Easy Guide To Choosing The Right Wine

Author: Jack Johnson
Do you ever walk up and down the wine racks with no idea where to begin? Do you stare at the wine list for hours in a restaurant? If so, this guide's for you. Learn how to choose the wines you'll love.
For all but the experienced sommelier, pairing the right wine with your meal can be daunting. This is further exacerbated by the rules we often hear: white wine with fish, red wine with meat. When selecting a wine with your meal, it is best to throw such restrictions out the window and follow your own tastes and preferences. Using these easy tips anyone can enjoy a great bottle of wine with their favourite meal.1. Visit specialty wine shops. Specialised dealers know their wines. Letting them walk you through the selection, and listening to their advice will usually provide great results. There are several questions you must be prepared to answer while getting help from a merchant, these include: price range, personal preference, and the meal it will be consumed with. Often you can find wine shops that keep various open bottles for tasting purposes. Seek these out and let your palate decide.2. Learn the different wine types. Wines are classified by the grapes used in it. Grape species often grow best in very restricted climates. The Pinot Noir grape, for example, flourishes in Burgundy, Oregon, New Zealand and some parts of California. When looking to purchase a Pinot Noir wine, it is advised that you select one that is made in one of these regions. Learning the grapes will also let you branch out in to new types of wine. If you like Merlot, you might want to try a Red Bordeaux, which incorporates the Merlot grape.3. Choose wine from the right region. Due to differing climates, wines produced in different areas of the world will not have the same taste. Chardonnay is a prime example of this. The chardonnay grape grows well all over the world. In warmer climates it produces a warmer, earthier tasting wine, while in cooler climates it produces a lighter, citrusy taste.These simple steps will greatly enhance your ability to select the best wine for any occasion. Whether it is for a romantic dinner at home, or a gift brought to a dinner party, you will impress your friends with your exquisite taste in wine.
About Author
Article Copyright http://www.serenatawines.com/ – The leading UK online wine store. Article Source: http://www.1888articles.com

7 Tips To Get Rid Of A Wine Hangover

by: Jack Wells
How about teaming up your favorite meal with the best of wine this weekend? It sounds a great idea but don’t you think you may overindulge? Well, you may not mind this but what about the hangover you have to face, the other morning. How about spending you entire Sunday afternoon sitting inside the bathroom, with one hand on your forehead and the other on your stomach? Scary isn’t it? Hey, hold on! I am not trying to scare the life out of you. I am just showing you the real picture of a hangover that you may require to face the following day after you have overindulged in your favorite wine. This sounds really bad but don’t worry, there are many tips you can follow in order to get rid of a wine hangover. All you need to do is to follow the instructions given below: a) Water, water and water: Water is the key to get over the wine hangover. Drink plenty of water. Alcohol has a tendency to dehydrate your body. This is the main reason that most people end up having a lot of liquids in the form of plain water, lemon water, coffee and black tea without having pee for a single time. If you want to stay away from the temptation of overindulging in wine, the best way is to have a glass of water for each glass of wine you desire to have. Wine is a great source of water, but the presence of water tends to produce adverse effects on the body. Hence, it is necessary to keep hydrating your body with water. b) Binge in: Sounds great! Believe me, it really works. Eat your favorite meal or some snacks an hour before a drink. This will save you from getting involved into overindulge and the hangover. The meal or snack should include bread or pasta. c) No prescription drugs: So you want to save money! It’s a good idea but you should not save money via mixing your glass of wine with prescription drugs for more effects. This will only damage your body. Drink less if you really want to save money. d) Milk: Drink a glass of milk prior to consuming wine. This will provide a protection coat to your stomach and helps you absorb the alcohol in the wine. e) No salt: Salt will prove dangerous as it tends to maximize the process of dehydration. You should stay away from salt when having margarita... f) An aspirin: An aspirin will help you to remove headache. Avoid taking ibuprofen or paracetamol. These medicines usually have adverse effects on the body especially after the consumption of wine. g) Avoid dark drinks: The major hangover you experience may be due to combining red wine with whiskey. You should mix whiskey with soda or water. Avoid mixing it with cola and tonic. Hangover is due to over indulgence in wine. Try to stay away from it. Follow the instructions mentioned above you would feel better after a wine party with your friends.
About The Author
Jack Wells is a regular contributor and editor for http://winehappy.com/ social networking site. You may read his wine reviews at http://www.winehappy.com/winereviews/

Everything You Wanted to Know About Wine Glasses But Were Afraid to Ask

by: Jennifer de Jong
A Brief History of the Wine Glass Wine glasses have been used since ancient times. Pliny (23-79 A.D.) wrote about gold and silver drinking vessels being abandoned in favor of glass, and they were frequently priced as high as the precious metal versions. Bonifacio Veronese's sixteenth-century 'Last Supper' includes modern style wine glasses with a stem and foot. The oldest surviving European wine glasses with a stem and foot are fifteenth-century enameled goblets (a goblet is a glass holding more than four ounces of liquid). Near the end of the sixteenth-century in Germany sophisticated engraved decoration was applied to covered wine glasses. The earliest surviving English wine glasses are diamond-engraved glasses that were produced near the end of the sixteenth-century by Verzelini. Plain straight stems gained popularity around 1740, with air twist stems being introduced about the same time. Ten years later a twist incised on the exterior of the stem became popular. Quality crystal wine glasses were being produced in France near the end of the eighteenth-century. Cordial glasses in the eighteenth-century had bowls of the same shapes that were typical for wine glasses, but they were much smaller, holding about one ounce. Toast masters glasses were made with a thicker bottom and walls so that they would hold less. A toast master had to drain every glass and still be able to remain standing till all toasts were completed. Wine glasses during the nineteenth-century were often produced in sets - with a dozen each of port and sherry, burgundy and claret, champagne glasses and liqueur glasses. More recently, in the 1950s, Riedel Crystal and other stemware manufacturers have refined wine glass design to the point of having a unique size and shape for almost every wine variation. Wine glasses are made for drinking wine, of course, but people are creative and have found other uses ranging from combining several wine glasses to construct a glass harp to using stemware in a similar manner to provide sound education. Choosing Wine Glasses There really is no right or wrong glass for wine tasting - or for drinking wine for that matter. However, there are some glasses that are better than others for evaluating wines. First of all, we like to suggest using glasses that you are comfortable using. Aesthetics aside, there are really only two things to remember when considering a wine tasting glass: the size of the glass and the overall shape of the glass. The more universally used tasting glass is called a chimney shape. Broader on the bottom of the bowl, it tapers upward to a smaller opening. The broader bottom will enable you to hold enough wine and give you plenty of room to swirl the wine, while the smaller opening at the top will help to trap and focus the aromas, allowing you enough of a scent to assess the wine. Size Doesn't Matter For the most part, if your glass is of this shape, the actual size of the glass is not important other than it needs to be big enough and have a big enough opening for you to be able to get your nose inside to really smell the wine. Some people swear by large "Burgundy" style glasses that allow as much of the wine to come in contact with the air as possible, therefore releasing as many of the aromas and flavors as possible. Others like the convenience and ease of use of a smaller glass. Other considerations that will enhance your tasting experience include glassware that is clear (no colors) and free of cuts or engravings within the glass. Many glass manufacturers have designed specific glasses for specific wine types or varietals, taking in to account different aspects of the individual wine type. While this is wonderful, it is not a necessary purchase for a complete wine tasting. The top producer of these specialized wine glasses is an Austrian crystal company named Riedel (pronounced REE-dle). They are exquisite and expensive. Cleaning Wine Glasses When it comes time to clean your glassware, try to avoid using soap. Instead use hot water and rinse thoroughly. Soap can become trapped within the glass release soapy odors the next time you use it. Although you may become quite proficient at identifying various brands of dish soap, this ability and the soapy glasses that taught you will not add to the enjoyment of a good glass of wine. To summarize, it's important that you find good glassware for your wine tasting experiences, but "good" does not necessarily mean "expensive." Find glassware that you are comfortable with and adequately serves its purpose: presenting wine for your evaluation and enjoyment. Tips For Serving Wine You've probably heard many conflicting and complicated instructions throughout the years on the proper way to get wine from the store to your glass. It doesn't have to be that hard. Here are the basics of serving wine, which are all you really need. Many customs have accompanied wine drinking through the years. None of them are meant to be intimidating or stuffy. They are just practices intended to enhance the enjoyment of wine. - "White wine with fish and red wine with meat" is more customary than culinary. - Red wines are served at room temperature, while white wines, roses, and champagnes are served chilled. - The stronger the food, the stronger the wine. The lighter the food, the lighter the wine. - Wine loves air, which revives its sleeping flavors. It is recommended to open the bottle about an hour before consumption and let the wine "breathe". This ages it a year or so, and allows its flavors to mellow. - A bottle of wine has to be handled carefully, with the minimum movement possible. Remember, wine likes to sleep, only to awaken in your mouth. - Red wine bottles do not need to be cleaned or dusted before opening. They are opened on a hard surface. White wines, rose, and Champagne bottles are opened in ice buckets. - Red wines corks are sniffed to make sure the wine has not spoiled, which gives the cork an unpleasant smell. It is not necessary to smell white and rose wine corks since the wine was refrigerated and the cork will not smell. Ideal Serving Temperatures For Serving Wine On the subject of temperature - you may have heard that red wine should be served at room temperature and that white wine should be slightly chilled before serving. These recommendations originated at a time when "room temperature" was lower than is typical today. Full-bodied and tannic red wines are best enjoyed at not more than 64°F (18°C) and clarets, Pinot Noirs (including burgundies), and then the modern reds - soft, light, fruity and relatively tannin-free for drinking young, at progressively cooler temperatures - down to about 54°F (12°C). White wines are ideally served between 43°F (6°C) to 52°F (11°C). Red wine or white wine, err on the cool side as they will warm quickly on the table and in the glass.
About The Author
Jennifer de Jong is a long time wine drinker, enjoyer of wine, and non-wine-snob. She is the founder of Vino Vixenz. A snob-free zone to learn wine tasting. http://www.vinovixenz.com/

Different Types Of Wine

By: David Cowley
There is a very large variety of different types of wine and in order to really enjoy your wine selection it is necessary to know more than what type of wine goes with red meat and what type of wine goes with fish. It is important to select the correct type of wine that will augment the flavor of the meal instead of clashing with it. The properly selected wine will clean and refresh the pallet which will allow the flavor of the meal to be as enjoyable from the first bite to the last. The correct wine will support and not overpower the flavor of your meal.Types of Wine.Wines come in two major categories Red and White, but each category will have many sub categories. Many gourmands will argue that red wines can only be served with red meats and exotics such as ostrich and emus and white wines should only be paired with fish, poultry, roast pork, and deserts. Several hundred year ago this may have been true but with all of the new vineyards and the hundreds of wine processing techniques available today Who is to say what is right and wrong, as long as the particular food and wine pairing provides a pleasant dining experience.The variety grapes uses in the wine making process determines the basic type of wine produced. Some grapes are very hardy and will grow almost anywhere and in any type of climate. Others are so sensitive that they are grown only is specific regions of the world. All grapes can have good years and bad years and it will have a large impact on the quality and availability of a specific type of wine in any given year. Even a novice wine drinker with an untrained pallet can tell the difference in the quality of a wine when tasted side by side.BarberaBarber is mostly grown in warm coastal regions and is commonly grown in Italy's Piedmont region and has been imported to the Unite States sometime in the late 19Th century. Wines made from the Barber grape tend to have a lively cherry flavor and a high acidity content. The wines usually have a very deep, intense red color.Cabernet SauvigonUsually grown in cooler and damper climates such as the Loire region of Southwest France, Long Island and Northern California in the United States. The Cabernet grapes produce wines that have a deep purple color and a herb like aroma. One of the best known wine producing grapes in the world and it produces a very consistent and recognizable flavor.ChardonnayThe Chardonnay grape has become very popular in recent years and it produces one of the finest white Burgundy wines in the world. Known for it mid-season ripening and versatility it can be grown in all of the wine producing regions of the world.RieslingRiesling grapes is also grown in the cooler temperate regions of Europe. It can product a white dry wine that has a flowery and fruity flavor with a high acid and low alcohol content.SangioveseThe Sangiovese grapes is grown almost exclusively in the Tuscany region of Italy and it produces a dark red wine with a cherry or plum like flavors and aromas. Recently is has been imported into California but the vine takes several years of aging to reach its peak flavor.
Article Source: http://www.california-wine-articles.com
David Cowley has created numerous articles on Wines. He has also created a Web Site dedicated to wine information. Visit Wine Information

Many Flavors of Wine

By: RAYMOND NWAMBUONWO
The four main flavors of wine are sweet, salty, sour, and bitter. While this is the four flavors your tongue is really capable of tasting, the long lasting impression that wine leaves in your mouth is far more complex. When drinking or tasting wine, your taste buds and your sense of smell are involved, adding to the way you construe wine overall. The flavors, aromas, and sensations that wine is comprised of provide the interaction that you taste when you sample wine.Sweetness is an element that wines are well known for. Usually with most types of wine, grapes are responsible for the sweet taste. Grapes do contain a lot of sugar, which helps breaks the yeast down into alcohol. The grapes and yeast that were used to make the wine will leave behind various sugars, which your tongue will be able to quickly distinguish. As soon as your tongue detects these various sugars, the stimulation of sweetness from the wine will be ever so present in your mouth.Even though your tongue doesn't really know how to decipher the taste of alcohol, it is always present in wines. The alcohol present in wine will dilate blood vessels and hence intensify all of the other flavors found in the wine. After you have sampled a few types of wine, the alcohol level can easily have an effect on your taste buds, making it much more difficult to distinguish other drinks that you may have.Acidity in wines usually influences the sugar. When the acidity is balanced, the overall flavor of wine can be very overwhelming. After you drink wine that contains it, the flavor of the acidity will be well known to your tongue. Notwithstanding that acidity is great with wine, but too much of it will leave a very sharp taste. At the right levels, acidity will bring the flavors of the grape and fruits alive in your mouth - providing you with the perfect taste.Another effect of flavor is tannins, which are the proteins present in the skins of grapes and other fruits. A wine that has the right amount of tannins will give your tongue a great feel, and bring in the sensations of the other flavors. During wine aging process, the tannins will begin to breakdown in the bottle, giving you a softer feel to the taste. Tannins are definitely essential for the taste of wine - providing the wine has been properly aged.Oak is the last flavor associated with wine. Even though oak isn't put into the wine during the creation 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, the ability to extract the flavor will vary. Quite often, wine will be aged just enough to where the oak taste is visibly there - and adds the perfect sentiment to the taste.There are many other factors involved to determine the flavors of wine, the most prominent ones are those listed above. The above flavors are the most present in wine, and also the flavors that you need to get more proficient with. Before trying to taste wine or distinguish flavors, you should always learn as much you can about the ingredients accountable for the flavors. When you follow these simple rules you will know more about what wine you taste, because you will be in a better position to appreciate wine.
Article Source: http://www.california-wine-articles.com
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Step by Step Guides to Buying Wines Online

By: Ian Love
Ensure that you are familiar with your regional, state, provincial, legal requirements for import/export, duties and if it is legal to order, ship, receive these goods. Customs and declaration forms, permits and more have to be sorted out as well, applicable taxes paid and such to ensure that the transaction will go smoothly start to finish. The internet has made it possible to buy anything online, including bottles of wine. Selecting a bottle of wine online is very similar to how you would select a bottle if you were to walk into your local retail store. The one primary difference that you will need to review before getting excited about your online wine purchase possibility is to determine whether your state allows for the receipt of wine to your doorstep!
Step 1- Search online for wine retailers who offer shipping to your state. You can use your search engine to type in “online wine stores in X”. Browse through the extensive list and evaluate several of them for their selection, shipping prices and return policies. Online stores vary greatly in cost and in selection. If you are looking for something in particular, type in your search engine that exact name and a selection of stores will pop up.
Step 2- Search on the site that you have selected for the wine type that you would like. Choose white, red, sparking or champagne. Most online retailers have an easy sort function to make this process simple.
Step 3- Choose the wine style that you are interested in. Do you want a bold white wine like a Chardonnay? Do you want a sweet white wine like a Riesling? Do you want a bold red like a Cabernet? Or, do you want a common red like a Merlot? You can also search by geographic region. Do you want a wine from Spain, Oregon, California, France or South Africa? Use the search function on the site to help you search and browse through the wines.
Step 4- Locate your budget within the wine list. Sort by price and read the ratings and descriptions of the style, type and regions of wine that match your search requirements. If you are trying something new and it is to be consumed as a drinking wine, choose something in the low to mid range. Each region and each type of wine has a unique taste. For example, you might buy a $10 Pinot Noir, decide you love it, and then start to purchase the $50-70 per bottle selections. There are wines for every budget, so don’t feel shy about whatever your price point is.
Step 5- Place your order using their secure online payment options and then mark your calendar for when you can expect to receive your order. That is it! It is quick and easy to have your wine delivered right to your front step. You can buy any wine that you have had in your favorite restaurant or that you have seen in your favorite local store with the click of your mouse and from the comfort of your own home.


Article Source: http://www.articlesnatch.com
About the Author:Ian Love is director of Perth Restaurants group West Valley, which runs Coco's Perth restaurant, Raffles Hotel Perth & Bellhouse Seafood restaurant