Drinking Wines

Grown in the famous Bordeaux predominately, the Cabernet Sauvignon grape is one of the most versatile and widely used of all grapes for winemaking. It is the grape used for many of the highest quality red wines in the world and adapts well to nearly any climate that is not overly cold. Recently, the Cabernet Sauvignon grape has been producing award winning wines in the American wine country of California?s Napa Valley.

The rich, full bodied, berry flavor of a wine made from a Cabernet grape is also recognized by the distinctive flavor of tea and other herbs. The wines made from this grape are very herbal in nature.

One of the greatest qualities of Cabernet is its ability to blend so well with other grapes and bring out the best qualities in both. When blending Cabernet with Merlot it gives you a smoother Cabernet while maintaining its own unique character.

As with many high quality wines, the aging process is of utmost importance to the final outcome of the taste and flavor of a Cabernet Sauvignon wine. Using different woods for the barrels that they wine is aged in gives each wine a slightly different and unique taste as the wine takes on some of the flavor of the wood. Many winemakers will age the wine in several different woods to give it an even more complex taste. Another trick of experienced wine makers is to use a very small barrel in order to get the greatest effect from the interaction with the wood.

Merlot is a more subtle wine with a fruitier taste reminiscent of blackberries. One of the other major differences of the Merlot vs. the Cabernet is that the Merlot is not nearly as acidic as the Cabernet, being very rich and complex but hardly tannic and quite enjoyable to drink.

In contrast to the smaller Cabernet grape, the Merlot is a good bit larger and has a thinner skin giving the wine a sumptuous consistency that blends well with appetizers or as a main course drink. Many times Merlot is blended with a Cabernet to soften the Cabernet and make it more complex.

Merlot has really developed into a fine premium wine that does well on its own without blending and can be chosen for many different situations. Another great thing about Merlot is that it doesn?t require the attention during the aging process that Cabernet and other wines do. Because of its fruity and soft nature and the fact that it has many of the same characteristics of Cabernet, Merlot has become increasingly popular especially when paired with beef or lamb.

Merlot is such a pleasant tasting wine that I often see people out at a local drinking establishment just sipping on a glass of the delightful tasting wine.

Gregg Hall is a consultant for online and offline businesses and lives in Navarre Florida. Find out about personalized wine bottles at http://www.winebottlespersonalized.com

Chardonnay is the world’s most popular white wine grape. Chardonnay wine’s homeland is the Burgundy region of France, where it produces sublime, complex Chardonnay table wines (in Champagne and elsewhere it provides the base for many of the world?s best sparkling wines), but it also flourishes in California, Australia, New Zealand, Chile, Argentina and South Africa.

Chardonnay is one of the few grapes in the world that does not require blending. It is a highly complex, aromatic grape, complete and balanced enough in flavor to stand beautifully on its own. The artistry of the winemaker’s fermentation and aging process brings forth an intriguing variety of delicate aromas and flavors in Chardonnay wines.

Chardonnay made as a pure white wine conjures up visions of green apple, lemon or citrus, all pointing to fruity flavor and acidity. Wines made from extremely ripe grapes bear the distinctly softer Chardonnay flavors of figs, pineapples, ripe apples, melons and honey.

Chardonnay is a good-yielding variety that buds early in the season and also ripens relatively early, with its thin skin making it susceptible to rot from early rains. Chardonnay ripens easily and produces medium-to-full-bodied Chardonnay wines with rich apple, citrus, and tropical fruit aromas and flavors. When Chardonnay wines are made with care, they are bold, rich and complex and taste of ripe figs and peach, honey and butter, hazelnuts and spice. The best are medium-bodied, medium dry and high in acidity. Chardonnays, more than any other white wine, love to be aged in oak.

Chardonnay Wine Tip:

Chardonnay wine is not an especially versatile food wine and is best paired with simply prepared seafood and poultry dishes.

Wine Ratings - Wine ratings, wine and winery related information for the enjoyment of fine wines.

The wine regions of Austria are divided into 4 areas, called Lower Austria, Styria, Burgenland, and Vienna. Each of these regions is then further divided, for a total of 19 designated wine growing areas. To roughly get your bearings, Lower Austria encompasses the wine growing areas north and west of Vienna, with Burgenland south and east of Vienna and Styria south and west of Burgenland.

Styria is truly as beautiful a wine country as can be found anywhere in the world, particularly along the ?Sudsteirischen Weinstrasse? (Southern Styrian Wine Road) which travels the hills from the towns of Leutschach to Berghausen and Leibnitz to Demmerkogel and is a popular wine-tourist route. The Styrian wine area is divided into three sub-regions: Southeastern Styria (Sud-oststeiermark), Western Styria (Weststeiermark), and Southern Styria (Sudsteiermark), of which the last is perhaps the best known.

The 4700 acres of vineyards in Southern Styria, with its breathtaking hills, makes it the largest of the three regions. Set on the border of Slovenia, it has been cultivating vines almost uninterrupted since Imperial times. It enjoys a climate like that of the rest of Southern Europe and is planted almost exclusively with white varietals. Of those, it is most famous for its Sauvignon Blancs, which have a structure, elegance and fruit-forward profile rivaling the best of what either the Old or New World have to offer. The most reknowned winemaking villages in Southern Styria are Gamlitz, Leutschach, Silberberg (which has a well-regarded winemaking school), Ehrenhausen and Kitzeck. The finest of those fine Sauvignon Blancs and other white wines come from the wineries of Sabathi, Tement, Tschermonegg, Gross, Sattlerhof and the recently closed VIN?O Tscheppe (the 2004 will mark their final vintage).

In Western Styria, which is comprised of about 1800 acres of vines, there is a truly regional wine called Schilcher. Made from the Blauer Wildbacher grape, it has a distinctive salmon color and a very high acid content. Here they don?t worry about exporting, as the majority of the small amount produced is all but totally consumed in the local heurigers (wine gardens), and the wine is not built for aging and must be consumed when young.

Most of the wines grown in Southeastern Styria?s 3400 acres come from vineyards that are less than an acre large, so the winemaking is primarily a side profession here, with extra wine being sold in the local eateries, called Buschenschanken. In the area around Kloch, however, some good Traminer white wines are being produced, and they have given themselves the brand ?Klocher Traminer Schutzmarke? in order to stand out from the rest of the region.

Emily Schindler is a wine importer based in Los Angeles. Specializing in Austrian wines, you can read more of her writing about the Austrian wine regions, see maps, and find great Austrian wines at http://www.winemonger.com

The relationship between wine and food goes back a long way and there are long standing traditions governing the pairing of certain wines with certain foods. This proper combination of the appropriate wine with a delicious meal results in an enjoyable experience by all who are participating in the event. By choosing the correct wine the taste of the meal can be enhanced greatly and the same is true of the correct dish being served along with the wine. It is not necessary to spend lavish amounts of money at some exclusive restaurant to achieve satisfaction; you can have the experience in your own home.

The rules for pairing certain wines with certain foods goes back to the 1800s when French chefs were traveling throughout Europe and sharing their opinions on what wine should be drank with a certain meal. This is where the basis for serving white wines with seafood comes from and that of serving red wines with red meat and wild game. Sometimes in modern times these rules have been bent or broken due to more availability of a greater variety of wines.

The key to the proper harmony of wine with a meal is to always take care that the wine and the meal compliment one another and not compete with each other, for example serving a premium wine with a more average meal instead of trying to combine the best wine and the best meal all at the same time. Another key point is to serve regional wines with their equivalent local dishes, for example certain Spanish dishes are best served with a Spanish wine from the region the food originates from.

To help you make the right choices in matching the appropriate wine to a meal bear these things in mind:

Always consider the richness of both and choose a heavier full bodied red wine in most cases for a rich red meat or wild game meal. There are some white wines that could be appropriate as a matter of personal taste.

Never serve a dry wine with dessert, always choose a wine that is at least as sweet as the confectionary delight being served.

Wines that are higher in tannins should served with high protein meals which mix with the tannins and lessen the tannin taste. If you attempt to serve a high tannin wine with fish or other seafood they will sometimes give an unpleasant metallic taste or even taste bitter with salty dishes.

So keep the old rules in mind when making your choices but also remember that they can be bent a little in consideration of an exceptional wine or rare meal.

Gregg Hall is a consultant for online and offline businesses and lives in Navarre Florida. Find out about personalized wine bottles at http://www.winebottlespersonalized.com

White Zinfandel wine is a blush wine made in California from early-picked Zinfandel grapes. The red grapes are quickly separated from their skins during crushing and fermentation so that the resulting White Zinfandel wine is very light pink; thus White Zinfandel wines have far less color, alcohol and flavors than normally fermented Zinfandels.

White Zinfandel is a great starter wine because it is light and refreshing and sweet. The flavors are delicious and the price is always right. New wine drinkers would do well to experiment with White Zinfandel.

White Zinfandel wines have gained acclaim with many local and non-local wine enthusiasts. The light strawberry and cherry aromas and flavors are coupled with just enough acid to balance the modest residual sugar in this wine. The soft pink color catches the eye and the fruity bouquet begs the first sip. White Zinfandel wine is best served chilled with a nice picnic or try putting it in the freezer and serving it a little slushy. There?s nothing more refreshing on a warm summer day.

White Zinfandel Wine Tip:

Within White Zinfandel wine, a light creaminess is evident, with a refreshing crisp finish. Delicious enjoyed well-chilled as an aperitif, White Zinfandel wine is perfect partner to all types of foods, particularly those which have slight heat or spiciness such as Asian or Latin cuisine.

Wine Ratings - Wine ratings, wine and winery related information for the enjoyment of fine wines.

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

Follow a Local Wine Trail to Discover the Secrets of Fine Wine

Suppose you want to kick back after a long day at work. You light a candle and put on some quiet music but realize the evening isn?t complete, so you run out to your local liquor store, looking for the perfect bottle of wine to cap the evening. What will you buy? When you see all the choices, you will probably look for a brand you tried before or a name you recognize?perhaps White Zinfandel by Sutter Home, the California winery.

What you might not realize is the wines that are stocked in local liquor stores tend not to be local, but are from the largest wineries that can afford a wide distribution. Often, small, local wineries have a smaller distribution, and even though their wine is better, you will have a harder time finding it unless you buy from the winery itself.

There are probably many local wineries within a short drive of your house. A quick online search reveals that, around Detroit (for example), wineries exist in Ann Arbor (less than one hour away), Albion (less than two hours away), and even in south-western Ontario (less than one hour away). All fifty states have wineries, and each winery often produces their own distinct-tasting wine. A merlot, for example, will taste different depending on geographic location and the particular winery. Some wineries specialize in creating basic wines (i.e., merlot) while others focus on creating fruit or specialty wines (i.e., blackberry merlot or ice wines).

One way of discovering these wineries is to take a day, perhaps on a weekend or during a vacation, and visit several of these wineries. Because of the conditions needed to grow and harvest good grapes, many wineries are often clustered together along a very scenic ?wine trail.? Following a trail can be very informative and educational, as you learn about wine-making and taste many of the different wines the wineries make.

Once you have followed your local wine trails, you will know how to pick out a good local wine you will enjoy. You?ll probably even buy several bottles from the wine trail you visited! Not only will you be drinking good wine that you didn?t know about before, but you will be supporting your local economy.

Another benefit to visiting a wine trail is that you can turn the visit into the perfect family trip. Many wineries have U-Pick fruit orchards, so you and your family can pick fresh fruit during your winery visit.

One way to begin learning more about wine and local wineries is to make a commitment to following one wine trail each month. You can begin in your home state, visit a few wineries, and then begin branching out to other nearby states. By the end of a year, you will have visited many of your own local wineries, as well as wineries in many other states!

Jim and Laura Hofman are avid travelers who enjoy exploring and learning about various wineries and wine regions in the United States. Known as unofficial travel advisors for their family, friends, and business associates, the Hofmans enjoy the simple pleasure of sharing a bottle of wine and enjoying life. Subscribe to their free, monthly online newsletter at http://www.WineTrailsUSA.com

White Zinfandel wine is a blush wine made in California from early-picked Zinfandel grapes. The red grapes are quickly separated from their skins during crushing and fermentation so that the resulting White Zinfandel wine is very light pink; thus White Zinfandel wines have far less color, alcohol and flavors than normally fermented Zinfandels.

White Zinfandel is a great starter wine because it is light and refreshing and sweet. The flavors are delicious and the price is always right. New wine drinkers would do well to experiment with White Zinfandel.

White Zinfandel wines have gained acclaim with many local and non-local wine enthusiasts. The light strawberry and cherry aromas and flavors are coupled with just enough acid to balance the modest residual sugar in this wine. The soft pink color catches the eye and the fruity bouquet begs the first sip. White Zinfandel wine is best served chilled with a nice picnic or try putting it in the freezer and serving it a little slushy. There?s nothing more refreshing on a warm summer day.

White Zinfandel Wine Tip:

Within White Zinfandel wine, a light creaminess is evident, with a refreshing crisp finish. Delicious enjoyed well-chilled as an aperitif, White Zinfandel wine is perfect partner to all types of foods, particularly those which have slight heat or spiciness such as Asian or Latin cuisine.

Wine Ratings - Wine ratings, wine and winery related information for the enjoyment of fine wines.

When you hear the word ?wine?, most probably the thing that pops-up to your mind is ?celebration?. Most, if not all, are using wines as symbols of merrymaking and festivities; most celebrations, gatherings and special occasions include wine.

When a friend visits you at your place, wine will be poured; when your children got awards and honors at school, the elders drink wine to celebrate; and when you?re promoted, surely, there?s wine. There are even households that include wine in their meals. Indeed, wine has become part of some people?s lives over the years that they even make collecting wines as hobby.

And if you?re among those some who enjoys collecting wines, you must be in need of wine rack storage; you?ll need wine rack storage especially if your collections are getting big. If this is the case, you can get wine rack storage; there are dealers who offer wine rack storage for different needs. Whether you need wine rack storage for business, at the office for clients or simply at your personal wine bar at home; there are wine rack storage that will surely fit your preferences.

Wine rack storage mostly comes in different designs and you can use them whether in decorative purpose or utilitarian. But, all wine rack storage comes to one common ground; that is to hold wine bottles to free up space in your bars or cellars.

Some wine rack storage are designed to:

• Safely store bottles
• Or simply to display wine

A wine rack storage can:

• Add ambience to a room
• Protect wine in a cellar

Many of us love wine and enjoy the taste but many people really don’t know exactly how wine is created. While almost any fruit juice can be used to make wine, the vast majority of wine is made from grapes.

The ingredient that makes the difference between simple grape juice and wine is of course yeast. One interesting little tidbit that most people don’t know is that there is actually enough yeast in the air around us to turn juice into wine if an unopened bottle of grape juice is left out long enough, though it wouldn’t necessarily be something you would really want to drink!

The process of fermentation is a result of yeast consuming the sugar in grape juice. The wine industry chooses the yeast used in the fermentation process from numerous strains that are raised exclusively for winemaking. The particular strain of yeast used along with the temperature during the fermentation process also determines some of the taste of the wine.

The yeast spores reproduce continually until there in no longer any sugar left to consume during the fermentation process. It is during this event that the alcohol content and carbon dioxide is created. The yeast falls to the bottom of the container once all the consumable sugar is gone and the wine is then taken from the container and placed in a new container to mature.

Wine gets its color in much the same way it gets its taste, from the grapes that are used but it is by allowing the skins of the grapes soak in the juice that creates the color. In fact nearly all grape juice is nearly colorless. The longer the skins are allowed to soak in the juice, the darker the color of the wine. Believe it or not Champagne is which comes from black grapes is made white by not allowing the skins of the grapes to have any contact with the juice.

The taste of each individual variety of wine is determined predominately by the varying factors in each variety of grape. Every type of grape produces different aromas and flavors depending upon the soil, climate, and the type of grape.

Winemakers also influence the taste of the wine by altering the temperature and by the yeast that they choose during the fermentation process. The containers that the wine is stored in have a lot to do with the taste as well with oak barrels being the container of choice for many winemakers.

There are so many different varieties of wines available that one would be hard pressed to find and taste them all in a lifetime but it would be fun to try!

Gregg Hall is a consultant for online and offline businesses and lives in Navarre Florida. Find out about personalized wine bottles at http://www.winebottlespersonalized.com