaborated, "obviously the soil is poor - but that is good. Vines need to struggle in order to bring out the best in the grape. Our wine is sharp because they don't have the sun up here to reduce the acidity - and it's got the proper Chardonnay citrus notes."

Buy a Bordeaux

The fact that the French can turn slag heaps into vineyards shows you just how good they are at making wine. If you want to sample a range of the country’s finest vintages, why don’t you buy a Burgundy from the Ideal Wine Company right now!

Could Red Wine Help Prevent Bowel Cancer?

Hold on to your hats people, the Ideal Wine Company has discovered yet another study about the health benefits of resveratrol. This time researchers are claiming that the wonder anti-oxidant can help prevent bowel cancer.

The wonder anti-oxidant

Resveratrol is an anti-oxidant that’s found on the skin of grapes, supposed to have more health benefits than a trip to the hot springs of Reykjavik.

In other words you can find resveratrol in red wine, and this is why red wine is supposed to have so many health benefits. According to various studies, resveratrol-laced red wine may be able to help you live longer as well as act as a memory aid, and be as good for your health as an hour in the gym.

Resveratrol and bowel cancer

A new study conducted by researchers at Leicester University has now shown that resveratrol can act as a safeguard against bowel cancer. Interestingly, the Daily Mail reported that this research found that the tiny amount of resveratrol in one glass of wine can be more effective than resveratrol supplements, which tend to contain much higher doses of the anti-oxidant.

The publication wrote that the University’s Karen Brown came to this conclusion by dosing mice that were genetically designed to develop the condition, with resveratrol. Brown discovered that low dosages of the anti-oxidant were twice as effective at preventing bowel cancer-related tumours, than dosages that were 200 times more powerful.

Effect of low doses

Professor Brown wrote in the journal ‘Science Translational Medicine,’ that she was “amazed” by the finding. However, she went on to add that resveratrol only had an anti-cancer effect on mice that were fed fatty foods.

She went on to say: “For the first time, we’re seeing that less resveratrol is more. This study shows low amounts may be better at preventing tumours than taking a high dose. The same might be true for other plant-derived chemicals and vitamins being studied for cancer prevention. There should be more research looking at the effects of low doses.”

Meaning for wine enthusiasts

This doesn’t by any means indicate that you can consume a full bottle of red wine to shield yourself from the risk of developing bowel cancer. However, it does indicate that if you purchase a Chateau Lafleur 1990 from the Ideal Wine Company and drink it modestly, you might be doing yourself the world of good!

Sparkling Red Wine Roars Back Into Fashion!

Stop the presses! The Ideal Wine Company has discovered something that’s set to change the life of every wine enthusiast in the world. It’s OK to drink sparkling red wine again!

Sparkling wine

What do you think of when you hear the words “sparkling wine?” If you’re anything like us, you think of a premium bottle of sparkling white like the first-rate Champagnes sold by the Ideal Wine Company.

However, what many people don’t know is that you can also buy sparkling reds. These vintages combine the full-fruited flavour of a hearty red with the traditional tang of a carbonated creation, to produce a bottle that contrasts opposing elements to provide you with a unique drinking experience.

Wine trends

Believe it or not, sparkling reds were the height of fashion back in the 70’ and 80’s, however they faded into the ether of social obscurity during the 90’s. Yet trends always come zooming back into style if they’re given enough time, and according to the Telegraph, this is what’s currently happening to sparkling reds.

The publication reported that online supermarket chain Ocado has named sparkling red wine “the red wine style for 2015.” The firm elaborated by explaining that the ever-important British middle classes have started to desert the style of wine that has characterised tastes over the past decade, Prosecco, in favour of sparkling red.

“Red wine of 2015.”

Ocado buyer Julian Twaites explained: "With Prosecco and rosé wine still in favour, it’s no surprise that this equally light and fresh wine is now proving increasingly popular with shoppers."

He went on to comment: "The real breakthrough came with sparkling Shiraz from Australia – it had been bubbling for a while there, became niche in the mid-Eighties in the UK but is now being rediscovered by customers."

Buy Australian wines

The Ideal Wine Company hasn’t quite caught up with the times just yet, but we do have a fantastic selection of Australian wines that you’re destined to love. Why don’t you buy the Hobbs 2006 today? This unique bottle will provide you with a wine-drinking experience you’ll never forget! 

Scotland’s First Wine Branded “Undrinkable”

Scotland has produced its first wine in living memory. The Ideal Wine Company has learned that experts across the world have branded the concoction “undrinkable.”

Wine growing conditions

England’s neighbour to the north is known for many things; haggis, William Wallace, kilts, Holyrood and Ben Nevis among them. In particular the nation of the Loch Ness monster is known as one of the finest Whiskey producers on the planet.

However, Scotland has never had a reputation as a wine producer. This is because you need certain conditions to produce the quality grapes that are required to make an outstanding wine; conditions such as those enjoyed by our neighbours across the Channel, France. Scotland is a cold, wet, windy country that sees about as much sunlight as Scandinavia; it’s no France.

Scotland’s first home grown wine

Yet this hasn’t stopped one man from trying to beat the odds. The Daily Mail has reported that Aberdeen-based Christopher Trotter has produced Scotland’s first home grown wine in living memory in his vineyard in Fife.

Trotter succeeded; he produced a vintage which he has gone on to call “Chateau Largo.” From what we can tell, this is a hearty red that experts suggest has a sherry-like consistency. If we’re being honest, that was the nicest thing the experts had to say about Scotland’s first ever home grown wine.

Critics comment

The vast majority branded it “undrinkable” and “not fit for human consumption.” The first to try it was Richard Meadows, the owner of Edinburgh-based wine merchants the Great Grog Company. 

He said: “It has potential. It doesn't smell fresh but it's crisp and light and structurally it's fine. It's not yet drinkable but, that said, I enjoyed it in a bizarre, masochistic way.”

Even Trotter himself admitted the wine was “not great.” The wannabe wine-producer commented: "We have produced a vintage of, shall we say, a certain quality, but I’m confident the next will be much better. We have proved we can grow grapes in the Scottish climate."

Buy a Bordeaux

Yeah… we’re not holding our breath Chris; here at the Ideal Wine Company we think we’ll stick with our Burgundies and Bordeauxs thanks. If you want to see why we love French wines so much, why don’t you buy one of the Ideal Wine Company’s Bordeauxs today? 

Champagne Receives World-Heritage Status

The Ideal Wine Company were pleasantly surprised to learn last week, that various wine-making sites throughout the French region of Champagne have been awarded world-heritage status.

World-Heritage status

There are sites across the world which have a special cultural and/or natural significance to humanity. The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) set up the World Heritage Committee in the latter half of the 20^th Century, to ensure that these sites are protected for the benefit of future generations.

The Committee, which is composed of representatives of the 21 UNESCO member states, carries out this task by awarding these sites ‘world-heritage status,’ based on six cultural and four natural criteria. Sites that make it onto the list can include buildings, cities, deserts, forests, islands and even lakes, and as of July 2015, there are 1031 sites on the planet that have been awarded world-heritage status.

39^th World Heritage Committee

UNESCO held the 39^th Session of the World Heritage Committee on Sunday 5^th July, 2015. They used this as an opportunity to award world-heritage status to a number of culturally and physically significant sites including the vineyards of Burgundy. See why this famous wine-making region was awarded such a prestigious honour, by purchasing one of the fine Burgundian wines sold by the Ideal Wine Company.

Another wine-making region that was honoured by the World Heritage Committee at its 39^th Session was Champagne; a land which is known for making the sparkling wine which bears its name. The Committee awarded world-heritage status to the Champagne industry’s vineyards, production sites, and sales points.

According to Quartz, the UN agency published a press release which explained why the “hillsides, houses, and cellars” of the Champagne wine region in the North-East of France deserve recognition. It said that: “The property encompasses sites where the method of producing sparkling wines was developed on the principle of secondary fermentation in the bottle since the early 17th century to its early industrialization in the 19th century.”

Try Champagne

UNESCO awarded sites in Champagne world-heritage status because they were integral to the development of the fermentation process, which allowed the world to produce sparkling wine. If you want to see why the region has been heralded for its role in the creation of sparkling wine, why don’t you try one of the Ideal Wine Company’s Champagnes, which you can buy from our website for very reasonable prices right now! 

The History of Cristal Champagne

If you’re looking for a first-rate Champagne, you should buy a bottle of Cristal from the Ideal Wine Company; a sparkling wine brand that’s steeped in history, glamour and political intrigue.

Luxury vintage

No birthday, anniversary or graduation is complete without a bottle Champagne. France’s signature sparkling wine is the ultimate luxury vintage; it adds that little touch you need to turn any celebration into a special occasion you’ll remember for the rest of your life.

No Champagne says ‘special occasion’ quite like Cristal. Typically created from a heady mix of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes, this Champagne brand is often considered one of the finest in the world. In part, this is because it has a fascinating and compelling history that has shaped its unique character ever since it was founded way back in the 19^th Century.

Wine of the Tsars

Cristal was founded by Champagne producer Louis Roederer in 1876, on the orders of Tsar Alexander II of Russia. This led him to create what has since become known as Cristal Champagne; the first ‘prestige cuvee’ (blended wine of the highest quality), a vintage that was fit for an Emperor.

The Russian autocrat ruled a very unstable empire, and he feared that he would be assassinated at every turn; he feared that enemies would use the Champagne to hide a bomb! With this in mind, he demanded that Roederer store the Champagne in a bottle that was clear, so that he could see the bubbles and drink in safety. This led the producer to create Cristal’s distinctive clear, flat-bottomed bottle.

Pop culture Champagne

Since its creation, Cristal has maintained its status as the ultimate luxury product; it wasn’t even commercially available until 1945. It’s the 90’s where things get really interesting.

 The 90’s were the age of hip hop and rap culture. Dance-pop and disco were dead, and urban artists such as Jay Z, Tupac Shakur, Puff Daddy and Biggie Smalls ruled the airwaves. These music megastars made a habit of referencing Cristal in their song lyrics, turning the brand into pop culture phenomenon that’s lasted well into the 21^st Century. Today, we associate Cristal with fast cars, giant mansions and mountains of cash; the jet set lifestyle.

Try Cristal

If this should tell you anything, it’s that Cristal Champagne has always been associated with success, glamour and luxury. If you want to find out why Cristal was the favoured brand of Tsars and hip hop stars alike, why don’t you try one of the Ideal Wine Company’s finest Cristals, the Louis Roederer Cristal 2000, today?