Consider Cava Instead Of Champagne To Ring In The New Year

There is little doubt that sparkling wine is the preferred way to ring in the New Year with sales of bubbly wines spiking significantly during this time every year. While Champagne may get the most of the attention due simply to its renowned name and reputation there are many other bubbly wines that have the same quality but with different characteristics to enjoy.

Cava is quickly becoming another very popular sparkling wine for those looking to celebrate a special occasion. This premium sparkling wine from the region of Catalonia in Spain must be made in the traditional method in order to carry the name.

Cava can be made with a variety of grapes cultivated in the region, and is fermented not just once but a second time within the bottle.  Cava much like Champagne comes in a varying level of dryness as well as sweetness that is carefully labled so that consumers can find the particular wine they would like to serve. Whether looking for a sparkling wine to serve with a particular dish or just wanting something new in those Champagne Flutes this New Year, Cava may just be a great way to try something new while you celebrate.

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Open Champagne The Proper Way

With New Years Eve just around the corner people are stocking up on Champagne and sparkling wine to enjoy with friends or that someone special to celebrate. Bubbly wine has become one of the most popular choices for ushering out the old year and ringing in the new.

Generally when we see people open a bottle of Champagne on the television the cork pops high in the air and a large portion of the bubbly comes gushing out on the ground. What is the point of buying a fine sparkling wine to celebrate when a good part of it ends up on the ground and not in those Long Stem Champagne Flutes where it can be enjoyed.

To properly open Champagne so that wine does not spill and nobody will get hurt by a flying cork it is simply a matter of ensuring the wine is chilled and using a motion that turns the bottle and not the cork. Chilled Champagne is less likely to foam over and tastes better anyway. The Food Network has a short video which shows everything you need to know in order to open that Champagne this New Years Eve.

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Stop Waiting To Open That Special Bottle Of Wine

Many wine enthusiasts have a bottle or two of what they feel is special wine stored away for just the right occasion to enjoy. This special wine may not necessarily be expensive or rare like it is for some but it could be just an absolute favorite vintage. But whatever the wine, it is being carefully stored until the day arrives to open it and enjoy with that someone special.

While it is always nice to have that special bottle of wine you can always turn to, the true value does not come out of it until the cork is removed. New Years Eve is a perfect time to pop open one of those prized bottles and take a moment to enjoy what is inside.

Of course most wines that have been cellared for some time should be decanted in order to remove sediment and allow the wine to breathe. With the use of a Ravenscroft Crystal Excaliber Decanter that special bottle of wine can make for a special evening to ring in the New Year. While it is always nice to have a excellent bottle of wine on hand for a special occasion, just allowing them to sit there does not bring any enjoyment at all.

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Is Wine Fattening?

During the holidays many people are concerned with gaining weight from all the food and beverages consumed during celebrations. With weather keeping many from being nearly as active as they are during the summer and the increase of calories from fatty foods and sweet beverages a little weight gain is inevitable for so many.

For those are trying to watch those calories during the year end parties watching what you drink is a large part of the battle to avoid extra calories. This leaves many wondering if wine is fattening to consume and if it is the best choice at the party.

The average four ounces of wine does contain eighty to one hundred calories but when compared to eggnog and other mixed drinks served at many parties this is one of the lower calorie choices available, while also having health benefits that come from the natural antioxidants in grapes.

Party goers should try to slowly sip their wine while being careful to avoid having too many snacks off of the Olive & Cheese Board Set to keep their calorie intake low and potentially avoid that holiday weight gain.

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Why Would A Winery Let Grapes Freeze?

It seems like ice wine is becoming more and more popular which has many people asking the question, just why would a winery let the grapes freeze before harvesting them? The answer of course is a simple one, it makes them sweeter.

Back in 29 A.D. it was common place for grapes not to be harvested until after the first frost in order to get the sweetest grape possible to ferment into wine. This feel out of practice eventually, but is now becoming popular again under the name ice wine.

Made mostly in Germany and Canada these wines are made from grapes that were allowed to freeze while on the vine. When anything freezes from water to wine impurities get pushed to the center since the freezing begins on the outside and works its way in. For grapes this means the sugar gets pushed into the center where it becomes concentrated and perfect for making sweet wine.

While the main portion of the holidays may be over there is still the new year celebrations to enjoy with friends. By packing a ice wine along to the party in your Milano Neoprene Tote you can add a sweet and unique touch to the New Year’s celebration this year.

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Try Fisherman’s Spaghetti For A New Twist On Italian

When most wine lovers think of Italian food they instantly think of cooking with wine since many of the classic dishes use either red or white wine in the process. The Italians have truly mastered the art of incorporating wine into their foods as well as paring it with them on the dinner table.

While there are several dishes that are typical for when many wine lovers want to have Italian food a new twist they might want to try is Spaghetti del Pescatore or Fisherman’s Spaghetti. This classic Italian recipe is not as famous as others but for those who have had the chance to visit the Western coast of Italy have seen it featured in many restaurants.

This version of spaghetti uses a dry white wine along with any shellfish from shrimp to clams to create an enticing dish with the catch of the day. Of course as with most Italian cooking the meal will pair well with the same wine that is used in the dish so serve your spaghetti featuring shellfish and white wine with the same vino in your Bacchus White Wine Glasses for a perfect meal.

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Wal-Mart To Sell Wine From Vending Machine In Pennsylvania

With wine and liquor laws varying from state to state, at times you see an interesting idea from a business for getting around these laws in order to sell these to customers. The latest in wine sales is in Pennsylvania where Wal-Mart has received the green light to sell wine from vending machines.

For many the first question is why not just sell the wine from the store itself instead of using machines to dispense the vino. In Pennsylvania alcoholic beverages can only be sold in state run stores making it illegal for the chain to sell wine on their store shelves. The work around for the machine sales is a state employee can monitor the sell from a remote camera therefore making it legal.

The operation of the machines will be simple enough for those who want to buy wine. There will be more than fifty wines available and consumers will need to swipe their license proving their age and blow into a breathalyzer to complete the sale.

While these machines may not vend out extremely high quality wines they are being advertised as nice bottles of wine to serve with steak or seafood. The technology behind this is impressive and now consumers have a new reason to take along their Bahamas Insulated Wine Carrier when shopping at Wal-Mart so they can safely bring home their purchases.

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2007 California Wine One Of The Best Available

For the holidays most every wine enthusiast is looking for the ideal bottle of wine to serve to guests, give as gifts, and enjoy with their loved ones. This year one of the most sought after wines is anything from California from 2007! These wines enjoyed an absolute perfect growing season and whether you are looking for a red or a white the flavors are extraordinary.

Of course of all these exceptional 2007 California wines one really stands head and shoulders above the rest and that is the Cabernet sauvignon. With many wine experts calling this Cabernet the vintage of the century this is one that will make a perfect holiday wine for toasting with others.

But do not limit yourself to giving this wine along with a Cabernet Wine Accessory Gift Set to friends. Treat yourself by stocking up your cellar or wine racks with additional bottles of this fabulous wine to enjoy when it is no longer available and has completely sold out. You will thank yourself in the future when you can pull this soon to be classic vintage from the shelves and pop the cork.

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New Wine Blend To Hit The Market

There are many fruit based non-grape wines on the market and many wine enthusiasts consider these to be too sweet or just not worth drinking. But one new wine will be hitting store shelves that is a unique approach to fruit and wine that the winery hopes will be a huge hit with those who want to put a little something different into their Chardonnay Wine Glasses.

Twin Pomegranates Wine is releasing a Chardonnay that has been carefully blended with the popular fruit pomegranate with a unique offering for the palette. Starting with the typical smooth finish that you would expect from a Chardonnay this wine features a hint of lemon and green apple with the nose of the pomegranate to start things off.

This new entry in the market has a little something that every wine aficionado will love and enjoy. Made with Edna Valley Chardonnay and pure California pomegranates this one of a kind wine is a real treat to every single one of your senses. Take a step away from the ordinary and give this wine blend a try for a unique experience.

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Understanding Sweet Sparkling Wines

For many the holidays are just not complete without a sparkling wine to toast the season along with family and friends. While most wine enthusiasts are aware that only sparkling wines from the famed region of Champagne can actually go by that name many are unsure of anything beyond that.

Many sparkling wines are enjoyed for two reasons, the most obvious being of course the bubbles. But these wines are also enjoyed by many because of their sweet taste that pairs wells with many desserts. But to find out just how sweet a particular sparkling wine is you need to understand some terminology.

Brut is the way wine makers reference the sugar content in a bottle of sparkling wine and Champagne. When it is used as Brut Natural or Zero there is less than three grams of sugar per liter. For wines marked as Extra Brut the sugar content is less than six grams per liter. And for those that are just Brut there is less than 12 grams of sugar.

Knowing how much sugar is in the wine you are pouring makes it easier to match up what is in your Champagne glasses with the food you will be enjoying.

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Wine Drinkers Are Often Very Predictable

When ordering wine at dinner or picking up a bottle to take home in their Bali Wine Tote; many wine drinkers will stick with the same old thing to put in their glass. For those who prefer red wine this will often be a Cabernet or a Merlot and for white wine lovers it is often a Chardonnay. While these are good choices that will often fit the bill perfectly while being full of flavor there can be so much more.

With so many other wines available from Shiraz and Bordeaux for the red lovers to Sauvignon Blanc and Reisling for those who prefer white there is no reason to stick to the same old thing. While there have been many studies that have shown that the predominant amount of wine drinkers stick to certain styles you can break out of this pattern.

Wine tastings are the perfect place to get started trying other types of wine without spending money on a whole bottle of wine or paying restaurant prices by the glass. These environments allow drinkers to experience the wonderful world of new wines and find other types they will love to break out of the same old glass of wine they usually enjoy.

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Introducing the Wine Coaster Gift Set with wine accessories

Rhino Wine Gear (www.RhinoWineGear.com) presents the Wine Coaster Gift Set with wine accessories. It features 6 wine coasters, corkscrew, and bottle stopper displayed beautifully in a wine bottle shaped accessory holder.

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Wine Value Increasingly Important When Dining Out

With the economy still slumping many are still watching how and where they spend their money in order to get the most of each and every dollar. This has been increasingly important to the wine selected when dining out in order to enjoy the little things while still not spending too much.

Most restaurants are taking the steps to ensure that their patrons will have the choices that will offer them both quality wines while still having the value they are searching for. From just casual dining establishments to finer five star restaurants the wine list is reflecting a desire by the consumer to enjoy a fine wine with their meal that does not cost too much.

It is not in the size of the wine list but instead what has gone into putting it together that makes it great for diners or not. A list should offer something for everyone and have a balance of variety in not only types of wine but also in prices. This way everyone can enjoy a fine wine at their table in Wine Decanters that represents quality while still being a value.

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Football Team Has Their Own Wine

For football fans a few matchups also create a stir and one of those was on Monday night football last night. The New England Patriots hosted their long time rival the New York Jets for what would be the lead in the AFC Eastern division. While Jets fans did not get to celebrate a victory they do have a wine available for purchase on their website for fans to enjoy.

The wine was created in conjunction with a winemaker in Napa Valley in 2008 and was released this September. With Marco DiGiulio the Jets created a cabernet sauvignon that is more than just NFL hype but a real wine that a true enthusiast will enjoy even if they are not into football.

NFL teams are not generally in the wine business but the league allows teams to mark special occasions with specially created wines. With the opening of their new stadium the Meadowlands, the Jets are hoping to pop a few corks on their own wines after a Super Bowl victory this season.

To bring out the sweet cherry and currant flavors with their subtle hint of oak consider using a Cabernet Wine Decanter to allow the wine to breathe before consumption.

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Trying To Stay Environmentally Concise With Wine Packaging

As it has become more and more important to so many on the planet to not outstrip our resources or harm the environment wine packaging has come under plenty of scrutiny. From every step in the wine making process the impact on the environment is carefully considered by consumers who do want to contribute with the problem.

While some wine consumers now prefer the wine packaged in eco-friendly boxes others stick with traditional bottles for their favorite wines. While boxes may seem like a much friendlier packaging for the environment the plastic bags inside do not biodegrade well. And for bottles, the cork used to seal the wine has been under plenty of fire lately for believe it harms the environment.

Contrary to popular belief though the cork used in stopping wine bottles does not require the tree to be cut down and there is now a movement to change this false perspective on wine corks. Cork has been used for ages and for good reason since it allows the wine to age properly unlike any metal screw caps or stoppers. Plus studies have shown that metal or plastic stoppers actually cause more green house gases than traditional cork.

For those who continue to purchase their wine in bottles seal it up tightly after you open it with a Metro Wine Bottle Stopper to keep it fresh between glasses.

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Drug Maker Stops Development of Red Wine Pill

There has been many studies on the benefits of adults having a glass of wine each day as part of a healthy lifestyle. With decreased risk of cancer and lowered cases of heart disease and so much more, especially when the wine is red as opposed to white. Red wines naturally contain the compound resveratrol which is attributed to these healthy benefits of wine which has helped to increase the consumption among those looking to take complete care of their bodies.

It was no surprise when the drug manufacturer GlaxoSmithKline began trying to create a red wine pill that would include all the benefits that are packed in a glass of red wine while not having the negative side effects of alcohol. But the development of the pill has now been stopped due to failures in clinical trials. While the benefits to cancer patients seemed minimal the side effects of the drug were less than desirable.

Of course this does not change a thing for those who enjoy filling up their Personalized Red Wine Glass each evening for a relaxing end to the day that also benefits their health. It just goes to show that science cannot always duplicate what nature is capable of producing on its own.

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Give A Gift That Will Be Treasured

Research has shown time and again that while people do enjoy receiving gifts it is experiences that many continue to treasure over time. So when shopping for that someone special this holiday season maybe gifts that are experiences and not physical items may be just what will make this a season to remember for them.

Instead of just another gift that the wine lover will add to their home consider taking someone special on a wine country trip instead. Whether it is a spouse or even your parents spending time enjoying a celebrated wine region will give an experience that can last a lifetime with the memories it creates.

While it may not be an ideal time to travel, making the arrangements now and preparing for a trip this spring will be something every wine enthusiast can look forward to. To present the gift maybe tuck the travel plans into a Aruba Wine Carrier to place under the tree. The recipient will love having a new wine carrier to bring along to buy favored bottles of wine for bringing back from the trip. And this spring the travel will provide them with memories in more in a remarkable wine region full of experiences.

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Books & Wine As Holiday Gifts

Sometimes finding the perfect gift for everyone on a shopping list can be difficult if not next to impossible. So many people have the ability to go out and just buy something if they want it so buying a gift for them needs to be something special. The gift should offer them something they may never have thought of on their own or have a special meaning that is shared by both the giver and the recipient.

With all that in mind shopping can be a little overwhelming but not for those who love wine and books. There is nothing quite like curling up with an excellent book and a fine glass of wine to relax for an evening. For these people consider getting a book that has special meaning along with a bottle of wine that compliments it perfectly.

This could be a selection on wine itself or on a region the recipient has always wanted to travel to. With so many used book stores all over the web it is easy to purchase first edition books or rare copies that make the gift special. And when paired with a fine wine to fill their wine glasses while they read this is a thoughtful gift that many would appreciate.

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