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Posts Tagged ‘wine’

It is a popular belief that the glass you use to serve a fine wine is almost as important to how much you enjoy the drink as the wine itself. The shape, colour and fabric of wine glasses are all supposed to influence the way you appreciate the flavour and aroma of a wine. Whether there is really any truth to this or not remains to be seen but there are actually some convincing arguments that a wine does taste better if drunk from the right glass.

So how do we tell which ones we should be using? With thousands of different glasses out there it’s difficult to tell which ones will be the best. Most people agree that a specially designed glass is required for certain types of wine. The most common example of this is the tall, thin champagne flutes which are designed to retain the ‘fizziness’ in sparkling wines by reducing the surface area at the top. A serious wine buff will also use different glasses for red and white wines – a rounder, wider bowl for reds to allow more space for the wine to breathe, and a slightly smaller, tulip-shaped bowl for whites to help retain their cool temperature.

But some take this theory a lot further. Real wine geeks claim that the difference between wines means a lot more than just the colour, and that for each different variety of wine there is a glass designed specifically to enhance the experience of drinking it. No one has pursued this further than Austrian wine glass manufacturer Riedel, the company that came up with the idea. They actually produce different glasses not only for different types of wine, but also for different varieties and vintages within each type – although few people could afford to collect the whole set!

As for what the glass is made out of, many people believe that a fine wine tastes better if drunk from a crystal glass. This is not strictly true – although using a lead crystal glass is usually considered to be more enjoyable. It’s actually less about flavour than aroma, the majority of what we ‘taste’ when we drink wine is in fact a combination of its smell and the the evaporated aromas in the mouth. Crystal wine glasses, due to their heightened lead content (for a glass to count as ‘Crystal’ in Europe it has to contain at least 24% lead) have a slightly rougher surface than glass, which helps to release the aroma better by causing friction as the wine moves inside the glass.

Aside from this, the differences are mostly aesthetic. A lead crystal glass is clearer and shows off the wine better, allowing real wine tasters to examine its ‘legs’ more easily. It’s also quite a lot heavier than glass – again because of the high lead content – not to mention it’s more sparkly and makes that nice ringing sound when you tap it – science aside, crystal glasses are just generally more satisfying to drink from!

How many of us can say we really know anything about wine? Most people are probably familiar with that feeling you get when you’re standing there looking at the endless rows of bottles, with no idea what it is you’re actually supposed to be looking for. We assume that expensive wines are expensive because they and cheap wines should probably be avoided, but is there really any truth to this? I have tried cheap wines that have tasted fine, and expensive ones that have been horrible – not all of them, but they do exist and how are we supposed to know which ones to choose?

It’s like the theory that crystal wine glasses make wine taste better than regular glasses. It’s true that it is definitely nicer to drink out of a crystal glass, they do feel nice to hold and they make that lovely sound when you tap them, but I’ve yet to see any evidence that it has any effect on the flavour of the drink. A nasty wine will taste nasty whatever you drink it from – just think of the familiar grimace on people’s faces when they take a sip from their posh celebratory Champagne flutes, only to be reminded that they’ve always hated Champagne and are only drinking it because it’s what you’re supposed to do.

A true wine buff would tell you they can tell the vintage of a good wine and where it was bottled just from tasting it. But in the opening episode of BBC4’s recent mini-documentary series entitled simply (and rather inventively, I thought!) Wine, an interesting, and quite amusing, scenario took place. A group of professional wine experts were given a taste from an unknown bottle and asked to guess its vintage. Most of them guessed at somewhere around the 1980s, with the exception of one French expert who claimed 1928. It turned out to be from 1870, proving that they really didn’t have a clue.

So do factors like the age and vintage of a wine really make any difference in terms of the quality of wine? If even some of the world’s most knowledgeable experts can’t tell the difference then it would seem that no, they probably don’t. Older wines are likely to be more rare, which might go some way to explaining why they cost more, but I bet those experts could have got a whole crate of good 1980s wines for the same price as that one bottle would have cost. And in these credit crunch times do people really want to be paying over the odds for fancy wines when it’s possible they could get one just as good – or maybe even nicer – in Threshers for under a tenner?

Choosing a good wine can be a real nightmare, especially when you’re trying to impress someone. You’re having a dinner party – you’ve planned the menu thoroughly, dusted off your best crockery and wine glasses, and got everything prepared – except for the wine selection. There’s just so much to think about, and it always seems like everyone else knows so much more than you do about it. You stand there for what seems like forever looking at the seemingly endless shelves of bottles, and the more you wonder about it the harder it gets. That’s why we’ve put together a few tips of what to watch out for and how to choose the perfect wine.

Firstly, you need to match the wine to the meal you have chosen. Everyone’s opinion is different when it comes to which wine will taste good with different foods, but there are a few basic rules that you can follow if you’re really not sure. The easiest way is just to match the colour of the wine to the food, you can’t go wrong. So if you’re eating red meat choose a dark red like Cabernet or Syrah. For lamb or pork dishes a medium bodied red like a Merlot will be less heavy but still has a rich flavour. Chicken and fish dishes are often overpowered by reds so it’s best to go for a crisp white instead, like a Chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc. If it’s a special occasion or celebration, you might be better off with a sparkling wine, served in fancy Champagne flutes.

Once you’ve worked out what kind of wine you are looking for, look at where it has come from. Wines from different regions are hugely different in quality, so it pays to do a bit of research into the best regions. If you’re not sure, France is always a good choice and has been producing good quality wines for hundreds of years. Italy is another good choice, and Chilean wines are very popular at the moment too, particularly the reds.

Another thing it’s worth checking is the vintage of the wines you are choosing from, or the year they were bottled. A true wine buff will already know which were the good years for each region, and will buy only vintages which they know came from a particularly good crop. For the rest of us, it can seem like a lot of guesswork, but if you know the basics you’ll be on the right track at least. That all wines get better the older they are is a common misconception. It’s true that most red wines improve with a little aging, but most wineries don’t distribute these reds for a couple of years after bottling to give them time to mature. This means they are ready to drink and will taste good from the minute they appear in stores. Most white or sparkling wines don’t need aging, and are good to drink straight away.

Wine gift baskets are more than just wine; they also contain a fine combination of accompanying foods with the wine. They make wonderful gifts for just about anyone. So, if you’re trying to pick a way to present a nice Port or Bordeaux, consider using a wine gift basket.

Wine baskets are undoubtedly one of the best options as a gift if you don’t know what to get someone. It will leave the recipient overjoyed and be remembered as a great gift, even after the wine, cookies, nuts and fruits have been enjoyed.

Amongst all the other treats you get in a wine gift basket, wouldn’t it be great to find your favorite Merlot or Sauvignon Blanc nestled in there too? You can enjoy a glass or two while you munch on some nuts or indulge in a chocolate while you sip on that Cabernet you have been eager to taste for months.

The wine gift basket can come with bottles of wine in any size; the hotel miniature ones are particularly nice to receive. It could in fact be filled with a mixture of wine varietals in these small sizes so you can try a bit of each.

Aside from the wine, you can get treats that compliment every wine you get in the wine gift basket. This can range from crackers to truffles and even fruits. Wine gift baskets are not your run of the mill treats either. They are always a selection of top quality delicacies and the most elite treats you can imagine, and everything looks truly grand.

Brut champagne might be more to your taste. Surrounded by a fine set of gourmet cheeses, a wine gift basket of champagne will make for a memorable afternoon that can go on late into the evening.

Even the container itself is part of a great wine gift basket offering. It can be a traditional dark wicker that reminds you of old Italy. Or it can be a contemporary computer age metal. You may like a sentimental porcelain, or you could go for an all-business gray made from Stealth jet composite plastics. The designs are endless.

No matter what the occasion may be, a wine gift basket is a great gift. Anniversaries are wonderful times to give these gifts. The couples will be able to celebrate with a wonderful glass of wine and some tasty treats. Even giving your boss a basket at work to celebrate that new promotion is a great idea as well.

Although there are lots of choices in gift basket ideas, wine baskets are great for gifting on any occasion; personal or corporate.

Attending wine tasting events can be a great experience and a lot of fun, although a lot of people choose not to attend out of fear – or not knowing what to do or what to expect.  Even though there are no mysteries to wine tasting, there are some things that you should always remember.

In a wine tasting party, before the men women are always served. Some tastings will serve you bottled water between tastings, so you can clean your mouth out and be ready to taste the next wine that is served.  When you take the wine, you should always handle the glass by the stem, to avoid heating it with your hands.  There will also be crackers and other goodies on hand as well, to help you cleanse your mouth between wine tastings.

As you may already know, you can tell quite a bit about the wine by the color.  When you attend a wine tasting for the first time, you’ll notice that the glasses are clear.  This helps you to examine the wine better.  There should also be white tablecloth on the table as well, to help you see the color the wine more clearly.  You should never go by the name of the wine alone, as it can easily fool you. 

You’ll also notice the more experienced wine tastes swirl their wine around in the glass before they taste it.  Although it may look weird, slightly swirling the wine actually helps to bring out the flavor.  Most wines have been aging in bottles for long periods of time, sometimes even years.  When the wine is swirled around in the glass, the swirling will release the flavors in the wine and bring them out when the wine is tasted.

At wine tastings, you’ll need to look at the wine, smell it, then after swirling it around in the glass – taste it.  Smells play an integral part of the process, as you’ll get a lot more from the wine by smelling it first.  Wine has quite an intriguing aroma, which helps to bring out the taste that wine is so well known for.  Once you have smelled the wine, you should allow a few moments to take in the smell and think about the wine that you are smelling.

And at last, you be willing to have the idea of how to properly taste the wine.Your tongue has taste buds on both sides i.e. in the front and the back, it helps in determination of flavors.  Wine is full of flavors, and how you taste it will make the biggest impact.  When you put the wine in your mouth, you should always swish it around in your mouth for a few seconds, and allow the flavors plenty of time to dance on your palate.  Once your taste buds have started to discover the wine, you can think about what you are tasting.Just after swallowing it, the aftertaste of the wine that remains in your mouth should give you even some more idea of its type and flavor.

Before you attend a wine tasting, you should always learn as much as you can about the many different flavors and varieties of wine.  This way, you’ll have a better understanding of what you should look for in both taste and flavor.  Even though you may be new to wine tasting, you should never pass up an opportunity to go.  You’ll get a great experience in the world of wine tasting and get to experience wines that you may have never heard of before.

Collecting wine can be a very fun and exciting hobby – especially when you try to find the wine.  If you are looking to collect wine, you may end up spending a bit more money than you thought.  Wine collecting is a great hobby, although it can be very expensive.  If you are just starting out, the tips below may come in very handy to help you get started.

The first thing to do, is find a place to store your wine.  You can store your wine at home, although you’ll need to have a location with the proper amount of space and cooling temperature (between 50 and 65 degrees F).  You’ll also need to determine what brands and types of wine you are planning to collect.  There are several options to choose from, including red and white wine.  You’ll also need to find some places with good quality and refinery to buy your wine from.

You can always participate in tastings and trade shows as well.  Here, you can meet other people who are into wine collecting, and get to know local traders.  You should also strive to learn as much as you can about wine.You can get intricate knowledge about wine by reading magazines and newsletters dedicated to wine or visiting related websites.  By doing so, you can also learn more about storage, buying wine, and even cooling your wine.

To better prepare your wine for storage, you can try tasting different varieties.  This way, you can identify which wines you need to age more.  You’ll learn more about wine this way as well, such as how to distinguish tastes.  You may also want to learn how to identify the flavor quality as well.  As you may already know, there is a difference among rare vintage wines and wines that are instantly processed.

If you are about to collect wine, you should not buy in bulk until and unless you are sure that what types of wine you wish to collect.  When you visit a wine trader, you should let him know that you are a collector.  This way, he can inform you whether or not the wines you are collecting are available in his inventory. If you hope to collect wines from other areas, he may be able to give you contact information for finding the wines you are interested in.

Keep in mind that wine collecting isn’t all about fun – it’s also a great way to eventually start your own business.  You can attend wine shows and tasting events to learn more about the different brands, and also find wines that will bring in higher profits.  Once you have collected some rare bottles of wine – you can start selling and watch your profits soar.

Although position is important when storing wine, temperature is the most important storing factor overall.  Even though you may not have the ideal conditions for storage, you should always have the optimal level of temperature.The temperature when storing your wine is very important, as it affects the overall quality, flavor, and longevity of the wine.  Most wines need to be stored for long periods of time, which is why the temperature is so very important.

The temperature for storing wine should always be between 50 and 65 degrees F. When stored in this range, the wine will develop quite nicely.  In the days before refrigeration, wine was stored in underground cellars and caves.  When refrigeration came along, it quickly became the easiest and most preferred way to store wine, as it allowed you to maintain the same desired temperature.

In this day and age, science plays a major role with wine making.  Science has proved over the years that aging is actually a chain of chemical reactions that occur over time.  Depending on the temperature, the chemical reactions can either be good or bad.  Chemical reactions all have unique energy factors that need to be met for each individual reaction to happen.So the chemical reactions in the wine would not occur if the temperature is not appropriate.

If wine is stored in direct sunlight or in a hot area, the increase in temperature can result in a chemical reaction that can damage both the flavor and the quality of the wine.  Wine that has been damaged from heat will normally turn brown due to the oxidation.If it happens, the quality and flavour of the wine would not be good.  Wine that is damaged from heat loses all of it’s flavor and color, making it virtually impossible to drink – or sell.

Colder temperatures on the other hand may slow the aging process, although it can also prevent the wine from getting the chemical reactions it needs as well.  Lower temperatures may not affect the quality or taste of the wine, although it isn’t recommended.  All bottles of wine, until they have been opened, should be stored in a location with a temperature above 50 degrees F.  This way, the wine will be in the proper temperature for storage and able to get the chemical reactions it needs.

You should keep any open bottles in your refrigerator, as the average temperature is normally 41 degrees F.  You shouldn’t keep bottles that you haven’t opened in the fridge, as the temperature is much too cold.  If you follow the above tips when storing your wine, you’ll find the taste to be spectacular.  Storing wine will always raise the value and add to the taste – providing you store it the right way.

Whenever wine comes up in a conversation or a thought, we often find ourselves thinking of where the wine came from.If you study the name of the wine, such as Burgundy or Champagne, you’ll find a log about the origin of the wine.  Burgundy for instance, we all known comes from France, same as Burgundy.  There are many wines out there – several of which come from France.

In the times of the old, wine in France was made by peasants, who drank it themselves.Wine is very old in France, which is really no surprise as French wine is some of the best in the world.  New world wines have the ingredients that were used in the label, while French old world wine is labeled with the location.  In doing so, the French have left a bit of a romantic message when you purchase any of their wine.

A lot of wine enthusiasts all over the world consider French wine to be the best.  Wine lovers from all over the world prefer French wine over any other.  There are several different kinds of French wine available, giving you plenty to choose from.  This way, you can experience and compare wine based on aroma, taste, and even the texture.

There are thirteen different regions in France with literally thousands of vineyards that produce wine, making the possibilities for French wine endless.  French is also known for having the ideal location for growing grapes, including the perfect soil conditions and vineyards that are very close to the water.  The climate in France is always good, making it one of the best locations in the world for wine.

French wine differ from the most wine you find, there are many rare variants, which can be very tough to come across.  If you are looking for one of the more rare types of French wine, your best bet would be to use the Internet.  You can find hundreds of thousands of different types of wine, including rare French wine.  Rare vintage French wine can be extremely hard to find, even sometimes so online.  You can always look at wine forums as well, including the many different wine websites.

All in all, French wine is a cut above the rest.Others still do not give the taste as those made in France, although these other wines may use the same methods and ingredients in production,.  When you taste a wine that was made in France – you’ll know it.  Even though other wines may be preferred by some, French wine has a taste and aroma like no other.  Wine that comes from France is all about quality – and a taste you’ll never forget.

Top 10 Wine Gift Ideas

Puzzled about what the top gift ideas for wine lovers are? You may want to find the perfect wine-oriented gift for your favorite oenophile; but unless you’ve already spent a lot of time looking (and maybe if you have), you’re probably at a loss as how to find the perfect gift for the wine lover on your list. Of course, they’d prefer to have their own personal vineyard, but if this is beyond your means at the moment, keep reading for some other great gift ideas for the wine lover in your life.

10 Great Gifts For The Wine Lover

1. Still gotta go with that vineyard motif….okay, not a whole vineyard. Some wineries advertise that you can become part owner in their independent vineyard for a cost. You might want to check this out, it won’t make you wealthy overnight, but hey, you will be a part owner. The part of the vineyard you own will really be small but the gift and the thought behind it are way cool.

2. You cannot go wrong if you select an assortment of wine glasses as a special gift. This will be a welcome and useful gift that will probably see action immediately. Those huge, deep-bellied glasses for richer, full-bodied wines are also lovely just to see perched on a bar or table.

3. A Purple “Instant Youth” bottle bag. These are always good for a chuckle, with their slogan of “Instant Youth – just add wine”. Of course, you’ll want to put a bottle of something good inside; this will get an even bigger smile from the recipient.

4. You can even order a Cabernet Sauvignon, Petite Syrah, or Pinot Grigio and have it placed in a bottle with a personalized label of your choice. This thoughtful gift is a sure winner for any occasion. You can select the words for the label or even have a personal picture added.

5. One ideal selection among wine gifts is a portable wine box or basket. These come in an amazing variety. You can choose one made from leather, wicker, or even wood. Some of these carry single bottles of wine while others have room for 2 or more. There are also higher end models that include wine stoppers, corkscrews, glasses and napkins that make them perfect take-a-longs for a concert or picnic.

6. Both fun and educational, the Wineopoly board game makes a great gift for your favorite wine lover. You can learn fun facts about wine while playing this game in which the game tokens include wineglasses, carafes, cheese and other wine-themed designs.

7. Wine glass charms make a great gift. Many wine lovers even collect these beautiful and decorative wine accessories, which can be custom made for you by some companies.

8. A wine club membership is a great gift for anyone on your list. This is a wonderful way to introduce them to your favorite winery or vineyard. These memberships have wine lists that can be tailored to please even the most discriminating palates.

9. Cookbooks with wine-related recipes also make great gifts for wine lovers. Food and wine were made to be together, after all. You could even create your own gift basket featuring one of these cookbooks, a god bottle of wine and any other additions you care to make – some assorted cheeses or napkins add a nice touch to this gift.

10. A novelty T-shirt with an original or inspired saying can be worn by any proud wine lover who is worth a bunch of grapes.

• Get a Tan with your Tannins…pick your own grapes
• The Wine is Divine but it crushed the poor grapes
• Nectar of the gods…Produced by our soles
• Us Old Vines Have The Best Wines
• Wine is fruit….and they recommend 4 servings of fruit daily

When you are passionate about wine you begin collecting it. Sometimes you become a member of a club for wine lovers and now are collecting good wines. You will soon learn that your wine can easily spoil if not protected, a wine cellar is the answer. A cabinet can simply be adapted into a very handy cellar for wine to hold your highly prized collection.

Be sure you spend plenty of time taking the important details into consideration. For instance where is the closet in relation to the rest of the house? Avoid converting a closet against an outside wall into a wine cellar. Different times of the year cause the outside walls to change temperatures, making steady consistent temperature much more difficult. Choose an internal closet where your wine can be stored in a more stable atmosphere.

Keep an eye on your wine cellar temperature and the rate it rises or lowers if you want to properly age your wine. We are referring to sudden changes, slow fluctuations of a few degrees during the year doesn’t affect the wine much. This process can ruin your wine. It is a cycle that can easily be stopped, and must be, as it ages the wine far to quickly. The most important rule when storing wine is to avoid large temperature changes or fluctuations.

It’s easy to spot. Look for the sticky deposit that often forms around the capsule. The repeated changes in temperature of the wine will fragment the cork. You could compare it to corking your wine each time the temperature changes. When this happens, minute quantities of wine may be pushed out along the edge of the cork allowing air to seep back in. Once the air is in contact with your wine the irreversible process of oxidation begins. Your wine is ruined. It is best if your wine stays in the range of 54-57 degrees to properly age. Higher temperatures will age wine more rapidly and cooler temperatures will slow down the ageing process. Irreversible damage will be done if your wine is kept at a temperature above 82ºF for even a month.

Make sure you have a vapor barrier in the closet. Mold like the humid environments that are good for wine. Also consider a high quality wine refrigeration unit for keeping tabs on the temperature and humidity.

Now comes the fun part: building it. Wine Cellar building is very rewarding! You will need to purchase a few essential items. It is not hard to find cost effective racks for wine on an online retailer website. With some cheap racks you’ll have a simple but very effective mini wine cellar. Wine rack designs will vary in bottle density. Price variations are more to do with aesthetics than efficiency. Individual racking is the most convenient for selecting bottles.

A great tip is to only put your wine racks on one side of the pantry. Then you may still have floor or shelf space available for wines that you purchase by the case. Custom wine cellars don’t have to be lavish affairs, a budget one is just as good and not too difficult either. Go for function over design to save money. However, if you don’t have the space to spare, then we recommend the Cuisinart Dual Zone 15 Bottle Wine Cellar.

Now you can truly enjoy the luxury of owning your own wine cellar and aging your own wine!