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March 12th, 2010
If you want to find some good wines but you aren’t sure where to go, then it may very well be time for a wine guide. Take some time to peruse your local bookstore in search of wine guides. Consider whether or not you are willing to go out of the country or if you just want to visit another state, and then choose your book accordingly. There are many great wine guides to choose from, and most of them tend to put out a new book each year in order to keep information up to date. Kevin Zraly brings out the American Wine Guide, which can be great if you want to stay within the United States. Food & Wine Magazine has a wine guide and it is organized alphabetically by country, allowing you a broader look at the world. Most wine guides are also small in size, which allows you to carry them wherever you decide to go. They also tend to include additional information that you may find handy, from wine prices to a wine-tasting guide.
Posted by: Matters2009
March 10th, 2010
The most important wine region in France, the Bordeaux region has around 7,000 chateaux constantly producing delectable wines. Bordeaux also has a huge range of wines that come out of the area. In fact, there are 21 different appellations that are produced in Bordeaux: Médoc Haut Médoc Margaux Saint Estèphe Pauillac Moulis Saint Emilion Saint Julien Cotes de Castillon Listrac Cotes de Francs Pomerol Cotes de Bourg Graves Premieres Cotes de Bordeaux Fronsac Barsac Sauternes Pessac Léognan Bordeaux aoc/supérieur Entre deux mers Located in the southwestern area of France, it makes one-third of all high-quality French wines. These wines also range greatly, from full-bodied red wines to sweet white wines. Many of the wines made here are so good that a ranking system was created in order to separate the best of the best. Though critics now question the system, it still can’t be denied that Bordeaux is a prime place to taste wine.
Posted by: Matters2009
March 8th, 2010
Pairing chocolate with wine can sometimes be as tricky as pairing cheese with wine; you don’t want one to overpower the other. The goal is to find wines and chocolates that compliment one another. Bittersweet Chocolate – Intense dark chocolate with a cacao content ranging from 70% and up works great with strong red wines such as Bordeaux or Ruby Port that include concentrated fruit flavors. Semisweet Chocolate – Cacao contents of 50% – 69% can be paired with an interesting array of wines, from Orange Muscat to Tawny Port to Zinfandel. They often bring out the nutty and spicy sides of the chocolate. Milk Chocolate – Sweeter wines are needed here in order to keep the wine from tasting tart due to the milk chocolate. Hungarian Tokaji, Muscat, and Tawny Ports are all good choices for their fruity or nutty overtones. White Chocolate – Because this is not a true chocolate (no chocolate liqueur involved), it is very creamy with vanillas, milks, and caramel tones. Champagne, Gewurztraminer, and Muscat are a few wines that bring out all the right flavors with no worry about tartness. Some wonderful chocolate to go with your wine can be found at http://www.barparts.com/Wine-Lovers-Gourmet-Chocolates-Individual-P372.aspx
Posted by: Matters2009
March 5th, 2010
There are times when choosing just the right wine can be confusing or just downright frustrating. People who are serious about their wine know exactly what to look for, whereas the casual wine drinker may feel lost in a store full of various bottles. If you aren’t sure what to drink, you can let someone else make the choice for you. There are dozens of wine clubs available that choose great wines to send to members each month. Most wine clubs, such as the one offered by Food & Wine, allow you to pay a flat fee for 6 or 12 bottles of high quality wine. This also allows you to control how much wine you get and how much you pay, leaving you without any locked-in commitment. By joining a wine club, you can discover great new wines and learn a little more about what you like in the process.
Posted by: Matters2009
March 3rd, 2010
Located in the northeastern corner of France, the Alsace region is a little sliver of wine country that produces some lovely blends such as: Riesling – Said to be the most elegant grape of the region, it offers up a dry and well-balanced wine that can be paired with shellfish, fish, and cold meats. Gewurztraminer – Meaning “spicy” in German, it has a fruity taste with powerful aromas that may remind tasters of flowers. It goes wonderfully with many traditional German dishes that include sausages and sauerkraut. Pinot Blanc – A dry white wine, it has a faint fruity taste and aromas that will remind tasters of peaches or pears. Tokay Pinot Gris – A rich white wine with a near-golden color that actually has the power to replace a red wine when eating a dish that features red meat. Sylvaner – Originally from Australia, it is a fresh and fruity dry white wine with an interesting pale green color. Best when served young and preferably with fish. Crémant d’Alsace – A sparkling wine that is found in several other wine regions as well, though it is most popular when from Alsace. Perfect with desserts when served young.
Posted by: Matters2009
March 1st, 2010
Great chefs and food lovers know that when wine is brought into contact with a fabulous meal, the results can be heavenly. For those who enjoy food and wine together, why not learn a few recipes that incorporate your favorite bottles into a delicious meal? If you aren’t sure where to start, snapping up a cookbook geared completely toward the meeting of food and wine is the best place. Cooking with Wine: 86 Chefs, Winemakers and Wineries Share 172 of Their Favorite Recipes of Cooking with Wine and Pairing Wine with Food is one book that focuses solely on the togetherness of wine and food. With 19 different wines utilized in the numerous recipes you will find here, you may be hard pressed to choose a favorite. Once you have a solid introduction to incorporating wine into food, you may be more comfortable experimenting on your own. The flavors of a good wine are always welcome at dinner – something that dinner guests can also appreciate!
Posted by: Matters2009
February 26th, 2010
Wine enthusiasts need no introduction to white wines, reds, and sparkling wines. However, the “orange” wine is an up and coming form that is slowly but surely gaining in popularity. These orange wines are slightly altered white wines. These are created when the grapes are left with the grape skins for a much longer period of time than the typical white wine is when made. Normally, only a few hours, or at most a day, of contact with the skins is permitted with a white wine. Orange wines can be left with them for as long as several months. The result gives them a higher resistance to oxygen, which in turn gives them the ability to stay fresher longer. In addition, the flavor changes. Instead of the various white wine flavors, they can be a bit more powerful, include stronger aromas, and have textures that can range from gritty to surprisingly appealing. While some may reject these wines outright, a good wine lover will do well to try them. After all, if wine is like art, then it will forever be constantly evolving.
Posted by: Matters2009
February 24th, 2010
Wine and all its properties have always been a source of fascination with man. It has also proven to be a source of inspiration and interesting writings. Ancient philosophers, medics, and historians often had something to say when it came to wines. Concerning Mediterranean people, the Greek historian Thucydides wrote that they “emerge from barbarism when they learned to cultivate the oil and the vine.” Plato, the philosopher, argued about the ages of drinking. He stated that it should begin at 18, and then wine should be taken in moderation until the ages of 31. However, once a man reached 40, Plato believed there should be no limit so as to help with the “crabbiness of old age.” Even Egypt had a rich history of wine and mystery around it – only pharaohs were allowed to store wine until it matured because such a practice was considered alchemy.
Posted by: Matters2009
February 22nd, 2010
Wines and religion have had an interesting, intertwined relationship for centuries. Many churches and monasteries during the Middle Ages – and often earlier – derived much of their income through the creation of wine. Two of the most prolific winemakers were the Cistercians and Benedictines. It is said that members from these two orders actually tasted the soil to find out how it differed from location to location. Orthodox Jews can drink wine as well, but it must be kosher in order for them to do so. This means that the wine cannot be touched at any time by someone who is a non-observant Jew or a “Gentile.” This means from the grapevine to the bottle, wine can only be handled by certain members of the religion, and it must also contain only kosher ingredients. The prophet Mohammed affected the way wine was handled in the Arabian areas; after his death, wine was banned from the majority of countries that listened to him.
Posted by: Matters2009
February 19th, 2010
People often look down on box wine as cheap and unappealing. However, box wine actually has a few benefits that some may not have considered. Food & Wine Magazine recently gave box wine a bit of applause for one simple fact: freshness. Because box wine comes in a bag instead of a bottle, when it is poured, virtually no oxygen gets into the bag. Though the outside packaging is a box, the box is only used to house the bag, which is created to collapse as the wine is emptied out of it. Without any oxygen reaching the wine, the wine is able to stay fresher, longer. Box wine also does not have to be cheap and without texture. Most wines are, in fact, made ready to drink right away instead of being aged. Box wines are also great for get-togethers. You can purchase certain wines that come in attractive wooden boxes instead of cardboard or other forms. For example, you can buy 3 liters of 2008 Domaine le Garrigton Côtes-du-Rhône for around $40, a meaty red straight from the Rhône Valley.
Posted by: Matters2009 |
