Making Sense of Wine Tasting

Making Sense of Wine Tasting

Wine tasting is an intricate process that actually involves several senses. First comes vision.

Color can give you clues about the quality of the wine. Opacity can indicate age as red wine will become more translucent as it ages. next comes smell. Swirl the wine in the glass for at least 10 seconds, then put your nose into the glass and inhale deeply. This step is where much of the wine's flavor and characteristics will become obvious.

The third and final sense is taste, a tow -step process. Start with just a sip of the wine and let it roll around on your tongue. The better the balance of tannins, alcohol content, acidity and residual sugars, the better the initial impression. Next comes the actual taste of the wine on your tongue. Savor the flavors as this is where the complexity and depth of the wine really shines. lastly, once you have swallowed the wine, consider the flavor that is left in your mouth.

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10 Tips On Buying An Anniversary Wine

10 Tips On Buying An Anniversary Wine

By Karen Orlandiand Bob Orlandi

Wine can be a special extravagance when celebrating a special occasion. Not only can you indulge in a higher quality wine, but you can also buy a bottle with the same vintage as the anniversary you are observing.

The wine vintage marks the year the grapes were harvested and the process of turning them into wine began. It can be fun to think about where the grapes are from and who might have harvested them. Were they family of the wine producer or perhaps hired vineyard workers? What might the world have been like for them during that harvest? And what was the world like for you during that commemorative year?

But before you get wrapped up in focusing only on the vintage, it is important to consider the following tips for buying anniversary wines.

1. Buy a bottle that is within its maturity date. This is the most important guideline. Not all wine is created equal and many wines will not hold up over time. Approximately 80% of wine is consumed within 48 hours of purchase, so most wineries gear their wines toward immediate consumption. But some wines are specifically made to be drunk decades after bottling. Here are some rules of thumb by anniversary year that will help guide you in finding a bottle with its appropriate maturity. Note that these are generalities and that some vintages are better than others.

• If your anniversary is 5 years or less, choose a New World wine, perhaps something from California, Chile or New Zealand. • If your anniversary is 6-15 years, choose a good quality (aka higher-priced) New World cabernet or perhaps a super premium pinot, or a second or third growth Bordeaux. • If your anniversary is 16-25 years, choose a first, second or third growth Bordeaux, vintage Port or a Blue Chip cabernet from the New World. • If your anniversary is 26-50 years, choose a first growth Bordeaux, Sauternes or vintage Port. • If your anniversary is more than 50 years, your best bet is a vintage Port or Sauternes.

2. Expect to pay big bucks for wines more than 10 years old. If you can't find something within your price range, consider searching for a more recent vintage that represents another fond memory.

3. Stay open to the type and origination of the bottle and you will be much happier with the result. This may mean that your favorite pinot is not an appropriate choice or that a sweet wine may be your best option. You can find a lot of older wines for sale, but it doesn't mean they still taste good after all these years.

4. The flavor profile on an older bottle is very different from a more recent vintage. Think Fig Newtons more than fresh berries. Be sure your audience for this special bottle will be happy with its unique taste.

5. Ask about the fill level of older bottles. A certain amount of loss is generally acceptable, but too much loss could be a sign of poor storage or leakage.

6. If you are having the special bottle shipped to you, let it rest. The vibrations and pressure changes during transport unsettle the sediment and jostle the otherwise peacefully resting fine wine. Opinions vary on exactly how long the rest period should be, but ideally you want to procure the bottle several weeks before you plan to serve it. Don't forget to store it at a constant 55-59 degrees.

7. Use a two-prong cork puller to open an older vintage, rather than a corkscrew. Aged corks are fragile and can crumble if you aren't delicate.

8. Be prepared to find sediment in the bottle. It is common to use a fine mesh wire filter when pouring the wine into the decanter to separate the sediment out.

9. Decanting can sometimes help "open up" older bottles. Aficionados differ in their opinions on if and how much you should decant, so let your taste buds guide you.

10. Beware of the gamble you are making. It is possible you may end up unhappy with your bottle, as perfectly cellared old bottles can still become corked or have aging issues unbeknownst to the seller or buyer. Wine is still food and is continuously evolving in the bottle - that is what makes it such a neat experience, as it is never the same as it was the day before.

Have fun and delight in trying a special, older vintage bottle with a history as long as the one you are celebrating.

Aabalat Fine & Rare Wines, based in Petaluma, California, has a large selection of rare and fine wines from Bordeaux, Burgundy, Italy, Portugal, and the US that is sure to impress even the most seasoned connoisseur. We strive to find the best wines, aged and stored properly for your drinking pleasure and investment potential. Visit http://www.aabalat.com/ for more information about our products and services.

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How to Choose the Right Wine for Dinner

How to Choose the Right Wine for Dinner

By Steve B Boston

While most wine connoisseurs agree when offering basic advice on choosing a wine at dinner, that a nice white wine complements white meats such as chicken and fish, and darker meats are best suited for red wines, wine selection also comes down to individual preference as different palates suit different tastes. However, wines do have distinct characteristics that determines which wine best complements various entrées.

Check out some of the following tips on wine selection and hopefully you will enhance your wine tasting experience.

Chicken and Seafood A Chardonnay's sweet to sour flavor is best paired with chicken, fish, oysters, and other seafood. Chenin Blanc is an appealing wine that also complements chicken and fish. The crisp acidic flavor of wines that pair nicely with fish often adds a hint of citrus to the entrée. Sauvignon Blanc, also known as Fume Blanc, also goes well with fish and pasta chicken dishes.

A savory smoked salmon entrée is best shared with a bottle of sparkling wine.

Meats Darker meats go best with darker wines in general. Holidays are usually special occasions when families break out a nice bottle of Chablis, a white-burgundy complementary wine that is best served with turkey.

For dishes including sausages and ham, consider serving the popular German wine, Gewurztraminer. A bottle of a medium-bodied Red Zinfandel pairs perfectly with red meats served at dinner, while a darker Pinot Noir wine pairs nicely with steak and fowl entrées.

If you're looking for a wine that's more versatile for a variety of meats, Shiraz or Syrah wine offer a nice balance for pork, duck, beef, ribs, tenderloin as well as chicken.

Pasta and Entrées If you're planning a pasta entrée for dinner, then consider complementing the meal with Merlot or Pinot Grigio.

White Zinfandel, an increasing popular wine, complements pasta dishes smothered in light sauces as well as other lighter dishes.

Oriental Entrées As a general rule, oriental dishes as well as white meats pair nicely with a bottle of Riesling. The fruity flavor of Gewurztraminer also complements oriental dishes, especially Asian prepared dishes. Mexican-themed meals as well as other exotic and spicy foods blend well with a bottle of Rose or Shiraz. The same can be said of grilled vegetables and fish dishes.

If you're a fan of fast food-themed entrées such as hamburgers or pizza (and other red sauce spicy foods) a bottle of Red Zinfandel will go down nicely here.

Desserts You can't go wrong pairing any dessert dish with a Port wine, Madeira, or Rieslings, and of course, Merlot is the perfect wine to drink with chocolate.

Writing as the head wine selector at GraysOnline, my role is to source & test the wines on offer. We've done our best to help you find the right bottle of wine, whether you're into champagne, red wine or white wine, we'll have something to suit your budget.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Steve_B_Boston http://EzineArticles.com/?How-to-Choose-the-Right-Wine-for-Dinner&id=6123692

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Wine Tips - Some helpful and valuable ways to enjoy Fine Wine - Drinks

Author: KurttNillsen

You have to have in no way imagined within your wildest dreams that drinking wine can enhance your well being? Wine is made from the fermentation of grapes and has been utilized for ages as an accompaniment to food and even as a cooking ingredient in several recipes.

People today in several parts of the world use wine as a compulsory drink along with lunch and dinner. Numerous researches on wine were going on for years and many remarkable medicinal properties of wine have been discovered. That is why wine is considered a medium to beneficial health along with a terrific approach to enjoy life.

You are able to now purchase wines at various on the internet wine stores for instance grandwinecellar.com etc that give a few of the most exquisite wines from all over the world. Various attractive provides on discount wines are also available and you are able to get a wine of your option at quite affordable rates. Wine is also a part of most occasions and celebrations with the choice of employing red wine or white wine to match the various food items. It can be also an incredibly well-liked gift item that could be given on special occasions to honor an individual special.

The well being benefits of wine are innumerable. Those with poor digestion can enhance their digestive problem by consuming moderate amounts of wine every day. Apart from sugar wine contains several necessary minerals and vitamins that are important to maintain the body in very good shape. Wine supplies calories therefore you'll be able to feel energetic immediately after drinking a glass of wine.

Red wine has a lot of noteworthy positive aspects like it reduces the risk of heart attacks, and even prevents blood from clotting. It is an identified truth by now that red wine contains anti-oxidants that assist the body to fight off free-radicals which harm the body cell. Anti-oxidants also avoid cancer and heart attacks. Red wine may also fight off herpes and lessen coughs and colds. White wine is equally beneficial and lowers cholesterol levels and also keeps the body healthy and warm. Specially folks staying in cold countries benefit immensely from drinking wine.

These days as a result of a variety of on the internet gift sites you are able to purchase renowned brands such as Dom Perignon, Brut Imperial etc. Moreover you are able to acquire wine by the case and avail appealing case deal provides which will provide you with the fantastic chance of finding a 50% discount on selected case deals. On the web wine shops have stock of distinct flavors of wines, champagnes etc that may leave you speechless. So drink your method to very good wellness and take pleasure in a glass of wine everyday.

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About the Author

Want more tips on making homemade wine? Know more information on how to store wine properly before you buy wine gifts.

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Serving Wine With Cheesecake

Serving Wine With Cheesecake

By Jay Wesley

You've ordered your cheesecake online, the table is set and decorated, and now you're ready to entertain!

But wait! What wine do you serve with your delicious dessert?

That depends on the flavor of your cheesecake. You want a light, dessert wine, but finding one that is not too sweet is tricky.

For chocolate, marbled, or turtle cheesecake, you might want to consider a zinfandel, a muscat, or a riesling.

For raspberry, strawberry, blueberry or other fruit flavors, a nice ice wine or a muscat would work well.

For a plain New York style cheesecake, try a light pink wine or a sweet white Bordeaux. If it's a really festive event, Champagne is complimentary to your cake as well.

In either case, serve the cheesecake and wine accompanied by fresh fruit and nuts and avoid any other really sweet desserts, which will not go well with the lighter wines.

Avoid heavy red wines altogether, as they are too powerful to mix well with the cheesecake, which needs a lighter touch.

Some specific brand names you might want to try are Hogue Cellar Late Harvest White Reisling, Inniskillin Vidal Ice Wine, and Churchill's 10 Year Tawny Port.

Before you serve your guests, you may want to experiment (responsibly) with several of the suggested wines, and see which taste best with your cheesecake. Or order a sampler of gourmet cheesecakes, and offer several wines so that your guests may discover their own favorite combinations. If you are serving a full meal before the dessert,some hosts may want to serve wine with the meal, and leave it up to the guests whether to have a glass along with the dessert. Be sure to provide coffee for those who prefer not to indulge.

Now you're ready to slice the cheesecake, set out the wine glasses and coffee cups, and enjoy yourself with your guests! Just remember to keep the wine light and the other dishes not too sweet, and bon apetit!

Jay Wesley write mostly about food, parties and entertaining. For more articles and recipes or to order gourmet goodies such as cheesecake, brownies, pies, and even flowers, go to Cheesecake.com at http://www.cheesecake.com

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Guide To Favorite Red And White Wines

Author: Haywrite

Just for your information there are 11 red wines and 9 white wines that are considered all time favorites although there are many other wonderful reds and whites. This guide will at least make you comfortable to know what the majority of people like. Remember, you are not limited to this list — always drink a wine because you love it not because someone else does!



In fact, two of my favorite red wines (Primativo (pree-mih-TEE-voe) and Barolo (ba-ROHL-oh or bar-ROW-lo) are not even on this list and one of my favorite whites (Piesporter (pees-PORT-ehr) aren't listed as popular with others but they sure are in our household.



The Top 11 Most Favorite Red Wines Are:

Amarone (pronounced am-AH-roh-nee or ah-Ma-ROW-Nay — both are acceptable)

Cabernet Franc (pronounced kab-er-NAY FRAHN)

Cabernet Sauvignon (pronounced kab-er-NAY SO-vin-yon)

Chianti (pronounced kee-AHN-tee)

Pinot Noir (pronounced PEA-no NWAHR)

Malbec (pronounced MALL-beck)

Merlot (pronounced mer-LOW or MARE-low)

Sangiovese (pronounced san-geeo-VAY-Seh)

Shiraz / Syrah (pronounced shur-AZZ see-RAH also SHEER-oz/Sih-RAH ) The same grape but it is called Syrah in the US, Canada and Europe. Shiraz in Australia

Valpolicella (pronounced vahl-pole-Eh-CHEL-lah)

Zinfandel (pronounced ZIN-fan-dell also zin-fan-DELL)





The Top 9 Most Favorite White Wines Are:

Chardonnay (pronounced shar-duh-NAY)

Chenin Blanc (pronounced SHAY-Non-Blon)

Gewurztraminer (pronounced geh-VERTS-trah-mean-er)

Pinot Blanc (pronounced peE-no BLAHN)

Pinot Gris/Pinot Grigio (pronounced peE-no GREE and PEE-no-GREEZ-gee-oh)

Riesling (pronounced REEZ-ling)

Sauvignon Blanc (pronounced (SO-vin-yon Blahn)

Sémillon (pronounced say-me-YOHN)

Viognier (pronounced vee-oh-NYAY)



Remember, when you practice pronouncing these words the emphasis is on the capitalized part of the word and some of the words are from foreign languages so they may have a different sound at the end than the spelling would suggest. There is some variety in pronunciation guides so I have tried to simplify the pronunciation to make it easy to understand and to help develop your confidence by pronouncing the wine name correctly.



When you can say, Gewürztraminer (geh-VERTS-trah-mean-er) without getting tongue-tied — you'll feel like the king or queen of the wine world — especially when you can ask for the sommelier (so-mell-yay) at a restaurant and flawlessly order a bottle to your table!!!



This list is also an excellent guide for buying the most popular wine kits to make wine at home for a fraction of the cost you normally pay at the wine shop or liquor store. You will discover that many of these wine kits have won outstanding awards for their excellent appearance and superb taste. Expand your experiences and try wine kit making!



For more wine-related and wine-kit-related information, check out our blog at Wine Kit Making



Also, for a video preview of the book, "Everything You Need To Know About Wine Kit Making," Click Here

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Occupation: Author, Publisher, Consultant

Hayden Alexander has authored and co-authored a number of best sellers, including his latest book, "Everything You Need To Know About Wine Kit Making."

He loves photography, dogs, and Macintosh Computers. For more wine-related and wine-kit-related articles, go to https://www.winekitmaking.com

https://www.winekitmaking.com

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Top 3 Food and Wine Honeymoon Destinations

Top 3 Food and Wine Honeymoon Destinations

Author: Meghan Burton

Honeymoons are all about relaxation, and what better way to relax than enjoying some of the world's best food and wine in a few gorgeous locations around the globe? If your passion is a fantastic meal out, followed by the perfect local wine, then you'll love these three destinations, and you might well find yourself choosing them when the time comes for you to go on honeymoon.

1. Australia – Also a great honeymoon destination for a wide variety of other reasons, Australia is a great place to go for foodies. Not only will you get to taste some of the strangest things available, like kangaroo and snake meat, you'll have a fantastic selection of great local wines. Australia is the fourth largest wine producer in the world and some of the wines they're shipping are truly fantastic. Since the introduction of wine grapes to Australia in the 1820s these wines have staked their place in some of the world's top restaurants and gained global renown. Where better to enjoy them than at the source, where they'll be cheaper than anywhere else?

2. New Zealand – Australia's kiwi neighbour is a surprisingly choice destination for your Food and Wine honeymoon. If possible, New Zealand's wine regions are even more renowned than Australia's, and you'll be able to visit many of the wineries where the magic happens. Not much is better for a wine connoisseur than a trip through a vineyard and a cool glass of wine at the end. Plus, New Zealand's capital, Wellington, is a great "foodie" destination, with more cafes per mile than even New York City. If you choose to head on a gourmet walking tour, you may even find yourself roasting your own coffee beans for your own hot coffee. You'll also have the opportunity to chat with baristas and chefs while sampling some of the city's best food. New Zealand itself is a wonderful destination for a honeymoon; there is so much to do and the land itself is absolutely gorgeous. You may be familiar with the scenery from a number of films, most notably The Lord of the Rings trilogy, which should give you a good idea of the splendour of the country.

3. South Africa – Again appearing primarily on the wine scene, South Africa has also become a great place to enjoy a good meal and the ideal paired wine. The best places for vineyards are Franschoek and Stellenbosch, where you'll find not only wonderful wine but amazing restaurants designed to take complete advantage of the diversity of said wines. You'll also find tiny gourmet B&Bs scattered throughout the region with delicious, freshly made local food available. Even the safari lodges can have incredible food – often it's local and may be a bit exotic for you, but it's certainly not what you'll experience at home. The best reason for choosing South Africa is obviously that you can do so much else. A three day stop to indulge in food & wine can easily be supplemented by a week in Mauritius or the Maldives and a few days on safari as well. You can do everything, which is unquestionably one of the best aspects of honeymooning in Africa.

So, if your passions run to food and wine as well as each other, check out these three destinations for the perfect honeymoon.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/destinations-articles/top-3-food-and-wine-honeymoon-destinations-3670675.html

About the Author

Meghan Burton recommends The Turquoise Holiday Company for luxury honeymoons and holidays.

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Hosting a Wine Tasting Party

Hosting A Wine Tasting Party

Author: Leah Ramella

What better way to celebrate the upcoming holiday season and provide your friends with an evening of fun and interesting entertainment than a wine tasting party? A wine tasting party can also be surprisingly affordable given the variety of excellent bargain wines on the market. So pop open some bottles with friends and enjoy a fun, relaxed and entertaining night of wine tasting. Here are a few tips to help you set up the perfect wine tasting gathering in your home:



Select the “theme” of the tasting party – There are a number of wine tasting themes you can follow for your party. For a vertical tasting, select wines from one varietal and one producer that you enjoy, but from various vintages (say Trefethen Chardonnay from 2002, 2004, and 2006). If you would like to host a horizontal tasting, choose a varietal (such as Cabernet Sauvignon) and a vintage year (say 2006). Then select wines by producers from around the world made that varietal and in that year. This is always fun and often results in interesting debates about the wines, particularly when comparing Old World, European wines to some of the New World wines from places like Australia and Chile. Two other great wine tasting party themes are a wine and cheese party or a wine and chocolate party. If you have a great local cheese store or a delicious chocolate shop nearby, ask them to help you put together a selected tray to pair with your wines. A final option is to have a blind tasting of a mix of red and white wines at various price points, and then determine a crowd favorite – the results are often surprising in that it’s not always the priciest wine that wins!



Look for online wine retailers with free shipping – No need to schlep two cases of wine home from the liquor store. There are some great online wine retailers, like MyWinesDirect.com, that sell excellent, affordable wine packs of six and twelve wines, and also offer free shipping. This is an ideal way to shop for your wines from the convenience of your home. As well, the online descriptions about each wine and various customer reviews are always helpful when selecting the wines for your gathering.



Keep decorations simple – You want your guests to focus on the wines, not the fragrant vase of flowers or the scented candles, both of which can distract from tasting the wines. Opt for simple decorations, like a bowl of fruit or grapes, and keep tables and counter spaces open for people to write their wine notes.



Offer simple, palate-cleansing foods and water – Provide crackers and French bread for people to enjoy in between tasting each wine. An elegant tray of cheese and grapes is always a welcome option and often adds to the guests’ enjoyment of the wines. If you are serving dinner, leave the heavier foods until after the wine tasting. Be sure to have a few pitchers of water set on the various tables for people to drink and to clean their glasses in between each wine.



Provide some background on each wine and prepare tasting note cards – Guests will love that you took the extra effort to provide details on each wine and prepare tasting note cards. When describing the wine, include information like geographical origin, varietal, vintage and even where it can be purchased online. On the tasting note cards, categories to fill in should include the wine name, color/intensity, smell/nose, taste, body, and a “Did you like it?” space.



A few closing words of advice. Don’t try to sample more than six different wines in one evening. If you are going to a wine tasting party, offer to bring a wine tasting gift to the host of some selected wines that you think would be great to sample with friends, or ask if you can bring some bread and cheese as refreshments. Finally, when thinking about which wines to taste, consider the time of year. Heavy Cabernets are not as in enjoyable during the humid summer months as they are during winter.



For more advice on hosting a wine tasting party and wine tasting gift ideas, visit MyWinesDirect.com.

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