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November 2, 2007

An Overview of Wine - The Drink of Gods

Filed under: Food-and-Drink, Wine-Spirits — Xavier Modini @ 7:46 pm

Wine has been called the drink of the gods. This may be debatable, but it has definitely been the drink of the ages. Here is an overview of wine you can sip on.

An Overview of Wine ? The Drink of Gods

Wine is one of the oldest drinks known to mankind. Although historians may not be entirely sure that this is how the fermentation of wine started, an overview of the history of wine is full of interesting tidbits.

Made of fermented grape juice, wine is an alcoholic beverage that is both made and drunk in many parts of the world. The history of wine starts over 5000 years ago. It was said to have been discovered when grapes were left for too long in amphorae or earthenware jugs. These grapes somehow became tainted with wild yeast, which caused the grapes to ferment. Some courageous individual took a drink and realized the fermentation process had produced something that would be come known as wine.

There are several different basic types of wine. The most basic breakdown is red wine and white wine. When the grapes that make these varieties of wine are combined, a rose or blush wine can be created. If the wine is allowed to ferment in a way that produces carbon dioxide bubbles, it becomes a sparkling wine. If the sparkling wine comes from a particular region in France called Champagne, it is known as Champagne. There are also fortified wines ? these wines are also fermented from grapes, but additional amounts of alcohol from other sources are added to the wine to raise its alcohol content. An example of a fortified wine is brandy.

Making wine is not an easy process ? the fermentation of a really good wine may take years or even decades to complete. The type of oak barrel that wine is typically fermented in is also the result of a difficult process. Out of the 400 species of oak that grow on Earth, only 20 species are used in oak barrels for winemaking. Of those 20 species, only 5 percent of the wood taken from these trees is deemed good enough to be made into wine barrels.

The amount of grapes needed to produce quality wine is another of the many mind boggling wine tidbits known. Generally, it takes four clusters or 300 grapes to produce just one bottle of wine. Since there are only about 40 clusters of grapes produced on a grapevine per year, this means that each vine is only capable of making 10 bottles of wine. Given this fact, it is pretty amazing that wine is as cheap as we find it.

As you can see, wine is a not a simple fermentation process. The next time you drink a glass of your favorite chardonnay, think about the difficult journey that it made from grape to bottle.

Xavier Moldini is with WineriesforYou.com - a directory of wineries.

Brew Your Own Cheap Wine

Filed under: Food-and-Drink, Wine-Spirits — Thomas Barrett @ 2:17 am

Preface: I?ve never done this before, and i?m totally inexperienced about brewing. I did a little bit of research online and found this was the easiest and cheapest way to brew wine, which seems like the easiest of all alcoholic drinks to make. Follow these directions at your own risk

Like the title says, this method of brewing is not expensive (cost me roughly $12. This will make me 2-3 gallons of wine. maybe more), but the returns aren?t for connoisseurs. This is for cheap-asses, college kids, and 15 yr olds who can?t buy anything themselves. If you do it right, it?s enjoyable, cheap, easy to do, and most importantly, alcoholic. Plus, it only takes a maximum of 2 weeks to fully ferment!!!

Step 1:
Buy ingredients. Get the cheap stuff. It doesn?t matter what quality it is because it?s hobo-wine.
I made a gallon jug of this. The recipe calls for:

2 cans of juice concentrate (room temp) I chose welch?s concorde grape. You should be able to use any type of concentrate like strawberry, kiwi-whatever etc. Two juice concentrates makes 1 gallon.

  • 2-3 cups of sugar
  • water
  • water container (I used a water jug that was 60 cents at the store, plus I got to use the water)
  • Active Dry yeast
  • bleach
  • funnel
  • rubber band
  • balloon

Step 2:
Sterilize everything you?re going to use to keep the fermenting wine in. You don?t want unwanted bacteria growing in your wine, it ruins it. Bleach out your funnel and your jug. Rinse well, and wash with dish soap. Air dry.

Step 3:
Go ahead and bring your water to a near boil. What I did was let the water boil just for a bit to kill anything in it (just in case), and then I took it off the heat and let it cool. I heated mine in separate pots because I didn?t have any large enough to hold it all.

Step 4:

While you?re waiting for your water to heat, go ahead and add your room temperature juice concentrate to the clean, dry jug. Use the funnel if you need it.

Step 5:
As the hot water cools, dissolve 2-3 cups of sugar in the water. Most recipies I?ve read say 2 is fine, but i added 3 so the yeast had enough nutrients and so that the wine would be sweeter. Stir while pouring.

Step 6:
Activate the yeast. Follow the instructions on the back of the packet. For me, I added 1 teaspoon of sugar into a separate bowl along with 1/4 cup of water at 100-110 degrees Farenheit. Add the yeast to the concoction and stir briefly. Let sit for 10 minutes. The yeast should be very frothy now.

Step 7:
Pour the dissolved sugar-water into the jug that?s holding the juice concentrate. Your juice/sugarwater might be warm. Cool it off a little by placing the jug in the sink and fill the sink with cool water. When you introduce your yeast to their syrupy mix, it can?t be too hot or it will kill the yeast and ruin your project. I waited until the jug was just warm to the touch. 80-90 degrees i estimate.

Step 8:

When the mix is cooled enough, add the yeast to the mix.

Step 9:
Cap the jug containing your sugar water, juice concentrate, and yeast and shake violently. Try not to spill. Do it enough just to mix everything up.

Step 10:
Remove the cap, place a balloon over the top to allow for expansion. The yeasties produce CO2, and it?s got to go somewhere. You cannot introduce air to the mix or it will ruin it/make vinegar. Bad bad bad! Some people use valves, some make tubing that runs from the jug to a glass of water so air cannot get in, but it allows the CO2 to escape. I use a balloon.
Note: when using a balloon, make sure it doesn?t over inflate and pop. Again, this will ruin your batch.
If you want you can put a rubber band over the ballon to further secure it. If you really want to i suppose you can tape it as well. I didn?t.

Step 11:
Keep your jug in a relatively warm place (room temp). The yeast can handle 60 degrees, but i wouldn?t want to chance it. Also, i wouldn?t expose it to direct sunlight.

There it is! I just brewed it up tonight, now I just wait 10-14 days and then i can?

Step 12:
ENJOY!

When you?re done fermenting, you can siphon the good stuff out while leaving the clumpy yeast in the jug. To repeat, just make sure to sterilize again and you?re good to go.

Again, i?m way not a pro at this. I just thought some of you might want to try this with me and we can help eachother along. If you know what you?re doing, post in here and give advice. I?d love to hear it.

Pictures and conversations can be found here: www.leftofme.com/how-to-brew-cheap-wine

www.leftofme.com for the best of Thai Girls

October 30, 2007

Why You Should Consider Giving the Gift of Wine

Filed under: Food-and-Drink, Wine-Spirits — Gregg Hall @ 7:51 am

As the next special occasion or holiday approaches why not give the gift of wine? Wine can make an excellent gift any time of the year. It is inexpensive yet has a sophistication and appeal which will be well received by the recipient. There are many ways to present wine as a gift and plenty of accessories that can be intertwined with your gift.

A unique way to let that special someone knows you care is to personalize the bottle of wine. You can custom design labels, names and even messages to be printed on the wine bottle that will be a cherished gift for years to come. Even if your loved one is not a wine drinker the personal message label will make an excellent decoration and conversation piece in any home. With a bit of creativity in your message and design the bottle alone will be cherished.

A great accessory to give with your bottle of wine is a corkscrew. There are elaborate designs available that will tell the person you give it to that you put a lot of thought and care into choosing their gift.

For someone who is a bit of a wine connoisseur, there is the pocket vineyard. This glossary of wines includes vintage wine charts, and suggestions and ideas for pairing wine with food. It is a small handheld electronic device easily fitting in a pocket or purse. For the wine lover in your life it would be an unexpected and unique treat.

Many local stores carry fine wines that make excellent gifts. You could have a pair of wine glasses etched with a special message and give it along with the bottle of wine. Even etching the names of your friends on their glasses would be a great gift for the couple you know who has everything.

Wine is also a great gift for an employee to show you appreciate the time and effort they put into their work. A small basket of cheeses and chocolates will pair nicely with the gift.

There are many places where you can get ideas on the proper wine to buy, from local stores to specialty shops. Even online there are plenty of sites where the gift of fine wine can be purchased. You can look online to find the best wine for a certain meal and put the ingredients with a recipe card in a basket to accompany the gift of wine. It is another unique way to present your gift.

As the next holiday nears don’t forget that special person in your life, impress them with a gift of wine. With so many ways to give a simple bottle of wine you can find the one that fits your style of giving best.

Gregg Hall is an author living in Navarre Florida. Find more about this as well as Stemware and Dinnerware at http://www.dinnerwareandstemware.com

How To Easily Learn And Enjoy The Art Of Wine Tasting

Filed under: Food-and-Drink, Wine-Spirits — Gregg Hall @ 7:43 am

The last time you had a glass of wine did you take the time to taste it, savor the aroma, and even look at the color. Maybe not, but if you learn to taste wine properly you may find that you had never really experienced a glass of wine before.

When you are given a glass of wine, the first thing you should do is look. The color of the wine can tell you a few secrets. In red wines the color lightens as it ages therefore the lighter color the better the taste. For white wines, the color will darken with age and the older the white wine gets the fewer flavors remains.

After you have looked and examined the color the next step is to swirl the wine. Swirling is why wine testers pour only a couple of ounces in a glass. You gently swirl the wine around in the glass. The point of this is to aerate the wine, or let oxygen into the wine. The flavors and aroma will become stronger when you do this.

The next step is to put your nose as close to the wine as possible and sniff. The first sniff is to smell for anything bad, or if the wine is past its prime. If you detect any sour or vinegar smell it is bad and then returns it for a fresh bottle. After you have found the first sniff okay swirl the wine slightly and take a long deep smell. You can now close your eyes and try to decipher the smells. Do you smell berry, oak, rose? With a little practice you will be able to soon decipher the smells and tell what kind of wine you have.

The next step is to sip. This may sound easy but be sure to take your time. Take a slow sip but don’t swallow yet! Slowly swish the wine around your mouth so all four taste buds on you tongue get a taste. Is it sweet, bitter, fruity? As you swallow part your lips and take a small breath in through your mouth. This allows you to taste what you smell! Is it dry or wet, sweet? As you swallow wait for the aftertaste. The longer the aftertaste the better the wine, is the aftertaste smooth and long lasting?

At last stop and savor! Think about the flavor, was it fruity, woodsy, or sweet. Did the flavor linger or go away quickly? Was the smelly smooth or dry? Was the wine worth the money you paid for it?

Now that you can taste wine properly there is only one more thing to know. Wine taste is about a matter of opinion. How do you know if the wine was good or bad?

If you liked it then its good, if you didn’t it’s bad! Enjoy you’re new talent!

Gregg Hall is an author living in Navarre Florida. Find more about this as well as Stemware and Dinnerware at http://www.dinnerwareandstemware.com

October 29, 2007

Why You Should Consider Quality Custom Wine Gift Baskets For Your Gift Giving

Filed under: Food-and-Drink, Wine-Spirits — Gregg Hall @ 5:22 am

When you are looking for a great gift to give to a business associate or client, a wine basket may be the answer. Wine has been becoming more popular in recent years. Once an extravagant item only the wealthy could enjoy, wine has steadily became more affordable. Wines available today are flavorful and inexpensive. A new gift idea sprouting from the renewed interest in wine are wine gift baskets.

Wine gift baskets can be given for a variety of occasions. Business associates are finding the wine gift baskets make wonderful gifts for bosses, employees and coworkers.

For welcoming new clients or showing appreciation to current ones, business owners see the value of a great gift. Wine gift baskets make nice thank you gifts for receptionists, showing your appreciation with wine is neither taboo nor unusual.

New neighbors may enjoy being welcomed into the neighborhood with a wine basket. Friends and families alike will enjoy the simplicity of such a great gift.

There are many places to purchase wine gift baskets. Online there are many stores that will deliver them right to the door of you intended recipient. Some of the sites offer more choices than others. At many you can set a price and they will assemble a wine gift basket to fit your budget. Others will allow you to pick and choose the wines you wish to put in the basket.

If you would like, you can assemble your own basket at a fraction of the price charged by retailers. It is really quite simple. To assemble your wine gift basket you need to first determine the recipient of the gift and their tastes and style. Find a basket you find suitable that will hold a few bottles of wine leaving a bit of extra room.

Next pick out two or three bottles of wine and add to the basket. You can also add some cheese or chocolates, or anything you feel may go with the wine. Finally add a ribbon or flowers to the handle and don’t forget the card. Now watch the smile your gift puts on the face of the recipient when you deliver the wine gift basket.

There are many occasions to give a gift of a wine basket. They are simple yet elegant and a great way to show you care. Look online or in specialty stores for the perfect wine gift basket to give, or make one yourself. There are a variety of great online stores that you can shop from. Do your research before hand so you can be an informed consumer while shopping for your specialty wine gift basket.

Gregg Hall is an author living in Navarre Florida. Find more about this as well as Delicious Gourmet Gifts at http://www.deliciousgourmetgifts.com

October 17, 2007

Finest Wine Racks From The Little Guys

Filed under: Food-and-Drink, Wine-Spirits — Ken Finnigan @ 3:15 am

It is easy to see why many people feel that when it comes to shopping for a wine rack, there is not going to be much choice in terms of finding really unique yet functional pieces. Let?s face it, for many of us a wine rack has always been seen as just something to store our bottles, however, today many people are looking for those interesting pieces that will always be a conversation starter while being functional at the same time. You might be able to find such pieces from larger stores or manufacturers, but when looking to buy a wine rack that none of your friends will have, the best place to look is with the independent artists.

Mr. Vinerack also known as Larry Stern, is a builder of custom wrought iron vine racks (that is correct, ?vine rack? not wine rack) out of New Jersey. The former owner of a local liquor store, in 1989 Larry came up with the idea of creating his masterpieces after asking local customers why they were not fond of the commercial wrought iron wine racks that he gave away as promotions. Most people replied that they were unattractive and plain, or that they were easy to tip over.

Having no previous experience in welding, Larry looked to his friends for help and knowledge. After grasping the art of blind welding, Larry began to create the works of art he makes today. Decorative and functional, his vine racks are a work of art and give the illusion of ?picking your wine bottle right from the vine.? The majority of his racks are wall mounted, but he does have some floor standing, suspended and counter top creations as well. He takes pride in offering unique pieces to his customers that are functional and beautiful.

Delia is a furniture producer based out of Oregon. With an emphasis on hand made steel furniture and accessories, Delia provides manufacturing, marketing and distribution services to a number of artists. This allows the artists to do what they do best, create.

The wine racks from Delia are anything but ordinary. With an array of styles ranging from counter top to floor standing, single bottle holders to wine consoles, there is a wine rack for anyone who is looking for something functional and unique at the same time. Take for example their ?Wine Spine.? A modern piece, this rack curves gently forming a vertebrae shape while holding 13 bottles of your favorite wine. I have never seen a wine rack with this style before, and while to some thinking about a wine rack that resembles a spine might be a bit nauseating, this wine rack is well crafted and maintains its elegance while being distinctive and versatile at the same time.

To some, being different means being eccentric. Delia know that not everyone is interested in the same style, thus the Wine Bug and Bugus Erectus were born. Quirky, both the Wine Bug and Bugus Erectus are wine bottle holders crafted to resemble insects. Both are very charming and have their own little personalities, which makes them functional and ornamental at the same time.

While it might be possible to get these sorts of wine racks from larger commercial manufacturers, it is unlikely that commercial products are going to be made with the same dedication and passion as those hand crafted by an artist.

Finest Wine Racks is a major supplier of a variety of wine racks including wood wine racks, wrought iron wine racks, counter top wine racks, floor standing wine racks, hanging wine racks, and wine rack kits. Mr. Vinerack and Delia wine racks are carried by Finest Wine Racks

Ken Finnigan - CEO
Finest Wine Racks

August 31, 2007

Wine During Prohibition

Filed under: Food-and-Drink, Wine-Spirits — Jennifer Jordan @ 6:23 pm

I turned 21 in 1999, decades after the Roaring Twenties. Because of this, I can honestly say that I don?t know what Prohibition feels like. I can only compare it to an empty keg at a raging party or that feeling I got one night of high school when I watched a disgruntled bouncer cut up my beloved fake ID. I, like most of us, became of age in an era when wine was freely flowing, beer was always on tap, and every teenager counted the days until their 21st birthday.

Those who were born at the beginning of the 19th Century, however, weren?t so lucky. In an era marked by pandemic flu and a world war, an era where drinking was not only used for pleasure but also used as a much needed escape from reality, Prohibition entered the picture.

Like an unwelcome patron who pulls up a stool at the local bar, saloon owners and alcohol lovers in America took one look at Prohibition and said, ?We don?t want any.? But, it wasn?t the common man?s decision and, as beer fell to tears, whiskey winced, and cases of Merlot wined, Prohibition began on January 16th, 1920 when the 18th Amendment took effect, illegalizing the production, transportation, and sale of alcohol.

There were red flags against Prohibition from the start ? anything the KKK fervently advocates is probably not the best idea ? and Prohibition, in the end, did little more than increase alcohol consumption and pave the way for organized crime. Fourteen years later, in December of 1933, Prohibition was repealed by the 21st Amendment, leaving many Americans to raise their glasses to lawmakers for the first time in over a decade.

The Volstead Act
During Prohibition, wine was treated a little differently than other types of alcohol, it was as if a bottle of Cabernet slipped the government a twenty and winked in a way that meant, ?shh?keep a cork on it.? This was due to the Volstead Act. Passed in the year before Prohibition began, it gave federal agents the ability to investigate and prosecute anyone caught in violation of Prohibition?s liquor laws. However, wines used for sacramental purposes were exempt under this act, allowing wine to slip through the cracks where beer was too thick to seep.

Because of this act, limited amounts of wine were able to be made both at home and in wineries. Yet, those made in wineries were only available for purchase through warehouses owned and monitored by the government. Wine was also only allowed to be purchased for use in religious ceremonies, particularly mass. However, these rules didn?t keep wine drinkers from only using wine for legal purposes: a conceptual ?wine opener?, the Volstead Act provided a window of opportunity; one drinkers were quick to go through.

A study performed in 1925, during the heart of Prohibition, found that demand for sacramental wine increased by 800,000 gallons in a two year period. Perhaps this demand was being legitimately made by church goers ? Prohibition brought out a religious revival of its own ? but it?s far more likely that people were purchasing sacramental wine for other uses. Just like the old saying there are no Atheists in a foxhole, there are no Atheists in Prohibition when religious wines are legal.

The Wineries
Even though Prohibition increased the consumption of wine by nearly 100 percent ? as illegalizing anything will often do - many wineries were forced to close their doors. For those who didn?t make sacramental wines, it was hard to get around the law and the grapes of wrath set in like no other time in history. Because of this, prohibition drastically changed the grape industry, placing grapes everywhere out of a job. The wineries that survived this era did so in part by transforming their grapes from wine-making grapes to grapes that served non-alcoholic purposes, such as Concord grapes used to make raisins, grape juice, and jam.

The grape industry of California, in particular, was saved by the Volstead Act, which allowed fermented fruit juices to be produced at home, giving wineries a reason to stay open. While this was intended to save the vinegar industry for American farmers, it also gave California wineries a way to break Prohibition rules. Those manning the wineries began producing a grape jelly called ?Vine-go,? a jelly that, with the addition of water, would ferment into strong wine in roughly two months.

The Wine Itself
As Prohibition swept the nation, and people everywhere began making beer, whiskey, and wine in their houses, the quality of liquor greatly suffered. Novices of brewing and mixing suddenly were forced into expert status. While some people made liquor that was so strong it left people permanently blind or paralyzed, wine wasn?t quite as dangerous.

While wine didn?t take away a person?s ability to walk or ability to see, it did take away some people?s ability to truly appreciate fine wine. This was because, during this era, fine wine wasn?t so fine after all.

Having built an elegant reputation that went back to Biblical times, Prohibition made wine a little less sophisticated and a little more spontaneous. While previously produced by people renown for viniculture knowledge, wine during Prohibition was often made by people who knew nothing about wine, other than that they wanted to drink it. This, naturally, resulted in wines of inferior taste: it wasn?t the taste, after all, that many homemade wine makers were pursuing.

As Prohibition drew to a close, wineries that had stockpiled wine over the previous fourteen years were able to quench the thirst of some of the parched nation. However, since so many wineries had closed down and others had converted from wine-making grapes to other types of grapes, the wine industry took years to rebound. During this time of recovery, wines were continually made with less quality, hindering people from planting more vineyards.

For a while after Prohibition, it looked like the wine industry was on its way down the drain. But, as wineries began transforming back to growers of wine-making grapes, the quality of wine was eventually restored. Within a few years, the wine industry was on the upslope, and Americans were savoring each and every glass, probably now more than ever.

Jennifer Jordan is the senior editor at http://www.savoreachglass.com. With a vast knowledge of wine etiquette, she writes articles on everything from how to hold a glass of wine to how to hold your hair back after too many glasses. Ultimately, she writes her articles with the intention that readers will remember wine is fun and each glass of anything fun should always be savored.

July 30, 2007

Beat The Summer Heat With A Delicious Sancerre by Domaine Girard

Filed under: Food-and-Drink, Wine-Spirits — David Gettenberg @ 5:58 pm

If the heat-wave plaguing the country right now is getting to you, we have the perfect wine to quench your palate. We can?t think of a more perfect, quaffable wine to beat the heat than a Sancerre. Sauvignon Blanc, the white grape varietal used to make Sancerres, reveals fresh and inviting aromas of citrus fruits laced with floral and mineral notes.

La Garenne from Domaine Girard is one of our favorite Sancerres and is exceptionally crisp and refreshing. This delicious wine is bright and reveals flinty-stone notes as well as subtle hints of lime. The grapes come from the ?La Garenne? vineyard located on a steep slope with very rocky limestone soil; the nature of this region?s soil enhances the flinty characteristics as well as mineral and green notes typical of many French Sauvignon Blancs.

The 2004 vintage received 90 points from the Wine Spectator and while the 2005 vintage has not yet been rated, we think the wine is another hit from Domaine Girard. We recommend pairing this wine with seafood, cheese, or simply as a refreshing white wine to sip on a hot summer day.

Visit us at http://www.englewoodwinemerchants.com/ to view our selection of fine wines, or call us at 201-568-8820.

Englewood Wine Merchants is a fine wine and spirits retailer located in Englewood, New Jersey. We ship within the United States.

July 25, 2007

The Basic Wine Essentials

Filed under: Food-and-Drink, Wine-Spirits — Jennie Wills @ 8:03 pm

Whether you are serving it to your guests while entertaining, using it to create luscious dishes, or simply enjoying its’ company, whatever the occasion, this libation reigns the kingdom of fine indulgence and has been doing so for centuries. The conception of wine has been dated as far back as 8000-4000BC in Mesopotamia. Having thousands of years to further perfect the wine making process, this sexy beverage is a palate pleaser like no other providing a continuous adventure for pleasure seekers in this arena where no bottle is quite like the other. Each and every wine has its’ tale to tell, so indulge and listen carefully, for this libation is quite capable of taking you to places you have most likely never been before!

Wine is an enormous subject that is constantly evolving which can often lead to intimidation. Where do you begin? The important thing is that you do! The enormity of wine is not justification for not trying any, but it is reason to be shy about it. So let’s get down to the basics and get you on your way to a life happily filled with wine!

Creation

Wine is created through the fermentation process of crushed grapes. Grapes are pressed to release their juices which are combined with yeast to initiate the fermentation process. This process converts sugar into alcohol and concludes once the alcohol reaches such a level as to kill the remaining yeast. This yeast is naturally occurring in the skin of grapes but is rarely used in today’s wine making process as isolated yeast strains now exist that can not only act as a fermentation catalyst but contribute a unique style to the wine as well.

What’s in a name?

Every wine is derived from either a single grape or from several. These grapes are also referred to as ‘varietals’. Each varietal has a unique name which in turn represents certain characteristics. A wine characteristic refers to anything that reflects a resemblance to a scent, taste, or flavor and also includes mouth feel such as the weight of the wine when on the palate. Let’s use the chardonnay grape as an example. Chardonnay classically presents characteristics of citrus, pear, and pineapple to fig, honey, vanilla and butter. This wine can also be characterized as being full and rich, or simple and crisp. This variance in characteristics is what makes wine so mind-blowing and mind-boggling!

There are several factors that contribute to the final result of a wine. Geographic location of where the vines are planted, the weather of that region, the vines themselves, soil conditions and of course the actual wine making process. With all of these factors considered it is understandable why someone who may enjoy one chardonnay, may not enjoy the next. All the more reason to not give up and keep on trying!!

All varietals exude certain characteristics which can aid in determining one wine from another. This differentiation also contributes to your own approval and disapproval of certain wines. Some are light bodied and fruity, others are full bodied and earthy, whatever your style, there is bound to be a grape varietal that will satisfy.

Our chart below is an excellent tool to use when purchasing and/or tasting wine. The left column represents several popular wine varietals while the right column displays typical characteristics of that particular varietal.

White Varietals and Characteristics

Riesling - Light; Sweet/dry. Tangy, fruity. Citrus, apple, pear, melon, nectarine, peach, apricot.

Gewurztraminer - Light; Sweet, dry. Grapefruit, lychee, apple, nectarine, nutmeg, clove, ginger, spice, floral.

Semillon - Med-Full; Often rich. Lemon, lime, honey, butter.

Chenin Blanc - Light; Off dry. Peach, pear, quince, melon, herbal tea, mineral.

Viognier - Light-med; Floral, honey, apricots, pear.

Sauvignon Blanc - Light-Med; Citrus, gooseberry, lemon, melon, herbal, bell pepper, grassy.

Pinot Blanc - Light-Med; Dry, crisp. Citrus, apple, pear, melon, sweet pea.

Pinot Gris/Grigio - Light; Fruitier and soft. Citrus, apple, pear, peach, melon, honey, vanilla.

Grigio - Crisper, more citrusy.

Chardonnay - Med-full; Dry, rich. Citrus, apple, tropical fruit, fig, honey, hazelnut, butterscotch, butter, popcorn.

Red Varietals and Characteristics

Gamay - Light; Tangy, fruity, cranberry.

Pinot Noir - Light-Med; Cherry, strawberry, clove, mint, truffle, cloves, smoke, sage.

Sangiovese - Med; Sweet and sour, dark cherry, tobacco, earthy, almond, herbs, tea.

Barbera - Med-Full; Ripe red fruit, currant, cherry, herbal.

Cabernet Franc - Med; Dry, berry, fruity, herbal, smoky.

Grenache - Med; Black fruit, anise, smoky, herbal.

Cabernet Sauvignon - Med-Full; Cherry, plum, currant, pepper, bell pepper, cedar, vanilla, mint, chocolate, tea, tobacco.

Shiraz/Syrah - Full; Raspberry, spice, black pepper, blackberry, plum, tar.

Zinfandel - Full; Juicy, robust, jammy, berry flavors, spices.

Red vs. White

So what’s the deal with color? We all know wine to be red, white, and rose, or blush as some call it, but the juice is really all the same! Have you ever looked at the flesh of a red grape before? It is the same as a green grape, therefore if wine exists in a variety of hues then the color must come from….of course, the skin! Often white wine is made from red grapes, in fact, most great champagne would not exist without, so don’t be fooled, pink grapes do not exist! Yes, red and white grapes appear the same in juice form but when their skin is added to the wine making picture a whole other story begins!

The many gorgeous hues of red evident in red wine is a result of allowing red grapes to ferment with their skins, however color is not the only thing affected by the skin of a grape. I am sure you have tasted a wine, a red wine in particular that makes your mouth pucker; an astringent sensation on the palate if you will. What you experienced is known as ‘tannin’.

Tannin is a natural substance found in the skins, stems, and seeds of grapes. You can experience this sensation in young whites however it is more commonly found in red wines. Allowing the juice to ferment with skins will in turn generate a higher level of tannin to exist in the resulting wine. It is no secret that many people have a preference for either white or red wine. A very tannic wine is often a reason for dislike especially if you are new to wine. There are several varieties associated with being quite tannic, Cabernet Sauvignon, Nebbiolo, Syrah, Petite Syrah, Zinfandel, are to name a few however in the game of wine you will not know until you try!

Every wine will possess its own unique color. A wine’s color can reveal its story, and to experienced blind tasters, provide necessary clues in pinpointing a correct assumption. Each grape variety generally exudes a certain range of hues however age and wood barrel aging will also have an affect on color. So evidently there is much more to color than just red and white!

Wine is an endless educational journey even for those most experienced in this subject so it is vital to explore and try new and exciting wines as often as your time allows!

So get out there, get tasting, and have fun!

Jennie Wills has been a hospitality expert for 10 years whose passion for home renovation, food and drink has lead to the successful launch of http://www.thesexykitchen.com ; a web-site dedicated to kitchen design, renovation, party planning, hospitality and much more. Perhaps you have a passion or hobby you?d like to write about. Discover how to turn your passion into a successful website, visit http://www.succeed-from-your-passion.com to learn how.

April 28, 2007

Wine Touring Options

Filed under: Food-and-Drink, Wine-Spirits — Fabien Ponson @ 1:00 am

Wine is commonly produced all over the world on properties we refer to as wineries. In addition to wine production, in order to finish the production processes, larger wineries may also include areas such as: warehouses, bottling lines, laboratories, expansion tanks, tank farms.

The grapes which are used in wine production at these wineries can come from vineyards owned by the wineries themselves, or it can be made from grapes that are bought and imported from other vineyards around the world. As wineries are becoming popular attractions for tourists, many different types of wine tours are now offered by many wineries around the world.

Wine touring often includes experiencing the actual production of wine, however, they are often revolved around tasting the wine, as well. To allow everyone to participate in this aspect of touring, many different types of wine tours are being made available. These types of tours most generally include personal guides for the tours, as well as vary with their modes of transportation. Some of the various tours with different modes of transportation include:

  • hot air balloon tours
  • limousine balloon tours
  • bike wine tours
  • hiking tours
  • bus tours
  • train wine tours

With wineries becoming such popular tourist attractions, just about any type of wine touring is now available.

Custom touring plans are often offered by wineries. These type of tours are where a personal guide will go over various touring options with you, and help you to determine which type of tour would best fit the needs of your individual group. These guides will often suggest an itinerary, and revise it any way you may want it to be revised.

Touring options are nearly endless! Your winery tour can include a picnic to gourmet meals, and are great for company picnics! Whether you have a small group of two, medium sized groups of less than 15, or a large group of 15 plus, a wine tour could be the perfect experience. From romantic balloon tours to luxurious limousine touring, a wine tour can be an unforgettable experience for all!

About the author:
Fabien Ponson invites you to read some more articles about wine tours and regions on the website Wine Region Tour.

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