Moyers: Public Health Historians Take Chemical Companies to Task over Lead Poisoning

I've just spent two days at a health technology conference in Mountain View where everyone wants to reform American's lifestyles by giving them Fitbits or BodyMedia or other wearable devices. Sadly they're not focused on environmental health...at least not yet. (I'm fantasizing a hackathon on pesticide apps).

They think genetics is still The Next Big Thing along with Big Data which is totally taking over the town.

And yet - there's a glimmer of hope for more awareness of the toxic soup we've created. Today's latest show from Bill Moyers provides some hopeful evidence of people publicizing one major chemical that government has been totally unable to deal with, due to the strong role of chemical company lobbying - lead. This, despite years of efforts by public health officials.

The story illustrates how government fails to combat chemical companies even when the dangers are obvious.

Could this growing awareness - the new film Unacceptable Levels, this show on Moyers - be good news for organic growers who've long provided a healthy alternative to chemical farming's toxic soup?

 

And in case you missed it, here's a print story about this feature.

Elizabeth Spencer's Organically Grown Sauvignon Blanc Release Party - Saturday, June 29

Located in a charming brick building with a lovely courtyard for seated tastings, Elizabeth Spencer Wines will be hosting a release party with oysters, paella and its latest organically grown Sauvignon Blanc (sourced from Mendocino).

The action takes place 4-7 pm at the winery, just across from Rutherford Grill.

Tickets are $35 for wine club members and $55 for the general public.

Unacceptable Levels Film Coming to SF Green Film Festival in June

Coming soon - a new film about chemicals - including pesticides - in our bodies. Unacceptable Levels will be featured at the SF Green Film Festival Sunday June 2 at 3 pm at New People Cinema in SF.

Of course, the main reason for some people to drink organically grown wines (like I do) is that these growers aren't pouring tons of chemicals into the water, land and air, creating the toxic soup that other growers heavily contribute to.

When people start to realize that cancer and autism are caused at least in part by these chemicals, they will look back on this time as barbaric as leeching to cure illness or spraying DDT - without understanding that it causes birds and fish (and people) to die.

I don't necessarily with everything in the film, since I've read that the filmmaker is concerned about chlorine and fluoride. I am more concerned about pesticides which we KNOW are harmful.

A large number of environmental organizations partnered in sponsoring the film - I hope it will be seen by a wide audience.

A shoutout to local participants:

• Davis Baltz, Precautionary Principle Director at Commonweal in Bolinas

• U.C. Berkeley Professor Tyrone Hayes, known for his pioneering work on atrazine, the popular herbicide that makes frogs change gender - and that is now linked to breast cancer.

You can read more about it on HuffPo.

Here's the movie trailer:

 

For the first time, the festival will also screen some of its films in Berkeley at the Brower Center, making it easier for East Bay-ers to enjoy a screening.

Get the details here.

Memorial Day in Oregon Wine Country - Party On

Wineries with organically grown wines are part of the festivities during the Willamette Valley's Memorial Day in Wine Country weekend.

Included are:

Bergstrom

Bethel Heights

Cooper Mountain (biodynamic)

Evesham Wood

Lemelson

Maysara

Montinore

Sokol Blosser (a few wines are organically grown on their estate)

There's also a class on enjoying wine, a mobile route, and suggested tours on their web site.

For more info, see here.

SOMM Film - To Play Mendocino Film Festival in June

Interested in seeing the hot new film SOMM about sommeliers (wine directors) competing?

This feature doc plays June 1 and 2 at the Mendocino Film Festival.

Check out the trailer here.



For more details, check out the Wine Spectator's review here or visit the film's Facebook page here.

The Mendo screenings may also be paired with tasting events scheduled with local wineries - but none of the area's organically grown wines will be featured in these scheduled tastings. However, you could easily make your own tour of the area's top organic vintners which would include Handley Cellars and Yorkville Cellars, a lovely trip through Anderson Valley.

The film premiered at the Napa Valley Film Festival in 2012.

Yorkville Cellars: Vertical Cab Tasting Saturday May 18

Yorkville Cellars, just south of Anderson Valley in Mendocino, will be holding a vertical tasting of its Cabernets this Saturday from noon to 4 pm at the winery.

It's a beautiful site and picnicking is available in the shade of a lovely tree outside the tasting room.

Details here (scroll down to the events section on that link).

This Saturday Night: Concert at Grgich Hills with Violet Grgich and Les Violettes

Violet Grgich will play Saturday evening at 6 pm at
Grgich Hills winery

Now that Bottlerock is over, classical music can step into the spotlight. This Saturday Violet Grgich and friends will perform "Sweeter than Roses: Songs and Instrumental Music by Purcell and his French Admirers" at 6 pm at the winery in St. Helena.

"Sweeter than Roses" is the name of one of the composer's most famous songs.

Aside from Purcell, the concert will also feature cantatas by Clerambeault and Bousset as well as viol da gamba suite by Marin Marais.

Les Violettes, Violet's group, consists of soprano Corey Carleton, viola da gamba player Colin Shipman, and Violet on the harpsichord.

Wine tasting is included for the admission fee of $25.

To reserve a spot, call the winery or email them. Details here.

GROUPON DISCOUNT DEAL: Almost Half Off on Rutherford Ranch's Chocolate/Wine Pairing

A Groupon deal today features an offer for a Rutherford Ranch tasting with wine and chocolates - $25 instead of $45.

The winery is located in Rutherford in Napa Valley.

They offer many wines, but only their high end Cabs are organically grown.

See if you can taste those using this coupon.

IN VIDEO: Biodynamic Viticulture at Grgich Hills

I had the wonderful opportunity to interview Ivo Jeramaz yesterday for my upcoming book on organically grown wines of Napa and wanted to share this video, from some hip Canadians, on Grgich Hills' biodynamic approach.

I don't think I have ever seen a marketing manager at a winery show the substances that go into biodynamic preps - it's so refreshing!

While other wineries may be practicing biodynamics (after being certified in the past - think: Quintessa, Robert Sinskey), Grgich Hills is certified biodynamic for grapes.

Enjoy.

In Video: Jerry Seps and Storybook Mountain Vineyards

Continuing on the theme of where to take summer visitors who may be arriving soon, the topic of my last post, let's focus on "Hidden Gems."

One of my top ten favorite organic vintners/wineries in Napa Valley has to be Jerry and Sigrid Seps and Storybook Mountain Vineyards. Organic for 36 years, using no herbicides or insecticides, and leaving the redwoods on the property in place, hear the story of Storybook from founder Jerry Seps.

Then plan a visit. And although the competition is stiff, believe me, this is one of the most beautiful sites in all of Napa.

 

Since the winery is at the north end of Napa Valley, just a little beyond the town of Calistoga (northwest of the town), you're likely to find a relatively quiet spot here, away from the madding crowd.