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September 1st, 2010
White wines are not all created equal. Certain white wines will remain in the cellar for a long time before they peak and are suitable for drinking. Others peak rather early, making for a tasty bottle without all of the waiting. So which bottles are ready to go and which ones need some time alone? Pinot Grigio needs only a year or so before it’s ready to be poured into your glass. Though it is important to remember that this does not necessarily mean all Pinot Grigio bottles, it does include a large majority of them. Chardonnays need only a year or two more than Pinot Grigio. These tend to include the bottles that don’t cost an arm and a leg; if you spot one of those, it may have remained in the cellar a bit longer. Grüner Veltliner wine takes things up a notch, needing as much as eight years before its release to the public. Cru Chablis rolls right off the tongue, however, if you want the wine to roll off your tongue, the wait can be as much as a decade. At the longest timeframe of twenty or potentially even more years is the Auslese Riesling. They don’t call Riesling one of the noble grapes for nothing!
Posted by: Matters2009
August 30th, 2010
A wine lover can never have too many bottles of delightful wine. Nor can they have too many quality books about wine. The more you know, the better you will be able to discern among good wines and how to best taste them and pair them, as well as some of the greatest places to visit. Here are a few books that you may want to consider adding to your library. Wine (101 Essential Tips Series) by Tom Stevenson – If you’re just starting out on your wine journey, this can be a handy book to have. Each tip is simple and straight to the point, making learning about wine easy. House of Mondavi: The Rise and Fall of an American Wine Dynasty by Julia Flynn Siler – In the Napa Valley, the Mondavi family works to create wine for an expanding country. The story begins in 1906 when Cesare Mondavi came to America from Italy and continues on for four generations with plenty of drama to be had. Oz Clarke: Grapes & Wines: A Comprehensive Guide to Varieties and Flavours by Oz Clarke and Margaret Rand – If you want to delve deeper into the wines you love and even some you may have yet to try, this new book is full of exactly that. Learn all about the grapes and the wines they make in glorious detail.
Posted by: Matters2009
August 27th, 2010
Though “Southern Region” isn’t the official name of the area in the United States where wine is made, it can be used to cover several states: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas. While most of these states do have a handful of wineries, a few have more than others. This is often due to climate as well as the market for the vineyards. North Carolina has several counties that feature wineries. It may surprise some people, but so does Texas. If you aren’t sure where to go in the Southern Region, you have several options available. Many states have their own websites featuring their wine growing hotspots, such as Winesocietyoftexas.org or Georgiawinecountry.com. But you can also use wine guides from bookstores that feature locations throughout the country. If you happen to be in the state you want to tour, check bookstores’ local sections to see if there are any books or guides available that will tell you all about the area and the vineyards you can visit.
Posted by: Matters2009
August 25th, 2010
Despite the fact that Pinot Noir is a difficult grape to grow, its popularity has pushed vineyards onward to find ways to best handle its difficulties. Of course, weather plays a large part in the way that this little grape ripens and tastes in the end. Small crops are most popular; if the grapes don’t get enough heat during the season, they produce a weak wine. However, if the season is too warm, wines can taste a little too ripe. Pinot Noir grapes thrive best when the nights are cool and the days are pleasantly warm. At first, when people first glance at the Pinot Noir, they assume it makes a red wine. While this is true in some cases, it can also be used to make white wines and even sparkling wines such as Champagne. However, it is the color of the skins and not the grape flesh itself that gives a wine its color. When a vineyard wants to make a red wine, they include the skins during the process. If not, then the Pinot Noir skins are discarded early on, leaving only the fleshy fruit of the grape to determine the wine’s coloring.
Posted by: Matters2009
August 23rd, 2010
Not everyone can go out and buy dozens of books about wine every year. Likewise, when wine guides and other local books full of wine information come out with updates, making your old guide obsolete, it can be frustrating. That’s what makes the internet such a fantastic resource. You can always find up-to-date information on all things wine, whether you want information for your particular area or for locations across the globe. Try visiting a few of these websites and see what they can do for you: LocalWineEvents.com – A great place to see all sorts of different wine-related events across the country or internationally. There are hundreds of great events to visit, whether it’s right in your own backyard or across the ocean. WineSpectator.com – If you want a professional’s advice about wine, this is the place to virtually taste it. This is the online component to the popular magazine, so if you don’t feel like subscribing, you can always visit this site for some of the latest juicy bits about wine. WineRelease.com – A unique website, its focus is on the release of new wines each month. They provide you with its information, such as name, location, price, and year. You can also sign up for their monthly newsletter to always be in the know when it comes to newly released wines.
Posted by: Matters2009
August 20th, 2010
The Northeastern Region of the United States often experiences cooler weather, which can be hard on some grape varieties. However, that hasn’t stopped vineyards from popping up in just about every state. The Northeast consists of eleven states. New York used to be a high producer of wine, but it has declined over the years. Still, there are several vineyards that make their home in the more open areas of the state. Other states also include vineyards that can be relatively easy to find using a simple guidebook or by going online and doing a quick search. By just combining the name of the state you want to visit and “vineyard,” you will quickly find just about all the potential places you could go. Vermont alone yields over twenty results, which can give you plenty to choose from on your next trip! Even if you don’t find any specific vineyards you want to see, there are a number of bars you can visit that serve fine wines from around the country and across the globe.
Posted by: Matters2009
August 18th, 2010
Sulphite naturally occurs in wine during the fermentation process. Every wine will contain at least some amount of sulphite. Sulphites are compounds that are made up of sulfur and oxygen. As grape juice slowly turns into alcohol, sulphites are often a by-product. There are other times when winemakers will actively add sulfur dioxide into grapes that have been freshly pressed in order to help preserve it. This is because there are times when bacteria and other natural elements are with the grapes as they are pressed and can potentially compromise the freshness of the wine. Overall, sulphites in the bottle won’t do you any harm. They are simply involved so that wine remains as fresh as possible. Today, the winemaking process is more advanced than it used to be, so even less is needed. The United States does have regulations that require wines to have warning labels if sulphites are in excess of ten parts per million.
Posted by: Matters2009
August 16th, 2010
Looking for a social gathering to kick back and enjoy good food and good wine? Start looking for food and wine festivals to visit! Many food and wine gatherings occur throughout the year. Some are hosted by big names. The Epcot International Food and Wine Festival begins October 1st and runs all month until November 14th. Epcot Theme Park becomes a paradise for people who love amazing food and delicious wine. With plenty of live entertainment, any visitor is sure to have a blast. The Food Network Wine & Food Festival kicks off in New York City on October 7th, 2010. Some of the world’s best experts on wine and talented chefs come to bring their skills and expertise to those interested in experiencing them firsthand. Even better, all the proceeds will go to the Food Bank for New York City & Share Our Strength. It’s a win-win situation for everyone! Not sure if there are any food and wine festivals in your area? Start searching early using the power of the internet. Places like Richwood, New Jersey and National Harbor in Maryland host some great events and have their own websites full of information. Many festivals occur in the summer, but a few occur at other times of the year as well. Make plans to visit one now!
Posted by: Matters2009
August 13th, 2010
If there is one thing that people are certain on when it comes to wine and the United States, it’s that California is the premiere wine location to visit. They would be right. California is well-known for the Sonoma and Napa Valley areas where vineyards are most prominent. Due to the state’s sunny, warm, and relatively mild weather, it’s the ideal spot for a large number of grape varieties to grow. The combination of soil, sun, and cool ocean air allows for California to develop a number of wines suitable for any occasion. From rich reds to dry whites, you don’t even have to visit California to taste the multitude of wines produced there. A trip to any location that sells wine will likely have a wide selection of bottles that come straight from both Napa Valley and Sonoma. Travel there can be fun and relaxing. Many travel books even focus exclusively on either area, but a number of general travel books can easily direct you to other wineries not in those places, giving you a chance to sample all that California has to offer.
Posted by: Matters2009
August 11th, 2010
There are a lot of ways a wine can be labeled. The most experienced of wine connoisseurs will understand what all the information means, including the way that a wine can be named. From locations to grapes, wine names are there to let you in on a little bit about the wine, but they also depend on surrounding factors of the region. There are some locations in which local laws dictate that a wine be labeled in a specific way, whereas in another region, tradition may be the driving force. Old families who have been labeling their wines the same way for decades—if not longer—will continue to do so until forced to change with new laws or another outside factor that is beyond their control. For example, on a large scale, only sparkling wines produced in the Champagne region of France have the right to be called Champagne. Another factor that may determine how a wine is named is simply the marketing forces. If a winery sees that the way a wine is named turns out to be part of a driving force for its purchase, then they may very well switch the way they label their wines to make them more accessible or understandable to buyers, thus selling more.
Posted by: Matters2009 |
