If you want to start a lengthy, heated debate with an oenophile, ask them their opinion on wine rating systems. It’s likely they’ll talk about the “Parkerization” of wine – this idea that producers are catering to the preferences of Robert Parker to secure high scores for their wines to sell more product. They may mention the dangers of consumers following the scores in Wine Spectator like they were baseball stats versus listening to their own palate. Or throw out alarmist phrases like “the loss of terroir” and a global market of wine catered to the American “Coca- Cola” palate. Ok, you probably don’t want to talk to those people because they are a little pretentious, but in general we share the same concerns. It’s not that we have an issue with the idea of a wine rating system; it’s just that in general, we find most of them a little broken. more ›

- While browsing this NYT article about pulperías in Galicia, Spain we are reminded about how good the octopus is at the initially-jeopardized E.U. was when we went Friday. Come to think of it, the Baked Rigatoni with Milk-Braised Berkshire Pork, the Fried Smelts and the meatballs were darn tasty as well. more ›

- A dispatch from Shiovawn of the North on the tip line alerts us to the latest rage at State Fairs – fried Coke. Two words – yuck and yuckier. more ›

We’ve all heard that drinking wine in moderation has proven health benefits. In fact a recent study has shown that drinking red wine in moderation actually improves memory function – if only Gothamist could remember the moderation part. So it came as no surprise when we learned that American wine producers want to note on their labels the levels of resveratrol and other polyphenols, which are attributed to reducing cholesterol, fighting cancer and even increasing longevity. more ›

Wine Spectator reports that Austrian haute stemware maker Riedel has merged with rival F.X. Nachtmann, the German manufacturer of the nearly 500-year-old Spiegelau brand of glassware. These first- and second-tier (respectively) goblet makers -- who revolutionized the stemware industry by convincing wealthy boozers that they need a different size and shape of glass for every varietal, appelation, and style of wine or spirit available -- are now poised to dominate the market for lead-crystal wine glasses. Gothamist hopes they use this opportunity to do good -- like streamlining the variety of glass styles available and offering them at more price points -- and not evil -- like, say, annexing crystal-makers in the Czech Republic and Poland. more ›