Wine is a regular inclusion in fancy dinners, in lavish parties, or given as gifts or favors such as wine wedding favors during such lovely occasions. It is fascinating how ordinary grapes can turn into such an exquisite drink that only gets better with aging.
The process starts by carefully selecting the grapes that will be used for the wine. The grape has to be right for picking and has to be moved from this process to the next in a timely manner so the grapes will stay fresh. Some vineyards use machines to harvest the grapes so that the task can be finished faster. Because everything in the planting process was controlled, they know which ones to harvest even without checking them manually one by one.
Before the grapes have a chance to spoil, the fresh grapes are now de-stemmed and crushed. An accidental inclusion of the stem in the wine-making process can spoil the end results because the stem can add a pungent taste to the liquid. After all the stems have been removed, the grapes are now crushed to extract its juices. Yeast is now added to the liquid to start the fermentation process. Yeast converts the juices to alcohol and carbon dioxide, giving the wine its distinctive aroma and taste.
After fermentation, it will take years for the wines to age. Ageing is done by placing the wines in a stainless steel barrel or for some, in oak barrels, and they are kept in a controlled environment for years. The proper ageing years should be kept and the wine must be monitored because keeping them shorter or longer than the time required will produce either a simple grape juice or vinegar in extreme cases. Next, filtering is done as well to ensure that the wine will remain clear and free from any sediment that may form.
When the wine has undergone all these steps, the wine is now ready to be bottled. The empty air space in a bottle should actually be free from air because the presence of air can affect the taste and quality of the wine. Proper care during transit is needed as well especially for bottles that are capped with corks because smell and taste may penetrate and thus affect the wine.
The wine is now available to be sold in markets and to be enjoyed the world over. There are only some countries that produce wines extensively and wine distributors make sure that wine is readily supplied to every market possible.
Showing posts with label wine. Show all posts
Showing posts with label wine. Show all posts
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
How to Serve Wine and Cheese at a Party
Wine has always been associated with everything classy, elegant, and passionate. We share candlelit dinners with wine with that special someone, give wine as gifts for special people in our lives, and give wine wedding favors for that very romantic celebration.
A wine and cheese party is the same, but made more fun. If you want to have a wine and cheese party that will bring out the inner elegance that you and your friends have and have a break from the usual pizza and beer party, here’s a quick guide to be the perfect host for such a party.
If you have your favorite wine, make the wine as the primary dish and choose your cheeses according to the wine. Or if you have a special cheese in mind that you definitely want to serve, make this the focal point and have the wine suit the cheese, and not the other way around. Either way, the key here is to make your preference stand out when choosing the wine and cheese to be served.
For the pairings, here are some of the well-loved wine and cheese groupings: Pair Swiss Cheese or Brie Cheese with Cabernet Sauvignon or Pinot Noir. If you want Reggiano or Gruyere, it is best to pair them with either Merlot, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc or Shiraz. Another classic pairing is Cheddar with Shiraz, or Monterey jack with Riesling or Merlot. Pair soft or semi-soft cheeses with a light wine variety and hard or semi-hard cheeses with a harder blend of wine.
Place cheeses at room temperature 3 hours before consuming them. Cheese tastes its best in this temperature than when cold. Serve at least 2 to 3 types of cheeses per wine. An ideal allotment is 4 ounces of each type of cheese per person. It would be good if you can have extra cheese on hand, but having less cheese can definitely spoil the party. Chill wines before serving them and use the right wine glass. Having a great wine is not enough because despite its taste, if you place them in the wrong glass, the true taste and quality of the wine will not shine through.
Now you can invite your friends over to a great-tasting wine and cheese party. Complete your party with a fun crowd, great music and make this the start of many wine and cheese parties. With many cheese and wine pairings that you can choose from, you can definitely have one party after another.
A wine and cheese party is the same, but made more fun. If you want to have a wine and cheese party that will bring out the inner elegance that you and your friends have and have a break from the usual pizza and beer party, here’s a quick guide to be the perfect host for such a party.
If you have your favorite wine, make the wine as the primary dish and choose your cheeses according to the wine. Or if you have a special cheese in mind that you definitely want to serve, make this the focal point and have the wine suit the cheese, and not the other way around. Either way, the key here is to make your preference stand out when choosing the wine and cheese to be served.
For the pairings, here are some of the well-loved wine and cheese groupings: Pair Swiss Cheese or Brie Cheese with Cabernet Sauvignon or Pinot Noir. If you want Reggiano or Gruyere, it is best to pair them with either Merlot, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc or Shiraz. Another classic pairing is Cheddar with Shiraz, or Monterey jack with Riesling or Merlot. Pair soft or semi-soft cheeses with a light wine variety and hard or semi-hard cheeses with a harder blend of wine.
Place cheeses at room temperature 3 hours before consuming them. Cheese tastes its best in this temperature than when cold. Serve at least 2 to 3 types of cheeses per wine. An ideal allotment is 4 ounces of each type of cheese per person. It would be good if you can have extra cheese on hand, but having less cheese can definitely spoil the party. Chill wines before serving them and use the right wine glass. Having a great wine is not enough because despite its taste, if you place them in the wrong glass, the true taste and quality of the wine will not shine through.
Now you can invite your friends over to a great-tasting wine and cheese party. Complete your party with a fun crowd, great music and make this the start of many wine and cheese parties. With many cheese and wine pairings that you can choose from, you can definitely have one party after another.
Your Guide to Red Wine
Wine has always been a symbol of fun and elegance at the same time. It doesn’t matter whether it is just a simple dinner or a grand wedding celebration. Wines will always bring out a touch of elegance yet fun and festive atmosphere at the same time. Wine can be enjoyed on its own, paired with a meal, and has always been one of the top choices for elegant gifts or exquisite favors such as wine wedding favors. Wines are not cheap, so giving them away means that the receiver is truly someone special.
Red wine particularly has been known to symbolize romance and passion. Because of the red color, it is representative of blood which means life, and others prefer red wine due to the color that is closest to its raw ingredient which is grapes.
Drinking red wine is not just delightful, but it also packs a lot of benefits for your health. Particularly for the heart, studies have shown that drinking red wine on a regular basis can greatly improve your health. According to studies, men and women who consume two glasses and one glass of red wine respectively can cut their risk of heart disease by as much as 30%. This is because red wine, particularly the grapes that it comes from, is loaded with antioxidants and natural agents that keep the heart healthy.
Resveratrol, a natural component of grapes, is known to reduce the level of bad cholesterol and raise HDL or the good cholesterol to a higher level. It has been said that they help prevent blood clots and remove plaque formations in the heart. Resveratrol also helps speed up metabolism, so pharmaceutical companies say that drinking red wine can help you lose or maintain your weight.
If you have no problem drinking alcohol, then slowly incorporate red wine into your lifestyle and pretty soon you can enjoy the benefits. There is a warning though for those who do not drink regularly. Don’t start drinking too frequently at the onset, but instead, start by drinking occasionally and increase consumption as time goes on. Let your body adjust to the alcohol intake. If not, your body will pack up empty calories from the red wine resulting in unwanted weight gain.
Popular red wine grape varieties are Barbera, Zinfandel, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon. Each has a different texture, taste, and characteristics, as unique as their country of origin. Red wine will always be popular for so many reasons, but topping it all is the taste and enjoyment that you get in every single sip of your favorite red wine.
Red wine particularly has been known to symbolize romance and passion. Because of the red color, it is representative of blood which means life, and others prefer red wine due to the color that is closest to its raw ingredient which is grapes.
Drinking red wine is not just delightful, but it also packs a lot of benefits for your health. Particularly for the heart, studies have shown that drinking red wine on a regular basis can greatly improve your health. According to studies, men and women who consume two glasses and one glass of red wine respectively can cut their risk of heart disease by as much as 30%. This is because red wine, particularly the grapes that it comes from, is loaded with antioxidants and natural agents that keep the heart healthy.
Resveratrol, a natural component of grapes, is known to reduce the level of bad cholesterol and raise HDL or the good cholesterol to a higher level. It has been said that they help prevent blood clots and remove plaque formations in the heart. Resveratrol also helps speed up metabolism, so pharmaceutical companies say that drinking red wine can help you lose or maintain your weight.
If you have no problem drinking alcohol, then slowly incorporate red wine into your lifestyle and pretty soon you can enjoy the benefits. There is a warning though for those who do not drink regularly. Don’t start drinking too frequently at the onset, but instead, start by drinking occasionally and increase consumption as time goes on. Let your body adjust to the alcohol intake. If not, your body will pack up empty calories from the red wine resulting in unwanted weight gain.
Popular red wine grape varieties are Barbera, Zinfandel, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon. Each has a different texture, taste, and characteristics, as unique as their country of origin. Red wine will always be popular for so many reasons, but topping it all is the taste and enjoyment that you get in every single sip of your favorite red wine.
How to Properly Store Wine
Storing wines can be tricky. It is not as easy as storing a bottle of beer and is definitely more complicated and demanding than storing your favorite can of soda. Wine needs to be stored properly or you will destroy the possibility of reaching its maturity and eventually it will lose its taste and spoil. There are professionals who do wine storage as their profession or business, but instead of paying fees for them to store your wine, here are some suggestions that you may want to try.
The storage environment plays a crucial role in the proper storage of wine. Whether you have an extensive wine cellar or a makeshift room in your basement that can serve as a cellar, this has little effect but the overall condition of the environment is important. Remember that almost every aspect of storing wine should be controlled and monitored as closely as possible and not just left in the back of an ordinary refrigerator.
First of all, the storage environment should be a cool, dark place. Allowing sunlight to penetrate your wine bottles, especially if you have clear bottles will make your wine develop an unpleasant smell. Of course once this happens, it is close to impossible to reverse this condition and when that special occasion arrives that requires you to open that bottle of wine, it will be too late.
The temperature also plays a crucial part as the taste and quality of the wine is largely dependent on this. Remember that almost everything in a storage place must be controlled and temperature must be one of them. Monitor the temperature and avoid sudden changes. The temperature must be constant for the entire duration of the wine storage.
You must also avoid moving the wine bottles. Shaking the bottle, even through just changing its position, can affect the wine. Even during shipping, wines need to rest after the transportation for it to settle and regain its taste and quality.
For businesses, it is important to keep the wine storage place as controlled and monitored as possible. If you are storing large numbers of wines at home, such as wine wedding favors that you intend to give away soon, have a makeshift space in your closet or an allotted space in your fridge, depending on the temperature required, where you can store the wines safely and properly.
The storage environment plays a crucial role in the proper storage of wine. Whether you have an extensive wine cellar or a makeshift room in your basement that can serve as a cellar, this has little effect but the overall condition of the environment is important. Remember that almost every aspect of storing wine should be controlled and monitored as closely as possible and not just left in the back of an ordinary refrigerator.
First of all, the storage environment should be a cool, dark place. Allowing sunlight to penetrate your wine bottles, especially if you have clear bottles will make your wine develop an unpleasant smell. Of course once this happens, it is close to impossible to reverse this condition and when that special occasion arrives that requires you to open that bottle of wine, it will be too late.
The temperature also plays a crucial part as the taste and quality of the wine is largely dependent on this. Remember that almost everything in a storage place must be controlled and temperature must be one of them. Monitor the temperature and avoid sudden changes. The temperature must be constant for the entire duration of the wine storage.
You must also avoid moving the wine bottles. Shaking the bottle, even through just changing its position, can affect the wine. Even during shipping, wines need to rest after the transportation for it to settle and regain its taste and quality.
For businesses, it is important to keep the wine storage place as controlled and monitored as possible. If you are storing large numbers of wines at home, such as wine wedding favors that you intend to give away soon, have a makeshift space in your closet or an allotted space in your fridge, depending on the temperature required, where you can store the wines safely and properly.
Celebrate Your Wedding with the Right Wine
Wine can make any celebration livelier and one can say that wine is a signal to just go and have fun and enjoy the party. For wedding receptions, wine is generally served because wine is synonymous with romance and celebration just like chocolates. However, before you head off and buy boxes upon boxes of the cheapest wine on sale or your favorite white wine, there are some things that you have to consider.
First of all, determine whether your guests will totally enjoy having wine around or if the crowd consists of mostly people who don’t drink. Serving wine should make your guests truly happy. If you think they will not be overly ecstatic about it, then maybe you just pass on serving wine. If it is something they expect, then you should have boxes of wine ready. Look through you checklist and see if most of the people are wine drinkers or not. If in doubt, ask around or get some just in case.
Another consideration is the time of your wedding. If you are having a morning wedding, then you can either totally pass on serving wine or you can serve everyone a glass during the toast or another part of the reception party. If you are having an afternoon party, you can have a few bottles ready and for evening weddings, be prepared to have wine on hand for the rest of the evening.
Of course another consideration is your wedding budget. There are premium and expensive wines around, but there are also cheaper versions. The key is being able to allot time, have a wine-tasting session, and determining the number of bottles you need. That way, no bottle will be put to waste and every single glass served will be enjoyed and worth the expense. For a great wine experience, you can choose between Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, or Chardonnays. There are many varieties under each type and you can choose depending on the type of food you will be serving. The right pairing will truly elevate the taste of both the food and the wine.
Finally, you should take into account the type of food being served. Generally, white wine goes well with cheeses and fish and red wine is good with meat dishes. Be sure to get wine that complements the food choices or better yet, have both red and white wine available for your guests.
If the serving wine at your wedding reception is still not enough, you can give wine wedding favors to your guests such as miniature bottles or half-bottles of wine. Remember though that the cost of these will be added onto your total budget.
First of all, determine whether your guests will totally enjoy having wine around or if the crowd consists of mostly people who don’t drink. Serving wine should make your guests truly happy. If you think they will not be overly ecstatic about it, then maybe you just pass on serving wine. If it is something they expect, then you should have boxes of wine ready. Look through you checklist and see if most of the people are wine drinkers or not. If in doubt, ask around or get some just in case.
Another consideration is the time of your wedding. If you are having a morning wedding, then you can either totally pass on serving wine or you can serve everyone a glass during the toast or another part of the reception party. If you are having an afternoon party, you can have a few bottles ready and for evening weddings, be prepared to have wine on hand for the rest of the evening.
Of course another consideration is your wedding budget. There are premium and expensive wines around, but there are also cheaper versions. The key is being able to allot time, have a wine-tasting session, and determining the number of bottles you need. That way, no bottle will be put to waste and every single glass served will be enjoyed and worth the expense. For a great wine experience, you can choose between Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, or Chardonnays. There are many varieties under each type and you can choose depending on the type of food you will be serving. The right pairing will truly elevate the taste of both the food and the wine.
Finally, you should take into account the type of food being served. Generally, white wine goes well with cheeses and fish and red wine is good with meat dishes. Be sure to get wine that complements the food choices or better yet, have both red and white wine available for your guests.
If the serving wine at your wedding reception is still not enough, you can give wine wedding favors to your guests such as miniature bottles or half-bottles of wine. Remember though that the cost of these will be added onto your total budget.
Friday, September 10, 2010
How to Host a Party or Celebration That People Will Talk About
Inviting people to come over and have a party at your place or a venue you rented can be both exciting but nerve-racking at the same time. Coming with a party that will not flop but rather, a party that people will enjoy and look forward to having again is something that every party host dreams about. While you have attended several parties before, being a host at your own party is really different and will require time and effort to prepare. Whether a kids party or a reunion party, here are some things that will help you stage a perfect party that people will love attending over and over again.
-Have a theme that is unique for the occasion. Look on the Internet to get ideas on party themes. Make it age appropriate of course, for example, a children’s party ideally should have a farm or Disney theme while you can save the casino theme for a party with the adults.
-Have decorations follow the theme. Be creative but do not overdo it. Your invitation and guest books should reflect the theme as well.
-Invite people of different backgrounds or simply put, your friends from different areas of your life. This doesn’t mean that your guests will clash; rather, this ensures that everyone will have a lot of things to talk about as they learn from each other.
-Have your food ready beforehand but be careful with things that may spoil easily, including raw foods such as sushi or sashimi. You may prefer to serve the liquor during the later part of the party where everyone is comfortable with everybody else already or you can have it available immediately, depending on your guests. Of course, offer non-alcoholic beverages for non-drinkers.
-Consider having music play throughout the party but make sure that they are the songs your guests would love to hear. Otherwise, they would be distracted by the music and it might ruin the mood. Don’t play the music too loud though, so guests can still converse easily.
-Send invitations on time. This will give them enough time to prepare and put it in their schedule. This way, you can also ensure that the people you want to attend will be able to attend as you have given the notice in advance. In general, provide at least two weeks notice or more if possible.
-During the party, make sure to facilitate introductions, especially for people that don’t know as many other people or introverted individuals. Consider having games and activities that allow people to interact more and get to know each other.
Remember that parties are ways where people have fun, meet new people, or simply have fun and de-stress. Remember that you can have fun also during the preparation phase, while preparing things with the help of your closer friends and family. And during the party itself, part of your job is to ensure that everyone gets to experience the same things as well – where they get to have fun, meet new people, and relax.
-Have a theme that is unique for the occasion. Look on the Internet to get ideas on party themes. Make it age appropriate of course, for example, a children’s party ideally should have a farm or Disney theme while you can save the casino theme for a party with the adults.
-Have decorations follow the theme. Be creative but do not overdo it. Your invitation and guest books should reflect the theme as well.
-Invite people of different backgrounds or simply put, your friends from different areas of your life. This doesn’t mean that your guests will clash; rather, this ensures that everyone will have a lot of things to talk about as they learn from each other.
-Have your food ready beforehand but be careful with things that may spoil easily, including raw foods such as sushi or sashimi. You may prefer to serve the liquor during the later part of the party where everyone is comfortable with everybody else already or you can have it available immediately, depending on your guests. Of course, offer non-alcoholic beverages for non-drinkers.
-Consider having music play throughout the party but make sure that they are the songs your guests would love to hear. Otherwise, they would be distracted by the music and it might ruin the mood. Don’t play the music too loud though, so guests can still converse easily.
-Send invitations on time. This will give them enough time to prepare and put it in their schedule. This way, you can also ensure that the people you want to attend will be able to attend as you have given the notice in advance. In general, provide at least two weeks notice or more if possible.
-During the party, make sure to facilitate introductions, especially for people that don’t know as many other people or introverted individuals. Consider having games and activities that allow people to interact more and get to know each other.
Remember that parties are ways where people have fun, meet new people, or simply have fun and de-stress. Remember that you can have fun also during the preparation phase, while preparing things with the help of your closer friends and family. And during the party itself, part of your job is to ensure that everyone gets to experience the same things as well – where they get to have fun, meet new people, and relax.
Saturday, June 5, 2010
Weddings and the Best Wines
When talking about wines, we usually cannot help but associate it with a romantic encounter. Wine has for centuries been equated with love, lust and luxury. It’s no surprise that, during weddings, wines are always available to symbolize the kind of love that gets better with time between the newlyweds.
Because it’s for a uniquely special and important occasion, it is vital that the wine be carefully and perfectly selected. To enhance the event, the wine should be excellent, and satisfy the newlyweds and the whole group of revelers.
There are details you must keep in mind when buying wine for a wedding reception, so don’t just pick a wine you always buy, or the first thing that you see at the liquor store.
• The rundown of the expected partiers. Get a feel if they they lean toward red or white wine. If you feel the partiers would love to have lots of alcohol available, get both varieties. If you feel the guests will be composed mostly of men, and a young group at that, you may think of buying beer as additional liquor to be served. This can also give you an idea what quantity of bottles of wine you want on hand, thus, your financials will also be part of the equation.
• To be on the safe side, choose champagne instead. Everyone feels tickled to see champagne served, and doesn’t have to be expensive as champagne flutes are never filled to the rim of the glass. If you are sure champagne will be out of your price range or that too many guests might not enjoy its taste, go for a sparkling cider version instead. It’s close to the same taste, but sans the alcohol flavor kicking in.
• For a positively ‘democratic’ choosing of wine, enjoy a wine-tasting party with some members of the entourage. You can opt to hide the names on the bottle and let them choose which ones they want to be served. For budget reasons, you can offer bottles at a cheap price point so whichever they pick; it is sure to be a favorable price.
• With regard to the amount, it is usually better to have extra edibles and beverages ready. It is always better to say ‘yes’ to your invitees asking for more of anything than replying ‘No, we we’re out of wine’. It is a celebration, so you should give things a lot of thought and calculate the numbers so you can stock a bit, not too large a quantity, extra to offer.
• Tell staff to top off only when asked. You don’t need instant refills because a few of the guests won’t finish their second drink. Even though you want your guest attended to, you there shouldn’t be brimming glasses remaining as it might give the wrong impression that not everyone drank or finished their glass.
Wine is a drink that can be enjoyed on usual days but during weddings, wines have a more special and specified symbolization – to bring romance to the revelers in the event.
Being a representation of love, the wine must be served and selected as passionately and boldly as warrants the occasion. So let the wine pour, and in every other gathering where wine is available – cherish life, love and memories.
A professional author on topics bridal shower and wedding, Criss White has written lots of articles. For additional articles or wine wedding favors, visit Bridal and Wedding Favors.
Because it’s for a uniquely special and important occasion, it is vital that the wine be carefully and perfectly selected. To enhance the event, the wine should be excellent, and satisfy the newlyweds and the whole group of revelers.
There are details you must keep in mind when buying wine for a wedding reception, so don’t just pick a wine you always buy, or the first thing that you see at the liquor store.
• The rundown of the expected partiers. Get a feel if they they lean toward red or white wine. If you feel the partiers would love to have lots of alcohol available, get both varieties. If you feel the guests will be composed mostly of men, and a young group at that, you may think of buying beer as additional liquor to be served. This can also give you an idea what quantity of bottles of wine you want on hand, thus, your financials will also be part of the equation.
• To be on the safe side, choose champagne instead. Everyone feels tickled to see champagne served, and doesn’t have to be expensive as champagne flutes are never filled to the rim of the glass. If you are sure champagne will be out of your price range or that too many guests might not enjoy its taste, go for a sparkling cider version instead. It’s close to the same taste, but sans the alcohol flavor kicking in.
• For a positively ‘democratic’ choosing of wine, enjoy a wine-tasting party with some members of the entourage. You can opt to hide the names on the bottle and let them choose which ones they want to be served. For budget reasons, you can offer bottles at a cheap price point so whichever they pick; it is sure to be a favorable price.
• With regard to the amount, it is usually better to have extra edibles and beverages ready. It is always better to say ‘yes’ to your invitees asking for more of anything than replying ‘No, we we’re out of wine’. It is a celebration, so you should give things a lot of thought and calculate the numbers so you can stock a bit, not too large a quantity, extra to offer.
• Tell staff to top off only when asked. You don’t need instant refills because a few of the guests won’t finish their second drink. Even though you want your guest attended to, you there shouldn’t be brimming glasses remaining as it might give the wrong impression that not everyone drank or finished their glass.
Wine is a drink that can be enjoyed on usual days but during weddings, wines have a more special and specified symbolization – to bring romance to the revelers in the event.
Being a representation of love, the wine must be served and selected as passionately and boldly as warrants the occasion. So let the wine pour, and in every other gathering where wine is available – cherish life, love and memories.
A professional author on topics bridal shower and wedding, Criss White has written lots of articles. For additional articles or wine wedding favors, visit Bridal and Wedding Favors.
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