The Rise In Popularity Of Online Wine Merchants

With the digital age in full swing, more and more people are buying wine online. And with a wide range of wine merchants making sure that they have a strong online presence, there's not much to stop them.

There are also many online websites such as Snooth or MustLoveWine that bring wine merchants and lovers from all around the globe together to compare wines and talk about new finds.

In addition to this, there are many specialty websites showcasing only Californian white wines for example or recommending the best places in Spain to book a wine tasting tour. These niche websites are attracting more and more visitors every month.

Many online wine merchants are using the internet to highlight their latest offers and newest wines. The internet is great for spreading word quickly even between people who don't know each other. Using social media sites such as Twitter and Facebook, a merchant can get word out there fast about offers and new wines. Similarly, online discount sites such as Money Saving Expert or Groupon allow merchants to put offers on that then get promoted by the websites themselves.

Furthermore, the are copious amounts of forums and discussion groups that allow people from all over the world to communicate.Online shopping is so easy to do for the consumer with only a small charge most of the time for delivery that it's no wonder that more and more people are doing it. This is especially true if you live a long way away from supermarkets or wine stores and would be spending time and money on transportation anyway.

However, even though there has been a massive rise in the popularity of shopping online, many still prefer the actual shopping experience. This can be especially true when looking for wines. Many people need advice when they are choosing the perfect wine for their dinner party or other event. For example, if you are looking to serve a wine that complements your menu, it can be helpful to ask a wine merchant which of their wines would work best.

While online you can find information about different wines, it is not the same experience as speaking to someone face to face and even trying samples of some of the wines.

Which ever way you prefer to shop, the amount of people buying their wine online looks set only to rise in the upcoming years.

Bio: Emily Barclay runs The Perfect Wine, an independent online wine merchants. She started to set up The Perfect Wine in 2008, bringing together her love of wine and her passion for travelling in Europe. The Perfect Wine is based in Norwich but delivers to the whole of the UK. All wines come from excellent independent vineyards within 1,000 miles of Norwich.   http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Rise-In-Popularity-Of-Online-Wine-Merchants&id=6255870

Benefits Of Red Wine - What Makes Organic Red Wine Good For Your Health?

Perhaps you've read an article or two about the benefits of red wine, but you are not quite sure if it is really healthy? Look no further: in this article I will present you with trustworthy information about the health benefits of wine, and especially the benefits of organic red wine.

Many doctors and scientists nowadays do agree that red wine is healthy for your body, if drank in moderation. By moderation they usually mean one small glass per day, by the way. However scientists are not quite sure what exactly in the wine provides these health benefits.

One possible good-doer in wine could be flavonoids, which are strong antioxidants. Flavonoids are known to help your body by providing protection against LDL (or "bad") cholesterol oxidation. Flavonoids are found in other foods too, such as dark chocolate and certain types of alcohol, but are highly concentrated in red wine.

Another substance which could explain why red wine is good for you is called resveratrol, which is a non-flavonoid that also works as an antioxidant. Resveratrol is beneficial to your health because it destroys free radicals, which are responsible for cell deterioration (thus causing health problems and speeding up the aging process, perhaps even changing your DNA!) Resveratrol may also help to reduce your LDL cholesterol levels and prevent fatty buildup in your arteries, making it very beneficial to your heart.

Perhaps surprisingly, the alcohol found in wine may also have health benefits. But in fact is has been proven that moderate amounts of alcohol may help to raise levels of HDL, (the "good") cholesterol, and may also help to prevent blood clots from forming in blood vessels, therefore preventing stroke and heart attack as well as other circulatory problems. Further scientific research is currently being done to validate the link between alcohol and health.

You can reap all these benefits from any old red wine, but you'll get the most out of an organic red wine. You see, even though all red wines have the same benefits, conventionally grown wines can have contra productive substances in them, such as residues of pesticides or chemical fertilizers, which can be harmful to your health. As these substances are used in growing conventional wines, it cannot be excluded that some of them can make their way into the finished wine, too.

By drinking organic red wine, you don't have to worry about any negative health effects, as organic wine has been grown without chemicals or toxic pesticides. Now that's a pleasure! http://ezinearticles.com/?Benefits-Of-Red-Wine---What-Makes-Organic-Red-Wine-Good-For-Your-Health?&id=7054510

Buying Cheap Wine Online

Wines could be taken in a different perspective depending on the personality of the person. Some people would see wines as a necessity as this tends to be their main drink with their meals. Some others would only buy wines whenever they are going to hold a special occasion while a few buy wine only as gifts to special people in their lives. 

Wines are luxurious alcoholic beverage that everyone considers to be special. Drinking wine can make one feel elegant, sophisticated and classy. But there are some people who often drink wine even in their homes. This makes wines the most loved alcoholic beverages in the world. If you own a wine shop, you are definitely lucky as wines are known around the world.

Today, the trend in wine buying is online. People would prefer buying a cheap wine online than to spend a few hours of their time going to the wine shop. Online wine buying is convenient, easy and quick. You can simply go over the inventory of the online wine store that you have chosen and click on the wines that you would like to purchase. Most of the time these shops accept credit cards and money order. And the best thing about it is that your order will delivered directly to your home. There really is no sweat in purchasing wines online.

It is also better to shop online because you can compare the prices of the wines that you would like to buy. In doing this, you get to take the cheapest possible price for it. Cheap wines can be of plenty over online shops. You just need to choose wisely on which shop to purchase from. You may have to make a research and study the reputation of the shop that you would like to purchase from. This way, you can be sure of the quality of the wines that you will be getting. With proper research, you can avoid online shops that are just scamming people out.

With online wine shops, you can also get to take advantage of the promotions that they give out usually every month. You can even get bigger discounts when you take advantage of the promotions that the shops are giving away. With this, you can then save money when you buy wines. You just need to know when these shops are holding their promotions. 

This way, you will be the first one who will take advantage of it. Buying cheap wine online is a lot more beneficial as you can still make a research on the wines and shops that you are purchasing from. People will have the chance to get to know more about the shop before purchasing from them. Once one has found the right shop to purchase from, shopping online will be a lot easier and more convenient. http://ezinearticles.com/?Buying-Cheap-Wine-Online&id=7048460

Top Cheap Australian Red Wines to Try This Year

Australian red wines are known to be full-bodied and full of flavour. If you are a wine enthusiast, you have probably tried a lot of Australian reds in your lifetime. This year, however, you might want to try these first-rate red wines. That is if you have never tasted them already. Here's a list of some of the best reds from Australia under $15 to try this year.

RED KNOT CLASSIC CABERNET SAUVIGNON SA 2011

Not too many people are a fan of Red Knot, but if there is one Knot you should taste, it's the Red Knot Classic Cabernet Sauvignon SA 2011. Produced from a 5-star winery, this Cab Sav is a true-blue Australian red that is rich in body and integrated with harmonious fruit flavors. Among the aromas this Red Knot brings include chocolate fruit, dark cherry, and blackberry. You can get this for only $10 a bottle.

PENNYS HILL RED DOT MCLAREN VALE MERLOT 2011

The Penny's Hill Red Dot McLaren Vale Merlot 2011 is another red produced from a 5-star rated winery. One reason to drink this wine is the fact that it's produced from one of the premium winemaking regions in Australia. It's delicious and has a medium body with rich texture and dark fruit tannins. A perfect match for seafood, pasta sauce, and white meats, you can get this wine online for only around $8.

GRANT BURGE DALY ROAD SHIRAZ MOURVEDRE 2008 

Australian Shiraz has a reputation of being fruity and very high in alcohol content. Some even say it can overwhelm any type of dish. Nevertheless, the Grant Burge Daly Road Shiraz Mourvedre 2008 is a must-try. It's an award winning red wine and is perfect for any food-loving Shiraz drinker out there. Rich in flavor and aroma, you can get this bottle for only $15.

HESKETH COONAWARRA THE DEALER CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2011

Yet another red produced from one of the 5-star rated wineries in Australia, the Hesketh Coonawarra The Dealer Cabernet Sauvignon 2011 is a best seller. This is one wine you should try if you are a fan of wines produced by family-run vineyards. Tom and Jonathan Hesketh, makers of this first-rate Australian red wine are committed in producing high-quality wines, which means you can rest assured this wine is going to be worth every penny. It gives you the classic Coonawarra herbaceous aroma, and has a persistent finish of fine-grained tannins on the palate. Get this for only $9 per bottle.  http://ezinearticles.com/?Top-Cheap-Australian-Red-Wines-to-Try-This-Year&id=7739312

White Wine's Influence on the Lungs

For years now, we've been praising the health benefits of red wine, raising our glasses and toasting Merlot as bottles of white wine sit in the corner, fermenting with jealously. Because red wine has been known to have a positive impact on the human body, with particular profits to the cardiovascular system, we drink it and we heart it.

Not to be outdone by its colorful adversary, studies have recently found white wine to be beneficial to health as well. While both red and white wine aid in lung function, white wine has a more positive impact on lung health.

According to a study by the American Thoracic Society, a positive link between white wine and lung health was found for people who drank between one and three glasses a day. These people possessed overall better lung function than those who drank red wine, or other alcoholic beverages. This study also took into account several other variables such as the wine drinker's general health, age, and whether or not they were a smoker.

Because white wine contains higher levels of flavonoids, a group of plant substances known for their antioxidant activity, researchers believe that white wine soaks up the toxins in the blood, like a "mop and glo" for the thorax, reducing inflammation of the airwaves in the process. This helps protect the lungs.

Drinking white wine may also be beneficial because of the presence of free radicals lurking in the human body. If antioxidants are the "peacekeepers" of the chemical compound world, with their main goal being to keep the body void of disease and destruction, free radicals are the bad seeds, often caught red handed spraying graffiti of cancer and illness on internal organs. Consumption of white wine, however, possesses the ability to stop the creation of free radicals, taking away their can of spray paint and leaving them enervated.

All of these factors add up to better lung function, with each glass increasing respiratory performance. According to a study at the University of Buffalo School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, one glass of white wine produced 1.5% higher lung function. Three glasses of white wine produced 3.0% higher lung function. 

This is not to say that people should be chugging gallons and gallons - huge amounts of white wine won't give people the ability to breathe underwater - but drinking white wine in moderation may make a human's lungs operate at a higher level of performance. This can, on average, add one to three more years to a person's life span.

With red wine bragging about its ability to lower cholesterol and lower blood pressure, white wine has been left in the shadows, unable to boast about a benefit of its own. But, with new studies, people are learning that white wine may be as beneficial as red, its benefits just involve a different organ. If our hearts belong to red wine, our lungs belong to white, allowing both white wine drinkers and bottles of overzealous Pinot Gris to breathe a little easier. http://ezinearticles.com/?White-Wines-Influence-on-the-Lungs&id=266266

Wine and Celebration Have Gone Together For Thousands of Years

I occasionally look for reasons why wine is so intrinsically linked with celebrations and social events; more so than any other drink. Wine's place in history seems to have always been right in front of our eyes. Even in earliest recorded history, wine seems to have been enjoyed many fans-from royalty to the common man.

I grew up in a home that would be defined as teetotaling, based upon religious beliefs. Nonetheless, I could never really accept what appears to be a "teetotaler's paradox". For example, here is the rub: Was not the first miracle in the New Testament the turning of water into fine wine at a wedding celebration? Also, the Last Supper had wine with the meal. Again, in this example wine was consumed in the context of a celebration. In total there are more than 235 mentions of wine in the Bible; and yes some are admonitions about abuse of strong drink.

Over the years I got over this conflict in logic, but I continue to ponder how wine has become a drink associated with celebrations, of welcomes, of friendships and even something to be enjoyed as a quiet moment of self reward. Great people through the ages talk about wine with awe, reverence and as if wine had/has mystical qualities. 

Ben Franklin and Thomas Jefferson were absolutely in love with all things wine and even seemed to be inspired by wine. During my years in the Navy I participated many occasions of festive recognitions with the ceremonial toasts using wine. There are even books written on the etiquette of toasting. We see wine used all around us; everything from state dinners to a casual meeting of friends at a dinner party. It isn't unheard of that a teetotaler may raise a glass of wine for a toast without drinking the wine.

But the question still remains: How did wine become so recognized as a celebratory drink?

Any wine commentary with attributions before say 5,000 BC becomes somewhat meaningless to me. Just for the record however, there are indications that grape vines have been discovered in historic carbon dated digs going back 60 million years. Vines are not wines, so let's move on. Wine as a fermented beverage starts at about 8,500 BC following the first fermented beverage which was mead and beer.

 "As cultivated fermentable crops, honey and grain is older than grapes, although neither mead nor beer has had anywhere near the social impact of wine over recorded time," says Tom LaMar a wine researcher. From what I can determine, the first recorded vineyard and wine production can be attributed to Noah following the Great Flood. Thank you Noah.

Probably Egypt and Mesopotamia (due to the commercial route facilitated by the Euphrates River) were the first to develop a great appreciation for wine. There is evidence that royalty found favor in wine and used wine for social events and trade. Some say beer and wine consumption was the outgrowth of poor water quality; however that may not be totally true as peasants did not have much access to wine or beer.

The Greeks, being great world traders about 1,600 BC, are credited with bringing wine to more markets. After discovering the medicinal values of wine, wine was celebrated for its therapeutic values along with social values which have been commented on by great Greek thinkers like Plato. "No thing more excellent nor more valuable than wine was ever granted mankind by God," Plato-400 BC. But, it was the conquest of the Romans that stepped up the trade in wine all over their empire. 

We all have read enough about the Roman Empire, including the findings in Pompeii, to know the Romans treasured their wine for celebrations. From a historical perspective it is believed wine may have been around for approximately 10,000 years. It must have been a very pleasant drink in its most early existence because it survived a rather hostile environment-considering fermentation techniques, containers, heat, etc. 

Folklore indicates that a young Persian princess, in a fit of depression, attempted suicide by eating rotting grapes. To her surprise she found fermented grapes tasted good, relieved her of emotional stress and left her feeling buoyed in spirit. I think that same effect of fermented grapes can hold true to this day! From these humble beginnings many empires have found great value in wine, even establishing wine trade; from the Greeks to the Romans to Western Europeans. So, we know wine had great perceived value.

From the Bible we know man has been instructed to look at wine as part of festivities and celebration. Even the Old Testament instructs that there is medicinal value to wine. In fact science has been researching wine aggressively since 1954 when Dr. Jack Masquelier started doing wine research relative to health. As an aside, there are more than 300 compounds found in wine and others yet to be discovered. Seems science likes wine.

The complexities found in wine continue to keep the mystery of wine thriving and add to the romance of discovery. Even the fact that wine comes anew every year makes it magical. Maybe because wine is crafted in art and science, orchestrated by Nature, this adds to the pedigree that is totally wines'.

I conclude wine has maintained its personality and value and allure in societies celebration over the past 10,000 years for the following reasons:

• Wine manages to impact the senses like no other fermented beverage. There is a mystical color that captivates our sight. Wine has very complex smells. The tastes of wine runs the gambit of spices, smoke, leather-and the list goes on. Part of the taste is driven by tannins and acids. Even the sound of pouring wine is pleasant to the ear.
• Wine is precious. It is created in and of the land, which is traditionally a humble existence. This is part of the pedigree that makes it precious--handmade.
• The academic side of wine has been documented since Biblical times and re-enforced in subsequent cultures. Mr. Jim LaMar wrote that wine is a most "democratic beverage"; probably because it is available for the masses to enjoy the same as royalty. It is well researched and science continues to improve wine.
• Tradition and classic cultures have kept wine as a social and celebratory drink.
• The complexity of wine enhances the enjoyment of food and food is always part of celebration.
• The alcohol in wine stimulates and can be relaxing and these factors always are part of a social atmosphere.
• Lest we forget, wine has health benefits-'here's to your health' is a toast often heard at many events.
• A wide variety of wines satisfy most any palate at an assemblage of people with various levels of wine experience and background.
• The last factor that I think has made wine an enduring beverage of celebration and social gatherings is its mystery; not even the most educated amongst us can explain.

Some traditions don't last from one generation to another. Even some celebrations don't survive over the millenniums. But wine has survived the test of time and still holds people in its grasp when it comes to celebrations, social events between friends and family, and meaningful events. For me, it works as a sipping beverage after a hard day and I just want to relax with my family.

Cheers!

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Red Vs White Wine Glasses

Take a sip of wine from a quality glass, and you'll notice flavors, aromas, and even colors that would escape you if the same wine sat in a plastic cup. Though many practical wine lovers have one mid-sized glass at home for reds, whites, and roses, glasses come in an array of shapes and sizes to complement the characteristics of particular wines. The basic glass types are:

• Red Wine Glasses: Red wines are generally served at room temperature, often allowed to "breathe" in a carafe before serving to improve flavor and depth. A red wine glass tends to be fairly bulbous and short, with broad bowls and narrower lips, in order to trap aromas while giving the wine plenty of space to spread out and breathe. The glasses are designed to be held by the bowl rather than the stem.


• White Wine Glasses: Most whites (and many roses) are served chilled. White wine glasses are taller and slimmer, with longer stems and narrower bowls. Holding the glass by the stem keeps the wine colder for longer, since body heat from your hand doesn't directly contact the vessel. The taller, slimmer shape protects the delicate flavors of whites from exposure to too much air while keeping a chill for longer.


• Champagne Flutes: Designed for sparkling wines, which are carbonated to contain delicate flavors and effervescent bubbles, flutes are tall and slim with long stems. Most hold 6.5 ounces or more. The design traps more bubbles and keeps delicate flavors protected from the air.


• Stemless Wine Glasses: In the last two decades, stemless wine glasses have become popular. These glasses take a range of shapes designed specifically for reds or whites. Most keep the traditional rounded bowl shape, but sit on a flat bottom rather than being elevated by a stem. These glasses must be held by the bowl, and so may not be ideal for chilled wines.

Other Factors to Consider

In addition to shape, color also affects the wine drinking experience. According to the acclaimed Wine Spectator magazine, "the clearer the glass, the richer the wine's color." Glasses with thinner rims also distract less from the flavor of the wine as it slips over the lip into your mouth.

Specialty glass sellers often have extensive lines of glasses designed for particular grapes or varieties. Tall, smaller-bowled Bordeaux-style glasses and squat wide Burgundy-style glasses are both red wine glasses, for example. Despite the near-endless variety, a single mid-range glass can work well for most wines in a home setting.  http://ezinearticles.com/?Red-Vs-White-Wine-Glasses&id=7645906

Best Winter Warmer Food and Wine?

The cold weather is the terrific reason for a bottle of red along with a hearty stew.

It is unusually cold up and down the region in addition to we're being forced to head home from work in boots to a chilly home, precisely what better way to warm up than with a casserole together with bottle of red?

The recent snowfall provided the perfect excuse to cook a Sunday roast at the weekend. The lamb could sit cooking in the oven until you came in from a stroll, taking the boots off and selecting the perfect accompaniment like an Argentinean Malbec or spicy Cabernet Sauvignon.

Cooking a roast is a little impractical during the week, but the weather continues to bite, so it could instead be a good idea to get a casserole or hearty stew going in the slow cooker so that it is ready to eat when you get in after work.

What's more, you can think about it cooking away all day as an added incentive to get home!

But with the winter food chosen, what is the best choice of wine to match? One of the best things about winter is having the excuse to open a bottle of full-bodied red wine with lots of tannin and warm you up from the inside.

Australian wine writers Debra and Keith Gordon suggested on their Wine on Tuesdays blog that a Chateauneuf de Pape is "made for winter", while a "musty Malbec" could also work well with a winter dish.

Other suggestions come from Lisa Redwine at the UT San Diego, who recommended a food and wine pairing of Californian Cabernet with braised short ribs, marinated lamb, nuts and fig jam. She also recommends searching out lesser-known varietals like Mourvedre for a pot roast dish, Petit Verdot or a Charbono.

However, there are still white wines that can be nicely paired with a winter warming supper. For Lisa Redwine, a rich and full-bodied Chardonnay can do the same job of a red wine, while providing an added freshness.

She pairs these wines with veal or rabbit stew as well as roast chicken and dumplings.

For another winter alternative, delving into the spirits cupboard could be a surprising match. A glass of port, for example, could add cosiness to a bowl of stew.

You could also try some Canadian icewine for something really different. While it might not really match your dinner, a glass of grapes that have been naturally frozen on the vine could be a fun aperitif to get the evening started. http://ezinearticles.com/?Best-Winter-Warmer-Food-and-Wine?&id=7824749

Have you ever been to a wine bar or restaurant and decided to try a wine that was available by the glass; a wine you had wanted to experience without committing to a whole bottle? Maybe it was a wine someone recommended. Or, you found a wine you really like--the aroma and taste that was unexpected. Then at a subsequent next trip to your wine shop or Costco you bought the identical vintage produced by the same winery. You get it home, lit the candles, and broke out the same cheese and bread you enjoyed at that memorable tasting, only to be thoroughly disgusted that the aromas and taste of the wine was not what you remembered back at that restaurant or wine bar when that ah-ha moment hit.

About every other week I go to wine country and San Francisco to make sales calls and when possible I visit the Ferry Plaza Wine Merchant in the late afternoon to get the feel for what's new in wines. Because they have a large selection of wines by the glass I get to experiment. Recently I tasted (by the way they are not cheap) a Zinfandel with some cheeses and bread and really enjoyed the flavors of the wine. I was so impressed with the Zin, I bought a bottle of the Zin on the spot, along with the cheese and bread and went back to the hotel to continue with the wonderful tastes. Guess what? It was not to be replicated, even within a few hours. What happened?

To try and figure out what happened I contacted my go to Master of Wine friend. I explained in details of the dilemma I faced relative to my experience in the change of taste of a nice wine in a wine bar (a public venue) versus my hotel room. My question was: What happened to the wonderful experience between the Ferry Plaza Wine Merchant and my hotel? It has probably happened to all of us; a nice wine experience at a place and point in time that is not replicable later in a casual home setting. So I will attempt to coalesce what I learned on the subject into some semblance of an orderly explanation.

It appears the taste and pleasant reaction to a wine is affected in 4 ways: psychological, physiological, properties of the wine itself, and environment or settings. There might be iterations of these or even a whole new category but let's focus on these because these seem to explain why wine taste different when consumed in a public setting versus at home, even with similar/exact accoutrements (cheese, bread, and grapes, etc.). The following denotes the issues in each of the categories that can impact the taste of wine, in various venues, that is identical in vintage, varietal and winery.

Psychological

• Attitude plays a critical role in how we approach most events. Back to the Ferry Plaza Wine Merchant experience. I noticed some people were drinking wine while they waited for their ferry to board for destinations across the Bay; they simply were in no hurry-laid back attitude. Others went through the motions of having a perfunctory glass of wine without concentrating on anything to do with the wine itself. It is probably difficult to replicate a specific wine experience if ones attitude is not consistent, and it rarely may be.


• Stresses obviously impact attitude--stresses of the moment or the ebb and flow of residual stresses of daily work routine. Don't forget stress impacts us in physiological ways, which impact how we process taste profiles and aromas.


• Wine seems to be a conscious drink best enjoyed with a clear focus. Are the aromas, color and taste approached with positive anticipation or casual appreciation? The mind forms the definition of the experience of that wine-even the exact wine you are trying for the second time.


• We also approach wine with a preconceived expectation. Any variation of that, for whatever reason, we set ourselves up for a disappointment in an attempt to replicate a given wine experience. Seems like nothing is repeatable.


• Relaxation is critical and there are degrees of relaxation. A relaxed state of mind opens the senses of smell and taste and regulates how wine is perceived.


• A Master Sommelier told me about an occasion when a middle age couple came into his restaurant and when seated it wasn't long before an argument ensued. He said he was concerned because a pleasant meal will dictate how the restaurant is judge by patrons. "At that moment it was imperative that I try to defuse the situation," he said. Yes, even sommeliers are aware that psyche can direct a person's attitude about wine and food, even over the course of an hour.

Physiological

• Supposedly 90% of taste comes from our olfactory sense. If anything changes the way we perceive scents around us, taste will change also.


• Nothing is constant except change. Therefore, the chance of accurately repeating the utopian wine experience is by definition difficult if not impossible because our bodies are in a constant state of change.


• The tongue is going to tell the brain how to process the taste of wine. If the taste buds change from one tasting to the next, differences will be recognized. Too much of a good thing is a recipe for failure. That goes for wine also because the tannins and acids will negatively impact taste if they become burned out. Taste is subjective, so technically taste is always truthful.


• Age of the consumer will also impact how wine is experienced. Although we are focused on why the change in taste, over a matter of as little as 60 minutes with a change in venue, if you wait a year to experience that exact same bottle of wine you could be disappointed based upon age factors.

Properties of the wine

• There may be different batches of the same vintage that will impact taste slightly. The time of day that a specific vintage and varietal was picked and process can impact the wine from bottle to bottle. The fermentation tanks themselves can add some subtle differences and even the oak profile of the barrels between barrel vendors.


• The time and distance one case of wine travels versus another of exact vintage/varietal makes a difference (remember the movie Bottle Shock) or was a different case exposed to heat?


• How long did your special wine breath that produced that great taste you are now trying to reproduce? Remember, you are trying to find that magic in a bottle all over again; hard to do.


• Did the wine temperature change between your great bottle of wine versus the one you bought hoping to find that magic all over again? Temp is a critical element in your attempt to match the flavors, even within same vintage, varietal and winery.


• Now ask yourself if the vintage has aged in the bottle from the first time you experienced the wine.


• There could be some smells from a "corked" bottle of that same vintage and the winery due to cork contamination.

Environment/Setting

In attempting to duplicate the same great taste of a wine you experienced at a wine bar versus being at home, the environments are different. The environment is recognized as an important element in the wine experience.

• Temperature in the room will impact how you perceive the wine you are drinking.


• Sometimes even subtle difference in the way wine is stored can impact taste, even if the wine is the same vintage and from the same winery.


• Like golfers that repeat a routine/ritual, when trying to achieve the maximum pleasure from a wine, be consistent in a ritual you go through in tasting the wine: letting it breathe, not overly handling the bottle prior to opening, and decanting.


• Where were the wine glasses stored? New cabinets (if wine glasses are stored in a cabinet) may still have a wood smell that will linger on the glasses. It is suggested they be rinsed and dried and let air out to eliminate inherent cabinet smells.


• Lighting of an environment will set a mood that can change the way wine is appreciated. You don't need a mood ring but just be aware how lighting will even change the look of a nice wine in the glass.


• If you are trying to reproduce a flavor you previously got from a nice wine, the food must be the same. For the sake of this discussion, we are assuming identical cheese and bread.


• We said earlier that smell drives taste so in your environment what aromas are you sensing and are perfume scents present? Some tasting rooms will ask people to leave if perfume is too strong.


• As a penultimate statement: The recommendations of a friend or sommelier will definitely set you up relative to what you will expect in a wine. So don't let people dictate your standards in taste.


• Never underestimate the impact the company around use when we drink wine. The social ambiance of friends impact us greatly.


• Music. This is a subject that has received some research over the past few years. In a 2011 article in the British Journal of Psychology, it was reported that wine taste better with music. Adrian North of Heriot-Watt University in England said, "The research... considers the possibility that the emotional connotations of music may be able to function as a symbol that influences perception of wines' taste. The results reported... indicate that independent groups' ratings of the taste of a wine reflected the emotional attributes of the background music being played while they drank the wine." The connotations he is referring to are such descriptive attributes as: bold, zingy, light and airy, well developed, etc., being applied to the wine. Mind you, he is talking about people subconsciously interpreting music characteristics and using those characteristics in describing the wine they were drinking, especially if they like the music.

Relative to the two bottles of wine that started this whole discussion; the first one you tried and fell in love with and now the second identical bottle you are expecting to be the same and isn't. We have discussed a lot of reasons why the second identical bottle is not going to totally give you the same stimulation of taste profiles. But, had you ever given any thought to "music" as a component of a wine experience; in private or in at a wine bar?

It is almost impossible to replicate the taste of wine from one bottle to the next identical bottle, even if the wine is the same vintage, varietal and winery. There are simply too many factors that come into play that can and will impact flavor. The old adage is: you can never recapture exactly what once was.

How to Select a Good Wine

"Penicillin cures, but wine makes people happy."

-- Alexander Fleming (1881-1955) the Scottish bacteriologist credited with discovering Penicillin in 1928

Sometimes it seems like selecting a good wine is more complicated than inventing a cure for the H1N1 virus. Obviously the selection of a specific type, year and brand of wine is a matter of individual taste - and all of these factors will alter the flavor, aroma and price of the wine. But differences aside, there are some broad guidelines.

When considering some of the more common red wines, some wine lovers find Zinfandel too heavy, while others complain that a Merlot has no depth. Most readily available red wines are meant to be consumed shortly after purchase. For the wine connoisseur with the desire and budget to taste the finest, patience really is a virtue. Cabernet Sauvignon would better suit those willing to age than a Pinot Noir.

A cool climate Chardonnay, such as those from Canada or the California's Columbia Valley, will interest those who enjoy a young wine with prominent acidity. But it can also be favored by those who want to experience it's nutty, buttery character that comes with aging, especially from French vintners. The German white wines range from the fairly dry Rieslings to the rather sweet Gewurztraminer. The latter goes particularly well with spicy foods and is perfectly suited to Thai cuisine.

Descriptions by class can be helpful. Class 1 wines, often labeled 'Light Wine' or 'Red Table Wine' will have an alcohol content between 7% and 14% by volume. Class 7, by contrast, will have an alcohol content of not less than 15% by volume. This type has usually been compounded with Brandy and flavored with herbs. Those with greater concentrations are considered 'fortified'.

Don't forget to look on the label for a declaration of the amount of sulfites. Did you know that sulfur is often added during the wine making process to guard against growth of unwanted organisms? Sulfur dioxide is also sometimes sprayed on the grape itself to reduce pests and can leach into the skin. Some wine drinkers are unknowingly sensitive to sulfites and can experience an allergic reaction. Concentrations of below 10 parts per million are fine for most, but these days one can easily find wine that is sulfite free.

What about wines from France? The names are hard to pronounce and what's the difference between a Bordeaux, a chateau and Beaujolais nouveau? It's all enough to make a wine novice give up and grab a beer.

One easy solution to these headaches is to join a wine club. choosing the best wine club for your taste and budget is far easier than figuring out which wine to select. Most of the best wine clubs allow you to decide if you want all red wines, all white wines or a mix of both. Some wine clubs specialize in domestic wines while others find small, boutique wineries in the United States. Best of all, the best wine clubs have experts that personally taste and select the best wines for their members. The best wine club understands that a happy customer, a customer that is receiving good value, is a loyal customer.

Next time you are trying to figure out whether to bring home that bottle of Pinot Grigio, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Noir or Pinot Gris, think about how simple and wonderful it would be to have an expert hand-select great wines especially for you and deliver them directly to your door. It's the best way to select a good wine. http://ezinearticles.com/?How-to-Select-a-Good-Wine&id=3425295

Wine Tasting Techniques for the Beginner

There is something debonair and sophisticated about a man who knows his wines and who is at home savouring and drinking the "nectar of the gods." What may not be very obvious to many is that this is a skill that can be learned and mastered beyond just knowing that red wines go with meat and whites go with fish and other seafood. If you are fortunate enough to live near a grape growing area like the Napa and Sonoma Valleys in California where there are both large and small wineries, you have a very good opportunity to learn the finer aspects of wine tasting with very little cost to you.

This is because many of these wineries conduct wine tasting tours precisely to educate their markets and to develop more customers for their wines. Wine tasting today can be made less complicated by winery or vineyard tours where you will have the chance to taste a variety of wines, with someone who knows wines intimately giving you a short story about the qualities of the wine being served. Listen to him carefully, especially the part when he sings praises to the wine being tasted at the moment. More than ten different wines may be served during these sessions. This is all very well and good but if you are just a tyro and not really a pro, your head can spin both, literally and figuratively, from the alcohol in the wine. Take notes to help you remember, without being obvious.

Basically, there are three things that you have to know about a wine, any wine - its color, smell and taste. Before you sign up for a wine tasting tour, it may be worth your while to go through a basic introduction about wines, in general. For starters, you will have to acquire several wine glasses in different shapes and sizes. You will also need to buy some bottles of wine for purposes of comparison and your own edification - whites, reds, etc. The first thing to notice as you pour a glass of wine is its color and clarity. 

Tilt the glass away from your body and look at the wine preferably against a white background, e.g., a paper napkin or the tablecloth. Examine the wine from the rim towards its center. A red wine may appear maroon, purple, garnet, ruby, brick red or reddish brown. A white wine will be clear, pale yellow, light green, amber, golden or light brownish. A younger wine will have a lighter hue than an older one of the same variety. Give your glass a little swirl and look for bits of cork or sediments. These are not good signs. Dark brown colored reds or even whites will signal that the wine has gone sour.

The second quality to notice when you are wine tasting is the smell of the wine. How a wine smells is critical in its appreciation. For a change, it is considered polite to pointedly make use of your sense of smell. Bring the wine cork under your nose, taking a quick whiff after pulling it out of the bottle. You are also allowed to swirl your glass for about 10 - 12 seconds to evaporate the alcohol and release the wine's natural aroma. Take another quick whiff to savour its smell. As you continue to swirl your wine glass you can bury your nose into the glass and take a deep inhale to discern the smell of oak, berries, flowers or citrus. As you become more familiar with the different aromas of wine, you will be able to recognize them more and more distinctly and be able to make intelligent comments about the wine's bouquet. You may want to identify a wine tasting hero like James Bond and approximate his movements with a flourish when going through the motions of approving a bottle of wine to be served to him and his date.

The third aspect of wine tasting is actually taking a small sip of the wine and rolling it around in your mouth, letting it thoroughly wet your tongue, actually tasting the wine. At this point you are supposed to distinguish how the wine tastes with regards to its alcohol content, tannin levels, acidity and residual sugar.

In the final analysis, a wine will be judged by how much you like it and whether you will buy it again because you enjoyed drinking it.

 http://ezinearticles.com/?Wine-Tasting-Techniques-for-the-Beginner&id=6799603

The Effect of the Weather on Wine

Those interested in investing in fine wines should keep an eye on the 2011 French vintage. In fact, according to experts the only thing that could interrupt a great harvest would be heavy storms or a plague of locusts.

The reason for this excitement? France's miserable summer.

Wine, unlike money, grows on trees and is therefore dependent on environmental factors. The first step to a good investment wine is a temperate climate. The perfect balance between sun and rain is essential to making sure the vines grow well and produce fruit.

Drought caused by unseasonal warm weather can cause vines to spend more energy sending their roots down to find water, instead of creating grapes. Hailstorms can destroy fruits by thrashing the vines.

Frost is deadly to vines although advances in technology have made this less of a problem in chillier wine growing regions such as Chablis. Recent freak weather conditions in France have rightly caused concern; with some French chefs joking that if global warming continues future fine wines will be grown in Scotland instead.

Knowing the various effects of weather on viticulture is a good place to start when you take your first steps into wine investing. Monitoring the weather in wine growing regions of France, for example, will help you to detect future vintages which will offer a good return. You may even become confident enough to invest en primeur: before the wine is even bottled.

Wine is a unique asset. Unlike other luxury items, such as gold or Aston Martin cars, the supply of fine wine is fixed. If demand for gold or Aston Martin increases, more can be made, but fine wines have a set production number - once the grapes are picked, no more vines can be planted, and geographical regions are controlled by law.

Fine, investment-grade wine is considered to be only the top 50 to 100 traded wines, although some go further and specify that only those from chateaus in the Bordeaux region qualify.

TAX BREAKS
Wine investment is not liable to capital gains tax (CGT), because of a tax regulation called the "Wasting asset rule". This decrees that if an asset has a life of 50 years or less no CGT is payable on it.

On top of your annual capital gains tax allowance of £10,100, there is an added exemption for jewellery, art and antiques worth less than £6,000.

http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Effect-of-the-Weather-on-Wine&id=6589119

Top Wines for Expensive Tastes

I never really fully understood how fascinating wine was until I took a class on it. It is amazing all the different things that go into making a wine. I used to think it was as simple and getting some grapes and squishing them, but no wine making is indeed an art that has taken years and years to perfect, and I am sure that it still hasn't reached perfection. It's also amazing how different factors affect the price of a bottle.

What makes wine so expensive you ask? A number of factors one is where the wine has been made. After much experimentation in different regions experienced wine growers have found exactly where in the world the best grapes for wines can be grown. For instance Riesling grows very well in Germany near the Mosel River, Riesling grows well in California as well. Merlot grapes are probably best when grown in a consistently cool climate as opposed to a very hot and dry climate. 

 Merlot does well in the Bordeaux region of France and is often used with other red grapes to make nice Bordeaux Blends. Another factor that determines the price of wine is how it is aged. Wine is often aged in wood barrels and the type of wood that is used to make those barrels varies in price. The more expensive the wood the more expensive the wine, different woods give off different characteristics to each wine. The top producing regions of wine are France, Italy, Northern California, Germany, Australia, South Africa, Chile, and Portugal.

Here are some of the world's most expensive wines:

Screaming Eagle Cabernet Sauvignon 1992 & Screaming Eagle 1994

Screaming Eagle is a winery in Napa Valley's Oakville AVA, it was founded in 1986 by Jean Philips and Tony Bowden founded the winery in 1986. They began with a plot of land that was less than 6o acres planted in vineyards that were mostly white grapes. Eventually, however, the whites were pulled out and Cabernet Sauvignon with some Merlot and Cabernet Franc were planted instead. At first the grapes were sold to other wineries, but eventually Philips began to experiment. She was helped by scientist wine maker Richard Peterson and his daughter Heidi Peterson Barrett. Heidi helped produce wine to give Screaming Eagle the reputation of making good wine.

It is a wine with a dark purple color and infused with flavors of blackcurrants and toasty oak. It is rich, sweet, and creamy, with fruity flavors. The wine sold at an auction in Napa for charity for about $80,000 a bottle, a case of six sold for $500,000. Screaming Eagle 1994 can be bought for about $4000.

Chateau Mouton Rothschild 1982 & Chateau Mouton Rothschild 1945

These wines like the Screaming Eagle also has blackcurrant taste but these have has a sort of licorice aroma with hints of gingerbread, caramel, mocha, and candied peel. It has other flavors of black fruit, spice, vanilla, cinnamon, pepper, cherry, and chocolate. At the beginning in 1982, Chateau Mouton Rothschild 1982 was selling for $390 a case; by 1996 it was about that for just a bottle. Average price now is about $2000. Chateau Mouton Rothschild 1945 sells for about $13,000.

Chateau Mouton Rothschild weren't always considered great wines by the French standards. Napoleon was actually the first to instill a way in which wine was rated; it was rated by growths with "first growth" being the best. Chateau Mouton Rothschild was never elevated to "first growth" until the 1970s though because the vineyards were owned by and Englishman and not the French.

Romanee Conti, DRC 1990

Romanee Conti is one of the most expensive wines of France as well as the world. This one is rich and balanced and is based on the grape pinot noir. A set of eight bottles sold in 1990 for about $225,000, which is roughly about $28,000 a bottle.

The vineyards where the grapes where this wine is made from are located in Burgundy, this tiny portion was first cultivated by the Romans. Later it was taken over by the Benedictines who took it from the Bishops of Langres and Autun. Later it was purchase in the eighteenth century by the Prince de Conti, and then later sold to one of Napoleon's bankers. What makes this wine expensive is also it's rarity, only a few hundred cases were produced each year.

Chateau Lafite 1787

Chateau Lafite 1787 is the most expensive wine in the world. It sold for $160,000 at an auction. Sun is an important factor when it comes to growing good grapes. In fact years that are particularly sunny tend to produce better grapes than other years. 2000 and 2005 were years that were sunny, apparently 1787 was as well thus making this wine even more appealing.

Sun is clearly not the only factor that made this wine sell for over $100,000, but the history. This wine was originally bought by Thomas Jefferson. His initials are on the bottle. What is even more fascinating about the price of this bottle that sold in the 1980s is the fact that it was simply bought for a collection, not to drink. This wine is not to drink as it is too old, wine turns to vinegar after decades so this wine is long overdue. http://ezinearticles.com/?Top-Wines-for-Expensive-Tastes&id=5984557

Labeling and Packaging: Key Ingredients for Effective Wine and Spirits Brand Building

The wine and spirits category is one of the most competitive consumer markets. Crammed shelves, with products always faced at the edge, create a wall of differing brands all screaming for consumers' attention. Whether a product is new or long established, brand building here must create trial and reinforce existing consumer relationships by advancing the product's positioning.

In this environment, labeling has to work harder than in any other consumer product location. It is all about shelf appeal and the ability to communicate product attributes. This is a difficult challenge by itself but added to this is the fact that according to industry sources, 70 percent of purchase decisions are made at the point of sale. As such, the ability of the product label to establish and reinforce an image about a particular brand of wine or spirits is vital to retail success.

The label on a bottle of wine or spirits represents a bridge that must be built on understanding the consumer's expectation about the product. But this is not a one-way bridge-far from it. The communication must flow in both directions. The label has to establish a dialogue with the consumer. And just like a busy cocktail party, the label is a brand's greeting from overly crowded retail shelves. It offers the warm affirmation of an endearing friendship, invites or turns away a new encounter, or goes completely unnoticed.

Package design helps to set a brand apart

The importance of product packaging in the wine and spirits market cannot be overstated. The impact of packaging can make the difference between success or failure of a product. Not only the look and feel of the package, but also the quality of the label itself is essential for great shelf appeal. This means the label needs to be perfectly printed and applied.

Something should happen between the consumer and the packaging because a visual cue is the first point of contact with the consumer and it affords the opportunity to evaluate product quality, which is an essential qualifier for choosing one brand over another. Who would pay, even at an inexpensive price point, for a product that does not look appealing? So, the more a label looks and feels luxurious, the better the perceived quality and the better the opportunity for purchase.

Gaining a competitive advantage

The inability of some consumers to taste the difference between various wines and spirits is an opportunity for labeling and packaging to fill in the gaps by creating an identify that is visually and texturally separate from that of the competition. It comes down to appealing to those senses beyond taste and aroma, each a distinct signature that is crafted with care, but unfortunately lost to many consumers.

This is why when it comes to wines and spirits, package design has both the opportunity and responsibility to set a brand apart. And no other labeling technology delivers stronger shelf appeal than pressure-sensitive labeling. A wide variety of papers, films and specialized materials enable designers to leverage their most innovative ideas for brand building. 

Pressure-sensitive substrates include:

• Clear-on-clear films for a no-label look
• Glossy and matte white papers for highly visual graphics
• Digitally top-coated papers and films for short-run and complex designs
• Eco-friendly papers and films to appeal to Earth-conscious end users and consumers

Pressure-sensitive technology is versatile. It enables intricate designs and complex die-cuts, creating labels that jump from the shelf. But even more so, the array of materials, when combined with special printing techniques, can become a metaphor for the product itself.

For example, rough and porous textures of an uncoated paper label can be combined with screen printing to signify the craftsmanship of an 18-year-old Scotch Whisky; coated semi-gloss facestocks are subtly smooth and can denote the flavor profile of something that is soft, easy to drink and good for socialization; and clear film can denote a sense of sincere elegance that carries a premium spirit to a secure position of prominence.

The label and bottle create a sense of familiarity. Together they convey the product positioning and, as such, must be appropriately executed.

Helping consumers decide what to buy

Consumers make purchase decisions from two distinct dimensions-one rational, the other emotional. Rational factors include the reason for buying, such as product functionality and price, among others.

Emotional factors are more motivationally complex. It's about the experience we want on behalf of the product, the pleasure we have in consuming it, how it makes us feel, and how it validates our decision to buy-a reward, for taste, about who we are or who we want to be. These are all elements package designers take into account when creating a brand identity for a wine or spirit. It is an identity that must serve many perspectives.

As you might expect, the emotional factors behind a purchase decision are quite individual as the consumer. However, there are some common consumer profile traits that can be leveraged and factored into the label concept. Consumers of wines and spirits can be broken down into three common categories-the connoisseur, the amateur and the step-in:

The Connoisseur

The connoisseur drinks wine from traditional countries; is financially wealthy; is usually a male in his 40s, but the category does include women; has a natural palate; knows a lot about wine, tasting notes, etc.; appreciates the craftsmanship in a product; and is intelligent about what he or she is drinking. For targeting this group, the label should reflect the craftsmanship and marketers can use a complex vocabulary because they understand it.

The connoisseur enjoys complex red wines, premium branded champagne, single malt whiskies and anejo rums. The label must provide plenty of detailed information: cantina/bodega/chateau, region, the local area, filtered wine or not, harvest year, grape quality, wine making process, etc. This information should be placed on the label so the connoisseur feels he or she is the only expert to read and understand the information.

In wine, a paper label should be structured, rich in texture, beige and with creamy colors. For spirits, a metalized effect or a rough surface with a complex shape will resonate well. For this category, it is okay to be generous with embellishing printing techniques. The label should include golden hot foils, as well as some element of embossing or tactile varnish.

The Amateur

 

The amateur category includes both men and women, 30 to 40 years of age. They claim to have a good wine tasting knowledge but have a palate that is not ready for wines with complex flavor profiles. The amateur is open to new world wines, wine that is easy to drink and middle priced. This man or woman also drinks rum, vodka, tequila and brandy, but mainly premium brands and in cocktails.

They expect a label that provides practical information. Here, the amount of information is important, but must be accessible and provide the right reference, such as grape varietals, brand name, wine name, geographic origin, a credible story behind the brand, and serving recommendations like temperature, pairings with meals, etc.

In spirits, this person appreciates serving ideas for cocktails. He or she will positively react to white label paper, from light structured paper to soft touch. Be selective in the printing techniques by choosing one that will enhance the information he or she is looking to review.

The Step-In

The step-ins category is the least sophisticated consumer. Drinks beer and sweet spirits. They like white and sparkling wine, tequila, vodka, and rum. Some of them dare into wine, but are less demanding and do not want to invest too much in a bottle. Accessible price offers, easy to drink and refreshing, coupled with fruity and flowery flavor notes, are behind the purchase. White, ros and mainstream sparkling types, as well as mixed vodka and rums, and some international liqueurs are of interest. Simplicity is important.

This type of consumer will not invest the time to read an in-depth label to explore the complexity of a particular brand. The step-in wants to be told what the product is about-grape varietal, of which they know a maximum of two; taste orientation; and serving conditions. Brand name is very important.

With step-ins, you can dare to exploit contemporary and fashionable colors on the label and in the bottle. Clear-on-clear film labels are a strong draw, especially when incorporating neat designs. Immediate visual impact is what resonates, so borrowing design cues from contemporary culture can create strong interest. Consider using new and original printing techniques. For this group, dare to test unusual combinations, such as non-covering colors on metalized paper.

It pays to know the consumer, or better yet, the type of consumer to whom a wine or spirit is targeted. To be effective, marketers need to connect the label and packaging correctly with these consumer categories in a way that meets their expectation about what is inside the bottle. And that expectation must be linked to how the product is positioned.

Beyond the product itself, wine and spirits labeling must have a visual identity that, when properly executed, has the power to establish an icon that is fully vested in the consumer's perception about the brand.

"Give people a taste of Old Crow, and tell them its Old Crow. Then give them another taste of Old Crow, but tell them its Jack Daniel's. Ask them which they prefer. They'll think the two drinks are quite different. They are tasting images." - David Ogilvy, marketing pioneer.  http://ezinearticles.com/?Labeling-and-Packaging:-Key-Ingredients-for-Effective-Wine-and-Spirits-Brand-Building&id=6907600

The Art of Wine Tasting - How to Taste Wine Like a Pro

Wine tasting is an interesting conversation subject at parties. While some people are really interested in it and want to learn how to taste wine the proper way, others will simply say 'but I know how to taste wine, I don't need a lesson in it'. In a way it's true, everybody has the knowledge on proper wine tasting, however not everyone actually knows how to apply that knowledge in real life.

Wine tasting is not like drinking water or your favorite juice. There is an art to savoring it in a way that will release its full bouquet in your mouth, making all your taste buds get a unique experience from it. Gulping it down is definitely not the way to go, however I've seen some people do just that during a party. Besides the fact that they wake up the next day with a major headache (aka hangover), they don't get to really enjoy wine the way it's supposed to be enjoyed.

There are really two major components to wine tasting the proper way: drinking it slowly and paying attention to what you are doing, be in then 'here and now' to put it in a Zen way. However before you even get the drink in touch with your tongue, there is another of your senses come into play: your sense of smell. As weird it might sound to some people, smelling it is a major part of actually properly enjoying it.

Another aspect of it is simply looking at the dark liquid in the glass and watching its appearance, the way the light reflects back from the glass, the way the dark red color of the liquid swirls again the crystal clear walls of your glass. Experiencing it this way is a real art.

When you are about to actually taste it, this is how you really go about it: Take a sip and hold it in your mouth without drinking it yet. Draw in a bit of air and let it mix with the wine. Then swish the liquid in your mouth and around it as if you wanted to actually chew it. Finally swallow your drink. You don't need to spend more than a couple of seconds per sip, however this process should really open up your taste buds and give you the many flavors each type has, including a fruity taste, or flowery or earthy or a taste of vanilla. Only a real wine connoisseur can discern all the many aromas of a good year and while it takes some practice, you can get there too and learn how to taste wine the proper way like a pro.

Part of enjoying wine is also letting it breath and get infused by oxygen and this is done through the process of decanting. http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Art-of-Wine-Tasting---How-to-Taste-Wine-Like-a-Pro&id=4306696

Wine Cooler Brands - What You Should Know Before You Buy

Are you a connoisseur of wine or just the occasional wine drinker who likes to impress his friends? One way to do this depends on the wine cooler brand you choose to display and chill your wine. Knowing the features you would prefer in a cooler will go a long way in aiding you make a choice in a brand that you will enjoy for a long time. Below is a brief description of some of the more popular brands of wine coolers available on the market today.

Avanti

Avanti produces a variety of storage units for wine including specialty racks and cellars with special emphasis on multipurpose refrigerated wine units. In spite of their unique style and design, the Avanti wine coolers are still within most family budgets and generally have a black design trimmed with stainless steel. Being able to double up as a refrigerator in your bar at home or as a wine aging center means these coolers can be put both to short-term use as well as long-term use. The glass doors which allow easy viewing of the bottles as well as the digital thermostat are a nice addition to the Avanti wine cooler line.

Vinotemp

Francis Ravel the designer and fabricator of Vinotemp started off by making and selling wine and subsequently branched off and conceived these wine coolers over 20 years ago. This superior brand of refrigerators are still holding their own today. He got the idea of putting into a wine box a cooling unit to keep the wine at its optimum temperature. When he started producing the wine chillers himself he made customer satisfaction his goal by using only high quality material. Through his ingenuity, the Wine Mate was born.

Danby

Stand alone fridge units of all dimensions are the specialty of Danby. Superbly built with a variety of features makes the Danby Summit the most highly demanded of this brand. The airing system available in most of its models allows these Danby units to be placed in counter spaces with no provision for clearance. Moderate prices, stainless steel doors, shelves made of wood and digital thermostats are strong selling points of these units.

Haier

Polished and constructed with high quality materials, the entire line of Haier products meets the requirements of even the most discerning customer. In order to gain access to all the bottles at any time, the Haier brand has slide-out storage systems. Furthermore, you have the option of choosing between mechanical or electronic cooling systems. Customers with a higher budget can indulge in the more expensive models that enable one to keep different bottles at different temperatures within the same unit.

Marvel

Over 70 years of experience producing units of superior design and style and an unmatched range of selection for the discerning customer has enabled Marvel to improve the lifestyle of its customers. Under the umbrella of the well known and respected Aga Food Service Group which is recognized for producing extravagant products for its customers with unlimited budgets, Marvel has thrived exceptionally well in this domain. Marvel remains ahead of the competition in the wine cooler industry with its determination to maintain quality and a diverse choice of designs geared for lavish performance.

Summit

Summit wine refrigerators are perfect for use in the home because they are fabricated as stand-alone or can be accommodated beneath a counter or bar. Summit offers a choice of units with stainless steel doors which blend with the décor of your kitchen or units with glass doors which present a nice exhibit. They are available in a broad range of dimensions. Extra features on these units include digital thermostats and light bulbs that enable one to view the interior. For the occasional drinker or the party animal this moderately priced wine cooling unit can fit into any budget. http://ezinearticles.com/?Wine-Cooler-Brands---What-You-Should-Know-Before-You-Buy&id=6561785http://ezinearticles.com/?

Setting Up a Successful Blind Wine Tasting Event

There is nothing like an evening at home with friends and one good way to make the party truly memorable is to have a wine tasting. You do not need to have a very elaborate set-up, and if it is your first attempt at having one, then it might be a good idea to start small, just until you get the feel of it and how it works. If you are a regular wine drinker, and have hosted wine tasting events in the past, then you may want to look for a new twist on the tried and tested, and one way to do that is with a blind wine tasting.

The set-up for a blind tasting event and the only real difference is in what you do with the wines that you are presenting, which we will get to in a moment. The items that every wine tasting event should have start with plenty of water and soft drinks for the guests, as well as snacks like crackers and mild cheeses, as well as other food items that will help cleanse the palate between each wine. You will also want to make sure that there are buckets where the guests can spit out wines that are not to their tastes. Do not be alarmed if this is your first attempt at hosting a wine tasting, as the spitting out is actually a common practice. You can offer a bucket or a spittoon, which is the official piece of accessory used in tasting events.

If you are offering wines that are of different types of taste for tasting, then it's best to start with the white wines first, before moving on to lighter reds, and finishing up with the boldest of the red wines. It is also a good idea to have paper and pens available for your guests so that they can take notes on all the wines they taste. You can then all compare your thoughts and feelings about each one, keeping in mind that everyone has a different palate. This means that others in the group should never judge any one else's opinion, even if it wildly differs from the rest of the group. A wine tasting event is usually set up as a relaxed event where everyone feels comfortable.

When it comes to a blind wine tasting, you should remove all labels or marking from the bottles, and then assign them a number. You can buy special bottle covers that cover each bottle so that you are unable to see the wine. Paper and pencils are essential for this sort of tasting, as it becomes a little more difficult to remember which wine is which, and taking notes will really help. There is a great opportunity to have fun with a blind wine tasting, and you can actually make a number of games out of the event. It could be as simple as giving points to those who correctly guess the type of wine being served, or even throwing in a couple of cheap wines, and seeing if your guests can spot the difference. Again, this should be fun. So, now that you know what is involved, why not organize a wine tasting today.