Weekly Wine News Around the Web

SoCal Wine: Labor Day weekend is almost here and the 'Zilla plans on spending a few days in California's beautiful Santa Barbara region. Last week, winery supporters from Santa Barbara County turned out in force at a local hotel to meet with officials from the county's Planning and Development Department to begin revising the ordinance that regulates development of local wineries and limits the activities that are permitted there. Most of the people in the region believe supporting the local wine industry contributes to job growth and generates much needed tourism dollars. Of the 43 people who spoke, more than 90 percent were in favor of existing or less regulations on the wine industry, with only three people expressing any desire for tighter permitting rules, according to this article from the Santa Barbara Independent.

Say What?!?: Here's an interesting read from the Wall Street Journal about one of Australia’s most established winemakers, Penfolds, and the cost of their prized 2004 Kalimna Block 42 Cabernet Sauvignon presented in a limited-edition crafted vessel. The winery claims that the grapes sourced to make this wine come from the world's oldest continually producing Cabernet vines - old, as in 1880's. The price for this prized vintage is only $165K a bottle.

WBC 2012: Here's a good report about this year's Wine Bloggers Conference in Portland, Oregon. The 'Zilla was there and had a blast! Stay tuned for thoughts and insights, coming soon.

Booze + Abs: Here we go, yet another report on a new study about the effects of drinking. This time, researchers from the University of Miami have conducted a study on 230,000 people nationally who self-reported their weekly exercise and drinking habits to them, according to this report from the San Francisco Chronicle. It seems men and women who are considered heavy drinkers - a woman who consumed more than 46 drinks during the 30 days prior to the interview, or a man who consumed more than 76 - were more likely to exercise longer than moderate or non-drinkers. So, the next time you're heading to the gym for a 5K on the treadmill, it's ok to fill up the Camelbak with some Grüner?