Over the years, numerous wine styles have been promoted as the ideal fro all occasions. Earlier it began with the sparkling pearl wines and later on came Mateus Rose. During the early days white wines were drunk with anything and everything. While it is certainly true that, in general, white wines will compliment a wider range of food and climatic conditions than the red wines, it is equally true that in certain situations some wines work better than the others.
For example, a light aromatic Rhine Riesling can be very attractive drink on its own, but it can become almost tasteless when forced to confront a heavily seasoned dish. Similarly, one of the new breed of wood matured white wines can be a marvellous combination with a dish such as veal in a spicy sauce or pasta where that cleansing astringency from the oak can help to cut back the richness of the dish. But served alone or with a delicate sea food, it can overpower the taste buds and leave your palate crying out for something more gentle.
Rose, that much-maligned wine, is still closer than almost any other wine style to being the drink for all seasons. Served slightly chilled, it can embrace a whole gamut of flavours from fish to fowl, ham to lightly spice oriental food.
Otherwise the basic rule is try to compliment the food with your wine, not letting one dominate the other.
Natural Serving Order of Wine
There is some logical order of progression through a meal and also for serving wines. They are:
• White before red
• Young before old
• Dry before sweet
Much will depend on the food and the occasion. Things can become trickier when it comes to different varietal styles of similar age. But here the food may take the decision easier. However, if you cant taste them together first, the best guide is probably the colour – server the lighter coloured wines first.
In white wines, the lighter wines are usually the fresher, more aromatic, styles, whereas those with a deeper hue will be more full-bodied. The same basic principle applies in red wines also, with those of lesser density being lighter in flavour and usually a little softer on the finish. As wines get older, it gets harder to use this technique, but for the majority of current commercial wines it provides a simple and easy to remember guide.
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Thursday, March 18, 2010
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.
All Rights Reserved. You may reprint this content as long as it remains unchanged and the links are intact.
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.
All Rights Reserved. You may reprint this content as long as it remains unchanged and the links are intact.
Thursday, March 11, 2010
A Little Red Wine Could Take You A Long Way!
Longevity interests a lot of people who aren't ready to give up their lives, just yet, and who look to healthy alternatives to culturally defined eating patterns and "health care."
The benefits of drinking wine have been touted for a while and are thought, by some, to be the reason why the French can get away with eating a high fat diet while enjoying a low rate of coronary disease.
A few years ago, a study by French research team also found that men who regularly drank at least two glasses of wine daily were 50 percent less likely than non-drinkers to suffer a second heart attack.
Previous studies with yeast, a small species of worm, and fruit flies have shown that resveratrol -- a polyphenol antioxidant found in grapes, especially red grapes, and particularly pinot noir grapes which are grown in northern latitudes and used in wines coming from New York, Washington, and Oregon -- is a life-extending compound.
In a new study from Italy, resveratrol has been used to increase the life span of a short-lived breed of tropical fish by more than 50%. Not only did fish given resveratrol in their food live longer than the control group, they stayed livelier as they aged and displayed better memory in stimulus/response tests. And the neurons in their brains didn't decay as quickly when they died and were dissected.
Resveratrol, an organic compound contained in the skins of grapes that protects them from disease, is extracted from grapes by the wine making process. The wine becomes a preservative for the resveratrol and prevents its oxidation.
That's why drinking grape juice or eating raisins doesn't have the same effect; the resveratrol has neither been extracted nor preserved. It's also been shown that resveratrol in food supplements oxidizes upon exposure to air and loses its effectiveness.
Red wine may truly be a "wondrous drug!"
Other studies have shown that wine, especially red wine, can help prevent colds, increase the levels of HDL (good) cholesterol, lower the risk of Alzheimer's, reduce the size and number of fat cells in the body, reduce the risk of prostate cancer, and has anti-inflammatory properties to boot.
Drug companies are trying to copy Red wine may truly be a "wondrous drug!", but might not be able to preserve it's health-preserving benefits. Besides, resveratrol is freely available in red wine and not patentable as such.
The benefits of drinking wine have been touted for a while and are thought, by some, to be the reason why the French can get away with eating a high fat diet while enjoying a low rate of coronary disease.
A few years ago, a study by French research team also found that men who regularly drank at least two glasses of wine daily were 50 percent less likely than non-drinkers to suffer a second heart attack.
Previous studies with yeast, a small species of worm, and fruit flies have shown that resveratrol -- a polyphenol antioxidant found in grapes, especially red grapes, and particularly pinot noir grapes which are grown in northern latitudes and used in wines coming from New York, Washington, and Oregon -- is a life-extending compound.
In a new study from Italy, resveratrol has been used to increase the life span of a short-lived breed of tropical fish by more than 50%. Not only did fish given resveratrol in their food live longer than the control group, they stayed livelier as they aged and displayed better memory in stimulus/response tests. And the neurons in their brains didn't decay as quickly when they died and were dissected.
Resveratrol, an organic compound contained in the skins of grapes that protects them from disease, is extracted from grapes by the wine making process. The wine becomes a preservative for the resveratrol and prevents its oxidation.
That's why drinking grape juice or eating raisins doesn't have the same effect; the resveratrol has neither been extracted nor preserved. It's also been shown that resveratrol in food supplements oxidizes upon exposure to air and loses its effectiveness.
Red wine may truly be a "wondrous drug!"
Other studies have shown that wine, especially red wine, can help prevent colds, increase the levels of HDL (good) cholesterol, lower the risk of Alzheimer's, reduce the size and number of fat cells in the body, reduce the risk of prostate cancer, and has anti-inflammatory properties to boot.
Drug companies are trying to copy Red wine may truly be a "wondrous drug!", but might not be able to preserve it's health-preserving benefits. Besides, resveratrol is freely available in red wine and not patentable as such.
Thursday, March 4, 2010
A Guide To Storing & Enjoying Wine
No matter what you tipple is; white, red, pink or sparkling, storing your wine correctly is essential. Simply putting your favourite bottle above the fridge and forgetting about it for a year could drastically alter the taste, then, when you come to enjoy it at that special occasion, it might not be as favourable as you hoped.
Despite wines being a perishable commodity, properly caring for and storing your wine can actually improve its’ aroma, flavour, texture and complexity over time.
Step 1: How long are you storing your wine for?
The first decision to make is how long you are planning to store your wine for. Generally short term storage means 3 to 6 months and should be your cheaper, less cherished wines, where as long term can mean decades and should be reserved for your quality, precious wines.
Step 2: Correct storage conditions
Whether it’s short or long term storage the same rules apply, firstly and most crucially the bottles should be laid horizontally instead of upright, this ensures the cork remains moist, to stop it drying out.
It is essential to keep the wines in a vibration free environment so they can not move about, therefore on top of electrical appliances or a place subject to external forces (i.e. from a subway) should be avoided.
Wine can be greatly affected by its surrounding temperature; the ideal temperature is roughly 55 degrees Fahrenheit (12°C). Bottles should be kept out of drafts and any temperature change should be very gradual.
Additionally light can negatively impact on a wine, which is why some wine bottles are made of coloured glass. Wine must be kept out of direct sun light, since too much light can react with proteins in wine, forming a haze and bad aromas to pollute its’ flavour.
For long term storage, the correct atmospheric conditions are required. Humidity has to be very high, approximately 70% or more, in order to stop the cork drying out and to reduce the chance of wine evaporating. Also when storing long term, consider the wines surroundings, ensure there are no other foods or liquids that could be absorbed into the wine itself. Substances with strong aromas for example fuel or vinegar must be kept elsewhere!
Step 3: Enjoy…
When the time comes to pop the cork and savour all your hard work, drink responsibly but do try to finish bottles within a few days of opening, since as soon as the wine is exposed to air it starts mixing with oxygen. This is known as oxidation, which also alters the essence of the wine.
Correct wine storage is fundamental for any serious wine lover, enthusiast or even hobbyist. The most effective storage is in a wine cellar, since numerous bottles can be kept conveniently out of sight yet in the perfect conditions.
Cheers!
Despite wines being a perishable commodity, properly caring for and storing your wine can actually improve its’ aroma, flavour, texture and complexity over time.
Step 1: How long are you storing your wine for?
The first decision to make is how long you are planning to store your wine for. Generally short term storage means 3 to 6 months and should be your cheaper, less cherished wines, where as long term can mean decades and should be reserved for your quality, precious wines.
Step 2: Correct storage conditions
Whether it’s short or long term storage the same rules apply, firstly and most crucially the bottles should be laid horizontally instead of upright, this ensures the cork remains moist, to stop it drying out.
It is essential to keep the wines in a vibration free environment so they can not move about, therefore on top of electrical appliances or a place subject to external forces (i.e. from a subway) should be avoided.
Wine can be greatly affected by its surrounding temperature; the ideal temperature is roughly 55 degrees Fahrenheit (12°C). Bottles should be kept out of drafts and any temperature change should be very gradual.
Additionally light can negatively impact on a wine, which is why some wine bottles are made of coloured glass. Wine must be kept out of direct sun light, since too much light can react with proteins in wine, forming a haze and bad aromas to pollute its’ flavour.
For long term storage, the correct atmospheric conditions are required. Humidity has to be very high, approximately 70% or more, in order to stop the cork drying out and to reduce the chance of wine evaporating. Also when storing long term, consider the wines surroundings, ensure there are no other foods or liquids that could be absorbed into the wine itself. Substances with strong aromas for example fuel or vinegar must be kept elsewhere!
Step 3: Enjoy…
When the time comes to pop the cork and savour all your hard work, drink responsibly but do try to finish bottles within a few days of opening, since as soon as the wine is exposed to air it starts mixing with oxygen. This is known as oxidation, which also alters the essence of the wine.
Correct wine storage is fundamental for any serious wine lover, enthusiast or even hobbyist. The most effective storage is in a wine cellar, since numerous bottles can be kept conveniently out of sight yet in the perfect conditions.
Cheers!
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