Tired of the Same Old Wine? Try a Prize-Winning Variety

Even before the movie "Sideways" made wine tasting de rigueur, connoisseurs knew the value of sipping and savoring a great wine.

But if you don't know a Beaujolais from a Bordeaux, then recommendations might be a welcome relief.  To this end, why not consider the 2002 Samuele Cabernet Franc from Viansa Winery?

This complex wine exudes aromas of violets and luscious flavors of juniper and blueberry.  A distinctive blend of Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot aged in oak barrels for 26 months makes this a rich and elegant wine with beautifully balanced tannins and acids.

Still not convinced this wine is a keeper?  It was awarded a Gold Medal and chosen best of its class at the 2006 Jerry D. Mead New World International Wine Competition.

Established in 1990, the competition is open to wines produced anywhere in North America, Central America and South America, as well as Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.

All wines are judged by price category, ranging from inexpensive to premium prices, with each wine being judged against others of its type and also against its price peers.  To date, it is the only competition in America to pit the best wines from each price class against each other to determine an overall best of variety or type.

To ensure that all wines are based on merit, judges for the competition do not know the identity of the wines they are tasting nor do they know the wines that are entered.

Samuele can be fully experienced by pairing it with something as simple as a summer barbecue, meats roasted with herbs and garlic, as well as heavier Italian dishes.

Viansa is a destination winery at the entrance to the Sonoma Valley Wine Country.  In addition to offering an array of award-winning California varietals, Viansa is the premier producer of Italian varietals in the United States.

Tips On How To Buy The Best Wines

For most people wine is an essential part or their dining experience.  Wine is also mostly present in any social function.  The problem with wine is that there are so many types of wines to choose from.  As a result the wine selection process becomes very difficult.

What is wine?

Basically, it is a liquor that is made by fermenting various types of fruits.  But no doubt, that the most popular wine type is made of grapes.  Wines made of different types of grapes, turn into different flavored wines.  Wines that are not made of grapes are referred to as fruit wines.

Why grape wine is good for you body?

There have been some medical studies that show that drinking one or two glasses of grape wine a day may be beneficial to one's health.  This is due to the findings that some properties that are found in grapes have a medicinal effect on the body.  This includes decreasing a person's chances of developing heart disease, cardiovascular disease, stroke, etc.

Here are some tips on how to choose just the right wine for you

1. Experiment.  Individuals should discover which types of wine suit their taste.  The best way to do this is to order a different type of wine every time you dine out.  This way, individuals would pretty much have an idea of what types of wine they will stock on their wine cellar.
2. Ask friends for a recommendation.  For those who are not wine connoisseurs, the best way to start gaining some knowledge about wine is to ask friends to give you the names of their favorite wines.  Ask them about the wines that they love, and which types of dishes go with which types of wines.  Make a list of the brands of wines that are highly recommended by friends.  The next time you are in a liquor store, pull out your list and look for these brands.
3. For those who have found their favorite wines, and want to keep stocks.  The best way to go about this is to buy their preferred brands of wine by cases.  This will be much cheaper than purchasing them individually.  Some wine manufacturers offer to take off up to 10% as a discount if individuals buy by the case.
4. Know which types of wine go with different types of dishes.  For instance, white wine goes well with white sauces, salmon, etc.  Those who are throwing a party, and plan to spend a considerable amount of money on wine should do some research about the types of wines that compliment the dishes they plan to serve.
5. Be wise when it comes to serving wine.  The more costly wines should be reserved for more important occasions.  Remember that wines can get very expensive.  So individuals should keep track of the types of wines that they have in storage, and be wise when it comes to deciding when to serve them!
6. French wines are famous worldwide!  France ranks first when it comes to exporting wines.  Some of the more famous French wine includes:  Bordeaux wine, Burgundy wine, and of course Champagne.  For those who are just starting on their wine collection.  These are some of the essential wines that they should stock in their wine cellar.

Choosing wines may be daunting at first, especially for a person who is not a wine connoisseur.  But once a person gets the hang of it, and start to discover the wines that matches their preference, it won't be long until they start to fill up their wine cellar.

Styles Of Wine Racks

Wine racks come in all sizes.  If you do an internet search for wine rack you'll find sites that have custom designed wine cellars to hold hundreds of bottles under perfect climactic conditions to sites that have decorative countertop wrought iron wine racks that hold 4 to 6 bottles, the choices are endless.

Those who teach about wine storage teach about the importance of temperature, humidity, ventilation, and the angle of storage.  Some even preach that care should be taken to make sure there is no vibration to work up the sediment from the bottom of the bottle.  A little too much for me.

If you're like me, you only have a handful of wine bottles at any time, maybe 4 or 5.  In keeping with the fundamental basic of never letting a cork dry out, I've got the bottles rolling around on their sides in a cabinet in the kitchen.  This has been OK for my 4 or 5 bottles, not one of which cost me over $25.00.  But now it's time for me to step up and find a wine rack.

Most true wine connoisseur's, those who spend their time researching the best year for a particular grape, who know the best growing regions and grape varietals, those who know how the wine is aged, those who spend anywhere from $50.00 and up for a bottle, who may buy a case of wine at a time, those people require more sophisticated wine storage.

All I want a wine rack that will hold a few bottles, out of the way that will look nice and enhance the style of my kitchen.  There are many styles to choose from.  There are some shelving wine rack units that come in a variety of finishes that will hold up to 150 bottles, too big.  There is the 12 bottle wine rack with a very industrial look of wire and wood, not my style.  There are some lovely wrought iron wine racks.  A lovely set that are actually bookends that each hold three bottles, great to use if I had a library.  How about a wrought iron cabinet with a lovely leaf design that holds up to 33 bottles?  Or, a wrought iron hanging rack that holds up to eight bottles and eight wine glasses ... now we're getting close.

You may be amazed at the number of different wine racks you can find that will enhance the style of your home.

Sensational Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies

This is an absolutely spectacular recipe for chocolate oatmeal cookies.  Though oatmeal cookies are not considered a cool, modern dessert by many, there is a reason that traditional recipes survive over the decades.  And this recipe proves it -- sometimes traditions are best!  Even the kids will want to get involved to make a treat that's quick to make and healthy, too.

Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies

Prep:  10 min, Cook:  10 min.

• 3/4 lb. semisweet chocolate chips
• 1/2 cup soft unsalted butter
• 1 egg
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/4 tsp. vanilla extract
• 3/4 cup all purpose flour
• 1/4 tsp. baking soda
• 1 tsp. baking powder
• 3/4 cup quick or old fashioned oats, uncooked
• 1/4 tsp. salt (optional)

Oven should be preheated to 375°F.  Separate 1 cup chocolate chips from the rest and melt this in a saucepan over low heat.  Set aside.

Beat sugar and butter together in a bowl until smooth and fluffy.  Add the melted chocolate, vanilla, and egg.

Remaining ingredients should be combined in another bowl.  Stir in the remaining chocolate chips and the chocolate mixture made previously.

Place rounded tablespoonfuls on an ungreased cookie sheet, bake 8-10 minutes as needed, then cool 1 minute on the cookie sheet before removing cookies to a wire cooling rack.

To freeze cookies, cool rapidly to retain freshness.  All dairy and egg-based foods should be cooled in a refrigerator.  Place the single-serving amounts in freezer-proof containers and seal tightly.  If aluminum foil is preferred, wrap and fold edges to seal securely and place on a flat surface to prevent cookies from becoming misshapen.

Place containers in freezer until frozen.  (Once the cookies are safely frozen, the flat surface, such as a cookie sheet, can be removed to save freezer space).  Cookies will stay fresh in the freezer for up to 2 months.  Before unwrapping, make sure to thaw cookies completely at room temperature.  Enjoy!  (In moderation, of course.  But who says moderation has to mean just one at a time?)

Removing Red Wine Stains Is Not A Cause For Panic

Imagine that you are hosting a party for some of your best friends.  The atmosphere is bubbling with the excitement of everyone chatting and mingling with each other, when all of a sudden you hear a crashing sound and see the sight that every host prays will never happen;  a glass of red wine has taken a swan dive and landed not on your tile floor where it is easy to clean up but on to your very embarrassed guest and all over your furniture.  It would appear that Murphy's Law has struck again, but don't panic, it is possible to get red wine stains out!

The first thing to do (aside from not panicking) when cleaning red wine spills is to remove the excess spillage.  If the wine has been spilled on a couch or carpet take an absorbent cloth (something you don't mind being stained) or paper towel and blot the excess wine, do not rub in any way!  The point of blotting it to remove the wine without working it further into the fabric.  If it was a piece of clothing that has been spilled on, remove the article and blot in the same manner.

Once the excess wine has been removed it is very important to rinse the carpet, furniture or clothing to dilute the wine before it has a chance to set in.  The best method for this is going to vary on what exactly where the spill is.  For clothing or other items that are easily removed, pour cold water from the backside.  For items such as carpets and sofas pouring water directly onto the stain and blotting with an absorbent cloth immediately works best.

There is a good chance that this will not take the stain out completely.  Carpet and furniture cleaner very well may need to be used.  In the past I have had much success with Resolve cleaners for carpets, and for laundry there are many stain removers that should be helpful.  A little trick my mother taught me which works wonders is Lestoil.  I know some of you may be thinking to yourself that you always thought Lestoil was a floor cleaner, but when diluted with water and used as a soaking agent it works wonders on lots of stains including grease (when mixed with hot water) and wine (when mixed with cold water).

Of course even with all your best efforts there is always the chance that the red wine is going to be so stubborn that you need to call in the professionals.  Carpets and furniture sometimes are dry clean only but it is still best to remove as much of the stain as possible while it is still wet because this will make it easier for the professionals to remove the remnants.

The key to ensuring effective stain removal is time.  Do not let a stain sit for days or weeks before deciding to try to remove it and don't wait a week before ringing a carpet cleaner because by then it might just be too late and the stain is now a permanent fixture.  The same goes for clothing, don't wait to wash your shirt or pants.  I once watched a friend take a shirt out of the washing machine become horrified at the fact that the red wine didn't come out of her top.  When I asked her when she spilled on herself, she told me that it was from a week before.  No wonder the stain didn't come out!

In the end there is always going to be the possibility that the stain has decided that it never wants to come out or it will not come out completely.  Taking the proper steps the moment a spill occurs can greatly reduce the chance of a permanent stain.  There is no easy way to prevent spills and stains, aside from slipcovers or not serving red wine at social events, so when a spill does happen remember to stay calm, work quickly and to blot.

Melita Coffee Makers In Many Forms

Most of us had our first taste of coffee when we were kids.  Then, we were so eager to sip our parent's morning beverage.  In fact one of the pranks children love playing is to do exactly the contrary of what they are told is bad.  This explains their curiosity and wondering what is in that cup that parents' only want to keep it to themselves.

But I will say that when we finally sneaked behind our parent's to take a sip, astonishing is the right word to describe our feeling -- the taste was very awful.  We were like what on earth is this?  Or is our parents playing a practical joke on us?  Because we wondered why all the noise and importance attached to this beverage with a very awful taste.

This was my opinion about the stuff as a kid.  Years later, I realized that particular coffee was in reality of an acquired taste.  But I am still convinced about my parents' coffee;  it was pitiful.  People from my era are more inclined to visiting coffee rather than taking the stuff from the drip pot, but this is not to say that the drip pot is out of vogue, because many of them can still be seen and are still in operation at the local malls or kitchen stores.  And the more refined breed are known as melita coffee maker.

My first encounter with the coffee machine called melita coffee maker was on the Internet.  It was during the period I was browsing for information on a coffee maker because I wanted to purchase one for my mother, and lo a melita coffee site just popped up from the blues.

The first thing I noticed almost immediately was the substantial information they carry on different forms of coffee makers.  And this goes to all the young people out there who assumed these are no longer produced due to the craze for coffee houses;  your assumption was wrong.  Research indicates that multitudes of people, and families throughout the globe still have high affinity for the familiar drip pot coffee maker, and this is often a permanent fixture in their kitchen.

The convenience it offers is another of its strong points, because it saves us the hassles of running off to the local java cafe to have a caffeine drink.

If you feel the time has come to buy a new piece in place of the old coffee maker, you can go online and sift through the different forms of melita coffee makers that are on parade.  On the search bar of Google, just type in the words "melita coffee" and you will be surprised by the sheer number of the good machines that are offered for sale at bargain prices.

Don't hesitate to take advantage of the lower price the internet offers for the melita coffee maker, if you want the early hours of the day to be worth all its glory.

Italian Winemaking Flourishes Through the Ages

When it comes to fine wine, the regions of Italy might come to mind, with their lush, rolling hills where the finest grapes are still hand-picked.  Indeed, Italy is home to some of the best wines in the world.

With a population of about 58 million, the country consists of 20 regions subdivided into 103 provinces, each boasting distinctive foods and wines.

During ancient times, the Phoenicians introduced the Mediterranean societies to the "nectar of grapes".  The tribes of Italy began to thrive as wine growers and makers, and wine became one of the most valuable commodities to trade throughout Italy and Europe.  Italy was called "Oenotria", the "Land of Wine", because of the Mediterranean sunshine and mountain air currents that enhanced the growth of vines.

Italy's glowing reputation for wine today is due to the fact that it offers the greatest variety of types, ranging through nearly every color, flavor and style.

Italian wines derive from native vines, but also from a complete range of international varieties.

Sangiovese is Italy's most planted red grape variety, particularly common in central Italy.  Trebbiano is the most common name for the Ugni Blanc white grape variety, planted so much that it likely produces more wine than any other grape variety in the world.

Understanding Italian wine may seem to be a complex art, but if you're up for a challenge, you can test your Italian wine IQ with a short quiz.

1. Spumante in Italian wine nomenclature indicates which of the following types of wine?

   A) sweet wine;
   B) dry sparkling wine;
   C) sweet sparkling wine;
   D) a wine from Asti;
   E) sparkling.

2. Nebbiolo is a wine that comes from the Italian word nebbia, which means:

   A) cloudy;
   B) fog;
   C) diabolical;
   D) nebula.

3. True or False?  The Dolcetto grape variety produces a sweet dessert wine.

How To Brew Wine At Home

Ever wonder how to brew wine at home?  What do I need?  How much will it cost?  Is it legal?  Well keep reading, I am about to tell you all you need to know to get started on making your wine from home.

First you need a wine making kit.  These kits, to alot of peoples surprise, are not that expensive.  A 5 or 6 gallon kit will cost between $50 and $100.  Your ingredients will cost $30 to $70.  That comes out to about $2.50 a bottle.

You don't need a winepress.  Wineries use these winepresses to extract every last drop of juice from the fruit.  Not for quality reasons.  At $1 to $2 a bottle for home wine makers, the last drop of juice is not important.

Making wine at home is legal.  A household of 2 adults can make up to 200 gallons of wine a year.  And a household of 1 adult can make 100 gallons a year.  You will need to check with your local authorities if you intend to sell or distribute your wine.

The most important thing you need to have is good recipes and clear instruction on how to use them.  This is where alot of wine makers fail.  The recipes might be good but the instruction part is to vague.  There are some additives that need to be added whether listed or not.  And some wine need to be shaken every 48 hours and some don't.

You will also need to determine how sweet you like your wine.  This is done with a hydrometer.  Which comes with the wine making kit.  A reading of 1020 on the hydrometer means it is a sweet wine, 1010 is medium and 990 is very dry.

Wine making at home is not hard as long as you have the right equipment, a basic kit works fine, and some good recipes and instruction.

Home Wine Cellars

If you want to create your own wine cellars, take note of the following considerations.

Wine connoisseurs often spend a lot of money on wines, and they naturally want to protect their investment by purchasing home wine cellars.

Some companies offer factory prices, free cad design services, cooling equipment and refrigeration doors.  They can turn any room, even a large closet, into a wine cellar.  If you are on the look out for wine cellars, choose one that has superior design, with complete project management and high quality installation by experienced craftsmen.

The wine cellars should be made of the finest and clear redwood available.  A red wood is ideal, since this rare type of wood made from the heart of the red wood tree can resist rot and mildew.

A good inventory control system is of primary importance, but the least considered element when constructing your own wine cellar.  Wine cellaring is considered the turf of the rich.  Nowadays, a lot of people own good cellars.  They are wine lovers who know where to find the best bargain when it comes to wine cellars.

Also, find out the proper way to choose the shape of the wine glass that increases wine drinking enjoyment, along with the right way to hold a wine glass.  It won't hurt to know why oak barrels are used, and what the markings on the barrels mean.

Discover why wine should be stored in darkness, and the effect of the ultraviolet rays of the sun on the wine.  Corks should be stored face down, and you should know what happens when the corks dry out.

Lastly, determine how large the wine cellar should be, and how many wine bottles will fit into the cellars.  It is also valuable to know the four steps in tasting wine, similar to way wine experts do it.  Find out what to look for in temperature controlled wine cabinet.

Green Tea Extract

What is Green Tea Extract?

Green Tea Extract is the concentrate of the green tea leaf.  The leaf is steeped in alcohol or some other solvent, which is then left to evaporate, leaving the extract.  It has all the essential properties of the Green Tea Leaf.  The extract has more of the essential parts, while parts of the leaf have no benefit, or effect at all.

Why You WANT it

Just as in green tea, the extract is loaded with plant nutrients called phytochemicals.  They're among some of nature's strongest and most beneficial substances.  The anti-oxidant rich phytochemicals, powerfully defend against the damages caused by free radicals in our bodies.

The free radicals are ''missing a screw'';  literally, they have an unpaired electron, which makes them unstable.  They form fast chain reactions and can destabilize other molecules -- that's not good for us.  The anti-oxidants found in Green Tea Extract neutralize the free radicals, and in so doing provide a number of noted benefits including:  treating headaches, correcting poor digestion, and lowering cholesterol.  Not only does the extract provide anti-oxidants, but studies have shown that our blood's capacity for holding anti-oxidants increases.  Not only do we get the healthy nutrients in the extract, but also our bodies are able to hold more -- it's like a Power-Up!

Another benefit from Green Tea Extract is increased metabolism, and therefore, weight loss.  Green Tea DOES have caffeine, and you might be inclined to think that's what raises the rate of metabolism, and gives more energy.  However, a study was done where the same amount of caffeine as is found in Green Tea was introduced to the body.  The result was that the heart rate increased, but the metabolism did not;  caffeine alone had a different effect.  In fact, studies have shown that Green Tea Extract raises the metabolism, but NOT the heart rate, which makes it safer than some other herbal weight loss supplements.

Here is an expanded list of benefits for Green Tea Extract:

• Philippines Medical Study showed positive results in its ability to treat acne
• It stimulates the immune system and even fights dental plaque.
• It contains ECGC, a powerful type of anti-oxidant approximately 200 times more potent than Vitamin E
• Has been shown to fight cancer, and even protect against liver damage

How Do You Get it?

If you've been thinking about taking Green Tea Extract, it's important that you educate yourself about all of the health risks.  For example, the caffeine can have an adverse effect on some people -- so it is ALWAYS necessary for you to consult a professional before you start any serious change in diet.

Once you have all the facts, you've spoken to your Doctor or other professional, and you choose to start taking it, it's very easy to find.  Almost any Vitamin store or drug store will have it in stock.  Remember, Green Tea Extract won't always be sold in the same way.  Different companies might mix it, or include other vitamins, herbs, chemicals, etc ....  So don't just buy the first bottle you see with ''Green Tea Extract'' written on it.  Read the label, and do your homework.  Be smart.  Be safe.  Be well.

Goji Juice Bread: A Goji Treat For The Whole Family

Goji juice has quickly become one of the world’s most popular nutritional supplements.  Derived from the goji berry, it is believed to be one of the most nutritionally dense foods on the planet.  Throughout the world, families drink goji juice on a daily basis, partly because of the stellar taste of the juice, but mostly to gain the nutritional benefits.  This has led to a mundane routine of consuming a few ounces of pure juice per day, instead of optimizing the goji juice experience.

A little bit of creative imagination can break this monotony.  Why risk boredom by simply drinking the same amounts of plain goji juice day in and day out?  By experimenting with goji juice recipes, you can enhance your daily goji consumption and be less likely to forget this important juice in your daily routine.  A good way to add some spice to your goji experience is by breaking some goji juice bread!  Below is a recipe for doing just that.

Goji Juice Bread Recipe

Ingredients:

2.5 Cups of All-Purpose Flour
1 Tablespoon of Baking Powder
1 Cup of Sugar
1 Teaspoon of Salt
0.25 Cups of Shortening
1 Egg
0.75 Cups of Milk
0.25 Cups of Goji Juice
3 Tablespoons of finely grated Orange Peel
1 Cup of Chopped Pecans

Instructions:  Add all-purpose flour, baking powder, sugar, and salt to a mixing bowl.  Stir together until uniform.  Next, use a blender or a fork to add the shortening into the mix.

In a separate bowl, beat an egg until uniform.  Add milk, goji juice, and grated orange peel to the bowl with the egg, and stir.  When done, add to the previous mixture, and stir.  Sprinkle chopped pecans into the resulting mixture, and then pour the mixture into a non-stick bread pan, letting the mix settle into each corner uniformly.

Bake at 350-degrees for 55 to 60 minutes until brown.  When done, let the bread stand for 5 minutes before attempting to remove the pan.  Cool on a metal rack, and when ready, slice the bread and enjoy!

A perfect holiday treat, goji juice bread is the perfect way to spread the joys of goji juice to friends and relatives.  It’s the perfect compliment to a cup of tea, and goji juice bread is both fun and delicious!

Food Is Innocent

Any organism needs to be fed in order to grow and survive.  Just like any animal, humans need food in order to receive the necessary energy with which they will grow and continue to function properly.  But food has lately been blamed as the cause of obesity, and has been accused to be linked to a number of diseases and eating abnormalities.  Fortunately for human beings, these accusations are far away from the truth.  In fact, what mistakenly people consider to be the enemy is not.  Food is not to be blamed because none of the food substances have a negative outcome if people do not oversize their food portions or eat without any control.  Thus it is important to understand what food is and what can we do to balance our eating habits, without loosing in taste or variety.

Food is any substance, usually comprised primarily of carbohydrates, fats and proteins that are consumed by all animals-including humans-for nutrition or pleasure.  It is also widely known that almost all foods come from plants or animals-except water, salt, baking soda, fungi, and processes foods-and humans as omnivorous animals are able to consume everything.  After developing agriculture and becoming hunters, humans managed to add to their dietary habits different tastes that came from mixing and matching a variety of ingredients to improve the final culinary result.  But recently, the once healthy portions of food people used to eat have dramatically increased and due to lack of time and focus people are now battling with their dietary habits against diseases and various types of illnesses.

In particular, concerns about foodborne illnesses have long influenced the human diet.  Dietary habits play a significant role in the health and mortality of all humans, and one needs only to consider that eating disorders interfere with normal food consumption leading to excess weight or a skinny human silhouette.  But food is not to be blamed for these dramatic results.  The changes in nutrient content of diets in industrialized countries have come to produce foods that contain more animal fat, sugar, alcohol and less dietary fiber, carbohydrates and antioxidants.  Today's working habits and family stress, alongside with reduced exercise patterns, have caused considerable concerns to health practitioners who examine the traditional eating habits and reveal negative results for humans.

Thus, it is imperative for contemporary people to be informed and educated from an early age in relation to the effects of adopting a healthy diet plan and maintaining their weight constant and within a logical range when they have reached adulthood.  Food is not the enemy in this issue;  people's dietary habits are the cause of the health problems related to food.

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Famous Chardonnay Back on Top

Chardonnay is a thousand year old small village in Mâconnais in the southern portion of France's burgundy region.  The famous wine Chardonnay most likely originated here and was then spread throughout France by the monks.  The earliest recorded reference to Chardonnay occurs in 1330 when Cistercian monks built stonewalls around their ''Clos de Vougeot'' vineyard exclusively planted to Chardonnay grapes.  There is another hypothesis that points towards Lebanon when it comes to the origins of Chardonnay, but with no written references.  Another direction points to an Austrian vine very similar to Chardonnay, called Morillon.  The name Morillon has been used during the middle Ages in the region of Burgundy and was an old name for Chardonnay in the region of Chablis.

Murray Tyrrell from Australia changed the course of history for Chardonnay by bringing the HVD vineyard in 1982.  Chardonnay is the most widely planted variety in Australia and also in NZ.  There is more Chardonnay than Cabernet Sauvignon or Shiraz.

Lately Chardonnay has become a common girls name and has had a terrible press starting with the ABC (Anything But Chardonnay) movement.  Critics are making case of Riesling and other people are finding Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc or Viognier worth drinking.  But Chardonnay consistently makes better wines in a wider range of climates than any other white variety.  It is also responsible for the majority of the world's finest whites.

Chardonnay is a vigorous, heavy cropping variety with medium sized bunches.  Bunches have tightly packed berries forming a single cluster not like loosely spaced Shiraz bunches.  A ripe Chardonnay berry is gold yellow in colour with plenty of juice.  Berries are small, fragile, thin-skinned and require care during harvest to avoid oxidization.  Chardonnay is very sensitive to winemaking practices.  Cool climate Chardonnay produces an abundance of fruit flavours.  The warmer climate Chardonnays may have less of the fruits but develop wonderful honey, butterscotch, buttery and nutty oily flavours that really fill the mouth.  The trend of fermenting Chardonnay in oak barrels and then storing it in new oak can kill the fruit characters.  You know there's too much oak when all you get is vanilla and cinnamon and no fresh fruit.

The new worldwide winemakers have increased the freshness and acidity by sourcing grapes from cooler climates such as Marlborough (New Zealand), Russian River (California), Yarra Valley and Mornington Peninsula (Australia), Constantia and Walker Bay (South Africa), Casablanca and Leyda (Chile), and Agrelo and the Uco Valley (Argentina).  This doesn't mean that Burgundy is forgotten.  Whites from Chablis, the Côte Chalonnaise and the Mâconnais are very good value.

Chardonnay is back on top and as Tim Atkin, in an Observer’s article advises “He had more exciting Chardonnays in the past 12 months than in the previous 12 years.”

Eat, Drink, And Be Merry

The holidays are never far away and it's the perfect opportunity to learn how to entertain well with a great selection of food and wine.  Both food and wine play an important role in our society, and if we want to be successful hosts and hostesses we must learn to serve our guests properly.

Your guests come to your party expecting to be dazzled by the edible offerings.  Guests may arrive at a party with high hopes but more often than not they leave unsatisfied with the food and wine they were served.  You have the power to ensure that this does not happen with your gatherings, so you need to make sure that you offer your guests only the finest food and wine at hand.

You can start by talking to your friends to discover what left them unsatisfied at some of the other parties they have attended.  Also, consider some of your own reactions to the food and wine that was offered.  What was it that you didn't like about the food and wine and how could it have been improved?  The key to successful entertaining with food and wine is to learn from the mistakes of others.  By doing so you should be able to avoid some of the bigger mistakes made when hosting a party featuring food and wine.

Present your guests with a variety of food and wine at your party.  Some people strongly dislike red wine and others feel the same way about white wine.  By offering a selection of different foods and wine you will be able to make more people happy and less people feel overlooked by your food and wine options.  You should also have a diverse selection of the food you are serving.  Have some vegetarian snacks in addition to some meaty ones.  If you have a diverse group of friends you might even want to get more diverse in your food and wine selections and perhaps have some vegan goodies for the vegans of your circle.

Taking these factors into consideration when choosing your food and wine shows that you are a caring and thoughtful host.  Your parties will be the parties that people would want to attend.  If you make the right choices in your food and wine then you should consistently have marvelous parties known for lots of people and good times.

Champagne -- 15 Great Quotes about Bubbly

A selection of musings on the effervescent nectar from the great and the good ...

''my only regret in life is that I didn't drink enough Champagne''

John Maynard Keynes

''there comes a time in every woman's life when the only thing that helps is a glass of Champagne''

Bette Davis

''in victory, you deserve Champagne, in defeat, you need it''

Napoleon Bonaparte

''no government could survive without Champagne.  Champagne in the throats of our diplomatic people is like oil in the wheels of an engine''

Joseph Dargent

''I only drink Champagne when I'm happy, and when I'm sad.  sometimes I drink it when I'm alone.  when I have company, I consider it obligatory.  I trifle with it if I am not hungry and drink it when I am.  otherwise I never touch it -- unless I'm thirsty''

Lily Bollinger

''three be the things I shall never attain:  envy, content, and sufficient Champagne''

Dorothy Parker

''meeting Franklin Roosevelt was like opening your first bottle of Champagne;  knowing him was like drinking it.''

Winston Churchill

''come quickly, I am tasting the stars!''

Dom Perignon

''remember gentlemen, it's not just France we are fighting for, it's Champagne!''

Winston Churchill

''gentlemen, in the little moment that remains to us between the crisis and the catastrophe, we may as well drink a glass of Champagne''

Paul Claudel

''in a perfect world, everyone would have a glass of Champagne every evening''

Willie Gluckstern

''Champagne is the one thing that gives me zest when I feel tired''

Brigitte Bardot

''why do I drink Champagne for breakfast?  doesn't everyone?''

Noel Coward

''too much of anything is bad, but too much Champagne is just right''

Mark Twain

''I had taken two finger-bowls of Champagne, and the scene had changed before my eyes into something significant, elemental and profound''

F Scott Fitzgerald

Bottles That Impress: Giving the Gift of Wine

Wine makes the perfect gift for the holidays, from presenting it to your host at a dinner party to giving it to your friends and family.  Whether your gift list includes a family member, a beloved friend or new boss, wine is sure to be a hit when presented with some flair.

Viansa Winery, situated at the Carneros grape-growing region at the entrance to California's Sonoma Valley, produces more Italian varietal wines than any single winery in the country.  Consider these gift concepts that will set your bottle apart from the rest:

• Bottles that impress.  Match your choice of wine to the person's personality.  An assortment of fine Italian varietals like Viansa's "Vittoria" Pinot Grigio, "Pierina" Vernaccia, Arneis, Sangiovese, Barberra or Nebbiolo for the Italian food lover;  or a choice of impressive California varietals like Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay and Merlot for the Sonoma Valley enthusiast.
• Gift baskets that keep on giving.  Viansa produces an array of award-winning wines and gourmet foods that are exclusively available through the winery, like the Sonoma Picnic Basket filled with salami, Vella Mezzo Jack Cheese, Olive Oil Crackers, Olive Harvest Nuts and Lemon Drops, along with a cork puller, cheese knife and two steady sticks to hold your wineglass upright in the lawn.  Also try the Pasta & Piccolo for an instant Italian meal complete with porcini pasta sauce, imported pasta and Sangiovese wine.  Viansa's pestos, estate olive oils and vinegars, herbs and seasonings as well as dessert sauces add a flavorful twist to your gift of wine.  To leave an even longer-lasting impression on wine and food lovers, Viansa offers exclusive membership to "The Tuscan Club".  The club provides a 25 percent savings to members on wine purchases and a 10 percent savings on food and baskets.
• Accessorize.  Consider including small accessories, such as drip stoppers, decorative corks and wine stoppers or wine charms.  For a gift within a gift, wrap your wine in a fine bath linen, tablecloth or vintage material and tie with a large satin ribbon.
• Personalize.  Viansa Winery offers a custom solution for impressive gifts with specially created wine or food baskets and custom-etched or private-label wine gift baskets.

Black Tea Caffeine: Benefits Of Coffee With Less Side Effects

The ''pick me up'' we get from drinking tea is a result of the caffeine in the tea.  When black tea caffeine first was discovered in the year 1827, it was thought to be a new substance and was named theine.  It was found to have effects identical to coffee and in fact, eventually it was found out to be the same caffeine as found in coffee, so the term theine was dropped from use.

Black tea caffeine has he same effects on the human body as caffeine obtained by drinking coffee.  It will speed up reaction time and increase alertness as well as improve overall concentration.

It is thought that the increase in alertness and reaction time is a direct result of a stimulation of the cardiac and respiratory systems of the body which increases the amount of oxygen in circulation throughout the body.  In addition to that, black tea caffeine stimulates the kidneys and digestive juices, and may even boost metabolism and eliminate toxins.

Some studies conclude that caffeine is beneficial in that improves the performance of the brain and helps to reduce heart disease and other diseases as well.  More studies are needed to confirm these conclusions.  Most dieticians continue to warn against consuming large amounts of caffeine since there are known undesirable side effects such as shortness of breath, insomnia, and heart palpitations.

However, there is an advantage to consuming black tea caffeine as opposed to the caffeine found in coffee.  The reason is because there is less caffeine overall in a cup of black tea as opposed to coffee.  A typical cup of coffee has around 16 mg of caffeine while a cup of black tea might have only 6-8 mg.  So you could drink a few cups of black tea caffeine and not have the potent effects you might obtain from one cup of strong coffee.

There are actually many interesting factors which influence the amount of black tea caffeine that is present.  The variety of the tea leaves as well as where on the tea plant the leaves are located play an important part.

Leaves that are toward the bottom half of the tea plant are older and have more phytochemicals and other plant substances than the young leaves toward the top of the plant.  In addition to that, where the tea plant is gown, how it is cut, and the length of time it is brewed or steeped will all have an effect on the amount of black tea caffeine available in each cup.

Compared to other varieties of teas, black tea has the highest caffeine content and is probably due to the way it is processed since it undergoes a full oxidation which gives it a uniquely stong taste.

All About Beer

Prohibitionists and other conservatives have long viewed beer as the devil's brew.  Beer itself isn't so bad;  it's people that have given it a bad rap.  When used in a controlled, social setting, beer is nothing more than a cold, refreshing break time treat.

Rich History

There is evidence that beer has been around almost along as history itself.  Pre-historic man is said to have created beer before learning that grains could also be used to produce another dietary staple called "bread".  Noah is said to have stocked his ark with beer.  Ancient Babylonian clay tables revealing recipes for beer date back to 4300 BC.

Social Acceptance

Clearly, beer has always been in important element in social gatherings.  It's a staple at sport arenas, card games and dart matches.  Problems can arise, however, when beer drinkers indulge privately or believe they can drink away their troubles.  Of course, binge drinking or drinking in excess also brews trouble.

Worldwide Acclaim

Beer is consumed all over the world.  North America, South America, Asia and Europe all have rich beer histories.  Breweries can be found in Mongolia, many African countries, and Middle East countries including Iraq and Syria.  Virtually anywhere a thirsty traveler stops to rest, a cold pint can easily be found.  Many beers of the world are imported and readily available to North American beer drinkers looking to explore new flavours.

Rating Systems

Some avid beer drinkers actually rate the beers they consume, tally the scores and post their comments on Internet websites to determine the world's most popular brews.  Beer drinkers in America can correspond online with their Russian counterparts and swap bottles of beer through the mail.  Others drink a variety of beers to keep and collect the bottles and caps.  Pubs sometimes host beer clubs, awarding plaques or personalized steins to those who have purchased and quaffed every brand of beer on the menu.

Glass or Cans?

Some beer drinkers prefer to quaff from a proper pint glass, and others downright refuse to drink from a bottle or can.  Drinking from a glass or stein helps to release the aromas of the beer, so the drinker is able to appreciate more than just the taste of the brew.  Pouring beer into a vessel also allows a head to form on the beer, an important element for many beer drinkers.  Similar to wine and spirits, there are specific glasses available for different types of beer.  Many brewers produce glassware intended for use with their own brand of beer.

Temperature

The ideal beer temperature varies depending on a number of factors.  More experienced beer drinkers will tell you that a warmer temperature enhances the flavour, while colder temperatures inhibit the senses of the tongue and throat.  Subtle nuances are weakened, and the main flavour is downright destroyed by low temperatures.  On the other hand, those who work hard and play hard expect an ice-cold beer, served in a frosty mug.  Irish beer drinkers insist that a pint of Irish Guinness is best served at room temperature.

Pouring

The way beer is poured has influence over the presentation of beer.  The flow rate from the tap, position of the pour and the tilting of the glass all affect the outcome.  How the beer is poured determines the size and longevity of the head, and the turbulence of the pour affects how the carbonization is released.  More heavily carbonated beers, such as German pilsners, need time to settle before they're served.  Many barkeeps will serve the beer with remaining yeast at the bottom of the glass to add extra color and flavor.

Served warm or cold, from a bottle or glass, beer is an important part of society from Montana to Mongolia.  And sometimes, even those so-called little old ladies will gather to enjoy a pint with their mates.

About Gourmet Coffee

Gourmet Coffee -- Not Only Gourmet Food

Gourmet Coffee, what is not to love?  For those who are hooked on coffee, Gourmet coffee is what gets the day off to a good start, and it picks us up in the middle of the day.

Coffee has been around for thousands of years.  Gourmet coffee however, has been around for less than one hundred years, and it has fast become the favorite of millions of coffee connoisseurs throughout the world.

There are hundreds of different types of gourmet coffee.  These include Colombian gourmet coffee which has a bold, strong flavor, with a rich aroma guaranteed to satisfy every coffee lover.

There are also flavored gourmet coffees, which include French Vanilla, Toasted Almond, Cookies and Crème, and Hazelnut.

There are so many choices, that the Gourmet Coffee enthusiast will have a difficult time choosing,

The Gourmet Coffee lover can enjoy specialty coffee such as Pumpkin Spice, a rich savory coffee that is like a slice of pumpkin pie.  These types of gourmet coffees are not available year round.

There are Gourmet coffee shop in every city and town in the United States, and around the world.  The most popular of all the gourmet coffee shops are Dunkin Doughnuts, Starbucks, and Honey Dew Doughnuts.

Each of these Gourmet Coffee shops offers the standard cup of coffee, and the flavored coffees but each offers a different twist of their coffees.

What about the Gourmet coffee shops that nobody even realizes is a coffee shop?  The coffee stations that are in grocery stores or in department stores?  These shop sell fabulous gourmet coffee, but often they are past by.

When you do a Google search for gourmet coffee, you will find that there are a variety of Internet sites that are dedicated to gourmet coffee.

The Internet sites offer specials and discount just for trying their coffee.  These offers include a special type of coffee maker designed especially for one brand of gourmet coffee.

When driving through small town America, and a roadside coffee shop pops up on the horizon, one can imagine how the bigger chains got started.  The bigger gourmet coffee shops have teams of coffee roasters who are dedicated to creating new and delicious flavors of coffee.

The Gourmet Coffee consumer will undoubtedly look forward to all of the new flavors that are created.

The true Gourmet Coffee consumer will travel out of their way to try a great cup of gourmet coffee that they heard mention of either in conversation or through a crowd.

Virtually at any event, sporting or otherwise, college of professional, there are gourmet coffee shops everywhere.

The Gourmet Coffee consumer will unquestionably look forward to all of the new flavors that are created.

When you are making gourmet coffee at home, you will need whole coffee beans, (grinding the beans just before brewing insures the freshest coffee) fresh spring water, light cream and sugar.  These are the key ingredients for the freshest, best tasting cup of coffee you will ever taste.

A Brief History Of Cheesecake

What's your favorite birthday cake?  For me, nothing beats cheesecake.  In fact, I can't imagine what the world was like before cheesecake was created!

Turns out, you'd have to search back pretty far to find a time when the Earth was cheesecake free.  In fact, way back in 776 BC, long before the first Cheesecake Factory opened, the Greeks are said to have served cheesecake to the athletes at the first Olympic games.  The Romans soon caught on and spread the divine taste of cheesecake throughout Europe.  From there it was only a matter of time before European immigrants brought their cherished cheesecake recipes to America.

It seems that every region of the globe has embraced cheesecake in one form or another, adapting the recipe to local tastes and adding local flavors.  In America, cheesecakes are typically made with a cream cheese base, but even here we vary the recipe by region.  New York cheesecake is famous for its ultra-smooth texture and decadently rich flavor -- achieved by adding extra egg yolks and a hint of lemon -- and you'll find other regional variations from Chicago-style to Pennsylvania Dutch.  Many American bakers add sour cream for a creamy cheesecake that can be frozen without compromising taste or texture.

Italian cheesecakes generally use ricotta cheese, which makes them drier than their American cousins.  The French prefer Neufchatel cheese and often add gelatin for a light and airy consistency.  The Greeks might use ricotta, mizithra, farmers, feta, Swiss, or a combination of cheeses, while the Germans typically rely on cottage cheese or quark.  The Japanese incorporate cornstarch and whipped egg whites into their cheesecakes for a more custard-like effect, and I've even heard you can find cheesecake in vending machines in Japan.  Now why didn't I think of that?

You'd be hard pressed to find a culture that doesn't -- or didn't -- enjoy a good cheesecake.  Culinary historians cite cheesecake recipes dating back to the first century AD, with additional recipes floating around from the centuries that followed.  You'll find every imaginable flavor and topping in today's cheesecake recipes, but the basic premise, baking creamy cheese with wheat and sweetener, has stood the test of time.

And let's not forget savory cheesecakes featuring blue cheese, garlic, seafood, chiles, and other tasty cheese-friendly flavors, or vegan versions of cheesecake-like desserts made with tofu.  With so many varieties, you'd need a lot more than a ''Cheesecake of the Month'' club to sample them all!

Clearly, cheesecake has lived long and continues to prosper.  Whether it's a birthday cake, anniversary treat, or just a ''Make-Everyday-Special'' indulgence, cheesecake is an ancient delight that will never go out of style!

Wine Tasting in Northamptonshire – Revitalizing the Taste Buds for Corporate Event

Wine looks the same when poured in a glass, but it tastes different to your taste buds.  It all depends on your taste.  Do you often find it difficult to select the brand of wine you like best?  Well, this time you get to participate in some simple fun filled ways of judging your taste profile through some exciting corporate events.

Knowing your Taste through Wine Tasting Corporate Activity

Taste Trail in Northamptonshire is one of Chillisauce’s innovative ideas of helping you self judge the type of wine that you like best.  This thrilling corporate activity starts with a fun animated wine tutorial providing a crash course in the art of tasting the accurate wine blend.  Some connoisseur’s then judge the wine preferences of the guests by individually questioning all of them.

You will be asked to taste different wine blends and write down the scores with the help of the wine adventure colour charts and the Nez du Vin aroma kits that will be provided to you.  At the end of the evening, everyone will be given their taste profile, a guide to your own taste that will help you in the future while selecting wine from the stores.

The whole process takes around two hours, however the work timing can be adjusted according to individual requirements.  Even the corporate event venue is arranged according to your preference, thus it includes no venue fees.  You can even take this corporate wine tasting courses in Northamptonshire to a competitive level by placing your request at Chillisauce.

Benefits of Wine Tasting

Wine tasting corporate event arranged by Chillisauce gives you the perfect opportunity to be your own judge, and self-judge is unquestionably the best judge.  It trains you to concentrate as you make the fine distinguishing between different flavours of blended wine.  This corporate event is filled with fun.  It is relaxing and interactive and fills you with a sense of self-satisfaction as you judge your own taste successfully.  When you take this corporate event to a competitive level by a request made to Chillisauce, it strengthens the team unity and helps in building the perfect team.

Wine Tasting In Derbyshire -- Gear Up Your Team Building Attitude With Your Corporate Colleagues

Wine-tasting in Derbyshire is a fascinating adventure that evokes team-building attitude amongst the corporate people.  Wine, the life savior drink for the people of Derbyshire, offers a unique opportunity to people to laugh hilariously, enjoy together and know one another better.  This adventure truly promises a time when people can test their team building spirit, time management skill and efficiency to work as a complete group.

Set in the serene ambience of Derbyshire surroundings, the wine tasting provides a unique opportunity to see two different expressions of same noble grapes and classic blends.  As the wines are served at tandem to the guests, you will be amazed to taste the similarities and dissimilarities between the two types of wines.  The wine-tasting corporate event planning is accompanied by an animated wine tutorial, which manifests a fast paced detailed introduction of different types of wines.

Chillisauce is a corporate event management operator that organizes tours as well as conducts corporate events.  Full of various activities, this tour operator truly offers a relaxing and wonderful time to the corporate people who can discover each other away from the hectic monotonous schedule.  This specific activity of wine-tasting session generally takes place for duration of 1½ - 2 hours but can be extended as per the request of the guests.

Wine tasting episode in Derbyshire

Wine tasting episode conducted by the famous operators Chillisauce is a truly magnificent experience for wine lovers.  Not only does it promise exciting time ahead but also arouses interests of teetotalers to enjoy the famous wines.

Wine tasting corporate event in Derbyshire promises:

• To build team spirit amongst all
• Increase efficiency of individual people
• Increase time management skill of the group
• Freshens corporate people to deal with new challenges

You can be your own wine judge as you participate in tasting experience and find out the kind of wine you like and then start your game with that particular wine.

Following are the rounds in wine-tasting game in Derbyshire:

1. The taste revelation -- it involves a crash course of animated tutorial where people are taught with the art of tasting wine blindly.
2. The Taste bud review -- the game then moves onto taste bud review questionnaire that decides the likes, dislikes and knowledge of each guest regarding the wines.
3. The taste map -- here guests taste and score wines depending on their personal preferences.  They have to use the Wine Adventure color charts and Nez du Vin aroma kits to decide about their own wine tasting notes.
4. The taste profile -- this is the best part as you are judged and given a profile that will state your wine-tasting aftermaths.  You can use it next time when you go to buy wines.

Participate with Chillisauce to have a lifetime wine-tasting experience in Derbyshire.

Wine Tasting for the Average Joe

Going to a wine tasting can be a very fun and enjoyable experience.  However, many people do not attend for fear of not knowing exactly how to act or what to do.  There no great mystery to wine tastings, just a few things you should remember.

As far as etiquette, usually the ladies are served before the gentlemen.  Some wine tastings offer you bottled water.  Use this to rinse out your mouth between tastings so your palate is clean for the next wine.  There is often unsalted and unflavored crackers and bread to help palate cleansing as well.  You should always handle the wine glass by the stem.  This helps avoid heating the wine with the warmth of your hands, thus altering the taste.  Avoid wearing strong perfumes and colognes to a wine tasting.  That may take away from not only your smell, but also that of the other guests.  Also, avoid smoking, gum, and mints before and during a wine tasting to be able to enjoy the full flavor of the wine.

You can tell a lot about a wine just by looking at its color.  When you attend a wine tasting, the glasses should always be clear so you can get a good look at the wine.  The tables may also be covered with white tablecloths to help you see the wine's color clearly.  Do not let the wine name full you.  For example, white wines are not white in color.  They may range from yellow to green to brown.  Red wines range in color from pale red to a deep brownish red and often become lighter with age.  Sometimes the color of a wine may indicate age or flavor.  You may be able to tell the age of a red wine by doing a rim test.  Tilt the glass slightly towards the rim of the wine glass and look at the wine.  If the color of the red wine is more of a purple, it is usually a younger wine.  If the color of the red wine is brown, it is an older wine.

Another thing you may have seen people do before they taste wine is swirl it slightly in the glass.  This is to help open up the wine's flavor.  Remember that the wine may have been in a bottle anywhere from six months to many, many years.  When someone swirls a wine, it helps release the flavors.  Just like when you're cooking at home and stir the food to help blend the flavors.

The color of the wine is just one aspect you will want to look at when you attend a wine tasting.  You will also want to smell the wine.  After swirling, this is the next step in the tasting process.  You have probably seen people smell wine before and wondered why they did it.  Smell plays a very important part in what we taste.  Researchers have determined that perhaps as much as 75% of what we taste is actually based on what we smell first.  You can smell your wine one of two ways:  taking a small whiff to get an idea of how the wine smells, then a deeper whiff or take one deep whiff.  After smelling the wine, take a minute to think about the smell.  You do not want to immediately taste it after smelling but give yourself time to explore exactly what you smelled.

Finally, you will need to know is how to taste the wine properly.  Your tongue has taste buds in both the front and back.  These taste buds can detect bitter, salty, sweet, and sour flavors, but some are more sensitive than others are.  There are three steps in tasting a wine:  the first impression, the taste, and the aftertaste.  The first impression happens when you take your first drink and the wine actually hits your taste buds.  It should awaken your sense to the wine.  After taking the first drink, you should swish the wine around your mouth for a few seconds to let all your taste buds discover the full flavor of the wine.  Think about what the wine tastes like.  Is it light or heavy?  Is the smooth or harsh?  The aftertaste is the sensation that remains in your mouth after swallowing the wine.  How long did it last and was it pleasant?

Before attending a wine tasting, it may help you feel more confident to read about the different types of wines.  This will give you a better idea of what to look for as far as flavor and taste.  Next time you are invited to a wine tasting; do not be afraid to go.  You may be missing a great experience!

Wine Storage Temperature And Serving Suggestions

The love of wine has existed since the dawn of time.  Fossil vines, 60-million-years-old, are the earliest scientific evidence of grapes.  The earliest written account of viniculture is in the Old Testament of the Bible which tells us that Noah planted a vineyard and made wine (well with all those animals on the Ark what was he expected to do!)

Exactly when it was discovered is unknown, but an ancient Persian fable credits a lady of the court with the discovery of wine.  This Princess, having lost favor with the King, attempted to poison herself by eating some table grapes that had spoiled in a jar.  She became intoxicated and giddy and fell asleep.  When she awoke, she found the stresses that had made her life intolerable had dispersed.  Returning to the source of her relief, her subsequent conduct changed so remarkably that she regained the King's favor.  He shared his daughter's discovery with his court and ...

The wine industry and consumption continues to grow every year.  Wine connoisseur are continually buying great wine to keep either for later consumption or for investment.

One of the most important aspects to ensure your wine stays fresh during storage is the wine storage temperature.

The basics of wine storage temperature are fairly simple.  First, the wine should be kept cool.  Like most beverages and foods, heat is the natural enemy of wine.  A cool temperature is optimal, but the temperature should not lowered too much as this too will harm the wine.  In the unlikely event that the wine freezes, it will probably only be suitable for vinegar!

The basics of wine storage are really straightforward with whites, reds, and blushes.  However, the serving preparation for each of these wine types is different and something worth discussing.  After removing the bottle from storage, getting your wine to the correct temperature is important.  With red wines, such as a merlot or sheraz, approximately 65 degrees Fahrenheit (18 degrees Celsius) is what is recommended.  This is basically room temperature.  Secret tip:  in a room of about 70 degrees Fahrenheit the wine, due to being a liquid will naturally be cooler.  It is highly advised to not chill red wines.  This is a more common error than you think, the cold can be very destructive on the wine and its flavor.

With whites and many blushes the need for refrigeration before serving is key.  Chilling truly brings out the flavor.  For these types of wine 39 degrees Fahrenheit or 4 degrees Celsius is usually a good temperature.

In the case of both darker wines and the lighter types, it is advisable to let the bottle ''breathe'' after opening.  It is recommended you do this about half an hour before drinking (longer is often better)

Now to tasting.  Swish the wine around the mouth to truly get the most out of the flavor.  I however recommend drinking as opposed to spitting it out!

In the end ENJOY the wine, it is after all a pleasure that has been with us for centuries.

Wine labels -- Peeling off the mystery

One of the most baffling subjects that confronts the budding wine enthusiast is the deciphering of the myriad of information contained on the bottle label, especially that contained on wine bottles from European countries.  Once the basic rules are taken on board it becomes a lot simpler.  Whereas most New World countries put details of the grape varieties on the front label, a lot of European regions do not, and as this is the most basic of information for taste purposes why is this the case?

European winemakers tend to put more emphasis on the place of origin.  For instance, a Bordeaux red typically wont say ''Cabernet'' or ''Merlot'' on the front label, but instead have the name of the chateau where it was made, and usually the part of Bordeaux where it was made, for example Haut-Medoc.  Similarly a Sancerre is totally Sauvignon Blanc, but an in depth analysis of the label will leave you none the wiser.  For the French the important factor is that the wine comes from Sancerre in the Loire valley and for them it is inbred knowledge that white Sancerre is Sauvignon Blanc.

Moving south to Spain, red Rioja declares itself as Rioja on the label, not Tempranillo the grape variety used, whilst in Italy most Tuscan reds have no information on the Sangiovese grape that is most widely used in these wines.  Given this mish-mash of information it is no wonder that many of us head for that bottle with the label announcing it is a Chardonnay Viognier from the Ironstone Vineyard of California.

It is clear then that the Europeans believe the most important factor influencing a wine’s character is the soil, climate and culture of the area where the grape is grown and this is particularly important to single-vineyard wines who make the most of capturing the essence of a particular area of land.  So whereas a French winemaker will see his wine as reflecting the character of a particular region, a New World winemaker mad about grape varieties will consider that soil is just the growing medium in which the fruit grows, and that the grape variety and hard work in the winery are what really counts.  Today these two opposing approaches to wine labelling are moving closer together with New World producers emphasising their regionality and its characteristics, whilst European, even the parochial French winemakers possibly prompted by the wholesalers and the supermarkets are labelling their wines more clearly.

Wine History -- When the cork met the bottle

The role of the Church in the production and marketing of wine declined with the Reformation, particularly in northern Europe, but this did not convulse the wine world half as much as the discovery of the usefulness of corks about a century later.  For the first time since the Roman empire, wine could now be stored and aged in bottles.  Throughout the Middle Ages wine had been kept in casks which had presented a dual handicap: first, too long kept in wood could rob a wine of all its fruit;  second, once the cask was opened the wine inevitably deteriorated unless drunk within a few days.  The bottle, with its smaller capacity, solved the former problem by providing a neutral, non-porous material which allowed wine to age in a different subtler way and removed the latter problem by providing sealed containers of a manageable size for a single session’s drinking.

However, the cork and bottle revolution was not an instant success;  bottles were then so bulbous they would only stand upright which meant the corks eventually dried out and as a consequence let in air.  But, by the mid 18th century, longer, flat-sided bottles were designed which would lie down, their corks kept moist by contact with the wine.  As a result wine making now took on a new dimension.  It became worthwhile for a winemaker to try and excel, wines from particular plots of land could be compared for their qualities, and the most exciting could be classified and separated from the more mundane plot wines.  As a result today’s great names of Bordeaux, Burgundy and the Rhine first began to be noticed.

In the early 19th century, Europe seemed one massive vineyard.  In Italy 80% of people were earning their living from wine and in France there were vast plantings rolling southwards from Paris.  Also the vine had moved abroad thanks to explorers, colonists and missionaries.  It went to Latin America with the Spaniards, South Africa with French Huguenots, and to Australia with the British.  Could anything stop this tide of wine expansion?

Well, yes and it came in the form of an aphid called phylloxera, that fed on and destroyed vine roots.  It came from America in the 1860’s, and by the early 20th century, had destroyed all Europe’s vineyards and most of the rest of the world’s as well.  The solution was to graft the vulnerable European vine, vitis vinifera, onto the phylloxera-resistant American rootstock, vitis riparia, naturally a very expensive effort.  The most immediate effect in Europe was that only the best sites were replanted and the total area under vines shrank drastically as a result.  Elsewhere the havoc wrought was comparable and vineyard acreage is only now expanding to old original sites destroyed over a century ago.

The 20th century brought further change as science and technology revolutionised viticulture and wine making.  But despite the chemical formulae and computerised wineries, the grape retains its magic and allure that attracts wine enthusiasts from all over the world.

Wine Clubs -- A Convenient Way to Know Wine

Wine clubs have been sprouting up in recent years as a result of an increased interest in wine and greater wine consumption.  In fact, according to figures from the Wine Institute, sales of wine in the United States went up four percent in 2009.  Exports of wine by other countries to the U.S. remain steady since foreign wineries have found the United States to be a lucrative place to do business.  For wine lovers and would-be wine drinkers, joining a wine club would bring numerous benefits.

Many wine clubs count expert vintners or sommeliers among their members.  But you don't need to be a wine aficionado to be able to join a wine club.  A great many clubs welcome both newbies and experts.  They offer much information not only about various wines out in the market, but also about many wine-related topics; for instance, which type of wine should be served with a certain entrée; or news about the latest goings-on in the wine industry.

Wine clubs offer varying membership programs.  For the fee you pay, you will receive wine selections from vineyards whose offerings meet the club's standards.  Clubs can send you their handpicked selections, or give you the opportunity to make your own selections.  Most clubs usually send two bottles of wine to each member per month; they can be two bottles of red or two of white, or one of each.  Along with the wine, you will also receive pertinent information about them, such as the winery where they came from, any awards, publicity or accolades that have been accorded to the vintner, and a description of the conditions under which the grapes used in the wine were grown.

Wine club membership offers several other perks.  For instance, premium members are offered the ability to buy wines at discounted prices.  If they have a Wine of the Month program, you can be sure that you'll realize significant savings from being a member than if you just bought the featured wine at regular prices.  Joining a wine club would be a good investment if you are a regular wine drinker -- which many people are becoming because of much publicized news about how regular wine consumption has numerous health benefits.  Also, most of the wine clubs today offer gift membership program, which you can give to people who would enjoy wine either by itself or with a meal.

Many wine stores or retailers have their own wine clubs, which you can join for a fee.  Some clubs offer open-ended programs, meaning you can cancel your membership anytime.  You should base your wine club choice on several factors.  Are the services they offer worth the rate they are charging?  What are their expert credentials -- do they have wine experts who can give sound wine recommendations?  Do they have additional activities for members, such as wine tastings or perhaps visits to vineyards?  You should evaluate these factors and more before you select a club to join.  There are hundreds of wine club web sites online, and they provide detailed information on what you get for your money.

People enjoy the benefit of receiving their wine at their doorstep -- no more need to zip around to a wine seller's physical location for a bottle of vino.  However, you should remember that most U.S. states have strict laws regarding the shipping of wine from state to state.  Perhaps you might consider choosing a club that has a branch in your particular state because in such cases the law is not as strict.  This is another factor that you should look at when you are evaluating which club to join.

You can choose to join a wine club that has international coverage -- one that features wine produced in the world's most popular winery regions, and whose membership runs in the thousands -- or you could opt for a smaller, more specialized wine club, which focuses on only one or two specific wine-producing regions.  Then there are clubs that concentrate on providing only a certain type of wine, such as red, white, or champagne.

As you can see, there are many factors to consider when choosing a wine club to join.  But then, as you can also probably see, there are numerous benefits you can experience if you choose the right wine club.

Wine and Oak -- A beautiful relationship

One of the biggest influences on the flavour of wine is whether it has been matured, or even just stored, in oak.  There are people who are prejudiced against oaked wine and will complain of even the slightest hint of oak, but many experts agree that if a wine has been carefully oaked it does not taste of wood, but more like a wine that has had its flavour subtly enhanced.

Oak aging of wine occurs when the wine has been fermented and/or aged in oak casks so that the flavour of the surrounding wood infuses some of its woodiness into the liquid.  The resulting wine will usually taste richer, with creamy vanilla undertones and sometimes a little woody or even sawdusty.  The oak is a type of seasoning for wine and getting the optimum level of oaky flavour is vital if a wine is to taste good at the end.  Oak aging usually takes place in small oak barrels that hold 225 litres, being replaced every two or three years as newer barrels give the best flavour.

Oak is considered to be the most ideal wood for this aging as it not only has superb watertight qualities but gives the right sort of flavours,aromas and textures to enhance the wine.  But there are different types of oak that offer certain distinctive flavourings.  The most commonly used are the highly-prized, tightly-grained French oak which gives a subtle hint of oakiness, whilst American oak gives a more obvious vanilla character to the wine.  Consequently wines that are more powerful in flavour tend to be stored in American oak such as Rioja, North and South American and Australian varieties.  Other factors that allow oak aging to affect a wine's taste are the size of the barrels, (larger ones giving less flavour), the age of the wood used, the actual time the wine spends within the cask, and whether the barrels have been toasted (i.e. lightly burned on the inside).

Now the fashion is for lightly oaked wines and winemakers are producing more subtle, elegant flavours.  Red wines are often aged in oak, which add the required extra body and richness, with hints of wood-spice, cream and tannin.  Soft light reds such as Beaujolais are typically unoaked, but the richer more powerful styles such as fine red Bordeaux or Californian Cabernet Sauvignon are almost always aged in oak.  Similarly Rioja is oak aged for a long time to give it a distinct mellow creaminess.  Port and Madeira are wood-aged and have an obvious hint of oak, whilst even some Champagnes are aged for a short time in oak barrels, although they never taste very oaky, just a bit more full-bodied.  Some premium sweet white wines are also oak aged.