ScienceDaily: Beer and Wine News

An electronic nose can tell pears and apples apart

Wed, 08 May 2013 09:28:28 EDT

Engineers have created a system of sensors that detects fruit odors more effectively than the human sense of smell. For now, the device can distinguish between the odors compounds emitted by pears and apples. Scientists have created an electronic nose with 32 sensors that can identify the odors given off by chopped pears and apples.

Heart-healthy diet helps men lower bad cholesterol, regardless of weight loss

Wed, 01 May 2013 19:31:31 EDT

A heart-healthy diet helped men at high risk for heart disease reduce their bad cholesterol, regardless of whether they lost weight, in a new study.

Experts examine Mediterranean diet's health effects for older adults

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 12:57:57 EDT

According to a new study, a baseline adherence to a Mediterranean diet is associated with a lower risk of hyperuricemia, defined as a serum uric acid concentration higher than 7mg/dl in men and higher than 6mg/dl in women.

Enzymes from horse feces could hold secrets to streamlining biofuel production

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 19:46:46 EDT

Stepping into unexplored territory in efforts to use corn stalks, grass and other non-food plants to make biofuels, scientists have now described the discovery of a potential treasure-trove of candidate enzymes in fungi thriving in the feces and intestinal tracts of horses.

Widely used filtering material adds arsenic to beers

Sun, 07 Apr 2013 18:35:35 EDT

The mystery of how arsenic levels in beer sold in Germany could be higher than in the water or other ingredients used to brew the beer has been solved, scientists say.

Anti-aging drug breakthrough

Fri, 08 Mar 2013 11:13:13 EST

Drugs that combat aging may be available within five years, following landmark work. The work finally demonstrates that a single anti-aging enzyme in the body can be targeted, with the potential to prevent age-related diseases and extend lifespans. Four thousand synthetic activators, which are 100 times as potent as a single glass of red wine, have been developed -- the best three are in human trials.

New study validates longevity pathway: Findings identify universal mechanism for activating anti-aging pathway

Thu, 07 Mar 2013 14:52:52 EST

A new study demonstrates what researchers consider conclusive evidence that the red wine compound resveratrol directly activates a protein that promotes health and longevity in animal models. What's more, the researchers have uncovered the molecular mechanism for this interaction, and show that a class of more potent drugs currently in clinical trials act in a similar fashion.

Dark chocolate and red wine the food of love and health

Mon, 11 Feb 2013 13:47:47 EST

Valentine's Day staples of dark chocolate and red wine fuel the heart with love and health year 'round, says a dietitian. Catechins and resveratrol are just a few of the nutritional properties that make chocolate and red wine "diet foods" within moderation.

Green tea and red wine extracts interrupt Alzheimer's disease pathway in cells

Tue, 05 Feb 2013 20:02:02 EST

Natural chemicals found in green tea and red wine may disrupt a key step of the Alzheimer's disease pathway, according to new research.

New way to identify 'smoked' grapes and wines

Wed, 23 Jan 2013 13:37:37 EST

With climate change sparking concern about an increased risk of wildfires, scientists are reporting development of a way to detect grapes exposed to smoke from those fires, which otherwise could be vented into bad-tasting wine.

Red wine could mask testosterone levels, experts warn

Mon, 07 Jan 2013 16:14:14 EST

Red wine could give athletes and players a boost in the sports arena by increasing the amount of performance-enhancing hormone testosterone in their bodies, according to researchers in the UK.

Even in same vineyard, different microbes may create variations in wine grapes

Wed, 26 Dec 2012 22:30:30 EST

Choosing the perfect wine may soon involve more than just knowing the perfect vintage and chateau. Differences in the microbes present on grapes even in different parts of the same vineyard may contribute to flavor fluctuations in samples of grapes from different tanks, according to new research.

Advice for bag-in-box wine drinkers: Keep it cool

Wed, 05 Dec 2012 12:11:11 EST

Bag-in-box wines are more likely than their bottled counterparts to develop unpleasant flavors, aromas and colors when stored at warm temperatures, a new study has found. New research emphasizes the importance of storing these popular, economical vintages at cool temperatures.

New evidence on how compound found in red wine can help prevent cancer

Wed, 05 Dec 2012 08:44:44 EST

New research aims to show how resveratrol can prevent cancer, heart disease and diabetes.

Digital portrait for grapes indicates their ripeness

Fri, 30 Nov 2012 09:50:50 EST

Researchers have developed a technique for estimating grape composition and variety using computer imaging. They have also put forward an index for identifying the ripeness of seeds without the need for chemical analysis. This new method can help to decide the best moment for picking. The normal procedure for identifying the sugar content of grapes involves chemical analysis. But this is a long and tedious task that tells vine-growers when to start picking their grapes. Now though, scientists are proposing an alternative technique: photographing grapes and analyzing the images.

Compound in grapes, red wine could be key to fighting prostate cancer

Sat, 10 Nov 2012 09:35:35 EST

New research has revealed that the compound can make prostate tumor cells more susceptible to radiation treatment, increasing the chances of a full recovery from all types of prostate cancer, including aggressive tumors.

Preventing headaches and other health problems due to biogenic amines in wine

Wed, 07 Nov 2012 10:17:17 EST

Scientists have developed measures to prevent health problems associated with biogenic amines in wine.

Origin of Italian wines is controlled better with multivariate statistics

Wed, 07 Nov 2012 08:56:56 EST

Wine derives its economic value to a large extent from geographical origin, which has a significant impact on the quality of the wine. According to the food legislation, wines can be without geographical origin (table wine) and with origin. Wines with origin must have characteristics which are essentially due to its region of production and must be produced, processed and prepared exclusively within that region.

Young birds can get 'drunk' on fermented berries: Effects similar to those for people, only drunk birds have much further to fall

Fri, 02 Nov 2012 20:51:51 EDT

Young birds can get "drunk" on fermented berries and exhibit all the symptoms familiar to people who overindulge, indicates a small study.

Heady discovery for beer fans: The first gene for beer foam could improve froth

Wed, 31 Oct 2012 12:50:50 EDT

The yeast used to make beer has yielded what may be the first gene for beer foam, scientists are reporting in a new study. The discovery opens the door to new possibilities for improving the frothy "head" so critical to the aroma and eye appeal of the world's favorite alcoholic beverage, they say.

Resveratrol falls short in health benefits, study shows

Thu, 25 Oct 2012 12:24:24 EDT

Resveratrol, an ingredient in red wine thought to improve insulin sensitivity, reduce risk of heart disease and increase longevity, does not appear to have those benefits in healthy women, according to new research.

Barley genome could hold key to better beer

Wed, 17 Oct 2012 13:18:18 EDT

Scientists have published a high resolution draft of the barley genome. The research will help to produce new and better barley varieties that are vital for the beer and whisky industries.

Why wine and tea pair so well with a meal: It's all in the mouthfeel

Mon, 08 Oct 2012 13:42:42 EDT

Of course a nice glass of wine goes well with a hearty steak, and now researchers who study the way food feels in our mouths think they may understand why that is: The astringent wine and fatty meat are like the yin and yang of the food world, sitting on opposite ends of a sensory spectrum. The findings offer a whole new definition of the balanced meal. They also offer a new way of thinking about our eating habits, both good and bad.

Meeting pigs' phosphorous requirements with fermented soybean meal

Mon, 01 Oct 2012 13:21:21 EDT

Fermented soybean meal (FSBM), considered a promising substitute for fish meal in weanling pig diets because of its protein content, lower cost, and lack of anti-nutritional factors, may have an additional advantage. Researchers recently found that pigs digest the phosphorous in FSBM better than the phosphorus in conventional soybean meal.

Cost-efficient method developed for maximizing benefits from wine waste

Tue, 25 Sep 2012 14:35:35 EDT

A new study shows that grape skin and seeds generated from winemaking -- known as wine pomace -- are a good source of antioxidant dietary fiber and can be used to fortify various food products such as yogurts and salad dressings with enhanced nutritional value and extended shelf-life.

Bees decrease food intake, live longer, when given compound found in red wine

Mon, 24 Sep 2012 14:21:21 EDT

Researchers have found that when given resveratrol, a compound found in red wine, bees consume less food.

Low calorie cranberry juice lowers blood pressure in healthy adults, study finds

Thu, 20 Sep 2012 13:55:55 EDT

Regularly drinking low-calorie cranberry juice may help get your blood pressure under control, according to new findings.

Wine for swine: Pig study shows that wine has more cardiovascular benefits than vodka

Mon, 10 Sep 2012 16:15:15 EDT

The next time you call someone a drunken pig, remember this study. Researchers studied the effects of red wine and vodka on pigs with high cholesterol and found that the pigs with a penchant for pinot noir fared better than their vodka swilling swine counterparts.

Non-alcoholic red wine may help reduce high blood pressure

Thu, 06 Sep 2012 18:19:19 EDT

Non-alcoholic red wine was more effective at lowering blood pressure than traditional red wine or gin. Red wine's polyphenols uninhibited by alcohol seem to be the blood pressure reducing element.

Bitter tastes quickly turn milk chocolate fans sour

Thu, 30 Aug 2012 13:00:00 EDT

Dark chocolate lovers can handle a wider range of bitter tastes before rejection compared to milk chocolate fans, according to food scientists.

First evidence from humans on how alcohol may boost risk of cancer

Wed, 22 Aug 2012 12:47:47 EDT

Almost 30 years after discovery of a link between alcohol consumption and certain forms of cancer, scientists are reporting the first evidence from research on people explaining how the popular beverage may be carcinogenic. The results have special implications for hundreds of millions of people of Asian descent.

Drink made from berry wine may provide tasty drug for diabetes

Mon, 20 Aug 2012 13:23:23 EDT

In evaluating the bioactive compounds of Illinois blueberry and blackberry wines, scientists have found compounds that inhibit enzymes responsible for carbohydrate absorption and assimilation. And that could mean a tasty way to help people with diabetes decrease their blood sugar.

Consuming flavanol-rich cocoa may enhance brain function

Mon, 13 Aug 2012 17:32:32 EDT

Eating cocoa flavanols daily may improve mild cognitive impairment, according to new research.

Introduction of Asian ladybugs into Europe serious mistake, experts say

Mon, 30 Jul 2012 09:49:49 EDT

In retrospect, introducing the Asian ladybird (ladybug) into Europe was a serious mistake. The insect was introduced some twenty years ago in a conscious attempt to combat aphids. But new research into the invasion of this foreign insect has shown that the disadvantages far outweigh this single advantage. The Asian species is displacing the native European ladybird and has become a pest that can contaminate homes and spoil the taste of wine.

Sake, soy sauce, and the taming of the microbes

Thu, 12 Jul 2012 13:15:15 EDT

Study maps the genetic changes involved in the domestication of Aspergillus oryzae, one of the fungi used to make sake, soy sauce and miso.

Researchers work to create hypoallergenic wines and sequence the genome of Chardonnay

Thu, 12 Jul 2012 09:26:26 EDT

Have you ever gotten a headache or a rash from a single glass of wine? Has one glass of Merlot or Shiraz resulted in a painful hangover? If yes, you may be one of the 30 percent of people who are allergic to (or intolerant of) compounds that are in some of the world's most popular wines.

Resveratrol may be natural exercise performance enhancer

Tue, 19 Jun 2012 22:59:59 EDT

A natural compound found in some fruits, nuts and red wine may enhance exercise training and performance, demonstrates newly published medical research.

Milk ingredient does a waistline good

Tue, 05 Jun 2012 13:07:07 EDT

A natural ingredient found in milk can protect against obesity even as mice continue to enjoy diets that are high in fat. The researchers liken this milk ingredient to a new kind of vitamin.

Knowing yeast genome produces better wine

Mon, 04 Jun 2012 09:30:30 EDT

The yeast Dekkera bruxellensis plays an important role in the production of wine, as it can have either a positive or a negative impact on the taste. Researchers have analyzed the yeast’s genome giving wine producers the possibility to take control of the flavor development of the wine.

Mediterranean diet is definitively linked to quality of life

Tue, 29 May 2012 10:22:22 EDT

For years the Mediterranean diet has been associated with a lesser chance of illness and increased well-being. A new study has now linked it to mental and physical health too. The Mediterranean diet, which is characterized by the consumption of fruit, vegetables, pulses (beans, peas, chickpeas and lentils) fish, olive oil and nuts, has been demonstrated to be beneficial to the health in terms of a lesser chance of chronic illness and a lower mortality rate. A new study has revealed that those who follow a Mediterranean diet score higher on a quality of life questionnaire than those who don't.

Steelhead trout lose out when water is low in wine country

Mon, 14 May 2012 10:50:50 EDT

The competition between farmers and fish for precious water in California is intensifying in wine country, suggests a new study by biologists. The study links higher death rates for threatened juvenile steelhead trout with low water levels in the summer and the acreage of vineyards upstream.

Resveratrol: Study resolves controversy on life-extending red wine ingredient, restores hope for anti-aging pill

Tue, 01 May 2012 13:42:42 EDT

A new study appears to offer vindication for an approach to anti-aging drugs that has been at the center of heated scientific debate in recent years. The new findings show for the first time that the metabolic benefits of the red wine ingredient known as resveratrol evaporate in mice that lack the famed longevity gene SIRT1.

More evidence for longevity pathway

Tue, 01 May 2012 13:42:42 EDT

New research reinforces the claim that resveratrol -- a compound found in plants and food groups, notably red wine -- prolongs lifespan and health-span by interacting with key genes in mitochondria, the cell's energy supplier.

Potential method to control obesity: Red wine, fruit compound could help block fat cell formation

Wed, 04 Apr 2012 12:53:53 EDT

A compound found in red wine, grapes and other fruits, and similar in structure to resveratrol, is able to block cellular processes that allow fat cells to develop, opening a door to a potential method to control obesity, according to a new study.

High-throughput screening finds surprising properties for antioxidants: Some compounds can damage DNA, but may treat cancer

Thu, 22 Mar 2012 17:46:46 EDT

Antioxidants have long been thought to have anti-aging properties, primarily by protecting a person's genetic material from damaging chemicals. The story, however, now appears to be much more complicated. Researchers have demonstrated that some antioxidants damage DNA and kill cells instead of protecting them. The findings also suggest that this surprising capability may be good for treating cancer, but may prove cautionary when using antioxidant-based medicines to treat other disorders, such as diabetes.

Lifestyle study highlights key differences in relapsing and progressive onset multiple sclerosis

Mon, 19 Mar 2012 09:45:45 EDT

Patients with relapsing onset Multiple Sclerosis (MS) who consumed alcohol, wine, coffee and fish on a regular basis took four to seven years longer to reach the point where they needed a walking aid than people who never consumed them. However the study did not observe the same patterns in patients with progressive onset MS.

Vineyard records link early grape ripening to climate change

Thu, 15 Mar 2012 09:58:58 EDT

By using decades of vineyard records, scientists have for the first time been able to attribute early ripening of wine grapes to climate warming and declines in soil water content.

Promiscuous yeast hook up in wine-making vats

Sun, 26 Feb 2012 23:01:01 EST

Humans aren't the only species that like to get busy with a glass of bubbly. Turns out, the common baker's yeast has indulged in a frenzy of amorous frolicking in the fermentation vats of winemakers for hundreds, possibly thousands, of years, with interesting results.

Eating citrus fruit may lower women's stroke risk

Thu, 23 Feb 2012 18:26:26 EST

Eating higher amounts of a compound in citrus fruits, especially oranges and grapefruit, may lower ischemic stroke risk. Women who ate high amounts of the compound had a 19 percent lower risk of ischemic stroke than women who consumed the least amount.

Research reveals the true cost of a burger

Tue, 14 Feb 2012 10:08:08 EST

Society could considerably reduce its carbon footprint if more of us switched to a vegetarian diet, according to new research.

Love, chocolate good for the heart, says cardiologist

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 15:39:39 EST

Being involved in a healthy, loving relationship is good for the heart, says a cardiologist. People who are married or who are in close, healthy relationships tend to be less likely to smoke, are more physically active and are more likely to have a well-developed social structure, she said. They are also more likely to have lower levels of stress and anxiety in their day-to-day lives.

Probable mechanism underlying resveratrol activity uncovered: Chemical found in red wine and other foods

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 15:11:11 EST

Researchers have identified how resveratrol, a naturally occurring chemical found in red wine and other plant products, may confer its health benefits. The authors present evidence that resveratrol does not directly activate sirtuin 1, a protein associated with aging. Rather, the authors found that resveratrol inhibits certain types of proteins known as phosphodiesterases (PDEs), enzymes that help regulate cell energy.

Alcohol and your heart: Friend or foe?

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 13:11:11 EST

A meta-analysis of the relationship between alcohol consumption and heart disease provides new insight into the long-held belief that drinking a glass of red wine a day can help protect against heart disease.

Tiny amounts of alcohol dramatically extend a worm's life, but why?

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 18:45:45 EST

Minuscule amounts of ethanol can at least double the life span of a tiny worm used as a model for aging studies, biochemists report. "This finding floored us; it's shocking" said the senior author of the study.

The fermented cereal beverage of the Sumerians may not have been beer

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 14:35:35 EST

Archaeological finds from cuneiform tablets and remnants of different vessels from over 4,000 years ago show that even around the dawn of civilization, fermented cereal juice was highly enjoyed by Mesopotamia's inhabitants. However, besides the two basic ingredients, barley and emmer (a type of wheat) the brew produced in the clay jars of the Sumerians is shrouded in mystery. Despite an abundance of finds and scribal traditions which point to an early love of fermented cereal beverages, reconstructing ancient brewing methods is very difficult.

Dark chocolate and red wine are heart-healthy foods of love, dietitians say

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 09:38:38 EST

Dietitian says resveratrol which lowers blood sugar is found in red wine and also dark chocolate, making them ideal for heart holidays like Valentine's Day and year round consumption for heart health.

Some 'low-gluten' beer contains high levels of gluten

Wed, 21 Dec 2011 10:58:58 EST

Beer tested in a new study, including some brands labeled "low-gluten," contains levels of hordein, the form of gluten present in barley, that could cause symptoms in patients with celiac disease, the autoimmune condition treated with a life-long gluten-free diet, scientists are reporting.

New strain of lab mice mimics human alcohol consumption patterns

Mon, 12 Dec 2011 12:45:45 EST

A line of laboratory mice drinks more alcohol than other animal models and consumes it in a fashion similar to humans: choosing alcohol over other options and binge drinking.

Early defoliation of Great Lakes wine grapes tested

Mon, 12 Dec 2011 12:45:45 EST

Economically significant varieties of wine grapes in eastern North America can be susceptible to harvest season cluster rot. Researchers designed experiments to determine whether leaf removal or a temporary reduction in carbon assimilation at the beginning of bloom would reduce fruit set and cluster compactness. Vines subjected to removal of four or six basal leaves had an average fruit set reduction of 45 percent from the control. Cluster weight and berries per cluster were similarly reduced.

The buzz around beer: Why do flies like beer?

Thu, 17 Nov 2011 14:06:06 EST

Ever wondered why flies are attracted to beer? Entomologists have, and offer an explanation. They report that flies sense glycerol that yeasts make during fermentation. Specifically, they found that Gr64e, a receptor associated with neurons located in the fly's mouth-parts, is instrumental in signaling a good taste for beer. Once a fly has settled on beer, Gr64e detects glycerol and transmits this information to the fly's neurons, thus influencing the fly's behavior.