Food and Wine World

Probably the most famous wine buff of all, Oz Clarke, describes Zinfandel as “the heart and soul of American winemaking” and that the American winemaking story can told by talking about this grape alone.

For as long as anyone can remember, the Zinfandel grape has been thought to have originated from southern Italy and is also a grape called Primitivo.  It was only in 2001 that by doing research and DNA profiling in both the University of California at Davis and Croatia that it was discovered that Zinfandel is identical to Crljenak, a Croatian variety.  It’s thought when even more research is carried out that the first plants may have come from either Albania or Greece.

Zinfandel then found its way to the West Coast of America in the mid-19th century along with the Gold Rush.  Luckily it survived the Prohibition era in a very enterprising way; by calling itself sacramental wine

Although it’s a highly popular wine, is widely grown, full of character and flavor and is fairly affordable for everyday drinking, it doesn’t seem to be popular with the wine snobs who seem to prefer Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay.

Despite the fact Zinfandel has been grown in California for over a hundred years, many vineyard owners were actually contemplating getting rid of these grapes.  Luckily white Zinfandel rose in popularity I the mid-’80s so instead of getting rid of these vines, they actually planted more.  Over a 10 year period the number of Zinfandel vines doubled making it an icon of Californian wine.

You will find that Zinfandel is grown thought California and it appears to thrive in a climate which experiences hot days combined with cool nights.  They can also adapt to a wide range of soil conditions and often even produce a second yield.  The major problem with the grape however is that it tends to ripen unevenly.  The risk is that the producer may harvest too soon and end up with unripe grapes.  However they might also harvest too late and end up with grapes which are starting to turn into raisins.

Zinfandel is now also being grown in Texas by Zin Valle Vineyards.   The vineyard was started in August 2000 and 850 Zinfandel plants were planted that came from California.  The vineyard was started by Mr. Poulos who read how Texan wine was of poor quality so he felt the urge to prove people wrong.  The project proved such as success that in 2003 they started a second vineyard.

Once the grape has been turned into the wine, they quite often are matured in American oak giving them an almost vanilla taste.  Zinfandel can be quite an exciting grape as it can take on various flavours including light, sweet berries or even very a robust and oak taste.  The finest quality Zinfandel wines can even be laid down to mature.

White Zinfandel

This is a blush wine which is produced from grapes which have been picked early.  Because Zinfandel has red skins, these need to be removed just after the grapes have been crushed and fermented.  The result is a very pale pink and they also have less alcohol than regular Zinfandel.

White Zinfandel also works great as a starter wine because it’s very light and refreshing but has a sweetness to it.  The price of a bottle of Zinfandel is very affordable so is it’s well worth buying a bottle if you have never tasted it before and want to try something different.  Because of its fruitiness, it’s an ideal choice for those summer picnics and barbeques.  Just make sure you serve it cool for the best possible taste.

Red Zinfandel

This wine can be very fruity and light so is ideal if you are a fan of wines such as the French Beaujolais.  Strangely enough, they can also be turned into a big, high alcohol wine much like Port.  It’s also recommended that you serve red Zinfandel at 65F which is actually somewhere between room and fridge temperature.  Although most people agree that it’s best to drink red Zinfandel’s within a few years, you can find some very good aged wines.  However, it should be noted that the taste can become much more mellow with age.  It really depends on what sort of flavour you like.

Although Zinfandel may not be as popular as Chardonnay or Shiraz it is certainly a wine which you should try as you may just find yourself hooked.  It is a very versatile grape and can be enjoyed by both white and red wine drinkers.

If you have been lumbered with the task of buying a gift for a work colleagues, friend or family member you may feel a sense of dread.  Some people have a natural talent for buying gifts and really enjoy it whilst others view it as being a form of penance.  We live in such a consumer-led world and everything has become more affordable to people.  This has meant that whenever someone sees something they like, they simply go out and buy it.  So what are we gift-buyers supposed to buy for the person who has everything they want and need?  Well, we all need to drink and eat so this is one type of gift which will always be appreciated.

No all you have to think about is what type of wine gift basket to buy as there are so many to choose from.  Most people love wine and will be delighted to receive such a gift.  A wine gift basket will also make a great gift for most special occasions such as birthdays, Christmas, Easter and even passing a driving test or moving into a new home.  Whatever the reason you are buying a gift, a wine gift basket will work a treat.

Wine Gift Basket Ideas

You can tailor a wine gift basket so that it can be as fancy and luxurious as you want it to be.  How much you spend on a basket will naturally reflect the event and person you are buying for.  If the gift is for an acquaintance that you don’t know very well or you are just visiting someone for the evening, you will probably not want to spend a huge amount of money.  Keep it very simple to just one or two bottles of wine with some other small items like chocolates or olives.

On the other hand, if you are celebrating a very big event such as a wedding or diamond anniversary, you should push the boat out and buy something that bit more extravagant.  A very romantic combination is a bottle of good quality champagne with a couple of lead crystal glasses and even some chocolates.

You can create a theme for your wine gift basket such as wines from California or just red wines or perhaps Fair Trade and organic wines which are starting to rise in popularity.  Other non-wine gifts can easily be included in the gift basket such as biscuits, cheeses, crackers, olives and fruit.  You might want to include other items such as a wine tasting guide, a bottle opener and wine glass charms.

Although most bottles you see in the supermarket are 750ml, you can also buy wine in bottles of varying sizes.  There are the miniature types which are very popular in aeroplanes and hotels or you could go to the opposite end of the spectrum by buying a huge magnum of champagne like you see F1 drivers splashing over each other.  If you want to give the receiver a chance to taste many wines they may never have tried before, a selection of miniature bottles is an ideal way to do this.  If you really want to create a gasp of delight, you could arrange the mini bottles around one very large bottle from Italy or France.

If the gift recipient loves a taste of the quality things in life choosing a bottle of Brut champagne along with fine foods such as Belgium chocolates, truffles, smoked salmon and caviar will cause them to squeal with delight and will thank you for being such a wonderful friend.

Of course, there’s more to a wine gift basket than just the wine.  You need to think about what you put the wine and other treats in.  Although most gift baskets are wicker, there are other more contemporary alternatives to try out.  These can include, leather, metal, plastic and wood.  So have a think abut who you are buying for and what they might like.  Although these basket alternatives can cost more, remember that they are also reusable.  So that leather box you box to present the wine and chocolates can easily be used to store accessories such gloves and scarves.

If you have come to the conclusion that a wine gift basket will make the ideal present you will need to shop around for one.  You can easily have one delivered from the internet or you could find out if your local deli offer any for sale.  It’s important to note however that they don’t have to be purchases ready-made.  You can assemble one yourself by selecting specific wines and food that you know will go down well.

If you are unsure what the person likes you could always ask their other friends and family what their tastes are.  Some people aren’t fussy about what they eat or drink whilst others specifically don’t like certain grape varieties such as Colombard.  Once you have bought all the gift items you want, you will need to go out and buy a gift basket to put them all in.  You buy these at a craft store along with some cellophane and a pretty ribbon.  By creating your own gift basket you can add other items which are more personal such as photos.

If you don’t have the time to prepare your own wine gift basket or don’t think you are capable, having one made up by a company who specializes in this sort of thing would be a wise choice.  Expect to pay upwards of $50 or more if you want to only have the very best food and wine.  Although you may save some money making your own you could be surprised that there isn’t much of a difference at all.

If gift buying is causing you to go into a cold sweat and you’ve been frantically searching the internet for some gift ideas, a wine gift basket will always be received with a genuine smile.  Although it would be a wise decision to find out if the person you are buying for actually drinks wine.  Some people don’t drink alcohol for a number of reasons such as being a recovering alcoholic, religious or perhaps they have some other health problems.  It could be a little awkward if you haven’t thought about that

If you have enjoyed drinking wine for years but feel that you’re knowledge lets you down, now is a great time to educate yourself in wines.  There is so much to the production of wine and also the tasting it can seem a little bit intimidating.  There is so much wine verbiage it’s easy to think that learning now is nearly impossible.  Don’t worry, lots of people feel like you.  They get invited to wine tasting parties, everybody else is milling around and chatting about the wine, yet you feel as if you’re the only person in the room who is uneducated about it.  If this is the case you can easily improve your knowledge by joining a wine tasting class, it’s also a lot of fun.

What Will Be Taught at a Wine Tasting Class?

If you have decided you want to know more about wine there are many places you can do this.  There are internet sites offering a wealth of info, there’s online wine education courses and of course books.  Literally hundreds of books have been written on the subject of wine, some are general books designed for novices whilst other books are written on one particular aspect of wine such as French wines or wine production.  If you feel you need to learn in a more personal manner, you could enrol in a wine tasting class.

Attending a wine tasting class will allow you to uncover lots of interesting facts you probably never knew existed.  Information such as grape varieties, regions, soil and weather plus how these factors affect the taste of the wine.  There are a number of different types of courses and how much you learn can depend on who is teaching and the length of the course.  It’s advisable to find out what you will be learning before you sign up as you wouldn’t want to be disappointed.  However here is a guide to what you might learn on your particular course.

1. Most people tend to buy just white, red and champagne glasses.  However there are actually many styles and sizes of glasses which have been designed to be drunk with particular types of wine.  You should be taught what types of glasses are available and how to choose them
2. You will often hear people talk about the bouquet of the wine.  The will stick their nose in and declare what the bouquet is like.  No, of course they aren’t talking about flowers, they are referring to the smell of the wine as each type will release aromas which are very different to each other.
3. So that you can truly understand and enjoy the wine you are tasting it’s a good idea to take notes about the color, smell and taste of the wine.
4. You should also be taught the different between young and old wines and it makes for a great party trick to be able to distinguish the difference without seeing the wine bottle label.  You’ll also be explained what turbulence in the wine means and what it means when a wine is almost transparent.
5. Because red, white and rose wines all taste different you should learn how to taste each of them as they shouldn’t be judged equally.
6. When attending any wine events you’ll notice the first thing a wine buff does when a glass has been poured is to swirl the glass.  This is an art which you will be taught otherwise you may find yourself spilling will all over a beautiful white linen table cloth.

Of course there is a huge amount of info to learn about wine; you don’t have to learn every single shred of info but attending a wine tasting class will give you a really good intro to what wine is all about and what you need to know to prove that you aren’t a novice at wine tasting parties.

If you want to visit a country which is steeped in history and culture then you can’t get much better than Italy.  If you also want to combine your love of history and art with your love of wine then one of the best places to go in Italy is Tuscany.  There aren’t many places better than Tuscany for wine tasting.  The region of Tuscany produces a number of varieties of grape, these can include:-

Chianti – Whenever I think of Chianti I can’t help but think of Dr Hanibal Lechter in Silence of the Lambs “I ate his liver with some fava beans and a nice Chianti,” of course there’s much more to this wine than that.  In the areas around Siena you will find several vineyards producing Chianti which will appeal to even the most discerning tastes.

The Tuscan hills make for great growing conditions and produce some of the best quality grapes you can find in Italy.  These grapes then go on to be turned into some of the most sought after wines.  San Felice near Siena and Rocca delle Macie near Castellina also offer visitors accommodation in local villas.

No trip to Italy would be complete without visiting some of the many historic buildings the country has to offer.  Luckily many wineries are located very close to medieval castles which simply helps to create the perfect vacation.  One marvellous example is the Castello di Uzzano famous for its Chianti Classico.  A residential villa is close by so you can stay there and enjoy the wine and the sights.

Montalcino – This area certainly doesn’t bring the standard down and you can tour the Castello Banfi estate at your pleasure.  There can be quite a bit of snobbery when it comes to wine so it may surprise you to know that the estate is only 25 years old which is just a baby in wine making terms.  However the 7,100 acres produce grapes of exceptional quality.  Plus if you love the romance of centuries old castles, you will love the 11th century castle which is here.

San Gimignano – This an amazing location for anyone who loves idyllic medieval small towns and towers.  The area is also renowned for white wine and Il Grande Prato which should certainly be tasted, even by the most demanding connoisseur.  Whilst you sip your wine and enjoy a light snack, sit and enjoy watching the sheep graze and find yourself relaxing.

Although the villa is set in only three acres, the situation amongst the hills provides the visitor with a view of the towers.  You can choose between staying in one of the seven guest rooms or you can stay for just an hour or so to enjoy some wine tasting.  OK, so you might need a bit more than just an hour.  Time does fly when you’re having fun.

Siena – Famous for architecture and one of the most beautiful Gothic cathedrals in all of Italy.  If you can tear yourself away from the history you can go out and explore the wine tasting that Siena has to offer.  Head out of town and into the rolling hills to locate some of the most super wineries.  One example you might want to explore is the Villa Dievole which is only 45 minutes from Florence or half and hour from Chianti.  There is over 800 acres to enjoy there so you should be able to keep yourself busy.

If you wish to stay here for a night or more you can book yourself into one of the bedrooms which also offers a kitchen for those who like self-catering.  Although eating out in an Italian restaurant every night can seem like a wonderful idea, sometimes it’s nice to have the option of preparing dinner yourself.  They also serve a glorious breakfast if you don’t want to go to the bother of making it.  Once you’ve finished your breakfast you can take a tour of the vineyard and sample some wines.

If you don’t fancy the idea of taking a car everywhere with you (who would blame you, the Italians are notoriously bad drivers!) you can explore the region by bicycle.  However to visit the all the villas you want you really are recommended to hire a car or at least take part in an organized tour.

If you plan on hosting a wine tasting party and want to have as much fun as you can, you might want to look into buying a wine tasting party kit. These kits come packaged up really beautifully and contains pretty much everything you could possibly want for hosting a wine tasting party. There are many kits available on the market from different brands and they contain lots of wine related accessories, apart from the wine and the glasses, that is.

You can expect to find within your wine tasting party kit a tasting score pad, six reusable linen wine bottle covers, wine glass markers and a cheat sheet full of wine tasting verbiage. If you buy the one from Chronicle Books you’ll also get a 64 page illustrate book which explains wine tasting, wine swirling, wine bouquet and lots of other info you probably didn’t know before. They are also ideal gifts for some one who loves wine and you have no idea what else they could possibly want.

People who buy wine tasting party kits find that they solve the problem of knowing what to buy when holding such an event. When holding a wine tasting party it’s generally said that you should have each guest bring a bottle of wine to the party whilst the kit adds an extra dimension to the party and helps make it a unique and enjoyable experience.

Wine parties aren’t just about tasting one single wine. The main purpose, besides having fun, is to try out as many varieties as possible and taste wines you may never have thought of tasting before. You should learn to mingle, experience and learn as much as possible whilst being relaxed and in a party mood. Lots of people who attend or throw a wine tasting party have remarked that it’s the best type of party.

What Type of Wine Tasting Party Kit to Buy

There are many types available on the market and each caters for different needs. Some will only cater for 6 people whilst there are others available to buy which are suitable for parties of up to 15. The price you should pay will naturally vary depending on the size of the kit and all the accessories that are included.

If you pay a bit more for your wine party tasting kit you will has get ready-to-use scoring cards, scoring system, award certificated along with pencils and erasers. There is no limit to what you can find in a tasting kit.

If you do a search on the internet you will find lots of kits available at very affordable prices. If you regularly throw wine tasting parties you can even buy kits which are reusable. However if you don’t plan on throwing more than one party you might just go for the cheaper disposable varieties.

You might think it’s cheaper to make your own wine tasting part kit but the truth is that these kits will save you a lot of time and hassle which makes than more than worth it.

Although most people tend to open a bottle of wine within a few months of purchase, many people buy wines specifically for laying down for several years or more.  Depending on what wine you buy chances are that the bottle will increase in value.  In order to keep it in perfect condition people store their wines in a celler which has temperature control.  To do this you need to use a wine cellar cooler so that the temperature can be maintained at about 55F or 13C.  It doesn’t have to be exactly that temperature but it is a guideline.  Wine also enjoys a humidity level of 70%.

Use a Wine Cooler – Not a Fridge

If you plan on keeping bottles for many years it’s important to understand why you shouldn’t use certain types of refrigeration.  With regular domestic fridges you will find the wine is kept too cold.  This is, after all, because they are designed to keep food fresh which is a completely different purpose to storing wine.  Vegetables and meats can keep very fresh in a fridge but it is too cold and dry for your expensive vintage wine.

There are some pieces of equipment you can buy to quickly make food cold to prevent it going off.  They work by bombarding the food with cold air so that it achieves the temperature you want.  These have a thermostat which controls the switching on and off of the unit.  When it gets too cold the unit switches off and when it’s not cold enough the unit switches back on.  This is what happens day in day out.  Again, this is perfectly acceptable for food but not wine.

Regular refrigeration units not only are too cold but they remove too much moisture.  Because wines don’t emit any moisture they are then in an environment which is wholly unsuitable.  When the air becomes too dry the corks shrink allowing air to filter into the bottle.  When air gets into the bottle it makes the wine undrinkable because of oxidization.
Another reason you shouldn’t use a fridge is because they vibrate.  Wine which is vibrated will be ruined so it’s only common sense that you shouldn’t do this.

Air Conditioning Won’t Work Either

Because you want to keep wine cool you may think that using an air conditioning unit is a good idea, especially if you already own one.  However this too causes cork shrinkage and oxidization of the wine.  And don’t even try turning the AC unit on and off during the day as it causes the temperature to rise and fall way too much.

Hopefully this info will be enough to convince you that you shouldn’t attempt to keep your wine bottles cool using a fridge of air con unit.  Luckily there are special cooling units that are designed specifically with wine cellars in mind.  These are well worth the money and should be purchased if you are serious about keeping your wine collection in a cellar.

Only Use a Wine Cellar Cooling Unit

These units are specifically designed to maintain the perfect temperature which will allow your wines to age in perfection.  Instead of the air suddenly becoming cold, a wine cellar cooling unit will do this gently and slowly.  Because they don’t suck any of the moisture out of the air the perfect humidity levels can be achieved.  In saying that however, for extremely arid parts of the world such as New Mexico or Dubai you will probably have to supplement humidification with a humidifier.

If you have the cash to spare on the very best wine cellar cooling system then you’ll want to have a look at split systems.  They are a lot more pricey compared to standard systems but you may feel they are worth it.  The work by installing the unit outside and circulating the air to and from your cellar and they are very quiet.  Extras are also available if you wish, for instance alarm units, humidifiers and dehumidifiers.

If you are a true wine buff and passionate about wine and keeping wine stored properly, building a wine cellar is well worth the money.  Make sure that you buy the most appropriate cooling system otherwise you’ll only be disappointed when you do eventually uncork the bottle of wine.  You might be able to find something affordable just by shopping around.

Wine is probably one of the most collected items in the world.  There are many bottles of wine which are even bought solely for investment purposes where nobody has any intention of selling it.  I find this quite a sad concept however if you have found yourself accumulating more bottles of wine than you can easily store in your kitchen then building your own wine cellar can be an excellent idea.  Also, some wines taste better after they have been laid down for some years so you want to make sure that those bottles are kept in the perfect conditions for when you do eventually open them up.

What Are Wine Cellars?

A wine celler is a room which create the perfect environment for wines.  Wines really dislike heat, light and humidity so it’s important to store wine properly.  Some wine cellars are temperature controlled whilst others are naturally the perfect temperature.  Most restaurants will have one but some people are building their own wine cellars at home too.
If you are building your own wine celler there are some basic steps you need to be aware of.

Location of Wine Cellar – It’s very important to know where you are actually going to have your wine cellar.  The most obvious and ideal place is underground in your basement.  However if you have a large house then it’s certainly possible to build a cellar above ground.  You don’t need the biggest of rooms but one which is 3 x 3 x meters is more than adequate.

Insulation – The inner walls of your cellar must have insulation of a minimum of R-11 and outside walls will need R-19.  If your cellar is going to be built in the basement you need to see about a vapour barrier and concrete sealant for the flooring.  For the vapor barrier you would use a polyethylene plastic sheet which is 6mm thick.

Doors – You obviously need a door for getting in and out of your cellar, when choosing a door make sure it doesn’t have a window, it must be solid and have insulation.  Do not select a wooden door because the insulation is not enough.

Cooling System – There are two main types of cooling system; standard and split.  Although standard systems are popular, costs less money and are easy to install, you need to be aware that you’ll have to replace it in about 5 or 6 years.  The split system is the opposite; it costs more and needs to be fitted by a professional however it lasts a lot longer.

Lighting – Although you will want to have lighting installed in your cellar so you can see what you are doing, you need to understand that lights cause heat which is not good.  Installing a dimmer switch is great because you can control the strength of the light much better and only use what you need.

Flooring – The types of flooring you choose affect the conditions of your cellar.  Hard surfaces like stone, slate and tile are much better and always avoid carpeting.

Wine Cellar Kits – If you do a search on the internet you’ll many wine cellar kits to choose from and they all vary a lot in price.  You will obviously pay more if you select the best quality items.  If you have an expensive wine collection you want to keep for many years, it’s well worth spending that bit extra for quality otherwise you’ll only be disappointed.

So whether you have a relatively small collection of wine bottles or enough to supply a small hotel, building your own wine cellar can make a great addition to your home.

When we think of the great wine producing regions we typically think of France, Australia, California and a few others. However not many people think about drinking Portuguese wine. It may surprise you then if I told you that Portugal have been producing wine since the early 18th century and have been trading wines with many parts of the world.

Actually, there are stories of Portugal producing wines as long a go as 2000 B.C. Production techniques have obviously changed and adapted since then but it might just be that Portugal have been a wine growing nation since the Phoenicians.

You don’t have to be an avid wine buff to know that Portugal’s most famous wine exports are port and Madeira which are fortified wines. Portugal has a great more to offer than just fortified wines however, there are many varieties you’ll want to get your taste buds around.

Like most wine growing countries, Portugal has different wine regions. Each region produces its characteristic grape varieties. What makes Portuguese wine tasting so interesting is that all the grape varieties are distinct to each particular area and they only use native grapes. This of course is highly different from South African, New Zealand and Californian wines which can be a blend of grapes from all over the world. The Portuguese government make sure that the wine produced is the best you can possibly buy and there are strict quality controls.

If you are keen to taste wines from Portugal you will find that it’s not all that easy to buy as they aren’t well known outside of Portugal.

Alentejo Wine is produced in the southern part of the country and is made form the alentejo grape. The grape produces a fruity and soft white with an edge of acidity. You’ll find that this wine is one of the most popular in Portugal.

Bairrada Wine – 80% of wines from this region are red and 95% of these come from the baga grape. Baga grapes are thick skinned and produce wines which are acidic and high in tannins. A local tradition is to add in the stems during the fermentation process which makes this wine variety very tough and challenging to drink. However the better wine producers can actually produce a very palatable wine.

Colares Sand Wine – This wine is actually grown in very sandy soil just outside Lisbon. These are one of the most expensive wines simply due to supply and demand. There isn’t that much wine growing land around Lisbon because of urban sprawl so there supply cannot meet demand. You will find both wine and red wines from this region.

Dão Wine – The region of Dao is in the north of the country and enjoys a more temperate climate. It is a mountainous region and as a resul the hills protect the grapes from wind off the sea. They produce both red and white wines which are very fuity and the minimum alcohol content is 11%. Those who are in the wine industry claim that these wines are amongst the best in Portugal. Grão Vasco and Aliança are just two which are recommended to anyone looking to taste Portuguese wines.

If you are keen to start tasting wines from Portugal, or better still, taste wines in Portugal, there are some Portuguese wine terms you might like to learn.

• Adega - Winery
• Branco - White
• Casta - Grape variety
• Colheita Vintage year
• Garrafeira - A reserve red wine which has been aged for at least 2 years in the barrel plus one year in the bottle. A white wine must be aged for at least 6 months in a barrel and only 6 months in the bottle.
• Maduro - These are mature wines which are produced in all regions of Portugal except for ones which are produced in the Vinho Verde region. You are very unlikely to see this term on any bottle.
• Quinta - Vineyard
• Reserva - A superior quality wine made from a single vintage.
• Seco - Dry
• Tinto - Red
• Verde - Green and opposite of Maduro. Vinho Verde wines are produced in a distinct way.
• Vinho - Wine

If you have never tasted wine from Portugal or want to go wine tasting in Portugal you will find that there’s something that you will enjoy. Whether you love robust reds or fruity whites

Wine is certainly not a new invention.  Our enjoyment for this alcoholic liquid goes back centuries when people considered it fit for only Kings and Gods.  Our love for wine, if anything, has only got stronger and even doctors advocate us drinking a glass or two every night.  It’s even been linked to the prevention of cancer and low cholesterol.

Wine and Spirits

Wine and spirits can be seen as something to drink to help you have a good time and dispel worries you have in life.  They can also help enhance any food that you are eating.  Even if you aren’t a big drinker, having wine and sprits in your home is always a good idea.

Most wine and spirits are consumed for two main reasons and they are:

Enhance You Dining:  When eating a meal it’s generally regarded that you should drink wine rather than spirits as spirits will interfere with the taste of your food in a bad way.

Relaxation and Pleasure:  Lots of people turn to wine, spirits and other alcoholic beverages to help them relax.  They’re also largely associated with watching sports on the TV and family get-togethers.  Of course there is no concept of parties or any other from of celebration without wine and spirits even if the hosts are not drinkers.

Word of Warning:  It would be irresponsible for me to say that all alcohol is good and can be consumed in any quantity you wish.  Alcohol can be very dangerous to your health is consumed too often.  Also in some people drinking too much alcohol can make them aggressive and do things they might not do when sober.

Helpful Tips

• Don’t drink and drive at all.  Wine glasses are getting bigger and bigger plus the alcoholic content is becoming stronger.  You may think that two wine glasses is not that much but it can now equate to a third of a bottle.
• Don’t let your children get hold of any alcohol
• Drink alcohol for the taste and drink slowly.  Avoid drinking purely to get drunk.  Also make sure you drink plenty of water to prevent dehydration.
• Your doctor may tell you drinking a glass a day is perfectly healthy, but please, don’t assume that drinking a bottle a day will be even healthier.  People can easily become alcoholics without realizing they have a problem
• Wine and spirit are closely linked to having a good time but things can easily get out of hand and become nasty.  If you know someone who you think has a drink problem, contact one of the specialized centers for advice.  Unfortunately there is little you can do to help; an alcoholic has to admit there is a problem first.

The French wine production is positively massive.  In a single year they can produce 70 million hectolitres which equates to 9 billion bottles.  French wines are classified into four categories which have some very specific laws in place.  You can therefore be safe to say that French wine tasting can be classified as AOC, AOVDQS, Vin de Pays and Vin de table.

AOC stands for Appellation d’Origine Controlee.  This is the finest quality you can buy and the rules of its production include grape variety, locality and minimum alcohol content.  These strict rules are what make this such high quality.

AOVDQS stands for Appellation d’Origine Vin De Qualité Supérieure and is the second best quality available and also undergoes strict guidelines.

Vin de Pays contains a single grape variety and within a limited area.

Vin de table is a table wine and is considered to be a wine you would drink every day as there is nothing that special about it and is very affordable.  It’s for this reason that 70% of all wine consumed within France is Vin de table

The Four Steps of the French Tasting Wine Method

The French have a renowned ability to drink wine in style.  They don’t just sling it back and wait for the alcohol to have its effects.  Instead they drink it in a four-step process.  1.  Look at the wine, 2.  Smell the bouquet, 3.  Take a sip, 4.   Discuss the wine.  Let us look at these four steps of French tasting wine method briefly.

1.  Study the wine and note the light reflecting off the glass and wine.  Also notice if the wine clings to the side of the glass when you have swirled it.  You may find some passionate French people keep their glass on a piece of white paper.

2.  Feel free to dip your nose into the glass and get a good smell of it.  Once you have developed your sense of smell you’ll be able to associate aromas to the smell of wine.

3.  Now let’s get the most enjoyable part.  Take small and careful sips. With each careful sip, you will feel with the help of your tongue and palate, a new subtlety.

4.  As humans, we love to share our experiences and thought.  If you have noticed particular qualities about the wine, such as fruit and body, let your thoughts be know.  Other people may or may not agree with you.  But that’s all part of the fun.