The group list their heroines as Whitney Houston, Janet Jackson, Lauryn Hill - and rock band Skunk Anansie's fiery frontwoman Skin.

BBC: News | Entertainment | Precious song for Europe

There are 196 wineries in British Columbia, ranging from small family-run operations on Vancouver Island to sprawling estates in the Okanagan Valley, and recent International Wine and Spirits Competition awards for local wineries like Mission Hill and Jackson-Triggs have put the area on par with other vino-heavyweights, such as France, South Africa and Argentina.

BBC: Canada��s wine scene is taking root

In planning the Capitol Hill visit, Jackson's publicist requested a meeting for the singer with the Congressional Black Caucus but was turned down.

CNN: Michael Jackson visits Capitol Hill

Germany is the traditional home of Eiswein but producers in Canada, such as Inniskillin, Jackson-Triggs and Mission Hill, have created an important export market and the country now makes more ice-wine than any other nation in the world.

WSJ: Will Lyons on Wine: Something Sweet for Your Sweet

Cleaver, the chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus, said he found it "frustrating and disappointing" that some other Democrats on Capitol Hill had called on Jackson to disclose more about his health struggles.

CNN: STORY HIGHLIGHTS

Jesse Jackson, the civil rights leader, has not been on Capitol Hill since late May.

CNN: STORY HIGHLIGHTS

After graduating from Maryland, Ms. Jackson Randall worked at Money Magazine in New York and at McGraw-Hill as an associate editor in Washington.

WSJ: Journal Reporter Maya Jackson Randall Dies