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How To Select A Case Of Wine

0 comments By Wine Delivery Filed in Wine Delivery Tagged with , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , October 27th, 2009 @ 7:14 am
Fiona Muller asked:

Buying a case of wine has traditionally been seen as something stuck in the realms of an Agatha Christie novel, where there is a cellar to keep the wine and a Butler to serve it to you. Of course, they always start with a murder and end with a room full of people listening to the denouement of the crime. Thankfully nowadays a murder, a posh country pile and lots of lace doesn’t have to be involved when buying a case of wine. It is something that anyone can take advantage of.

As wine is increasingly becoming the drink of choice by many people across the country, buying a case of this well loved nectar isn’t the province of the rich anymore. Wine is accessible to all people, as it has been in the rest of Europe for as long as anyone can remember.

When it comes to buying a case of wine, there are lots of things to take into account. Probably the first thing is to decide what sort of case of wine you want to buy. Do you want a mixed case? That is one containing both red and white wine. Or do you want a case that contains white wine only? Or red wine only? Or do you want a case of Champagne. The latter is probably for those of you who are throwing a fantastic party or stocking up for a special occasion, but it is relevant as it shows that whatever type of wine you want to buy, the possibilities are endless.

You can of course trawl round the supermarket and select 12 bottles of wine. But one of the best ways to get the wine delivered direct to your door, with the least hassle possible, is to buy online at an independent wine retailer. You will find pages of ready mixed cases with tasting notes about all the wines included in the case. These are great to start off with, especially if you have limited wine knowledge and would like to try some different sorts of wine so that you can establish which wines you like best. There are cases of all white or all red wines, cases from specific countries and of course, the ability to choose 12 wines yourself. These are then all boxed up and shipped direct to your door, saving you the hassle of carrying bottles of wine across the city.

Wines

Making Red Wine

0 comments By Wine Delivery Filed in Wine Delivery Tagged with , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , October 18th, 2009 @ 5:56 pm
Nicholas Tan asked:

Among the many types of wine available, red wine is among the best. There are many types of red wine available, although most are made using the same methods.  This very exhilarating type of wine is made from black grapes, drawing their color from the skins of the grapes. 

During the beginning stages of making red wine, the grapes that have been picked are put into a crusher.  Here, the crusher will gently break the skins of the grapes.  Depending on what type of wine is being made and the tannin that’s required, the stalks will either be used or discarded at this point.  Next, the grapes are put into a fermentation vat with the skins.  This can be a long process, taking several weeks to complete.  If a higher temperature is used, more tannin and color will be extracted from the grapes.

When making soft wines, the whole grapes are fermented using sealed vats.  The carbon dioxide that becomes trapped in the sealed vats ferment the grapes under pressure, which is normally a quick process, taking only a few days.  Keep in mind, the color and tannin content of the wine is based on how long the fermenting process takes.  If the fermenting process takes a long time, the wine will generally hold more flavor and color.

The remaining bulk of the grapes will go through a press, being crushed to create a tannic wine.  Sometimes, this tannic wine is added with a free run wine in order to add a bit more structure to the wine blend.  Both the press and vat wine are then mixed and transferred to either tanks or barrels for a second fermentation.  The second fermentation will take the longest, although it brings out the quality and taste from the wine.

All types of fine red wine will spend a minimum of a year in the barrels.  Some types of red wine will spend a lot more time in the barrels, possibly several years.  Red wine is also fine tuned with egg whites, which will suspend the yeast and other solids found in the wine downwards, before the wine is racked, filtered, and eventually bottled.  Once the wine has been bottled, it is then shipped off and sold.  Some wine however, will be stored for a period of time in the bottle before it is offered for sale.

The time a wine spends in the bottle is very important, although not every wine needs to spend a lot of time in the bottle.  The more complex and more expensive types of red wine will benefit the most from aging in the bottle, to preserve flavor and color.  The simple types of red wine however, don’t need to spend much time at all in the bottle.

Wine Gifts

Satisfy Your Wine Desires – Join a Wine Club

0 comments By Wine Delivery Filed in Wine Delivery Tagged with , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , October 10th, 2009 @ 1:59 am
jsolutions006 asked:

If you are a wine fanatic, you have many options to satisfy your thirst. But before you choose an option, you should know how to taste wine.

In order to do a proper wine tasting, you need to swish the wine around your mouth. This helps get the most out of your taste buds. Here are more tips in order to taste wine.

Look at the wine color. The more color a white wine has, the more flavor it has and the older it is. You can approximate the age of a red wine by titling the glass and looking at the edge of the wine. The browner it is, the older it is.

Smell the wine by taking one deep whiff. After you do this you want to think about the aroma.

When you taste the wine, you want to consider the first impression, the actual taste once you swish it in your mouth, and the after taste.

Now for the wine tasting options:

You could join a wine club. Wine clubs allow members to pay a monthly fee in order to have a selection or two of wine delivered to their home monthly.

The International Wine of the Month Club offers members selections from two separate boutique vineyards along with a newsletter. You have a choice in the type of membership you select. You can receive two red wine selections, two white wine selections, or one of each. Membership to the wine club starts at $27.95 per month plus shipping and handling. The most expensive membership option costs $63.95 per month plus shipping and handling. The International Wine of the Month Club also offers gift memberships.

The Cellars Wine Club is similar to the International Wine of the Month Club in that you can receive two red wine selections, two white wine selections, or one of each. However, The Cellars Wine Club offers five different membership options. The premium wine club, the west coast wine club, the all about reds wine club, the platinum wine club and 90 plus points wine club. The wine club memberships start at $36.95 with the most expensive being $79.95

Perhaps a wine club isn’t up your alley. Maybe a wine cellar is. The idea wine cellar has a temperature of 50-55 degrees Fahrenheit. The cellar should be moderately damp because this helps keep the corks from drying out. Ultraviolet light destroys wine so your wine cellar should be dark. Avoid putting your wine cellar sheds or garages because you run the risk of freezing the wine. Similarly, avoid the attic because the heat could get too extreme. The best place for a wine cellar would be an under stairs cupboard.

Maybe you just have a few bottles of wine you want to store and display. A wine rack would be your best option. Wine racks come in large sizes to place in your cellar but there are also smaller wine racks that can sit on your kitchen or dining room table. If you really want to get creative, there are wine racks that are also bookends!

Next you might decide that you need a technique for comparing wines.

The Exploratorium describes a technique of comparing wine aromas that is similar to the following:

First you will need these ingredients:

A tiny piece of bell pepper, one drop of butter, half teaspoon of fresh citrus, linalool, a teaspoon of peach juice, a teaspoon of pineapple juice and a teaspoon of vanilla extract.

You take these 7 ingredients and put each in its own wine glass with the base wine. You cover the glass and label it with the standard. Smell the first three wine separately. Then smell the standards to see which terms describe which wines.

Wine Charms

Famous Italian Wines

0 comments By Wine Delivery Filed in Wardy Tagged with , , , May 4th, 2009 @ 3:06 pm
Steve Buchanan asked:

As we all know that Italy is famous for many things, but perhaps it is most famous for its wine. The wines of Italy are almost as varied as the people themselves. Wine is very common in Italy, as are tea and coffee in other parts of the world. There are many different types of wine. The two most distinct classifications are red wine and white wine. There is a lot more to that than meets the eye when it comes to fine wine though. There are table wines, after dinner wines, lighter wine to be enjoyed during the day, the types of wine, whether white wine or red wine, are almost endless.

Italian wines are usually ranked among the best wines in the world. The demand for Italian wines is so high that this small country produces around 8 billion bottles of wine each year. But the growing number has not resulted in deterioration in quality, as most Italian wine producers are known for their strict quality control.

The history of Italian wine dates back around four thousand years. Perhaps, what has helped Italian wine stay ahead of its competitors is the fact that Italy has more local grape varieties than any other country on earth. Italian wine is considered unique due to rich blend of diverse wine cultures that exist in various wine regions in the country. There are certain general qualities of Italian wine which make it stand out in the crowded wine market.

A number of grape varieties that do not grow in other parts of the world are grown in Italy. These varieties are used for producing wines which have unmatched taste. Italian wines are available in a wide range of prices. Some of them are very expensive, but many of them are easily affordable. A number of Italian wine stores sell these wines online. Most popular department stores also sell Italian wine bottles from different parts of the world. It is better to buy Italian wine from an authorized store, as many ordinary wines are also sold as “Italian wine” in the market.

These are some of my personal favorite wine and food pairings for French and Italian wines:

Beef = Amarone,

Cheese = Beaujolais,

Chicken = Chardonnay,

Cold Meats = Tavel,

Chile = Grumello,

Chinese Food = Soave,

Clams and Oysters = Champagne,

Duck = Pouilly-Fume,

Fish = Muscadet,

Ham = Pinot Grigio,

Lamb = Saint-Emilion,

Ossco Bucco = Barbaresco,

Pate = Saint-Veran,

Pheasant = Vino Nobile di Montepulciano,

Pork = Pouilly-Fuisse,

Red Sauce = Chianti,

White Sauce = Pinot Grigio,

Sauerbraten = Riesling,

Shell Fish = Gavi,

Steak = Gattinara,

Stew = Barolo,

Veal = Soave, and

Venison = Pomerol

In the end, it is really a matter of personal preference and what suits your palate. If your restaurant does not have these particular recommendations in their wine cellar, you can always ask the sommelier to recommend something comparable.

These suggestions should enable you to at least buy or order to the proper wine to accompany dinner. Of course, there is a lot more to know about ordering wine, wine tasting, wine production, and wine conversation.

Wine Equipment

Selecting Wines at Restaurants

0 comments By Wine Delivery Filed in International Delivery Tagged with , , , March 20th, 2008 @ 4:36 pm
David Beart asked:

Selecting a good wine off of a wine list can be a real challenge, especially if you have never heard of them before. You meal won’t likely be ruined by your wine selection, but you want to be able to enjoy your food and your wine together. Here are a few strategies to help.

The first strategy is to know which wines are food-friendly. You want your food to pair well with your wine selection. If you are ordering a bottle or two for a whole table, you will want a versatile wine that goes with everyone’s meal choices.

A food-friendly red wine is a Pinot Noir. A food-friendly white wine is a Riesling. Chances are that any respectable wine-serving restaurant will have both on the menu. There are great Pinot Noirs from Oregon and California. The best Rieslings are from Alsace and Germany, but if those aren’t options New York and Canada have good Rieslings as well.

The next strategy is to get a copy of the wine list in advance. This is great if you are trying to impress a group of friends or family with your wine knowledge. Take the wine list and do some research on the Internet if you need to. You can even look up pronunciations so that you can practice before ordering. Several restaurants have web sites or they can fax you a copy as well. Most restaurants will have no problems with sending you the list.

The third strategy is to ask for help. The person you would want to ask is a sommelier. They know wine and they will be able to answer all of your wine questions. Not all restaurants have sommeliers, but if you need to you can get a copy of the wine list and work through it with the sommelier. They will know a lot about the wines and will help you pair what people might be ordering with wines off of the list.

If the restaurant does have sommelier, they will know their wine list intimately. They are taking care of all the aspects of the wine at the restaurant. In most cases, they have personally chosen the wines, stored them, written the descriptions and trained their staff.

In some restaurants, the wine list can be your friend. The list will also let you know what quality of wine is available at the restaurant. The list can be very simple with just a blush, a white and a red. On the other hand, you may have several options for each category. Some lists will provide household wine names that are highly advertised, popular and considered “everyday” wines. If the restaurant really cares about your wine experience, they will offer a variety of different brands and types so that you can mix and match throughout your meal.

Once you have a wine list, you may have to do some deciphering. The list may be very basic and only list the names of the wine and the price. This can be difficult if they are wines that you have never heard of before. Then the wine list may be divided by country or varietal. This is a little more helpful as you will know where the wine is coming from and if it is red or white. Another wine list that is extremely helpful is the “stylish” wine list. These listing the wines under headings of “Dry and Crisp” or “Full-Bodied Reds.” They may even include descriptions such as “oaky” or “hints of chocolate.” This gives you a better idea of what you are getting when you order that wine. The progrogessive wine list may include all of the above. They will most likely list the wines from lightest to richest, or sweet to dry. The price may also be progressive with the most expensive being at the bottom of each section.

Now that you have an idea of what you are going to order, how do you know if it goes with your food? Look for chef suggestions in a menu first. These wines will be off the wine list and have been tested to see what dishes they go with best. The dish you are ordering may have a suggested wine below it.

If a food leaves a sour taste in your mouth, then a wine that is high in acid will complement it. A sour food might include fish with lemon ******** on it or a vinaigrette dressing on a salad. A wine with a high acidity level might be a Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling or Chenin Blanc.

The sweeter the food, the less sweet the wine will taste. If you order dessert, get a wine that is sweeter than your dessert. Even a moderately sweet wine may taste bitter if paired with something really sweet. Suggested sweet pairings include New York Cheesecake and Muscat, Tiramisu and Port, or Bread Pudding with a late harvest Riesling.

If your food has a hint of bitterness, you will want a wine with some bitterness such as a red wine with some tannin. For example, you may choose a Cabernet Sauvignon or Shiraz.

wine

Debunking Ten Wine Sulfite Myths

0 comments By Wine Delivery Filed in Wines And Spirits Tagged with , , , March 12th, 2008 @ 2:32 am
Kathy Patalsky asked:

Sulfites are a commonly used preservative found in foods, alcoholic drinks, and medications. The most commonly discussed sulfites are those found in wine.

“Sulfites are bad.”

“Wine sulfites give me massive headaches.”

“Sulfites are toxic. I stay away from them.”

“Sulfites are not natural.”

…these are just a few of the common responses when I ask people their thoughts on sulfites.

The reality is that few people know the true facts on sulfites.

There are lots of questions….

Is cheap wine the worst?

What about sulfite-free wines?

How can I tell if I am allergic to sulfites?

So lets discuss, and debunk ten sulfite myths.

1. MYTH: Sulfite-free wine is the best way to go if you don’t want to consume sulfites.

TRUTH: Sulfite-free wine doesn’t exist! A wine maker can claim that there are “no sulfites added, but all grapes create sulfites as a result of the fermentation process. Fermenting yeasts found on grape skins generate naturally occurring sulfites, about 6 to 40 ppm (parts per million).

2. MYTH: Organic wine is sometimes sulfite-free.

TRUTH: Organic wine often contains less sulfites. But as stated in #1, there is always going to be some amount of naturally occurring sulfites.

3. MYTH: If the label on a wine bottle doesn’t say “contains sulfites”, the wine is sulfite-free.

TRUTH: As stated,  all wine will contain naturally occurring sulfites. By law, any wine with above 10 ppm sulfites,  must post a “contains sulfites” label.  If the wine contains below 10 ppm of sulfites, no label is required.

4. MYTH: Both red and white wine contain the same amount of sulfites.

TRUTH: A general rule is that white wine contains more sulfites than red wine. So a white wine headache may actually be a reality if you are slightly sensitive to sulfites.

5. MYTH: If wine says it contains sulfites, it is probably a significant amount, and should be avoided.

TRUTH: By law, all imported and domestic alcohol exceeding 10 ppm of sulfites must bear the label-warning “Contains Sulfites”. Wines that contain less than 10 ppm sulfites are not required, however, this does not mean the wine contains no sulfites.

6. MYTH: Sulfites are unhealthy and many people are allergic.

TRUTH: The FDA says that only about .4% of the population is highly allergic to sulfites. However, many people are slightly sensative to sulfites. Asthmatics are especially at risk of sensitivity. Those who are sensitive should stick to organic wines, and choose red over white. Or avoid alcohol completely.

7. MYTH: Wine contains the highest concentration of sulfites out of any product on the market.

TRUTH: Actually, sulfites ranging from 6 to 6000 ppm are found in these products: fruit juices, dried fruits, fruit concentrates, syrups, sugar, jams, gelatin’s, cake toppings, baked goods, pizza dough, frozen potatoes, processed vegetables, cheeses, ans many prescription drugs. Two ounces of dried apricots, have 10 times the sulfites as a glass of wine. Eating dried apricots is a great way to test your allergic reaction to sulfites. But do so with caution under a doctors’ close guidance.

8. MYTH: Sulfites cause more harm than good.

TRUTH: The possible negative effects of sulfite consumption is still unconfirmed. Sulfites are an amazing preservative,  and have been used for hundreds of years. Without them, we would not be able to have wines that have the ability to age for many years. Sulfites also kill off any bugs that result from a ages-old, not-so-clean wineries. Some brand new wineries in California are extremely hygienic, and can use low sulfites for drink-quick wines. This couldn’t happen at centuries old European wineries. So sulfites make it possible for us to drink certain high quality, aged wines with a bit of assurance. Sulfites also allow common household food items like strawberries and bread to keep for a much longer period of storage.

9. MYTH: European sold wines do not have the “contains sulfites” label warning, and thus have no or less sulfites.

TRUTH: Not true. Europeans think Americans are ridiculous for saying “has sulfites” on wine labels. To them it’s like requiring a label saying “Has seeds!” on a store bought apple.

10. MYTH: Cheap wine, Massive Headache!

TRUTH: OK, this one can be true! There is an impurity called a cogener. Cogener is more concentrated in lower quality wine or dark alcohols.

Cogeners cause hangovers. Why do hangovers hit the morning after? Well interestingly, alcohol inhibits the action of the cogeners. So your hangover is usually delayed until after all the alcohol leaves your system and only the cogeners are left. (About the next morning, right.)

But don’t worry, if you do get a massive hangover, you can always reach for some fresh young coconut water for the ultimate hangover remedy.

wine

Wine Etiquette, Being Served, Serving and Tasting

0 comments By Wine Delivery Filed in Wines And Spirits Tagged with , , , July 25th, 2007 @ 10:04 am
Stuart Jay asked:

It is proper wine etiquette to examine the label to be sure the producer and vintage match what you ordered. When the bottle of wine is presented, it may not make any difference to you but it can happen that a restaurant might be out of a particular vintage and substitute a different year. However, if you wanted to enjoy a wine you have experienced previously and a substitution was made, there will certainly be a difference. You may wish to order a different wine in such case. A different vintage could be trivial if it’s a simple Cotes du Rhone but it could be a significant difference if you were ordering a 2000 Bordeaux and received a 2002 instead.

Temperature

White and rose wines are best slightly chilled, at 50 degrees. Check that temperature is satisfactory. It is better for the wine to be too cold than too warm for either red or white. It isn’t improper wine etiquette to request an ice bucket to chill both whites and reds; so don’t hesitate to do so if that is how you would prefer to enjoy the wine. However, placing the bottle in an ice bucket can compromise your experience; fine white wines will release more texture and bouquet as they warm up in the glass; try it. Drinking a modest wine on a hot day would be the exception. A red wine that is brought to the table slightly chilled would be an indication of good storage; you can always warm up the wine by cupping the glass in your hands and swirling.

Cork

It is proper wine etiquette for the sommelier to present the cork to the person who requested the wine when the bottle of wine is opened. The vintage on the cork should match the vintage on the bottle. A pristine looking cork can stopper a bad wine and a delicious wine can come from a cork that disintegrates as it’s removed, so a visual inspection of the cork often reveals little. By sniffing the cork you’re actually smelling the bark of a tree which may be the earthy aromas you are encountering. Many a good bottle of wine has been mistakenly returned because there is mold on the top end of the cork. This has no effect on the wine; it simply means the bottle was aged in the producer’s damp cellar prior to release, which is a good thing.

Swirl & Sniff

Proper wine etiquette procedure dictates that the sommelier will pour a small amount of wine for the person that ordered the wine. The recipient should gently swirl the wine in the glass to release the aroma, give it a sniff, and then taste it. If there is an objectionable or unexpected aroma, the sommelier should recommend further aerating the wine in which case the “off odor” will dissipate, or replacing the bottle if called for. Unfortunately, it is sometimes difficult to differentiate between funky aromas that are inherent in certain wines and similar smells that are symptoms of a defect. Proper wine etiquette is to consult with the sommelier. A “corked” wine has been tainted by a moldy cork if you smell an aroma reminiscent of a “wet basement”. Unfortunately, the mold is not visible nor does the cork necessarily smell moldy. Since there are varying levels of cork taint, a corked wine can be overtly stinky or the fruit character is slightly muted; send the bottle back immediately If you perceive this to be the situation. If you’re not quite sure, in keeping with proper wine etiquette, politely ask the sommelier for an opinion.

Decanting

There are two reasons to decant a wine: (1) to separate the wine from the sediment in the case of a 20 year-old port or red wine; or (2) decanting and swirling the wine in the glass will do a far better job than opening the wine two hours prior and letting the wine “breathe,” which is not practical in most restaurant settings. White and sparkling wines rarely need extra breathing time. It is not proper etiquette or an acceptable practice to return a wine simply because you do not like it as much as you thought you might. The proper etiquette is to nod, say “thank you,” “it’s fine” or some signal for the sommelier to begin pouring after you have taken a sip. To allow enough space to swirl the wine, wine etiquette dictates that the glass is filled about one third full. Sparkling wines should be poured against or along the side of the glass to preserve the bubbles.

Wine etiquette may seem unnecessary, but following proper wine etiquette enhances the total wine drinking experience. Wine etiquette and all its subtleties are intended to slow the experience so the wine can be fully enjoyed and appreciated.

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