I got an email today for the launch of 29 Cosmetics in Atlanta, Georgia. Unfortunately I'm not going to be near there this week, but for any of you that are, here are the details.

Wine Tasting and Private Preview of the 29 Cosmetics Collection
Location: 29 Cosmetics Counter in Neiman Marcus at the Lennox Square Mall
When: November 30th, 5:30 to 7:30pm

Come and get a look at the cosmetics line and try Neiman Marcus' exclusive 29 Chardonnay.

Call 888-415-2929 or email info@29cosmetics.com to RSVP.

Evidently this is somewhat old news, according to Jeff at Good Grape, but it's news to me.

Robert Parker and Kevin Zraly, are apparently starting their own wine certification program. The details are at Parker's Website. What the site says is that there will be three levels of certification:

• Level 1 - Aficionado of Wine
• Level 2 - Connoisseur of Wine
• Level 3 - Expert of Wine

Level 1 and 2 consist entirely of online examinations, and Level 3 includes a written exam and a face-to-face meeting with Parker and Zraly for a blind wine tasting and oral examination. Currently only Level 1 is available, and only to eRobertParker.com subscribers. Good Grape says that it is made up of 8 examinations at $30 each. And students have 60 minutes to answer 50 questions. A passing score is 80/100.

I don't know about the rest of the wine world, but I'm really intrigued by this new certification. Kevin Zraly's Windows on the World has kind of been a "bible" for me personally, so his stamp of approval means a fair amount to me. As those of you who have been reading for a while know, I took the first level of certification from the International Wine Guild and I've been hoping to take the next level sometime in 2008. Honestly a hands-on class will always be better than an online class when it comes to wine, but I may have to take a break and try Parker's certification before continuing on. It's certainly a bit more affordable, but requires a lot more study on your own.

Let me know if any of you are taking the Parker tests. I'd love to know what you think of them.

This Thanksgiving I opened up a bottle of Cakebread Cellars 2006 Sauvignon Blanc to have with dinner. A couple friends recently picked up this bottle of wine for me, and after having some I'm very glad they did.

This Sauvignon Blanc is fantastic. The color alone is slightly striking, possessing a light straw color with vibrant green hues. The aroma is acidic, but with fruity tones. Combined with a wonderfully calm and well balanced taste, this wine is perfect for a holiday dinner.

I should note that my Thanksgiving dinner was not exactly traditional. I served a garlic, teriyaki lamb chop with garlic asparagus with rice, and a caesar salad. The wine paired quite well with the lamb. They combined to make the wine softer and less acidic. Quite enjoyable.

Vinewords Rating: 8 out of 10

I recently had the chance to read The Good Life: A Chris Garrett Novel by David G. White. A murder mystery based in the Napa Valley, The Good Life focuses on Chris Garrett an assistant winemaker at Maverick Cellars. When Chris' mentor Vic dies mysteriously, everyone assumes that it was an accident. Everyone except Chris that is.

This was a really enjoyable read. It was detailed and funny, and honestly kept me guessing right up until the last minute. It's an easy read that would be great for a plane trip or a long wait. Personally I read it while I worked out at the gym. A book can be a great way to distract yourself from the miles on the stationary bike!

Click on the image above to buy it.