Most Popular Red Wine Types for Your Rack

Wine is produced all over the world from single varietal grape selections to popular varietal blends to please almost every palate, from the novice to the seasoned wine taster. Red wine happens to be the most popular choice the world over.

Barolo and Barbaresco

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Derived from the Nebbiolo grape, Barolo wines are typically deep red with a thick and complex flavor that is sometimes flowery, reminiscent of violets and roses. Other flavors are fruit, licorice or oak. Barolo should be enjoyed at 60F and can age for 5-10 years. Barbaresco is a red wine that is more elegant and aromatic, though still powerful. In a way, Barbaresco is the younger brother of Barolo. Both of these red wines are made in the Piedmont region of Italy and pair well with grilled meats.

Most Popular Red Wine Types for Your Rack

Beaujolais Nouveau

A very young, light, fruity wine meant to be served chilled, around 55F, with dominant flavors of strawberry and raspberry along with a grapey appeal that is virtually free of tannins. It is grown from the Gamay grape in the Beaujolais region (part of Burgundy) of France. Beaujolais Nouveau is released annually on the third Thursday of November. In food pairing, it goes well with grilled or roasted meats both light and dark, a variety of pastas, salads and cheeses.

Cabernet Franc

Originally from the Bourdeaux and Loire Valley region, Cabernet Franc enjoys the growing climates of California, Washington State, Australia, Chile, Canada, and South Africa. It is a wonderfully fruity wine, having lower tannin levels and a more distinct flavor reminiscent of berry; mainly blueberry, raspberry and at times plum. Cabernet Franc is more subdued and softer than its cousin Cabernet Sauvignon and is sold as a single varietal. However, it is ideal for blending with its cousin Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Cabernet Franc is best served at 59-64F and pairs well with Mediterranean Greek and Middle Eastern dishes as well as poultry and pasta.

Cabernet Sauvignon

Originally from Bordeaux, Cabernet Sauvignon has a tremendous presence in the California wineries where the grape favors the warmer climate, and enjoys the popularity as the most sought after red wine. Cabernets are medium-bodied to full-bodied and characterized by a high tannin content which provides structure and intrigue to the wine and supporting flavors reminiscent of a rich, ripe berry, tobacco and sometimes green pepper. Cabernet Sauvignon is an ideal wine for aging, with 5-10 years being optimal for peak maturation. The longer maturation process allows the wine's flavors to mellow, and makes the Cabernets ideal for blending with other grapes, primarily Merlot to add appealing fruit tones, without sacrificing character. Cabernet Sauvignon is best served at 59-64F, and pairs wonderfully with red meats, lamb, cheeses of strong flavor and dark chocolates.

Cotes du Rhone

Southeastern France's Rhone Valley produces some of that country's best bargain red wines offering good flavor, generally full-bodied with rich but smooth tanins, with plenty of food pairing options. Grenache, Syrah and Viognier are the primary varietals grown in the region. Red and rosé wines are made from Grenache Noir, Syrah, Cinsault, Carignane, Counoise and Mourvèdre grape varieties. With the exception of Northern wines using a majority of Syrah, product must contain a minimum of 40% Grenache to be blended into the Côtes du Rhône. Best served at 59-64F and pairs well with game and other rich meat dishes.

Malbec

Originating from Bordeaux France, Malbec is generally a grape used for blending. In the sun-drenched climate of Argentina, Malbec has found renewed appreciation and acclaim and has become Argentina's signature grape producing a medium to full-bodied red wine. Malbec wine is reminiscent of ripe fruit flavors of plums and blackberry jam. The tannins are typically a bit tight with an earthy, wood appeal making for a fairly rustic wine that is quickly making a new name for itself with red wine lovers. Malbec is best served at 59-64F and pairs well with tomato-based sauces, Italian fare, red meat, Mexican, Cajun, and Indian dishes.

Merlot

A soft, medium-bodied red wine with juicy fruit flavors reminiscent of plums, cherries, blueberries and blackberries mixed with black pepper tones. Tannin levels are fairly low. Merlot is a prime wine for consumers just getting into red wines. Merlot originated from the Bordeaux region of France and is often blended with other varietals, such as Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Blending Merlot with these wines mellows and softens the Cabernets. Merlot wines are very versatile with food pairings and are best served at 55- 60F degrees and enjoyed with poultry, red meat, pork, pastas, and salads.

Pinot Noir

Pinot Noir is a lighter flavored and colored red wine with flavors reminiscent of plums, tomatoes, cherries and red berries and, depending on the varietal's growing conditions, an earthy or wood flavor. Pinot Noir is planted in California, Oregon, Germany, Italy, New Zealand, Australia, and other regions around the world. You are likely to pay a little more for Pinot Noir because it is produced in smaller quantities than most of the other popular red wine types. Pinot Noir is a versatile food wine best served at 55-60F, pairing well with spicy seasonings, creamy sauces, beef, ham, lamb, pork, poultry and fish.

Sangiovese

Italy's most commonly planted red grape varietal predominantly producing the popular wines Chianti and Chianti Classico, wines of medium- to full-body with a tannin structure range from medium-soft to firm, and a medium to high acidity content. Flavors associated with Sangiovese wines are reminiscent of cherry, plum, strawberry, cinnamon and vanilla with a finish that can range from elegant to bitter. Best served at 59-64F, Sangiovese varietal wine pairs well with chicken, red meat, fish, lamb, pork, pastas, stews or well-aged cheeses

Shiraz/Syrah

Australia and South Africa call it Shiraz. In France, it is known and grown as Syrah, but it happens to be the same grape varietal that produces a deep-purple color and bold, spicy, red, medium- to full-bodied wines with firm tannins with rich flavors reminiscent of black cherry, blackberry, plum, bell pepper, black pepper, clove, licorice, dark chocolate and smoked meat. Best served at 59-64F, Shiraz/Syrah pairs wonderfully with spicy Mexican, Cajun and barbeque dishes, grilled fare, beef stews, red meats, even pizza and meat lasagna.

Zinfandel

California's #2 most widely planted red wine grape. Originating in Croatia, not southern Italy as previously thought, where it is a kin to the Primitivo grape . DNA "fingerprinting" recently proved that both Zinfandel and Primitivo are clones of the same grape. California is the largest grower of Zinfandel and produces various styles, ranging from a blackberry and black pepper, to light and juicy-fruity, to rich, elegant, oaked red with medium to high tannin levels and higher alcohol content. "Zin" is frequently blended with other grapes. Best served at 59F, Zinfandel pairs well with grilled red or white meat, fish, lamb, gorgonzola cheese and dark chocolate. Lighter Zinfandels can also pair well with rich, creamy pastas, rotisserie chicken, duck, baked Italian dishes like lasagna, cannelloni and Cajun to Asian fare.

Most Popular Red Wine Types for Your Rack

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Food and Wine Choice Advice from an Expert Wine Taster

Food and wine were meant to go together. In my big Italian family, no gathering was complete without plenty of both. Winter feasts were easy for the food and wine lovers among us - a hearty red table wine is the perfect foil for most southern Italian dishes. A pitcher of table wine drawn from the cask in the basement was the typical accompaniment to our everyday meals.

Red, white or rose, Italian table wines are meant to be imbibed in the casual atmosphere of a family dinner. They are light enough to be enjoyed even by the casual food and wine enthusiast, and robust enough to complement the full-flavored richness of smoked and barbecued food. Which leads us to the subject of this little soliloquy - mixing and matching food and wine for the barbecue. My own tastes run to Italian jug wines, and if it was up to me, I'd tell you to just go out and buy a jug of Chianti and a jug of Lambrusco. It's what I grew up with, and I happen to love the little sparkle that a good Lambrusco (yes, they do exist!) adds to food.

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In the interests of presenting a fair and educated view, however, I decided to check with an expert. Austin Liquor has been voted Best Liquor Store in Worcester for the past 5 years, mostly on the strength of its weekly wine tasting. A Friday night tradition in Worcester since the late 1970s, each tasting offers food and wine based around one or two specific vintages. I was directed to Richard Beams, Austin Liquor's resident wine expert, and directed my question to him: "What food and wine combination would you recommend for a summer barbecue?"

Food and Wine Choice Advice from an Expert Wine Taster

I did get my recommendations - but I also got a wonderful overview of Rich's philosophy of choosing wines, especially for fun or everyday occasions.

"I don't think it's necessary for people to spend more than for a bottle of wine for an everyday dinner," he told me. "For a special occasion like an anniversary dinner, sure, you can spend or more for a bottle. A barbecue is a fun occasion, though. For a barbecue you can get really good quality wine for under ."

That may come as a surprise to those of us who have been intimidated into believing that the only true quality wines come with corks and high price tags.

Said Rich to that: "I like wine to be fun. It should be fun. Too many people try to snob it up and break down the flavors so far that it's not fun anymore. I advise people to find something they like and enjoy it. I like to steer people to the less expensive wines that are excellent quality."

So what does Rich recommend to go with the food at a summer barbecue?

"I like to recommend a nice, light Riesling, " he told me. "Something crisp and fresh."

In fact, he told me, several of their recent wine tasting afternoons have featured barbecued food and wine that complements it. He recommended several wines that he feels are 'fun wines' with good value.

Flaio Primitivo (Salento, Italy) Primitivo is a grape varietal grown in the heel of Italy's boot. It's very similar to a good California Zinfandel - in Rich's words it's "almost an exact copy". It retails for about a bottle and is a great accompaniment for burgers and ribs.

Bonny Doon Big House Red (California) Bonny Doon has a lot of fun with their wines, according to Rich, and he does believe that wine should be fun. Big House Red is a blend of 7 or 8 grapes. According to Bonny Doon's own web site, those varietals include syrah, petite sirah, Grenache, barbera and malbec. It retails for about a bottle and its robust licorice and raspberry-accented bouquet stands up to the spiciest barbecued ribs.

Monte Antico (Tuscany, Italy) - "very similar to a Chianti Sangiovese," said Rich. At a bottle, it's got great fruit, balances a barbecue, holds up well, and has a very Italian looking label." To quote Monte Antico's own press, this wine is "Dark ruby in color, its bouquet of leather, earth, herbs, black cherries, licorice and plums is confirmed on the medium to full-bodied palate - round, spicy, elegant, attractively fruity and extremely versatile with any fare from pasta or risotto, to meat, fowl and cheese."

Rich's final recommendation was another 'fun' wine, one that he says is a great 'food wine'. The top in his book is:

Three Thieves 2002 Zinfandel was voted #8 as one of the Hottest Small Brands of 2005. The wine comes in a 1 liter jug with a screw top, and is marketed as a 'fun thing', says Rich, but the wine inside is a full bodied red zinfandel that goes great with burgers or eggplant parmagiana.

Final analysis? Good food and wine that's fun are the cornerstone of a great summer barbecue. Skip the fancy labels, vintages and price tags and pick out a wine that you like. Who cares what the noses think as long as your nose is tickled pink?

Food and Wine Choice Advice from an Expert Wine Taster

Chris Robertson is an author of Majon International, one of the worlds MOST popular internet marketing companies on the web. Visit this Food Website and Majon's Food directory.

Wine - Temperature and Taste Issues

You read about a wine that is strongly reviewed and hustle off to your local wine shop to get a bottle. You have some friends over and pop the cork for dinner. Much to your disappointment, the wine is okay but not nearly as good as the review suggested. The issue might be the temperature of the wine.

Wine is not like water. You can drink water at room temperature, ice cold or even a bit warm and still get relief. Warm wine is rarely very tasty. This is because the temperature plays a role in bringing out certain flavors and elements of the vintage. The temperature can also inhibit certain flavors and elements that might be to strong when the wine is at room temperature. Put another way, temperature is a key factor in bringing balance to the wine.

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White wine is a classic example. It should be served just a bit cooler than refrigerator temperature in the 43 to 46 degree range. Obviously, that is Fahrenheit as the equivalent in Celsius would be a boiling wine! Regardless, this temperature range provides a perfect balance of the competing elements of the white. What if you serve it below this temperature range? The flavors all become bland and hard to distinguish. Serving the wine at room temperature, in contrast, produces a wine that is very acidic. Generally, it is best to start a white at around 43 degrees. As it warms up slowly in the glass, more flavors will emerge.

Wine - Temperature and Taste Issues

What about reds? Well, they say you should serve a red wine at room temperature. This cliché is from an older time and actually is incorrect in most modern environments. A red should be served at a temperature equivalent to the water coming out of your tap. I don't know about where you live, but that is a lot colder than the rooms in my home. To resolve the issue, just put your red in a tub of tap water for a few minutes and the temperature and flavor should balance out nicely.

Wine is very temperature sensitive. While we've covered the general guidelines for whites and reds here, always take the time to find out the optimal temperature for the specific wine you are going to drink. If you don't, you might think an otherwise fine wine has something wrong with it.

Wine - Temperature and Taste Issues

Thomas Ajava writes for Nomad Journals - makers of leather wine journals that make great wine related gifts for any occasion including wine tasting parties.

Top 10 Of The World's Finest Wine

If you are traveling the world and you have a taste bud for fine wine, I have put together for you a list of the world's finest wines that you should sample on your trip around the world or if you can afford it, just keep them in your wine cabinette at home!

1- Katogi Averoff Traminer

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If your destination is Greece, the best way to start and end your trip is with a bottle of Katogi Averoff Traminer. This 2006 Grecian bottle will make your trip to Greece very pleasurable.

Top 10 Of The World's Finest Wine

2- The Krug Champagne

Chosen for its complexity and longevity, This 1998 French bottle will bathe your taste buds in the complexity and longevity of French winery.

3- The Domaine de la Romanée Conti "La Tâche" Grand Cru

This 1990 Burgundy bottle stand for all the secrets of Burgundy wines. One sip and you will no that it is no lie.

4- The Aldo Conterno Barolo Riserva "Gran Bussia"

This 1989 bottle comes from the finest vineyards of Piedmont, Italy.

5- Kiedricher Gräfenberg

If you end up in Rheingau, Germany and you looking for a rare and magnificent bottle of wine to complement your desert, then the Kiedricher Gräfenberg will do you just fine. It is one of Germany's rarest wine, fewer than 50 half-bottles were made!

6- The Muga "Prado Enea" Gran Reserva

This 1994 bottle is from Rioja, Spain. It is your best friend when you have hard to pair dishes!

7- Trimbach Clos Sainte Hune Riesling

If you are at Alsace, France in a fine seafood restaurant, ask for a bottle of the 1996 Trimbach Clos Sainte Hune Riesling to complement your meal. It is the finest seafood wine you will ever taste!

8- Burgundian Pinot Noir

If you want red, the Burgundian pinot noir is your finest choice. This 1999 Clos des Lambrays Grand Cru bottle will delight your scenes with a tinge of vanilla, herbs and spices.

9- Blandy's Verdelho Solera Madeira

If you want old wine, look no further, a bottle of the 1870 Blandy's Verdelho Solera Madeira is all you need. This Bottle is a century old! It is the finest in the market. If you end up in one of Europe's upscale sushi restaurants, a bottle of Blandy's Verdelho Solera Madeira is the best way to wash that sushi down.

10- "Gaston"

Last but not least, if you visiting the US or returning to the US from your trip abroad, a 2002 bottle of Napa Valley's "Gaston" is the finest wine to include in your welcome/ Welcome Back party to the US.

Top 10 Of The World's Finest Wine

D. Gedeon is a talented and distinguished author in the online article field. Visit Wine360 for other Wine and Wine Related Articles.

Wine - A Special Drink For Special Occasions

Wine is an alcoholic drink made of fermented grapes. Drinks similar to wine can also be made of many other fruits or flowers but they need some name to differentiate them from grape wine (like honey wine).

Wine derives from the the Old English word win, that comes from the Proto-Germanic winam which came from the Latin word vinum, which can either mean "wine" or "vine".

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Some say that the Republic of Georgia is the birthplace of modern-day wine. Wine may probably have been made in the valleys of Georgia for over 7,000 years. According to a Georgian legend, wine was first fabricated between 7000 and 5000 BC, when a Caucasian man found out that grape juice became joyful juice when buried during the winter in a compartment in a shallow hole.

Wine - A Special Drink For Special Occasions

Other early known proof of a fermented drink similar to wine is from a Chinese village called Jiahu dating from 6000 to 7000 BC. The wine, discovered in 16 buried jars, had millet, rice, beeswax (from honey) and either hawthorn fruit or wild grape in it. A 3,000 year old bronze jar has also been unearthed, still containing a similar liquid wine.

Ancient pottery jars discovered in Iran indicate that grape wine was made as far back as 5,500 BC. It is the oldest wine ever found and it is in the museum of Pennsylvania. This discovery is particularly significant, as Iran was not usually a grape-growing area, the main crops were mostly grains and beer was the favorite drink back then. As ancient Babylon was located on the Silk Road from China to the Mediterranean, wine was most likely used as a commodity for trade.

In Ancient Egypt, wine was important in ceremonial life. Although wild grapes were never grown there, a highly valued winemaking industry was established in the Nile Delta. The industry was probably the trade result between Egypt and Canaan during the Early Bronze Age, beginning from at least the Third Dynasty (2650 - 2575 BC), the start of the Old Kingdom period (2650 - 2152 BC). Winemaking pictures on tomb walls, and the lists of offerings that came along with them, included wine that was definitely produced in the vineyards of the delta. By the end of the Old Kingdom, five wines produced in the Delta, made part of a "menu," for the afterlife. The culture of wine in Europe came from the Greeks who spread the art of grape-growing and winemaking in Ancient Greece and Roman times.

Today, the regions that most produce wine worldwide are Europe, South America, California and New Zealand. The largest wine export nations are Italy, France, Spain, Australia, Chile, USA, Germany, South Africa, Portugal, Moldova, Hungary, Croatia and Argentina.

Wine history is very important for finding out why Europe has become such a wine capital. The worldwide influences on the area, the local climate, the soil, the grape species and the taste for the beverage made this drink become one of the most valuable foodstuffs in the world. A person who understands wine, understands the land, and therefore understands class and the arts.

Wine - A Special Drink For Special Occasions

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Michael Russell

Your Independent guide to Wine [http://wine.for-fun-and-value.com/]

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Wine - The Mild Alcohol

The one alcoholic drink that has respect among men and women is wine. Wine is considered to be a status symbol among the elites. The low percentage of alcohol in wine and other nutritional values give it a unique place among other strong alcoholic products. Wine is safe, while having a long chat, and the preferred choice for political discussions, since one hardly gets intoxicated. It is precisely the reason, why women love it. However, it could have made matters worse, if wine did have lots of alcohol content.

Drinking moderate amounts of wine as part of a healthy lifestyle has proved to be beneficial. From the ancient times, wine has been a staple drink in social gatherings, religious ceremonies, and private affairs. The natural processes and ingredients that automatically initiate fermentation within grapes make it a perfect source. Grapes grow abundantly in all the famous winemaking regions of the world. The best known wines are exclusively made from grapes. They contain the right proportion of sugars and fermenting agents that help in natural formation of wine.

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Apart from making the heart "merry", wine is known to have other benefits. Research has shown that people ingesting high levels of cheese fats were insulated against heart attacks due to presence of bioflavonoid.In such cases, wine come to their rescue, as it contains anti-oxidants to reduce bioflavonoid. Wine contains anti-oxidants present in grapes that may also help to prevent ageing-effects on the skin. A significant quantity can be ingested without having to worry about hangovers. Red wine may prevent and even halt development of atherosclerosis

Wine - The Mild Alcohol

The polyphenols in red wine maintain blood vessels by catalzing nitric oxide formation, which controls vascular tone. There is an overall reduction of low-density lipoproteins, and fat deposition. In ancient times, wine was considered to revive exhausted people better than water. Wine swabs and bandages were used to cover wounds. The alcohol within the wine cleaned the injury, while other agents helped in clotting. Modern society has included wine, as one of the ingredients that make perfect combinations in culinary preparations.

Red wine is coloured due to the use of grape varieties ranging from reddish, deep purple, or blue. The resulting wine is color classified using terms, such as garnet, black, dark red, light red, ruby red, opaque purple, deep violet, and so on. A light-bodied wine like, the Beaujolais Nouveau has low tannin content and go well with a variety of foods. Medium-bodied red wines like, Merlot and Chianti contains a moderate amount of tannins but is milder than higher ranked wines. Full-bodied red wines like Super Tuscans contain the highest amount of tannin and alcohol. Best known red wines include Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Zinfandel, Cabernet Franc, Petite Sirah, Shiraz, Malbec, and Grenache.

White wines differ from red ones in color, composition and the taste. Under that skin, the pulpy part of a white grape is the same color as that of a red grape. White wine can be produced from red and white grapes. It has similar beneficial properties like red wine. Common grape varieties used to produce white wines are Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, Gewurztraminer, Pinot Gris or Pinot Grigio, and so on.

The quality and consistency of wines produced at different wineries is assessed by wine tasters, who are employed by the retailers or by the winery itself. They describe their perception of appearance, flavors and aromas of the wine to categorize them on quality rankings. The proper analysis is done through impartial tasting procedures, such as blind-tasting, where the taster is unaware of the origin and colour of the wine. Wine tasters are key decision makers, who determine the price and status of a specific batch.

High levels of wine in the body can have adverse effects on the lifestyle. The level of triglycerides is greatly increased due to excess wine intake. This can exacerbate diabetes and heart complications. Alcohol increases estrogen level in the body and raises tumor growth rates, especially in case of breast cancer. The presence of sulfites, histamines, and tannins is a trigger for migraine attacks. Wine is also associated with weight gain, since the alcohol content carries a high calorific value compared to other constituents.

Wine - The Mild Alcohol

Ian Love is the owner of Online Wine Specialist, West Valley Wine and also runs a great Australian Wine Club.

Wine: How Fortified Wines Are Made

Fortified wines are just that - fortified by grape spirit (brandy). The alcohol what have been added, have two effects: to kills the wine yeast and stop the alcohol fermentation. There are many different styles of fortified wine have been made: from port and Madeira, right through to Marsala, Malaga, and sherry. To find out exactly how much alcohol need to add, winemakers using fortification calculator.

Port is a fortified wine produced exclusively in hot, dry Douro valley, in northern Portugal. It's getting fortified halfway through its fermentation, which stops the process so that not all of the sugar is turned into alcohol. There are a lot of grape varieties which can be used in the Port production, but only five (Tinta Barroca, Tinta Cão, Tempranillo, Touriga Francesa, and Touriga Nacional) are widely cultivated and used for that vinification. There are two basic categories of port: some is maturing in wooden barrels, also known as "oxidative" aging. Other is maturing in the bottle, also known as "reductive" aging.

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Sherry is fortified wine made from white wine in southern Spain. There are two basic styles of sherry: pale, delicate fino and manzila and dark nutty amontillado and oloroso, all made from the Polomino grape. Mostly Sherries are dry because they get fortified after fermentation is complete. Some sweetness can be added later during maturation.

Wine: How Fortified Wines Are Made

Madeira is a fortified wine produced in the Madeira Islands. Back in the 1500s, Madeira natives have added brandy to their wines so they can last longer during their long ocean journeys. The wine can be made in a variety of styles ranging from dry wines which can be consumed on their own as an aperitif, to sweet wines more usually consumed with different dessert.Madeira is normally a drink-now wine, but also can be age as well.

Marsala is a fortified wine coming from Sicily, which can be made as fortified or unfortified version. The fortified version is blended with grape brandy to make two styles, the Fine, which is at least 17% alcohol and need to be age at least four months; and the Superiore, which is at least 18%, and aged at least two years. The unfortified Marsala wine matures in wooden cask for five or more years to rich the strength of 18% alc. by evaporation.

Malaga is a sweet fortified wine originating in the Spanish city of Malaga.The Malaga wine are produced from Pedro Ximenez and Muscatel grapes. Malaga wine must actually be aged in the city of Malaga to earn the name. Malaga is regulated by the Consejo Regulator.

Wine: How Fortified Wines Are Made

www.VinoEnology.com is website that offers unique online Wine-making Calculators, Industry News and B2B Marketplace where you can promote and market your Company, Property, Products, Wine Jobs and Services. VinoEnology.com is here to keep you inform what's happening in the wine industry, from new brands being developed, to who's being bought and sold, we understand the unique needs and demands of this dynamic industry.

Wine Cellar Temperature and Humidity, What is Ideal?

The ideal temperature and humidity of any wine cellar would do well to mimic the natural conditions of France's legendary wine caves, which are acknowledged to be close to perfect.

Keeping the rest of the world's cellars at the same 55-57 degrees Fahrenheit (14 degrees C) and with an average of 60% relative humidity generally requires some form of dedicated wine cooling system. To properly control the cellar temperature and humidity, the system should take into account and manage not only the cellar's temperature but also the vagaries of the climate in which you live. It is hot/dry? Hot/humid? Cold/dry? Cold/humid? Will your system also be required to supply heating to maintain the correct winter temperature? These are all important considerations when building or retrofitting your wine cellar.

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Understanding Temperature

Wine Cellar Temperature and Humidity, What is Ideal?

55- 57 degrees F (14 degrees C) is considered to be the ideal temperature for storing and properly aging wine. If the temperature consistently fluctuates up or down several degrees, your wines will be compromised and may age prematurely.

• Some cooling units are controlled using an in-bottle liquid temperature device, which signals the unit to adjust when it senses a change of 2 to 4 degrees of temperature in the liquid. Unfortunately, by the time the wine inside the insulated bottle reacts to the fluctuation, the air in the cellar has already shifted many more critical degrees.
• A wall-mounted thermostat with a range of + or - 1 degree F is ideal.
• Cellars subject to ambient temperatures below 55 degrees F should be protected by a heating coil. Without the ability to heat, a cooling unit can do nothing if the temperature in the cellar falls below the control set-point. The best system is one where the heating is integrated into the cooling unit and works on the same thermostat.

How to Resolve the Temperature Problem

• In all cases, quality should be a primary consideration. A cheap initial price will soon be forgotten if the wine cellar cooling unit fails and stresses your wine.
• Wine cellar units should be rated close to the intended operating temperatures and humidity. This means around 55 degrees F and 60% relative humidity. Be sure the unit you are buying is rated for wine cellar use, not household use.
• Because there are many variables other than the number of bottles or the cubic footage of the cellar to consider before selecting the type and size of a cooler, it is best if the calculation is done by a professional using a load calculation program. These variables might include frequency of door openings, lighting intensity, room insulation, doors and windows, frequency of case turnovers, etc.

Why is Humidity Important?

Humidity is a critical feature often overlooked in wine cellar design. 50% - 70% is recognized as adequate, with 60% the ideal.

• When the humidity is higher than 70%, it will likely cause mold and degradation of the labels and glue.
• When the humidity is below 50%, corks will begin to dry out resulting in loss of liquid in the bottles and possible degradation of the wine.

How to Resolve the Humidity

• First step should be the installation of a vapor barrier around the entire room. A minimum of 4 mil plastic is recommended with seams overlapped and taped. The vapor barrier is installed on the outside (or warm side) of the cellar insulation. This is to prevent condensation from forming on the vapor barrier, potentially causing mold.
• A cooling unit alone cannot add moisture or humidify cellar air. It needs a humidifier to do so. The best option is a humidifier integrated into a cooling unit so it operates and distributes the moisture evenly in the re-circulating air. However, a free-standing humidifier can also be installed in conjunction with a cooling unit as long as this is controlled by a high-quality wall-mounted thermostat.

Wine Cellar Temperature and Humidity, What is Ideal?

Wine Guardian® wine cellar cooling units are commercial grade equipment for upscale residential and professional wine cellars and storage facilities. Wine Guardian coolers are high-performance and installation-friendly, with many features and options not found in any other systems:

• Completely self-contained, requiring no external piping
• Can be installed through-wall, ducted remote, or any combination
• Built-in powerful, motorized impeller fans for external ducting
• Pre-wired, wall mount thermostat for flexibility of location and proper control of temperature and humidity
• Built-in, cleanable filters on both evaporator and condenser coils to keep free of dust and maintain optimum operating conditions
• Corrosion-resistant cabinets of powder-coated aluminum for lasting durability
• Options include: humidifier for dry locations; electric heating coil for cold climates; low ambient protection for mounting in cold areas such as a garage or outside shed

Wine Guardian wine cellar cooling equipment is distributed internationally. For more information: http://www.wineguardian.com

Frozen Wine Slush Drinks

Over the past few years, wine slushies (frozen wine slush drinks) have been gaining huge popularity all across the country. The combination of wine, fruit flavors, sugar, and other sometimes exotic ingredients combine to create a tantalizing taste. However, when you freeze this concoction, that's when your tongue throws a party for your mouth. Freezing it, or making it in a blender, makes all the difference. Refreshing beyond description.

There are two ways you can go about making wine slushies. One is to find a good recipe, buy all of the ingredients and make it from scratch.

Wine

The other way is to buy a dry wine slush mix that you just add your favorite wine (any kind of wine, even champagne) and water to. You just mix it up all together and freeze it. That's all there is to it.

Frozen Wine Slush Drinks

Let's explore option number one: Here are some recipes for wine slushies to make from scratch.

WINE SLUSH RECIPE

1 (12 oz.) frozen orange juice

1 (48 oz.) Hawaiian punch

Juice of 2 lemons

1/2 c. sugar

1 bottle wine

Stir and freeze. Use 1/2 of 7-Up and 1/2 slush.

WINE SLUSH RECIPE

2 c. sugar and 1 c. water, boiled, simmered 10 minutes and cooled

1 (12 oz.) orange juice concentrate

1 (12 oz.) lemonade concentrate

2 c. water

1/2 gallon Hearty Burgundy

Mix and freeze. To serve: Make individual glasses. Fill glass half with frozen mixture and half 7-Up.

CELEBRATION WINE SLUSH RECIPE

4 (6 oz.) cans frozen tangerine or orange juice concentrate

2 pt. pineapple sherbet

3 c. water

Orange, lemon, or lime slices or wedges

Dry white wine, champagne, rum, vodka, sparkling water or lemon-lime carbonated beverage, chilled

Thaw concentrate slightly; stir sherbet to soften. Stir concentrate and water into sherbet. Freeze 5 hours. Spoon 2 tablespoons slush into glass; pour in choice of beverage. Garnish with fruit slice. makes 9 1/2 cups slush or about 60 to 75 servings.

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These are all delicious frozen wine drinks, however, they are expensive because of all of the many different ingredients you have to buy. Plus, they require a trip to the store to buy all of the ingredients. Some recipes are also a hassle to make. This doesn't say much for convenience.

Our next option is the dry wine slush mix. This option eliminates all of the negatives mentioned above. As a manufacturer of a dry wine slush mix myself, I can tell you that people are buying these mixes for a variety of reasons.

First, they are super convenient. All you need is the mix and your favorite wine. You just add wine and water to the mix, and stir it up until the mix is thoroughly dissolved. Stick it in the freezer for 4 to 8 hours, or overnight. Take it out and use a spoon to stir it all up to the proper consistency and serve.

No measuring out sugar, no slicing lemons or limes, no scooping sherbet, no simmering water and sugar on the stove, etc. You just stir up the wine and water with the mix and you're done. That's convenience.

Convenience isn't all that wine slush mixes have to offer. No matter how convenient a product is, if it doesn't taste good - it's no good. The fact that millions of bags of wine slush mix are sold and enjoyed every year speaks for itself. If it didn't taste good, no one would buy it. It obviously tastes good. Very good.

If you have any left over or if some melts, just stick it back in the freezer and it will be just as good next time. This is not always true with some of your "from scratch" recipes. It will stay frozen in your freezer for at least 9 months and taste like you made it last night. Before you make up a batch, it will stay in your cabinet just fine for a full year.

Versatility comes into play here also. The mixes don't need any certain kind of wine. It takes on the profile of any kind of wine you use, even champagne. However, you may be surprised that many, many people buy it because you can use it for a non-alcoholic slush mix. You can use it with non-alcoholic wine, ginger ale, cranberry juice, pomegranate juice, apple juice, grape juice and sparkling juices. Moms love this for the kids.

Another nice aspect of some of the wine slush mixes is that they also come in pretty, decorated gift bags. These make for wonderful hostess gifts, birthday gifts, Christmas gifts, etc. A bag or two of the wine slush mix with a bottle of wine makes for a perfect gift for any occasion. Some companies even have other wine related items such as wine charms, flattened, decorated wine bottles, wine dip mixes, and so forth that you can add to make an entire custom wine themed gift basket.

Whether you choose option number one or the dry mixes, wine slushies are so delicious and here to stay. Enjoy!

Frozen Wine Slush Drinks

James L. Miller is the owner of Vino Slush, a frozen wine slush mix company. http://www.vinoslush.com

Mr. Miller also owns Cherry Orchard Foods http://www.cherryorchardfoods.com featuring dip mixes, dessert mixes, bread dipping mixes, and cinnamon roasted almonds.

Wine, Beer May Trigger Asthma

Drinking wine may not be a good idea for those with asthma. Experts say some brands may trigger the disease.

Adult asthmatics may not tolerate preservatives in wine and beer while children may be allergic to cow's milk, eggs, wheat, and peanuts.

Wine

This doesn't mean you should starve though. Bear in mind that only 2 percent of adults and 8 percent of children are truly allergic to a given food or additive. Of all the asthma triggers, food is the least important. To be on the safe side, observe what happens when you take a particular food. If that food triggers an attack, by all means avoid it.

Wine, Beer May Trigger Asthma

Keeping fit can put you at risk for asthma. This can happen in about 85 percent of asthmatics. Exercise-induced asthma (EIA) is usually triggered by physical activity and may begin a few minutes after you start exercising. Symptoms resolve within 20 to 30 minutes.

Exercise, however, shouldn't be avoided since it has many benefits. Aside from keeping you fit, it helps your lungs. To avoid EIA, choose an exercise that's right for you. If you can't tolerate running, try swimming.

Warm up before exercising. Begin with short workouts and gradually increase them. Don't exercise in cold weather. If you must, wear a scarf around your nose and mouth. And don't forget to take a bronchodilator before exercising to prevent an attack.

Asthmatic airways are also sensitive to viral infections like the common cold. Asthma can likewise be aggravated by bronchitis (the inflammation of the bronchial tubes), sinusitis, rhinitis (the inflammation of the nasal passages), tonsillitis, and nasal polyps (fluid-filled sacs in the nose).

Be alert for warning signs like a runny nose, cough, sore throat, headache, muscle aches and pains. See a doctor if you have any of these problems. He or she may prescribe medicines to prevent asthma from developing. You may also need to increase your asthma medications, especially inhaled steroids, to prevent an attack.

Since asthma triggers are found everywhere, where can an asthmatic go? It does seem that triggers are all around us but remember that asthmatics have different triggers. What triggers an attack in one person may not harm another.

So the rule of thumb is to know your triggers and do your best to avoid them. Once you know what's causing your problem and prepare for it, you can do anything without ever worrying about asthma. Above all, don't forget to take your medicines. They've been prescribed to prevent attacks and will help you live a normal life.

Can asthma be cured? The answer lies in the sixth part of our series. Don't miss it!

Since obesity is bad for asthmatics, keep your weight down to a healthy level. You can do this with the help of Zyroxin, a safe and natural supplement that will maximize your weight loss through its unique fat-burning ingredients.

Wine, Beer May Trigger Asthma

For details, visit http://www.zyroxin.com/

Sharon Bell is an avid health and fitness enthusiast and published author. Many of her insightful articles can be found at the premier online news magazine [http://www.HealthLinesNews.com]

Can Drinking Wine Cause Acid Reflux?

There are some theories out there, on how wine assists in causing acid reflux. There are people who suffer from acid reflux after drinking wine and those who do not suffer from acid reflux. If you are a serious wine drinker, giving up wine may be out of the question but the suffering from drinking wine may be too great to go on. If you can keep a diary of foods that you eat along with the type and amount of wine you drink, you will be able to narrow down the true cause of their acid reflux.

Acid reflux is a condition in which stomach acid refluxes into the esophagus through the lower esophagus sphincter (LES). The muscle located at the point is where the esophagus enters the stomach. There can be a number of reasons why this muscle may not be performing the right way and allowing acid to pass through it. The bottom line is that when it does have acid pass through it the irritation to the esophagus lining can be extremely painful. Also, permanent damage can occur over a period of time. To find out how wine assists acid reflux, start the diary with the foods you eat and the type and amount of wine drink every day. For example, on Tuesday night you drank a Pinot Gris white wine with a Salmon steak.

Wine

Keep a log of the days, and time of day during which acid reflux is suffered. Also keep track of what foods were eaten that day as well as the wine that was consumed. If different types of food are eaten every day with the same type of wine and the person suffers acid reflux every day, there is a good chance wine assists acid reflux and should, unfortunately be eliminated from your diet.

Can Drinking Wine Cause Acid Reflux?

How to determine If Acid Reflux is caused by Food or Wine?

If your acid reflux diary shows days when wine was used but with no suffering, it is likely the problem was caused by a specific food or a combination of the wine and one or two food items. By checking the diary you can narrow down what food is causing the acid reflux and it can be eliminated from your diet. There is a possibility that you will not be able drink wine with that food item because it may be causing the acid reflux.

Some people believe that using apple cider vinegar for indigestion can reduce acid reflux. The argument is that when wine is introduced, the acid in the wine triggers the stomach to stop producing its own acid. This will than reduce the chance of acid reflux from occurring. But other people still believe that adding alcohol on top of stomach acid will make the situation worse.

Can Drinking Wine Cause Acid Reflux?

Find out now what your doctor MAY NOT be telling you about Acid Reflux and Heartburn Sign up now for our FREE 7 part newsletter. You have questions about Heartburn and this 7 part newsletter has answers.

The Advantages and Disadvantages of Red Wine

There are no two ways about it, drinking to much red wine is bad for your health. But then arises the questions, how much is too much?

In 1994 two Canadian doctors wrote a report which stated that 'if every adult in North America drank 2 glasses of wine a day the incidents of heart disease would come down by 40%'. This was great news for many wine lovers.

Wine

As we all know there are always two versions of every story. In many countries wine drinking is increasing. If research is to be believed then this should not be too much of a problem. In fact the main issue arises from the way we are drinking wine.

The Advantages and Disadvantages of Red Wine

Most wine lovers will agree that a bottle of red wine split between two people is the perfect accompaniment to good food. The issue here is that men and women are developing similar drinking habits. But women are not men and will never have the same physique.

The process of breaking down alcohol in the body puts pressure on the liver. If the wine is drunk with food then the absorption level is slowed down and the liver gets longer to process the alcohol. There is a big different when a large man drinks half a bottle of wine and when a small women does. Not only is there a difference in their physique, but probably also in what they are eating. If this large man orders steak and chips with half a bottle of red wine then there is a lot of food in the stomach at the same time as the red wine. This means that it is entering the body at a hugely reduced concentration.

Lets imagine that the small woman had a Caesar salad with her half a bottle of wine, her body will be hit by the wine at a much higher concentration and will put her body under considerably more pressure.

So to get the advantages of wine we have to drink it in moderation. Unfortunately no one can define that for us. Each and every wine drinker needs to understand how their body is processing the wine and judge from their lifestyle and physique what the right amount is for them.

So don't let the disadvantages of red wine stop you drinking it. Drinking red wine should be a pleasure, so let the flavinoids help you fight cancer and let the red wine reduce you chances of heart disease, just be sensible.

The Advantages and Disadvantages of Red Wine

Learn more about how the advantages outweigh the disadvantages of red wine as well as how to store your wine at http://quicklylearnwine.com

Wine - Oxygen Problems

Oxygen is a vital, critical component to you, me and all human beings. Alas, the story is a bit different when it comes to wine. If wine is exposed to more than a small amount of oxygen, the results can be horrific. How so? Well, it might be better used for your fish and chips!

Timing is a big issue when it comes to wine. When you open a bottle of wine, you often want to let it breathe for a few minutes depending on the type of wine in question. Why? The exposure to oxygen will modify the taste of the wine in a manner that was planned for by the vintner at the winery. Take that same bottle of wine, however, and leave it uncorked and on the table for a couple of hours and what happens? The wine "goes bad" and tastes terrible. The reason has to do with the temperature probably getting to high and the impact oxygen exposure is having on the wine.

Wine

What is the problem with oxygen exposure? It has to do with a microbe called acetobacter. It is almost always present in wine. When exposed to oxygen, the microbe starts doing something interesting. It starts converting the ethyl alcohol in the wine into acetic acid through a multistep process. So, why is this a problem? Well, acetic acid is the main component of...vinegar! Yikes!

Wine - Oxygen Problems

It takes more than a few hours for acetobacter to convert the ethyl alcohol in wine to a vinegar substance. Leaving a wine bottle open for a few hours isn't a problem. Exposure to oxygen while the wine is being stored, however, is a different story. Even a tiny bit of oxygen leaking in through the cork can lead to a stored bottle of wine that is not wine, but vinegar. It happens all the time!

If you have are storing wine to let it age, you should take all possible steps to prevent oxygen from getting into the wine. The last thing you want to do is open a bottle after 10 years and get a whiff of vinegar!

Wine - Oxygen Problems

Thomas Ajava writes for AutoOwnersInsuranceCompanies.com [http://www.autoownersinsurancecompanies.com] - where you can buy cheap California car insurance [http://www.autoownersinsurancecompanies.com/Cheap-California-Car-Insurance].

Wine Addiction and How to Fight It

Wine is a great alcoholic drink with great health benefits tied to it, but alcoholic nonetheless. A handful of people are unable to stick to the one to two glasses a day policy and end up giving into every urge they get to down a glass. Eventually they become slaves of wine, and thus addiction sets in. There's nothing positive about being an addict, and if you happen to be one, there are some approaches that you could take to help you fight off the habit.

The first is usually determination. You have to make up your mind that you want to quit altogether. Saying that you will only be drinking during the weekends only degrades any progress that you may have made. You cannot drink down one bottle in a day and then say you are going to stop the following day as it just doesn't work like that. The secret is taking a step at a time and progressing with each milestone. That means you can employ some methods to reduce the amount of alcohol that you take in. If you are a social person and you go to social gatherings where wine is compulsory, you can dilute your glass of champagne by using water or a fizzy drink like a soda. You will ultimately have reduced the amount of alcohol you will have taken. This has to be a repeated procedure and not one that occurs occasionally.

Wine

You could also join a support group and get encouragement from the other people in your situation. Nothing is more supportive than this and with enough dedication you will be able to overcome it. AA is one such support group. Always remember to keep your mind occupied at all times. Idol relaxation will only fill your head with wine drinking ideas so make sure your mind is kept busy always.

Wine Addiction and How to Fight It

Wine Addiction and How to Fight It

Jason Myers is a professional writer and he writes as a hobby about wine aerators [http://www.wineaerator.info] a great invention for the wine loving people. He's also an amateur wine enthusiast and has a website about wine bottle stoppers [http://www.wineaerator.info/wine-bottle-stoppers-and-how-to-select-one] and other wine accessories.

The Health Advantages of Drinking Wine

One of the questions asked most frequently by my patients is whether wine is good for them. There is much controversy surrounding this subject lately and this is why. While research supports the benefits of drinking wine, particularly red, it also points out that heavy drinking will conversely be detrimental.

So when I am asked that question I explain that wine can be good for you in moderation and as part of an overall healthy diet. In other words the amount of wine you drink matters tremendously. If you drink more than what's recommended, your health benefits are lost and your health risks go up.

Wine

Here's what's considered safe and effective:

The Health Advantages of Drinking Wine

Men: No more than two drinks per day. Women: No more than one drink per day. One drink is defined as a 5-ounce glass of red or white wine. And no you cannot save up the one or two drinks per day and have them all on the weekend!

Why all the curiosity about wine's health benefits in the first place? The intrigue started in the 90's when baffled researchers launched a study of French people, trying to determine why they were not suffering from more heart attacks with diets so high in cheese fats.

The findings showed that it was due to their moderate and steady intake of wine. Long after this discovery, a bevy of research continued to support drinking wine for good health. The first studies show great health benefits from the healing powers of resveratrol, an antioxidant found in red grape skins and therefore in red wine. But now they're also finding just as many benefits from white wines.

All kinds of new findings are cropping up on a daily basis. Take a look at some of the most recent studies that boast the health advantages of wine:

Overall Health Benefits:

Anti-aging effects in red grape skins (Harvard Medical School in Boston, 2004) Reduced risk of death from nearly all causes: According to studies from France, UK, Finland and Denmark, moderate consumption of wine is more beneficial than that of beer or spirits. Kidney stones: Red wine intake reduces the risk of kidney stone formation. Cancer cells killed by protein in red grape skins (University of Virginia Health System, 2004)

Heart Health Benefits:

Scientists believe the red wine reduces the risk of coronary heart disease by reducing production of low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and boosting high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol. Coronary heart disease reduced (University of California, Davis, 1995) Arteries kept clean by polyphenols in red grape skins (William Harvey Research Institute, 2002) Atherosclerosis: Red wine may prevent the initiation and progression of atherosclerosis (hardening or "furring" of the arteries). Both the alcohol and polyphenols in the red wine appear to favorably maintain healthy blood vessels by promoting the formation of nitric oxide (NO), the key chemical relaxing factor that plays an important role in the regulation of vascular tone.

Women's Health Benefits:

Decreased ovarian cancer risk (The Queensland Institute of Medical Research in Australia, 2004) Stronger bones (Twin Research and Genetic Epidemiology Unit, St. Thomas' Hospital in London, 2004) Lower risk of stroke (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2001)

Men's Health Benefits:

Lower risk of heart attack for men with high blood pressure (Worcester Medical Center in Massachusetts, 2004) Hypertension: There is some evidence of favorable effects of red wine on blood pressure. Two glasses of red wine (250 ml); taken together with the meal, lower post-meal blood pressure in hypertensive perrsons.

It's great to discover that something you enjoy could actually be healthy. However, I do not recommend that my patients over indulge just because the news is good. A word of caution worth repeating; overdoing anything is a recipe for disaster and can lead to even bigger health issues". That said, go ahead and enjoy your glass of wine tonight knowing that it is a healthy choice of beverage!

Mark Rosenberg, M.D. Institute For Healthy Aging

The Health Advantages of Drinking Wine

http://www.vitalmaxvitamins.com
http://www.vitalmaxvitamins.com/blog

Popular Red Wine Varieties

Red wine is believably the most renowned and most popular variety of wine procurable. It's not just taken for its excellent taste but also red wines have actually been recognized to have a beneficial effect on an individual's well-being by cutting down unhealthy cholesterol, raising good cholesterol and lessening the danger of blood clots. Nowadays there are umpteen diverse kinds of red wines being traded, making picking out a great wine somewhat hard for the inexpert wine imbiber.

The following are seven of the superlative best-selling red wine varieties together with a short account of each type:

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1. Merlot - Merlot's graded as a moderate bodied wine that's advocated for anybody that is fresh to drinking wine. Its origins can be traced to the Bordeaux area situated in France and it's an outstanding dinner wine selection particularly when it is served with poultry, pork, pastas, and red meat.

Popular Red Wine Varieties

2. Barolo - The Barolo wines are regarded as extremely fragrant wines that must be cooled to about 60 degrees and best served with barbequed meats. They possess a rich crimson color and an intense flavor. Several people associate the scent with violets and roses.

3. Cabernet Sauvignon - The Cabernet Sauvignon is viewed as an intermediate to a flavorful wine that's rich in tannin content. It's seen extensively in a lot of the wineries in California even though it was originally produced in Bordeaux. These wines are superb when had with red meats, lamb, strong-tasting cheeses, and dark chocolates.

4. Beaujolais Nouveau - The Beaujolais Nouveau wines ought to be had with pastas, cheeses, salads, and barbequed meats and must be cooled to a chill 55 degrees. It's believed to be a new but fruity and delicate wine with virtually no tannin content.

5. Cabernet Franc - The Cabernet Franc is indeed a fruit wine having extremely small tannin levels. It tastes best when cooled to about 62 degrees and really is splendid when had with poultry and pasta.

6. Sangiovese - The Sangiovese wine is a moderate delicate to strong wine with average high acidity levels. It must be taken with pork, fish, red meat, chicken, pasta, lamb, and mature cheeses.

7. Malbec - The Malbec wine is a robust wine that when had at around 62 degrees goes well with Cajun, Mexican, Italian, and Indian dishes as well as red meat. Wine lovers everywhere are taking to Malbec like never before.

The above are merely some of the choicest red wines in stores at present and there are lots more available that can be bought for a great range of prices. In case you wish to check out the different kinds of available red wines one of the finest ways is by entering wine sampling events. This permits you to sample an assortment of wines in enjoyable and enchanting surroundings.

Popular Red Wine Varieties

Darren Williger is a guitar playing, tea drinking, meditating, low carbohydrate eating, wine making sales maker who writes for WineSatori.com, and HomemadeVino.com

How to Make Wine - Pectic Enzyme - What is It?

If you want to learn how to make wine, one of the first things you should do is learn about all of the different additives and chemicals that are used to make homemade wine. Pectic Enzyme is one of the most misunderstood additives.

This article will explain What is pecitic enzyme, why do I need it and how it works.

Wine

Let's back up a little and talk about grape jelly. MMMM! Everyone loves grape jelly and jam on a hot buttered biscuit. It always has a gooey, almost jello like consistency.

How to Make Wine - Pectic Enzyme - What is It?

Did you ever wonder where that jello consistency comes from? Well, in jello, it comes from gelatin. But it fruit jams and jellies, a lot of the consistency comes from something called pectin.

Pectin is produced commercially as a white to light brown powder, extracted from citrus fruits, and is used in food as a gelling agent particularly in jams and jellies.

If you want to make your own wine out of grapes, peaches, strawberries or any other kind of fruit - you have to have a way of dealing with the naturally occurring pectin. The reason is that pectin can cause solids in your wine to clump together in a colliodal suspension and you'll end up with cloudy wine that won't clear no matter how long you leave it sitting in the secondary.

How to deal with it? Use something that EATS pectin! Pectic Enzyme loves to eat pectin.

The way to use pectic enzyme when making your own wine at home is to add about a 1/2 teaspoon per gallon of fruit juice before you start fermenting the juice.

While the fermentation is going on, the pectic enzyme will also be eating and dissolving the pectin. This will make your wine clear a lot faster and keep it from having suspended solids.

How to Make Wine - Pectic Enzyme - What is It?

Enzymes? Additives? Chemicals? You don't want to have to start a new research career just to make wine do you? Get a FREE step by step winemaking guide at How To Make Wine. It's 24 pages and gives detailed instructions in plain english and it's an instant download. Get it here: How To Make Wine.

The Best Types of Champagne

Champagne is a sparkling wine produced by inducing the in-bottle secondary fermentation of wine to produce carbonation. It's made solely within the Champagne region of France, which is also where its name comes from. While the word champagne is used by some creators of sparkling wine in other parts of the world, many countries control the use of the term to only those wines that come from the Champagne appellation.

There are different types of Champagne. Brut is the driest and is considered the standard champagne. It's suggested that if you want great Champagne, you should go for a Brut. Brut is more dry than extra-dry, while Demi sec is sweeter than sec. Vintage bottles are, like most wines, from a single year's worth of grapes. Unlabeled or non-vintage bottles are from a mixture of years. For related wines, note that Spain calls its wines of this type Cava, or Cellar. South Africa uses these terms Cap Classique or Cape Classic. Germany has Sekt, and of course there's always Asti Spumanti from Italy.

Wines

Roederer Estate Anderson Valley Non-Vintage Brut has been considered one of the best value, sparkling wine. Reviews say it's easy to mistake the California-made Roederer Estate NV Brut for fine French Champagne. It's made using techniques developed by top French producer Louis Roederer. Experts say this wine's bouquet of yeast and fresh-baked bread gives way to flavors of citrus, pear, apple and herbs. Adding to its appeal are wide availability, low price and consistency from bottle to bottle.

Gloria Ferrer Non-Vintage Sonoma Brut is one of the best inexpensive bubbly. If you're looking for a chic Champagne-style wine for less than , reviews for Gloria Ferrer NV Brut surpasses others in this price range. Commentators say Ferrer Brut tastes velvety, with hints of black cherry, ginger and vanilla. Although it's not as compound as the more expensive Roederer Estate Brut, critics agree that "it's tough to find a better Champagne-style bubbly for the price."

Louis Roederer Brut Premier NV is also a known best value, French Champagne. The best wine critics say that when it comes to non-vintage Champagne, Louis Roederer is the "standard-bearer". With a typical time period of 3.5 years of aging, this Champagne is strong and rigorous, with flavors of berries, apple, pear and almonds. You can easily spend more on Champagne, but specialists say this Champagne is a wise treat.

The Best Types of Champagne

Lindsay Aston is a contributing editor for Classic Wines, specializing in Champagne

Vintage Golf Balls

Vintage golf balls have always had religious collectors who are mostly serious golfers. A sense of exclusivity that these balls give to its owner makes these balls special. For a layman, the prices of these golf balls may seem a little too exorbitant as the true appreciation of their value can be seldom made by non-golfers. There are various reasons that make these golf balls special. As with coins (the ones collected by enthusiasts) and wines, the most important defining aspect of vintage golf balls is their age. The older these balls, the rarer they become. This rarity leads to their high value, which is translated, into steep prices. Professional golf players and fans who are fascinated by the game feel elated at the prospect of owning a piece of history involved with golf.

Recalling the above mentioned example of numismatics, the geographical locale of these balls, much like that of coins also plays a vital role in ascertaining their worth. Collectors often like to collect balls from different regions of the world as it lends a global touch to their collection set. Vintage golf balls also include golf balls manufactured exclusively for certain commemorative functions. The historicity here plays a significant role. Since the advent of personalization, numerous sets of personalized golf balls have also been manufactured and have become collector's items and attained the distinction of being vintage golf balls.

Vintage

Owing to their high value, a lot of fake vintage balls are doing the rounds of the market today. The Internet too is flooded with web sites selling fake vintage balls by misleading advertisements. One should therefore, be cautious when making a purchase of vintage balls. As for as possible, only dealers of repute may be approached for the purpose so as to avoid feeling cheated after the deal is finalized.

Vintage Golf Balls

Golf Balls provides detailed information on Golf Balls, Used Golf Balls, Golf Ball Logos, Golf Ball Reviews and more. Golf Balls is affiliated with Discount Golf Clubs.

Do You Drink Too Much Wine?

Wine is produced by the fermentation of unaltered grape juice. There are many reputable wine houses across the globe that produces some of the best wines and some have been operating for decades. Wines from such houses have been used on all important and grand occasions. Wine is the most sought after drink during celebrations and has been used in this way for centuries.

Drinking wine is really enjoyable, particularly so when you combine it with the right foods. However, if you give too much attention to drinking wine, you may be taking in more wine than what is required for your own good.

Wines

Having more than a certain quantity of wine can leave you in an inebriated state, in which you are not mentally fit to do the things you would otherwise do normally such as drive your car, walk or read the newspaper. However, if you do no control this habit, it can turn into huge problem, that affects you personal and professional life.

Drinking too much can alter your concentration and it's been noted that alcohol generally affects the brain permanently when it is consumed at an age when the body is growing and maturing, which is before the age of twenty. Your physical state alters too as you put on too much of weight and you can also succumb to health problems, though it's been laid out by physicians that drinking wine is actually good for your heart. It's good when it is taken in the right dose and harmful otherwise. Wine is an alcoholic beverage and as with other alcoholic drink it can affect your liver and cause problems such as brain damage, strokes and bad skin conditions.

As a rule take nothing more than two glasses because if you take more than that quantity and that too, you take it frequently the habit can become risky and harmful to your health. Instead of opting for more than the regular quantity of wine in a dinner, take water or some fruit juice instead. If you are totally addicted to drinking wine seek professional help from a doctor or a counselor to help you get off it and control your drinking habits.

Do You Drink Too Much Wine?

Ronald Lewis is a Oenologist with ten years of experience in his field.

Home Wine Storage - How to Store Wine at Home - Home Wine Coolers

1. Wine should be stored at specific temperatures for the type. i.e. white or red. White wines are best enjoyed when served between 53-55 degrees, Reds have much better flavor when served between 63-65 degrees. These home wine coolers units usually have a graded temperature from top to bottom which allows proper temperature for both types in the same cooler. This will maintain the wines delicate flavors for a much better taste. There are three types of coolers, thermoelectric, absorption, or compressor. Most prefer the thermoelectric because of the quiet operation. Home storage appliances are configured as stand alone or built in units that can be designed right into your cabinetry. Several companies offer various exterior colors to complement your decor.

2. Wines should be stored in a dark environment to eliminate stray ultraviolet rays. The enclosed cooler shields the bottles from these damaging rays. Most coolers have interior lighting that is provided by low power LEDs. Blue and white LED lighting allows for locating your special bottle and provides a very nice display of your wines. Digital touch controls make the setup very easy and esthetically pleasing.

Wine

3. Wines should be stored on their side to keep the stopper hydrated. The wine coolers are configured with horizontal racks so the wine is always in contact with the stopper. These units range from a few bottles to large storage capacities.

Recent lower pricing has made these wine storage units very affordable and a great value. If you appreciate fine wine flavor, then these wine coolers are for you.

Home Wine Storage - How to Store Wine at Home - Home Wine Coolers

If you consider the above steps for proper storage you will enjoy a wine taste that has not been damaged by incorrect temperature or exposure to light. Increasing numbers of people are now using portable home wine storage coolers.
These home owners are now properly storing their wines for a quiet evening at home or always ready for entertaining friends or relatives.

Top 10 Appetizers For Wine Tasting Parties

Wine tasting parties are perfect for getting together either formally or informally with friends. Everyone can relax, taste a few fine wines, and snack on some delicious snacks. Wine tasting parties take a lot less work to organize than a dinner party, and they can also be very elegant.

Planning your party is still important. Pick a theme. Perhaps you will serve wines from one region only, or from places that are not generally recognized as winery country. Maybe it would be interesting to try wines made from fruit other than grapes, or try an international night where you feature wines from France, Italy, or Australia.

Wines

Once you have decided on the wines you want to serve, pair them up with appropriate appetizers. Lighter, white wines need light food to accompany them like tapenade or shrimp, while you can couple full-bodied red wines with substantial offerings like meats or even chili. If you are choosing dessert wines, you need to decide if you prefer to serve a sweet dessert appetizer with them or something savory to cut the sweetness.

It seems that the simplest, freshest foods bring out the best in wine, which is why bread, cheese, and fruit top the list of appetizers served at wine parties. Combinations of these foods can be used to create more appetizers, like tomato and herb bruschetta or baked brie and bread cubes.

When you are setting up for your wine tasting party, be sure to have plenty of fresh water on hand. Your guests may want to cleanse their palate between tastings, and the water will help everyone stay hydrated. You may also want to keep a receptacle available in case someone only wants to savor and then spit out the wine. Swallowing too many different types of wine can cloud their judgment when tasting other varieties or they may not like one that they try.

Keep some bland appetizers available for the actual tasting portion of your party. This will also help remove the flavors of the previous wine from your guests' palates. Once the initial tasting is all done, bring out the good appetizers and let everyone enjoy them with their favorite wines of the evening.

It can be a lot of fun to let your guests rate the wines you have chosen for the evening, giving them ratings and descriptions for what they did and did not like. Do not worry about them rating the appetizers, though; they will be a sure hit during the evening.

Make sure that there is a designated driver or that your guests can get home safely if they have imbibed a bit too much. This is another good reason to provide plenty of snacks. If they are busy eating, they will enjoy the wine but not drink too much.

Top 10 Appetizers

1. Bruschetta
2. Cheese and Crackers
3. Seasonal Fruit
4. Bread with Olive Oil and Herbs
5. Tapenade
6. Chocolates
7. Smoked Salmon Points
8. Baked Brie
9. Shrimp Puffs
10. Shrimp Ring

Top 10 Appetizers For Wine Tasting Parties

Make some easy party appetizers for your next shindig. Easy appetizer recipes do not stress you out, they taste delicious, and you can take the time to enjoy your party instead of working in the kitchen!

EasyAppetizerRecipes.net - You Make the Appetizers, We Help You Make Them Delicious