Spring is for Love

Spring is here in full fource for most of the country and spring is wedding seasoning.  It is a time when the beauty of the outdoors matches  the feeling of love blooming in young hearts, or at least those thet feel young.  One of the things that goes along with weddings is wedding gifts. While in this age of technology it is easy to find where the couple is registered for gifts, but sometimes something unexpected is an even better gift.  Personalized wine gifts are a real treat for a newly married couple.  A gift like wine glasses engraved with the couples new shared last initial is a great idea for a couple united by a love of wine. 

In an age where things can be rather impersonal it is nice to create a gift for the new couple that shows care and knowing. If they are fans of a good red than maybe the best gift is engraved red wine glasses and a bottle of thier favorite type of red to take to their new happy home together.  Thoughtful gift like this are often more remembered and enjoyed than something very expensive because of the though put into the gift.  Even if it is just a small gift of personalized bottle stopper commemerating the special day for them, it can make a special day even happier.

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No Reason Party

Sometimes the urge just strikes, it can hit a person with no warning and needs no occasion. Humans are social creatures so occasionally they can't help but want to get together and socialize.  A lot of the time it can wait until a holiday or other fitting excuse, but not always.  A simple gathering, just for the sake of seeing old friends, is actually quite easy to orchestrate. Simply pick one or two adapable wines and fill one of those six bottle wine carriers and the planning is almost half done. 

Serve along with these wines bit sized h'or deurves and tea sandwhiches that will suit the wine served with them and surprise the guests they are given to.  To go along with a crisp,  slightly dry white like Chardonnay try making tea sandwhiches with chicken, pesto and a hard cheese like romano slivered into them. Of course grapes and apple slices are easy tid bits to serve too, this is all about getting something quick together for a few close, or quite a few, close friends after all.  Things to pair with a deep red are red berries that match the flavors in the wine along with small hot sandwhiches like steak and peppers.  Of course the main point here is to let the conversation flow and enjoy some time with pals.

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Asian Food Pairings

Asian food gets much less consideration when it comes to wine pairings, but a lot of cuisine from the East goes wonderfully with wine.  It can be as narrow minded as to commonly suggest Riesling or Syrah with Indian food.  This is just plain silly for an entire culture’s cuisine, or many styles of it as is the case in India, to be expected to pair well with a single type of wine.  Obviously more thought is needed here. 

                A good way to find a wine pairing for an Asian food is to think what is normally drunk with the food.  Take sushi and sashimi for example, they are naturally paired with the yeasty, dry, and mildly sweet flavors of sake.  Now find a wine that mimics sake in character, like extra dry or brut champagne. For a more casual pairing though try a crisp, dry chardonnay.  Thinking more about the traditional drink for these exotic foods will equal great and unusual but splendid pairings that will be remembered.  In fact putting a little thought into wine enjoyment really can transform the experience, for example having the right decanter accessories can really change a good bottle of wine and some dinner into a sensory experience.

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Grape of Youth

Wine has always been well loved, it has been around for almost as long as recorded history after all.  The iconic drink though has become unusually popular with the younger generation lately.  This increase in people younger than 30 enjoying expensive or aged wine is partly because of the acceptance of food culture in their age group.  With an enjoyment of fine food naturally comes a want to enjoy fine wine, and the wine industry has flourished because of it. 

                This shift in young culture toward more refined things could do more good than just help the wine industry financially.  This could be used as a building block for stronger relationships between younger and older people, a shared interest that could lead to better understanding of each other.  Wine accessories could make the perfect conversation starter.  Of course it is hardly surprising that young and old people alike enjoy good food and fine wine, who doesn’t?  Through good aged wine bonds could be formed across the generations, or across the globe; even if some of the people enjoying the wine are younger than the wine. Logically more friends are better, especially ones who have experienced different things.

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Plan A Brunch

Easter is not too far away and even for families that are not religious, Easter Sunday is a big holiday.  The traditional way to celebrate Easter is with having a big family gathering for brunch.  Not just a simple brunch but something that requires planning, some are surely starting on the planning of it now.  Of course this is a holiday so it makes sense to have wine with the grand meal, but this can also pose a bit of a challenge.  Brunch can consist of so many different food items, all with a different taste and wine compliment.  A lot of breakfast foods like scrambled eggs with smoked salmon, fruit salad and waffles pair well with light but crisp wine. Lunch foods on the other hand can need more flavor to stand up to cheeses, or red meat.

                For those wanting to not go for the champagne because it would seem too formal of out of place, just try a red and white; this is a holiday after all.  Two bottle wine carriers along with a good plan are all that is needed to pull off Easter brunch without a hitch.  Maybe it will be so easy that egg coloring will get more time this year.

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Beer for Wine

Sometimes even the most steadfast beer fan needs to try something new.  While it is commonly thought that not everyone can like everything, a fan of beer can convert to wine.  The two drinks have surprisingly a lot in common; they are made with yeast and flavors like chocolate and coffee are prized in both.  Of course beer and wine also have a variety of tastes and styles, and for a beer fan to find a need for wine totes they will need to know what wine to try. Luckily because of all they have alike, it is easy to use a beer lover’s favorite brew to pick a wine that they will love.

                People who like a good Pilsner for example should try a crisp sauvignon blanc on for size. The light and clear taste of the both will build a bridge between the two drinks.  People who would like wine like chardonnay, a dry Riesling or chenin-blanc are those currently a fan of smooth wheat beers. 

                The two drinks have so much more in common than the average fan of the other is willing to admit and they cross over quite nicely.  For example a good beer is never drunk from the bottle, just like wine it needs to aerate for all of the flavors to come out.

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America's Love for Wine

In a recent shocker it was found that America is now ranking as the top consumer of wine in the world, a spot long held by the French.  This jump in consumption is thought to be because of the average American’s growing appreciation for food culture.  Other things on the rise are farmer’s markets, and specialty stores like olive oil and chocolates.  This is a high time for American wine producers because their clients are in the same country, meaning that transport is not going to take on as much cost to a bottle and they can sell for a more reasonable price.  So everyone benefits by this change. 

                Americans are not the biggest consumer per capita of wine, but wine enthusiasts say that the new title points to an overall trend that Americans are embracing the drink along with their increasing respect for finer foods.  Taking advantage of the trend is as simple as single bottle wine totes and looking for American made wines like from Napa and Sonoma Valley or the Finger Lakes region.  Other fine wine regions the U.S. are advertised more locally but are easily found for a true wine lover.

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Home Wine Cellar

When most people take their first sip of aged wine, the thought of wine cellars filled with loved bottles start to materialize in their house.  While most people don’t live in ideal conditions to age and store wine in, they can be created.  The ideal environment for wine is dark, cool but not cold, and slightly humid with a constant temperature.  Basements are perfect for this; the underground coolness needs little to no modification to be good for storing wine.

                A private wine collection is a great way to impress guests that deserve only the best.  All that is needed other than a basement is some wine racks or shelves and of course wine carriers filled with bottles of grape that that will age well.  Other tips for personal wine cellars would be to be aware of lights in the area and how much the temperature will fluctuate.  Light should be avoided and if an air conditioner or extra insulation is needed than it needs to be taken care of.  Aside from these little things, a home wine cellar is fairly easy to maintain and how large it is is limited only by budget.

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Tasting Tips

Sometimes a wine tasting can seem more like a quiz than an enjoyable evening when some of the people at a tasting keep saying words like bouquet, spicy, and oak; people unsure of the meaning of these may feel like they are missing something or not participating fully in the tasting. But with a few simple definitions and tips than those same shy people at tastings may want to fill their six bottle wine bags and host a tasting for their friends at their own place to show off all they know. 

                First of all most things that people mention are not the taste of the wine but the smell that it gives off when aerated or swirled in the glass.  The aroma of the wine is also called its bouquet, one term explained.  Words that describe the bouquet are simpler than one may think. If a zinfandel reminds the drinker of black pepper it is said to be spicy or peppery while the woody smelling hints that certain wine aged in oak barrels gets is called woody. Wine gives off smells just like everything else, devour these before enjoying the actual taste and a mere wine lover can seem like a tasting pro.

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Sustainable, Local Wine

 They call themselves Locavores, people who eat only food and use only products produced within 100 miles of their homes.  This eating local movement has really boosted small farms and farmer’s markets around America but it is now inevitably spreading to another part of sustainably minded people’s tables, the wine bottle.  There is a growing demand for urban wineries and locally produced beers.  This is easy for those who live near Sonoma valley or Walla Walla, Washington; but it isn’t too hard to get great wine anywhere now. Small wineries are realizing the demand and offering wine by the cask to local bars, and making sure to set up at farmer’s markets where law allows.  Sustainably minded consumers realized that it went against the slow food movement to knowingly drink wine that had been packed in glass bottles and shipped up to thousands of miles to them. 

                Even for those not active in the Eat Local movement should look into nearby wineries to buy from.  Small wineries in unheard of wine areas have the small business mentality to them where the product is an art and customers are worth meeting.  This level of commitment and service can only translate into unique and heartfelt wine for good prices.  Supporting local businesses can feel just as good as filling up wine glasses with a newly discovered favorite vintage.

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Lessons From A French Wine Lover

The French pride themselves on their wine and they pride themselves on knowing a lot about it too.  But for an American it can be a bit overwhelming.  But a few little tips and facts can make French wine, and wine in general, a simpler experience.  The idea that red wine should be drank at room temperature was developed when rooms where colder on average, now that rooms remain a little warmer though most people drinks reds a little on the warm side. Don’t feel bad asking it to be chilled, five to  ten minutes in the fridge gets a bottle to just about the right temperature.

 Another thing is that out of the thousands of varieties of grape used to make red wine, only about ten are commonly known. Take advantage of restaurants to try lesser known wines, if they weren’t good the sommelier would not want them on the wine list after all.  This can lead to big savings because even a high end Languedoc is cheaper than a bargain Bordeaux, but this is not because Languedoc is not good.  The less demand for a particular wine, the lower the price, many a good grape has stopped production just because of a lack of demand, not quality.  Filling six bottle wine totes with lesser known wines can really be a treat for the savvy wine lover wanting to share with friends the joy of grape.

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Wine and Salad

While a bit unconventional, pairing wine and salad is quite easy and rewarding.  With spring coming fresh local greens will start to go on sale at grocery stores and farmers markets and it makes perfect sense to make them into healthy, wonderful salads.  Traditionally the drink to go with fresh greens was mineral water, but times are changing and it is being realized that wine can really compliment a salad and bring out hidden characteristics in both. 

                Pairing a salad with a wine is less about the salad and more about what is on it.  Greens, even delicate or unusual ones like dandelion or watercress, take fairly well to any flavor but dressings like Caesar or blue cheese need to have their intense flavors taken into account.  Pair a salty yet fresh greek salad with a reisling, it has what it takes to compliment feta cheese.  A Caesar salad will need something more like a Beaujolais or Sangiovese to have a smooth ending.  A cobb salad can be paired with a glass of Chardonnay or Pinot Grigio for a light weekend lunch.  Celebrate spring by making a bunch of a crowd pleasing salad and get some complimenting wine in three bottle wine bags for a dinner with friends that won’t soon be surpassed.

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Sustainable Wine

Being kind to the planet is more than just a good thing to do, it is almost a trend.  Reusable grocery bags come in as many styles as purses and food labels make sure to say when they are Organic or eco-friendly in any way.  When buying coffee people who want to be eco-friendly look for labels like Rainforest Alliance certification or the Bird Friendly symbol.  These symbols clearly mean that the coffee was grown in a way that doesn’t harm the environment around the plantation and that the farmers make a fair wage to live off of.  Some wine bottles may soon have similar marks on them.

                South Africa is a country that has been trying to make a name for itself in the world of wine, but they are currently a country known for its troubles.  Groups like Sustainable Wine South Africa are aiming to make exported wine labeled with groups committed to integrity and the sustainable production of wine.  It can be a good feeling knowing that the great wine in those wine bags is more than just a wonderful tasting indulgence; it is also good for the environment and well being of people in South Africa.

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Wine Leftovers

A full bottle of wine can be a bit much for even a small group of friends to drink with dinner, but what happens to the remainder of the bottle?  Well it can be stopped up and saved for a later day, but sometimes it is just not the same or it will not get drank within the next few days.  There are more things to do with that remainder of a bottle than first thought though.  Restaurants that sell wine by the glass often end up with half a glass left at the end or a bottle that has been open too long, and they have invented a plethora of ways to recycle these scraps of wine.  Everything from vinegars, marinades, and even sorbets has been invented by thrifty restaurant chefs in order to save all they can. 

                These thrifty and even fun ways to use scraps of wine could inspire even the casual wine drinker to grab one of their corkscrews and open a bottle.  While some recycle methods are easier, all are worth experimenting with.  Vinegar is probably the hardest to do at home because of the need to purchase a starter for it and then having to let it age; but experiment and have fun with finding a favorite way to save wine leftovers.

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Wine in Farmer's Markets

In the works, at the moment, in Washington state politics is a bill that would allow wine and beer tastings at approved local farmers markets.  Supporters of the bill talk about how it would be a great chance for a state with a proud collection of microbreweries and small wineries to showcase their talents.  Representatives from districts across the state have been taking the time to brag about wineries in their area to help the bill along. The state House also talked about a pilot program to select the farmers markets for the tastings.   The bill passed the House where it was overwhelmingly agreed that it would stimulate local spending and boost the economy of small businesses; and now has to go through the Washington state Senate.

                The small Washington wineries that could benefit if this bill passes would then be able to set up tasting booths, or participate in group tastings at farmer’s markets across the state.  This could really make a difference in the local food movement because growers and vintner could pair together to promote fresh vegetable and wine pairings at these tastings. Of course the shopper will benefit too because they get direct advice on which wine goes best with the heirloom tomatoes or purple potatoes they just bought for dinner.  The vintner will gladly advise on what bottle belongs in two bottle wine bags.

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Zinfandel, Cheese and Chocolate

                Zinfandel is a great variety of wine that is thought of as the classic deep, dark red wine that in the right light looks more like black than red.  It pairs great with heavier dishes and though it holds its own against even dark chocolate or rich beef dishes, zinfandel can still finish sweet.  Known for having a medium to high level of tannins, it makes up for it by having a sweetness that usually takes the form of hints of red fruits. The most notable thing about zinfandel though is its definite spiciness, reminiscent of pepper; unique but not overpowering. 

                This dynamic red grape can pair wonderfully with quite a lot.  One of the few vintages with the ability to pair with chocolate; most wine tastes sour and acidic when paired with sweets like chocolate;  though, true a sweet white wine may pair with delicate light chocolates like white.  This versatile wine also pairs well with savory dishes, keeping it from being thought of as a dessert wine the way port is by the average wine drinker.  In fact some of the best cheeses to put on the cheese boards to offer with zinfandel are hard, smoking ones like gruyere.

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Music and Wine Making

Thanks to the innovations of one Austrian, wine bottles may include a classical music piece on the label.  Markus Bachmann is convinced that music is the key to getting a great glass of red or white.  He is conducting a series of musical experiments with the aim to enhance the wine he makes by playing music to the fermenting grapes.  Other vintners have had ideas similar to this in the past but Markus Bachmann is sure that he has the key and determination to make a difference.  While earlier attempts have been shot down by scientists, Bachmann claims his approach is radically different. 

                The difference in Bachmann’s approach to adding music to wine is not simply playing music around the wine in progress but actually submersing a disc that emits music into the vat with the grapes.  Bachmann says that playing music outside of the tanks does nothing but the vibrations from his method should help to stimulate the yeast.  Of course it doesn’t have to be classical music; Bachmann has played selections of classical, jazz and electronic music to the grapes.  While still a work in progress, Bachmann is hopeful that in the future wine drinkers will pour a glass from their crystal wine decanters and marvel at whom they can taste the Vivaldi or Mozart in the vintage.

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Notes From South Beach

One of the biggest events for Food Network stars and most of the wine world is still in full swing.  Steps away from the Atlantic Ocean are a series of circus size tents where celebrities of the food world shake everyone’s hand and expect to sign autographs.  The latest news out of the festival includes notes on the wine from experienced tasters who have visited the various tents and events.  The endless offerings of grape at the festival have shown the true glory of a few vintages in particular.

                Offered at the “Experience Italy” themed Pavilion was a really enjoyable 2006 Badia a Passignano Chianti Classico Riserva.  Visitors were impressed by amazing smoothness given to the vintage by its amazingly integrated tannins and drawn out finish.  The wine has had visitors to the wine and food festival talking almost as much as the star chef was shaking hands in the tent, host of Everyday Italian, Giada De Laurentiis.  Of course many other great vintages and photo opportunities with food icons are to be had at the festival; but that is just a tip, straight from South Beach, on something good to fill those chianti classico wine glasses with.

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