Jason Smith

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Income School Reviews - Read Before You Buy

More Info On Project 24 and to join https://incomeschool.com/smittysahn75/P24

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And as a HUGE BONUS I will even create some YouTube videos for you to help get your blog/site ranked even faster in Google.  Yes part of Project 24 is creating YouTube videos to help get your site ranked.  I will create your first 10 videos for you!

If you are on the fence about Project 24, I highly recommend it.

Jim & Ricky are on it, they are VERY friendly, VERY helpful, and VERY hands on.

They walk you through this process on picking a niche right at the start and how to find good topics for your articles.

The chatroom & other members of Project 24 are SUPER helpful as well.

I've tried a ton of other programs over the years and wasted a ton of $$ along the way.

If you're not signed up yet I highly recommend it.

Project 24 has been worth every penny, and I wish I would have signed up sooner.

Project 24 is $349 You can sign up directly or it would be greatly appreciated if you used my affiliate link -  https://incomeschool.com/smittysahn75/P24  (Yes you can make $ as an affiliate through Project 24 while you build your website.)

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Intex PureSpa - Review of an Inflatable 6 Person Hot Tub - https://youtu.be/QZtk6-lLOa4

Intex PureSpa - Review of an Inflatable 6 Person Hot Tub

Intex PureSpa - This is my review / setup instructional video on an 6 person Intex inflatable hot tub PureSpa.  I go over everything I purchased and getting everything setup. Is a longer video and you should only watch it if you are looking to buy or if you're interested in more information about an Intex inflatable hot tub PureSpa.

The Intex PureSpa is the best way to have your very own hot tub or spa without breaking the bank. The spa is inflatable so is portable as well as extremely easy to install. It contains 120 high power water jets, a puncture resistant 3-ply laminate outer layer.

The hot tub runs on 110v 12amp so uses no more power then you vacuum cleaner but produced amazing bubbles and heats to 104° F no problem!

I have included links below to all of the products used.

- Intex 85in PureSpa Portable Bubble Massage Spa Set - https://amzn.to/2y0F2sJ

   Seating capacity: 6 people

   Built-in hard water system softens the water

   Water capacity: 290 gallons

   Water temperature range: 68-104 degrees Fahrenheit

   Approximate inflated inner/outer diameter: 65” / 85”, height: 28”

- Intex PureSpa Hot Tub Maintenance Accessory Kit w/Brush +Skimmer +Srubber 28004E - https://amzn.to/2NnYSTz

- Spa Choice Standard Bromine Kit - https://amzn.to/2E0Zor9

- Intex PureSpa Type S1 Easy Set Pool Filter Cartridges (12 Filters) | 29001E - https://amzn.to/2zTu49T

- 2 PACK - Turtle Oil Absorbing Sponge – https://amzn.to/2DXAxob

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   Materials: Polyester and Steel Frame

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   Dimensions: 118" L x 118" W x 107" H

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- Furinno 12127EX/BK Simplistic End Table, Espresso/Black, Set of 2 - https://amzn.to/2Qt4Wfu

[smitty7535-blog]

The Beauty of Wines

The Beauty Of Sparkling Wine Sparkling wine is well known for it’s tiny bubbles that race to the surface. Sparkling wine is one of the most exotic yet refreshing types of wine, providing memories and happiness once the cork is released into the air. For many years, this exotic wine has proven to be among the most popular types of wine for celebrations and special achievements http://www.besthostbest.com By looking at sparkling wine, you’ll find it to be a complete mystery. When tasting the wine, friends and lovers choose to discuss the refreshing, nutty aroma. Even though this type of wine is very popular, it can be hard to describe. Although the taste and aroma can be right there, lingering in the air - it’s still something that is nearly impossible to find the words for. When you first open a bottle of sparkling wine, the carbon dioxide aroma that instantly fills the air is an experience that you have to smell to believe. A true feast for all of your senses, sparkling wine can instantly put you at ease. Drinking this wine is a feast for your taste buds, bringing several different flavors to rest on your tongue at the same time. Even though the nature of sparkling wine is really unknown, society as a whole as really accepted it. Although many don’t realize it, the crisp and delicate taste of this wine isn’t what made it what it is today. Similar to the shine and splendor of the finest diamonds, sparkling wine emits a truly elegant aura and romance that makes it easy to distinguish from other types of wine. Sparkling wine was first discovered in France by Dom Perignon, who was a monk in the Champagne region. He actually stumbled upon this fine wine while performing his duties as a cellar master in the Benedictine Abbey. Dom would hide his discovery for many years, as the public didn’t really respond in the way that he had been hoping. Although Dom Perignon’s sparkling wine wasn’t popular at first, it would grow and become more popular over the years. Once people in France and people around the world caught wind this amazing sparkling wine, they simply had to experience it for themselves. At this point, it didn’t take long for Dom Perignon to become a legend and one of the most important wine makers throughout the rich and cherished history of France. The formula and techniques that Dom used to produce his sparkling wine eventually become known as the traditional way of making Champagne. The process is still used throughout the world today, producing some of the best sparkling wines. Even though sparkling wine is made in various locations, many agree that the best place is the Champagne region of France - which is where sparkling wine first began and was first introduced to the world. These days, sparkling wine is an essential part of life, for celebrations and events. With most celebrations, sparkling wine is simply a must have. There are many manufacturers of the wine these days, although most prefer to have the original and still the best - Dom Perignon. No matter where the future of wine goes, sparkling wine will never die. It will always be the wine that sparks celebrations, and the wine that makes events come to life. From it’s truly unique and breathtaking taste to it’s amazing look and splendid aroma - sparkling wine has the appeal and the flavor to keep people celebrating and living life for years and years to come.   The Beauty Of Red Wine: A Beginner's Guide The hit comedy film Sideways is about a road trip in the wine country of sunny California where the two main characters, Miles and Jack, taste copious amounts of red wine while dealing with major life dramas. It's a hilarious film that touched so many people with its dark comedy and truly moving portraits of people dealing with love, pain, and wine tasting. But perhaps the greatest thing about Sideways was how it inspired so many people to go out and become connoisseurs of fine wine! According the Internet Movie Database, the movie made so many of its fans want to buy Pinot Noir (a dry red wine) that sales significantly increased in the US and UK during and after its release. Talk about the effect of movies on people! If you want to learn a bit more about red wine, dry red wine, and its other variants but feel clueless as to the whole thing, here's a quick wine guide; a red wine for dummy guide if you like! Why is Red Wine… Er… Red? Red wine is so colored because of the grape skins involved. There are a multitude of grape types, each as diverse and colorful as the next. You have purple, maroon, deep red, light red – the list goes on. Each variety brings a unique shade of red to red wine and the various colors you can see in wine stores are a direct result of the many grapes used in worldwide wine-making processes. An individual wine's color depends largely on what type of grape was used to make it and how long the skin was left in with the juice before being extracted. What Are The Different Types of Red Wine? There are many different types of red wine but they are usually judged by their “body”. For example, a light-bodied wine is not too demanding on the mouth and taste buds. It goes well with food that is flavor intensive. A good example of this kind of wine is the French red wine Beaujolais Nouveau. On the other hand, there is the medium-bodied red wine which is a slightly heavier wine (e.g. Shiraz, Merlot, etc.) but not as heavy and as powerful as a full-bodied wine like French Bordeaux wines and Italian red wine like the Super Tuscans. Full-bodied wines are denser and have higher alcohol content. How Is Red Wine Served? You may have noticed at some parties, tasting events, or formal gatherings that red wine is served in a particular glass. It is said that an oval or egg-shaped glass that narrows as it reaches the top(compared to a slim, tall glass) is the best way to appreciate red wine as it allows the wine to breathe and swirl better. The best temperature to serve red wine is 60-65 degrees Fahrenheit. Serve it too hot and the alcohol can be overly emphasized; too cold and it will taste bitter. Red Wine – What Are The Different Varieties? There are a number of red wines available from all over the world from dry red wine to full-bodied wine to age old wine. There is really no such thing as the best red wine – what is tastiest to you should be considered the best. But then there are many red wines that come highly recommended like Californian red wine, Australian red wine, and then of course every other kind of wine through out Europe like Spanish red wine and the ones previously mentioned. In time, you will be able to determine exactly what your type of red wine is. For now, why not sample the many great tasting wines out there like Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc... How Healthy IS Red Wine? Red wine 101 these days will tell you that red wine or dry red wine is actually good for you. There have been recent studies by scientists in the UK that suggest a glass of Cabernet Sauvignon-derived wines will do the heart very good. So, if you're looking to spice up your meals or simply want to develop a healthier diet, red wine or dry red wine may be just the thing for you. Hopefully, this has been enough information to whet your appetite. Happy wine drinking!     The Beauty And Pleasure Of Visiting California Wine Country For a fun and enjoyable trip to the California wine country, you can consult the many resources that are available to guide you in your planning. In addition to touring the wineries and wine tasting, there are many other activities to make your adventure unforgettable. In some of the counties you can include activities such as a mystery theater, mountain biking or resort accommodations in your tour plans. Activities such as wine tasting seminars and walking vineyard tours are offered by family owned wineries in Santa Barbara, Sonoma Valley, Napa Valley and the Medocino area. Many of these places also have shops where you can purchase some of the endless varieties of wine and wine accessories you will see on your tours. As everybody knows drinking and driving is not advisable, and for that reason you can tour the California wine country in a variety of ways, including by limo, bus, jeep, plane, train or for the adventurous, by hot air balloon. You will be able to find a tour package that satisfies your desires and fit your budget. Most tour operators offer very flexible vacation packages, and if you are prepared for the unknown, you can even select to go for a surprise package that combines a variety of activities. Naturally in this era we live in, you can get information and quotes and make reservations online. When you are planning a trip to California wine country, you may want to start your planning by searching for specific places you have in mind, like Sonoma Valley, Santa Cruz, Paso Robles and so on. Or you can look for popular tours or specific activities. There are many websites, like winecountrygetaways.com, that can give you good information. California wine country is massive and covers most of the state and if offers different experiences throughout the year. Check with your tour operator and destination wineries to find out about weather conditions and what they would recommend to make your trip fantastic. However, as you can imagine, these places are extremely popular and you need to do your research and reservation well in advance. There is an almost infinite number of ways for you to see, experience and enjoy a visit to California wine country. You can make your trip as unique as you want. From a romantic getaway to a quaint little bed and breakfast, to a joyous group tour of the wineries, there is something for everybody.     The Art Of Wine Tasting The production of wine in France is tightly controlled by two organisations. The Instituit National des Appellations d'Origine (INAO). This body succeeded the Comite' National des Appellations d'Origine after World War II and controls the hierachy of French quality wines. The other is the Service de Repression des Fraudes, which is responsible for seeing that the very complicated laws on wine production are carried out. On the French domestic market, every bottle carries a capsule conge', or capsule with the government seal on it showing that the relevant tax has been paid. It also shows the wine's quality status. You can easily detect a genuine wine expert by the way he handles the wine in terms of smelling and tasting it and not merely just drinking the wine. Anybody can drink wine but it takes a lot of experience to taste wine. Art of Wine Tasting. Wines have become a staple feature of every household during meal times, particularly when they are eating red meat. Red meats like pork or beef roasts are best with red wines. On the other hand, white meats like fish and chicken are better with white whine. There are a thousand and one varieties, or type of wines depending on the vineyard where they were grown as well as the type of grapes they are made of. It takes experience and a real romance with wine to be able to distinguish its characteristics just by smelling and tasting. Basically, wines that have been stored properly should taste smooth. Wines that taste off or stale are either not of good quality or they were stored improperly and their corks tainted. So how should you taste wine? Wines should be tasted by swishing the wine in your mouth, allowing your taste buds to perceive the flavor and taste of the wine. While the act of tasting makes uses of your tongue, a person’s sense of smell actually does most of the detection. Both a person’s sense of taste and sense of smell should be used when tasting wines. The laws cover the same ground as for AC wines but are often less stringent on yields and grape varieties. In on aspect, however, the VDQS laws were initially stricter. The right to the VDQS label was only granted after an official tasting. Now this requirement has been extended to AC wines as well. While the two senses are indeed very important tools in determining a wine’s quality, the physical appearance of the wine is equally important. You can get a better look at a wine’s appearance and color by pouring them in a clear glass and look through it using a white table cloth or other white background. If wines are generally red or white, then why do we have to study their colors? White wines are actually not perfectly white because their color ranges from yellow to brown and green. White wines with darker colors have more flavor and are older. While aging improves the flavor of red wines, this doesn't hold true for white wines which may go bad with time. Red wines that are lighter in color are older. You will be able to examine a red wine’s age by tilting a glass with red wine, allowing some to settle on the glass rim, and examining its color. When the color of the wine that settles on the glass rim is brownish, then it has been aged. Wine experts also swirl the wine to observe how it moves in the glass. A wine that swirls nicely wine may mean it has a higher sweetness and alcohol content. While the taste of wine is generally subjective as it depends on a persons taste and preferences, wine connoisseurs follow specific guidelines in wine tasting. Being able to taste and smell wine the right way can certainly to the pleasure of drinking them. Take Notes especially if you are gone all day. Most wineries offer a list that will assist you on keeping track. When you get home to your local wine shop, you will appreciate having a cheat sheet.     The Beach Of Bibione Meets The Wine With “September Fest” From different years the Venetian seaside resort Bibione puts the warmth of September's sun near the wine's taste which comes from its biological farming. Thought this end season's month is far, the Venetian golden beach already developed the next calendar of “September Fest 2008”, big wines' and grapes' festival. Residents and tourists that know Bibione from some years consider “September Fest” the most important summer season's event. Wednesday the 3th and Thursday the 4th of September all people with the entry ticket will taste the best DOC wines (wines whose origin and production is government controlled) of the Venetian area Lison Pramaggiore. Lison Pramaggiore is a wine area near the historic town Portogruaro and few kilometres far from the famous Venice and from the beaches of Bibione, Caorle and Jesolo. The vineyards' and wines' quality of this zone allowed the birth of “Lison Pramaggiore DOC Wine Road” in 1986. From its vineyards the festival's organizers stock up every year on 100 hectolitres of red and white DOC wine to give out free to all guests. Wine will be served with typical tasty dishes from Bibione and Venetian area: Montasio cheese, squids, sardine, polenta and desserts. Besides being a festival for all wine lovers, “September Fest” offers also concerts and animation teams for adults and children. The wine's rediscovering is attracting more and more public: oenological wine fairs and festivals are increasing as well as the demand of Italian wines. This passion created a new tourism's typology: wine tourism. Holiday in renowned wine's area and tours on delightful wine roads, where tourists can relax in natural landscapes and taste typical food products. It's not difficult to understand the importance of “September Fest” for the tour operator of Bibione: wine is playing a significant part in tourist area. This is the reason why some tour operators in the Venetian seaside resort associate their business with the wine festival, trying to attract guests also in the end season. Some owners of hotel, real-estate agencies and apartments in Bibione developed already offers for the next “September Fest” period. Beside package tours and discounts, there's a particular offer: the free entry ticket to the wine festival. This is launched by the real-estate agency CasaMare in Bibione. The agency owners will give the free entry ticket to all guests that will spend their holiday in a residence, hotel, villa or apartment in Bibione provided by CasaMare. In this way tourists can enjoy the warmth and the peace of September with lower fares and at the same time taste good wine and food free. This kind of offer open a new road in the tourist situation: the combination with different elements like accommodation and typical food. CasaMare is moving in this way, offering new incentives to guests, that can enjoy their holiday in buildings like tourist villages with swimming pool or apartments in Bibione near the beach, tour to the next famous Venetian and Friulian cities and entry free to the “September Fest 2008”, wine and grapes festival.  

http://winehomebrewclub.com/the-beauty-of-wines/

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History of Wine Regions

History of the Carneros Wine Region In the eastern part of Napa Valley, you will find Carneros. While Napa Valley has certainly become famous around the world in the last thirty years, Carneros has become decidedly unique. While you will certainly find plenty of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay in Carneros, you will also find plenty of Syrah and Merlot as well. Some of the most well known wineries in Carneros include Talisman Cellars, Etude and Truchard Vineyards. One of the reasons that the wineries in the Carneros region have become so successful is widely attributed to the cooling by the fog and the wind from the San Pablo Bay. Still, you will typically find that compared to numerous other wine regions in California, the weather in Carneros is still rather warm. On the Napa side of Carneros, the weather tends to be warmer than on the Sonoma side. The rolling, low hills of the terrain in the Carneros region have also contributed significantly to the way in which vineyards are developed in this region. Due to the fact that the soil in this area is quite shallow, the vineyards tend to grow at a slower rate. As a result, you will typically find that the vineyards will only measure two or three inches in diameter even when they are more than ten years old. The Carneros region was originally developed from both Mexican and Spanish land grants. The rugged pioneers in this region were determined to develop the area despite the unfertile soil. The great majority of the Carneros region in Napa Valley was granted to Jacob Lease in 1840. The thousands of acres that were received by Jacob Leese, as well as Nicholas Higuera, were then subdivided and sold. Grapes have been grown in this particular region for more than 150 years; however, it was not until the middle of the 19th century that this part of the Napa Valley became involved in winemaking. Jacob Leese is credited with planting the first vineyards in this region on Rancho Huichica, an 18,000 acre parcel of land. Several years later, Higuera sold a portion of his land to Nathan Coombs. The land was then surveyed by Coombs and the town of Napa was established. During the 1850s a good portion of Leese’s land was purchased by William H. Winter. Winter Winery was then established during the early 1870s. For a long time San Francisco served as the primary market for the wines produced in this region. Beginning in the 1880s the Phylloxera Louse devastated many of the vineyards in the Carneros region. The Winter Winery was purchased in 1881 by James Simonton and it was renamed Talcoa Vineyards. This winery became the first to experiment with a specific type of rootstocks that were resistant to Phylloxera. A significant amount of damage had already been done to the vineyard; however. By the time Prohibition was enacted, it seemed as though the Carneros region was doomed. In fact, the region might very well have ended if it had not been for the commitment of several people. John Garnetto constructed the first winery in the region following Prohibition in 1935. Louis M. Martini purchased more than 200 acres in the region in 1942 and began to experiment with a number of varietals that were suited for cool weather. By 1983, Carneros had become established as an AVA.  

History of the Oak Knoll wine Region in Napa Valley

Oak Knoll has had a reputation as a fine wine producing region for many generations. You will find Oak Knoll in the southern part of Napa Valley. When you visit this region you will discover that it is typically less crowded than many other regions in the area. One of the reasons for this is the fact that most of the wineries in the region are located off of Highway 29 rather than directly on the highway. This can be a tremendous advantage for the tourist; however, as it typically means that the tasting rooms will be less crowded.

The climate in this region is somewhat transitional due to the fact that it receives the cooler winds from San Pablo Bay in addition to the warmer air coming from the North. This area has often been described as a ‘sweet spot,’ a term that was coined by John Trefethen. As a result of the transitional climate a wide variety of different grapes can be grown in this region.

One of the most interesting aspects of this region is the terrain of the Oak Knoll wine region. Each individual vineyard plot can be somewhat unique and different and contain a different soil composition. This is the reason you will find a tremendous amount of variation in this region.

Prior to 1968, most of the region was actually not used for growing grapes at all. There had been some wine production but certainly not to the point that it has reached today in Oak Knoll. Eugenio Trefethen was the first to realize how much untapped resource this region might hold. He purchased 600 acres in the region and the rest is now history. In 2004, Oak Hill was designated as an AVA.

The first winery built in Oak Knoll was Eshcol Winery, built in 1886. Gravity flow technology was used in this winery in order to make production more streamlined. Some of the earliest wines produced in this winery became highly acclaimed. Cabernet Sauvignon was particularly well known.

In the 1920s the Biale family moved to area and began producing wine. Eventually they opened a winery as well as a tasting room on Big Ranch Road. In order to visit this winery you need to make an appointment.

When Treffethen purchased his 600 acres in 1968, part of the land he purchased encompassed the old Eshcol property. Several years later, in 1973, Trefethen Winery was established by John Trefethen. It was a long and difficult process; however, he set about restoring the once historic property. Today, his winery is still a fine example of gravity flow technology in use in a winery.

The 1970s proved to be a tremendously vital time period in the development of Oak Knoll as a premier wine region. In 1970s, Jeff Corley arrived and began to establish a number of vineyards. In the beginning he planted Chardonnay and Pinot Noir; however, since that time he has shifted his attention to planted many varietals that are much fuller bodied. For a number of years, Corley sold his grapes to other wineries; however, beginning in the 1980s he began his own wine production. His winery now produces a highly acclaimed Pinot Noir.

Other well known wineries in the Oak Knoll region include Darioush Winery, Andretti Wineery, Laird Family Estate, Koves Newlan, Sedna and Broodale Vineyards. Robert Biale Vineyards and Trefethen Vineyards continue to stand out among the vineyards in this region.

  History and Development of Rutherford as a Premier Napa Valley Wine Region The first local grapes were planted in Rutherford by Thomas Rutherford in the middle of the 19th century. This began the illustrious history of the Rutherford Wineries. The name of this region was derived from Thomas Rutherford, who contributed so much to the history and development of the region. Today, the original land on which those first grapes were planted is owned by Provenance Vineyards, a winery respected in its own right. The Rutherford family held strong ties throughout the Napa Valley wine region as Rutherford married one of the granddaughter’s of George Calvert Yount; Elizabeth Yount. For their wedding present, Thomas and Elizabeth were presented with a large parcel of land in what was at the time a northern tract of Caymus Rancho, belonging to Yount. Significant time, as well as energy, were spent developing the vineyards there and producing wine. As a result of their efforts, the Rutherfords gained a strong following.   After George Yount died in 1864, the rest of his land was sold to numerous individuals including Judge Hastings and Gustave Niebaum. Niebaum eventually became the founder of Inglenook Winery, which has become legendary. Other land was purchased by Georges de Latour and Beaulieu Vineyard was established on that site. Latour took preventive action and imported rootstocks from Europe that were resistant to the phylloxera pest during the late 19th century. As a result of his efforts, he became one of the foremost experts in replenishing the vineyards in California that were decimated. While many of vineyards in the area were falling victim to Prohibition, Latour also proved to be forward thinking in that regard as well. He was able to negotiate contracts directly with the Catholic Church as a result of his personal relationship with the Arch Diocese in San Francisco. While other vineyards in the area went under after Prohibition went into effect in 1919, Latour managed to continue operating Beaulie Vineyard by producing sacramental wine for the Church.   After Prohibition was repealed, Beaulieu as well as Inglenook became the two premier wineries in not only Napa Valley but also in the entire state as well. Some of the most superb wines during that time were produced in those two vineyards. For the most part, most of the wines produced during that time period were jug wines and fortified wines; however, Beaulieu and Inglenook managed to produce wine with an emphasis on excellence. In fact, the 1941 Inglenook Cabernet Sauvignon is still considered by many to be the best wine ever produced in the state of California.   Andre Tchelistcheff, a protégé of George de Latour, would also make numerous contributions to the region and the state as well. Born in Russia in 1901, Tchelistcheff fought in the Russian Civil War and then relocated to France. In the 1930’s he began his study of viticulture and became acquainted with de Latour. Soon thereafter he was recruited by de Latour to come to work at Beaulieu Bineyard in Rutherford. It was Tchelistcheff who advanced the idea of planting varietals according to the specific terroir of the land in Napa Valley. At the time the majority of the production in the country was comprised of wines that were poorly made and undistinguished. It was Techelistcheff who became a strong advocate for planting Cabernet Sauvignon in the region. The process of cold fermentation was also engineered by Tchelistcheff as well as various vineyard management strategies, including fastidious winery sanitation for the prevention of contamination.   In summary, the Rutherford region has become one of the premier wine growing regions in the United States. The dedication and passion for the production of quality wines of the numerous individuals who settled this region ushered the region through the dark days of the phylloxera pest infestation as well as Prohibition. While other vineyards in Napa Valley during these time periods fell into disrepair and neglect that took decades to repair, Rutherford soldiered on into modern times, becoming a world class wine region. WineHomeBrewClub.com   History of the Carneros Wine Region In the eastern part of Napa Valley, you will find Carneros. While Napa Valley has certainly become famous around the world in the last thirty years, Carneros has become decidedly unique. While you will certainly find plenty of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay in Carneros, you will also find plenty of Syrah and Merlot as well. Some of the most well known wineries in Carneros include Talisman Cellars, Etude and Truchard Vineyards. One of the reasons that the wineries in the Carneros region have become so successful is widely attributed to the cooling by the fog and the wind from the San Pablo Bay. Still, you will typically find that compared to numerous other wine regions in California, the weather in Carneros is still rather warm. On the Napa side of Carneros, the weather tends to be warmer than on the Sonoma side. The rolling, low hills of the terrain in the Carneros region have also contributed significantly to the way in which vineyards are developed in this region. Due to the fact that the soil in this area is quite shallow, the vineyards tend to grow at a slower rate. As a result, you will typically find that the vineyards will only measure two or three inches in diameter even when they are more than ten years old. The Carneros region was originally developed from both Mexican and Spanish land grants. The rugged pioneers in this region were determined to develop the area despite the unfertile soil. The great majority of the Carneros region in Napa Valley was granted to Jacob Lease in 1840. The thousands of acres that were received by Jacob Leese, as well as Nicholas Higuera, were then subdivided and sold. Grapes have been grown in this particular region for more than 150 years; however, it was not until the middle of the 19th century that this part of the Napa Valley became involved in winemaking. Jacob Leese is credited with planting the first vineyards in this region on Rancho Huichica, an 18,000 acre parcel of land. Several years later, Higuera sold a portion of his land to Nathan Coombs. The land was then surveyed by Coombs and the town of Napa was established. During the 1850s a good portion of Leese’s land was purchased by William H. Winter. Winter Winery was then established during the early 1870s. For a long time San Francisco served as the primary market for the wines produced in this region. Beginning in the 1880s the Phylloxera Louse devastated many of the vineyards in the Carneros region. The Winter Winery was purchased in 1881 by James Simonton and it was renamed Talcoa Vineyards. This winery became the first to experiment with a specific type of rootstocks that were resistant to Phylloxera. A significant amount of damage had already been done to the vineyard; however. By the time Prohibition was enacted, it seemed as though the Carneros region was doomed. In fact, the region might very well have ended if it had not been for the commitment of several people. John Garnetto constructed the first winery in the region following Prohibition in 1935. Louis M. Martini purchased more than 200 acres in the region in 1942 and began to experiment with a number of varietals that were suited for cool weather. By 1983, Carneros had become established as an AVA.            

http://winehomebrewclub.com/history-of-wine-regions/

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The How Tos All About Wine

How To Taste Wine Wine tasting is simply a process applied to distinguish the taste of fine wines. One must be able to note the differences between different types of wines and for expert tasters, also the differences between the vintages of the same class of wine. Sometimes the tasting is called wine de gustation. The most important part of any tasting is the 'what and How'. The what, refers to what you're looking for, the brand and type. While the how determines origin and fermentation process. The first thing to do in any wine tasting is to look. Always start by pouring the wine into a clean clear glass, then taking a few minutes to look at the color. You should know that the color for white wine is not white, but actually yellow, green, or brown. On the other hand Red wines are normally a pale red or dark brown color. Red wine taste better with age, while white wine stale with age. The next step is the smell. A good whiff will give you an impression of what to expect from the wine when you taste it. Please take note of the aroma, is it fresh or foul? And again does it smell like wine. Take time to think about the smell before tasting it. The first step in tasting is to take a small sip. The small sip allows our mouth to get a quick preview and some expectations. Only after the sip approval do we take in a mouth full and swish. Swishing gives a better full taste of the flavor of the wine. It is normally during swishing, that you discover if the wine is bitter, salty or sweet. Severe cold do affect your taste bud and tasting under the influence of one will make the taste appear different. The last step is to decide if you want to spit or swallow the wine. Personally, I swallow the wine considering all the efforts. If this is the only wine or one of two or three you will sample at the event, swallowing is definitely an appropriate option. But on the other hand, if you are at a winery and going through 5 or 6 wines, spitting is usually your best option. Otherwise, every wine is going to start tasting funny because of all the different brands and you might end up drunk as well. Remember when you drink different types of alcohol like mixing vodka and rum, you get drunk faster, same theory applies here. Tasting will also reveal other pertinent nuances about the wine. You should be able to tell if the flavor is derived from the aging barrel or oak chips. You also can tell about the sweetness or bitterness. Wine tasters do follow some general guidelines and rules that judge how great a wine is. It is these techniques that can help you bring the most out of your wine, providing you follow them and know how to bring out the taste. After all, the real test is did you like it. Tasting wine requires some protocols as listed above, but the most important part is for you to enjoy yourself.     How to Store Wine Having invested possibly hundreds of dollars in your latest bottle of vintage wine (ah well, we can but dream), the next important decision is where to store this prized possession? The main issue when it comes to storing wine is that it needs to be maintained at a cool temperature of between 12 and 16 degrees Celsius. Shoved under the bed won't do. Many modern wines do not need to be aged over a great period of time; therefore extensive cellars are often unnecessary. Having said this, if you have the time, space and resource to excavate a cellar, your wine will surely benefit. A purpose built cellar is not normally an option for most households and so suitable alternatives must be explored. Ideal areas for storage include a corner of a garage, garden shed, an unused fireplace or a cupboard that is against an outside wall. Wherever you choose to store your wine, a few basic criteria are worth keeping in mind. Choose an area that is less likely to be subjected to fluctuating temperatures caused by household heating systems. Wines benefit from being kept in dark conditions. Although this is not always practical, wine should certainly be stored in an area that is not exposed it to direct sunlight. As a final point, always store your wine bottles on their side. Corks are designed to be kept moist, so that they remain airtight and do not crumble when a corkscrew is inserted. Bear in mind that some wines do not benefit from being stored at all. If you have poor or no storage facilities available, consider purchasing wine that matures quickly such as most white wines or new technology reds or, possibly, a new Beaujolais. Move wine as little as possible once it has been placed in storage, unless of course it is being moved into a glass! If you have a particularly special wine collection, it may be worth engaging a specialist company to store your wine for you (Oops, I'm dreaming again). Good storage has been recognized as vital for many wines and as such, many companies now provide storage facilities. Of course, this does not come cheap and is best reserved for those very special bottles or for those experts who are considering selling their wine on, at a future date. WineHomeBrewClub.com   How To Serve Wine Perhaps you have selected an occasion to open that special bottle of wine that you have been saving, or maybe you are hosting a dinner party. Knowing how to properly open, serve, and enjoy your wine will make the experience that much more memorable, as well as allow you to experience the wine that much more fully. Wine service has a few basic elements of importance, including temperature of the wine, opening the bottle, allowing the wine to breathe, choosing glasses, and pouring. The temperature of the wine when it is served is imperative. White wines should be served chilled, which can be accomplished in your refrigerator. Place your whites in the refrigerator one to two hours before serving, allowing their temperatures to drop to about fifty-five degrees Fahrenheit. White wines are served chilled due to their high acidity levels, which are moderated when cooled. Be sure not to store your wine in the fridge, however, as this can destroy the flavor, making it dull and flat. If you do not have two hours to spare, placing the wine in a bucket of ice water will effectively cool the wine. Red wines are served differently. They can be chilled via refrigerator for thirty to forty-five minutes, until they have reached about sixty-two degrees Fahrenheit. This is considered “room temperature.” Reds are served at a slightly cooler temperature because it slows down the evaporation process, which will improve the bouquet and flavor of the wine. If you serve red wine at an overly-chilled temperature it will take on a bitter taste. Should you forget about the red wine in the refrigerator and it becomes too cold, there are various remedies to this situation. Try pouring the bottle into a warm decanter or warm wine glasses. If you are in a real jam, you can use the microwave, but use caution; cooked wine is not good. Place the bottle in the microwave for only about fifteen to twenty seconds. After you have prepared your wine to the proper temperature, it is ready to be opened. Begin by removing the metal foil that surrounds the cork. This can be accomplished with either a specialized foil cutter or a sharp knife. Most all in one corkscrews will be equipped with this type of apparatus. Be sure that no jagged pieces remain, as they can be very sharp and cut your fingers when you are pouring, or cause the wine to dribble out all over. Remove the cork with the corkscrew. Should you experience problems with the cork, such as splitting, you may be left with no choice other than to push the cork back into the bottle. Using a small skewer to hold back the cork, pour the wine into a decanter, straining it with either small vegetable steamer or coffee filter. This will ensure that any damaged cork does not appear in your next glass of wine. If you are de-corking a sparkling wine or champagne, use caution. These bottles are opened by twisting off a metal guard. Use a spoon to achieve this as it is much easier on your fingers and nails. Untwist the guard carefully, and then pop the cork off with the bottle facing away from yourself and other guests. Be sure not to have shaken up the bottle in the process, or the instantaneous contact with the open air will cause an eruption of your wine. You may choose to allow your reds to breathe directly after opening, especially for that serious bottle. Pour the wine into a decanter and allow the wine to open up for a couple of hours. After pouring, you are ready to choose the stem-wear for your wines. The most common of glasses is the tulip shape due to its wide bowl and narrower top with long stem. This makes an ideal glass for swirling the wine, as it gets a lot of movement with little fear of spillage. The narrow top also traps the bouquet, making it more able to deliver the fragrance. A long stem is advisable for holding the glass during enjoyment, as this prevents any change in temperature. Using this type of glass is usually acceptable for both reds and whites, especially if you do not want to have to clean more than one round of glasses. There are a new variety of wine glasses available; those without stems. They sit up on the bowl of the glass. They allow the wine to breathe wonderfully during consumption and display remarkable aroma. They can cause the drinker to leave fingerprints on the glass as well as change the temperature by constant handling, but the choice is yours. Be sure to fill your glasses about half way, especially since most of the glasses we use are considerably large. This also gives the wine a chance to breathe upon pouring, as well as allow for swirling. Be sure to serve light bodied before full bodied wines, and young before olds. This keeps the palate fresher longer.     How To Pour The Perfect Glass Of Wine To pour the perfect glass of wine you must take several steps: Temperature Of The Wine: The temperature at which a wine is served makes an immense impact on its taste. Serving wine while cool will mask some imperfections which is good for younger or cheaper wines. However, a warmer wine temperature allows a more full expression of the wine's characteristics which is favourable when serving an an older or more expensive wine. A bottle of wine will cool at about 2 °C (4 °F) for every ten minutes in the fridge, and it will warm at about this same rate when removed and left at room temperature. Obviously, the temperature of the room will affect the speed with which the wine warms up. If you need to chill a bottle of wine quickly, 35 minutes in the freezer will do the trick. Just don't forget to take the bottle out! Decanting The Wine: Decanting is pouring wine into a container before serving. Decanting is typically only required with older wines or Ports, which contain sediment that can add bitterness to the wine. Wine decanters may improve the flavor of older red wines. Younger wines also benefit from the aeration that decanting provides. Of course, a wine decanter may also be used simply for aesthetic reasons. Before decanting a wine that contains sediment, allow the bottle to rest upright allowing any sediment to sink to the bottom. Then slowly pour the wine into the decanter keeping the bottle angled so that no sediment makes its way into the decanter. The wine may be poured through cheesecloth to assist in filtering out any unwanted particles. Decanting wine should be done out of sight of any guests. Pouring The Wine: Still wines should be poured towards the center of the glass, while sparkling wines should be poured against the side, like a beer, so that unwanted bubbles do not show up. To control drips, one can twist the bottle slightly while tilting it upright. When pouring wine, glass should be filled no more than two-thirds. This will allow guests to swirl the wine and smell the bouquet. A glass can always be refilled if desired. Of course, serve wine to the women and older guests first, then the men and end with your own glass. Types Of Wine Glasses: As important as serving temperature is the type of glass in which wines are served. The shape of a wine glass can affect the taste of the wine, and for this reason different types of wine are served in specific glasses. The three main types of wine glasses are as follows: White wine glasses : shaped like a tulip Red wine glasses : rounded with large bowl Sparkling wine flutes : tall and thin A suitable all-purpose wine glass should hold about ten ounces and be transparent to allow the taster to examine the color of the wine as well as its body Moreover, it should have a slight curve in at the top to hold in the bouquet. While an all-purpose wine glass is fine for serving a red wine, be sure not to serve a white wine in a red wine glass.   How to Become a Wine Connoisseur You and your buddies used to stay up all night drinking beer and doing whisky shots. You'd have drinking games which ended up in everyone getting plastered. But that's exactly what your parents did during college and probably their parents, too. The times are changing now, though, and there are plenty of new things to try. Wine tasting is just one new growing trend that's becoming a part of many young people's communities throughout America. Now, if you grew up in Italy or France, you've probably been drinking watered down wine since you were about four or five years old. Catholics drink wine at mass every Sunday and wine is served with every single meal. It's common practice and tradition. But in America, drinking wine has been something that's been reserved for special dates or older connoisseurs. Recently, though, wine has found its way into the dorm rooms and apartments of a younger population. So, you want to be a part of this growing trend. It's easier than it sounds, but there's still a little research that you'll need to do. You can't just head down to your local liquor or grocery store and pick up any random bottles of wine that strike your fancy. Do some research online. There are plenty of resources for determining what type of wine you'll like best. And there are hundreds of different wines. And it's best to get a range. Get five or six bottles. You're already trying something new, so why not go all out? Be sure to ask your friends to bring over some wine of their own, too. Next comes the cheese. Cheese is always a great thing to be eating along with wine, especially if you'll be trying many different types of wine. You can also try out new types of cheese; there are literally thousands of varieties. Not all of them will go well with wine, but if you do a little homework and get a variety, you'll do fine. Try looking at health food stores or Farmer's Market. You can't have a wine tasting party by yourself, so be sure to invite a lot of friends, particularly members of the opposite sex if you want to impress them with your new, mature pastime. Make it clear that only wine is to be served. No other alcohol, period. Make flyer invitations. Lay out platters of sliced cheese ahead of time and be sure to have plenty of wine glasses. Drinking wine out of a paper cup just isn't the same, according to Death Cab for Cutie. For some added fun, have your friends bring over some new music CDs and have an area clear for dancing. Once you have a wine tasting party, I'm sure you'll find that this could very well be a new hobby of yours. It may be something that you'll want to take part in at events and when it comes to the next big date, you'll be able to impress by knowing exactly what to order.   WineHomeBrewClub.com How To Choose An Italian Wine Wine connoisseurs regularly boast about their fine Italian wine collections and rightly so. Even if you’re not a connoisseur, by the end of this article you’ll be able to put your best Italian wine forward. Italy is best known for its Moscato, Barolo, Chianti, and Soave; but there are numerous varieties just waiting to be enjoyed. Italy produces more wine than any other country and it produces the largest selection of wines. When you choose an Italian wine, even if you have no wine buying skills, the odds of finding a poor one are very slim so relax! Wine from the Piedmont region provides red wines that are light bodied and refreshing. This is where the famous Barolo and Barbaresco wines come from. The Barbera grape appears in full body reds. The Dolcetto grape is light bodied and distinctly dry. The Nebbiolo grape is responsible for the dry, full body wines of the area. The Moscato Bianco is the grape responsible for the sparkling white wines from the area. And then there is the indulgence of Chianti from the Tuscany region. Chances are you’ve indulged in this lovely wine if you’ve ever dined in an Italian restaurant. The popular region wines include Chianti, Brunello, Vino Nobile di Monepulciano, and Vernaccia de San Giminagno. The Sangiovese grape with its robust flavor is used in medium and full bodied red wines. Vernaccia is the grape of choice for a variety of sweet and dry white wines. You can order wines from Italy in any color, style, or flavor; but if you want to be sure you are choosing a good Italian wine look for the DOCG classification. This doesn’t guarantee a better tasting wine, it just indicates level of quality that’s been maintained for at least 5 years which puts the odds in your favor. Remember this easy rule of thumb. Reds go with red meats and whites go with white meats. It’s a simple rule that goes a long way in helping choose a wine for your meal. Italians strictly regulate their wines within four classification from tightly regulated superior wines to lenient regulations and creative innovation. The are as follows: 1. DOCG is the strictest of the regulation levels. Output yield is regulated; the wine’s composition is analyzed; there is a minimum alcohol content; and there are minimum aging periods. 2. DOC is the qualification of all quality wines. Output yield is regulated; origin is regulated; there is a minimum alcohol content; there are minimum aging periods; and grape variety is regulated. 3. IGT is classified as excellent value for the cost. There are less quality restrictions, as well as wider territories; and grape ratios are not regulated. 4. Table Wine is the wine that is consumed on a daily basis in Italy. It includes some of the most expensive wines and some of the least expensive wines. The level of alcohol is regulated and so are the wine making techniques. That’s it. Now wasn’t that simple? You are on your way to being a connoisseur of Italian wine!   How To Choose French Wines You don’t need a book to follow this method. Appellation Controlee (AC or AOC) is the top grade of French. AC is a part of French law that guarantees that a wine comes from where the label says it does, that it is made from specific grapes and that it is produced in a certain way. So, first we assume that you are choosing an AC (Appellation Controlee) wine. You will probably have already chosen between red wine, white wine or Rose. First Quality Rule: Make sure the wine has sufficient alcohol content for its type. This means at least 13% for a Bordeaux, but only 11% for a Gros Plant from the mouth of the Loire. 12-13% for a Tavel Rose from the Rhone Valley; 12% for Anjou Rose from the Loire. Alcohol level is easier to achieve in these days of global warming than it used to be so in some ways this is less of a guide. Second Quality Rule: Is it Chateau bottled or bottled by the proprietor ? It should be. If it is not then it will probably be a blend from different producers. Not necessarily bad, but not the best. Bottling by a negociant is less acceptable these days than it was. Third Quality Rule: Has the wine ever won any awards ? You need to be looking for gold medals on the label. It seems trivial to non-French people, but if the wine producer thinks well of his wine he will be competing for this kind of award, and will be proud to have the medal on his label. Fourth Quality Rule. Is the bottle numbered ? Here again if the wine producer thinks well of his wine he may take the extra care to number his output and put a serial number on his label. Quite what you can use the numbers for (apart from this wine quality test) is a subject for speculation. Fifth Quality Rule: Is the cork sufficiently long for the wine ? This really applies to wines that may be kept for a long time before drinking, as a long cork preserves the wine more surely. If a short cork was used then there is a question mark against the wine – the producer thought more about his costs than his wine. The only snag about this rule by the way is that the cork is at least partly concealed by the capsule (the metal foil wrapper).    

http://winehomebrewclub.com/the-how-tos-all-about-wine/

[smitty7535-blog]

California Wine Country

California Wine Country:  Your Overnight Accommodation Options Are you interested in visiting California’s wine country?  If you are, you may want to make arrangements to make it a vacation.  After all, many wineries in the wine country area state that you should spend at least two days in the area.  Since you are encouraged to spend as much time touring wine country as possible, you will want to review your overnight accommodation options. Since Northern Caliornia’s wine country area is relatively large in size, you will find a large number of options, in terms of your overnight accommodations.  With that being said, you are still encouraged to make your reservations well in advance of your trip.  This is particularly true on the weekends.  For that reason, you will want to take the time, now, to review all of your options. Hotels are one of the most popular ways to stay in wine country.  They are ideal because most are affordably priced. When renting a hotel room, you get the basics, such as beds, a television, and a bathroom.  Although you may find an onsite restaurant, you will typically have to buy or prepare your own meals elsewhere.  For those interested in spending every minute of the day outdoors, a hotel room is a nice accommodation. If you like the convenience that is associated with most traditional hotels, but want something more, you will want to examine vacation resorts.  Vacation resorts come in a number of different formats.  In California, they are commonly referred to as spa resorts, as many have onsite spas.  What is nice about staying at a vacation resort is that you often gain access to great features, services, and other amenities.  For example, you may gain access to an onsite spa, restaurant, laundry service, and so forth.  Generally, vacation resorts are more elegant in nature than traditional hotels. Inns are another one of your overnight accommodation options when visiting California wine country.  Inns are defined as lodging that serves both food and drinks to visitors.  Typically, you will find that most inns are known for their food and drinks, but they also happen to offer overnight accommodations above the bar or restaurant.  For many, inns are a great option when hotels or vacation resorts are filled up with reservations. Similar to inns, are bed and breakfasts.  Bed and breakfasts are overnight accommodations that are popular in wine country.  This is because many bed and breakfast establishments are scattered all throughout wine country, making them conveniently located.  In fact, many bed and breakfasts are located right on the property of some wineries.  One of the many appeals of bed and breakfasts is the small home like feel.  The only downside to staying at a bed and breakfast is their popularity, as they are typically small in size. Vacation rentals are another option that you have when looking to visit California wine country.  Vacation rentals are one of your most expensive options, but many recommend vacation rentals.  Vacation rentals come in a number of different formats, including homes, cottages, and villas.  What draws many tourists to vacation rentals in the wine county area is their privacy.  Due to having the ultimate level of privacy with most vacation rentals, like homes and cottages, they are ideal for those traveling to wine country with the purpose of achieving romance. RV park and public campgrounds are another one of the many options that you have when looking to visit California wine country.  RV parks are ideal for motor home owners or renters who must travel a long distance or for those who plan to stay in the area long.  Public campgrounds are nice, as they accommodate to both RV owners and traditional tent campers.  For many, camping is another fun activity all on its own.  Camping is also one of the cheapest ways to stay overnight in California wine country. As outlined above, you have a number of different options, when looking to travel and stay in wine country.  If you are on a budget, you may want to examine all of the above mentioned options and compare the cost of each.   WineHomeBrewClub.com California Wine Country:  A Perfect Wedding Venue Are you currently engaged?  If you are, congratulations!  This is an exciting time in your life and you may want to get started with planning your wedding right away.  One of the first decisions that you will have to make is deciding where to have your wedding.  If you do not already have a set venue in mind, you are urged to examine California wine country.  After a close examination, you may be surprised exactly just how much the area has to offer. As nice as it is to hear that you should get married in California wine country, you may be curious as to why.   For starters, you may live in New York State.  If you live clear across the country, it can sometimes be inconvenient to travel and get married in California.  With that said, it can also be fun, exciting, adventurous, and romantic.  With long distance travel like this, your wedding in California, should you choose to get married there, would now become a destination wedding.  Over the past few years, destination weddings have increased in popularity, especially in wine country. Despite the fact that destination weddings are increasing in popularity and that many individuals choose California wine country as their destination, locals are also urged to examine wine country.  As a local, you likely already know that there are over four hundred wineries in the state of California.  Many are not only open to the general public, but many also have banquet rooms or other options for hosting wedding ceremonies and wedding receptions, as well as other private events. Wineries and vineyards are known for their picture perfect looks and feels.  There are many that are just breathtaking.  When getting married, this is the type of backdrop and scenery that you will want to have.  Most wineries and vineyards in California wine country have a beautiful, yet natural look and feel to them.  This type of environment created is sought after by many brides and grooms.  Most want to have a picture prefect wedding, but most also don’t want to have a “forced,” environment and setting.  With wine country in California, this isn’t an issue. When examining why wine country makes for the perfect wedding venue, it is also important to touch on other features.  For starters, you have a number of different options when looking to plan a wedding reception and a wedding ceremony.  Of course, you have the option of getting married in a church, but many choose to have their wedding and wedding reception in the same place.  It is not uncommon for vineyards and wineries, who are set up to host wedding receptions, to have private and beautiful areas set aside for wedding ceremonies as well.  In wine country, it should be easy for you to find a minister who would be willing to travel to your destination. As for other aspects of planning a wedding, wine country has all that you need.  In the wine country area of California, you will find a number of professional photographers, DJs, catering companies, and so forth.  In fact, by carefully choosing which winery you choose to have your wedding reception at, you may be provided with a meal options for an affordable price.  Some will actually have wedding packages for you to choose from.  While you will find some variations, wine country wedding packages, should they exist, are likely to include food and wine. Finally, overnight accommodations need to be examined.  Since California wine country is a well known and popular vacation destination, you will find no shortage of overnight accommodations.  Still, with that being said, it is important to plan ahead.  During peak travel times, such as on Saturdays or from May to October, many hotels and vacation resorts quickly fill up with reservations.  For private and romantic overnight accommodations, you will want to examine bed and breakfasts, as well as private vacation rentals, such a vacation homes and cottages. As highlighted above, there are a number of reasons why you should at least consider wine country as a destination for your upcoming wedding.  Whether you already live in the great state of California or if you are looking to plan a destination wedding, wine country has everything that you could ever want or need on your special day.   California Wine Tours For Bikes: A Quick Guide California is one of the must-visit places at the moment for so many reasons. You can experience so much from just one place that it is impossible to get bored. However, you will not have experienced California properly until you go on a wine tour. Certain areas of the American state are all about the wine and this is most definitely the case in Napa Valley. Those looking for something different may still want to go on a wine tour, but something like the California wine tours for bikes. You can easily ride from winery to winery in Napa Valley because there are over three hundred within a relatively small area. You can visit several within a short space of time. California wine tours for bikes may therefore be worth a go! California wine tours for bikes have a distinct beauty about them. Not only are you riding through the most beautiful countryside in the United States and will be blown away by the stunning landscape, you will also be able to access some of the best wineries in the world. There are some huge vineyards that would take all day to walk around but there are several other little treasures dotted all over the place that you can quite easily visit within the space of a day. Small family businesses often provide some of the best wines and you can truly experience the wine culture in California. Discovering these little gems would be a result of the California wine tours for bikes! The weather in California is perfect for California wine tours for bikes. The blue skies are present for most of the year and make the bike ride an absolute joy. As an extra bonus for those going on California wine tours for bikes, there are lanes on public highways especially for bikes so you can get from winery to winery without risking your life! You can arrange your own California wine tours for bikes or go with one of many companies that actually provide them as par for the course. There are many of these, but they are matched in number by bike hire places in the Napa Valley. You can hire a bike for the day or book onto California wine tours for bikes that last for a specific amount of hours with likeminded people. California wine tours for bikes may also be offered as a vacation package with meals and accommodation thrown in. These are fantastic because you spend all week or weekend going around wineries experiencing the win and the atmosphere with people that may become friends! California wine tours for bikes should be a part of your vacation there. The California wine tour is a must for anyone interested in wine and visiting California. There are many wineries open to the public so it may be worth just taking a few days to explore as many of them as you can. I guarantee that you will not be bored when you get there!     California Wine Caves What do you picture in your mind when you think of caves? Spelunking or perhaps crawling on all fours to fit through a small space may come to mind. Perhaps the experience of absolute and complete darkness, the degree of darkness so dark you can’t see your hand in front of you? Maybe you imagine more sinister things such as spiders, cobwebs or other imaginable things in the dark. Caves evoke different ideas and feelings to many people. One idea is that of an ideal environment to age fine wine in oak barrels or age a sparkling wine in a bottle. Caves have been used for thousands of years for aging wines in different parts of the world. In Wine Trail Traveler’s trip to Sonoma and Napa Valleys in California, we experienced different caves. Chinese workers built some caves in the late 1800’s after their work was completed on the railroads. These workers built miles of caves with the use of picks, axes and shovels. In contrast we also experienced caves built with modern technology such as a Welsh mining machine. The walls were then covered with shotcrete, a mixture of sandy cement and pea gravel. Some of the caves were very clean and lit by electric fixtures whether they were overhead bulbs or elegant electric wall sconces. Other caves were darker and lit by candles or lanterns giving a romantic glow to the oak barrels lining the sidewalls. Some caves showed lichen growth hanging several feet from the ceiling. One wonders why they were never cleaned with a broom or vacuum. We observed thousands of bottles, showing dust resting quietly for years. Early winemakers who came to the Napa and Sonoma regions in the 1800's from Europe were familiar with the use of caves. We trekked through two cave systems dating from the late 1800’s. One advantage of caves is temperature control. The cave temperature is often constant yearlong and varies very little. It doesn’t matter if the outside temperature is 110 degrees F or 10 degrees F, a cave system can maintain an even temperature often between 57 and 64 degrees F. This cool even temperature provides an ideal aging environment for wine. This constant temperature also provides economic benefits for a winery. Fewer resources are spent on heating or cooling a cave than a building. Often the land above a cave can be planted with grapevines. A second advantage of caves is darkness. Light can harm wines and caves are dark. This darkness is a particular advantage to sparkling wines undergoing aging in glass bottles. Humidity control is a third advantage of a cave system. Oak barrels breathe. Some of the wine evaporates. If the humidity is high, less wine will evaporate. In some cases caves have reduced the amount of evaporation from 6% to 1%. This also is an economic bonus for a winery since less wine is needed to top off the barrels. Although the lichen hanging from the ceiling looked eerie at one winery we visited, it actually helps to filter the air in the cave. Some wine caves have an area that can be used for special events. The atmosphere can provide a rewarding experience. All of these advantages led to an interest in constructing new caves during the 1980’s. Expect to see more wine caves constructed in the future.     California Wine - Sonoma county vineyards Sonoma county wine region is a part of the famous California vineyards, close to the San Francisco and Napa Valley. Sonoma Valley offers authentic California wine tasting experience, great weather and friendly staff. Sonoma county is a perfect place for wine lovers, people searching for soothing relaxation and romantic ambiance. Its conveniently located 30 miles north of San Francisco and and now as airport located at Santa Rosa (Code: RSA). Sonoma County has a span of 1575 square miles containing about 1,00,000 acres of lush wine growing land. Having over 200 award winning wineries and about 60 miles of Pacific coastline, the Majestic Russian river, Golf courses, museums, shopping, botanical, gardens, galleries, camping locations, bike & hiking trails and diverse festivals all year around, Sonoma county is the place you should definitely visit. Sonoma has 5 distinct wine-growing districts: Los Carneros District, Sonoma Valley, Russian River Valley, Dry Creek Valley, and Alexander Valley, with small towns in each. You will find the premium quality wines of both white and red wine, famous categories include Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pino, Syrah, Zinfandel, Shiraz and very often vineyards have their own special. Winery hospitality staff are knowledgeable, friendly and eager to discuss the wines and how they were made. Winery tours take visitors behind the scenes to barrel rooms, crush pads, bottling lines, cellars and caves. You will find vineyards all around the county, just driving around the place is very pleasant and relaxing. Latest Development: Horizon air now has daily flights from Los Angeles, Las Vegas and Seattle airports. Santa Rosa Airport (RSA) in Sonoma County. ATTRACTIONS AND ACTIVITIES: * Wine county Ballooning: On US Hwy 101, Airport Blvd exit from Kal's Kaffe Mocha. * Point Arena Lighthouse and Museum, 115 ft tall and Steel reinforced concrete lighthouse opened in 1908. * Luther Burbank Home and Gardens: Life and work of the horticulturist who introduced 800 variety of flowers, fruits, nuts etc.. * Fort Ross State Historic Park: The site of trading post and fort established by Russians in 1812. * Train Ride: On Santa Rosa 12, a 20 minute steam train ride through a forested railroad park past scaled down reproductions of buildings ad waterfalls. * Being so close to San Francisco you may also consider visiting the GOLDEN GATE bridge, Pier 39,Alcatraz, China Town and the famous Crooked street of SF Downtown. * Napa county which is again a very famous vineyard community is located just east of Sonoma county, activities there include wine tasting, Ballooning, visiting petrified forest and old faithful geyser. You will also find great information at http://www.travelandtourisminfo.com about Napa valley. WEATHER: Sonoma Country has wet, mild winters and warm dry summers. Summer evenings are mostly cool. The best time to visit is both decent weather and smaller crowds is November or February-March. The wineries are most quite during December through March. GETTING THERE: Sonoma County has its own Airport in Santa Rosa but most people prefer arriving at San Francisco airport and then drive north. Oakland airport is also close. There are shuttle buses (Airporter Express) directly from airports to the county.  

http://winehomebrewclub.com/california-wine-country/

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Wine Tasting For The Average Joe What To Know

Wine Tasting What You Need To Know Attending a wine tasting can be very entertaining, however there are a vast majority of wanna wine connoisseur's out there who don't like to attend these gatherings as they do not know what they are supposed to do or what way to act when sampling the wine. With wine tasting there is no great mystery, below are just a few things you should keep in mind. To keep proper etiquette, usually the ladies are served before the gents. With some wine tastings there will be bottled water on offer, this is simply for you to rinse your mouth out before each sample of wine you try so your mouth is clear of all the flavours from the previous wine. Plain crackers are also provided at such wine tastings for this very same purpose. When handling a wine glass attention to should given to where you are holding it, always hold the glass by the stem, this will ensure the wine is not affected by the warmth of your hand and thus the flavour is not altered. When at a wine tasting try not to smoke as smoking blankets ones sense of taste, also try and steer clear of chewing gum or eating mints as this will distort the taste of the wine as well. Try not to wear a perfume or after shave that is quite strong as this could throw off not only your sense of taste but also your neighbours. You can tell a lot about a wine just by it appearance. When attending a wine tasting the wine glasses you be crystal clear so you can hold it up to the light and check the body of the wine, also the wine glasses should be set on a white linen table cloth so everything is visible. Do not let the wine category mislead you, for example, white wines are not really white in color, they usually vary in colour from yellow to green and even brown. Red wines also vary in color from a light red colour to a deep brownish red and often become lighter with age. One easy way to tell the age of a red wine is by doing a rim test. Tilt the wine towards the rim of the glass and look at the colour of the wine.A younger wine have a purple tint to the wine colour and an older wine will have a more brown shade of red. One of the more common actions you see people who know anything about wine doing is swirling the wine in the glass, this is done to release the flavours and aromas of the wine. Remember, these wine may have been bottled anywhere from 1 year to 20 years and some some rarer cases even longer. Swirling the wine in the glass is synonymous with cooking at home and stirring the food to help blend the various flavors. The colour of the wine is just one area that should be paid attention to when you attend a wine tasting, you will also need to pay particular attention to the wines aroma. After swirling, sniffing the wine is the next step in the tasting process. You have probably observed this done before and wondered what purpose it served, well your sense of smell is very important in the way we taste different things. When this subject was researched it was determined that over 3/4 of what we can taste is due to are sense of smell and the way we perceive the aromas. Smelling wine is done in a couple of ways; you can takes a short sniff then a longer 1, or just take a long sniff. After smelling the wine, think about it for a minute and the flavours that are being processed by you nasal receptors. Do not taste the wine straight after smelling the wine, but instead let the aroma hit and think of flavours you are experiencing. Finally, you will need to know is how to taste the wine properly. Your tongue has many taste buds both front and back. These buds give us a wide variety of flavours from sweet to sour to bitter, some of which are more sensitive than others. There are 2 easy steps in tasting wine, the first is the initial taste which is your first impression of the wine, the second is the aftertaste. The wine should awaken your sense to the flavours, after taking the first drink, you should swish the wine around your mouth for a few seconds to let all your taste buds discover the full flavor of the wine. Think about what the wine tastes like. Is it light or heavy? Is the smooth or rough? The aftertaste is the sensation that remains in your mouth after swallowing the wine. How long did it last and was it pleasant? Before attending a wine tasting, it may help you feel more confident to read about the different types of wines. This will give you a better idea of what to look for as far as flavor and taste. Next time you are invited to a wine tasting; do not be afraid to go. You may be missing a great experience!     Wine Tasting for the Average Joe Going to a wine tasting can be a very fun and enjoyable experience. However, many people do not attend for fear of not knowing exactly how to act or what to do. There no great mystery to wine tastings, just a few things you should remember. As far as etiquette, usually the ladies are served before the gentlemen. Some wine tastings offer you bottled water. Use this to rinse out your mouth between tastings so your palate is clean for the next wine. There is often unsalted and unflavored crackers and bread to help palate cleansing as well. You should always handle the wine glass by the stem. This helps avoid heating the wine with the warmth of your hands, thus altering the taste. Avoid wearing strong perfumes and colognes to a wine tasting. That may take away from not only your smell, but also that of the other guests. Also, avoid smoking, gum, and mints before and during a wine tasting to be able to enjoy the full flavor of the wine. You can tell a lot about a wine just by looking at its color. When you attend a wine tasting, the glasses should always be clear so you can get a good look at the wine. The tables may also be covered with white tablecloths to help you see the wine's color clearly. Do not let the wine name full you. For example, white wines are not white in color. They may range from yellow to green to brown. Red wines range in color from pale red to a deep brownish red and often become lighter with age. Sometimes the color of a wine may indicate age or flavor. You may be able to tell the age of a red wine by doing a rim test. Tilt the glass slightly towards the rim of the wine glass and look at the wine. If the color of the red wine is more of a purple, it is usually a younger wine. If the color of the red wine is brown, it is an older wine. Another thing you may have seen people do before they taste wine is swirl it slightly in the glass. This is to help open up the wine's flavor. Remember that the wine may have been in a bottle anywhere from six months to many, many years. When someone swirls a wine, it helps release the flavors. Just like when you're cooking at home and stir the food to help blend the flavors. The color of the wine is just one aspect you will want to look at when you attend a wine tasting. You will also want to smell the wine. After swirling, this is the next step in the tasting process. You have probably seen people smell wine before and wondered why they did it. Smell plays a very important part in what we taste. Researchers have determined that perhaps as much as 75% of what we taste is actually based on what we smell first. You can smell your wine one of two ways: taking a small whiff to get an idea of how the wine smells, then a deeper whiff or take one deep whiff. After smelling the wine, take a minute to think about the smell. You do not want to immediately taste it after smelling but give yourself time to explore exactly what you smelled. Finally, you will need to know is how to taste the wine properly. Your tongue has taste buds in both the front and back. These taste buds can detect bitter, salty, sweet, and sour flavors, but some are more sensitive than others are. There are three steps in tasting a wine: the first impression, the taste, and the aftertaste. The first impression happens when you take your first drink and the wine actually hits your taste buds. It should awaken your sense to the wine. After taking the first drink, you should swish the wine around your mouth for a few seconds to let all your taste buds discover the full flavor of the wine. Think about what the wine tastes like. Is it light or heavy? Is the smooth or harsh? The aftertaste is the sensation that remains in your mouth after swallowing the wine. How long did it last and was it pleasant? Before attending a wine tasting, it may help you feel more confident to read about the different types of wines. This will give you a better idea of what to look for as far as flavor and taste. Next time you are invited to a wine tasting; do not be afraid to go. You may be missing a great experience! WineHomeBrewClub.com Wine Tasting For Beginners Attending wine tasting events can be a great experience and a lot of fun, although a lot of people choose not to attend out of fear - or not knowing what to do or what to expect. Even though there are no mysteries to wine tasting, there are some things that you should always remember. During a wine tasting event, women are always served before the men. Some tastings will serve you bottled water between tastings, so you can clean your mouth out and be ready to taste the next wine that is served. When you take the wine, you should always handle the glass by the stem, to avoid heating it with your hands. There will also be crackers and other goodies on hand as well, to help you cleanse your mouth between wine tastings. As you may already know, you can tell quite a bit about the wine by the color. When you attend a wine tasting for the first time, you’ll notice that the glasses are clear. This helps you to examine the wine better. There should also be white tablecloth on the table as well, to help you see the color the wine more clearly. You should never go by the name of the wine alone, as it can easily fool you. You’ll also notice the more experienced wine tastes swirl their wine around in the glass before they taste it. Although it may look weird, slightly swirling the wine actually helps to bring out the flavor. Most wines have been aging in bottles for long periods of time, sometimes even years. When the wine is swirled around in the glass, the swirling will release the flavors in the wine and bring them out when the wine is tasted. At wine tastings, you’ll need to look at the wine, smell it, then after swirling it around in the glass - taste it. Smells play an integral part of the process, as you’ll get a lot more from the wine by smelling it first. Wine has quite an intriguing aroma, which helps to bring out the taste that wine is so well known for. Once you have smelled the wine, you should allow a few moments to take in the smell and think about the wine that you are smelling. Last but not least, you’ll want to know how to properly taste the wine. Your tongue has taste buds in the front and the back, which helps to detect flavors. Wine is full of flavors, and how you taste it will make the biggest impact. When you put the wine in your mouth, you should always swish it around in your mouth for a few seconds, and allow the flavors plenty of time to dance on your palate. Once your taste buds have started to discover the wine, you can think about what you are tasting. After swallowing the wine, the aftertaste that remains in your mouth should give you even more of an idea as to the type and flavor of the wine. Before you attend a wine tasting, you should always learn as much as you can about the many different flavors and varieties of wine. This way, you’ll have a better understanding of what you should look for in both taste and flavor. Even though you may be new to wine tasting, you should never pass up an opportunity to go. You’ll get a great experience in the world of wine tasting and get to experience wines that you may have never heard of before.     Wine Tasting Can Be Challenging The art of tasting the wine is naturally as old as the art of wine-making itself. Nowadays the activity of wine taster has turned in an appreciated career for some. If the ancient people used to taste wine before they consumed it now we have experts that taste the wine for us and tell us which wine is better than the other. One of the challenges of this “job” is to be able to translate the taste of wine into language. Greeks used different words to describe wine but today with so many more wines to elaborate upon describing the taste of a wine is a real challenge. Sometimes, fruit, flowers and vegetables are used as a reference. Some experts use the smell of food to describe the wines. As Victoria Moore advises in one of the Guardian’s articles, the ‘terrifyingly organised Angela Mount applies the same exactitude to the discussion of food smells in wine’. She describes the taste of Zonte's Footstep Shiraz Viognier 2004 as ‘figs’ and baked apricot, cooked in the oven with a few dabs of butter." Another challenging part of the wine taster job is the ability to spit or gob. Victoria Moore helps us again with information about this difficult ability to gain. In wine circles the ability to spit like an Icelandic geyser is a critical social skill. As a wine taster you can even be labeled by this ability and the inability to perform this important part of the job is deployed as the most final and cutting of insults, and at tastings there is a very clear spitocracy. “The most experienced and revered palates scour the tables at great speed, swirl, gargle, then, with something of the swagger with which a cowboy might draw his pistol, their glance flicks in the direction of the spittoon and, at long range, a jet of liquid arcs suddenly into it” explains Victoria Moore.   Wine Tasting – Understanding The Wines Of France Are you baffled by the huge variety of French wines and completely lost when it comes to deciding which wine will best suit your needs? Each of the eight wine producing regions of France specializes in producing wine of a particular type and flavor and this simple overview will hopefully make choosing French wines a little easier. Burgundy Burgundy wines are produced from the black Pinot Noir and Gamay grapes and from the white Chardonnay grape. The Pinot Noir is probably one of the world's oldest grape varieties and is notoriously difficult to grow. It does however produce some of our best wines which are full-bodied and rich and at the same time can be light, soft and velvety. Pinot noir wines often have an aroma of cherries accompanied by a spiciness that is reminiscent of cinnamon or mint. The Chardonnay grape is a very popular grape which produces light, delicate dry wines with a distinctive but often difficult to describe aroma conjuring up a vision of apples, peaches or lemons. Bordeaux The wines of Bordeaux are based upon the related black Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon grapes, found particularly in the Medoc district of Bordeaux, and the black Merlot grape. Cabernet Sauvignon wines improve greatly with age and are often amongst the world's truly great wines. With age the distinctive blackcurrant aroma of wines from this grape develops overtones of cedar, violets and leather and the wines, which are characteristically deep in flavor, often become smooth and soft. Wines made from the Merlot grape are very similar to those produced from the Cabernet Sauvignon grape but have a less distinctive aroma and flavor. If it seems strange that white wines should be produced from black grapes then bear in mind that grape juice, whether from black or white grapes, is essentially colorless and it is the skin of the black grape that gives the wine its color. Rhone The grape varieties most often seen in the Rhone valley are the black Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah grapes and the white Muscat grape. Syrah grapes produce intense rich wines which are almost black in color and which have an aroma that is spicy in nature. The Rhone Syrah grape forms the base for many blended wines including the well known Chateauneuf du Pape The Muscat grape gives rise to intense, sweet wines with a strong and easily recognized aroma. In addition, and unusual for a wine, wines from the Muscat really do taste of grapes. Loire The grapes of the Loire include the black Pinot Noir and the white Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Gris grapes. The Sauvignon Blanc grape is grown all over the world today and it is very widely used for blending. In the case of the Loire however it is used to make a distinctive unblended dry white wine with a characteristic sharp and aggressive smell. Pinot Gris wines often display a slightly floral and lightly lemon flavor and, depending upon the ripeness of the grape at harvesting, wines that are either light and tangy or rich, round and full bodied. Pinot Gris makes one of the few white wines that can be said to age well. Alsace Although the grapes of the Alsace are similar to those used in the Loire, growing conditions in this region tend to produce wines which bear the characteristics of many German rather that French wines. The wines in this region are similar to Riesling and the sweeter German wines. Some rosé wines are also produced in Alsace. Champagne The main grapes of the Champagne region are the black Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier and the white Chardonnay. The wines of the Champagne region can best be described as thin and tart and provide the perfect base for what many believe to be the world's finest sparkling wine. Beaujolais Beaujolais wines are made from the black Gamay and white Chardonnay grapes. The wines of this region are often light in nature, fresh tasting and with a somewhat fruity flavor. Many Beaujolais wines are also slightly fizzy in nature. WineHomeBrewClub.com Wine Tasting – A Preference For Red Or White For many of us wine is something of a mystery and when we are buying wine it comes down to a simple choice between red and white and what our local supermarket has available in its "special offer" bin. But wine really isn't such a mystery at all and, in this area at least, a little knowledge can get you a very long way. The starting point is to understand the different types of wine available and here we can divide wines into five main groups. Red Wine. Red wine is fermented from what many people would refer to as red grapes but which are in fact more correctly named black grapes. In the case of red wine the grapes are used whole for fermentation, that is to say complete with skin and pips, and it is the skin which gives the wine its red color. There are a wide variety of black grapes available each with its own distinctive flavor which is derived principally from the soil and climate in the region where the grapes are grown. This, together with the winemaker's art of mixing, allows us to enjoy a range of red wines from the deep blackcurrant color of the full-bodied and intensely flavored wines produced from the Cabernet Sauvignon grape to the lighter cherry and raspberry taste gained from the Pinot Noir grape. Rosé wine. Rosé wines are again produced from black grapes but, in this case, the juice is separated off part way through the fermentation process and at the point at which the winemaker determines that the juice contains sufficient color to give the finished wine the pink color that he is looking for. Once again the flavor of the finished wine depends very much on the grape used for fermentation and some of the finest rosé wines are produced from the Grenache grape. Often thought of as a French grape, Grenache noir is the world's most widely planted grape and probably originates from Spain. As well as often being used to produce rosé wines, it is also commonly used as a base for many blended wines including such well known names as Chateauneuf du Pape and Cotes du Rhône. Blush wine. Blush wine is sometimes referred to as California's version of rosé wine and is produced in much the same way as rosé wine. In this case however the grape most often used is the Zinfandal grape which produces a slightly sweet pink wine which also shows a somewhat blue color. The Zinfandal grape originates in Croatia but has been grown widely in the US for more than 150 years now and is considered indigenous to California. White wine. Believe it or not white wine can be made from either white or black grapes, as the juice from either grape is colorless and it is only the skin of the black grape that gives red wine its color. The flavors available across the range of white wines vary tremendously according to the grape used, the winemaker's art and the degree to which different juices are blended to create the finished wine. Dry white wines often come from grapes such as Muscadet or Sauvignon Blanc while richer fruit-flavored wines are more likely to be based upon the Chardonnay grape. Sparkling wines. Sparkling wines, of which Champagne is clearly the best known example, are based upon a dry white wine. Here the wine is bottled and a solution of sugar and yeast is added before the bottle is sealed. The sugar and yeast solution causes a secondary fermentation and sealing the bottles at the start of this process traps the gas produced by this fermentation within the wine to give it its sparkle when the bottle is opened.   What Do Wine Tasters Look For When Assessing Wines? Wine tasting is an overall sensory evaluation of the wine being tasted. Tasters evaluate the aroma, the look, the taste, and feel inside the mouth. Experienced wine tasters can detect the maturity, quality, as well as faults that it might have as well as aromas and colors. This evaluation is often done in three steps; look, smell and taste. What Are They Looking For When They Look At The Wine? The taster, in visually examining the wine, looks for clarity as well as integration, expressiveness, complexity, connectedness and varietal character. It is preferable to against a white background, to better judge the color of the wine. The wine's color is a good indicator if the wine is aged in wood or metal barrels. The color also gives the taster clues as to which variety of grape is used in the wine. Most wines are red or white, however there are also variations within those colors as well. In white wines, the colors range from a green color to a yellow then to a brown color. The colors of red wines can range from a pale red to a deep brown red. While most white wines don't necessarily improve with age, many red wines do. When a taster tilts a glass of red wine, they are looking for the "rim" color at the edge of the wine. A purple tint to the edge, indicates a young wine. An orange to brown color signifies a more mature wine. A wine taster will also swirl the wine, in order to observe the body of the wine. When they refer to a wine having "good legs", that can mean a higher sweetness level, alcohol content or thicker body. What Is The Wine's Bouquet? After visually evaluating the wine, tasters then evaluate the wine's aroma, which is also known as the bouquet or nose. To do this, the wine taster will swirl the glass which releases molecules that enable them to smell the aroma. Some wine tasters take two whiffs; one quick one to formulate an initial impression and a second deeper whiff of the wine. Other tasters take only one deep whiff. The aroma is then contemplated for awhile before the wine is actually tasted. An experienced wine taster can pick out several different smells in that glass of wine even if there is one very strong aroma with other underlying ones. Tasters also remember aromas by naming them as well. How Is Taste Evaluated? Tasters take a small amount of wine and move it over their entire tongues so that all taste buds come in contact with it. Some also take a sip of wine, and while holding it on the tounge, inhale through the mouth. The aim is to allow the aroma of the wine to enter the nasal passageway at the back of your throat which will increase the experience of the wine. Both the body and the texture of the wine are examined and can be judged as smooth or harsh, or light or rich. Tasters also judge the aftertaste by how long the taste last and how pleasant the taste is. Do People Get Drunk At A Wine Tasting? If Not, How Do They Stay Sober? Wine tasting events provide guests with food and water, which slow the release of alcohol into the bloodstream. They also provide spittoons just in case water is not provided, as well as serving very small amounts of wine for each tasting. So the risk of getting drunk is lowered considerably.   WineHomeBrewClub.com Revitalizing the Taste Buds for Corporate Event Wine looks the same when poured in a glass, but it tastes different to your taste buds. It all depends on your taste. Do you often find it difficult to select the brand of wine you like best? Well, this time you get to participate in some simple fun filled ways of judging your taste profile through some exciting corporate events. Knowing your Taste through Wine Tasting Corporate Activity Taste Trail in Northamptonshire is one of Chillisauce’s innovative ideas of helping you self judge the type of wine that you like best. This thrilling corporate activity starts with a fun animated wine tutorial providing a crash course in the art of tasting the accurate wine blend. Some connoisseur’s then judge the wine preferences of the guests by individually questioning all of them. You will be asked to taste different wine blends and write down the scores with the help of the wine adventure colour charts and the Nez du Vin aroma kits that will be provided to you. At the end of the evening, everyone will be given their taste profile, a guide to your own taste that will help you in the future while selecting wine from the stores. The whole process takes around two hours, however the work timing can be adjusted according to individual requirements. Even the corporate event venue is arranged according to your preference, thus it includes no venue fees. You can even take this corporate wine tasting courses in Northamptonshire to a competitive level by placing your request at Chillisauce. Benefits of Wine Tasting Wine tasting corporate event arranged by Chillisauce gives you the perfect opportunity to be your own judge, and self-judge is unquestionably the best judge. It trains you to concentrate as you make the fine distinguishing between different flavours of blended wine. This corporate event is filled with fun. It is relaxing and interactive and fills you with a sense of self-satisfaction as you judge your own taste successfully. When you take this corporate event to a competitive level by a request made to Chillisauce, it strengthens the team unity and helps in building the perfect team.   Gear Up Your Team Building Attitude With Your Corporate Colleagues Wine–tasting in Derbyshire is a fascinating adventure that evokes team-building attitude amongst the corporate people. Wine, the life savior drink for the people of Derbyshire, offers a unique opportunity to people to laugh hilariously, enjoy together and know one another better. This adventure truly promises a time when people can test their team building spirit, time management skill and efficiency to work as a complete group. Set in the serene ambience of Derbyshire surroundings, the wine tasting provides a unique opportunity to see two different expressions of same noble grapes and classic blends. As the wines are served at tandem to the guests, you will be amazed to taste the similarities and dissimilarities between the two types of wines. The wine-tasting corporate event planning is accompanied by an animated wine tutorial, which manifests a fast paced detailed introduction of different types of wines. Chillisauce is a corporate event management operator that organizes tours as well as conducts corporate events. Full of various activities, this tour operator truly offers a relaxing and wonderful time to the corporate people who can discover each other away from the hectic monotonous schedule. This specific activity of wine-tasting session generally takes place for duration of 1½ - 2 hours but can be extended as per the request of the guests. <b>Wine tasting episode in Derbyshire</b> Wine tasting episode conducted by the famous operators Chillisauce is a truly magnificent experience for wine lovers. Not only does it promise exciting time ahead but also arouses interests of teetotalers to enjoy the famous wines. Wine tasting corporate event in Derbyshire promises: -- To build team spirit amongst all -- Increase efficiency of individual people -- Increase time management skill of the group -- Freshens corporate people to deal with new challenges You can be your own wine judge as you participate in tasting experience and find out the kind of wine you like and then start your game with that particular wine. Following are the rounds in wine-tasting game in Derbyshire: 1) The taste revelation – it involves a crash course of animated tutorial where people are taught with the art of tasting wine blindly. 2) The Taste bud review – the game then moves onto taste bud review questionnaire that decides the likes, dislikes and knowledge of each guest regarding the wines. 3) The taste map – here guests taste and score wines depending on their personal preferences. They have to use the Wine Adventure color charts and Nez du Vin aroma kits to decide about their own wine tasting notes. 4) The taste profile – this is the best part as you are judged and given a profile that will state your wine-tasting aftermaths. You can use it next time when you go to buy wines. Participate with Chillisauce to have a lifetime wine-tasting experience in Derbyshire.                    

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History of Wine Un-corking The Mystery

Wine Labels - Peeling Off The Mystery One of the most baffling subjects that confronts the budding wine enthusiast is the deciphering of the myriad of information contained on the bottle label, especially that contained on wine bottles from European countries. Once the basic rules are taken on board it becomes a lot simpler. Whereas most New World countries put details of the grape varieties on the front label, a lot of European regions do not, and as this is the most basic of information for taste purposes why is this the case? European winemakers tend to put more emphasis on the place of origin. For instance, a Bordeaux red typically wont say ‘Cabernet’ or ‘Merlot’ on the front label, but instead have the name of the chateau where it was made, and usually the part of Bordeaux where it was made, for example Haut-Medoc. Similarly a Sancerre is totally Sauvignon Blanc, but an in depth analysis of the label will leave you none the wiser. For the French the important factor is that the wine comes from Sancerre in the Loire valley and for them it is inbred knowledge that white Sancerre is Sauvignon Blanc. Moving south to Spain, red Rioja declares itself as Rioja on the label, not Tempranillo the grape variety used, whilst in Italy most Tuscan reds have no information on the Sangiovese grape that is most widely used in these wines. Given this mish-mash of information it is no wonder that many of us head for that bottle with the label announcing it is a Chardonnay Viognier from the Ironstone Vineyard of California. It is clear then that the Europeans believe the most important factor influencing a wine’s character is the soil, climate and culture of the area where the grape is grown and this is particularly important to single-vineyard wines who make the most of capturing the essence of a particular area of land. So whereas a French winemaker will see his wine as reflecting the character of a particular region, a New World winemaker mad about grape varieties will consider that soil is just the growing medium in which the fruit grows, and that the grape variety and hard work in the winery are what really counts. Today these two opposing approaches to wine labeling are moving closer together with New World producers emphasizing their rationality and its characteristics, whilst European, even the parochial French winemakers possibly prompted by the wholesalers and the supermarkets are labeling their wines more clearly.     Wine Labels Explained You may remember the old adage 'you can't judge a book by its cover', but is the same true about a bottle of wine? Can you judge wine by its label? What Do The Labels Mean? There is a lot of information in the label of a bottle of wine, and if you aren't a connoisseur of wine it can be a little overwhelming at first glance. The majority of wine labels are quite similar though, containing information on the winery where the wine was made, the 'appellation' (the country or region where the grapes that went into the wine were grown), the variety (the type of grapes the wine was made from) and the vintage (the year when the grapes were harvested). The strength / alcohol content of the wine is also displayed on the label. Some extra information may appear depending on the country in which the wine was bottled. As an example, wines bottled in the USA are required to have the name and address of the bottler displayed on the label, along with certain consumer warnings. There are also sometimes some details on the ripeness of the grapes, and information about the winery that produced the wine. What Else Appears on Wine Labels? What once was just used to mark what was in the bottle, wine labels have become a spot to showcase artwork and make for a unique collection for a wine lover. While they may seem like an odd collection, the artwork on wine labels can be extremely beautiful, and a label may remind you of a special trip or an important event where you enjoyed the wine. And wine labels are certainly easier to save and display than empty bottles! Collecting wine labels has become so popular that manufacturers have even developed special cases to display them, and wine labels actually have their own category on eBay! Avid collectors often have their own websites or blogs devoted to sharing their collection with others. Can I Customize a Label For A Special Occasion? If you are planning a special celebration – perhaps a wedding, anniversary celebration, or even just a really fancy company party, then you could take advantage of companies that allow you to turn a piece of your own artwork into a wine label. You could put pretty much anything you wanted on the label – a photograph of the couple getting married, your company logo, or some other design of significance to the recipient. After the wine has been drank, it is likely the bottle will remain displayed in pride of place for a long time to come!   WineHomeBrewClub.com Wine Labels Decoded   Even for the avid wine drinker, deciding on a bottle of wine can be a daunting task with so many varieties of wine on the market today. Wine labels don’t help either with the various terms in foreign languages and the small print. Sometimes reading a wine label makes you feel like you need a secret decoder ring, but rest assured that this is not to confuse you the customer, but rather to help you. The information on the label is there to tell you about the wine and also the winery and conditions of production. Once you have an idea of what to look for on a wine label, deciphering it shouldn’t require much effort. The Brand Name: This is the name of the company that has produced the wine. Most often this is the name of the winery or bottler if the winery has several different brands. Vintage: Most wines will carry the vintage somewhere on the bottle, although this is not a mandatory requirement and will not be on all bottles. A vintage is the year that the grapes used were harvested. Most wine producing countries have laws that require at least 85 percent of the grapes used to be harvested in the specified year of vintage although in the United States this figure can be as high as 95 percent. Appellation of Origin: This is the geographical area where the grapes were grown, for example “California” or more a more specific vineyard. Most countries have strict laws regarding an appellation classification, which is why like the vintage; at least 85 percent of the grapes used must be from their specified region. Wine Type: This specifies the grapes used to make the wine. Again this can be as broad as “Red Table Wine” or as specific as Merlot or Chardonnay. Most wine producing countries allow the use of some non-varietal grapes in the blend. In Europe and Australia, at least 85 percent of the wine’s content must be from the named varietals, while in some parts of the United States this figure is much lower at about 75 percent. Producer and Bottler: What this part of the bottle signifies varies greatly depending on where the bottle of wine originates from. If grapes are harvested and bottled at the winery it is considered to be “estate bottled” and the label will state this using Mise en bouteille(s) au Chateau (French), Gutsabfüllung/Erzeugerabfüllung (German) or simply Estate Bottled. According to Napa Valley Vintners online (napavintners.com) it is even more specific for American bottled wines and the terminology even more specifically determines how the wine was bottled: “’Produced and bottled by’ certifies that the bottler fermented 75% or more of the wine. Used in combination with other information on the label, such as a vineyard, this term provides the consumer with significant information about the origin of the wine and who is responsible for its production. ’Cellared and bottled by’ indicates that the bottler has aged the wine or subjected it to cellar treatment before bottling. ‘Made and bottled by’ indicates that the bottler fermented at least 75% of the wine (10% before July 28, 1994). ‘Bottled by’ indicates that the winery bottled the wine, which may have been grown, crushed, fermented, finished, and aged by someone else.” Other Required Information: This depends on what country the wine is from. For example, wines sold in the United States are required to have (at least on the back label) alcohol content, contents size, and consumer warnings from the Surgeon General as well as a sulphite warning while in Germany wine are required to have an Amptliche Prüfungs Nummer which is a number received while in testing. The famous wine regions of Bordeaux, Burgundy and Alsace in France will carry the term Cru somewhere on the label to indicate that the wine is from a town or producer of high quality. While this still might be very overwhelming, when looked at from a point of view of the winemaker, a wine label really is there to help you as the consumer, not hinder your decision making. Everything on a wine label is there to inform you of where the wine came from and how it was produced, and while it might take you a lifetime to be able to completely understand every single term that is put on a wine bottle, being able to understand the basics will be advantageous. It is important to remember that rules will vary from country to country as to what is required to be on a wine bottle or specific terms used. What might be required in France might not be required in Chile.   Wine History - When The Cork Met The Bottle The role of the Church in the production and marketing of wine declined with the Reformation, particularly in northern Europe, but this did not convulse the wine world half as much as the discovery of the usefulness of corks about a century later. For the first time since the Roman empire, wine could now be stored and aged in bottles. Throughout the Middle Ages wine had been kept in casks which had presented a dual handicap: first, too long kept in wood could rob a wine of all its fruit; second, once the cask was opened the wine inevitably deteriorated unless drunk within a few days. The bottle, with its smaller capacity, solved the former problem by providing a neutral, non-porous material which allowed wine to age in a different subtler way and removed the latter problem by providing sealed containers of a manageable size for a single session’s drinking. However, the cork and bottle revolution was not an instant success; bottles were then so bulbous they would only stand upright which meant the corks eventually dried out and as a consequence let in air. But, by the mid 18th century, longer, flat-sided bottles were designed which would lie down, their corks kept moist by contact with the wine. As a result wine making now took on a new dimension. It became worthwhile for a winemaker to try and excel, wines from particular plots of land could be compared for their qualities, and the most exciting could be classified and separated from the more mundane plot wines. As a result today’s great names of Bordeaux, Burgundy and the Rhine first began to be noticed. In the early 19th century, Europe seemed one massive vineyard. In Italy 80% of people were earning their living from wine and in France there were vast plantings rolling southwards from Paris. Also the vine had moved abroad thanks to explorers, colonists and missionaries. It went to Latin America with the Spaniards, South Africa with French Huguenots, and to Australia with the British. Could anything stop this tide of wine expansion? Well, yes and it came in the form of an aphid called phylloxera, that fed on and destroyed vine roots. It came from America in the 1860’s, and by the early 20th century, had destroyed all Europe’s vineyards and most of the rest of the world’s as well. The solution was to graft the vulnerable European vine, vitis vinifera, onto the phylloxera-resistant American rootstock, vitis riparia, naturally a very expensive effort. The most immediate effect in Europe was that only the best sites were replanted and the total area under vines shrank drastically as a result. Elsewhere the havoc wrought was comparable and vineyard acreage is only now expanding to old original sites destroyed over a century ago. The 20th century brought further change as science and technology revolutionized viticulture and wine making. But despite the chemical formula and computerized wineries, the grape retains its magic and allure that attracts wine enthusiasts from all over the world.     Wine Gifts - Elegant, Thoughtful & Elite Wine gifts are considered as one of the best gifts for men. They come in a variety of tastes, vintages, colors, wrappings, baskets, labels, corkscrews, stoppers, etc. Many types of wines are available in the market and a variety of vintage wines are sent as gifts. Sending a wine gift is considered elegant and reflects upon the thoughtfulness of the sender of the gift. Wine gifts have become a symbol of elite gifting and hence are on the rise. Generally four types of vintage wines are considered best for gifting for anniversaries, birthdays, diamond weddings, retirements and other special occasions. They are Madeira, Armagnac, Sauterne and Port. Madeira is a fortified wine. It has a long history, it was used to toast the American Declaration of Independence. It does not go bad with changes in temperature and can be stored up to 200 years. Armagnac is in essence a brandy and is made from distilled white wine in Bordeaux, France. Sauterne is a type of sweet wine distilled in an area near Bordeaux named Sauterne. Sauterne can be stored up to 100 years. The alcoholic content of this wine is less compared to other wines. It is sweeter than other wines due to its sugar content. Port wine is a fortified wine made in many different styles. They are stored in oak casks up to 100 years. It may be noted that the wines are stored for a long time in special containers in special conditions for them to improve or cure and once the bottle is opened it is to be consumed within a day or up to a week depending upon the type of wine. There are wines other than the ones mentioned above like champagnes, red table wines, malt scotch whiskies and “celebrity wines” which are also gifted. Wine gifts are generally given in a wine basket along with lobsters or other sea foods depending upon the taste of the recipient. Wines also have a proper serving temperature which vary according to the type of wine and is written on the bottle. Wine gifts are wrapped in attractive wrappings and sometimes designer cork lifters and wine stoppers are also gifted. An assortment of wine related gifts are available in the market like crystal ice buckets, ice tongs, crystal glasses, wine racks, wine cabinets, wine furniture, wine decanters, wine totes, wine bags etc. With the advent of internet wine gifts can be purchased online and are delivered on required date to the recipient. Sending gifts by road works out much cheaper than sending by air, hence booking in advance is more cost effective. When the recipient’s wine taste is not known, presenting a wine gift certificate is better as the recipient will choose from an array of wines according to his liking on the company’s website. There are many websites and companies providing gift certificates and door delivery. The wine gifts are available in a wide range of costs ranging from under 35$ to over 100$. Some companies customize the label on the wine as per order. Wine gift deliveries are not made to hospital patients and there are laws in different states on wine gift delivery.   WineHomeBrewClub.com Wine Bottles Fit Perfectly In Wine Racks When choosing the type of wine rack you need to consider the following, do you want a freestanding, wall mounted or table top wine rack. For example, one popular choice for wine racks is steel, since this material can be heated and made into beautiful artistic pieces. Wine racks can be made out of several materials. Today you can find any type of wine rack on the internet there are tower, table and wall mounted wine racks. You can use tall wine racks and great a bar, the way to do this is to place the racks on either side and place a countertop across them. Many people use wood wine racks because these are the best for a large collection of wine and are relatively cheap. Temperature-controlled, freestanding wine racks are a perfect storage system, though they are more expensive than a simple wine rack in a cool spot. When installing a wine rack many people turn to a baker's style of rack because it puts to good use the extra shelving, there is more storage and there is a work center. Storage racks allow you to organize your wine collection and keep it safe and sound. Wood is hardy and durable. In addition, it might have mismatched wood grains, which would show if stained. Simple wood racks are available to attach underneath a kitchen cabinet. You can make your selection from pieces made from all types of finished wood and wrought iron, or a combination of materials. Many of the metal wine racks today combine artistic art with functionality; some have circles, spirals and many other unique designs. Using a metal wine rack allows the wine collector to add artwork and style, while wooden racks are built for functionality. It is important when purchasing wrought iron wine racks that you buy one that is preassembled. Wrought iron wine racks are made to last. Stainless steel wine racks are more moderately priced than wrought iron wine racks, for example, although the latter have become very popular as well. Wine bottles themselves are elegant and beautiful to look at, and the right wine rack can really add to the visual appreciation of your wine bottles as they await their opening day, whether in a cellar -- or on display in your kitchen or living room. Many home owners who keep a wine collection do not have as many bottles as a commercial establishment. Many of the wine racks are designed for everyday use where the wine aficionado is able to retrieve the wine for everyday use. Metal wine racks can be used to store wine bottles but metal wine racks are not as flexible as wood wine racks, with wood racks you are able to adapt them and make different sizes to save space. There are some wine rack that are able to be divided into separate cabinets, the ability to divide is great because some wines need cooler temperatures while other types of wines do not. Find a spot in your house that stays about the same cool temperature year-round. When choosing where to store your wine make sure you get a suitable wine rack where you are able to control the temperature and the humidity so the wine does not get ruined.     Wine lovers have a place in Hungary We are talking about the Agora wine competition which dates are between 4-6th July 2008 and the place is Balaton Wine Region at the Ramada hotel, on the Balaton lake in Balatonalmádi. The vinagora is a traditional, international wine competition, regularly organized since 1992 and it’s part of the VinoFed (Organization of Big International Wine and Spirit Competitions) and enjoys the professional patronage of OIV(International Wine and Spirit Organization), and UIOE(International Organization of Winemakers). Since 2000, the biennial event has figured among the ten most recognised wine competitions in the world. For the ones of you who are taking wine seriously, consider that VinAgora has developed the most up to date wine judging IT system of the world! It was successfully used during the Mondial du Pinot Noir in Switzerland, and at Vino Ljubljana in Slovenia. Worthless to say the jury is composed by experienced, internationally acknowledged wine sommeliers and judges who will give to each participant a detailed wine description with results of his/her own wine(s). The awarded wine gets the opportunity to participate at the 17th Budapest International Wine Festival in September. How are the wines assessed? On the basis of three criteria: On the score received for the quality of the wine, on the number of elements defining the character of the wine and on a list of the most characteristic elements of the bouquet and flavour. If you will miss this chance, September the harvest month will refresh your throats with the international renown 17th Budapest Wine and Champagne Festival and Fair. The official dates are 10-14 September. For nearly two weeks 15 countries and 200 vineyard will introduce and showcase 3,000 different wines for sampling! Wine tasting is the central part of the festival, but there are plenty of opportunities to participate in any of the numerous events organized around the Buda Castle. On Saturday a colossal parade with around 800 representatives from the various wine regions will stage a procession and a show with dancing and music around the Buda Castle district dressing in folk costumes. Not to be missed! Wine classes, lectures, workshops, parades, folk music and classical music concerts and even court jesters. Also chefs and restaurants will set up stalls featuring delicious food with suggested wine pairings. If you are definitely not missing these events in Hungary and in Budapest it is advisable to book your hotel in advance. There are many accommodation solutions for every budget. Students, families, young travellers or backpackers can find youth hostels or hostels offering bed nights form 9 euros at the Moha Hostel, the Goat Hostel, Grand Hostel of Budapest, Domino Hostel, Marco Polo Hostel, Mellow Mood Central Hostel, Riverside Youth hostel, Karat Hostel. Families and wine lovers may prefer private apartments in Budapest city centre around the castle itself like the Anna Centre apartment, Apartment St. Michael, Navigare Budapest Apartments, Akademia Budapest Apartments, Arcadia Apartments Budapest, Gabriella and Elizabeth Apartments Budapest, Budapest in flat, Aida Budapest Apartment.                

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All You Need to Know About Wine Country Tours

Wine Country Travel Tips Are you interested in planning a trip to California’s wine country? If you are and if this is your first time looking to do so, you may be searching for some guidance. After all, there is so much for you to do and see in wine country. To get you started, some helpful tips are outlined below. One of the best ways to have a fun and memorable trip to California wine country is by examining all of your options. This is particularly true where wine tours are concerned. Do you want to visit wineries on your own or would you like to take a guided tour? If you would like to be a part of a guided tour, you will want to make your plans well in advance, especially if you will be visiting during peak tourism times. Even if you would like to independently visit wineries in California’s wine country, you will still want to examine all of your options ahead of time. This is easy to do with the internet, as you can find many online travel guides for wine country. Knowing which wineries you have the option of visiting can help you decide on a plan, which can allow you to develop a map yourself to follow. With over 400 wineries and vineyards to choose from in California, research enables you to prioritize. In terms of getting there, you will want to make your travel arrangements well in advance of your trip date. For starters, examine vacation packages. Vacation packages are offered for California wine country and many are not only convenient to purchase, but money saving as well. You may be able to get standard vacation packages, which include hotel accommodations, airline reservations, and a car rental. With that said, many local inns partner with wineries so that they are able to offer packages and other discounts. As for touring wine country, if you decide to tour the area on your own, you may want to mix it up a little bit. Many recommend visiting a combination of wineries that are both large and small in size. When doing so, you often learn and see different things, as well as taste wines that differ in both style and taste. Unfortunately, as convenient as guided wine country tours are, you don’t have much freedom or say, if any, in the wineries you stop at along the way. Another great tip to help you enjoy your next trip to wine country involves your stay time. Of course, you can enjoy a single day of touring and wine tasting in California wine country, but you may want to stay longer. In fact, many wineries recommend spending at least two days touring local wineries and participating in wine tasting events. The longer that you stay, the more you will be able to see, taste, and learn. Since wine tours and wine in general has increased in popularity, you may be concerned with the crowds. If you would like to enjoy calm and relaxing wine tours, you will want to avoid Saturdays, as they are the busiest day of the week. Many wineries in California also report high visitor levels between the months of May and October. For the best luck, mid-week tours are your best option. As previously stated, you have the option of touring wineries in California wine country on your own. Should you choose this option, be sure to have a designated driver. Although you will likely only have a few sips here and there, it can add up quickly. And, it is always better to be safe than sorry. As previously stated, many wineries recommend staying in the area at least two days. If you do so, you can work out an arrangement with someone in your traveling party. For example, you can be the designated driver one day and they can be the next. When planning a trip to California wine country, the above mentioned tips are just a few of the many that you will want to keep in mind.     Wine Country Trips: Tips for Choosing a Destination Have you heard of wine country before? If you have, you may want to plan a trip to wine country. Even if you have never heard of wine country before, there is a good chance that you will want to visit it after you take the time to familiarize yourself with wine country. Speaking of wine country, there are many individuals who wonder exactly where it is. In all honesty, you will find that it depends. Wine country is a phrase that is commonly used to describe areas that have a large number of wineries and vineyards, as well as areas that are well known for their production and distribution of fine wines. Although you will find some variances, the phrase “wine country,” is commonly used to describe California. As stated above, wine country is commonly used to describe California. For that reason, when you research wine country online, like when looking for guided wine tours or information on local wineries, you will likely be presented with information for those located in Northern California, the Sonoma Valley and Napa Valley to be exact. With that said, it is also important to remember that others areas of the United States are also commonly known as and referred to as wine country. For example, Washington, New York, Texas, and Virginia all have areas that are known as wine country, most often by locals. Since you do have a number of options to choose from, when looking to take a wine country trip, there are a number of important factors that you will first want to take into consideration. One of those factors is distance. The farther you have to travel to visit a wine country, the more you will likely spend in travel costs. If you are on a budget or if you have a limited timeframe, you may be better off visiting a wine country area that is local. For example, if you live in Pennsylvania, you may be better off traveling to the Finger Lakes Region of New York, and so forth. With that in mind, it is important to remember that California wine country is more than worth the extra travel costs. Speaking of travel costs, it is important to price compare. In fact, you may want to compare your options and their prices before you officially make a decision. In keeping with the example sited above of living in Pennsylvania, you may assume that it is too expensive to travel to California. Yes, it may be, but did you know that you can find great travel deals online? In fact, many hotels and resorts in the area offer moneysaving vacation packages. For that reason, you may want to refrain from making assumptions, in terms of cost, until you do the proper amount of research first. Your intended dates of travel, as well as the weather should also be taken into consideration, when looking to choose a wine country area to visit. For all year round visiting, California wine country comes highly rated and recommended, as the weather is always typically sunny and pleasant. As for other wine country areas, such as those located in New York, Washington, and Virginia, the weather may limit the number of wine themed activities you are able to participate in. With that said, many wineries still have a number of activities for you to choose from, including wine tasting, in the middle of winter.   WineHomeBrewClub.com   Wine Country Tours: The Importance of Examining All of Your Options Are you in the process of planning a trip to wine country? If you are, you will want to take a wine country tour or even a number of them. Wine tasting and wine tours are, perhaps, the two activities most commonly associated with trips to wine country. When looking to take a wine country tour, it is first important that you examine all of your options. This is important, as you, literally, have so many to choose from. Starting with location, Northern California, the Finger Lakes area of New York State, and parts of Washington State are known for their great wine production. This results in multiple areas in the United States being known as wine country, especially by locals. With that said, Northern California is the area most commonly talked about on both national and international levels. Another one of the many reasons why you are encouraged to examine all of your options, when looking to take a wine country tour, is because wine tours come in a number of different formats. For tourists who are unfamiliar with the area, guided wine country tours are a popular option. Many guided wine tour companies have participants meet at a public location, where everyone is then boarded on to a bus or a traveling van. The only downside to guided wine tours is that they often limited on the number of available spots they have. Also, many tend to visit only a specific number of wineries and those wineries are often predetermined ahead of time without input from tourists, like you. In keeping with wine country tour options, you also have the ability to take an independent tour. This is where you will, essentially, be transporting yourself to wineries and vineyards in the area. Independent wine tours are ideal for those who do not want to be rushed, those who have a way to get around, like with a car rental, as well as those who would like to visit specific wineries and vineyards that may not be visited by guided tours. Many tourists like taking their own independent wine tours, as they have much more freedom to do, see, and taste what they want. Speaking of the wineries and vineyards that you can visit, you have an unlimited number of options. That is just another one of the many reasons why you are encouraged to examine all of your options before making any official arrangements concerning wine country tours. For example, did you know that in California’s wine country, you have around four hundred locations to choose from? You do. If you would like to take a guided wine tour, examine some of the vineyards and wineries that will be examined. Are they ones that you would like to visit? If you are interested in independently taking your own wine tour, be sure to examine as many options as you possibly can. Cost is another one of the many reasons why you should take the time to examine all of your options, when looking to take a wine country tour. Cost is and should be important with both independent and guided wine country tours. Does the cost of a guided wine tour include wine tasting? If not, make sure that the rate you are charged is at least semi affordable. For independent tours, examine the rates that each vineyard or winery charges. Also, examine their method of collecting money. Are you just charged for wine tasting or are you also charged an admission fee? Perhaps, the greatest reason why you are urged to take the time to examine all of your options, when looking to plan a wine country tour is because of satisfaction. By examining all of your options, you are more likely to choose guided wine tours or wineries to visit independently that you are actually interested in attending. By handpicking your vacation activities, you are more likely to enjoy yourself.       Wine Country Tours: Your Travel Options Are you interested in taking a wine country tour? If you are, you will have a number of decisions to make. Although some of these decisions may be difficult to make, they are important to ensure that your next wine country trip is just how you wanted it to be. As previously stated, there are a number of decisions that you will have to make, when looking to plan a wine country trip. One of those decisions is how you will get around. When touring wineries in wine country, you will likely make a lot of stops along the way. For example, should you choose to travel to California wine country, you will have hundreds of vineyards and wineries to choose from. When looking to tour wine country, one of your options is to drive yourself. When looking to do so, you will still have a number of options. If you live nearby, you may be able to drive your own vehicle. On the other hand, if you flew into wine country, like California’s wine country, you may have to make reservations for a car rental. For many, the thought of being able to drive themselves around wine country is nice, as you have the freedom to stop and visit whichever wineries you want. Freedom is nice for many. With that being said, there are a number of downsides to doing so as well. One of those downsides is the risk. If everyone in your traveling party plans to wine taste, you may unnecessarily be putting you and others at risk. What you need to remember is that a few sips of wine can easily add up overtime. Since there are some dangers associated with wine tours and driving, you may be interested in making reservations for a guided tour. When you do so, you will still have a number of different options with how you can travel. As wine tours continue to increase in popularity, so do the number of individuals and companies who offer guided wine tours. With that said, many do so with different tools, such as vehicles. Two popular modes of transportation with guided wine tours are that of bus and van. Since most wine country tour guides will outline how they transport tourists on wine tours, you will want to examine your wants and your needs. For example, are you interested in having room to move around or would you at least not like to be cramped into a small space? If so, bus tours, even small bus tours, may be your best option. If you are looking for a laidback environment, where you and the rest of your traveling party can carry on private conversations with tour guides and each other, a small tour with a van may be in your best interest. As highlighted above, you have a number of different options, in terms of transportation, when looking to tour wine country. As a reminder, you will want to examine the pros and cons of each. For example, driving your own car may increase your chances of driving while intoxicated and endangering others. On the other hand, guided tours can enable you to drink wine freely, without having to worry about how you and the rest of your group will return back to your hotel, resort, or vacation rental.   WineHomeBrewClub.com   Wine Country Gift Baskets: Your Buying Options Reviewed Are you looking for that perfect gift for your special someone? Whether your special someone is a close friend, family member, or a romantic partner, you may want to take the time to examine wine country gift baskets. As long as your intended gift recipient is twenty-one years of age or older, a wine basket may make for the perfect gift. As nice as it is to hear that wine country gift baskets make great gifts and for just about any occasion, you may be curious as to how you can go about finding them for sale. The good news is that you have a large number of options. A few of those options are highlighted below for your convenience. One of the many ways that you can go about finding and buying wine country gift baskets is by visiting wine country yourself. In all honesty, this option is the fun one! Visiting wine country is easy to do if you live in the state of California. With that said, there are many other areas in the United States that are commonly referred to as wine country as well. Two of these areas include Woodinville in Washington State and the Finger Lakes Region of New York. No matter which wine country you choose to visit, you will not only have fun visiting local wineries and sampling amazing wine, but you can also buy wine country gift baskets and right from the source. Even if you do not live in Northern California or in another area that is also commonly referred to as wine country, you can still purchase gift baskets in person. Wine country trips are increasing in popularity, as they are relatively affordable and fun. If you are able to take a vacation, even just a short one, consider taking a vacation with a wine theme. As previously stated, when visiting local wine country wineries and vineyards, you receive ground tours and get to sample many wines. As stated above, many specialty wineries have onsite gift shops that sell gift baskets. The internet is another great way to go about finding and buying wine country gift baskets. For many buyers, the internet is the easiest option. Due to an increase in wine consumption and an increase in interest with wine in general, many wineries have developed online websites. These websites not only contain pictures and detailed information, which is typically designed to lure in tourists, many also contain online stores or online gift shops. If you buy a wine country gift basket through a winery’s online website, you can typically have the basket shipped to you or directly to your gift recipient. You also have a number of other options when looking to find and buy wine country gift baskets online. These other websites can easily be found with a standard internet search. You will typically find that most either specialize in the selling of wine and liquor in general or gift baskets. When shopping online for wine country gift baskets that contain wine, be prepare to have your age verified. This may seem like it is a hassle, but it is generally easy to do and you can do so from the comfort of your own home. Another one of the many places that shoppers turn to when looking for wine country gift baskets, namely those that are cheap in price, is online auction websites. Should you do the same, you may find some baskets available for sale, but they will be wine-free. This is because many online auction websites prohibit the sale of alcohol. With that being said, you can still find a nice themed basket or an attractive gift bag with a wine theme. These items may still come in handy for you, should you decide to make your own homemade wine country gift baskets instead. As outlined above, you have a number of different options when looking to buy wine country gift baskets to give to those that you know and love. As a reminder, wine baskets are ideal for just about any occasion, but they are perfect for Christmas, Valentine’s Day, and for weddings.   Wine Country Gift Baskets: Why They Make Great Gifts Are you in need of a gift? Whether that gift is for a close friend or family member and for their birthday, Christmas, or another special occasion, you may be looking for the perfect gift. If your gift recipient is twenty-one years of age or older, you may want to give the gift of a wine country gift basket. After a close examination, you will find that there are a number of reasons why wine country gift baskets make great gifts. One of the many reasons why wine country gift baskets make great gifts is because they are perfect for a wide range of occasions. As previously stated, wine themed gift baskets make great gifts for birthday, Christmas, and other special occasions. They also make great “just because,” gifts for close friends and family members. One occasion in particular that wine country gift baskets are perfect for is that of weddings. Wine country gift baskets are also the perfect gift for wine drinkers or at least those who are known to consume alcohol. Your buying options are another one of the many reasons why you should consider giving the gift of a wine country gift basket. In terms of the gift basket itself, you will find that you have so many options to choose from. For starters, there are many wine country gift baskets available for sale with themes. These themes may be congratulations, get well, Valentine’s Day, Christmas, or just a simple miss you theme. It is also important to remember that many wine gift baskets have much more than just wine in them. Often times, the wine is paired with other great items, such as California cheese or even wine jelly. In keeping with buying options, there are a number of ways that you can go about buying wine country gift baskets. One of the easiest ways is to place an order online. With a standard internet search, with a phrase like “wine country gift baskets,” you are sure to find many sellers. Many of these individuals are actually winery owners themselves! When shopping online, be on the lookout for deals and discounts, including free shipping. This is ideal as it can sometimes get expensive to ship full gift baskets, especially those that are large in size. In addition to ordering wine country gift baskets online, you can also do so in person. If you have the opportunity to visit a wine country, whether you do so in California, New York, or Washington, you will want to. For many wine enthusiasts it is worth the travel time. When there, be sure to examine wine country baskets. In fact, wine country gift baskets not only make great gifts for close friends and family, but for yourself as well. If you ever choose to visit wine country, a wine basket can be a nice souvenir of your trip. As you can see, from being highlighted above, there are a number of reasons why wine country gift baskets make for great gifts. No matter who the gift is for, as long as your intended recipient is twenty-one years or older, and no matter what the occasion, a wine basket may be the perfect choice. If you need your gift soon, be sure to place your order online as soon as possible or use the internet to plan a trip to wine country.

http://winehomebrewclub.com/all-you-need-to-know-about-wine-country-tours/

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Tips for Making Wine

Tips for Making Wine with Grapes As you contemplate the prospect of making your next batch of wine you will need to decide whether you want to use fruit, such as grapes, or packaged fruit juices. Packaged juices are known as concentrates and can be easily purchased online as well as in home brewing stores. There are many advantages to using concentrates, including the fact that they come with easy to follow directions and usually all of the extra ingredients you may need. Many novice winemakers feel that concentrates are a great introduction to the process of winemaking. There are also advantages to using fruit rather than concentrates; however. The main advantage to using fruit is that you have more control over the process, and thus the results, when you use fruits. For the most part, the process of making wine from fruit is similar to making it using concentrates. There are a few differences; however, and those differences are critical. Before you begin, you will need to make sure that you have plenty of fruit. It is not uncommon for many novice winemakers to think they have a sufficient amount of fruit when in fact they do not. You will need at least 70 pounds of grapes in order to produce six gallons of wine. This is the equivalent of about two bushels. The one exception to this is if you are using wild grapes such as Muscadine. In that case you will only need about 25 pounds of grapes due to the fact that wild grapes tend to have a stronger flavor as well as more acid. Since you will be dealing with a large amount of grapes, you will need to make sure that you have sufficient facilities to deal with them properly. Before you are able to use them to make wine, you will need to remove the stems as well as crush the grapes. Later, the grapes will then need to be pressed after they have had a few days to ferment. You can easily remove the stems as well as crush the grapes by hand. For small batches of grapes, you can use something as simple as a potato masher to crush the grapes; just make sure it has been cleaned and sanitized first. If you are dealing with larger amounts of grapes it may be worth it to go ahead and invest in a grape crusher as this will speed the process along. As previously mentioned, after the grapes have fermented for a few days, you will need to press the pulp in order to extract as much juice as possible. In the event you are making white whine, the grapes will need to be pressed directly after they have been crushed but before the first fermentation. When working with fruit rather than concentrate you will also need to have a hydrometer on hand in order to assist you in controlling the sugar level. As you may recall, this essential in determining the alcohol level in the final wine so it is a step that must not be overlooked. An acid test kit may also be helpful in controlling and monitoring the levels of acid that are present in your wine when you are using fruit rather than concentrate. When the acid level in the wine is too high, the resulting wine will typically have a taste that is too sour or sharp. If there is not enough acid; however, the wine may taste somewhat flat. An acid test kit will provide you with accurate readings and help you to determine whether you need to add water or acid blend for balance.   WineHomeBrewClub.com Tips for Making Wine with Fruits other than Grapes Most people commonly associate wines with grapes; however, it is entirely possible to make wines from fruits other than grapes. The production of wine using fruits other than grapes has become quite commonplace as the hobby of home winemaking has become more pronounced in just the last few years. The process of making wines from various types of fruit is no more complicated than making wine from grapes. The only difference between making wine using grapes and other fruits is the fact that you may need to make some adjustments when using other fruits including sugar content and acid levels. This will mean a couple of extra steps that may not usually be necessary when making grape wine; however, winemakers who have made the decision to use different fruits report that the extra effort is well worth it as you can often produce a stellar wine. Any number of different fruits may be used for making wine including peaches, watermelons, plums, strawberries, blackberries, boysenberries, gooseberries, pears, grapefruits, persimmons, pineapples and much more. The first step in making wine using other types of fruit is the same as making wine using grapes. You will need to evaluate the fruit. Keep in mind that the resulting wine cannot be any better than the fruit that was used to produce it. This means that you will need to pay careful attention to the quality of the fruit that you use to make your wine. Avoid fruit that contain excessive bruises and molds. Try to use only fruit that is completely ripe. Fruit that is not fully ripe tend to produce wine that is somewhat lacking in character. Make sure that you rinse off the fruit before the crushing. In some cases, you may need to dilute the fruit with water in order to get a good wine. This is because certain types of fruit are too strong on their own without dilution. Other fruits have a level of acid that is too high without dilution and will result in a wine that is sharp tasting. Blueberry and gooseberries are both examples of fruit that require some dilution because of their natural acid levels. Take note that this is not the case with all fruits. Apples, for example, do not require any dilution. You may use pure apple juice with no worries. The exact amount of fruit that you use to make your wine is dependent on a few factors. Really, there is not a single right formula when it comes to fruit amounts. If you want a dessert wine then you may wish to use more fruit in order to create a heavier, sweeter wine. On the other hand, if you want a wine that is lighter and crisper then you may wish to use less fruit. In order to monitor and adjust the sugar levels as necessary when using fruits for your winemaking, it is necessary to use a hydrometer. The hydrometer will help you to easily determine the amount of sugar that is present in the juice and how much alcohol will be produce from the level of sugar that is present. This will aide you in understanding whether more sugar needs to be added to produce a higher alcohol content. A hydrometer is a tube of glass with a floating weight on one end. You will be able to gauge the sugar level by looking at how low or high the hydrometer floats once placed in the juice. Generally, there will be a meter on the hydrometer that indicates the alcohol potential. You will also need to test and adjust the acidity as necessary when using fruits. This is imperative because acid levels can vary greatly among different types of fruits. There are two ways in which acid can be checked. One way is to use pH testing strips or litmus papers. This is generally a very fast and cheap way to check acid levels; however, it is not the most accurate way to check acid levels. The most accurate way to check acid levels is to use a process known as titration. A titration kit can be used to measure the acid level and how it will actually taste. If it is necessary to adjust the level of acid, you can do so using three different fruit acids. They are malic, citric and tartaric and they can be purchased either separately or in a blend known as Acid Blend. You can find these items in a home brewing store.   WineHomeBrewClub.com Tips for Making Wine with Concentrates One of the decisions you will need to make before you start your next batch of wine is whether you are going to use fruit or concentrates. Concentrates are often preferred by many beginners because they provide a rather easy way to produce very good wines quite consistently. This can be important if you are concerned about starting your first batch of wine and whether or not you will get good results. You will notice when you purchase concentrates that easy to follow directions and recipes are contained right on the package. This means that even if this is your first batch, you will be able to follow the directions very easily and be assured that the final result will produce good wine. Another advantage of using concentrates is that in most cases they will also include the other ingredients that you will need for your wine. These ingredients are typically already pre-measured and ready for you to use right away. This avoids the need to go out and purchase any other items as well as worrying over weather you have the measurements rights. If you are a novice winemaker, this can be a great advantage. Due to the fact that all of the guesswork has been taken out of the equation, a lot of the mistakes that first time winemakers tend to make are eliminated. Many winemakers also prefer using concentrates because they offer far more variety that most winemakers would be able to achieve on their own if they were relying on either growing their own grapes or purchasing them. With concentrates you can purchase grape concentrates that hail from all over the world including such countries as France, Spain, Germany, Italy and Australia as well as many more. These options give you the opportunity to create an extensive variety of wines. In addition, you have the security of knowing that you can purchase concentrates and make wine at any time of the year; even during times when grapes are not normally in season. The process of getting started using concentrates to make wine is quite easy. The first step is to simply pour the concentrate into whatever container you are using for fermentation and then add the appropriate amount of water. Next, add the yeast and any other ingredients that may be included and called for in the directions that accompanied the concentrate. In most cases, you will need to add about six gallons of water to the concentrate; however, this could vary from one specific concentrate to another so always be sure to refer to the directions carefully. Next, you will need to siphon the wine from the sediment. This will usually need to occur from time to time; however, the directions will instruct you as to when this should be done. After this process is complete, the wine is ready to be bottled. From start to finish, the entire process usually takes from around 30 days to 45 days. The exact amount of time that may be required usually depends on the exact concentrate you are using. You do not need a large amount of space to make wine from concentrates; another great advantage for many home winemakers. As long as you have a small space to dedicate to your winemaking it can be quite easy to get started making your own wine using concentrates.     Tips for Making Wine from Scratch As you go along with the winemaking process there may come a time when you have a batch of fruit that you think would make a great batch of wine. If you do not have a recipe available you may be tempted to begin throwing some things together and creating your own wine recipe. If you have been making some wine for some time, this is not normally a problem as long as you may sure you include important additions such as sugar and yeast. There are a few important guidelines to keep in mind; however, in order to make sure that everything turns out well. First, you will need to take into consideration how much produce must be used. If you have only made grape wine in the past you may be tempted to believe that you will be able to use the same amount of any other kind of produce that you use when making grape wine. This is not the case. The main reason why you may not be able to use the same amount of certain types of produce as grapes is the fact that some types of produce are stronger than others. The goal is to make sure that you achieve balance in your wine. If you are using a produce that is very strong and/or contains a high amount of acid then you will need to make sure that you balance that with some water for dilution purposes. Generally, the stronger the fruit; the less of it you will need. If you used the same amount of elderberries to make a batch of wine as you use to make grape wine, you will likely end up with a batch of wine that is practically undrinkable. In order to make up an average five gallon batch of wine; however, you will need to add enough water to constitute five full gallons. If you are using wine grapes, you typically do not need to add any water at all to make up your full five gallons. On the other hand, if you are using something like ginger root, which is a much stronger flavor, then you will need to use a good bit of water because you will typically be using less of the actual produce. You will also need to decide how much, if any, sugar you need to add to your developing recipe. With a lot of produce, you may not actually need to add any sugar because the produce may have enough of its own to support the fermentation process. If you are not sure whether the produce you are using needs to have any sugar added, use a hydrometer to test the juice. This is a very simple and easy to use device that contains a scale referred to as the Potential Alcohol. This scale measures the potential amount of alcohol that can be produced from the juice in terms of percentages from zero to twenty. This will give you a good idea of how much alcohol can be produced from the sugar level that is already present in the must. For example, if you get a reading of 4 on the hydrometer then you know you have enough sugar to produce 4% alcohol content in your wine. This is not enough alcohol for most people; so you would need to add some sugar. If you wanted to increase that level to around 12% then you will need to begin adding sugar gradually and testing at intervals until you test it and the hydrometer attains a reading of 12. In most cases, one pound of sugar will raise the alcohol level by approximately 1%. Do keep in mind that it is usually not a good idea to try to produce a wine that with an alcohol content of more than 13%; however, because higher alcohol contents could interfere with the stability and balance of the wine.      

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Tips for Planning a Trip to Country

Tips for Planning a Trip to California Wine Country Are you a wine enthusiast or do you at least enjoy drinking wine? If you enjoy wine, you may be interested in taking a trip to wine country. After all, it is not uncommon for wine enthusiasts to want to learn as much as they can about the drink that they love. If this is something that you want to do, you will want to take the time to examine California wine country. After a close examination, you will find that California wine country is the perfect vacation destination for wine lovers. As previously stated, there is an area in California is that commonly referred to as wine country. This area is located in the northern part of California and it includes the Sonoma Valley and the Napa Valley. When examining your travel options, you will see that there are other areas in the United States that are also commonly referred to as wine country. One of these areas is in the Finger Lakes Region of New York Sate. With that said, most professionals and online travel guides are speaking of California when they speak of wine country. If and when you decide to visit the California wine country area, you will want to take the time to do a little bit of research first. This is particularly true if you are limited on time. With over four hundred wineries and vineyards in California wine country, your options, are literally, unlimited. First examining which vineyards are open to the public and when and then deciding which vineyards and wineries you want to see the most, you can make the most out of your trip. Prioritizing and coming up with a plan are two important keys to a successful trip to California’s wine country. In addition to touring wineries in the California wine country region, there are many other wine related activities that you can enjoy. As previously stated, you will want to do a little bit of research before planning your trip. This research will allow you to examine planned events, activities, and festivals that the area may be offering. For example, did you know that some wineries have courses on how to properly match up food and wine, as well as short educational classes on the history of wine making? They do. In addition to simply touring the grounds of a California winery and tasting wine, you may want to participate in some of these activities. If you decide to visit California’s wine country on the weekend or during the summer, you will want to make your travel arrangements, namely your overnight accommodation reservations, well in advance of your trip. Wine country is a big draw and tourist attraction for California. Along many of the trails, you may find some bed and breakfasts and inns, as well as vacation rentals. These overnight accommodations are easy, in terms of convenience. In keeping with your options, wine country is also home to a number of RV parks, public campgrounds, hotels, and vacation resorts. As previously stated, there are many others areas in the United States that are starting to popup on the map as “wine countries.” Although these areas, like Woodinville Washington or the Finger Lakes Region of New York may be well known for their production of fine wines, most are talking about California when they speak of wine country.   WineHomeBrewClub.com Tips for Planning a Trip to Finger Lakes Wine Country Are you a wine enthusiast? If you are, you may be interested in taking a trip to wine country. If so, you may want to take the time to examine the Finger Lakes Region of New York State. When doing so, you will find that it is a great vacation destination, especially for wine enthusiasts. As previously stated, the Finger Lakes Region of New York State is commonly referred to as wine country. When many hear this, some are confused. This is mostly due in part to the fact that many associate wine country with Northern California, namely Napa Valley. Yes, many consider this area to be the “true,” wine country, but other areas that are known for their wine production are slowly emerging as “wine countries,” too. As for why you should consider visiting the Finger Lakes Region of New York State, you will want to keep location in mind. If you live in the northeast or even along the east coast in general, traveling to California wine country may not be possible, either because of costs or travel time. With that said, just because you cannot make it California wine country doesn’t mean that you still don’t want to take a wine themed trip or vacation. It does, however, mean that you should examine your other options, like the Finger Lakes Region of New York State. Before planning a trip to the Finger Lakes wine country, there are a number of important factors that you will first want to take into consideration. One of those factors is the weather. Unlike California, where the weather is almost always bright, sunny, and attractive, New York State is known for its sometimes wild weather. Typically, you will find that the best times to visit the Finger Lakes wine country area is in late spring, summer, or early fall. Winter is one of the worst times to visit the area. Although many activities, like wine tasting are still available in the winter, many more activities, like ground tours, are available in the peak wine months. Should you decide to visit the Finger Lakes wine country area of New York State, you may want to do a little bit of research first. This is particularly true if you are limited on time. In this area, you will have a number wine trails to choose from. These trails include the Seneca, Keuka Lake, Cayuga wine trails. With over one hundred wineries to choose from, you may want to first prioritize. This will enable you to see all of wineries that you wanted to visit, as well as maximize your time to its fullest potential. In addition to touring local wineries in the Finger Lakes Region of New York State, there is so much more than this wine country area has to offer. As previously stated, you will want to do a little bit of research when planning your trip. This will allow you to examine events, activities, and festivals that you may want to attend. Many wineries offer wine tasting and ground tours, many times on a daily basis, there are other events, such an educational segment on the history of wine, that take place throughout the year. In terms of wine related events, the Finger Lakes Wine Festival, which takes place every year in July, is a big draw. Should you decide to visit the Finger Lakes wine country, be sure to make your overnight accommodation reservations as soon as possible. Along many wine trails, you will find a number of small inns and bed and breakfasts which are perfect for many tourists. With that being said, their small size often limits the number of reservations accepted. Although a little bit off the beaten path, many nearby cities have hotels and vacation rentals are popular along the lakes. As previously stated, visiting the Finger Lakes wine country area of New York State is a nice alterative for many who are unable to visit California wine country.   WineHomeBrewClub.com   Tips for Planning a Trip to Woodinville Wine Country Do you enjoy drinking wine? Would you even go as far to say that you a wine enthusiast? If you so, you may be interested in taking a trip to wine country. If a trip to wine country interests you, you will want to examine the Woodinville wine country, which is located in the state of Washington. After a close look, you will see that it is a great vacation destination, especially for those who enjoy wine. As previously mentioned, the Woodinville area of Washington state is commonly known as and referred to as wine country. For some individuals, this may cause some confusion. When many of us hear of wine country, Northern California is the first destination that comes to mind. Yes, Northern California is the destination most commonly referred to as wine country, but that is slowly changing. There are many more areas in the United States, including Woodinville, that are being noticed for their production of fine wine. For many, it is a better option to visit Washington than to travel to California. Before you make travel arrangements to visit the Woodinville area of Washington, there are a number of important points that you will first want to take into consideration. The weather should be one of those points. The weather in Washington state can sometimes be unpredictable, especially in late fall to winter. For that reason, you will want to carefully plan your travel dates. Yes, you will find that some wineries are open all year round and some may even have fun activities and events planned in winter, but you may have the best luck traveling to the Woodinville wine country area during the summertime. Once you have decided that you would like to visit the Woodinville wine country area of Washington, you will want to start doing a little bit of research. This research is easy to do online. When examining Woodinville wine country, you will see that you have a number of wineries to choose from; however, not all are open to the public and many more have limited hours. Examining a few of the local wineries will allow you to map out your intended location, which is ideal for prioritizing your time and making the most out of your trip. Although taking a Woodinville wine country tour is a great activity, it is important to note that there are many more wine related activities and events that the area has to offer. For example, you may be able to go behind the scenes and see how wine is made, wine taste, as well as learn about the history of wine in a small educational class or seminar. If you are planning your wine country trip well in advance, you may want to request free vacation guides, namely those that have a focus on local wineries and wine themed events, festivals, and activities. Although the Woodinville wine country isn’t as large as California’s wine country, there is still plenty for you to and see in the area. That is just one of the many reasons why Woodinville is a big tourism draw. Since it is emerging as a popular destination for tourists, you will want to try to make your travel plans, including your overnight accommodation reservations, well in advance of your trip. When doing so, you will have hotels, inns, and bed and breakfasts to choose from.   Tips for Planning a Last Minute Wine Country Tour Were you recently given unexpected free time, namely a few days? Whether you received some vacation time at work or if your previous plans fell through, you may be looking for something fun and exciting to do. In fact, you even may be looking to take a last minute mini vacation. If you are, you may want to examine the wine country of California. Should you decide to take a last minute trip to California’s wine country, the first thing that you will want to do is make your travel arrangements. Even if you simply just have to get in car and drive an hour, it is still nice to have a plan. On the other hand, long distance travelers will need to make important travel arrangements, such as those for airline reservations or a car rental. If your last minute trip to California’s wine country requires a drive of more than two hours, be sure to map out your intended route before you leave. If you need to stay overnight, when visiting wine country, be sure to make your overnight accommodation reservations right away. This is important for all last minute travelers, as their options may be limited. With that said, it is vital that you make your reservations at a local hotel or inn in advance if you are visiting wine country during peak travel season. Many California wineries report that their peak seasons are May through October and that Saturdays are the busiest days. Next, it is important to decide which type of wine country tour you would like to take. As a visitor to California’s wine country, you should know that you have a number of options. Guided California wine country tours are popular options. Even when taking a last minute trip, you should still have a number of guided wine country tour companies to choose from. You can easily research your options online before you even leave for your trip. When doing so, be sure to pick those with affordable rates. With that said, also be sure to get the most value for your money. Generally speaking, the more wineries you are able to visit for the lowest price is the best deal. Even if you would like to take your own independent California wine country tours, it is still important that you do the proper amount of research before you leave. This is important as you have over four hundred options when visiting California’s wine country. Even if you have a week to spend, you still likely will not be able to visit them all. Since many last minute trips are short, you should decide which wineries you want to visit first. You can get a good idea of which ones are rated must sees by other tourists online, with a standard internet search. Once you have an idea, make sure you map out your intended stops. Try and create a path that works in a way that you can maximize your time. The above mentioned steps are just a few of the many that you will want to take, should you decide to take a last minute trip to California’s wine country. As a reminder, it is important to do even a little bit of preparation for last minute trips, especially if your travel distance is quite long.              

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The Many Different Types of Wine

One of the most common questions you may have when you begin considering making homemade wine is what type of wine you should make. There are certainly plenty of different types of wines from which to choose. Understanding the different types of wines can help you to narrow down the choices and select the type that would be best for your first, or your next, batch of wine. First, it is important to understand that while wine is generally made from grapes, you can actually use practically any type of vegetable matter to make wine. When grapes are used to make wine, they fall into three categories. They are red, white and rosè; a pinkish white wine. Red wines are not only different in color from white wines and rosè wines but they also have flavors that are stronger and richer. The exact color of a red wine can vary from russet brown to full red to a dark purple color. It is the skin of the grapes that give red wines their color. White wines typically have a more delicate flavor. The actual color of white wines can vary from the palest yellow to a deep gold. Some white wines can even have a pale green color. Rosè wines, also known as blush wines, are made with the same grapes as are used in red wines; however, they are submitted to a much shorter period of contact with the skin of the grapes. This results in a delicate blush color. There are several different types of well known white wines. Chardonnay is one of the most popular types of white wines along with Sauvignon Blanc and Riesling. Cabernet Sauvignon is one of the most popular types of red wines. Other popular reds include Grenache, merlot, pinot noir and Zinfandel. It is also important to understand the sugar content of wine. Wines with less amounts of sugar are drier. You have probably noted that wines are classified in the store with numbers 1-3. Higher numbered wines have more sugar and are therefore sweeter. You should also understand the difference between various types of wines and how they are typically served. Apèfitif wines are commonly served prior to a meal. They are commonly produced in either herbed or non-herbed varieties. The purpose of this type of wine is to stimulate the appetite; however, they are not frequently served with meals. Table wine is commonly served with dinner at the table. This type of wine is commonly dry and for a very specific purpose. It is meant to compliment the food instead of compete with it. Typically, a white wine is served with white meat while red wine is served with red meat. The reasoning behind this is that white wine flavors tend to subtle in a similar fashion to the flavors of white meats. Red meats are stronger flavored and do well with red wines, which are also stronger flavored. With a rosè, there is more flexibility. If the wine in question is somewhat dry, it will go with either red or white meat. Dessert wines, of course, are served at dessert because they tend to be quite sweet. When dessert wines are served at other times, the sweetness of the wine can seem to be overwhelming. After-dinner wines are also sweet; however, they tend to be served as one would guess; after dinner. While after-dinner wines may be spirits they could also be wines that are fermented. Brandy, sherry, port and liqueurs all fall into this category. WineHomeBrewClub.com The Flavors Of Wine Although the four main flavors - sweet, salty, sour, and bitter are all your tongue is really capable of tasting, the long lasting impression that wine leaves in your mouth is far more complex. When you drink or taste wine, your taste buds and your sense of smell are involved, adding to the way you interpret wine overall. The flavors, aromas, and sensations that wine is comprised of provide the interaction that you taste when you sample wine. Sweetness is something that wines are well known for. With most types of wine, grapes are responsible for the sweet taste. Grapes contain a lot of sugar, which breaks the yeast down into alcohol. The grapes and yeast that were used to produce the wine will leave behind various sugars, which your tongue will be able to quickly detect. Once your tongue detects these various sugars, the stimulation of sweetness from the wine will be ever so present in your mouth. Alcohol is also present in wine, although your tongue doesn’t really know how to decipher the taste of alcohol. Even though the tongue doesn’t really taste alcohol, the alcohol is present in the mouth. The alcohol found in wine will dilate blood vessels and therefore intensify all of the other flavors found in the wine. After you have samples a few types of wine, the alcohol level can easily have an effect on your taste buds, making it hard to distinguish other drinks that you may have. Another flavor is acidity, which will effect the sugars. With the proper balance of acidity, the overall flavor of wine can be very overwhelming. Once you taste wine that contains it, the flavor of the acidity will be well known to your tongue. Although acidity is great with wine, too much of it will leave a very sharp taste. With the right levels, acidity will bring the flavors of the grape and fruits alive in your mouth - providing you with the perfect taste. Yet another effect of flavor are tannins, which are the proteins found in the skins of grapes and other fruits. If a wine has the right amount of tannins, it will give your tongue a great feel, and bring in the sensations of the other flavors. Once a wine starts to age, the tannins will begin to breakdown in the bottle, giving you a softer feel to the taste. Tannins are essential for the taste of wine - providing the wine has been properly aged. The last flavor associated with wine is oak. Although oak isn’t put into the wine during the manufacturing 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 or cask, the ability to extract the flavor will vary. Most often times, wine will be aged just enough to where the oak taste is visibly there - and adds the perfect sentiment to the taste. Although there are other flavors involved with the taste of wine, they aren’t as present as those listed above. The above flavors are the most present in wine, and also the flavors that you need to get more familiar with. Before you try to taste wine or distinguish flavors, you should always learn as much you can about the components responsible for the flavors. This way - you will know more about what you are tasting and you’ll truly be able to appreciate wine.   WineHomeBrewClub.com   The Joys Of White Wine Red wines have been very popular lately, thanks to medical reports about their antioxidant and heart-protecting properties. It's true that red wines are amazing, but that doesn't mean the other less noticed kinds of wine are bad. White wines are in fact divine, when it comes to their subtle aroma and taste it's more than the senses with a right amount of sweetness and delicately combined with mild sources. Wine service at a nice restaurant can be an unneccessarily difficult ordeal. The following tips will allow you to follow the customs of wine service with ease and confidence. Many people are confused about wine, especially whites. This makes many estranged from the joys of the cellar. For the uninitiated, here are some of the most common kinds of white wine: 1. Chardonnay - The most renowned type of white wine is very much befitting of the superstardom. This type of wine originated in France from grapes of the same name. Its flavor reminds one of the fruity tastes of pineapple, peach, citrus, apple combined with luscious tang of vanilla, oatmeal, and nuts. Chardonnay looks very elegant in a glass with its deep yellow to light greenish transparence. 2. Sauvignon Blanc – Another wine that hails from France, particularly around the Loire valley, the Sauvignon Blanc can also be found in New Zealand. Its flavor evokes freshness of the pastures around its area, reminding one of the aroma of freshly cut grass, giving the wine an herbaceous flavor with hints of fruits. It is best to enjoy this wine immediately as its fresh flavor doesn't last long. 3. Chenin Blanc – another product of the Loire valley, this exceptional wine usually goes unnoticed as the underdog of the wine kingdom. However its flavors are truly magnificent with hints of tangy pineapple and lime combined with the sweetness of honey and licorice. This one lasts longer and can keep up to 10 years. Art of Wine Tasting. 4. Gewurztraminer – This one comes from Alsace, France. A wine with a louder character, with hints of spice and floral taste. 5. Pinot Gris – this crisp and smoky wine with hints of apricot comes from Alsace, North Eastern Italy, and New Zealand. 6. Riesling – a noble tea-like, honey flavored wine comes from Alsace or Clare Valley in France, or from Germany. There are so many other kinds of white wines, all evoking elegant and luscious flavors that make them perfect companions for soft cheeses, white sauced pasta, fish and poultry. Of course one can have a glass with any meal or by itself depending on one’s preference. When it comes to the joys and pleasures brought about by wine, whites can compete with reds. To know more about white wines, it is best to befriend a wine dealer. Cheers! When choosing a wine from a restaurant's wine list, the main goal is to accomplish a suitable pairing with the entrees of your party. If the food orders are too different to generalize with one wine, consider purchasing splits or ordering by the glass. Waiters and sommeliers are there to answer your questions, but availing yourself to their services and advice will be much more beneficial if your questions are relatively specific.     The Joys Of Sauvignon Blanc To many people, if you say you want a white wine, they think Chardonnay. And while the Chardonnays of many vineyards are delightful, light and tart presenting a rich body and smart nose, many others are awkward, sour or overpowering. These latter ones, and the somewhat unpredictability of the varietal has caused me to search for an alternative, a more reliable alternative, to the ubiquitous Chardonnay. I should say here that most California Chardonnays, and some South African ones, are absolutely wonderful, well-crafted wines with nuanced and multi-layered flavors that entertain without overpowering. However, there are those others.... So I began my quest for the Chardonnay alternative. I learned to enjoy Pinot Grigio, which offers a lovely contrast to the Chardonnay grape and intend to write another article extolling its virtues, which are many. The German whites, Riesling, Liebfraumilch, etc. tend to be too sweet for my tastes, though they are very popular and many people find them quite charming. Then a friend encouraged me to try a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc. I had tried this varietal before, but it was European in origin, and consequently expensive and frankly, I didn’t find it terribly remarkable. But, this friend of mine is rarely wrong in matters of wine-loving interest, so I trudged to the local wine store and positioned myself in front of the New Zealand section. After a few moments, my eye was caught by a label that I felt was light-hearted and interesting enough to merit my attention. The bottle was not terribly expensive at $9, so I snatched it up and dashed home. It was a summer evening, and that night’s dinner was a light pasta salad with vegetables, feta, black olives and fresh tomatoes in an olive oil and garlic dressing. I had chilled the wine thoroughly, though not overly, and popped the cork expectantly. Pouring myself a small portion, I sampled the nose of the wine and was greeted by the most amazing and almost overpowering freshness of citrus. In fact, not just any citrus, but strong grapefruit. The smell was so specific and strong that I read the entire label of the wine again to make sure that this was indeed grape wine of the variety Sauvignon Blanc with no additives or flavors beyond just the wine. I was startled at the strength of the grapefruit scent and had to know if it extended to the flavor of the wine. I took a small bit in my mouth and breathed in over it. And while the flavor was redolent with grapefruit, it was not overpoweringly so. In fact, this was an absolutely charming wine with power, nuance, and grace. The citrus quality provided a freshness that I can barely describe except to say that I now enjoy this wine regularly as one of my absolute favorites. Since then, I have sampled many vineyards’ Sauvignon Blanc offerings, and found them to have varying degrees of success. Frankly, my experience has been that Chile produces drinkable, but inferior bottles of this variety, while Australia and New Zealand seem to have mastered the graces of this delightful grape. South Africa, Europe and California are uneven in their efforts and can range from the masterful to the amateur without any noticeable indication by price or availability. Frankly, this variety has become my very favorite and I seek it in all its forms whenever I can. I encourage you to try it with a nice, light chicken dinner or avocado salad.

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Wine Accessories Essential Tips

Why You Should Use A Wine Rack For wine to mature in the proper way, you’ll need to have the right humidity, temperature, light condition, and movement. Whenever you are storing wine for any amount of time, you’ll need to ensure that the wine is in a safe place. Even though there are a few ways that you can store wine, none are safer or smarter than using a wine rack When you choose your wine rack, you should always remember to choose one that will store your wine properly. There are a several styles to choose from, including those that stack, wall mounts, and side mounts. You should also pay attention to size as well, as the sizes range from storing a few bottles to storing hundreds. You’ll also have a lot of varieties and designs to select from, all of which depend on your needs and your space. Among the best types of wine racks are the horizontal racks. Contrary to what many may think, vertical racks aren’t a good choice for storing your wine. Wine that is stored on vertical racks are stored vertically, which means that the cork will dry out and eventually start to shrink, bringing air into the wine and ruining it. On the other hand, vertical racks can come in handy when storing wine for short periods of time, or wine that is best consumed young. Tilted racks are another type of rack you should avoid using, as they can dry out the corks or deposit the sediments too close to the cork. For your wine storing needs, you should always go with a horizontal rack. Horizontal racks will keep the cork moist, and keep unwanted air from making contact with the wine. The sediment will fall towards the side of the bottle, preventing spillage when you pop the cork. Horizontal racks are also very affordable and you can always add more racks to the design with little to no problem. The materials for wine racks are normally wood or metal. You can hang them from ceilings, mount them on the wall, or simply place them on the floor. Metal racks are the strongest, although wood is more flexible. Wooden racks provide a bit more storage, for the simple fact that you can always add to them. Wood racks are also visually appealing, durable, and provide plenty of strength. All in all, a wine rack is a fine investment for anyone who appreciates wine. There are various sizes to choose from, all of which are very affordable. The small to medium sizes work best for homes, while the large styles are best for commercial settings. No matter where you keep your wine - you can count on a wine rack to keep your wine stored for years to come. WineHomeBrewClub.com What You Should Know Before Buying A Wine Rack For some people, the storage and acquisition of wine is more than just a hobby, it is an art. Wine connoisseurs all know that the proper storage of wine is important to its final flavor. Once it is already bottled, wine will still mature and gain body and flavor. Proper care should be taken when handling wine, or else its potential for greatness will go to waste. To keep their wine well preserved, the discriminating connoisseur will choose a proper wine rack. How to Buy a Wine Rack The Build Wine racks can be made of so many different materials and styles. You should consider which material and style fits your needs and preference. You could have wood, glass, alloy, or metal racks. Some people try to choose materials that match their living rooms. There are a variety of styles of wine racks, find one that is convenient for you. The popular styles include counter top racks, diamond bins, cabinets and others. The Essential Elements A good wine rack will ensure that the following elements are strictly controlled. Light, humidity, temperature, stability. If you want to keep your wine well preserved and ready for ambush party, you need to make sure they are not exposed to light, moisture, extreme temperatures and shaking or vibration. Cabinet wine racks are good at keeping wine bottles safe. They can emulate the conditions at a wine cellar best. These condition include moderate humidity, cool temperatures, and little light We try to control the humidity so we can avoid getting the wine cork from accumulating moisture. This will lessen the chances that the wine will get contaminated or oxidized. Keeping the correct humidity or appropriately moist environment will keep the wine cork damp, reducing the chances of contamination and/or oxidization. Warm conditions will accelerate wine aging. You have to keep this in mind when you consider which wine rack to choose. Things to Remember Don’t place wine cellars above or near refrigerators. Refrigerators generate heat and this heat could ruin your wine collection. Buying and installing a good wine rack would be useless if that happens. Your rack has to be smooth enough that when the wine bottles are put and taken, they will not get scratched and damaged. Bottles and labels are also important parts of the overall value of wine. A wine cellar is great but not necessary to store your wine in the correct environment. But since not everyone can afford a wine cellar or has space enough for one, you could opt for a wine rack instead. Wine racks function a lot like wine cellars, but they are smaller and are more accessible. They are also a lot cheaper and easier to install. Believe it or not, ultraviolet light can affect and ruin wine. That’s the reason wine cellars are so dark and that’s why you have to keep your wine in a dark safe place. When you store your wine bottles, make sure they are stored sideways; this ensures that the wine is always in contact with the cork to keep it moist. Once again we cannot express how important it is to maintain the right conditions for your wine to mature nicely. Your wine rack system has to maintain the right amount of humidity and temperature to keep your collection going. Bear in mind that wine is something you keep for a long time. Keep your wine racks pumping a temperature range of 55-60° F. Also make sure the humidity is in the 50% to 75% range. Adjust these settings according to the needs of your wine. Start Planning for Your Wine Rack Now! Well, now you have pretty much gotten everything in order. When a party comes crashing through, you can whip out the grade A wine and celebrate to your hearts content. Pour out the good times to the tune of the compliments and admiration your friends will throw your way all because of your fine wine rack.   Wine Cellar Cooling Units Building a wine cellar can create the ideal environment to store your wines. Temperature is always a major consideration in wine storage and the ideal wine storage temperature is between 55ºF and 58ºF (13ºC–15ºC), although any temperature between 40º–65ºF (5º–18ºC) will suffice as long as it doesn’t fluctuate too much. Ideally, the humidity should be around 70%. If you can't achieve these temperatures in your passive wine cellar then you may require a wine cellar cooling unit. A standard home refrigerator makes a poor wine cooling solution for several reasons. It is designed specifically to store and look after food products, not to store wines. An atmosphere that works well for meat and vegetables is far too cold and dry for your expensive wine. The preferred temperature for home refrigeration is somewhere between 35ºF and 38ºF (1.7 to 3.3ºC) Home – or even commercial – refrigeration equipment is built to cool food quickly to prevent it spoiling. This is achieved by blasting cold air until the desired temperature is reached. Then a cycle kicks in whereby once the set temperature is reached, the refrigerator shuts off. When the temperature rises to a pre-determined point, cold air is again blasted. This continuous fluctuating temperature cycle isn't good for your wines. Standard refrigeration equipment is designed not only to cool but also to remove moisture. Wine gives off neither heat nor moisture so you end up with an environment that's way too dry for wine. This will cause wine corks to shrink, which will allow air to get in. Once the air is in contact with your wine the irreversible process of oxidation begins and your wine is ruined! Vibration can also be an issue with a home refrigerator. Wine requires a calm vibration-free environment in which to develop so any vibration will eventually destroy a fine wine. Similarly, home air conditioning provides a poor environment for aging your wines, as it removes the humidity from the air which can lead to corks drying out. Additionally, if air conditioning is only turned on at certain times during the day then the wine will become subject to wide temperature fluctuations, which will inevitably cause irreparable damage to your wine. To properly cool and humidify a cellar you will need a cooling system designed specifically for cooling a wine cellar. Wine cellar cooling units can be set at any temperature within the optimum range for successfully aging wines and they cool the air slowly and gently. They are designed to maintain humidity rather than dehydrating the cellar although sometimes additional humidification may be required in extremely dry climates. This type of wine cellar cooling unit is usually installed approximately 18 inches from the top of the room in order to achieve maximum cooling. The unit will also require an unobstructed airflow and adequate ventilation to dissipate the heat generated by the unit. It is also possible to install a split air system into a wine cellar although these units can be very expensive with prices running into many thousands of dollars. A split air system is installed outside the wine cellar and the supply and return air is ducted to and from the wine cellar. This wine cellar refrigeration system works like a central air-conditioning system and is similarly quiet. This system would usually include electronic controls and a digital display. There are many options available with split system cooling including humidifiers, dehumidifiers and alarm units. With the addition of the options, a split air system will provide you with total control of your wine cellar refrigeration, albeit at a large cost. If you find that your wine cellar requires a cooling unit it is worthwhile shopping around and comparing brands. There are few bargains, however, you should be able to save money with a little research. WineHomeBrewClub.com Wine Basics - Find Great Wine Values Ever felt discontentment and agitated after paying too much for a bottle of wine? Getting a good deal on this kind of product is like getting a good deal on any other. It feels simply good. In fact there is an air of satisfaction just knowing that you have found true wine values in your purchases. Wine values involve more than finding the least costly brand on the shelf. One must remember the less money you spend does not assure you the feeling of satisfaction that getting a good, open deal does. If that were the case, people would just buy the cheapest bottles on the shelves. Well this does not happen. While for some would argue that there are wine-snobs floating around who only like a brand if it costs an exorbitant amount of money. Now this can be the case for a select few who find their wines by the cost rather than the wine values. Despite the fact that it is more expensive it does not always mean more value. There are certainly more things to consider than the price. First in order to truly find wine values you have to look at the grand scale. You do not necessarily want the cheapest brand on the market despite the fact that you can find decent quality in the cheapest brand on the shelf. You also do not always find the best quality for the money with a high-priced purchase. Obviously the balance is getting the most bang for your buck. If you are faced with questions like; what is the finest quality product available for the most reasonable price? You may pay out a little more than the bottom-shelf brand but you will in fact appreciate the selection because of its superior quality. You will also value the idea of knowing that your snobby neighbor paid nearly twice as much for the same quality varietals found in your economically-sound wine values. Experimenting a little bit is definitely an excellent way to finding good wine values. Instead of automatically looking at the commonly more expensive Chardonnay or Cabernet Sauvignon try looking into a Pinot Blanc or a Pinot Noir instead. You will be pleasantly surprised by trying less popular varietals as they can lead to great discoveries. You may also want to consider wines from different regions as well. Australia and New Zealand boast wonderful wines for fairly little money. Check out local winery, too.You can truly uncover some treasures locally and you can also choose to buy wines by the case. Often wineries give a discount if you buy in bulk. In any case, the best wine values are subjective in nature. You may love the simple boxed wine that many would avoid. Your enjoyment is primary in the value of your purchase.   Wine Accessories At Kitchen Junkie Wine is more than an alcoholic beverage. It’s almost a way of life! There are more wine accessories available than you could even imagine. From the necessities like corkscrews and glasses, to the not so necessary yet entertaining accessories like decanters, ice buckets, and pourers- there is more to wine than just drinking it. Corkscrews & Openers While there are hundreds of varieties of corkscrews, they all work in basically the same fashion. You screw one end directly into the center of the wine’s cork, and use a handle to life the cork out of the bottle in order to enjoy your bottle of wine. If you want something other than a corkscrew, you can find another style of opener that uses cartridges to “pop” the cork out of the bottle. The pop style openers tend to be a little more expensive than the traditional corkscrew, but image is everything when it comes to wine, and a specialty opener may be just the extra accessory you need for your dinner parties or restaurant atmosphere. Decanters Decanters are glass bottles with special shapes designed to encourage the heightening of wine flavors when you store your open wine in them. They also make for a nice presentation when you place the decanter on the table. There are literally countless different shapes and styles that decanters come in. Many resemble a glass flower vase. Certain wines should be placed in specific shapes of wine decanters in order to enhance the flavor of the wine to the fullest extent. Others can be stored in any of the fancy decanters. For an incredible display, you could find a decanter with it’s own base unit. These are highly stylish, and often hold the decanter at an angle, and suspended over the table. Some decanters come with glass ball stoppers to be placed on the opening of the bottle in order to keep the freshness in when the wine is stored. Air can have damaging effects to the properties of wine, and so it’s usually best to keep open wine in an airtight container. Additionally, some decanters are able to remove sediments from older wine and aerate younger wines to further enhance their flavors. Decanters are certainly not necessary to drinking wine (you can place the cork back in the bottle of a wine to keep the air out when you’re not pouring the wine) but they certainly make for a nicer presentation and can actually help the overall flavor of the wine. Wine Racks Where do you store your wine bottles? If you’re like most people, you keep them in one of your kitchen cabinets until you’re ready to use them, or maybe in the basement. If you drink wine often, however, you would probably enjoy having an elegant and functional wine rack in the kitchen or dining room that is designed to display and hold your wine bottles, glasses, and accessories. Some wine racks are mounted to overhead cabinet space, so that the bottles are placed lying down inside them, while the glasses hang from their stems. These are perfect for kitchens with decent space under their overhead cabinets. If you don’t have the room for this style of wine rack, there are wine racks that sit directly on the counter, and hold the bottles at arms reach. If your kitchen simply doesn’t have the space on the counter top or under the overhead cabinets for these styles, you can enjoy a wine rack that stands alone. These often have small base units, sometimes refrigerated, as well as space for glasses and accessories. They take up more floor space, but can really dress up a dining area.     Wine Accessories - A Wine Lover's Mark The popularity of wine spreads all over the world. This drink loved by all, is perhaps one of the oldest alcoholic beverages available. A true wine lover not only loves to drink it, but also loves to serve it to other people. For a wine connoisseur, a wine rack is a must to have in his house. Wine racks are both decorative as well as utilitarian. It is for holding your collection of different wine bottles, and for many it is like a display which they always are proud of. Wine racks: There are so many different designs of wine racks you can find. Depending on your taste, whether you want an old classic look or a modern touch, you can choose the wine rack. Wood is still the most loved storage wine rack. There are a few wine racks that are even made for storing wine inside the refrigerator. Wine bottles have to be kept and stored with utmost care. These wine racks hold the bottles in contact with the cork, thereby preventing any loss of taste or smell of delicate liquids. Wine racks can be made up of wood, metal, wrought iron, etc. It is said that wrought iron racks are best, as they can not only be made into different artistic designs, but they are also sturdy, thus providing good support for your wine bottles. For a classic Victorian look, go for a wooden wine storage rack. This is also safe to use as it can go with any kind of furniture you have at home. You can also buy table top racks if you are short of space in the house. Things to remember: For those who have a large collection of wine, you can also go for a refrigerator wine storage rack, as the refrigerator will keep the temperature under control. There are a few things that you should remember while buying a wine storage rack: • Decide on the place where you want to keep the rack, be it your kitchen or your dining area. Depending on that, you can decide on what type of rack you want. • If you have a big space, you can have choices as to what type of racks you want, but incase you are short of space, you can go for a hanging one or a wall rack. • Check out the size, shape, and the number of bottles you want, and then you can decide whether you will need a big rack or if a small one will do. • Find out the different price ranges and compare prices from all different dealers. Buy the one that suits your budget. A wine rack cannot be complete without wine accessories. The most common ones include wine glasses, corkscrews, wine totes, coolers, wine stoppers, wine bottle holders, corkboards etc. A wine corkscrew is an important tool. There are many types of corkscrews available, though all serve the same purpose. One end has to be screwed directly into the cork's center, and then the handle is used to lift the cork out of the bottle. Now you can also find decanters for enhancing the look of your display. They are glass bottles with designs on them, and they are also great for maintaining the flavors of wine rather than to keep in open bottles in your rack. These wine accessories also make a perfect gift for someone who has a taste for fine things in life.  

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Wine Storage Tips Making The Most of Your Wine

Wine Storage Tips: Making The Most Of Your Treasure Wine has been set apart from the other beverages consumed by humans, rather like the gods and goddesses themselves were set apart from mere mortals in their aerie on Mount Olympus, since the first flagon of grape was allowed to ferment. Wine has had a role to play in religious ceremonies form the time of the ancient Greeks to the Christian rituals of today, and when it is released from its bottle like a genie, wine has almost the same effect. Yet wine, for all its mystery, requires some rather mundane care. Wine which is not to be consumed immediately needs to be sorted, and its proper storage has certain rituals of its own. For those uninitiated into those rituals, wine storage tips might prove helpful. Although many people love to store their wine in plain sight of the envious eyes of their visitors, or because the shade of the burgundy exactly matches the roses on Grandmother’s china, the first of the wine storage tips is that wine should be stored away from light and heat. If you’re not going to be drinking the lovely burgundy within a few weeks, put it back in the wine storage rack in a dark cool part of the house. Watching The Humidity And while you’re putting it back, check the humidity in your main wine storage area. The second of the wine storage tips is that you don’t want the humidity to drop to a level at which the bottle corks will begin to dry out and shrink. If they do, air will get into the bottle s and the wine will eventually deteriorate. Storing Leftover Wine Another of the more useful wine storage tips regards what you should do after the party with the wine in your half-empty bottles. Feeding it to the kitchen sink hardly seems justified; if you can find the cork and it still fits, just replace it and make sure to finish the wine in the next couple of days. For more info see http://www.winestoragerating.com/Articles/Wine_Storage_Temperature.php on Wine Storage Temperature. Nitrogen Sealing But if you’ve had as much wine as you can take for a while, and you can find one, get yourself a nitrogen wine storage unit. It has a cylinder of nitrogen attached to a hose, and the hose is fitted to the bottle of leftover wine, pressurizing it with nitrogen gas so that the wine is protected from oxygen in the air. Oxygen will destroy the wine’s magical properties, but nitrogen will leave them intact. The final, and most obvious, of the wine storage tips, is to forego the entire storage process and drink the wine as soon as you bring it home. That’s why you bought it! WineHomeBrewClub.com   Wine Storage Temperature And The Art Of Imbibing Modern science, when applied to the millennia old art of wine making, has let the great vineyards of the world produce many vintages which to not need to age in their bottles for extended periods before reaching the peaks of flavor and aroma. But the question remains of how to store other vintages for which the journey to perfection will take more time. A wine cellar is the perfect answer for those who have both the space and the money to indulge in one. For the rest of us, though, something more modest will have to do, and any wine storage which is to succeed will have to be done at the proper wine storage temperature. Finding the correct wine storage temperature is not really mystery; warm is bad; cool is good. Heat will cause wine to deteriorate just as it causes fresh fruits, vegetable, meats, and dairy products to deteriorate. On the other hand, going to far in the chilly direction can also be dangerous; frozen wine, unlike frozen grape juice, does not a Popsicle make. Frozen wine, in fact, loses forever its aroma and taste. Color Coded Temperatures One of the factors which should influence your choice of wine storage temperatures is the color of the liquid in the wine bottle. Is it white, or red, or something in between? Once a bottle of wine has been fetched from wherever you keep it during its long nap, you want it at the optimum serving temperature before you drink it. Red wines should not be served chilled; the cold will rob the wine of its ability to dazzle your palate with all the sublet tones and nuances of its flavors and aromas. A temperature of about 65F, or 18C, will show off your merlots, pinots, and burgundies to their best advantage. White wines and blushes are to red wines what ice is to blood; they need to be thoroughly chilled before serving if they are to have any impact whatsoever. No matter their wine storage temperature where you have been keeping them, get them to 39 F, or 4C, before taking the first sip. For more info see http://www.winestoragerating.com/Articles/Wine_Storage_Temperature.php on Wine Storage Temperature. Enjoying The Drink All wines, no matter their color and their wine storage temperatures, should be given a chance to breathe after they have been opened. They should be allowed at least fifteen minutes--thirty would be much better-- of exposure to the air before they are poured and consumed, and they should never, ever, ever be swallowed without being allowed some intimacy with the drinker’s mouth and tongue. If you are brave enough, or drinking alone, you can even try trilling--gently gargling--the wine so that it comes into contact with every part of your mouth.   WineHomeBrewClub.com Wine Storage Temperature And Serving Suggestions The love of wine has existed since the dawn of time. Fossil vines, 60-million-years-old, are the earliest scientific evidence of grapes. The earliest written account of viniculture is in the Old Testament of the Bible which tells us that Noah planted a vineyard and made wine (well with all those animals on the Ark what was he expected to do!) Exactly when it was discovered is unknown, but an ancient Persian fable credits a lady of the court with the discovery of wine. This Princess, having lost favor with the King, attempted to poison herself by eating some table grapes that had spoiled in a jar. She became intoxicated and giddy and fell asleep. When she awoke, she found the stresses that had made her life intolerable had dispersed. Returning to the source of her relief, her subsequent conduct changed so remarkably that she regained the King's favor. He shared his daughter's discovery with his court and ... The wine industry and consumption continues to grow every year. Wine connoisseur are continually buying great wine to keep either for later consumption or for investment. One of the most important aspects to ensure your wine stays fresh during storage is the wine storage temperature. The basics of wine storage temperature are fairly simple. First, the wine should be kept cool. Like most beverages and foods, heat is the natural enemy of wine. A cool temperature is optimal, but the temperature should not lowered too much as this too will harm the wine. In the unlikely event that the wine freezes, it will probably only be suitable for vinegar! The basics of wine storage are really straightforward with whites, reds, and blushes. However, the serving preparation for each of these wine types is different and something worth discussing. After removing the bottle from storage, getting your wine to the correct temperature is important. With red wines, such as a merlot or sheraz, approximately 65 degrees Fahrenheit (18 degrees Celsius) is what is recommended. This is basically room temperature. Secret tip: in a room of about 70 degrees Fahrenheit the wine, due to being a liquid will naturally be cooler. It is highly advised to not chill red wines. This is a more common error than you think, the cold can be very destructive on the wine and its flavor. With whites and many blushes the need for refrigeration before serving is key. Chilling truly brings out the flavor. For these types of wine 39 degrees Fahrenheit or 4 degrees Celsius is usually a good temperature. In the case of both darker wines and the lighter types, it is advisable to let the bottle ‘breathe’ after opening. It is recommended you do this about half an hour before drinking (longer is often better) Now to tasting. Swish the wine around the mouth to truly get the most out of the flavor. I however recommend drinking as opposed to spitting it out! In the end ENJOY the wine, it is after all a pleasure that has been with us for centuries.     Wine Storage is the Key to Preserving and Aging your Wine Wine storage is key to the success of any collection. If you enjoy collecting find wines then you will want to look into the best of all wine storage options. There are many different ways to store your wine but no matter which wine storage solution you choose you will need to keep the conditions constant. The temperature of any wine storage space needs to be at a constant 50-60 degrees. There should also be plenty of ventilation of the area and this wine storage should be far away from the main area of the house. You do not want to have your wine collection suffering due to too much vibration and you need to keep any source of light to a minimum. No sunlight should be permitted into the wine storage area. You can use a wine cellar for your wine storage or you can have a special cooler. Wine racks are a necessary part of your wine storage. The wine racks can be made of metal or wood and the wine storage that you choose will be a matter of personal taste. Both of these sorts of racks are wonderful to look at but the metal racks tend to be more flamboyant and stylish while the wood racks are classic and traditional in style. You may want to choose your racks in order to have them match the rest of your wine storage solution. The final choices that you make will be affected somewhat by whether or not you are planning to show off your wine cellar to your friends. If you are then your wine storage solutions will need to be a little more coordinated. So look into the wine racks and other wine storage options that will all look well together. Your wine storage area can look like those of a professional wine collector. It is not hard to do but it can cost you a little money. Your temporary wine storage options are a little simpler. Just before you serve your wine you will probably want to chill it, this of course depends on the wine. In order to store your wine for chilling you can look into cool wine storage solutions. Wine coolers are easy to find, you can find them in many department stores or wine stores. Even the Internet is a great source for finding these types of wine storage options.   Wine Cellar Cooling Units Building a wine cellar can create the ideal environment to store your wines. Temperature is always a major consideration in wine storage and the ideal wine storage temperature is between 55ºF and 58ºF (13ºC–15ºC), although any temperature between 40º–65ºF (5º–18ºC) will suffice as long as it doesn’t fluctuate too much. Ideally, the humidity should be around 70%. If you can't achieve these temperatures in your passive wine cellar then you may require a wine cellar cooling unit. A standard home refrigerator makes a poor wine cooling solution for several reasons. It is designed specifically to store and look after food products, not to store wines. An atmosphere that works well for meat and vegetables is far too cold and dry for your expensive wine. The preferred temperature for home refrigeration is somewhere between 35ºF and 38ºF (1.7 to 3.3ºC) Home – or even commercial – refrigeration equipment is built to cool food quickly to prevent it spoiling. This is achieved by blasting cold air until the desired temperature is reached. Then a cycle kicks in whereby once the set temperature is reached, the refrigerator shuts off. When the temperature rises to a pre-determined point, cold air is again blasted. This continuous fluctuating temperature cycle isn't good for your wines. Standard refrigeration equipment is designed not only to cool but also to remove moisture. Wine gives off neither heat nor moisture so you end up with an environment that's way too dry for wine. This will cause wine corks to shrink, which will allow air to get in. Once the air is in contact with your wine the irreversible process of oxidation begins and your wine is ruined! Vibration can also be an issue with a home refrigerator. Wine requires a calm vibration-free environment in which to develop so any vibration will eventually destroy a fine wine. Similarly, home air conditioning provides a poor environment for aging your wines, as it removes the humidity from the air which can lead to corks drying out. Additionally, if air conditioning is only turned on at certain times during the day then the wine will become subject to wide temperature fluctuations, which will inevitably cause irreparable damage to your wine. To properly cool and humidify a cellar you will need a cooling system designed specifically for cooling a wine cellar. Wine cellar cooling units can be set at any temperature within the optimum range for successfully aging wines and they cool the air slowly and gently. They are designed to maintain humidity rather than dehydrating the cellar although sometimes additional humidification may be required in extremely dry climates. This type of wine cellar cooling unit is usually installed approximately 18 inches from the top of the room in order to achieve maximum cooling. The unit will also require an unobstructed airflow and adequate ventilation to dissipate the heat generated by the unit. It is also possible to install a split air system into a wine cellar although these units can be very expensive with prices running into many thousands of dollars. A split air system is installed outside the wine cellar and the supply and return air is ducted to and from the wine cellar. This wine cellar refrigeration system works like a central air-conditioning system and is similarly quiet. This system would usually include electronic controls and a digital display. There are many options available with split system cooling including humidifiers, dehumidifiers and alarm units. With the addition of the options, a split air system will provide you with total control of your wine cellar refrigeration, albeit at a large cost. If you find that your wine cellar requires a cooling unit it is worthwhile shopping around and comparing brands. There are few bargains, however, you should be able to save money with a little research.      

http://winehomebrewclub.com/wine-storage-tips-making-the-most-of-your-wine/

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All You Need To Know About Wine Racks

Wine Racks If you want your wine to mature in the correct way, you should have the right humidity, temperature, light condition, and movement. When you are storing wine for any amount of time, you’ll need to ensure that the wine is in a secure place. Even if you have a few ways to choose to store wine, not any are safer or smarter than using a wine rack. That’s why evaluating pieces of writing is definitely an excellent way of growing ones comprehension of a theme but for that you would have to rummage around through a lot of waste. Perhaps some of your needs must have been contented through reading this article about.   Why Use A Wine Rack. As soon as you make a decision towards the sort of wine rack that goes well with your needs, you should at all times consider selecting one that will store up your wine perfectly. On the market you’ll find more than a few kinds to choose from, including the ones that stack, wall mounts, and side mounts. You should also focus on to dimension as well, as the sizes sort from piling a few bottles to storing hundreds. You’ll also have an abundance of types and designs to choose from, depending on your wants and your space. Along with the best types of wine racks are the horizontal racks. Contrary to what many might imagine, vertical racks aren’t an outstanding option for collecting your wine. Wine that is stockpiled on vertical racks are stored vertically, which means that the cork will dry out and ultimately start to shrink, conveying air into the wine and ruining it. On the other hand, vertical racks could be practical when storing wine for a short period of time, or wine that is best consumed at an early stage. Tilted racks are another type of rack you should avoid using, as they can dry out the corks or deposit the sediments too close to the cork. As for your wine storing requirements, you should always choose a horizontal rack. Horizontal racks will keep the cork moist, and keep out the surplus air from making contact with the wine. The sediment will drop towards the side of the bottle, preventing spillage when you pop the cork. Horizontal racks are as well very well within your reach and you can always add more racks to the design without any problem. The material used for wine racks are normally wood or metal. You can mount them on the wall, suspend them from ceilings, or just place them on the floor. Metal racks are the strongest, even though wood is more flexible. Wooden racks offer a bit more storage, for the simple fact that you can constantly add to them. Wood racks are also visually appealing, durable, and supply plenty of strength. We can say for sure that a wine rack is a good investment for everyone who likes wine. There are different sizes to choose from, all of which are very reasonably priced. The small to medium sizes work best for homes, while the large styles are best for commercial settings. Regardless of where you keep your wine - you can count on a wine rack to keep your wine stored for years to come. That is all we had to talk about why to use a wine rack and if you are satisfied with what you have learnt here, our task has been satisfied.   Wine Racks: A Guide To Home Wine Storage Home wine racks are specially designed for storing bottles of wines in a horizontal position, to help preserve the quality of the wine. Storing your bottles in a wine rack is a great way to prevent the corks from drying out. If this happens, the cork can shrink and let air in, resulting in oxidization, which will spoil the taste. Wine storage racks usually have separate compartments for holding individual bottles, allowing gaps between each one to allow air to circulate. Ideally, wines should be kept at a consistent temperature of around 55 degrees farenheit, with a relative humidity of 70%, away from light. If your wine collection is growing rapidly and you don't have a wine cellar, then there is a huge choice of wine racking that's designed for home use. If you'd like to keep a few everyday bottles within easy reach, then wall mounted wine racks offer a solution. This type of rack is hung on the wall, which saves space, and allows you to always have a couple of bottles on display. Often, these racks come with built-in stemware holders, so you can conveniently keep your glasses in the same place. Wall wine racks are generally pretty cheap to buy, at around $40-$50. Other types of rack include compact designs to fit on a counter top, or stackable towers to place on the floor, whose capacity can grow to meet your storage needs. Wooden wine racks are very popular, made from all sorts of wood, including pine, oak or mahogany. For a more contemporary look, a metal wine rack can be an attractive feature in itself, made from ornately crafted iron, stainless steel, chrome or aluminum. Whatever the style of your décor, there's sure to be a wine rack design that fits in perfectly and provides you with a functional way to organize your wine collection. Whether you're after a DIY self-assembly kit, or a custom wine rack, online stores are full of all kinds of wine racks to suit your budget and your wine storage requirements.   WineHomeBrewClub.com Wine Racks: Choosing The Right Wine Rack For You Wine racks have become something that just about anyone wants to purchase and have within their home. They are supplied in a wide selection of styles, shapes and sizes to fit just about anyones requirements. Adding one to a home can heighten the residences value and set it apart from other homes. It can also help to keep wine fresh, undisturbed and easy to access when you need it. You dont have to be a wine lover to find the value in adding a wine rack of some sort to your home. Selection: Selecting The Best Wine Rack For You Since there are so many various types of wine racks to select from, it makes sense that you would need a little help knowing which is the Best one for you. Here are some of them and a little info that you need about each one. Top Of The Line: The top of the line wine racks are those that can be custom assembled in a cellar of your residence. These are fantastic choices for individuals who have room to add a room in a cool area of the home and those that adore wine. They can be custom built out of the wood types of your preference, fitted for the area that you have chosen and shaped in virtually any form that fits your needs. The bad news is that with any custom work you will also have to pay quite a bit more for it. Metal Wine Racks: For a more fashionable way of displaying your wine, consider a metal wine rack. These are available in a wide range of sizes and can be used to display your wine in a beautiful way, as you would other dcor within your residence. They are often purchased to stand on the floor or they can be purchased as counter top sitters as well. The number of bottles they will hold depends greatly on the size of the wine rack you purchase. Often, they can be purchased in the style you are after. The one drawback to these is that you will need to find a location, out of the way of children, to place it. Hanging Wine Racks: To take care of that problem with room, you can add a wine rack to your wall or hang it from your ceiling. These are great choices when it comes to adding a little style to your kitchen. Again, they come in a wide selection of sizes and styles, depending on what you like. If you choose these, you will likely get less storage than you would any other method but if you only keep a few bottles on hand, this is ideal. Environmental Controls: If you are a wine connoisseur, you should consider investing in an environment controlling unit. If you were to build a wine racking setup in a cellar, you would be able to add to it climate control. If you are looking for a way to control the environment in your kitchen, you can do this with a wine chest. These fit under counters like your dishwasher can or they can be stored above the counter in smaller units. They are a crucial appliance for your kitchen. These are much more pricey than wine racking systems but can keep your wine at the best temperature. Any and all wine racking systems can be purchased online. You will find that custom made options as well as those that are a simple hanging racks are offered to you in the sizes and styles that you really want to have. Wine racks are an excellent choice for upgrading your residence. A toast to the top wine rack! Please visit our site for more information on metal wine rack products as well as other racks for storage needs.     Wine Racks: The Solution For Practical Wine Storage In order to get the best benefits out of good wines, they first need to sufficiently mature. Wines only get better with time. They must be stored properly during this period of maturing, as factors such as humidity, temperature, and proper lighting play an imperative role. The easiest and most effective way to store wine is to use a wine rack. Wine racks are to be selected carefully, keeping in mind which size of rack that you will require. There are many choices of wine racks. However, the horizontal types of racks are normally preferred to those that are vertical, especially for wines that will be stored for a long period of time. Vertical racks do tend to dry the cork, which will end up spoiling the wine, just as many tilted racks do. Horizontal racks won’t dry up the cork and allow any unnecessary air contact, leaving your wine which is stored in a horizontal rack to be totally absent of sediment when it is poured. Another benefit is that it is also inexpensive to maintain. The very wide range of wine racks are normally made of either wood or metal, that can be kept sitting on the floor, or they can be suspended from the ceiling. A wooden wine rack has an advantage over a metal rack, as it can provide much needed extra storage space. They are strong and hard, and are aesthetically pleasing, mainly because they are made of cedar, maple, and mahogany. The wide range of these wine racks includes Diamond Bin, Rectangular Bin, and the Curved Corner Rack. If none of these are appealing to your creative nature, then you can purchase your own wooden kit which is all ready to make up with all the tools needed, making it very easy to install. This will allow you to create your own design for a rack that you want. Wine racks which are smaller in size are suitable for homes and personal collections, but larger businesses will usually require larger racks to store larger quantities and varieties. Wine racks are very affordable, with prices that can range anywhere from $20 to $1000. For most home uses of racks, you can look to spend in the neighborhood of $35-$300, which all depends on the style and size of what you are looking for. There is a wine rack for all your needs, it is up to you to find that rack and begin storage.   WineHomeBrewClub.com Wine Racks: Keep Your Favorite Vintages Close At Hand There is nothing quite like sipping on a glass of your favorite vintage after a hard day’s work. Unless, you can’t find it because you don’t have a specific place to store your reds and whites. No kitchen is complete without a wine rack, and it is easy to find one to fit your needs and your space. Rather than dragging yourself all over town to find ‘the’ wine rack; you should try shopping online. Not only will you find the best selection of wine racks, but you will also find the best prices as well. Whether you want a small rack for the corner to hold about six bottles or a veritable wine cellar with racks to hold dozens of vintages you’ll find it here. Perhaps when it comes to wine racks you would prefer one that doesn’t take up any floor space. Try a hanging one to hold four or eight bottles as well as a dish towel and even some stemware. Or if you want to make a statement of elegance try a wine tower in your choice of finish. It comes with two shelves and a drawer for storing glassware, wine keys and anything else you might need while up to eighteen bottles are cradled below. The mobility of a wine cart allows you to bring the wine to your guests in style. And a rounded wood rack allows you to keep your wines close at hand for cooking or savoring. No matter what style of wine rack you decide on you are sure to find what you are looking for online. There are three main questions you need to ask yourself when shopping for wine racks for your home. One is how many bottles you are going to keep on hand. If you are a connoisseur of fine wine you might want one that is quite large. If you are a casual drinker you should need one that is rather small. The second question is where do you want to place your wine rack? You can hang one from the ceiling, put one on the counter or place one on the floor in the corner or in the center of the room. Third, you need to decide what type of material you want your wine rack constructed from. Choose from various woods with rich finishes, hammered steel or even wrought iron in a variety of shapes and finishes. Once you have answered these questions you will be well on your way to browsing the world of wine racks with ease. So add a little elegance and sophistication to your home with the addition of a wine rack made of wood or metal. Whether you keep it in the kitchen, the dining room or even the living room you won’t regret your purchase. Now the next time you want to sit back and relax with a glass of pinot noir, by yourself or with a special someone, you’ll know exactly where to find it. It has never been easier to enjoy some sour grapes.    

http://winehomebrewclub.com/all-you-need-to-know-about-wine-racks/

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Guide to Blending

Blending has become a highly respected part of the process of winemaking. Many winemakers in fact view blending as a highly evolved art form. The basic idea of blending is to mix different wines in order to create a final wine that possesses a quality that is superior to that of each of the different components singularly. The most common type of blending involves blending at least two different grape varieties of wine. Blending has become some a popular concept that many winemakers specifically plant their vineyards for the purpose of blending by growing a variety of different grapes in order to create a blended field. Another way of achieving blending is to combine at least two different varieties of grapes that have been harvested separately but then ferment them together. This process commonly involves at least one red grape and one white grape. Still yet, you might choose to create a blend which contains the same grape; however, different fermentation containers are used. Because the containers are different they will produce a taste that is somewhat different even though the grapes are essentially the same. You might even choose to go so far as to create a blend containing wine from a batch that has been barrel fermented and another that has been fermented in a stainless steel container. Another way to blend wines is to blend wines that are from different vintages. If you have been making your own wine for some time, there is a good chance that you probably have a few bottles of wine in your cellar that were produced in different years. It should be pointed out that there are some wines that do not lend themselves particularly well to blending. Chardonnays are known to not be particularly improved by blending. Red Zinfandel and Pinot Noir also rarely see many improvements from blending. There are also some wines which are too delicate for blending such as Gewürztraminer. When properly handled, blending can help to balance the flavors as well as the levels of tannins and acids. It should be pointed out that blending can help to improve the quality of wines that already at least somewhat good on their own. Blending one good wine with a bad wine; however, will not improve the bad wine enough to create a single good blended wine. Typically, rather than the bad wine being improved, the good wine will take on the lesser qualities of the bad wine. If you have a bad wine that you wish to improve, consider mixing; a process that can take away an off flavor. Generally, if you are new to blending it is best to start with just two wines. Many home based winemakers discover the benefits of blending when they taste a wine in order to see how it turned out and discover that it could be slightly better. Blending gives you the ability to select the best characteristics of multiple wines and then blend them together to achieve a far better flavor. While the process may seem complicated, even the most novice home winemakers can create a good blend at home. The basic process of blending involves testing, comparing the flavors and then finding the ratio you prefer for the final blend. Remember that it is best to blend on an incremental basis, starting with small amounts and then making minor adjustments until you find a preferred blend. As you may wish to blend in the future, it is a good idea to take notes as you go along; noting how many millimeters of each wine you have used for subsequent tests. It is also important to note that in some cases, certain blends may need some time in order for the individual components to marry and achieve a good flavor. This is commonly the case with young red wines. Tasting a blend of young reds right away can give you an inaccurate idea of what the final result will taste like. Whites; however, can usually be blended and tasted right away. Most winemakers find that blending produces better results when it occurs as soon after fermentation as possible. Blending right after fermentation will protect the final product from oxidation and also gives the wines the opportunity to age together into a single wine rather than separately.       In the NEXT 6 minutes, YOU can start making your own delicious wine from the comfort of your own home! How to Make Wine!  

http://winehomebrewclub.com/guide-to-blending/

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Testing and Adjusting your Wine

Two of the keys to making a great batch of wine are testing and making adjustments based on those tests. There are two critical areas where you will need to perform tests and possibly make adjustments. Those are sugar and acid levels. As you are already aware, the sugar level of your wine is incredibly important as it is the sugar that the yeast feeds off of in order to produce the alcohol. The amount of sugar that you start your batch with will ultimately determine the level of alcohol that is present in the final batch. In order to run these tests you will need to have a wine making hydrometer. This is not an area where you want to try and guess at how much alcohol and sugar is present. The hydrometer gives you the ability to accurately test and measure the amount of sugar that is present in the juice and consequently the amount of alcohol that can be produced from the sugar. As a result, you will also be able to measure how much additional sugar you may need to add to the juice. You can purchase a hydrometer online as well as in any winemaking store. It looks quite simple. It is comprised of a glass tube with a weight on one end that will float. Sugar levels are tested by reading how low or high it ultimately floats. Almost all hydrometers also have a scale on them. This is the Potential Alcohol scale. You can read this scale when you first start the fermentation process to determine whether you need to add additional sugar based on the amount of alcohol that you want to be present in the final wine. If you determine that you need to adjust the sugar level in order to increase the alcohol level, you may wonder what type of sugar is the best type to use. There are many different types of options available. It is important to remember that each type of sugar will offer different characteristics. The different options include brown sugar, cane sugar, fructose, beet sugar, rice sugar, etc. Corn sugar and cane sugar are usually the cheapest and the most widely available; however, there is certainly nothing stopping you from experimenting with other sugar options if you have them available. Be sure to take notes so that you will know whether you want to use whichever type you decide upon again for future batches. You will also need to test and possibly adjust the acid level of your wine. Remember that maintaining the right acid level in your wine will provide your wine with balance and character as well as assist in the fermentation process. When testing acidity, it is important to keep in mind that it typically varies from one fruit to another. This is why it is so critical to test the acidity level and then make adjustments as necessary. The best way to test the acidity level of your juice is to use a titration kit. You can find these at any winemaking store as well as online. This kit will help you to measure how acidic the wine will actually taste. For example, if there is too much acid in the wine then it will taste bitter or sour. If; however, it does not have enough acid then it will have a flat taste. Based on those readings, you will know whether or not you need to adjust the acidity level of your wine. If you find that you do need to make adjustments you can do so using one of three different fruit acids. They are citric, tartaric and malic fruit acids. Once you are ready to bottle your wine, it is time to make any final adjustments that may be necessary. There are many ways in which you can adjust your wine in order to improve the flavor. Perhaps the easiest way to go about this is to simply experiment and find out what works well for you personally. By keeping notes, you will quickly discover what works and what you like and what should be avoided in the future. Just a few ways you can adjust the flavor of the wine when bottling it includes blending it with other fruit based wines, adding spices or oak chips, body enhances or flavor enhances. You can even fortify your wine with something such as grain alcohol. The most critical rule that should be followed when making final flavor adjustments is to make sure that you adjust in small amounts. In other words, always experiment with small amounts rather than a full batch.       In the NEXT 6 minutes, YOU can start making your own delicious wine from the comfort of your own home! How to Make Wine!  

http://winehomebrewclub.com/testing-and-adjusting-your-wine/