Best Italian Wine and Food

If you are looking for fine Italian wine and food, consider the Aosta Valley region of northern Italy. You may find a bargain, and I hope that you’ll have fun on this fact-filled wine education tour.
The Aosta Valley is a tiny corner of northwestern Italy bordering on France and Switzerland. This beautiful valley is surrounded by high mountains, including Europe’s highest peak, Mount Blanc. While some other regions of Italy are bilingual, this is the only one where French is extensively spoken. With a population of only 120 thousand this is by far the smallest region. Its largest city is Aosta, home to some 35 thousand people. Tourist attractions include the remains of a Roman amphitheater, churches and other buildings dating back to the Middle Ages, Mount Blanc, and the Matterhorn.
The Aosta Valley devotes a mere fifteen hundred acres to grapevines ranking it dead last among Italy’s 20 regions. It produces about six hundred thousand gallons of wine a year, putting it at the bottom of the list. Some 90% of this limited wine production is red or rosé (only a bit of rosé). The region produces a single DOC wine, subdivided into 23 categories. DOC stands for Denominazione di Origine Controllata, which may be translated as Denomination of Controlled Origin. Almost 23% of this region’s wine carries the DOC. The Aosta Valley is home to almost three dozen major and secondary grape varieties, with somewhat more red than white varieties.
Before reviewing the Aosta Valley wine that I was lucky enough to purchase at a local wine store, here are a few suggestions of what to eat with indigenous wines when touring this beautiful region. Start with Pazzarella; Small Pizza with Porcini Mushrooms, Mozzarella Cheese, and Porcini Mushrooms. As the second course try Fonduta; Fondue with Melted Cheese, Eggs, and Grated Truffles. For dessert indulge yourself with Pere Martin al Vino Rosso; Pears cooked in Spiced Wine with Whipped Cream.
OUR WINE REVIEW POLICY All wines that we taste and review are purchased at the full retail price.
Wine Reviewed
Les Crêtes Torrette 2006 12.0% alcohol about $22
Let’s start with the marketing materials. “Petit Rouge is Valle d’Aosta’s claim-to-fame grape. It produces darkly colored and very perfumed red wines. Many think of roses and peonies when they smell this pretty red wine. It is a naturally low-yielding variety that produces very small berries. This is a virtue, because the small berry size produces wines that can be very aromatic and flavorful with a good core of acids and tannins for balance. Enjoy it with braised beef dishes or a wild mushroom risotto.”
And then there was one. Over the past two and a half years I have tasted wines from eighteen of the twenty regions of Italy. All that was left was the Aosta Valley and Liguria, the Italian Riviera, neither of which export much wine to North America. As soon as I saw that my local wine store imported an Aosta Valley wine I jumped at the opportunity. Perhaps my expectations were too high.
On the first sipping I found the wine nice and long with tannins in the background. It was round as well. The first pairing was with a slow cooked beef stew accompanied by potatoes and carrots. The wine was mouth filling and tart. I got the feeling that the grapes were slightly unripe. It actually improved when consumed with a relatively mild tomato-based salsa. On the other hand a Turkish hot pepper sauce, Harissa, did not improve the wine.
The next meal included a commercial barbequed chicken leg with the paprika dusted skin, barbequed chicken wings in a sweet and sour sauce, potatoes roasted in chicken fat, and more of the salsa. The wine tasted of black cherries. It had palate-cleansing acidity with no tannins at all (like a Beaujolais). The potatoes melted in my mouth but made the wine sour. And the wings were more powerful than the wine. The salsa cleansed the palate and muted the wine.
The final meal was an omelet with smoked salmon. The wine was fruity displaying pleasant acidity but was short.
The first cheese was a cream cheese that took away the wine’s fruit. In the presence of a marbled Cheddar cheese the wine was sweet and fruity.
Final verdict. The Aosta Valley is an expensive part of Italy. This wine was overpriced. I’ve been doing a column on $10 wines and the best of the lot compete with this one. Perhaps I was overly excited about this wine because of its location. Actually the wines from this part of Italy don’t have a special reputation. I won’t rush to taste another one, not at this price. Next stop, Liguria.

Best Terroir

The Greeks realized it, the Romans realized it and the French and modern Europeans have codified it into law. The place a wine’s grapes are grown has an impact on the aroma and flavor of the wine.
In one sense this is obvious because a wine grape is really nothing more than an agricultural product. It grows on a vine in the ground and is subject to the conditions of the soil and the prevailing weather during its ripening. It makes sense that the grape vine has certain minimum requirements for its healthy growth so it won’t flourish where it’s too cold or too hot, where there is too much or not enough rain, or where the ground is just plain inhospitable. But, aside from the fact that the grape grows and ripens, what impact does the place of its growth have upon its aroma and flavor as a finished wine?
If wine were not so intriguing a beverage this question would not be asked at all. And if wine were not such a valuable commodity the answer would not be important to anyone.
The fact is that wine has always been valued based largely upon where it comes from. Greek and Roman writing differentiated between the merely good and the great wines of their day by noting where the vineyard was located. Before them the vineyards that supplied wine to the courts of the Mesopotamian monarchs were located in the far off mountains and required expensive shipping to be enjoyed in the palace. From earliest times, wine had prestige and added value because it was rare and expensive compared to malt beverages brewed from grain. The grape type was relatively unimportant for many centuries although it was recognized that the grapes of a particular vine species, which came to called the vtis vinifera, was most dependable.
Through the span of Mediterranean and European history place continued to be the most important factor in determining a wine’s value. The great white wines of Germany (Reisling), the great red and white wines of Burgundy (Pinot Noir and Chardonnay), the red wines of Bordeaux (Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot) etc. where all known by their regional identities.
Grape types have come and gone but the regions remain great. At one time there was very little white Sancerre, it was known more for its red wines made from Pinot Noir, and Cabernet Sauvignon is a relative baby, being the offspring of Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc within the last three hundred years. Even wine styles have fluctuated over time. The red wines of Italy’s Peidmont region were significantly sweeter a hundred years ago. So to, the white wines of the Loire Valley were prized by the Medieval French kings for their honeyed sweetness although today’s tastes require far more dry white wine.
There is no place in the world of wine that makes a larger fuss over the impact of the vineyard site than Burgundy in France. Here, very intricate maps have been drawn demarcating individual vineyards, some very small, all close to one another along the hillsides of the Cote d’Nuits and the Cote d’Ore. Some vineyards are called “Village” vineyards because they are in the environs of particular villages like Fixin, Gevrey or Puligney. Others are rated higher and called “Premier Cru” or “Grand Cru”. They are also associated with certain villages but have a proper name of their own like Les Charmes or Batard-Montrachet. It was a confederation of Medieval monks who started this practice. They made wines from all the vineyards but noted subtle and consistent differences depending upon the vineyard location. Curiously, and to this day, the more expensive wine comes from vineyards located at mid slope. Vineyards on the flat land or too high up on the slope produced good but not great results. Looking at maps of Burgundy today you can pick out two vineyards that are side by side and yet, the wine from one is village-level and relatively cheap, while the wine from the other is a Grand Cru and demands astronomical prices.
The modern acceptance of this idea dates back only about eighty years to a time when French wine was in crisis following World War One. Vine diseases of different kinds, the infestation of the Phyloxera louse and the devastation of war brought the European wine industry to its knees. The French, to combat the sale of generic bulk wines as fine wines from an historical vineyard, created their appellation laws. AOC (Appellation d’Origine Controlee) dictated what kind of grapes were legal for each growing zone as well as the vineyard techniques and the winery practices that had to be used. Thus, in order to be labeled as a “Chateauneuf-du-Pape” the grapes had to be grown in that place only and follow distinct rules of ripening, fermentation and blending in order to qualify.
The French AOC system seemed to be a success so other countries followed suit in the decades between the world wars. Today There are AOC in France, DOC in Italy (Denominazione di Origine Controllata) and AVA in America (American Viticultural Area). These are all systems of legally recognized geographical grape growing zones. With the creation of these lawful zones the idea of terroir was reborn. The French phrase, gout de terroir literally means, “taste of the earth” and had been used in earlier times to refer to poorly made, rustic local wine that tasted “earthy”. It was a derogatory word for a fruitless, bland or even bitter and distastefully smelly wine. It tasted like the earth, yes, like a mouth full of dirt. It was only after the creation of the AOC system, and the idea that specificity of place really mattered, that the derogatory term became a term of respect.
I believe that the place a wine comes from does make a difference and I believe there is a distinction worth recognizing between the wines of Europe and the wines of the New World. But I think the mystical yet commonplace use of the word “terroir” is mostly about marketing. Everyone likes to claim that their wine expresses the terroir of its location but, frankly the idea of terroir is too big to add cache to specific wines.
Terroir is the combined influence of vineyard aspect (how a vineyard faces the sun, its exposure or shelter from wind and weather and its physical location on a hillside or in a valley), its soil (rocky, sandy, rich and fertile etc.), the specific weather conditions during the growing season (rain, heat, damaging frost or hail) and the myriad decisions made by experienced vineyard managers and wine makers. These are conditions that all wines share to a degree, merely by the fact that they are wines. It is undeniable that different wines taste distinctly different. Heck, it undeniable that the same wine tasted twice, or from two different bottles, can exhibit distinct differences. It’s clear that some wines, from some places are consistently extraordinary while others are average. It can certainly be argued that wines from very similar locations have a regional resemblance, and that different wines made by the same wine maker share a certain family resemblance. But is this because of some mystical thing called terroir?
I do not believe that the location of a wine’s production is any guarantee of quality, though some AOC or AVA (whichever) do seem very consistent. European appellations have many more rules and that means more similarity between wines of a certain place, so it’s more possible to have an idea of what a wine might taste like before you open a bottle from Europe. But wine making, even where strict guidelines are in place still breeds variation and, outside of Europe there are few guidelines. When you taste a wine from a place you know about I think you can conclude that some aspects of flavor and taste are the direct result of prevailing weather, geography or geology. I also think that, without that foreknowledge it’s pretty rare to able to correctly describe anything about the vineyard or the vine.
Wine lovers love to sniff and swirl, discuss and speculate and the finest, rarest wines in the world, or one that has been diligently aged offer subtle, sumptuous pleasures. And wine is unique in it’s depth and personality, its complexity and expressiveness … at least the good stuff is. But wine is also a commodity. The modern marketplace demands rationalization and explanation, especially when higher prices are being asked. The idea of terroir may shine with more clarity from certain wines but it is just that, an idea. Hatched by French regulators and taken up by wine makers and writers the world over, terroir has become something everyone wants to claim, like their grapes are “picked at the peak of ripeness”.
Enjoy your wine. Be interested in its interesting aspects but take the terminology with a grain of salt.

The Art Of Wine Tasting

Even though many just assume that wine tasting is sipping, swishing, and swallowing - many are amazed to find that it’s actually a bit more. Wine tasting is more of an art, an art that is used to distinguish the taste of fine wines. Wine can be a tasty and refreshing drink - if the bottle was stored correctly and aged properly.
Wine tasting begins with the swishing. The reason why wine tasters swish the wine around in their mouths is to get the taste. Both the front and the back areas of the tongue contain taste buds, although neither one has any distinct sensation in taste. Taste buds can detect food and liquid that is bitter, salty or sweet, without a problem. To get the proper taste from wine however, you need to swish it around in your mouth and allow your taste buds and sense of smell to bring out the unique and fine flavors in the wine.

The Beauty Of Sparkling Wine

Sparkling wine is well known for it’s tiny bubbles that race to the surface. Sparkling wine is one of the most exotic yet refreshing types of wine, providing memories and happiness once the cork is released into the air. For many years, this exotic wine has proven to be among the most popular types of wine for celebrations and special achievements.
By looking at sparkling wine, you’ll find it to be a complete mystery. When tasting the wine, friends and lovers choose to discuss the refreshing, nutty aroma. Even though this type of wine is very popular, it can be hard to describe. Although the taste and aroma can be right there, lingering in the air - it’s still something that is nearly impossible to find the words for.
When you first open a bottle of sparkling wine, the carbon dioxide aroma that instantly fills the air is an experience that you have to smell to believe. A true feast for all of your senses, sparkling wine can instantly put you at ease. Drinking this wine is a feast for your taste buds, bringing several different flavors to rest on your tongue at the same time.
Even though the nature of sparkling wine is really unknown, society as a whole as really accepted it. Although many don’t realize it, the crisp and delicate taste of this wine isn’t what made it what it is today. Similar to the shine and splendor of the finest diamonds, sparkling wine emits a truly elegant aura and romance that makes it easy to distinguish from other types of wine.
Sparkling wine was first discovered in France by Dom Perignon, who was a monk in the Champagne region. He actually stumbled upon this fine wine while performing his duties as a cellar master in the Benedictine Abbey. Dom would hide his discovery for many years, as the public didn’t really respond in the way that he had been hoping.
Although Dom Perignon’s sparkling wine wasn’t popular at first, it would grow and become more popular over the years. Once people in France and people around the world caught wind this amazing sparkling wine, they simply had to experience it for themselves. At this point, it didn’t take long for Dom Perignon to become a legend and one of the most important wine makers throughout the rich and cherished history of France.
The formula and techniques that Dom used to produce his sparkling wine eventually become known as the traditional way of making Champagne. The process is still used throughout the world today, producing some of the best sparkling wines. Even though sparkling wine is made in various locations, many agree that the best place is the Champagne region of France - which is where sparkling wine first began and was first introduced to the world.
These days, sparkling wine is an essential part of life, for celebrations and events. With most celebrations, sparkling wine is simply a must have. There are many manufacturers of the wine these days, although most prefer to have the original and still the best - Dom Perignon. No matter where the future of wine goes, sparkling wine will never die. It will always be the wine that sparks celebrations, and the wine that makes events come to life. From it’s truly unique and breathtaking taste to it’s amazing look and splendid aroma - sparkling wine has the appeal and the flavor to keep people celebrating and living life for years and years to come.

The Flavors Of Wine

Although the four main flavors - sweet, salty, sour, and bitter are all your tongue is really capable of tasting, the long lasting impression that wine leaves in your mouth is far more complex. When you drink or taste wine, your taste buds and your sense of smell are involved, adding to the way you interpret wine overall. The flavors, aromas, and sensations that wine is comprised of provide the interaction that you taste when you sample wine.
Sweetness is something that wines are well known for. With most types of wine, grapes are responsible for the sweet taste. Grapes contain a lot of sugar, which breaks the yeast down into alcohol. The grapes and yeast that were used to produce the wine will leave behind various sugars, which your tongue will be able to quickly detect. Once your tongue detects these various sugars, the stimulation of sweetness from the wine will be ever so present in your mouth.
Alcohol is also present in wine, although your tongue doesn’t really know how to decipher the taste of alcohol. Even though the tongue doesn’t really taste alcohol, the alcohol is present in the mouth. The alcohol found in wine will dilate blood vessels and therefore intensify all of the other flavors found in the wine. After you have samples a few types of wine, the alcohol level can easily have an effect on your taste buds, making it hard to distinguish other drinks that you may have.
Another flavor is acidity, which will effect the sugars. With the proper balance of acidity, the overall flavor of wine can be very overwhelming. Once you taste wine that contains it, the flavor of the acidity will be well known to your tongue. Although acidity is great with wine, too much of it will leave a very sharp taste. With the right levels, acidity will bring the flavors of the grape and fruits alive in your mouth - providing you with the perfect taste.
Yet another effect of flavor are tannins, which are the proteins found in the skins of grapes and other fruits. If a wine has the right amount of tannins, it will give your tongue a great feel, and bring in the sensations of the other flavors. Once a wine starts to age, the tannins will begin to breakdown in the bottle, giving you a softer feel to the taste. Tannins are essential for the taste of wine - providing the wine has been properly aged.
The last flavor associated with wine is oak. Although oak isn’t put into the wine during the manufacturing process, it is actually transferred during the aging process, as most wines will spend quite a bit of time in oak barrels. Depending on how long the wine is left in the oak barrel or cask, the ability to extract the flavor will vary. Most often times, wine will be aged just enough to where the oak taste is visibly there - and adds the perfect sentiment to the taste.
Although there are other flavors involved with the taste of wine, they aren’t as present as those listed above. The above flavors are the most present in wine, and also the flavors that you need to get more familiar with. Before you try to taste wine or distinguish flavors, you should always learn as much you can about the components responsible for the flavors. This way - you will know more about what you are tasting and you’ll truly be able to appreciate wine.

Storing And Caring For Wine

Over the years, wine consumption has become more and more popular. With more and more money going into wine both as an investment and for later consumption, the history of the wine will always be in question. With this in mind, many people often wonder how they can properly store their wine and take care of it at the same time.
How you store your wine is extremely important. If you store it right it can lead to euphoria, while if you store it wrong it can lead to depression. When you tear into a bottle of wine that has properly been stored, it can be glorious indeed, while tearing into bottle of poorly stored wine can be quite the letdown. Often times, drinking a bottle of wine that was poorly stored is much like drinking vinegar.
To properly store wine, you’ll need to meet several factors, such as humidity, temperature, lighting, the cleanliness of your storage area, the angle of the bottle while it is stored, and the vibration of the bottle on the rack. The temperature is the most important, as you should keep it around 50 degrees at all times. This way, the lower temperature can help to age the wine. If there are any fluctuations in the temperature, you should make sure that it happens slowly. As long as the temperature doesn’t go to high and it fluctuates slowly, your wine should be ok.
The proper level of humidity for storing wine should be around 70%, although it is perfectly accepted to keep it 10% above or below the 70% level. If you have too high of a humidity temperature, the labels can easily rot or mold, which can affect the wine’s value. On the other hand, if the humidity gets too low, around 50%, the cork could shrink and bring air into the wine, which would ruin it in little to no time at all.
The angle that wine is stored is important as well. If the wine stays in contact with the cork during storage, the cork won’t dry out. If the wine doesn’t stay in contact with the cork, the cork could dry out and allow air into the wine. You should also strive to keep the wine out of the light, as light can ruin any type of wine. Light causes the wine to age prematurely, making it in your best interest to store wine in a dark location.
To prevent damage to the wine from sediment, you should also store wine in a location that is free of vibration. If you store wine in places that are free from vibration, it will give the sediment in the bottle ample time to settle. Vibrations are never a good thing for wine, as the sediment becomes unsettled and can ruin the wine or shake it to the point where it tastes horrible.
To protect the quality and investment of your wine, storage and care is very important. Storing it in a proper location will also bring the best taste. In the world of wine, nothing is more disappointing than waiting several years to open a bottle of fine wine, only to find that it is nothing but vinegar. You can prevent this from happening though, by taking care of your wine. Wine isn’t hard to care for or store, it just takes the right conditions and location. Everyone loves some fine wine every now and then - which is why storage and care is so very important these days.

The Process Of Manufacturing Wine

Wine, which is a drink we all know and love, is produced from fruits such as grapes and berries by drying and then fermenting them. Once the fruits ferment, the sugar within the fruit will turn into alcohol. The wine will display a different color, taste, and aroma depending on the type of fruit that it was made from.
Wine is divided into three main categories - fortified, sparkling, and table. Wine is known as fortified when a bit of brandy is added into it to enrich the alcohol. Wine is deemed as sparkling when it has the right level of C02. Table wine, the third category, is wine in it’s natural form - which is different from any other type of wine.
Normally, grapes are the preferred ingredients for making wine. They contain an equal amount of acid and sugar, which can’t be found in any other type of fruit. When drying the grapes, a high amount of heat is needed. To use grapes with wine though, you need to know the exact harvest season. If you don’t pick the grapes during the right time, your wine will suffer due to the level of increases in sugar and a lack of acidic extent.
During the beginning stages of wine making, the grapes or other fruit is crushed by a large cylindrical container that will deflate the juicy parts of the fruit into large bags that are attached to the machine. Next, the juicy part of the fruit is fermented through the use of heat. During this part of the process, present yeast will help to convert the sugar into alcohol. Once the sugars start to break down into alcohol, the wine will get a buttery flavor.
Next, is the settling. Settling involves the yeast cells or any other type of material flowing near the top of the wine. Once it is at the top, it is then filtered with all sediments being gathered on the filter. Aging is next, which is where the wine is tightly packed away in special contains that won’t allow any contact with air for months - sometimes even years. Once the wine has been aged, it is transferred into smaller bottlers then shipped out and sold.
When the wine is bottled, it is done in a way that makes it easy to distinguish the several types of wine. Colored bottles are preferred, as they will greatly reduce the risk of oxidation, damage, and several other possible risks. The bottles are also labeled according to their manufacturer and brand as well, which makes it easy for you to select the wine you are interested in.
Once you have bought a bottle fo wine, you should always make sure you store it in the right place. The most appropriate places to store wine is the basement, underground cellars, or anywhere else that is damp and cool. No matter where you store your wine at, you should always make sure that temperature stays around 55 degrees F.
Never store the wine in an area where the temperature fluctuates, as it can harm the wine. A humidity level of around 60% is also important, in order to keep the cork moist. If the temperature is too low, it can also harm the wine. When you buy your wine, you should always make sure that you store it in the right location. Wine that is properly stored and taken care of can be truly amazing once you drink it - making it more than worth the time and effort.

The Right Temperature For Storing Wine

Although position is important when storing wine, temperature is the most important storing factor overall. Even though you may not have the ideal conditions for storage, you should always have the optimal level of temperature. The temperature when storing your wine is very important, as it affects the overall quality, flavor, and longevity of the wine. Most wines need to be stored for long periods of time, which is why the temperature is so very important.
The temperature for storing wine should always be between 50 and 65 degrees F. When stored in this range, the wine will develop quite nicely. In the days before refrigeration, wine was stored in underground cellars and caves. When refrigeration came along, it quickly became the easiest and most preferred way to store wine, as it allowed you to maintain the same desired temperature.
In this day and age, science plays a major role with wine making. Science has proved over the years that aging is actually a chain of chemical reactions that occur over time. Depending on the temperature, the chemical reactions can either be good or bad. Chemical reactions all have unique energy factors that need to be met for each individual reaction to happen. If the temperature isn’t right, the chemical reactions in the wine won’t occur.
If wine is stored in direct sunlight or in a hot area, the increase in temperature can result in a chemical reaction that can damage both the flavor and the quality of the wine. Wine that has been damaged from heat will normally turn brown due to the oxidation. When this happens, the flavor and quality of the wine won’t be any good. Wine that is damaged from heat loses all of it’s flavor and color, making it virtually impossible to drink - or sell.
Colder temperatures on the other hand may slow the aging process, although it can also prevent the wine from getting the chemical reactions it needs as well. Lower temperatures may not affect the quality or taste of the wine, although it isn’t recommended. All bottles of wine, until they have been opened, should be stored in a location with a temperature above 50 degrees F. This way, the wine will be in the proper temperature for storage and able to get the chemical reactions it needs.
You should keep any open bottles in your refrigerator, as the average temperature is normally 41 degrees F. You shouldn’t keep bottles that you haven’t opened in the fridge, as the temperature is much too cold. If you follow the above tips when storing your wine, you’ll find the taste to be spectacular. Storing wine will always raise the value and add to the taste - providing you store it the right way.

Hungary For Wine

Despite what many may think, the area known as Hungary holds more wine tradition than any other country in Europe. Most of this very tradition is just now surfacing in the light, with people finally starting to catch wind about everything Hungarian wine has to offer. Even though many wine drinkers aren’t familiar with Hungary - there are many who are.
Hungary is home to over 20 wine regions, fully of forests, vineyards, and orchards. With several different varieties of grapes to offer, the vineyards found in Hungary have flourished since the great Roman Times. The weather in Hungary is seasonal to say the least, with cold winters and extremely hot summers. This weather allows the soil in the country to be diverse, which allows wine makers to create a variety of quality wines.
Despite the communist control in the past, there are several different wines found in Hungary. Although the vineyards here produce a lot of excellent wines, Tokay Aszu is by far the favorite here and the wine that locals always love raising their glass to. Tokay Aszu is a popular wine with meals or dessert, in Hungary and also happens to be one of the most popular dessert wines in the entire world.
Tokay Aszu was discovered in the mid 17th century in Hungary, quickly becoming a favorite for many European aristocrats. Even though it was great to the taste, many believed that certain types of the wine had mystical healing powers. Although this was strictly a rumor, it actually helped the wine become more popular than ever. Over the years, Tokay Aszu was one indeed the most popular wine in Hungary, spreading to other areas of the world as well.
Egri Bikaver, also referred to as Bulls Blood is another popular wine found in Hungary. This is another popular wine for locals, and can be found throughout the world as well. Getting it’s name from it’s color, Bulls Blood is truly a feast for anyone who likes wine. The wine is dark red in color, yet sweet to the taste. The wine was first developed back in the 16th century, and remains popular even to this day.
If you ever visit Hungary, there are many places you can visit to get some great wine. You should also make a point to visit Tokay, located in the northeast. You can take a train from Budapest and arrive here in a few hours. There are several different wine flavors and varieties here, sure to please just about anyone. The wineries found throughout the Tokay area are normally open for tours and tasters from May to the end of October. If you visit during these months, you can tour the underground cellars, sample the superb wine, and learn more than you ever thought possible about the manufacturing of Hungarian wines.
All in the all, the wine found in Hungary is great to have in your collection or just have around the house for special occasions. You can get it by the bottle, the glass, or by the case. All types of Hungarian wine has been perfected over the years, making it something that you really can’t go wrong with. If you like to drink wine, as most of us do, you really can’t go wrong with any type of Hungarian wine. Hungarian wine gives wine lovers plenty to study, plenty to order, and plenty to drink. The wine is very tasty and refreshing - and it helps to keep the nation of Hungary thirsty for more.

An Introduction To Chardonnay

Chardonnay grape is the most popular type of white wine, found all over the world. The flavor, taste, and aroma of it will though, depending on where it was made and what processing methods were used. Chardonnay has a variety of different styles and flavors, and remains a major type of grape. As a result of it’s popularity, this fine wine spread throughout Europe and other locations of the world such as Australia and California.
As more and more wine makers discovered Chardonnay, the fine wine began to grow quite well in South Africa and other areas as well. With it being a non aroma type wine, oak seems to work very well with it. The richest and most complex are American and French Chardonnay, which are also among the most preferred white wines. Even though it does suffer from fatigue, the flavor and richness of this wine will keep it loved by many for years to come.
Chardonnay originated from the Burgundy and Champagne area of France. Although white Burgundy is a popular wine that is prepared with Aligote, a lesser known grape, the fact remains that white Burgundy can’t be made without the use of Chardonnay grape. What this goes to show, is that Chardonnay grapes have more than a few uses.
In appearance, Chardonnay grapes are green in color with thin skins. The grape is a result of the Pinot and Croatian Blanc grape, which are extinct to this day. Chardonnay on the other hand is still popular, fermented and aged using oak barrels that help to bring out the vanilla flavor the wine is well known for. It can also be aged and fermented using bottles, although it won’t age quite as much as red wine.
Almost all Chardonnay wines are considered to be chilled, making them work extremely well with dishes that contain butter and cheeses. The wines also have less acid content as well, which makes them work well with seafood as well. There are a lot of food that you can pair Chardonnay with, which is what makes it so popular. A lot of fine restaurants serve it as well, especially Italian and seafood restaurants.
The Chardonnay grape can also be used in making Champagne and other types of sparkling wines. Although Chardonnay wine is the most popular use, there are several other uses for the grape that lead to some truly fine wines. Oak is often times used with the wine as well, which provides it with some great flavors as it ages. Although it can be a bit on the expensive side, it still remains one of the most preferred types of wine. You can find it at any wine or alcohol store - making it a great addition to your wine or drink collection.

Wine Calories

Most people have a general idea how many calories they consume when it comes to solid foods, although it is quite common to forget that when we drink, we are still consuming calories. Alcohol drinkers, especially wine drinkers, may be surprised at the calorie intake associate with wine. So how many calories are in wine?
The answer depends on your discernment. Most wines come in under the 100 calorie mark per glass. This is assuming that you are using the appropriate wine glasses. There are fewer calories in wine than most other alcoholic beverages. White Zinfandel and Sauvignon blanc come in at 80 calories per serving. Considering that one glass of wine per evening is good for cardiovascular health, this can be a reasonable compliment to an evening meal.
Marsala also weighs in at a mere 80 calories per serving while Chablis is a mild 85 calories. Red Zinfandel as well as the majority of other popular wines, comes in at 90 calories per serving. Riesling, Chardonnay, White Burgundy, and Cabernet Sauvignon all round out at 90 calories per 4 ounce serving. Topping it off with just 5 additional calories you can sip Red Burgundy, Red Bordeaux, Beaujolais, Merlot, Rhone, or Rose.
Considering that most people have more than just one glass, the remaining wines are considered to be a little heftier in calorie count. While a single 4 ounce serving may only add about 100 calories to an evening, those who drink wine regularly tend to do so with a certain amount of vigor, consuming between 3 and 5 glasses in an average evening.
Wines such as Mosell, Pink Champagne, and Chianti contain 100 calories preserving while Sangria and Sauterne climbs that calorie ladder by and additional ten calories. Dry Champagne meets them in the middle at 105 calories.
It’s not just about the calories in wine when trying to maintain a low calorie lifestyle and still participate fully in social events or a romantic evening. Some calories are easier to burn while others are easier to store. Wine comes from fruit which is a form of sugar. The sugar in wine, even dry wines, makes the calories a bit harder to burn off. Sugar that comes from fruit is a natural and healthy energy, although once the fruit has been fermented, the sugar content raises and becomes more fructose-like than its original form.
Other wines weigh in much heavier in the calorie counting battle. Muscatel comes in at 160 as does Madeira. Tokay sneaks up to 165 while White Port hits 170. Ruby Port tops the list at 185.
Now, keeping in mind that an average gin and tonic comes in around 280 calories and that most frozen delectable alcoholic drink can average 800 calories or above, wine is certainly a low calorie choice given the options.
And of course we are all familiar with a “beer gut,” which is never referred to as a “wine gut.” Regular beer can be anywhere from 140 to 200 calories per 12 ounce serving and light beer weighs in on average around 100 calories. The conception that light beer means that it is calorie free has produced a high level of sales for the lighter version of the basic favorites. In no way are these beers saving on significant calories. Not to mention they are filled with empty calories.
It is perfectly possible to maintain a healthy lifestyle and still enjoy the occasional evening out or a couple glasses of wine with dinner. The wine drinker is fortunate as the calorie count in most wines do not necessarily call for large alterations to diets in order to enjoy a few drinks. For the occasional social wine drinker, cutting out about 100 calories per meal during the few days before a social event will help to keep a solid daily average. The calories in wine are low enough that most people can simply cut out the desserts offered at the social event and just one or two lighter calorie meals preceding the event. For daily wine drinkers, skimping a few calories out of every meal will allow for basically normal eating and avoid the build up of additional calories.
Skipping meals before a social event is not likely to keep the calorie count down. In fact, it is likely to raise the overall calorie count for the evening, as alcohol in any form lowers blood glucose levels and tells the brain to signal to the body that it is experiencing hunger. A few drinks in the system and what would normally be a decision based on health becomes a decision based on a lack of willpower or the attitude that “it’s only one night, it can’t hurt to throw my cautions to the wind!” Which can be true, but in most cases those who are trying to maintain a low calorie diet are tempted to “make up” for their sinful evening by crash dieting the following two or three days which only creates yo-yo dieting.
The calories in wine can easily be adjusted for simply by keeping track of the basic consumption for each situation and adjusting by about 100 calories for each glass of wine. Unless someone is a continual and heavy wine drinker, the daily food consumption really shouldn’t suffer due to the alcohol consumption. If it is, then it is time to get some help.

Perfect Wines For The Summer

Summertime, with it’s sweltering heat and heavy air, does something to a wine drinker’s palate. We no longer crave a tannic rich Cabernet, for example. They tend to make us warm. During the hot months, wine drinkers tend to crave wines high in acidity. These livlier wines tend to be more cleansing and refreshing. So, put away your Merlots and Cabernets for the Summer, and join us for a tour of some delightful summer substitutes.
No question about it, we Americans love our Champagne! We drank about 35 million gallons of it in 2006. This figure represents about a 20% increase from 2001. We would probably drink alot more of it, but it’s price has risen right along with it’s popularity. An excellent, economical substitute is a proseco from the Veneto region of Italy. Proseco comes extra dry, or brut, which is drier still. Heavy, creamy dishes such as fettucine Alfredo, complement the lively, dry quality of proseco. Proseco tends to cut through the oiliness and richness of Salmon or even an avacado. Proseco leaves us cleansed and refreshed, and eager for the next bite!
Though sometimes a little too sweet, Spanish Cavas are a great, bubbly alternative to champagne. Extremely affordable, most cavas are under 20 dollars. Most Cavas are made west of Barcelona, in northeastern Spain. Cavas are generally sparkling wines, however once in awhile youll run across a rose. With aromas ranging from apple to lemon, Cavas are one of the main reasons that Spain is rapidly ascending in prominence in the world of wines.
Although only slightly effervescent, Portugal’s Vinho verde still qualifies as a choice alternative to Champagne and an excellent summer wine. Featuring a delicate lightness and a lower alchohol content, Vinho Verde is perfect for hot, summer days when the tendancy is to consume your wine a little more quickly. Perfect for many types of foods, Vinho Verde is usually quite fruity, with citrus being the most common. Generally a young wine, Vinho Verde has earned the nickname “green” wine.
Beacause it lacks the harsh tannins of a Cabernet, the full bodied spirit of a Grenache is a good summer choice. Although most associate a Grenache from France or Australia, Grenache is grown in abundance in the Priorat region of Spain. Grenache typically conveys accents of dark fruits such as black plums or rasberries. Californis, too has it’s share of Grenache. Interesting enough, Grenache complements a good old fashioned burger as well as anything else!
In finishing our round-up of great summer wines, we still have a few more that deserve mention. Sauvignon blanc, particularly from New Zealand, is a great summer choice. It features just the right amount of acidity combined with the goodness of gooseberry and grapefruit. The ever popular pinot grigio, especially from Italy is clean and wonderfully refreshing! A little less well known is a Gruner Veltliner from Austria. Gruners are wonderfully crisp and thirst quenching. They are bone dry and are frequently laced with green apple.
Needless to say, we have left out somebody’s favorite summer wine. For that we are sorry. Hopefully we have included some wines that will make this summer perfect for discovering new favorites

Good Cheap Wines

The other day I was riding in my car and I received a call on my cell phone. It was my friend Lee, and I could tell by the urgency in his voice that he needed help. “Mike”, he said, “I’m at the grocery store and I’ve got to find a good cheap wine, any suggestions?”It turns out that Lee had a date that night, and didn’t want to “bomb” on his wine selection.
I get asked questions like this frequently, so I decided I’d write this article and try to address people’s concerns over selecting good cheap wines. First of all, for our purposes let’s define “cheap.” Now I could go on and on about individual definitions of the word “cheap” as it pertains to wine, but I don’t want to bore you. So, for the sake of these discussions, let’s define “cheap” wines as wines priced in the 5.00-12.00 per bottle range.
“Good” is a subjective term. So when we describe a wine as “good” what we’re really saying is that the wine is acceptable to the majority of people who drink that type of wine. I wouldn’t know a good Merlot from grape juice because I don’t drink Merlot. So, tip#1 is to try several wines in the 5.00-12.00 range in the category of wine that you enjoy.Determine which of these wines tastes best to you. O.K,O.K, my friend Lee didn’t have the inclination to start tasting wines in the grocery store, so what could he do?
My first suggestion is to stick to well known brands, preferably some of the larger vintners in California. Brands such as Robert Mondavi, Berengers, and even Sutter Home are dependable. These large wineries have both exclusive,select vintages, which tend to be pricey, and large mass produced vintages. Berenger’s Stone Cellars variety and Mondavi’s Woodbridge variety are mass produced, but reasonably priced and good. Fetzer is another good, reasonably priced California winery. Gallo, the grandfather of all mass produced wines, has recently introduced it’s “Gallo Of Sonoma” varieties of wines. These are quite good and easily fit our price range. Wine Spectator magazine has an excellent feature titled,”Great Wines For Under 20.00.” Check it out!
Ah yes, don’t let me forget box wines. Box wines have improved tremendously in the last few years. This improvement is probably due to wine’s increased popularity. At any rate, one can pick up a “box” which is usually the equivalent to 4 bottles of wine, for under 20.00!!Check with Boxwines.org for reviews of various box wines.
Hopefully, these few suggestions will be of help to you the next time you’re entrusted with “choosing the wine.”Apparently it helped Lee, he’s been dating the same girl for 2 months now!

Wines of Hungary

Most people do not know it but Hungary holds more wine tradition than most countries in Europe. Most of the Hungarian wine tradition has just surfaced recently, as more and more wine lovers starting to catch wind of what the Hungarian wine has to offer. Only few wine lovers are familiar with Hungarian wine but its popularity is rapidly increasing as more and more wine lovers get to taste its luscious flavor.
Hungary has more than 20 regions that manufacture wine. These wine producing regions are fully forested vineyards, and orchards. With a diverse variety of grapes to offer, the vineyards in Hungary have prospered since the great Roman Times. The climate in Hungary is cyclic, with cold winters and exceptionally hot summers. The weather condition of Hungary is the reason why the soil is very diverse, thereby allowing wine manufacturers to produce a diverse variety of high quality wines.
There are several different varieties of wines manufactured in Hungary. The vineyards in Hungary produce a large number of excellent quality wines. The most favorite among the locals is the “Tokaji”. The “Tokaji” is mostly paired with meals or dessert. As a matter of fact, the “Tokaji” is one of the most popular dessert wines all over the world.
If ever you get the chance to visit Hungary, be sure to visit the places where you will be able to purchase the famed Hungarian wine. Be sure to visit the northeast region of Hungary called “Tokay”. Getting there is somewhat easy. You can take a train from Budapest and be there within a few hours.
Hungary has a diverse variety of wines. The wine manufacturers in the Tokay region are usually open for tours and tasters alike starting May until the late part of October. During this period, the underground cellars of these wineries are open and visitors can sample the luscious tastes of the Hungarian wines.
All of the Hungarian wine variants have underwent a process has been perfected as time goes by; thereby, making the Hungarian wine a thing that you can’t go wrong with. If you are one of the numerous wine lovers all over the world, you really can’t go wrong with whatever type of Hungarian wine you may purchase. Hungarian wine gives wine lovers plenty to study, plenty to order, and plenty to drink. The wine is very tasty and refreshing - and it helps to keep the nation of Hungary thirsty for more.

Wine Labels Explained

You may remember the old adage ‘you can’t judge a book by its cover’, but is the same true about a bottle of wine? Can you judge wine by its label?
What Do The Labels Mean?
There is a lot of information in the label of a bottle of wine, and if you aren’t a connoisseur of wine it can be a little overwhelming at first glance. The majority of wine labels are quite similar though, containing information on the winery where the wine was made, the ‘appellation’ (the country or region where the grapes that went into the wine were grown), the variety (the type of grapes the wine was made from) and the vintage (the year when the grapes were harvested). The strength / alcohol content of the wine is also displayed on the label.
Some extra information may appear depending on the country in which the wine was bottled. As an example, wines bottled in the USA are required to have the name and address of the bottler displayed on the label, along with certain consumer warnings. There are also sometimes some details on the ripeness of the grapes, and information about the winery that produced the wine.
What Else Appears on Wine Labels?
What once was just used to mark what was in the bottle, wine labels have become a spot to showcase artwork and make for a unique collection for a wine lover. While they may seem like an odd collection, the artwork on wine labels can be extremely beautiful, and a label may remind you of a special trip or an important event where you enjoyed the wine. And wine labels are certainly easier to save and display than empty bottles! Collecting wine labels has become so popular that manufacturers have even developed special cases to display them, and wine labels actually have their own category on eBay! Avid collectors often have their own websites or blogs devoted to sharing their collection with others.
Can I Customize a Label For A Special Occasion?
If you are planning a special celebration - perhaps a wedding, anniversary celebration, or even just a really fancy company party, then you could take advantage of companies that allow you to turn a piece of your own artwork into a wine label. You could put pretty much anything you wanted on the label - a photograph of the couple getting married, your company logo, or some other design of significance to the recipient. After the wine has been drank, it is likely the bottle will remain displayed in pride of place for a long time to come!

Grape Wine Recipe - Tips For Your Success Using Grapes

If you have never made a home made wine before, don’t worry, these tips are designed to ensure your success, so that you don’t end up wasting all your efforts.
Below I have included a simple overview to the recipe and how it works to remove some of the “mystery” that surrounds it, and to help you get started. I think you will enjoy it.
What Ingredients To Use
For this recipe you will need some basic ingredients such as 2 teaspoons pectic enzyme, sugar, 15 pounds of white grapes, white wine yeast, and Campden tablets (or strong sulphite solution).
An Overview Of The Process
The first thing you will need to do is to pick the grapes, remove them from the stalks and place them in a plastic bucket. If the grapes are fully ripe they can be crushed easily by hand or with a sterilized wooden block.
Next, add the pectic enzyme, and one crushed Campden tablet or 1 teaspoon strong sulphite solution. Stir well, cover with an upturned plate, then cover the bucket and leave for 24 hours. Press the grapes or strain through a strong nylon straining bag, squeezing the bag to extract all the juice.
Take an S.G. (specific gravity) reading of the juice and adjust with sugar syrup to 1.080. Pour into a demijohn and add an active yeast starter. Plug the jar with cotton wool and when the fermentation is active replace with an airlock.
Leave in a warm place and when the fermentation is finished, in about 10-14 days, rack the clearing wine from the lees into a clean jar and remove to a cool place. After 2 days rack again. This time adding 2 Campden tablets or 2 teaspoons strong sulphite solution.
Now you let them age and mature in for 12 months before bottling.
Finding Good Grapes
When growing grapes you need good summer weather to enable the vine to produce grapes with a high sugar level, and a low acid content. A wine made from grapes that haven’t had the chance to completely ripen will be of poor quality. It will usually have a low alcohol level with high acidity.
If the grapes can be left on the vine a far superior wine should be achieved. This is because the maximum sugar level in the grapes can be achieved, which in turn, produces a higher quality wine.
Although there are a number of fruits that be used to make wine, grapes are the standard choice, and will yield the best results for your grape wine recipe.

How to Pair Chocolate and Wine

It seems that everywhere you look – grocery aisles, restaurants, farmer’s markets, your hotel pillow – you’ll find chocolate. I’m not talking about a 99-cent candy bar, but premium, all natural, gourmet chocolate. It’s all the rage and with more science linking health benefits to eating chocolate, one can argue it’s now good for you!
This attention on premium chocolate has elevated it to star status on “hot” restaurant menus around the country, usually paired with a wine recommendation. So how can you replicate that experience for your next dinner party? We asked Chef Richard Kaplan, founder of artisan Brown Paper Chocolates, for his tips when selecting a wine to pair with gourmet chocolate.
Dark Chocolate
* Dark chocolate, red wine and high-grade ports all have comparable properties, causing the tannins naturally found in red wines to enhance the sweetness in chocolates.
* Fruit in some red wines brings out the bitter undertones and smokiness found in higher-grade dark chocolates. To properly match them, look for a higher cocoa content (55% to 62%) used in well-made chocolate to pair with a big, forward fruit red or aged, vintage port.
Milk Chocolate
* Milk chocolate has a very sweet creamy profile, rather than the stoutness found in dark chocolate. Pair milk chocolate with a cordial to enhance the inherent sweetness, such as an orange liqueur. You may also try a cream cordial with some bite like a whiskey-based drink or white Russian.
White Chocolate
* White chocolate has a sweet and unique, nutty creamy profile. It nicely pairs with a full-bodied sparkling wine or a lighter, less cloying dessert wine such as Eiswine, Berenauslese or Muscat Beaume de Venise.
So how does this work in real life? Here are a few flavors from Brown Paper Chocolates paired with appropriate wines.
* Dark Chocolate with Pistachios, Cointreau, Dried cherries & Orange Peel – pair with a full bodied forward fruit red such as Cabernet, Zinfandel or aged Port
* Dark Chocolate with Almonds, Aged Tequila & Ancho Chiles – pair with a full-bodied, less fruity, earthy style red such as Syrah, aged Tawny Port or Madiera
* Milk Chocolate with Cashews, Caramel, Jack Daniel’s & Fleur de Sel – pair with a creamy after dinner cordial such as Bailey’s Irish Cream
* White Chocolate with Pistachios, Caramel, Coffee Liqueur & Citrus Peel – pair with a full-bodied yeasty Champagne
* White Chocolate with Lavender, Chervil and Pimms No. 1 – pair with a full-bodied brie on plain toast and a light sweet wine such as Muscat Beaume de Venise
We learned so much. Thank you Chef Richard. To learn about other chocolate flavors or to place an order with Brown Paper Chocolates, please visit them at BrownPaperChocolates.com. YUM!
Let ChefsLine introduce you to another culinary star, Chef Richard Kaplan, and get the insider tips your need to present a winning chocolate and wine combination. Only through ChefsLine do you connect to top chefs for live cooking advice and instruction. Any questions? Just chat with us online or call the culinary hotline at 1-800-977-1224. We can’t wait to bring out the chef in you!

The Songs of Wine

When it comes to wine, we use a variety of our senses. Our sense of taste and our sense of smell helps us perceive flavors and aromas, our sense of sight helps us look for legs, helping us to identify body, and our sense of touch, well, that just helps us to make sure we grab a glass of wine, and not a can of beer. In fact, there is only one sense we don’t really use: our sense of hearing.
Now, I’ve done it myself: I’ve had a few too many glasses of wine, put the glass up to my ear, and sworn up and down that I could hear the ocean. Except for those rare, okay frequent, instances, hearing, when it comes to wine, is a bit left out. That is, however, until it “auditions” for inclusion in the form of song.
The following is our list of some of the best wine songs to ever grape, er grace, us with their presence.
Alcohol (Brad Paisley): So, this song might not be just about wine. With lyrics that talk about all kinds of alcohol, the spotlight isn’t on a bottle of Shiraz doing a rather long, but oddly touching, interpretive dance. Still, any song that gives a shout out to Bordeaux, France is a must listen for the wine lover. Not too bad, Brad.
The Wino and I know (Jimmy Buffett): One of the best singers to listen to at any kind of party, Jimmy Buffett delivers a song that acknowledges the wine drinker in all of us. There is, however, one problem: the line “the wino and I,” for many of us, is redundant.
Red Red Wine (UB40): A song that has made many of us feel so fine, “Red Red Wine” is just a fun fun time. We might not know what the heck “Monkey pack him rizla pon the sweet dep line” means, but who cares: let’s just focus on memorizing the rest of the song’s rap section.
Bottle of Wine (Tom Paxton): An oldie, but a goodie, “Bottle of Wine” pays homage to the fruit of the vine. But, when Tom sings the “When you gonna let me get sober?” line, we can’t help but think he’s joking. Seriously Paxton, pour another drink.
Strawberry Wine (Deana Carter): Even though we are pretty sure the “Strawberry Wine” in this song is likely Boone’s Farm, it’s still a good tune. It talks about first loves, summer nights, and remembering when 30 was old. As someone who turns 30 in a few months, allow me to state that 30 is the new 20, oh wait, the new 21.
Little Ole Wine Drinker Me (Dean Martin): We can only expect a great song from the man who was once quoted as saying, “You haven’t drunk too much wine if you can still lie on the floor without holding on.” Very true Dean, very true.
Champagne Supernova (Oasis): I know that I may be one of the few people who actually love Oasis (call me Liam!), but this is a great song. Hopefully we will all someday find ourselves in a “Champagne Supernova,” or at least like a Champagne brunch.
Blood Red Wine (Rolling Stones): Wine’s greatest chance of ever truly rocking out, this song allows us to picture a Merlot with a Mohawk, a Pinot with a pierced nose, and a Traminer with a tattoo.
Two More Bottles of Wine (Martina McBride): A tune that teaches us that our lovers can move out and, as long as there is wine, everything will be okay, “Two More Bottles of Wine” would have been just a little bit better if it had replaced the word “bottles” with the word “cases.”
Wine, Women an’ Song (White Snake): As a female, I might not identify with this song as much as the male gender. After all, it talks zealously about landing a good woman. But, who cares: I can turn lesbian for one article and chalk it up to experimentation.

Italian Wine

Italian wine is one of the most famous wines, owing to Italy’s fame as the world’s oldest wine producing regions and the exceptional quality of wine produced here. Italy has more than 1 million vineyards under cultivation and is the world’s largest wine producer. Drinking wine is customary and most people have a glass of wine after their meals or in-between meals.
Italian wine is classified into two types – The EU Category and the Table Wine category.
Italian table wine can be in the form of ‘Vino da Tavolsor’ or ‘Indicazione Geografica Tipica (IGT)’. Vino da Tavolsor label indicates that the wine is from Italy, but it is not of very high quality. The Indicazione Geografica Tipica (IGT) label indicates that the wine is from a specific region in Italy and though it is not made according to the traditional wine making process, the wine is of a superior quality.
The wine belonging to the EU category can be either ‘Denominazione di Origine’ Controllata (DOC) or ‘Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita’ (DOCG). While both classes of wine under the EU category wine are from specific regions of Italy and use only certain types of grapes in the wine making process, the DOCG class has to go through a blind taste test.
Italy has about 20 wine making regions and some of them are Lombardy, Sicily, Sardinia, Piedmont (Piemonte), Liguria and Tuscany. Each region’s wine is specific to the grapes grown in that region and its cuisine. Italian wines include the Red Wines variety and the White Wine variety. Some important Italian Red Wine varieties are Sangiovese, Barbera, Dolcetto, Sagrantino and Malvasia Nera. Well-known Italian White Wine varieties are Trebbiano, Pinot Grigio, and Moscato Malvasia Bianca Garganega.
When serving Italian wine, food served during the occasion must blend with the wine served and it is always best to go with food specific to the region from where the wine come from to highlight the taste and quality of the Italian wine.
Ricardo De Sousa is a Southern European Winery Expert writing about wine.

Wine Shelf Is Not A New Concept To The World

Traditional wine racks or shelf’s permit the wine devotee to have a proficient looking wine rack in their own home. A traditional wine rack is most often a wall mounted or stackable wine rack unit. It can hold from 10 to 100s of bottles depending upon your individual need and with space in mind; they are also customizable.
Traditional Wine racks for the home allow the individual wine lover to convert any space in their home into an instant rack in a matter of moments. Wine bottles need to have proper storage space to ensure that the wine maintains optimal flavor and wine racks provide this storage. Anyone with an interest in wine should know that the proper and more convenient way to store wine bottles is on their sides. By using a wine rack, bottles either are individually or grouped together on their sides in cubicles.
This arrangement is necessary for several reasons. First, by storing the bottle on its side, the sediments that settle out of the wine over time are more evenly distributed and help the wine keep most of the desired original flavor. In addition, the label and corks are better preserved.
Traditional Wine Racks Means Wooden Racks:
Traditional wine racks are generally made up of wood. A wooden wine rack is nice because it looks great and is generally pretty easy to put together. Not many people have too much trouble with the average wooden wine rack. A wooden wine rack also tends to be quite light while still being able to hold an enormous amount of weight.
There is also suppleness to a wooden wine rack and that is in its paint ability. You can paint this type of wine rack to match just about any home décor. It is even easy to build your own wooden wine rack if you like to build things for the home and this type of wine rack is very durable and can last you for years to come. There is another perk to a wooden wine rack and that is the fact that if you were to knock your wine bottle a little hard on the wine rack for some reason accidentally it is less likely to shatter on a wine rack

Wine Food Pairing - Weinbau in Gumpoldskirchen

What kind of Wine Food Pairing is this, you ask? Terrific wines made right on the premises and an opportunity to scout out a heurigen that only locals seem to know about. This shining gem is located in the small village of Gumpoldskirchen, Austria. Our friend, Herbert, gave us quick instructions on how to find this wine house and then, with the help of several villagers, we finally found it by looking for the lighted pine boughs over the door. This is the traditional sign that a heurigen is open for business.
Weinbau Otmar Schnitzer is open for 9 days, 6 times a year and it is the time when this wine farmer is able to sell his wines to the public.
We arrived to find our friends Herbert and Maria already enjoying a glass of Rotgipfler…….a “sweeter” white wine….a bit too sweet for my tastes, but delicious all the same! My husband and I looked at the wine menu, consulted Otmar and decided on Rot Cuvee, a medium heavy, dry red wine…YUM! Relaxation and conversation with friends are what these wine houses are all about…once you are there, you may stay the whole evening….unlike in the United States where “flipping” tables is a financial must. It is interesting to watch all the locals, young and old, come in, sit at the wooden tables and just enjoy each other’s company while swapping stories!
As the evening progresses we all decided that a bit of food might be nice. The food is reportedly the best here, but we decided on something a little lighter…a cheese and fruit plate……and along with this, a change of wines to a Gstaubter. This is a fresh young wine, one step beyond “sturm” and that has not yet been filtered. It is sometimes referred to as a “dusty” wine because of its cloudy appearance. Totally delicious with the cheese plate!
Otmar and his crew presented us with a tasty selection of cheeses ranging from dry Swiss to a “stinky” gorgonzola along with rich brie and slices of provolone …. sliced apples, olives (watch out for the pits!) and a sprinkling of walnuts right off the tree in the garden….WOW!!!!! All of this paired along with a basket of fresh breads that the Europeans are so famous for! Can it get any better?
Just as the evening was about to end (I thought!) the “house” brought over a glass of Spatrot Rotgipfler to tempt us further! This crisp, dry white wine reminded me a lot of my favorite Pinot Grigio….YUMMY! Of course we had to linger a bit longer!

The Differences between White and Red Wine

Most people have tried various red wines and white wines and they still have no idea what differentiates both. If you have no clue, then this article will give you the factors to look for; apart from the color which is obvious. Red and white wines can either be dry or sweet or anywhere in between.
The red wine is more robust, more complex than white wines. White wines are generally lighter without the complexity of reds. Though the grapes used do matter, but the main difference is in the fermentation process. Red wines are mostly made from red and black grapes, and white wines from green grapes. Sometimes red, black and black grapes are combined.
During the fermentation process for white wine, the stems, seeds and grape skin are gently removed from the grape juice after it has been squeezed from the pressing machine. On the other hand, during fermentation process for red wines the grape stems,seeds and grape skins are left in the squeezed juice. By leaving the stems,seeds and grape skins in the juice it produces tannins and pigments and are the ingredients that is also responsible for the complexity of red wines.
Tannins are compounds that are present in grapes and other plants. When you partake in drinking a very strong cup of tea, the bitter, sharp taste is caused by these tannins. These tannins act to prevent oxidation of the wine during the aging process. This prevention is very important in red wines, since they’re usually aged and matured for much longer period of time than white. Because it is aged longer the tannins provide another layer of flavor, therefore increasing the complexity of the wine and also making it more robust. The bite of the tannins will diminish and be mellow as the wine ages.
Both red and white wine can make an excellent addition to your delicious meal, depending on what brand and flavor you chose. The rules for picking the type of wine to match your meal is not edged in stone, but the differences in wine do provide some guidelines. I will pick red wines to go with my strong flavored meals, because it is more complex and robust in taste.
White wines on the other hand I will pick for my less flavored meals. Some people prefer red for meat dishes and white for fish and chicken dishes. The most important factor in choosing a wine for a meal is your own taste. Do you like it dry, light, sweet or slightly in between? Regardless of what wine you chose for your meal, just sit down and relax and pour yourself a glass as you slowly enjoy your meal.

How To Make Your First Batch Of Mead Honey Wine

Mead is easy to make and you can do a one-gallon batch in an hour or two. After you are done all you have to do is let the yeast do the rest of the work of transforming honey and water into wine.
What you will need to make your mead is a 1-gallon glass jug, three pounds of unprocessed honey, 1 package of yeast (I recommend Lalvin D-47), 1 gallon of spring water, an airlock, a solid rubber stopper, a rubber stopper with a hole in it for the airlock, some nutrient for the mead, some energizer for the yeast, and a mixing bowl. All of these materials can be ordered from any quality online wine making supply shop and will cost you around fifty dollars including the honey.
Fill your glass jug about half full of water then add the three pounds of honey and mix it up vigorously so the mixture is homogenous in color. Put two cups of spring water in your mixing bowl and add two-fifths of a tablespoon of energizer and two-fifths of a tablespoon of nutrient in it, stir it well then add it to your honey water mix. Shake the bottle well so it is mixed in well
Now you need to activate your yeast by warming up two cups of spring water to between 104 and 109 degrees fahrenheit then pour one fifth of your package of yeast in it. Do not stir it yet. Just let it sit in the water for fifteen minutes then give it a gentle stir and add it to your mixture of honey and water.
Now add more water to your jug so it is full to the top. This will bring it to one gallon of liquid. Note that you will have spring water left over because the honey has taken up space in your jug. The goal is to end up with one gallon of liquid.
Put a solid rubber stopper on your jug and shake it vigorously for five full minutes. This is an important step because it aerates the honey, water, and yeast mix. The yeast needs plenty of oxygen in the mix so it will grow correctly.
Finally you should fill your airlock half full of water, put it in the rubber stopper, then put it on top of your gallon jug of mead. Then place the bottle in a cool and dark place for two to three months and it will be ready to drink.
Check on your mead on the following two days. You should see some vigorous bubbling coming out of the airlock. This means that the yeast is working well and it is transforming the honey and water into a beautiful batch of Mead.

Francis Ford Coppola - Golden Age Wine God?

The truly great are fighters for life, touched with fire, and not smothered by mundane things, said Stephen Spender in his famous poem, “I Think Continually Of Those Who Were Truly Great.” Francis Ford Coppola embodies that ideal by his spiritual imperative to make life as bright as a sun, more passionate, pulsing with and connected to the universal, and exciting.
Coppola’s achievements are widely known and chronicled, but when I read that he considers business an art that comes from the things of your soul, I realized to satisfy my curiosity about his immense drive and astonishingly diverse achievements, I needed to go back and re-read a bit of 377 B.C. vintage, Plato.
Plato believed in eternal, human, inborn spiritual blueprints, or forms, which echoed the pantheon of the gods whose energies could be harnessed by mortals. Jungian philosophy is based on Plato’s forms. Jung said he stood in awe of the depths and heights of the soul beyond this world and space, and its immeasurable richness stored and organized into images gathered from millions of years of living. “These images are not pale shadows. But powerful…conditions of the soul…we can only misunderstand. But never rob of their power by denying them.”
Viewing Mr. Coppola through the prism of Plato’s classic forms, Jungian archetypes, and Stephen Spender’s Truly Great, I see a powerful condition of the soul that looks to my eyes like the flip-sides of Apollo, god of reason, harmony, order, prophecy; and Dionysus, god of wine and fertile agriculture, intoxication, sensual pleasures, theatre, and festivity.
When Coppola expresses a desire to build a beautiful city for people to live engaged in creativity, education, ritual, festivity, and athletic perfection, he is describing a Golden Age. Plato created this recipe of Golden Ages: societies organized around the needs of the human soul. Plato’s simple idea founded the Golden Age of Greece, the Italian Renaissance, and France’s 18th century Enlightenment on which America was based.
This simple Golden Age recipe liberates the spirit that is then set free to produce epic creations. Coppola says his secret is enthusiasm, which means ‘in spirit,’ like Dionysus who’s unquenchable spirit sets us free.
Coppola has acted like a funnel, and also an amplifier of those immense archetypal spiritual riches. As cosmos means one united, harmonious whole, Dionysus stands for complexity, and also for the writer who can solve earthly dilemmas. As a writer, director, and entrepreneur, Coppola takes the creative chaos, passion, and theatricality provides a theme and funnels it into a reasoned, harmonious whole, be it his wines, his film, his resorts, or his life.
And as he has funneled undifferentiated creativity into powerful patterns of being, he has also amplified his heart-based rearing by Italian-American show-business parents into his mega-successful wineries. In 1975, he bought the historic Inglenook/Niebaum Estate where he produces opulent red wines under the Niebaum-Coppola and Coppola labels, and in 2006, bought the Château Souverain in Sonoma Valley, renamed it Francis Ford Coppola Winery, and relocated most of his operations there, other than the Rubicon vintages.
He’s said he wants to a capture the spirit of a warm, happy Italian family, like the one of his childhood Brooklyn home that revolved around festive family meals served with rich, fruity homemade wines.
With the skills of a philosopher, a poet, and even a psychiatrist, Coppola weaves eternal forms and complex human desires into epic stories of passion and greatness. Like a god of wine he’s intermingled the romance of wines, their distinct spirit of place, with their ancient heritage and their aliveness even as we drink-in those elixirs of the gods. Coppola’s theme, like all the Truly Greats, is life. His wineries are organized around the things of the soul, containing the spirit and the blueprint for another Golden Age.
© 2007-Suzanne de Cornelia. This may be reprinted on websites as long as the entire article, including email link and resource box are included, and unchanged.
The author’s romantic adventure novel, French Heart, set on wineries in Aix-en-Provence, France, and Santa Barbara will be released in 2008. Please sign up today for the book’s announcement list at americaninparisproject@yahoo.com
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Travel Around The Globe Of Wine

If there ever was a single location that would be considered pure paradise for wine tours, it would be the state of California. Perhaps that statement is somewhat disingenuous. Bear in mind, California is a gigantic state and is made up of many counties and locations where one could take part in a wine tour.
This does present a problem although the problem could easily be circumvented by merely taking part in more than one wine tour! If you have a limited amount of time to go on the wine tours, then there are two specific areas in California where you could pinpoint your visit. These areas are, of course, Napa Valley and Sonoma Valley.
Both Napa Valley and Sonoma Valley have a thriving wine culture that attracts a significant number of tourists every year. The wine tours that are available are expansive, inexpensive and, best of all, fun. If you make only one wine tour in your lifetime go to California it will be an experience you will never forget
Choose Among The Best:
Of course, if you wish to spend time taking part in a wine tour, you need to settle on where you wish to go. This can be a thrilling decision to make as the sheer vastness of the choices is incredibly expansive. There is simply no limit to the many regions and the volume of destinations and places where you could visit to take part in a wine tour. The possibilities are endless. Well, ‘no limit’ is not an entirely accurate decision. It would help that the wine tours you embark upon are destinations to places that actually have a winery! As a matter of fact, you will discover that it is not at all difficult to locate a winery. The difficulty will involve centering on which specific wine tour to take as making a choice in the matter may prove incredibly difficult.

Top 5 Wines For Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is right around the corner, and it is time to consider what will be served. For some, the traditional turkey dinner is a family tradition. For others, goose or duck are a nice variation. Still others prefer beef or a nice, spiral cut ham. Regardless of your preference for your main dish, it is important to select a suitable wine to enhance the flavors. This article will offer some suggestions for types of wines to be considered.
Let us start with a traditional Thanksgiving turkey dinner. Assuming you are going to roast your turkey, a light delicate wine is in order. Generally, you will find more white wines in this category. Good choices might include a white Savennieres from France, or a pinot grigio from Italy. Oregon produces a wonderful pinot gris as well. You may want to select a nice sauvignon blanc to balance the herbal flavor of your stuffing.
Should your main dish be a duck or goose, which are more fatty, a wine that is acidic would do quite nicely. Recently, South Africa has produced a wonderful pinotage. For the more traditional approach, go with a sangiovese or a white burgundy from France. These wines strike a wonderful balance with the fattier flesh!
Some people prepare poultry dishes with spicy sauces. To complement spicy dishes, the Alsace region of France produces a delightful slightly dry pinot blanc as well as red Burgundies. From the U.S., pinot noir is a great choice!
Should your main course be beef, say, a hearty standing rib roast, try a “in your face” smoky wine. A Barolo or a Barbaresco are good choices. Many people will also serve a bold, California cabernet with a luscious cut of prime rib! The ‘”rule of thumb”is that one should select a less complex wine to go with a complex sauce. Assuming, of course, you are serving your beef with a sauce. A nice grenache or a Spanish Rioja are terrific with beef as well!
These wine suggestions are to be taken with a “grain of salt.”Ultimately, one should always choose wines that they like. Your taste buds are always the winner!!
Michael Hutchins is a noted author and speaker on subjects related to entertaining at home. A self proclaimed “party animal”, Michael is noted for his wit and creativity.

Tips and Techniques on how to Make Wine at Home

Equipment To start making your own wine you need wine making equipment. You can either buy a kit which has the basic needs of all you will need, a demijohn, funnel, fermentation lock etc.. This is a good starter pack and you can find it in any wine making or home brewing specialist stores, sometimes even some department stores have them.
Receipe book The next item you need is a step by step amateur wine making book, you want one that has easy to follow recipes, and use of kitchen appliances if possible. For example put a stool upside down, and when draining your liquor, use the four legs to support your linen towel and let it drain through a funnel into your demijohn.
Now to how to make wine, always make sure all your equipment is thoroughly clean. This is very important as any dirt can contaminate the wine.
Ingredients You can start by using fresh fruit. It is always advisable to buy fruit which is in season, this reduces the cost, and also makes a good wine. Or you can buy grape concentrate. By using grape concentrate to make wine at home, you can choose dry or sweet, light or full bodied, white rose or red this should give you a density of between 3-5%. It is easy with this method and ending in good results. You must follow the instructions and with all wine do not rush it. Concentrated grape juice wines are usually ready to drink within two months.
But if you want to really get into how to make wine at home use fruit, it is much more satisfying and I think a better result and should give you a higher density.
Method Now to make from fruit, every fruit is different but it will tell you in the recipe how much fruit you require. Basically you need a clean bucket, X amount of fruit and 5 litres of hot water. Pour the hot water over the fruit. X amount of sugar depending on how sweet or dry you require the wine to be. Stir all together, and cover the top with a linen cloth, when luke warm add the wine making yeast. Stirring occasionally for the next 24 hours. Different yeast makes different tasting wine, there is a port yeast, sherry type, tokay yeast that makes a rice wine taste out of this world.
Now the turned up stool. Sieve the contents of the bucket through a gauze or even a pair of ladies stockings, into the demijohn, this lets the liquor run through and leaves the sediment behind. The remains of the fruit you throw away, the liquor in the glass vessel you add a pectin enzyme capsule, this helps assist fermentation, clear the wine and improves the colour. Your then put the fermentation lock with fluid in on top of the demijohn and leave in a warm place.
You will notice bubbles coming out of the fermentation lock, this is basically the yeast eating the sugar to turn into alcohol and so releasing gasses.
The sediment settles to the bottom of the demijohn, and the wine starts to clear at the top. If the fruit is fleshy, and the liquid still murky after about a month, you may need to re-rack your wine. This means, get a tube and drain off the clear liquor leaving the sediment behind. Put this into the demijohn again and put the fermentation lock back.
on At all times keep the wine in a warm place.
Final Result When clear it is ready to drink.
Tips If the wine is taking a long time to clear, add some clean egg shells to the demijohn, this is a natural protein, does not add any taste to the wine, but clears it and gives it an added kick.
That is the basics of how to make wine, either with a ready made concentrate or fresh fruit picked from your garden. Whichever you choose it is a worth while hobby.