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 labelling are moving closer together with New World producers emphasising their regionality and its characteristics, whilst European, even the parochial French winemakers possibly prompted by the wholesalers and the supermarkets are labelling their wines more clearly.
About the Author
James Pendleton is a lover of the better things in life. For more information on wine visit Wine Capital
Wine Selection
Take a small amount in your mouth, swirl it around and keep it there for a brief period. Sweetness comes from the tip of your tongue. Bitterness on the back. Acidity on the side. Is the wine sweet, acidic, crisp? Is it light or full-bodied? How does it finish? Are you still tasting it five, ten or more seconds afterward? Did the taste change as the wine finished?
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Total Wine
It's always nice to buy aging wines from wineries you visit. Half of what you are enjoying, when you open a bottle many years from now, is the memories of when you found and bought the bottle.
Looking for the right wine accessory?
Wine Ratings
Archaeological evidence suggests that the earliest wine production came from sites in Georgia and Iran, dating from 6000 to 5000 BC.
Wine boy at a symposium.
Wine boy at a symposium.
Having a party. Get wholesale wine lots at Ye Olde Wines
Caribe Cooler
If you want to learn how to talk about wine, tell me the difference between Coke and Pepsi. Use descriptive words that refer to actual things. Your assignment in Warner's Wine World is: Smell more flowers. Smell tree bark. Taste everything. Wake up. Expand your vocabulary.
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Like a Fine Wine: French Kicks - Express from The Washington Post
Thu, 24 Apr 2008 17:56:27 GMT
 Express from The Washington Post | Like a Fine Wine: French Kicks Express from The Washington Post, DC - Like a fine French wine or cheese, this is a case of improvement with age. Also, as these kids used to be Black Cat regulars, I can tell you that they ... |
Labels: Drinking Wine
Vintage Wine with "President" Value
Who can appreciate the good things in life and the taste of a good wine better than a Frenchman? And from all the Frenchmen, Mr Chirac proved to be a bon viveur having a huge appetite for the finer things of life. As the BBC's Emma Jane Kirby reports from Paris it seems that as mayor of Paris, Mr Chirac was a frequent host of lavish parties while his wife used to spend more than a couple of pounds per day on their personal food and drink alone.
Even now when Mr Chirac is no longer the mayer his taste for good wine brings a big benefit to the city hall. Bertrand Delanoe who is now the mayor of Paris discovered some bottles of wine being held in the city hall's cellar since Chirac's seat. It seem that the wine bottles had increased so much in value they were deemed too extravagant to be served by the Paris city hall. The Socialist mayer decided to organise an auction to sell the valuable bottles. The wine has attracted bidders from around the world.
The most appreciated wine were two bottles of Romanee Conti 1986. The plot called Roman?e-Conti situated in Burgundy has at first glance nothing extraordinary with its ground containing a very fine clay which does not exist in the neighbouring plots. But the natural draining is perfect. The plot Roman?e-Conti was traced during the XVth century, and maybe earliest in the XIIth century by the monks of Saint-Viviant. The result is a subtile equation between grape, soil, climate, orientation and watering. "We are the keeper of a certain philosophy of wine and, mainly, we are concern by the perfection in details" assures Aubert de Vilaine, one of the owners of the place with the Leroys. Usually a potential client must aqcuire the wines of the domains by boxes of twelve, which means one bottle of Roman?e-Conti among 11 bottles of other domains. A box of twelve bottles is worth about 3,000 Euros. But the two bottles of Romanee Conti 1986 have been sold for 5,000-euro each.
Other attractions of the auction have been the of Chateau Petrus Bordeaux priced at 1,200 euros each. P?trus is a wine of the Pomerol wine region in Bordeaux made almost entirely from the Merlot grape. The ch?teau belongs to the family of the Libourne wine merchant Moueix. Although the wines of Pomerol have never been classified, P?trus is now considered among the best of Bordeaux. Ch?teau P?trus produces approximately 3,000 cases of wine in an average year. Grapes are hand harvested and fermented in cement tanks, then aged for two years in new oak before bottling. Newly released bottles are typically offered for more than 400 euros as futures, with mature examples often fetching more than 800 euros.
The budget of the Paris city hall was raised by the auction and can be incresed as the French news website LCI says the bottles on sale amount to three-quarters of the city hall's collection.
Visit Vintage Roots at http://www.vintageroots.co.uk, for organic wines
About the Author
Who can appreciate the good things in life and the taste of a good wine better than a Frenchman? And from all the Frenchmen, Mr Chirac proved to be a bon viveur having a huge appetite for the finer things of life. As the BBC's Emma Jane Kirby reports from Paris it seems that as mayor of Paris, Mr Chirac was a frequent host of lavish parties while his wife used to spend more than a couple of pounds per day on their personal food and drink alone.
Wine Vineyard
Don't store sparkling wine in the refrigerator for more than 3 weeks unless it has a plastic cork. (The cork will dry out and the seal will fail.)
Store your wine properly in wine cellars
Wine Jobs
For most red or white wines, two or three days is about as long as the wine will hold up before it starts to show some tiring. But Champagnes, dessert wines and especially German wine (sweet or dry) can hold up for a week or two after opening.
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Wine Shops
Allowing for the aging of your finished wine in an environment which helps to preserve its finer qualities will pay big dividends in ensuring you will have the best wine possible to enjoy with friends and family.
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Monterey Current Events
Featured Monterey Event: Spring Winemaker Dinner at Chateau Julien Wine Estate. A bountiful Carmel Valley harvest of the finest local fare paired with limited release Estate Vineyard and Private Reserve wines acentuate the simple elegance and beauty of the Chateau this spring evening in the Valley. Barrel samplings and new releases selected by the Winemaker.
Cheap Wines | Cheese Wine
Labels: Wine Regions | Wine Review | Wine Reviews
Understanding Online Wine Buying Regulations and How To Order Wine Online
In our continuing effort to provide online wine consumer education, included in this segment is a break down of different wine shipping state classifications. We also have included wine delivery tips to ensure your bottle arrives as if it came right from the warehouse.
Buying Wine Online - State Shipping Laws and Delivery
Reciprocal States: Forming strategic alliances, many states now allow incoming and outgoing wine shipments to consumers from member states. Bills passed in these states ensure that consumers and retailers can ship between their borders for the common benefit.
States that form this reciprocal agreement include: California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, Minnesota, New Mexico, Oregon, Washington, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.
Limited States: These states can receive incoming wine shipments, but are still under regulation. Common limits include a maximum quantity allowed and the exercise of extended taxation.
States with limited wine shipment include: Alaska, Arizona, Georgia, Louisiana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Carolina, North Dakota, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Virginia, Washington D.C., and Wyoming.
Prohibited States: These states may require a special license for receiving wine deliveries. Depending on the state laws, receiving wine from carriers may be deemed a misdemeanor or a felony if note a special permit holder.
These states include: Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Montana, New Jersey, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, and Utah.
International: Using air freight shipping, many stores now offer international shipping. The most common and compatible international destination is Japan.
But I live in one of these states and these laws haven't affected me?
As with any relatively new industry, retailers are finding ways to effectively skate around the law. By utilizing middlemen and coming to warehousing agreements, retailers are finding new streams to get your order to your door the safest way possible. Utilizing multiple warehouses in multiple states provides the retailer the option to accept more orders and comply with differing state legislations. Even though you order from a store in Pennsylvania, your product could be shipped from a partner or subsidiary warehouse in California to comply with laws.
Third party logistic companies are a growing trend to satisfy the markets shipping needs. A prime example is New Vine Logistics who can legally ship wine to 43 states.
Another reason to the lack of uniformed shipping policies on retail sites is the means in which they transfer ownership. The most common phrasing seen on most retailers Terms & Conditions is similar to:
Title to, and ownership of, all wine purchased on this site passes from 'retailer' to the 'purchaser' in the state of 'retailer's state.' The purchaser takes all responsibility for shipping the purchased wine from 'retailer's state' to his/her home state. By arranging for transportation of the wine, 'retailer' is providing a service to, and acting on behalf of the 'purchaser.' By using transportation services from 'retailer,' the purchaser is representing that he/she is acting in a fashion compliant with his/her local and state laws regarding the purchase, shipping and delivery of wine."
This allows them to say they sold the goods to you in their home state and helped you arrange a shipping service to mail the wine. A purchase is recognized when they charge your credit card in store, which is prior to the item being packaged and shipped. This allows them to pass title and ownership of the wine to the purchaser in the retailer's state. Using these terms allows them to bend the current wine shipment laws, by attempting to release themselves from any association to the goods once title is transferred and they are in the courier's hands.
Please note however that not all sites are worded like this. Some retailers adhere to the strictest shipping and sales standards. Using a service such as this makes the good transferable upon receipt at your location. For example Wine.com, recognizes the legal transfer of goods once you sign and accept the package. They handle any courier discrepancies or insurance claims directly. Shopping through their site may limit your range of shipping options and product availability to your area, but they maintain policies to keep in accordance with local laws.
We have compiled a list of authorized online retailers and the states they will ship to at ClassicWines.com.
Common carriers that ship most online wine orders are FedEx, UPS and DHL. By law, alcohol cannot be shipped to PO Boxes nor APO/FPO Addresses. Standard practice for these authorized shipping companies is to require and adult over the age of 21 to sign for the package with photo ID required. Couriers will not leave packages unattended at your location for any reason. Package comments such as "leave at front door" will be ignored as these couriers are specially trained to handle alcohol deliveries.
Aside from age and signature verification, the shipping process is the same as with common goods. In the process, as with UPS and FedEx standards, your courier will provide three (3) separate delivery attempts on consecutive days. After this time, packages are held at your local distribution plant while the courier will research its status with the sender or receiver.
On day five (5) the package will be marked as 'Undeliverable.' This means the shipment will be returned to sender. Upon return, most retailers will pass the return shipping expense to your credit card on file as is customary in most online ordering policies.
Don't fret there are ways to avoid this route.
1. Try having the packaged shipped to your business or another residential location where someone over 21 can receive the package.
2. Use the online tracking tools available by your courier. These can help you make sure someone is available to receive the on the date estimated by your provider.
3. Go express! Express delivery services can guarantee what day the item will be at your door. Specialty services can even guarantee a time frame at which they will arrive.
4. Even though a delivery attempt failed, most packages are sent back to the distribution center in the early evening.
These locations can be found on the shippers website and most are open and staffed until later in the evening. They welcome walk-ins, but make sure you bring the tracking number and any documentation left by the courier at your door.
Many sites offer more than wine, such as stemware, accessories and gift baskets. Any shipment that contains wine adheres to these shipping policies; however, other items can be shipped to virtually any location.
Buying wine is similar to any other web purchase. Being an informed consumer will help ensure your online shopping experience is fun and secure.
www.ClassicWines.com is the leading online guide to buying wine on the internet. This means that, at ClassicWines.com, you will have access to both online retailers and pertinent wine information, as well as all the latest wine news and links to other wine sites, as well. |
Pinot Grigio
Your Own Birthday. Treat yourself to a mixed case from your favorite region � one bottle to celebrate each month until the next year.
Treat your family to a great food and wine party!
Drinking Wine
Merlot is the name of the grape used to make merlot wine. This wine has been used as a blending wine for hundreds of years because its flavor is so gentle. The typical flavor for a merlot is plum. This goes well with just about any medium-body dish, like burgers or pork chops.
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Wine Valley
Here�s an easy checklist of subsequent questions to ask yourself as you taste to purchase, whether for yourself or for a hotel/restaurant property: "Is this wine a good example of type, or is it a new example of type? Can I sell this to my guests? Is there a market for this wine, or can I create one? Is it delicious, will it deliver pleasure at the table? Is there a good price/value relationship, what will I have to sell it for? And, finally, once again, is this good wine?" This simple methodology, practiced faithfully, will become second nature and will keep your palate honest.
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Fruit Baskets
After 20 years, corks start to deteriorate. Therefore, expect a cork that will likely break during opening. With some practice, you�ll get most of them out without pushing them into the bottle. Patience and a good waiter's corkscrew is the key.
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San Luis Obispo Current Events
Featured San Luis Obispo Event: Roll Out the Barrels Wine Passport Event. Experience Barrel Tasting with an exciting Silent Barrel Auction and moveable feast of wine tasting and gourmet foods known as our Passport" event. The weekend offers a Progressive Food and Wine Pairing and themed Winemakers Dinner. Purchase your passport ticket to travel the San Luis Wineries Festivities!
Temecula Wine Events
Featured Temecula Event: Flamenco Fridays at Miramonte Winery. Only a $5 cover, and that includes your initial wine tasting. Come early if you want to get a table. $5 tapas plates provided by Volker Lutz, owner and head chef of European Cafe and Vineyard Gourmet Catering. Music provided by the incomparable Jeffrey Briggs and Michael Murphy, both renowned Classical and Latin guitarists. Come enjoy delicious gourmet tapas, beautiful sunsets, panoramic valley views, and some of the best live music around. No cover charge for wine club members.
Chardonnay Wine
Labels: Wine Refrigerators
Be Healthy. . .Drink Wine
Is wine good for you? The answer is, "Yes!" There's lots of research providing proof that there really are health benefits from drinking wine.
Flavonoids from the skins and seeks of red grapes are the key to wine being good for you. These flavonoids lower your risk of coronary heart disease by reducing your LDL or bad cholesterol levels. At the same time these flavonoids actually increase your HDL or good cholesterol levels and decrease the likelihood of blood clotting.
Scientists believe that there may be other health benefits from red wine. A recent study discovered that an antioxidant in the skins of red grapes, called resveratrol, may inhibit the growth of tumors in some cancers. It's possible that resveratrol can help treat Alzheimer's and Parkinson's as well and new studies are on the way.
Are some wines better for you than others? Again, the answer is, "Yes!" Researchers at University of California at Davis have concluded that full-bodied dry red wines contain the highest levels of flavonoids and provide the greatest benefits. The number one wine for supplying the most flavonoids is Cabernet Sauvignon with Petit Syrah and Pinot Noir also ranking highly. Sweeter wines and white wines have less flavonoids and are less beneficial.
How much should you drink? Moderation is the key. Women should drink 4 ounces of red wine daily with a meal and men 4-8 ounces.
Pour yourself a glass of red wine and drink to your health. Cheers!
About the Author
Kathy Howe and her husband, Steve, spend much of their free time tasting and enjoying wine. Their interest in wine is reflected in their Web Site, http://www.cheers2wine.com - a Comprehensive Guide to the California Wine Country.
Fine Wine
The single most important ability to develop when embarking on the adventure of wine tasting is to teach yourself how to recognize quality. When I was a very young sommelier, I had no mentor, no professional direction other than my own common sense. I was thirsty for the counsel of anyone with some depth of experience in wine. While working in a formal dining room, I had the privilege one evening of serving Andr� Gagey, the director of the esteemed Burgundy house Louis Jadot. With enthusiasm and innocence, I asked him "Mr.Gagey, could you please tell me how you taste wine?" To my eternal gratitude, he gave the question some thought and then answered: "When I first approach a wine, I always ask myself �Is this good wine?� And then at the end, again, �Is this good wine?� " I will always remember his kindness in giving me the best advice I�ve ever received on how to taste wine.
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New Wine
Winding backcountry roads. Perfect rows of vines. Clear, blue lakes. Quiet tasting rooms where the winery owners still pour the samples. Visit the places they�re made and you�ll understand the Wines of British Columbia
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Wine Alcohol
Red wines too vary from the light and simple to the powerful and brooding. Sometimes it�s easy to simply match up the light dishes with the lighter wines, and save that ten-pound cassoulet for a powerful Italian red or Rhone wine. But the only rule that matters is to have fun and stop worrying about wine!
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COPIA - Al Stewart: Down in the Cellars
Al Stewarts accessible guitar style and literary lyrics shone in his 1970s hits Year of the Cat and Time Passages. In his Napa debut, Stewart performs favorites plus songs derived from his love of wine: Down in the Cellars, Shiraz Shuffle and Night that the Band Got the Wine.
Chardonnay Grape
Labels: Wine Recipes | Wine Refrigerator
