Archive for April, 2008
April 16, 2008 at 5:55 pm · Filed under Cosmetics
So you want that healthy glow for the summer? Thinking about tanning to get it, right? But as we all have heard too much sun can cause skin cancer and skin aging. But that’s ok, we can tan indoors. Sadly, a lot of people still think that tanning indoors at tanning salons is a safe alternative to getting your tan from the sun. Unfortunately they are dead wrong.
Indoor tanning consists of lying down in a clamshell style tanning bed and lights from above and below the body are used to give you the tan. A lot of the older beds use UVB lights to give you the desired affect. UVBs are short wave ultraviolet rays that actually cause burning. More and more salon owners are becoming aware of the harmful effects of UVB radiation and are switching to UVA light source.
UVAs are long wave ultraviolet rays. This is giving tanners a false sense of security. Because of this change of light source tanners are feeling it is safe to continue their dangerous habit. While UVA rays are less likely to cause burning than UVB rays, UVA rays are suspected to have links to malignant melanoma and immune system damage. UVA penetrate more deeply and can weaken the skin’s inner connective tissue.
Two types of skin cancer, basal cell cancer and squamous cell cancer are treatable if they are detected early. Melanoma, another type of skin cancer, can be fatal. Long-term exposure to the sun and to artificial sources of ultraviolet light like UVB and UVA rays contributes to the risk of developing skin cancer. Many studies have shown that too much exposure to UV rays, including UVA rays, can damage the retina. Overexposure can burn the cornea. And repeated exposure of UV rays over many years can change the structure of the lens, forming a cataract. If left untreated, cataracts can cause blindness.
The FDA requires tanning salons to ask all customers to wear protective eye goggles. Some believe that closing your eyes, wearing ordinary sunglasses or using cotton balls protect you enough. They do not protect the eyes from the intensity of UV radiation in tanning beds. Long-term exposure to natural sunlight can also result in eye damage, but unlike in tanning beds, in the sun, people generally are more aware that their eyelids are burning. Under indoor tanning beds UV lights, exposed skin remains cool to the touch. Also, the intensity of the lights used in tanning beds is much greater - and potentially more damaging to the eyes - than the intensity of UV rays in natural sunlight. So let’s be safe.
Skin cancer can be preventable if the proper precautions are used. Don’t use tanning beds. They are not safe. Is it really worth your life to get the healthy glow? There are many alternatives out there that do not involve the harmful UV rays to get the desired look.
A word about sunscreens. If you spend some time in natural light it would be a good idea to use sunscreens with at least a SPF of 15. This will help protect you from UVBs. Some companies claim that they will protect from UVAs as well, but there is no way of telling how much because there is no system yet for rating UVA protection.
Michael Russell
Your Independent guide to Tanning
April 16, 2008 at 5:15 pm · Filed under Self Improvement Center
How can you stay energized in the face of so many obstacles? Why
do some people look at life from a positive point of view all
the time? What is the formula for success?
The prime ingredient in any success story is motivation.
Motivation is the driving force to keep going, “when the going
gets tough.” In order for you to stay motivated about anything,
you must choose something you have a passion for. This will help
you to stay inspired in good, or bad, economic times.
So before you consider motivation, do some self-analysis and
realize your passion. This must be something you would love to
do every day, and don’t consider it to be work, because you
enjoy it so much.
How many of us have known an artist or musician that pursued
his, or her, dream. Some make money, and some don’t, but all put
a lot of work into their passion. They do this willingly,
because their work inspired them. It wasn’t the money that kept
them going. The life of most artists, or musicians, is one of
economic struggle, even in the best of economic times.
Once you have found your passion, make sure it is something that
will help others in some way. This allows you to feel positive
about your work and find solutions for people’s problems, which
leads to the first factor needed to stay motivated, all the time.
The first factor is gratification in your work. Without it, why
should any of us want to keep working at a goal every day? So,
you must have a deep feeling of satisfaction from your work.
The second factor is recognition. Everyone wants to be
recognized and be proud of their accomplishments. Look at how a
child glows after getting an award and receiving praise from
his, or her, parents. Recognition makes us all feel worthy.
The third factor is staying positive in the face of negativity.
You can’t close your eyes and ears to negative input or a
“doubting Thomas.” However, you can use negative energy as fuel
for your own cause. Always look at “the glass as half full,” as
compared to half empty.
How is this possible? Use the doubts of others as an incentive
to prove them wrong. I call this “negative motivation.”
Teenagers often do this with parents: Mom or Dad says it won’t
work, so the teenager works twice as hard to prove his, or her,
parents wrong. Adults can borrow on this method and learn from
rebellious teenagers.
The fourth factor is complete health in mind, body, and spirit.
You need friends in high places to stay motivated and succeed,
so why not take time to pray? I never heard anyone tell me they
felt bad about praying, but I have heard many people say they
don’t pray enough.
You have to allow for down time; even the toughest of us need a
break now and then. If you must work hard, due to an impending
deadline, remember Benjamin Franklin’s words, “Early to bed and
early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise.”
Take the time to sleep, exercise, go on vacation, play with your
kids, show love toward those who love you, and live life as well
as you can. If you follow this formula, you will be motivated
and success will surely follow.
© Copyright 2005 - Paul Jerard / Aura Publications
April 16, 2008 at 2:44 pm · Filed under World Of Insurance
Your insurance rating is a very important piece of information to have on hand. Most insurance companies have a sort of sliding scale that all of their clients are on. This rating system is there to determine how insurable you are. There are many factors that play into your rating, here are a few that are the most important to you. By maintaining these few aspects, you can make sure that your rating remains high.
Be sure to pay your insurance on time. By being a loyal customer to them, and paying on time, it makes their job go much easier, and makes everyone happy. This is a sure fire way to increase your rating. Beware though, not paying on time will drastically decrease your rating and may make it harder down the line for you to acquire insurance because of your lack of responsibility.
The amount of claims that are filed will also decrease your rating. Be sure that your home meets all of the required safety measures and that you don’t have any high risk areas. If you own a pool, be sure that it is enclosed in a fence and all precautions be taken to make sure that it remains safe. If you own a breed of dog that is labeled as high risk, be sure to keep it on a leash or enclosure. When the insurance company realizes that you are a responsible person, they will start to see you as a safe person to insure, and your insurance rating will reflect just that.
These are just a few tips that will help to increase your rating. Be sure to talk to your insurer and see if there is anything you can do to improve your rating. It may involve spending a little money to fix your property. Most of the time just being sure that you pay your bills on time will eventually increase your rating. Just be sure to talk to your insurer and they can offer some wise suggestions to increase your rating.
View our Recommended Home Insurance Company, a simple site that has an easy to fill out application. It also has a lot of great info about Car Insurance Quotes and Affordable Health Insurance
April 16, 2008 at 1:36 pm · Filed under Hall Of Nutrition
Until recently, experts thought that sugar was useful only as a fuel for the body.
While refined sugar of the type found in cakes and sweets is unhealthy and sometimes produces nothing more than a short burst of energy, science has now established that certain natural plant sugars are vital for maintaining good health.
These newly discovered sugars are known as glyconutrients and the emerging field of science that studies them is called ‘glycobiology.’ MIT describes it as ‘One Of Ten Technologies That Will Change The World.’
But what are they?
Glyconutrients comprise eight specific sugar complexes that are not burned for energy. Known as ‘glycoproteins’ and ‘glycolipids,’ these saccharide complexes become biological building blocks, which serve as the foundations for cellular growth. They become part of the fabric of the human body, by combining to form structures that cover the surface of all of our cells and which are key components of cellular communication.
The eight known saccharides essential for building glyconutrients and maintaining healthy functioning cells are: glucose, galactose, fucose (not to be confused with fructose), N-acetylgalactosamine, N-acetylneuraminic Acid, N-acetylglucosamine, mannose and xylose. Each of these is associated with a specific health benefit.
• Glucose is the most well-known of all the saccharides. It is found in items such as cakes, sweets and ice cream as well as bread, pasta, rice, some vegetables. It may play a part in enhancing the memory, helping the body to absorb calcium and assisting the cells with communication. Too much glucose can raise insulin levels, leading to obesity and diabetes.
• Galactose is another famous saccharide, often found combined with glucose. Together they form a chemical called lactose. Galactose is found mainly in dairy products and its health benefits include the inhibition of tumor growth, healing of injuries and inflammation and the enhancement of cellular communication.
• Fucose can be found at high levels in human breast milk and some mushrooms. It assists with activities in the brain, respiratory system and immune system. Fucose has been found at the junctions between nerves, kidneys, and even in the testes. Inappropriate levels of fucose have been found in individuals with diabetes, cystic fibrosis, and cancer.
• N-acetylgalactosamine is found in human breast milk and has been shown to inhibit the spread of tumors and to help with cellular communication. Reports suggest that individuals with cardiovascular problems may be lacking in N-acetylgalactosamine.
• N-acetylneuraminic acid is vital for brain growth and functioning. It also assists with blood clotting, fighting influenza and lowering cholesterol levels. Alcoholics are unable to process this substance effectively.
• N-acetylglucosamine may work against cancer and HIV. One metabolic by-product of this substance is glucosamine, which helps in the formation of cartilage and reduction of inflammation. The symptoms of diseases such as arthritis, Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis may improve with the use of N-acetylglucosamine.
• Mannose assists with tissue building and the smooth interaction of cells. A lack of mannose can interfere with the process of cellular communication and the healing of wounds, the resisting of tumor growth and the body’s ability to fight bacterial, viral, parasitic, and fungal infections.
• Xylose has antifungal and antibacterial properties and may help to prevent cancer of the digestive tract. It is sometimes used as a replacement for sucrose and corn syrup in products such as chewing gum or toothpaste, but it does not contribute to tooth decay.
Now that these essential saccharides have been identified, scientists are increasingly excited about their potential to help improve human health. That’s because they have discovered that the modern diet does not provide individuals with enough of them to produce glyconutrients.
The deficiencies of these sugars in our foods results from modern food processing and packaging practices, the growing of crops in mineral depleted soils, under-ripe harvesting of fruits and vegetables and the use of food preservatives.
While it is still of vital importance to eat a healthy amount of vegetables each day, the diet consumed by the majority of the industrialized world still does not offer the correct amount of saccharides necessary for glyconutrient production.
In fact, it offers individuals the chance to consume only two of the eight saccharides necessary for producing glycoproteins. Those are galactose in dairy products and glucose.
The consequence of this malnutrition is that the body is forced to synthesize the missing six saccharides itself. This is a process that has multiple negative effects for the body, because it has to pay for this activity with a disproportionate sacrifice of time and energy.
For example, to convert glucose into fucose, the body is compelled to engage in over thirty four discrete enzymatic reactions. This can often leave the individual tired and exhausted. More importantly, the enormous drain on the body’s physical resources often causes the process of saccharide conversion to go wrong.
When the process fails, the cells begin miscommunicating and the result is that the body starts misrecognising healthy cells as invader pathogens, and launching attacks to kill them.
Such inappropriate cellular communication typically results in a variety of illnesses, including autoimmune diseases. These can manifest as arthritis, cancer, AIDS, chronic fatigue syndrome, multiple sclerosis, fibromyalgia, lupus and a host of other debilitating and life-threatening conditions.
Individuals who are interested in maintaining their health should keep a close eye on future research into glyconutrients. These super-sugars could turn out to be the key to fighting many of our most frightening illnesses. Excitingly, it turns out that rainforest fruits turn up trumps. It seems that some fruits like the acai berry, cupuacu and camu camu are packed full of glyconutrients and are probably one of the best natural ways for people to obtain their glyconutrient requirements. No wonder the rainforests of the world are known as natures “medicine chests”.
This article has been submitted by http://www.natural-health-from-the-rainforest.com We are one of the internets leading natural health websites. Over 30 pages of original and fascinating content explore the health benefits of natural rainforest fruits and herbs.
© Copyright 2006. All rights reserved. This article may be distributed only if full attribution is given and the copyright notice is included.
April 16, 2008 at 12:52 pm · Filed under Home Improvement Management
Bathroom shower stalls come in all kinds of stylish designs to
suit bathrooms of all sizes and themes. If you’re thinking of
revamping your bathroom, installing a shower stall could be a
great way to give the whole room a sleek and modern new image,
whilst at the same time offering a practical function. With the
busy lifestyles we all lead these days, taking a quick shower
rather than waiting for the bathtub to fill is a popular option.
Even in smaller bathrooms it’s often possible to find the space
for a corner shower stall.
Modern shower stalls are made from attractive and durable
materials, such as fiberglass, acrylic or tempered glass. Not
only does a shower stall look great and bring a touch of luxury
to a bathroom, it’s designed to provide many years of use.
Shower stalls are made to be low maintenance and easy to clean.
If you have a particular look in mind you might want to look
into getting a custom made stall. For instance, you could choose
between clear, colored, molded or etched glass, depending on
what would fit in best with your bathroom’s new look.
When looking at shower stalls, think about the layout of your
bathroom and take accurate measurements to help you choose the
best design. Consider whether you want to fit a curtain or a
door across the entrance. Fabric shower curtains are inexpensive
to buy and are a good way to add a splash of color to your
décor. Alternatively, frameless shower doors offer a more
permanent solution. If you’ve got the space, a folding door can
look very elegant, although sliding doors make better use of a
small space. Whatever look you have in mind for your bathroom’s
makeover, the choice of shower stalls available on the internet
offers something to fit in with any theme and budget!
April 15, 2008 at 8:41 pm · Filed under Big Medicine, Stuff for Kids, The Healthy Way
The method know as 3d ultrasound is used in early pregnancy, it provides 3d images of the unborn baby. Most of the time these ultrasound samples are rapidly captured and joined together and animated to created a 4d scan.
Three dimensional scanning works in a similar manner to the usual ultrasound methods except that the ultrasound scanning pulses can be directed from multiple directions. The ultrasound pulses can be reflected back and captured and provide information to construct a 3d picture in very much the same way as 3d movies. 3 dimesional ultasound scanning was first developed by olaf von ramm and stephen smith in america.
It’s important to understand that sonologists worldwide always pictured 3d images of the body in their minds whilst doing 2d scans. However, until recently it was very difficult to do this kind of reconstruction on on patient information using ultasound scanning. With the advent of ultrasound baby scans for the first time allowed us a peek into the thinking of a sonologist and hence letting us see the images on the ultrasound machine.
3d imaging should utilize ultrasound energy following the same limits as conventional 2d ultrasound to create the 3d images. There is no data to suggest any harm due to 3d ultrasound, its use in none essential situations needs to be undertaken with the understanding of the risks.
April 15, 2008 at 5:28 pm · Filed under Big Medicine
Patchouli’s History and Uses
Ah, Patchouli oil - people seem to love it or hate it. This well know essential oil has a somewhat deserved reputation as the scent of the Hippy generation (according to one source, it’s use began as a mask for the odor of a particularly cherished herb), though it’s traditional use dates back hundreds, perhaps thousands of years. Today, Patchouli oil has a well-deserved reputation in aromatherapy, with it’s deep, musky, and sweet odor, and Earth and Fire balancing energy. It is an exotic aroma that can forever leave an imprint on the olfactory memory.
Patchouli (Pogostemon cablin) is a perennial herb native to Southeast Asia, growing wild in Sumatra and Java at elevations between 3,000 and 6,000 feet - though it’s cultivation is more pervasive in lower tropical jungles. This bushy plant grows to the height of 3 feet, having a strong stem and soft, hairy leaves. For essential oil production, the plant is cut two or three times per year, with the best quality oil derived from leaves harvested in the wet season. The leaves are hand picked, bundled or baled, and allowed to partially dry in the shade and ferment for a few days before the oil is extracted via steam distillation (Patchouli oil is now becoming available as a CO2 extract in limited quantities). The fermentation process softens the plant’s cell walls, easing the extraction of the oil.
The relative ease of it’s cultivation, and it’s high oil yield keeps the price of true Patchouli essential oils relatively low. It is important to note however, Patchouli is one of the few essential oils that improve with age (others being Frankincense, Cedarwood, Sandalwood and Vetiver), and that a properly aged Patchouli oil is much more desirable than a fresh one. Over time, the oil looses a harshness that many find distasteful, and adds a sweet top note. As it ages, the oil turns from light yellow to a deep amber, with the aroma becoming smoother and more rich. Principal constituents of the oil include: Patchoulol (25-35%), Alpha-Bulnesene (12-20%), Alpha-Guaiene + Seychellene (15-25%), and Alpha-Patchoulene (5-9%).
Perhaps first due to it’s power as a moth repellent, the aroma of Patchouli was pervasive in cloth and clothing exported from India in the 19th century. The scent became an indicator of true ‘Oriental’ fabric, so much so that English and French garment makers were obliged to scent their imitation products with Patchouli to ensure their acceptance in the domestic marketplace. Beyond its use for preventing holes from being eaten in one’s cloting, Patchouli oil has been used for centuries in traditional medicine in Malaysia, China and Japan. Primarily indicated for skin conditions, Patchouli may be of benefit in cases of dermatitis, eczema, acne, dry chapped skin, and other irritating conditions, along with dandruff and oily scalp conditions. As a cell rejuvenator, it may help in healing wounds and reducing the appearance of scars. It is considered an excellent remedy for insect and snake bites, and has been used as a fumigant and rubbing oil to prevent the spread of fevers and to strengthen the immune system.
Aromatherapy and Perfumery Uses of Patchouli Oil
Patchouli oil is considered an excellent base note and fixative in perfumery, being a component in many famous perfumes. As a fixative, it slows the evaporation of other, more volatile oils so that their aroma may be released over a longer period of time. A little patchouli can be used in natural perfume blends, adding that special deep and earthy aroma. It mixes well with many essential oils, with almost all common oils being mentioned across a variety of sources - these include Vetiver, Rosemary, Sandalwood, Frankincense, Bergamot, Cedarwood, Myrrh, Jasmine, Rose, Citrus oils, Clary Sage, Lemongrass, Geranium and Ginger.
In Aromatherapy, Patchouli is considered a great balancer, relaxing yet stimulating, particularly relevant for conditions of weak immunity where overwork and anxiety have left the individual in a susceptible state. It is said to bring the three principal forces at work within the body - the Creative at the navel, the Heart center, and transcendental wisdom a the crown - into harmony.
Patchouli oil may also relieve the strain of those with excessive mental activity who may feel ‘out of touch’ with their body and sensuality. It has been considered a relaxing aphrodisiac, and can be helpful for those with impotence, frigidity, and sexual anxiety that are products of mental anguish. Patchouli combines this aphrodisiac effect with an antidepressant one, uplifting the mind with it’s sweet, warm, spicy scent.
As if this were not enough, Patchouli is thought to be a bringer of prosperity and abundance. Perhaps by allowing one to open to these possibilities energetically, the oil is used in ceremonies and prayers by those in need of financial or other type of infusion in their lives. One may simply close their eyes, imagine the abundance they need, and inhale the oil’s aroma for a few seconds.
For a few simple blends, try:
3 parts Patchouli and 1 part Rosemary Cineol. This is a wonderfully uplifting blend combining the deep earthiness of Patchouli with the invigorating aroma of Rosemary. This can certainly be worn as a perfume, or used in a diffuser.
When the going gets tedious, try brightening with 3 parts Coriander, 2 parts Patchouli and 1 part Bergamot. This may uplift the spirits and remind one of the joy to be found in life.
For the sensually insecure, try 1 part Geranium, 1 part Patchouli and 1 part Bergamot. A beautiful yet simple blend for getting comfortable in one’s own skin.
It may take a little education, but many who claim to have a dislike for Patchouli may truly enjoy it when finally getting to sample a properly aged or beautifully blended oil.
Misty Rae Cech is a Naturopath and Yoga teacher in Boulder, Colorado. She is a fan of Patchouli oil as a fragrance and for it’s aromatherapy applications. She is the owner of Ananda Apothecary, a source of alternative medicine products.
April 14, 2008 at 11:34 pm · Filed under Self Improvement Center
Everyone should have the opportunity to ride in a private jet. And everyone should
drive the autobahn in Germany at least once. Nobody should die without the
experience of eating homemade fresh food cooked by the hands of a southern
woman in her own kitchen.
Everybody should go to a college football game at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge.
And while you’re in Southern Louisiana, show yourself friendly to a large group of
folks and tag along to a crawfish boil.
Love all people blessed with age. They’ve been places you may not know about and
seen things you probably wouldn’t want to see. Love the little children, too. They’re
loud and obnoxious but they teach us the little things that prepare us for a lengthy
life.
No one should underestimate the power of chicken. Or the power of Jesus. Everyone
should have a special dinner in their honor while they’re still alive. Everyone should
have the opportunity to spend money freely at an electronics store for at least an
hour. Everybody should pull up all the way to the white line at traffic lights.
Everyone should experience high definition sight and sound in the comfort of their
own home. Everyone should be loved by someone they want to be loved by. Nobody
should leave this earth without knowing how relaxing it is to consume a hot
beverage while gazing out a large window at skiers skiing down a snow covered
mountain.
Everyone should try my mama’s greens. Everybody should have an iPod. Everybody
should see video of themselves when they’re not at their best so they won’t be so
hard on everybody else. Everybody should give money away every chance they get.
More people should smile more.
The way I see it, everybody is rich in one way or another. Share your wealth with the
world.
©2005 warmCHiL WORLDWiDE / MJStyle
I don’t consider myself a writer. I only speak from my heart - it doesn’t lie.
April 14, 2008 at 5:31 am · Filed under World Of Technology
One of the most confusing decisions someone new to web hosting will have to make is which platform their server should be on. There are a number of different choices out there but the main two are Linux and Windows web servers. There are also a lot of sources of information about hosting, but the majority of them are tainted by the author’s biased personal opinion unfortunately confusing the issue. Having just put in some solid hours researching the topic I have come to the conclusion that in general it quite probably does not matter which server you use. For the majority of people it will be far more important to choose a really good web host than to worry about the server-type that they implement.
Microsoft developed and owns the Windows operating system. Linux is open source and generally free. This means it can often be more expensive to set up and run a Windows server. However, this fact doesn’t really affect you unless you are actually setting up a server for yourself and if you’re reading this article then I’m guessing that it’s safe to assume you’re not. This article is going to offer information for those trying to decide which hosting company to go with. The cost involved in running a server does not affect the cost of a web-hosting package as much as you may think. Despite the general opinion that Windows servers are more expensive to run, buying a Windows hosting package can often turn out to be just as cheap or even cheaper than an equivalent Linux hosting package.
Some people naturally assume that because their PC runs Windows they need to buy a Windows hosting package. This isn’t true. Access to your web account will most likely be through FTP or a control panel and both servers support these methods. The main difference is that some of the FTP commands are slightly different between Linux and Windows and some FTP programs will be designed with one or the other in mind. This means you may occasionally find that when you try and get your FTP program to do something it returns an error message, but it won’t happen very often.
Your choice of server platforms should be dictated by the use to which you intend to put it. The majority of web features run fine on both platforms including PHP, mySQL, POP3 etc. If you intend to create your site using ASP, FrontPage, the .NET environment, Windows Streaming Media, Access, MSSQL, or any of the other Microsoft proprietary technologies then you probably need to use a Windows host. There is limited support for a number of these technologies in Linux, but they can be expensive and are usually lacking in features. It is probably worth considering the fact that if you use server specific technologies and then change hosts you’ll have a much harder time of it than if you use technologies that can be run on any system. Having it run generic technologies removes the need to focus on specifics and allows you to focus on the quality of service itself.
The reliability and stability of the different platforms have been the topic of many long arguments. The main reason that Windows is seen as being insecure is that it is the most widely used operating system for home PC’s. People spend more time looking for flaws in the most common system. With Linux being the most common server type, it has a surprising number of successful hack attempts made on it. In the end the security of both platforms comes down to the competency of the system administrators. If you are security minded then you’ll do better to make sure that the hosting company is reputable and highly skilled than to worry about the server they use.
In terms of performance there’s not a huge difference between the two servers. Linux reportedly performs faster because Windows (as usual) attempts to offer an ‘all in one’ package instead of the extendable Linux implementation. You’ll generally not notice a difference but if performance is of utmost importance to you then maybe this will influence your decision.
I’ve come to the conclusion that unless you are specifically using features that are unique to one platform or another your time will be much better spent looking for a really good quality host than a really good quality server. Developers are constantly improving both Linux and Windows so they should be fairly close in terms of features, security, and reliability for a long time. It’s the people implementing them that you should be basing your decision on.
By Daniel Punch
M6.Net Web Helpers
http://www.m6.net
Daniel Punch is a writer working at M6.Net: ‘The web-hosting company for humans.’ M6.Net is working hard to help humanity experience the power and freedom to develop their own part of the Internet, to share their information and connect with anyone, anywhere, anytime.
Copyright Daniel Punch - http://www.m6.net
April 14, 2008 at 3:20 am · Filed under House Of Travel
If you like wine, stop at the Door Peninsula Winery in Carlsville, Wisconsin the next time you get to Door County. The winery is north of Sturgeon Bay on Hwy 42. It is located in an old schoolhouse.
My husband, one of my grown sons, and myself stopped there during a recent trip to Door County. The evening before we had dined at Shipwrecked in Egg Harbor, Wisconsin (also in Door County), and had been given a coupon for a free tour of the winery and free wine tasting. It seemed like too good of a deal to pass up.
Even if you don’t have a coupon for the tour, it’s a bargain at $2 for each adult. And if you’re not interested in the tour but just in the wine tasting, the wine tasting is free to anyone 21 years of age or older.
We decided to take the tour and then taste some of the wines. The tour started in the front of the schoolhouse where our guide told us the building had been used as a schoolhouse for 100 years, from 1868 to 1968. At one point in time, the school had 60 students in 8 grades with only 2 teachers. The building was purchased and turned into a winery in 1974.
After being given some history on the building, we were taken to the basement of the building, which is where the wine is made. We saw how the wine was bottled, the vats it is made in, along with the barrels it is stored in for aging. Along the way we learned how the fruit juice the winery uses gets turned into wine. Then we headed back upstairs to the wine bar to start tasting the wines.
With over 50 wines being produced by the winery, it was difficult deciding which ones to try but we managed. The winery produces quite a few fruit wines from apple to blackberry to plum to cranberry to peach to strawberry, along with their signature cherry wine which is made with Door County cherries. The fruits for some of the other wines come from other places, such as California, but all the wine is made at the Door County facility.
The top selling wines at the Door County winery are the Strawberry Zinfandel, Blackberry Merlot, and Razzle Dazzle Raspberry. Our favorites were the Blackberry, Cranberry, and Sparkling Razzle Dazzle Raspberry. Other wines we liked included the Port Reserve, a sweet desert wine; Sweet Cherry, a sweet wine; White Christmas, one of the winery’s holiday wines; the White Zinfandel, one of the winery’s signature series wines; and Cranbernet, a wine made with a combination of cranberry and grape juices.
The winery also offers several non-wine products including cherry juice, sparkling juices, wine jellies, gourmet mustards, and Door Peninsula Wine Cheese Spread which we thought was so good that we bought two containers to take home.
The large shopping area in the winery also has hundreds of other items for sale including wine glasses, wine racks, gourmet foods, gift baskets, and wine butlers.
In addition to taking home some of the winery’s cheese spread; we bought a mixed case of wine to take with us. And we didn’t break the bank buying the wine. The wines at the winery are a good value. The wines start at around $8 for the fruit wines to a little under $30 for some of the winery’s signature series wines.
We enjoyed the couple of hours we spent at the Door Peninsula Winery. It was a fun way to spend part of our afternoon during our trip to Door County. During our next trip we plan to visit some of the other wineries in Door County to see what they have to offer.
Dorrie Ruplinger is a featured writer for http://www.doorcountycountry.com Visit the site for info on Door County WI, Door County wine, & Door County wineries.
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