We’ve all heard the saying, “an apple a day keeps the doctor away,” but how about a glass of wine? Researchers from the University of Oregon recently published a study in Menopause, the journal of the North American Menopause Society, which showed moderate alcohol consumption helps maintain the strength of bones for post-menopausal women and prevent osteoporosis.

The study, reviewed and approved by the International Scientific Forum on Alcohol Research, showed that drinking a fair amount of alcohol (about 19 grams) daily was comparable to taking bisphonates, drugs made to prevent bone density loss. Hundreds of thousands of women take bisphonates daily to combat the thinning of bones, often called osteoporosis.

40 healthy post-menopausal women aged around 56 participated in the study. Professor Jonathan Powell and Dr Ravin Jugdaohsingh of the Medical Research Council Nutrition Research Group at Cambridge University said the study’s, “methods appear robust. The authors seem to know what they are doing. The moderate alcohol effect on bone is really quite potent.” The results reinforce previous studies with similar results.

The study showed that women who drink about two glasses of wine a day had a reduced drop in old bone. When the women in the study were asked to stop drinking wine, however, their rate of bone loss increased again. Why exactly alcohol causes the underlying cellular mechanisms to help maintain bone density is unclear, however.

The “Silent Disease”

Osteoporosis is hard to counter because it’s often not noticed until a fracture actually occurs. With no symptoms, bones become fragile for the elderly and can be damaged without warning by even the slightest impact.

According to the National Institutes of Health, osteoporosis will cause around half of women and a quarter of men over 50 to fracture their hip, waist or back.

This study’s results reinforce the notion that wine can be good for you in small amounts. A study done by the University of California in San Diego showed that a glass of wine a day can also combat Non-Alcoholic Fatty Disease. That study, however, pertained to wine only and not beer or hard liquors. And if that doesn’t convince you, wine has also been shown to possibly preserve memory, correlate with lower weights and reduce the risk of ovarian cancer.

But before you go crazy with alcohol, researchers also noted that drinking excessively can increase the risk of bone damage through fractures and falls. So don’t break your bones trying to strengthen them!

International wine juggernaut Pasternak Wine Imports had an exciting announcement to make at the beginning of the month. As of July 1, they became the sole US Importer of New Zealand’s The Mud House Wine Group.

Essentially, this means they will be responsible for getting the wine through US customs, advertising it to any interested buyers, and eventually distributing it. As the CEO of The Mud House Wine Group states in a press release, “Pasternak’s deep understanding of international fine wines and their keen ability to develop and grow consumer brands is a wonderful opportunity for the Mud House Wine Group. We are equally impressed with their creative marketing initiatives and the fierce dedication to wine that the PWI organization embodies.”

Pasternak also has reason to celebrate. Though The Mud House Wine Group attributes most of its success to the serendipitous terroir of its vineyards, there is little doubt that talent also plays a role. It has a prestigious pedigree, with the two leading winemakers–Nadine Worley and Cath Oates–being a Young Winemaker of the Year Finalist and New Zealand International Wine Show judge, respectively. Perhaps as a result, its Sauvignon Blanc was named Gastropub Wine of the Year in 2011.

These award-winning wines will fit in well with Pasternak’s other sundry vinos, such as Rutini Cab and Trumpeter Torrontés, both of which are currently under consideration for Snooth’s People’s Voice Wine Award; and Château la Nerthe Châteauneuf du Pape 2005, which Snooth gave Wine of the Year.

This is merely yet another expansion to PWI’s already substantial holdings. It already imports wines from places as far-reaching as Chile, France, and Australia. Impressively enough, it makes sure to get the wine distributed across all fifty states.

To put it simply, PWI is not a small . In fact, this expansion is wildly reminiscent of one that occurred at the beginning of July 2010, when Chateau Le Nerth was acquired by PWI. Chateau Le Nerth’s Managing Director went on record stating, “Pasternak’s ability to strategically target channels and markets with our range of iconic wines provides Château La Nerthe the opportunity to build and grow our wines in this most important market.”

Pasternak’s marketing and distribution have been remarkably successful, turning the heads of some of the biggest names in winemaking. Assuming things remain as they are, both The Mud House Wine Group and Pasternak are likely to be happy with their newly minted partnership.

And that’s something wine connoisseurs everywhere should be celebrating, perhaps with a bottle of Sauvignon Blanc.

Kick Off

This upcoming Friday, July 13, oenophiles from disparate corners of the world will congregate at Watkins Glen, New York, for the 16th yearly Finger Lakes Wine Festival. Yancey’s Fancy New York’s Artisan Cheese, this year’s sponsor, will inaugurate the weekend festivities with Launch of the Lakes, an evening affair that will involve fireworks, togas, and, of course, wine.

Saturday & Sunday

The next two days – both running from 10 A.M. to 5 P.M. – will boast a diversity of activities: seminars, cooking demonstrations, pace car rides, arts and crafts, and bountiful food. It goes without saying, though, that what guests are most eagerly looking forward to getting their hands (and palates) around is the Festival’s mind boggling collection of 600 varieties of wine. Indeed, this gathering presents wine connoisseurs and enthusiasts with a rare opportunity to sample an unprecedented number of wines, from an unprecedented number of wineries, within a convenient, dedicated space. And just in case that old adage about too many choices yielding indecision happens to hold some truth, the festival’s planners have come up with a clever way of guiding ambivalent guests: themed tastings, with categories such as “dry Rieslings from dozens of Finger Lakes wineries.” Among the event’s preeminent providers will be Dr. Konstantin Frank Vinifera Wine Cellars, a winery celebrating both its 50th anniversary and the unheard of number of gold medals – 51, to be exact – it has received this year alone. They will be offering Gruner Veltiner, the top white grape grown in Austria, as well as acclaimed Chardonnays, Pinot Noirs, and Rieslings.

VIP Experience

Finger Lakes Wine Festival participants seeking an exclusive, high-profile event might want to consider purchasing an entry into the Riedel Experience, a premier wine tasting function scheduled for Saturday. These VIP tickets include regular two-day access to the festivities as well as access to a private tasting with Riedel executives and local vintners that will feature live performances and appetizers prepared by celebrity chef Matt Levin, of Philadelphia’s Square Peg Restaurant & Bar. As a bonus, VIP guests will also get a free pace car ride, a bottle of reserve wine, and a five piece Riedel Vinum XL wine tasting kit.