wine guide for beginners

Wine Corks going the way of Vinyl Records?

2006-05-23T08:00:00.000-07:00

Below is a link to a short but interesting article about the fate of corks. More and more wine producers are switching to screw caps to eliminate the chance of cork contamination which can ruin a bottle of even the best wines.

WHile screw caps are certainly easier and more practical, there's something I'll miss about popping open a fine bottle of wine rather than simply unscrewing it.

http://www.avenuevine.com/movabletype/archives/001306.html

Mike
Learn more about different types of wine.

Virtual Wine Guide is Back!

2006-05-19T13:31:00.000-07:00

Well its been a long time since I've updated this blog, and my wine site went down because I let it expire (I've had a lot going on).

But I'm finally back, so if anyone is still reading this blog you can check out the newly relaunched site at:

http://www.virtual-wine-guide.com

I've only gotten a few pages up so far, but more will be added very shortly. Hope to see you again soon!

not so fast...

2005-05-19T13:23:00.000-07:00

upon further review, the change in law mentioned in my last post won't help me at all. New Jersey bans all direct shipping of wine in-state and out-of-state. the change doesn't affect NJ or 23 other states, though New York and Michigan can still celebrate.

great news for wine lovers

2005-05-16T09:12:00.000-07:00

The US supreme court has ruled that states cannot ban out-of-state shipping of wine. This is great news for wine lovers and small wineries alike.

The smaller wineries will now be able to better compete with the larger wineries because they will have the ability to ship wine anywhere in the US. For example, a few years ago my wife and I took a trip to upstate New York and visited several wineries in the Cooperstown area.

We brought a few bottles back with us, but we were never able to order from them again because they were not allowed to ship to us in New Jersey. Now that has changed.

Wine lovers will now be able to enjoy new wines from across the country, and wineries will be able to expand their reach across the country.

source article

I'm back...and with an eBook to announce

2005-05-16T07:42:00.000-07:00

Well I've really been slacking on this blog...but I should get it back up and running now.

I've been working on another project that I'm finally ready to announce. I've completed a new
eBook titled:

Saving 101 - One Hundred One Proven Techniques for Cutting Expenses, Increasing Savings, and Getting Out of Debt.

It's an easy read, and I promise that if you follow my saving action plan you will save yourself hundreds of dollars per month. Pick up a copy today at my site:

http://www.saving-money-and-living-debt-free.com

French wine growers resort to bomb attacks

2005-04-01T13:45:00.000-08:00

In a surprising turn of events, wine growers from Southern France resorted to violence in their protest against insufficient state support.

Several buildings and cars were damaged by explosions caused by sticks of dynamite.

Source Article

Aussie wines more popular than ever.

2005-03-30T10:19:00.000-08:00

Australian wines continue to grow in popularity here in the US. They are now second only to Italy in terms of imported bottles sold in the United States.

They are truly an up and coming power in the world of wine.

In case you are wondering, France is currently at #3.

Source article.

Wine with Easter dinner

2005-03-27T05:09:00.000-08:00

Happy Easter to those of us who celebrate the holiday.

Since we are having my in-laws for dinner, I picked up couple of bottles from the region of Italy that my mother-in-law grew up in. Trebbianno d'Abruzzi for those who prefer white, Montepulciano d'Abruzzi for those who choose red.

Have you chosen which type of wine you'll be enjoying with dinner or will you be making a last minute run to the store? If you are not sure what to drink, check out the links below for some advice...

Pairing wines with different foods.
Learn about the different types of wine.

interesting wine documentary, "Mondovino"

2005-03-21T05:40:00.000-08:00

Following in the footsteps of "Sideways" comes an interesting documentary called "Mondovino". Directed by Jonathan Nossiter, it laments the 'globalization of wine'.

In a nutshell, Nossiter feels that giant wine corporations have changed the world for the worse, and he fears that small family-run wineries will be stamped out by the big players and we will all suffer a loss.

Source Article.

A great forum for discussing wine...

2005-03-14T18:40:00.000-08:00

If you are looking for lively discussions on the world of wine check out this interesting wine forum.

The forum is based in Europe but there are members from all over the world. Stop by and see what the discussion of the day is....see you there!

Sponsored Link
A new ebook with fantastic tips on how to cut your expenses and save money will soon be available at http://www.saving-money-and-living-debt-free.com

I've seen the unfinished 1st draft and I highly recommend it to anyone looking to save money. It is full of tips that anyone can use to save hundreds or thousands of dollars a year!

a fantastic ebook on wine!

2005-03-06T13:02:00.000-08:00

I received an email yesterday from Chris Miley, a wine expert and author. He told me that he had written an ebook titled “How To Build Your Own Wine Cellar”

He requested that I put a link to his ebook on my site, since I get a decent amount of traffic. I was glad to oblige.

The ebook itself is actually about much more than building a wine cellar. It teaches all about serving wines, wine glasses, tasting wines, and much, much more. It's a great read and I highly recommend it. You can purchase a copy at Chris's website by clicking on this link:

“How To Build Your Own Wine Cellar”

how the wine industry almost died

2005-02-23T13:24:00.000-08:00

Phylloxera...not a particularly scary word. Few people have ever heard of it. But it came dangerously close to wiping Europe's vineyards off the map, and destroying the wine industry in the process.

Phylloxera is a tiny parasite that feeds on the roots of grape vines and slowly kills them. It is native to North America and the vines there are resistant.

However, in the 19th century the parasite made its way to Europe. European vines were devastated as the parasite attacked them. The entire European wine industry was threatened.

Luckily, it was discovered that the grape-bearing vine from Europe could be grafted onto a resistant North American root without loosing the qualities of the grape. The wine industry was saved.

More information on how phylloxera nearly wiped out the wine industry.

Pinot Noir sales rise thanks to 'Sideways'

2005-02-23T06:30:00.000-08:00

Sales of one of my favorite red wines, Pinot Noir, are through the ceiling in recent months and some attribute it to the success of the Oscar nominated film Sideways. I have not yet seen the movie myself, but it takes place in the California wine country and apparently the characters rave about pinot noir. Interesting how a movie can have such an impact on sales of wine.

Source article

wine as a wedding favor

2005-02-04T13:43:00.000-08:00

An interesting idea for a wedding favor...

A couple we know very well is getting married this summer and they told us that they will be giving out bottles of wine as a favor. A nice bottle of wine is a great favor, but that's not the part that intrigued me.

They are being creative and having custom shrink caps made. (Shrink caps are just the plastic that covers the cork and the top of the bottle). So they are going to remove all of the orginal shrink caps from the bottles and then replace it with their own customized and original shrink caps that they are having made.

I think its a great idea and its not as hard as you would think. The original shrink cap is easy enough to remove and the new one is not much harder to put on the wine bottle.

All you have to do is boil a pot of water on the stove. Put the new shrink cap on the bottle and then hold it down onto the bottle with a pair of kitchen tongs (or even a spoon). Then just turn the bottle upside down and dip it into the boiling water. After just a few seconds the cap will be secured and you'll have added a memorable touch to your wedding favor!

I told our friends that if they somehow managed to mess up a bottle or two, I'd be happy to help them drink it! =)

books about wine

2005-02-04T11:24:00.000-08:00

If you are looking for a good wine book for yourself or a friend, I have a couple of recommendations.

I've found that some books about wine are a little snobby and make things a little more complicated than they need to be. There's a lot to know when it comes to wine, so you need to get off to a good start.

Check out the following books about wineto get a good base of knowledge without feeling overwhelmed...

Wine for Dummies
by Ed McCarthy, Mary Ewing-Mulligan, Piero Antinori

The Wine Bible
by Karen MacNeil

more evidence that wine is good for you

2005-02-01T11:22:00.000-08:00

More evidence of wine's role in keeping the heart healthy. The article below discusses finding by Danish researchers that provide further confirmation that people who drink wine in moderate amounts are at a reduced risk for cardiovascular disease.

It also notes that socio-economic status should also be considered. In other words, is the lifestyle and diet of the typical wine-drinker different from that of a non-wine-drinker?

More about the health benefits of wine.

Source Article

pairing wine with food

2005-01-31T17:48:00.000-08:00

I've never been a fan of only drinking certain types of wine with certain foods. The old guideline always said red wine goes with beef and white wine goes with fish.

Part of the reasoning is that a heavy red wine such as cabernet sauvignon would overpower a delicate dish like fish. Similarly, a fine white wine like riesling would not stand a chance with a heavy meal such as a steak and potatoes.

Experiment with different wines and different meals and see what you prefer. You will surely find many interesting combinations. Some may not work out so well.

For example I don't enjoy the white wine called Gewurtztraminer with food, though I enjoy it on its own.

I will always go by my own rule, which is actually a two-parter:

1. drink what you like!
2. always be willing to try something new!

And if you are not sure where to start, I will give you a few suggestions for pairing wine with food. But please treat these suggestions as a guideline, not a set of rules.

red or white

2005-01-30T08:19:00.000-08:00

There are so many different types of wine, and there is surely something for just about everyone.

My first choice is usually a red wine, especially cabernet sauvignon or pinot noir. The other night, my wife and I had a small party and I chose to enjoy a nice Beaujolais (BO zho lay). It was light and refreshing. I love red wines.

Some of our guests only drink white, so I made sure to have a couple bottles of chardonnay and pinot grigio on hand. I enjoy white wines as well. I find them especially enjoyable in the summer.

So in other words I love both red & white wines! I never understood people who only drink one or the other. (My sister used to drink White Zinfandel exclusively until we slowly brought her around) =)

WHy limit yourself to one choice. Try something different! If you only drink white wine because you once tasted a Cab that you didn't care for, then try a pinot noir!

They may be the same color, but they are totally different in taste and texture.

wine & health

2005-01-25T05:35:00.000-08:00

The health benefits of wine have been known for sometime. Wine contains a powerful antioxidant called resveratrol.

Studies show that moderate consumption of wine (about a glass a day) contributes to lower cholesterol, lessens the risk of heart disease, and helps prevent cancer.

Heart disease and cancer are two of the deadliest and common diseases today. It seems everyday there is a story on the news describing a new study that shows something has been found to be carcinogenic (cancer-causing). Smoking, over-exposure to sun, and family history are all risk factors.

Asbestos is a material used for years in construction and other uses, and it has been discovered to be the cause of mesothelioma.

Wine is not a cure for these diseases. But in moderation, and as part of an overall healthy lifestyle, it appears that wine can play a small part in preventing them.

daily wine helps keep mind sharp

2005-01-20T19:05:00.000-08:00

Moderate alcohol consumption is known to reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke. A new study shows that can also keep the mind young.

The study of 12,500 women aged 70 to 81 found that they were 20 percent less likely to experience a decline in their thinking skills over a two-year period than women who did not drink at all.

Another reason to enjoy a glass of fine wine!

Source Article

wine accessories for your home bar

2005-01-20T08:56:00.000-08:00

A buddy of mine bought a new house a few months ago and is setting up a little mini-bar in his family room. Has a nice selection of wines a liquers and he also stocked up on all sorts of wine accessories including wine glass tags, wine stoppers, and a nice corkscrew.

These are the types of items that really make your home bar special. Having a few wine bottle stoppers is important for keeping wine fresh. And you certainly go very far without a corkscrew to open the bottle!!

One item that is sometimes overlooked is a set of wine glass tags. These are simple little items that attach to the stem of a wine glass and keep your guests from mixing up glasses. They can be a nice ornamental touch.

My buddy's wife just had a birthday so we decided to get them a really nice set. They are in the shape of mini wine bottle themselves, and each has the name of a different wine on the bottle. They are a cute little conversation starter too.

Wine glass tags can range in price anywhere from a few dollars for a multi-pack to several dollars each. The choice is yours. But I certainly recommend getting them.

understanding wine names

2005-01-11T10:40:00.000-08:00

If you are trying to learn about wine, the first thing you should understand
is the different types of wine.

Understanding wine names is the first step.
Some wines are named after the grape from which they are made. Examples include Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Chardonnay.

Others are named for the region in which the grapes were grown, for example Chablis, Bourdeaux,
and Burgundy.

Generally, European wines are named after the region, while new world wines are named for the grape.

Beware of regional wines that do not actually come from that region. Jugs of "Chablis" that are made in
the US are usually of lesser quality. They may not even contain Chablis grapes!! They are merely trying to market themselves as a wine from a famous region to increase sales

resealable Champagne bottles?

2004-12-27T19:30:00.000-08:00

Andre Champagne Cellars is rolling out a new way to reseal Champagne bottles once they have been opened. It is a screw on cap that can be put on the bottle to keep it fresh.

They say that the bubbles will remain for a few days after opening. The company hopes it will spur Champagne sales throughout the year, not just the holidays.

Sounds interesting, but in my house a bottle of Champagne doesn't need to be re-sealed!!

Source Article

wine quotes

2004-12-26T13:03:00.000-08:00

Been busy with the holidays and all, but time to get back on track.

Wine has been popular for ages, so it is understandable that many great minds and celebrities have enjoyed it, and many have shared their thoughts on the subject.

Below are a few of my favorites:

A meal without wine is like a day without sunshine. - Anthelme Brillat Savarin

No thing more excellent nor more valuable than wine was ever granted mankind by God. - Plato

Wine is a constant proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy. - Benjamin Franklin

A waltz and a glass of wine invite an encore. - Johann Strauss

Both to the rich and poor, wine is the happy antidote for sorrow. - Euripides.

Come quickly, I'm drinking stars. - Dom Perignon

Good wine is a good familiar creature if it well used. - Shakespeare

Drink no longer water but use a little wine for thy stomach's sake. - St. Paul, 1 Timothy 5:23

What is better than to sit at the end of a day and drink wine with friends, or substitute for friends. - James Joyce

9000 year old Chinese wine

2004-12-20T06:44:00.000-08:00

Just read a fascinating article. New archaeological evidence points to the first wine being enjoyed in China around 7000 BC. This is a major find that will cause the hostory of wine to be reevaluated.

Previously, the first known wine dated back to about 5500 BC in what is now Iran.

This newly found Chinese wine appears to have been a fermented mixture of rice, honey, and fruit. While itwould certainly taste quite different from modern wine, it is the oldest ancestor we are aware of.

Of course, history is always changing each time a new find is made!

Source Article

wine from Abruzzi

2004-12-19T17:44:00.000-08:00

My mother-in-law is originally from a small town called San Vito, in the Abruzzi section of Italy on the Adriatic sea. My wife and I hope to visit someday, but for now we will have to settle for tasting wines from the region.

There are 2 types of wine made in Abruzzi. One is white, the other red.
The white is Trebbiano d'Abruzzo, the red Montepulciano d'Abruzzo.

Both are named after the type of grapes used to make the wine. While neither is considered to be a top wine, they are both nice table wines that are excellent values for the cost. As a matter of fact we opened a bottle of Montepulciano d'Abruzzo for dinner. It is almost obscenely inexpensive at $9 for a 1.5 liter bottle.

As I said, it can not compare in terms of quality with the finest wines from France.
But it is a nice little wine that I would recommend to anyone looking for an inexpensive wine to serve with a casual meal.

learn about wine

2004-12-18T11:49:00.000-08:00

When I was growing up, wine was not a major part of my family's meals. My exposure to wine pretty much consisted of a glass of White Zinfandel on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter.

As I got older I started to expand my horizons when dining in restaurants. Chardonnay, Merlot, Cabernet...I liked them all. Over the past few years I have really enjoyed trying as many different wines as possible and learning as much as I can about them. Fortunately I have a few store nearby that have fantastic selections!

One of the first things I realized was that many people who are wine experts are also wine snobs. They can be flat out rude to newcomers! I honestly don't understand this attitude at all. Even the most brilliant wine experts in the world had to start somewhere! Who are they to criticize?

I choose to encourage people to learn more about wine and enjoy the many different types of wine, rather than put them down for mispronouncing thge name of a Bourdeaux.

So I started this blog, and also started a little website:
Virtual Wine Guide - A place for beginners to learn about the different types of wine, understand what wine names mean, and more.

Please feel free to check out my site for more info. In the meantime I'll be posting here as time permits. I'll pass along all the info I have, including recommendations for wines you should try and breaking news in the wine industry.

Cheers!