Drink and Dine – Wine Blog

By Nicole McDaniels Platinum Quality Author

We try to live healthily to prolong our life. We do this to have time to correct our mistakes, reach our goals and spend more time with our loved ones. However, due to the kind of lifestyle we have nowadays, life expectancy has shortened. According to the NCHS, life expectancy is now at 77.7 years. There are several ways to add more years to live. One of which is to choose what we eat. The more organic our food is, the safer it is to eat. Besides, we get various substances in their rawest forms. Most of these substances have anti-oxidant properties responsible from keeping the toxins away from our body. One of which is Resveratrol. The question as to where to find Resveratrol is then being asked.

The best sources of Resveratrol are grapes. Yes, red grapes in particular have been famous for being abundant with this substance. It is a fact that this anti-oxidant is present mostly in their skin and seeds. People have been extracting them in order to make them as a nutritional supplement. They are also the best sources because they are made into various food types, which can be integrated in our daily meals.

They can be made into juices or wine. They are also popular as raisins, which can be included in breads, chocolates and other deserts. Grapes converted into wine are found to have higher contents of Resveratrol. According to some sources, red wine contains 0.24 – 1.25 milligrams of it. This is twice the amount found in peanut butter.

Lastly, they are the best sources simply because they are most abundant in existence and in anti-oxidants that can potentate the effects of Resveratrol. If you want to live longer, eat grapes because grapes are the answer to your questions as to where to find Resveratrol.

Now you want to live longer, look younger, and be healthy, right?

Do this with Dr. Oz’s Extreme Life Extension through Resveratrol by Clicking Here Now!

Resveratrol is the #1 for “Anti-Aging” because it has so many different elements that help your body, so you can’t go wrong with Dr Oz’s Resveratrol.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nicole_McDaniels

Bargain hunting for a canny wine buyer is an overflowing cup. At every price point there are astonishing deals being offered in grocery, traditional liquor and the online channel.

The good news is that almost all of the wine sold in New Zealand is of a high international standard. Even the cheapest wine available at the end of your grocery aisle is almost certainly going to be clean, well made and perfectly enjoyable. And that’s its role. A simple drink to take the edge off the day or enjoy with a meal.

Of course there will be some exceptions but, at the $9.99 level, few wines will offer any varietal magic – the X factor that sets better wines apart. And an increasing number of the wines from leading New Zealand producers will be international blends using cheap European, Australian or South American juice to keep their brands viable in this very competitive bracket.

Things start to heat up when you hit $12.99. Oak and palate weight will become more evident in the New Zealand chardonnays. Sauvignon blancs and rieslings of real quality become more common. A rare Kiwi pinot gris or two will emerge. Imported reds will start to shine across the board with flavours in the more savoury spectrum. Estate level Hawkes Bay reds become more frequently available. Drinkable pinot noir is yet to make an appearance.

But the real action starts at $14.99. For most New Zealanders $14.99 is a ceiling price. Approximately 80% of us will seldom spend more than that magical figure on a bottle of wine so the wine industry will tie itself in knots to get their wines below that price point to achieve volume sales.

$14.99 is the true bargain hunters nirvana. At that price you will be able to buy 5 star quality anything – with the notable exception, again, of pinot noir. Often wines that traditionally sell in significantly higher price brackets – sometimes $30 plus – will be discounted by distributors or producers so retailers can hit the $14.99 price point. You will find reserve quality chardonnay. Lush and layered sauvignon blanc. Expressive pinot gris. Quality riesling. Savoury Hawkes Bay reds. An avalanche of imported red varietals. It’s truly a buyers sandpit and a great place to play.

Like any retail industry there are more frogs than princes so the trick is to navigate the deals available to ensure you get the best bang for your buck at the price point you choose. Cheap and good is one thing. Cheap and nasty is another.

Happy hunting!

Mac

By: Mac Macpherson

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

John ‘Mac’ Macpherson is the owner of Advintage Wine Warehouse, Havelock North, Hawkes Bay and regularly writes about wine for local publications. There are tons of great wine deals available at all price points right now at www.advintage.co.nz.

Less strenuous than golf or gardening, better tasting than the backs of old postage stamps, and somewhat more fragrant than some other chief diversion—fishing—is the hobby of wine.

Few other avocations offer as many widely different kinds of pleasure. This one ranges from cultivating your own vineyard to making your own wine; you can tour the world’s wine lands; build a wine cellar; collect old labels, fancy stemware; test your palate by tasting—you can even find sets of ceramic coasters or stone coasters that will match your drink glasses and harmonize with your choice of wine.

Wine also blends with gastronomy. All the noted amateur chefs are equally wine hobbyists, because high cuisine demands wine both as a seasoning and as an accompaniment at the table. As for literature, few kinds of reading offer more pleasure to the senses than recollections of memorable meals artfully blended with great vintages. Wine libraries contain the whole history of civilization.

The wine hobbyist experiences the subtler joys. He sees in his glowing wine the sky over vineyard hillsides; he inhales from it the essence of the countryside; he savors its bouquet, admires it as a work of art, and lets it infuse sunshine into his veins. He pays attention to the smaller details, such as using the correct bar accessories, beverage coasters, and drink glasses for the occasion.

Nothing in this article is intended to deprecate the higher arts of wine appreciation. The hope is that it will attract more genuine hobbyists to the subject, because unlike the overcrowding of favorite fishing holes, the more devotees of wine, the merrier. Let us first, therefore, expand the references made in earlier chapters to the aging of wines; for here is the principal delight in this entire sphere.

Although most of the world’s wines reach their peak in quality early, and thereafter decline, certain red table wines, a very few whites, and a substantial proportion of the Sherries and dessert wines develop superlative quality with long years in their bottles.

The extent of their improvement in glass—after their preliminary maturing in casks—can be likened to the difference between sandstone drink coasters merely planed and the same stone sandpapered, or to the difference between a rosebud and the full-blown flower.

But the selection of such wines requires study. Many of the leading Bordeaux producers, once noted for the longevity of their wines—vintages famed for living a half-century or longer—have changed their output in recent years to lighter, earlier-maturing wines.

Even the Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignons, of which there are magnificent examples nearly fifty years old, are being made lighter and earlier maturing now than formerly, by drawing the wine off the grape skins before fermentation is complete.

One reason for this is the modern consumer’s apparent liking for fresher-tasting, lighter-bodied wines than formerly. Another is that vintners have come to realize that merchants cannot afford to keep stocks many years before sale.

The California premium producers usually store their wines in bins at the wineries for a few months to a year after bottling—just to take off the rough edges, they say. But binning is expensive in terms of space, handling, and waiting for the proceeds of sale. Only the householder can reasonably be expected to buy wines for the special purpose of aging in the bottle.

By: Allison Ryan

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Allison Ryan is a freelance marketing writer from San Diego, CA. She specializes in the history of viticulture and viniculture. For beautiful sandstone drink coasters and charming sets of beverage coasters, stop by www.thirstycoasters.com/.

You’re all aware of how beneficial a good cab or pinot noir can be to a dinner party, or alongside a rare steak, but did you know that red wine health benefits are many and varied? It’s true: those commercials you always see touting the benefits of drinking a single glass of red wine each day are telling the truth. Recent scientific research is showing that the red wine health benefits are even more extensive than we thought, contributing to a boost in blood levels of healthy omega-3 fatty acids, providing a shield against the effects of aging on our bodies, and reducing the formation of the proteins that promote Alzheimer’s disease. Drinking red wine, it seems, isn’t just delicious; it’s also good for us.

Omega-3 Boost

Scientists examined three groups from three different European countries, each composed of people with different eating and drinking habits. Regardless of which type of alcohol was consumed, there was an increase in omega-3 levels in the blood – but it’s already widely known that all alcohol increases omega-3 viability. What was interesting is that red wine had a greater overall effect than either beer or wine, even accounting for alcohol levels. The only logical conclusion is that red wine health benefits include a boost to omega-3 levels in the blood.

Anti-Aging

Resveratrol, a minor ingredient in red wine, was shown to activate a protein called sirtuin that protects cells from its own DNA. Inside very cell are huge spools of DNA, a tiny fraction of which is in use at any given time; sirtuin keeps the rest of the DNA under control in the meantime. But when breaks occur in our chromosomes, sirtuin is dispatched to repair them. As a result, the DNA the sirtuin was guarding is left free to wreak havoc on our cells. This period of unrest, scientists believe, is when aging occurs. Drinking red wine and taking in resveratrol could mean improved levels of anti-aging sirtuin.

Anti-Alzheimer’s

Alzheimer’s disease occurs when certain toxic plaques form in the brain. These plaques are formed by proteins – proteins which are blocked by polyphenols. Polyphenols exist in red wine in large amounts, and they don’t just block the formation of the plaque-forming proteins. They also reduce the toxicity of existing plaques, thus helping to prevent further cognitive degeneration. So it seems that for people already afflicted with Alzehimer’s, the red wine health benefits are worth drinking a glass or two a day.

Red is best, of course, and the older the better. If you have a truly great bottle of mature wine, you’ll probably want to check out this video show you how to decant a mature wine.

Mankind has been drinking wine since primal man found the first stash of fermenting grapes. Red wine remains the purest and least-processed form of mass-market alcohol, and the fact that these new red wine health benefits are being discovered should tell you that primal man had the right idea when he started drinking red wine. The aforementioned studies may not prove that red wine is the miracle cure for anything at all, but at least we’re on the right track toward understanding the role it plays in our health. In the meantime, drink up!

About the Author: Mark Sisson is a former professional triathlete who runs a popular health and nutrition blog, Mark’s Daily Apple. Check it out for more great articles and information on the Primal Blueprint, a revolutionary health plan using the principles of human evolution as the basis for modern, high protein, healthy living.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mark_Sisson

Bottle Sizes

Wine for commercial use can be packaged in various size containers; bag in a box, tetra packs and recently there have been discussions for plastics bottles (ouch). The most traditional way to package wine is in glass bottles, from clear to assorted shades of green, yellow and brown glass. Sizes range from 250ml to 6000ml, with all other sizes in between. Glass bottles allow wines to be properly stored and aged. When you buy quality wines you should always buy glass bottles, preferably with a natural cork.

Below are some terms used for different bottle sizes; keep in mind that some of these terms are taken from French terminology. However, today they have become custom names in the industry.

*Standard; Refers to a standard 750ml (25.4 fl oz) bottle. This bottle size was adopted from the wine industry in the last couples of centuries and has become the norm for most wines. The 750ml (25.4 fl oz) bottle was designed for convenience as it serves an average of two people; 375ml (12.7 fl oz) per individual equal to two 6.5 fl oz glasses of wine per person. It can also serve four people one glass each 187.5ml (6.3 fl oz). Ideal to split with a friend or for small gathering, also great for tasting wines with a small group when you want to taste several wines during the same event. (serve 4-6 peoples, 6.5 fl oz. or up to 8 people with an average of 3 fl oz each).

Piccolo: Is the Italian name for a 187.5ml (6.3 fl oz) size bottle, the equivalent of a quarter of a 750ml standard bottle. Not very common in the markets, however some dessert and fortified wine can be found in this size. Serve one standard glass (6.3 fl oz) per person or 2 people (dessert and fortified wines should be served an average of 3 fl oz per glass).

Demy: Is the French name for a 375ml (12.7 fl oz) or a half of a 750ml standard bottle. This size is very popular with sweet and fortified wines. Some quality wines and sparkling can be found in this size bottle as well. It makes the perfect amount for an individual (solo dining) or to share with someone if you only want a glass each. For dessert and fortified wines this size can be ideal for 4 people (dessert and fortified wines should be serve an average of 3 fl oz per glass).

*Standard; Refers to a typical 750ml bottle. This has become the standard size for most wines. (See above)

Magnum: Refers to a 1500ml (1.5 litres, 50.7 fl oz) bottle or the equivalent of 2 Standard bottles (please note that you can find inexpensive wines in this size as well), however you can discover some exceptional wines and special vintages. Large wines bottles are well known for their aging ability. Great for a larger gathering 6-8 people (one glass each average).

Double Magnum: Refers to a 3000ml (3 litres, 101.4 fl oz)) bottle, the equivalent of 4 Standard bottles. This size is very popular with wine collectors and allows wines to age for longer periods of time (sometimes up to 25 years). Because few wines are packaged this way, it creates an attractive collectible item and a great gift idea. Brilliant for celebrations if you want to offer something really special to your guests; serves 8-12 people. (One glass each).

Jeroboam: Refers to a 4500ml (4.5 litres, 152.2 fl oz) or a 5000ml (5 litres, 169 fl oz) bottle. These sizes are not always available and are also very popular with wine collectors as it allows wines to age for longer, offering the opportunity to discover some older and special vintages. This size is used to age wines up to 30 years and more.

Very few wines are packaged this way; it makes an interesting collectible item or a great gift idea for the discriminating wine connoisseur.

Impressive for celebrations if you really want to surprise your party; serves 10-14 people. (One glass each)

Remember that under the Italian Denomination of Origin laws and regulations, DOC and DOCG wines can only be bottled in sizes no more that 5 litres.

In addition, French wines and champagnes use other sizes of interest, these sizes can also be found in new world wines. You may be able to find them in Italian wines such as IGT and Table wines but production is very limited.

These other sizes are:

Rehoboam: 4500ml (4.5 litres or 152.2 fl oz) Typical for Burgundy and Champagne.

Imperial: 6000 ml (6 litres or 202.9 fl oz) Traditionally for Bordeaux wines.

Methuselah: 6000 ml (6litres or 202.9 fl oz) Usually for Champagnes and burgundy wines.

Hope this will help you the next time you look at some different size bottles. Giorgio

Giorgio Castiglioni is the founder of the Italian Vino Network.

He was born in Somma Lombardo, a small city northwest of Italy and at 13 years of age Giorgio started in the hospitality industry working as a Squinizzo (gofer) in a local restaurant. During this time he learned many aspects of the restaurant business.

His passion and love for food and beverages encouraged him to study in the renowned Hotel School “E Maggia” of Stresa on the shores of the stunning Lago Maggiore where he obtained a diploma in Hotel Management, specializing in Food and Beverage.

His passion and the need to create a place for Italian wines lovers everywhere was the inspiration for developing Italian Vino Network ……an Italian wine club for all wine lovers.

Visit The Italian Wine Network

http://italianvino.ca

info@italianvino.ca

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Giorgio_Castiglioni

What is Wine?

The first known wines date back to 6,000BC and are thought to have originated in what is now Israel, Georgia and Iran. Making its first European debut approx 4,500BC in what is now Greece wine quickly became a common drink in ancient Greece and Rome with the modern word wine deriving from “winam”, an early borrowing from the Latin “vinum” meaning wine or grape.

Wine is made from fermented grape juice. The chemical balance of grapes allows for fermentation without any nutrients or sugars, acids or enzymes being added.

Various types of yeast consume the sugars found in the grapes and convert them into alcohol. Different grape varieties are combined with different yeast strains to produce different kinds of wine. It’s not just grapes that are used either. Fruits like apples and berries can also be fermented, and the “wines” that result are normally named after the fruit they come from and are generically known as “fruit wines”.

Red, white and sparkling wines are known as light wines. They are the most popular partially because they are only 10-14% alcohol-content by volume. Aperitif and dessert wines contain 14-20% alcohol. They are sometimes fortified to make them richer and sweeter.

Varietals – A wine made principally from one variety of grape and carrying the name of that grape.

Wine is usually made from one or more Varietal of Vitis Vinifera, such as Pinot Noir, Chardonnay or Merlot. When the predominant grape is one of these varieties in a mixture defined by law as a minimum of 75% or 85%, the result is a Varietal. This is different from a blended wine. Blended wines are not considered inferior; in fact, some of the world’s most valued and expensive wines that come from regions like Bordeaux and Tuscany are blended from different grape varieties of the same Vintage.

Vintages

Vintage wines are made from grapes that are exclusively grown in a specific year, and they are labeled this way. A vintage wine’s character can vary yearly with subtle differences in colour, palate, nose, body and development. A high-quality red table wine’s flavour improves with age if properly stored. Consequently, it’s common for wine enthusiasts and traders to save bottles of an especially good vintage wine.

Vintage wines are generally bottled in single batches so that each bottle will have a similar taste. Climate can also impact the character of a wine. Different vintages from the same vineyard can vary dramatically in flavour and quality. Thus, vintage wines are individually characteristic of the vintage and serve as the producer’s flagship wine. Superior vintages, from reputable producers and regions, will often fetch much higher prices than their average counterparts. Some vintage wines, like Brunello, are only made in better-than-average years.

For consistency, non-vintage wines can be blended from more than one vintage. This process allows wine makers to maintain a reliable market image and sales even in bad years.

Terrois or Terreni (territory) refer to specific areas. It’s a concept that includes several items like the grape varieties, elevation and shape of the vineyard, the nature of the soil, climate and seasonal conditions as well as the local yeast cultures.

Regulations

The classification and sale of wine is governed all over the world. European wines tend to be classified by region (e.g. Bordeaux and Chianti), while others are often classified by grape (e.g. Merlot, Chardonnay). However, regional recognition is leading to increased prominence for some wine labels. Some blended wine names also double as marketing terms, and these names are governed by trademark or copyright laws rather than by specific wine laws.

Giorgio Castiglioni is the founder of the Italian Vino Network.

He was born in Somma Lombardo, a small city northwest of Italy and at 13 years of age Giorgio started in the hospitality industry working as a Squinizzo (gofer) in a local restaurant. During this time he learned many aspects of the restaurant business.

His passion and love for food and beverages encouraged him to study in the renowned Hotel School “E Maggia” of Stresa on the shores of the stunning Lago Maggiore where he obtained a diploma in Hotel Management, specializing in Food and Beverage.
His passion and the need to create a place for Italian wines lovers everywhere was the inspiration for developing Italian Vino Network ……an Italian wine club for all wine lovers.
Visit The Italian Wine Network

http://italianvino.ca

info@italianvino.ca

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Giorgio_Castiglioni

The word “Côtes” crops up in the names of a number of French wine regions, and with good reason: it means “slopes” and slopes make for good drainage and sun exposure – both big plusses for wine grapes. For Domaine Terres de Solence, those good conditions mean they can forego pesticides and other chemicals in favor of 100% organic winegrowing. The “Cippus” Côtes du Ventoux has a satisfying mix of flavors that characterize the southern Rhône: blackberry, smoke, sage, and a touch of black pepper. It’s fairly full-bodied, with smooth tannins.

Consumer Reviews: 4 out of 5 stars

Here is what they have to say:

“This wine was very balanced, we enjoyed this bottle with a simple dinner. ”

If you can’t find it at your local wine store, we always recommend My Wines Direct.

I searched and found a great Sangria recipe that I thought I’d share here. The taste is delightful and full of European influences. Thanks to the Bartender’s Blog for the recipe!

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 L Red wine (Cabernet Sauvignon)
• 1 cup Sugar
• 1 large Lemon, sliced
• 1 large Orange, sliced
• 1 large Apple, cut into thin sections
• 3-4 oz plain Brandy
• Soda water

Mixing instructions:

Mix wine, sugar and fruit, and let sit in the fridge for 18-24 hours. The mixture will have a somewhat syrupy consistency. Before serving stir in brandy and cut the mixture with soda water until it have a thinner, more wine like consistency. Serve from a pitcher in wine glasses.

You may use orange or lemon flavored soda instead of the soda water.

From the great Napa Valley in California, the valley floor hits just the right temperature to draw out the grape’s dark fruit and rich mouthfeel; in the Broken Barrel Cab, look for cassis, blueberry, and juicy blackberry notes, complemented by a touch of graphite and cedar. It’s full-bodied, with good length and firm tannins that balance well with the fruit aromas.

Consumer Reviews: 4 out of 5 stars

“Nice Cabernet that went will with dinner. Polished off the evening with a glass by the fire. Very nice red. Highly recommended. ”

It pairs great with a classic Roast Beef.

If you can’t find it at your local wine store, we always recommend My Wines Direct.

The Richland Shiraz lives up to what we have come to expect from our friends down-under. The Aussies have adopted the Syrah and changed its name to Shiraz. What it gained by going Down Under was freedom of expression – freedom to be as big, fruit-driven, and easy-going as it liked.

The result: a full-bodied wine, included with tons of boysenberry and blackberry aromas. It’s smooth and clean, with just enough firm tannins and a dash of pepper to tell you there’s some drive behind the laidback pose.

The latest consumer reviews have graded this wine at 4 out of 5 stars.

But the best part is the price…. $10.99.

We recommend purchasing this great wine at My Wines Direct if you cannot find it at your local wine store.