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Screw Top Wine

January 19, 2013 By Leave a Comment

Screw Top Wine or Cork! Which is Best?

Do you believe some of the wines that are coming out as Screw Top Wine?

What I learned early on from the wine snobs is that screw top wine are the lesser wines or the bulk wines. But lately I have been opening up some very nice wines that in the past have had wine corks but now have become screw top wine.

Screw Top Wine – Eliminate a problem – that would be good!

It seems that some top-quality wine makers have become convinced that screw top wine can protect the wine better than natural wine corks. Studies and tests  show that screw top wine preserves the wine’s true flavor longer than wine corks.
I read that it is estimated that 10% of the wines in a wine shop are corked or have wine corks that are dried out, which also ruins the wine. Most wine beginners may not recognize a corked wine or  a wine cork going bad and drink the wine anyway, souring a wine experience. The screw top wine could eliminate that problem.

 

Is that the only reason? More and more producers are turning to screw top wine to protecting their wines. But money or economics has something to do with it. The price of natural wine corks keeps going up.
So looking at it. Natural wine corks are not as reliable, will dry out and cost more. Replacing the natural cork wine with screw top wine could be good for the wine maker and wine drinker. Less spoilage of screw top wine.
New Zealand is leading the wine industry with the majority of wineries converting from  cork wine to screw top wine.
Wineries in Australia, South Africa, South America, Canada, the U.S. are testing screw top wine as you read this.

How About Synthetic Wine Corks

Derived from plastic, synthetic corks appeared to be an alternative to natural wine corks. But wine makers are leaving them because of their inability to keep oxidation out of the wine for any real length of time. This significantly decreases the shelf life of a wine and the aging potential of those wines. I have learned to hate those plastic wine corks because of the effort it takes to get the wine corks out

 

Screw Top Wine

Is the screw top the best seal for bottled wines? First they eliminate the corked and oxidation problem associated with tainted or dried wine corks. How about aging a wine? Hogue Cellars from Washington State has completed a two and half year test comparing natural wine corks, synthetic corks and the Stelvin screw caps. Their findings suggest utilizing screw tops over either natural or synthetic wine corks is a good idea. The wines do not get tainted and the screw top wine offers a more consistent aging while maintaining the flavor and freshness of the wine. If screw top wines do have a downside, its you loose the romance of opening and pulling the wine corks with the flair of your corkscrew.

A better closure a better wine…I am all for it. Quality over romance. Some other producers using the Stelvin screw cap are Beringer and Penfolds. I am sure there will be more to follow.

Natural Wine Corks = Corked Wine

Natural wine corks as a stopper have been around for centuries. Wine corks are sanitized with a chemical called TCA and have been known to taint the bottled wine in a small percentage of the cases. This is know as a corked wine. Of course this ruins the wine and gives it a very flat, musty odor. Ever smell wet newspapers that have been sitting a bit. No one knows why this happens and why some wine corks do it over another cork.

Are Wine Corks on the Way Out?

I still wonder how well a wine will age over a longer time span with a screw top. I don’t think natural wine corks are on the way out because of history and tradition of the old world wine makers. It would just fell funny putting away a screw top wine for 5 or 10 years. That being said I think the screw top wine is here to stay.

Great information available on Wine Health Benefits

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Drink Wine in Moderation

August 26, 2012 By Leave a Comment

wine in moderationMost of us start thinking about wine in moderation when we have a annual physical or as a New Year resolution. Our doctors, make a few remarks about the possible state of our  liver  and could be in from drinking too much wine. We then blurt out that  ”I drink wine in moderation!”

What is Wine in Moderation?

I don’t make a practice of drinking wine during the day when dining out. I order water when ever I can. I do drink wine with dinner almost every night—an average of two glasses or so, but if there are two of us, we have been known to finish the bottle.  See, the problem with drinking wine in moderation is thay tiny little word in our definition ” average of two glasses or so”. That little word is “so” and can ruin your plan to drink wine in moderation.

It took until 1995 that the United States government acknowledged that wine wasn’t an altogether dangerous for our health. Before then, the federal dietary guidelines stated there was “no basic health benefit” to be found from the consumption of alcohol. Now after years of research it has been proved otherwise. The federal dietary guidelines were revised to reflect that drinking wine could add certain health benefits, but only at “moderate levels of consumption”—”no more than 1 drink a day for women and 2 for men.”

It is interesting that countries such as France and Spain, measure moderation more generously—up to 2 drinks a day for women and 4 for men. Their populations are healthier than ours and their rates of alcoholism are lower than the US.

My doctor still believes that the federal guidelines are what we should go by. He also stated that  ”you have to be careful about how you’re measuring your glasses.” ”Alcohol is a concentrated form of calories,” Dr. Jeddroh said sternly. “As we grow older we naturally put on weight. I can’t imagine anyone not counting calories when drinking wine.”

Everyone has an opinion on moderate consumption. If you are from Europe your consumption level may be higher. I have also noted that after talking to the wine appreciators and people in the industry, that the 2 glasses for women and 4 for men is considered a acceptable moderation. But their overall observation is that you need to consume and pair wine with food.

Wine in Moderation Confusion 

Okay, to be honest I have  never once considered measuring the wine glasses or counting the calories in a Cabernet a friend is pouring for me. I mean to count the calories I would need to know the exact ounces and alcohol level of the wine. With so much confusion , how can we tell we monitor and drink wine in  moderation ? Well like I said, everyone has a opinion. Here is mine.

If you are going to enjoy a glass of wine with dinner every night you need to make conscious effort to monitor the amount.

A trick I use is a smaller wine glass. I have purchased a set of smaller white and red wine glasses. (8 oz) This helps with over pouring because  4 oz or so is all I am comfortable pouring into the glass because of spillage. When eating dinner, I also have a glass of water with the wine at the table. I drink both with the meal. I also suggest people follow the rules of wine in moderation below.

Rules Of  Healthy Wine in Moderation

1. Savour and enjoy the wine you drink : swish the wine a little in your mouth looking for the distinctive flavours of your particular wine, but never exceeding the guidelines for low-risk wine in moderation. Which guideline you pick is up to you. 1, 2, 3 or 4 glasses.

2. Wine drinking requires maturity : consumers under legal age should not drink. No discussion here.

3. Women should avoid drinking wine and other alcoholic  beverages during pregnancy. This is common sense. Drink fruit juices in a wine glass to join in the fun.

4. If you drive avoid drinking.  If you do drink never exceed the legal BAC (blood alcohol concentration) set for drivers. Be responsible.

 

Interested in the calories in wine see the post here: Wine Nutritional Information

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Wine Tips for Enjoyment

October 12, 2011 By 2 Comments

wine tips imageWine Tips: Enjoyment of a Wine Begins at the Wine Retail Shop

First of many Wine Tips: Wine enjoyment begins long before you take your first sip of wine. It starts in the wine shop.

White Wine Tips

  • Wine Tips: When you purchase a white wine it needs to have a nice pleasing color in the bottle. Watch for cloudiness at bottom of the bottle which indicates the wine is breaking down. The clarity of the wine needs to look clean. If cloudy or if the wine color is off (too gold or dark) be cautious on your first sniff and sip.
  • Wine Tips: While at the store a easy way to tell if the wine is old or going bad is to compare the color of the wine to other similar wines on the shelf.
  • Wine Tips: The white wine needs to be chilled to the proper wine temperature. (40-43 degrees)
  • Wine Tips: White wine does not need to be open before you are ready to use it but I suggest it.
  • Wine Tips: Dont’ be afraid to use a wine aerator. Difference won’t be a great as in red wine but…
  • Wine Tips: Pour the wine and again look at the wine in the glass. Nice fresh, pleasant, clear looking color and clarity. Make sure no bits of cork ended up in the glass.
  • Wine Tips: Stick your nose in the wine. Smell the  aroma of the grapes and the bouquet of the wine. Pleasant? Interesting? Can you pick up any other smells?

Take A Sip…..

Take a small sip and pull it across your tongue and swish it around your mouth. On the back of the tongue is the  acidity high -medium – low?  On front of tongue did you taste any sugar? Is the overall taste – pleasant – like it – don’t like it?  Is the white wine temperature correct – warmer or colder?

Red Wine Tips

  • Wine Tips: When you purchase a red wine it needs to have a nice pleasing color in the bottle. It is hard to see if the wine is breaking down when it’s in the bottle and dark red.  While in the store hold the bottle up towards a bright light to give you a clue about the clarity of the red wine. Should be clean looking with no particles floating. A lot of sediment ends up on the bottom by the indentation of the bottom of the bottle, called a punt.  I don’t usually buy these old wines because the wines were probably not stored right.
  • Wine Tips: When pouring the wine, if it seems cloudy or the wine color is off (muddy looking) be cautious on your  first sniff and sip
  • Wine Tips: The red wine needs to be served at the proper wine temperature. (60-65 degrees)
  • Wine Tips: Let red wine breathe! Most red wines will improve some if open before you are ready to use it. (min 1 hour). That being said, for a wine to improve it has to be in the bottle to begin with. You can also decant the wine which helps the wine breathe by getting air into the wine.
  • Wine Tips: Don’t be afraid to use a wine aerator on a red wine. This is a great way to let red wine breathe. Improves about 90% of the wines I drink.
  • Wine Tips: Look at the wine. Is the color a light red, ruby red, or inky red, etc. How is the clarity? Make sure no bits of cork ended up in the glass.
  • Wine Tips: Sniff the wine. Nice fresh, pleasant, what smells can you pick up? Green pepper, chocolate, wood, earth?

 

Take a Sip…

Take a small sip and pull it across your tongue and swish it around your mouth. On front of your tongue did you taste any sugar?  On the sides of your mouth did you feel a dryness from the tannin? How is the wine temperature? The overall taste – pleasant – like it – don’t like it?

One of the most important wine tips for many of us, wine is an enjoyment to have with friends and/or with a meal. We don’t want to swirl it, talk about it for hours or score it. We just want enjoyment from the taste. And like the salesperson said to me years ago – wine is an opinion so when it comes to wine, the most important fact is do you like it or not. Wine is for enjoyment!

Wine Tips: I suggest to many wine beginners to have food with their wine as most wine makers have blended the wine to go with food. Once your palate becomes accustomed to a wine you can use it as more or less as a beverage. So don’t be afraid to start out with some cheese and crackers then continue with the wine right into dinner.

Wine Tips: Storing Wine

So you have found some wines you would like to purchase. Where to store them? Wine has some natural enemies; heat, light, vibrations, and air. Most of us don’t have cellars to store wine but a cool basement will offer the proper wine temperature. There is storing and aging wine. Storing is just keeping your wine a short time frame. Again you need to be concerned about keeping the wine away from heat, out of sunlight, not in a location where a lot of vibration is felt from people walking, (like under a stairway) and the wine needs to be laid down or stored upside down in a wine box. I have the bottom of a dark closet set up with two boxes, one for whites and one for reds. I store the bottles upside down which keeps the cork wet and the air out.

Wine Tips: Buying Wine to Age

Once in a while I will find a value wine within my price range that I feel will improve with a little age. I try to buy 4 to 6 bottles of this wine. Look for a place that the wine temperature is cool and consistent, out of light and away from vibrations. The thing to remember is, it has to be in the bottle to begin with. I go by my palate. For me the wine needs to be higher in tannin and a little higher alcohol content, more around 13%. At the time I lay it down I take some of the bottles and put dates on the back label in pencil. I date each wine at six month intervals. I then get to taste the wine every six months and rate it. I adjust the dates to be longer or shorter depending on what my palate is telling about the wine. I normally lay down 4 to 6 of the same wines at a time. This takes me down the road 2 years or so. I have found that medium priced wines don’t improve much past the 2 to 5 year time span.

Another great section is the Pairing Wine with Food

 

Wine Aerator Tips

A wine aerator will effectively speed up and streamline the aeration process

If you were to ask any wine expert as to the various steps that are required to be fulfilled before wine is deemed worthy for consumption, then one issue they would invariably flag is the need to ensure that the wine has been allowed to decant for a period of time. Unfortunately, this is invariably a fairly long and tedious process and so for those of us who are impatient and who are eager to enjoy our wine sooner rather than later, then this can be a fairly obnoxious issue.

wine tipsDecanting the wine is used in order to enable it allow to “breathe” more easily and this has been reported as ensuring a much more delicious, fulsome and delicate flavour to the wine. Decanting simply means that the wine has been exposed to a source of air so as to allow the chemical process of aeration to properly take place.

If you are a wine drinker, would like to be able to maximise the true potential of your wine collection and yet, suffer from petulant impatience, then a wine aerator is the thing for you. Designed to provide wine lovers the best of both worlds,it will effectively speed up and streamline the aeration process.

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Wine Weight Gain

October 12, 2011 By 1 Comment

wine weight gain imageSpanish Study Links Wine Drinking to Lower Wine Weight Gain

Alcohol has been said to be just “empty calories” and a big factor behind weight gain. A recent Spanish study on wine weight gain has found that people who drink wine in moderation actually have less weight gain than the population in large. What no one has been able to determine is why wine weight gain work this way.

Wine Weight Gain Study

Scientists find that one to two glasses of wine a day doesn’t add to your wine and weight gain. See wine in moderation for more info.

Weight gain and obesity is a known risk factor for many chronic diseases. Scientists
are working hard to discover potential ways to control this growing health epidemic. In
the past forty years, alcohol consumption in some cultures has doubled.

Study of Wine Weight Gain


A team of medical researchers at the University of Navarra conducted a
meta-analysis of leading studies on alcohol and weight gain. They published the
findings in the August issue of the medical journal Nutrition Reviews.

They argue that growing alcohol consumption has a potential impact on weight gain. This impact needs more consideration in determining a public health policy. Facts show that nearly two-thirds of U.S. adults are either overweight or obese. Following this current trend, about three quarters of the U.S. population could have excessive weight gain or be obese by 2015, the authors state.

I as I look around the USA is well on it’s way but it is not just the wine weight gain.

What scientists do not yet know is whether alcohol is directly contributing to
obesity and weight gain. Highly probable, the Spanish researchers say.

One gram of alcohol equals 7.1 kilocalories. That puts it at a level right below fat, but above protein and carbohydrates, in caloric density which can be a chief reason for weight gain.

People tend to drink alcohol in addition to their normal food intake. It is not a substitute for forms of nutrition. Supplementing diets with beer, wine or spirits may cause daily calorie
intake to exceed daily energy expenditure. The increase calorie intake is leading to weight gain.

In their analysis, the Spanish team found evidence that alcohol contributed to
obesity in heavy spirits or beer consumers.

Red Wine Weight Gain

Wine weight gain in light-to-moderate wine drinkers on the other hand, those who consumed one or two glasses a day, had less weight gain than the general
population. But it is not the case for those who drink three glasses or more a day. The
reasons behind the findings that wine weight gain are different are unclear at this time.

“This might be explained by a healthier overall dietary pattern of wine
drinkers,” the research team noted. Scientists have suggested that red wine
induces certain enzymes to improve the metabolism of fat cells which would give different findings on wine and weight gain.

Some suggest that the red-wine compound wine resveratrol inhibits the conversion of sugars into fat. The Spanish scientists go on to say the high levels of antioxidants in red wine may
reduce the effects of wine weight gain and the high levels of inflammation associated with obesity.

The same team, working with the department of endocrinology at the
University’s hospital, conducted their own study. Studying 9,318 patients, they found
that moderate wine drinkers showed the least amount of yearly wine weight gain,
compared to beer and spirits drinkers. The results were published in the
July-August issue of Nutrition. For more dietary guidance information go to Nutrition.gov

The French who are known to consume a fair amount of wine, believe it is food selection along with simple wine consumption that has alot to do with the wine weight gain concern.

Despite the positive results for responsible wine drinkers, the scientists do
not recommend broad changes to public health policy based on the findings. “If
you drink alcohol it is better to drink wine,” lead author Carmen Sayon-Orea
told Wine Spectator, “but not by any circumstances would we advise
people to start drinking wine to try to stay lighter.”

See this video Truth About Reveratrol…will you lose weight

Go GREEN and drink healthy Organic Wine

 

2011 Copyright | Wine Information and Wine Weight Gain

Filed Under: Wine Health Benefits, Wine Women and Men

Natural Food Aphrodisiacs and Wine

August 31, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Natural Food AphrodisiacsLegendary Natural Food Aphrodisiacs and Wine

Wine pairs beautifully with so many of these classic legendary love foods.  Aphrodisiacs are about slowing down, relaxing and using all your senses. Wine works with natural food aphrodisiacs by relaxing you, slowing you down and making use of your senses. Like all good things don’t over do it with the natural food aphrodisiacs or the wine.

Wine Pairings for Some Favorite Legendary Natural Food Aphrodisiacs

 

ASPARAGUS as a Food Aphrodisiacs

As legend has it asparagus is thought to give a boost to your love life because of its phallic shape.  It is also packed with potassium, phosphorous, calcium and vitamin E  which just might help and give you extra energy for the love-making.

Pair with a nicely chilled Pinot Grigio or Chenin Blanc.  The slightly sweet wine is the perfect choice to create flavor sparks with the fresh taste of the asparagus as a natural food aphrodisiacs.

AVOCADOS as a Food Aphrodisiacs

The creamy, sensual nature of the flesh of an avocado is believed to resemble parts of both the male and female anatomy.  I will let you work that out in your mind.

Pairing: The crisp, grapefruity Sauvignon Blanc grape becomes rich and creamy when blended with the Semillon grape and barrel-fermented. You can find this style in wines labeled Fumé Blanc.  It is the perfect accompaniment to the succulent fleshiness and slightly buttery-vegetal flavor of avocados as food aphrodisiacs.

BASIL as a Food Aphrodisiacs

Highly regarded in many cultures around the world, basil is considered the royal herb of the Greeks, and a sacred herb in India. As an food aphrodisiac, the alluring power has long been used to keep wandering eyes focused homeward. Legend even reports that ancient wives with straying husbands would powder their breasts with finely crushed basil to entice them back home.

Pair with: The aromatics of basil in the form of pesto sauce pair with the woody scent of Cabernet Sauvignon wines. Go for a big, bold Cabernet. Look for  one you that has rich slightly soft tannins that are like a velvet robe on your tongue.

CHILES as a Food Aphrodisiacs

Long believed to have a complete arsenal of food aphrodisiacs power, they say eating chile peppers gets the blood rushing, the heart pumping, the face flushing and the pores sweating. Very familiar to what one can experience from even the first passionate kiss.

Perfect pairing with its bouquet of floral scents is a Riesling.  The Rieslings with a touch of sweetness is perfect for the hot spice of the pepper. The sweetness acts like a coolant for the spicy heat of the chile pepper on your tongue.

CHOCOLATE as a Food Aphrodisiacs

Legend says chocolate was considered “nourishment of the Gods” and the Aztec ruler, Montezuma, reportedly drank fifty cups of chocolate each day to better serve his harem of 600 women. Some say it was part of Casanova’s diet of love foods or food aphrodisiacs.  Today scientist know that chocolate also contains PEA (phenylethylamine), the same naturally occurring amphetamine that rushes through the veins of someone experiencing the situation known as love.

Pairing it with a rich Merlot from California is my choice. The dryness and sweetness work together to give velvetly flavor. But  bittersweet chocolates with a high percentage of cacao (60-70%) create amazing flavor fireworks when paired with a huge array of sweet wines. Other top picks are the toffee-caramel-burnt orange-flavored Madeira from Portugal; the heady, licorice-scented Italian Amarone; and nutty-rich flavor of a tawny Port..

HONEY as a Food Aphrodisiacs

A food aphrodisiacs extraordinaire as far back as the 5th century B.C..  Hippocrates prescribed honey for sexual vigor.  Wedding traditions in some cultures include the offering of honey to a bridegroom on his first night.  The term “honeymoon” stems from an ancient tradition of couples going into seclusion and drinking a honey concoction (mead) until the first new moon of their marriage.

A Lovers Pairing would find a brunch of honey-drizzled hotcakes irresistible with Italian or California bubblies from the Moscato grape. They are typically just a slightly bubbled and very light in alcohol (around 8%), making them perfect for a romantic wake-up-together brunch.

OYSTERS as a Food Aphrodisiacs

Perhaps the most famous food aphrodisiacs of all, oysters were documented as an aphrodisiac food by the Romans in the second century A.D. Legend has it the  lover Casanova ate fifty raw oysters every morning with his lady du jour. In reality, oysters are high in protein and loaded with zinc, which is known to increase the sexual health of both men and women.

Pair with Champagne or sparkling wine. The bubbles create a sexy flavor counterpoint to the sea-brininess of oysters. The fine elegant “bead” of bubbles streaming up in the glass (use a flute) is a like a string of pearls for your loved one. Now that is a pair of potent aphrodisiacs.

Check out our Wine Tips for Enjoyment

 

2011 Copyright | Wine Information and Natural Food Aphrodisiacs

Filed Under: Wine Tips, Wine Women and Men

Wine Temperature | Wine Serving

March 24, 2011 By Leave a Comment

 

Wine Temperature – Chill or Not to Chill?

There is the old saying – chill the whites and drink red wines at room temperature. True or not true? What is the best wine serving temperature?

Wine is simply more enjoyable if you prepare it properly.

Below we have some suggestions and tips for your added enjoyment.

White Wine Temperature – Chilled

White wines can be put in the refrigerator to chill or a ice bucket with a little ice and water. My preferred white wine temperature is around 40 to 43 degrees. The thing to remember about chilling your wine is that the colder you get the white wine temperature, the less taste the wine will have which could effect your enjoyment. Take a sip of your wine and let it warm for a few seconds in your mouth then swish it around. Did it have more flavor or taste better at a little warmer white wine temperature? Was the flavor enhanced and allowed more enjoyment? Is the proper white wine temperature warmer or colder for your palate? Your refrigerator may be too cold for the proper white wine temperature so you will need to let it warm up a bit in your glass or leave the bottle out to warm up some to get to the proper white wine temperature.

I normally don’t drink that many really sweet white wines but when I do I like to get them ice cold and enjoy them in a small glass like a dessert. That is the proper sweet white wine temperature for me.


White Wine Temperature – Storage

Wine does not like heat, sunlight or a lot of vibration. Look for a place in your house or apartment that is away from heat and sunlight. I usally suggest a dark closet that is on the outside wall in a colder enviroment. In a warmer climate with air conditioning, a inside dark closet may be the ticket. The lowest level in the living quarters possible would be best to allow the wine to reach the white wine temperature for storage.  Also store the bottles upside down or on their side even if it is a screw cap. For right now we don’t know the aging potential of screw caps so it can’t hurt.

Main goal is cool wine temperature that does not fluxuate.

The ideal white wine temperature – storage works at  50-55 degrees but can be stored at 40 degrees if all you have is a refrigerator.

 

Red Wine Temperature – Room Temp

Red wines should be drunk at room temperature! When this saying became popular many people lived in drafty homes or castles. They did not have central heating systems which were keeping the home at 70 degrees. My ideal red wine temperature for a wine is around 60 to 65 degrees. If you are in a warm home or it is summer, I suggest putting the red wine in the refrigerator for about 20 minutes to adjust the red wine temperature. This chills the bottle not so much the wine and gets the wine to the right red wine temperature. You can leave the bottle out and as the wine warms up, your palate will adjust to the red wine temperature, for ultimate wine enjoyment.

 

Red Wine Temperature – Storage

Wine does not like heat, sunlight or a lot of vibration. Look for a place in your house or apartment that is away from heat and sunlight. I usally suggest a dark closet that is on the outside wall in a colder enviroment. In a warmer climate with air conditioning, a inside dark closet may be the ticket. The lowest level in the living quarters possible would be best.  Also store the bottles upside down or on their side even if it is a screw cap. For right now we don’t know the aging potential of screw caps so it can’t hurt.
Main goal is cool wine temperature that does not fluxuate. The ideal red wine temperature – storage is 50-55 degrees

Universal Wine Glasses

There are three types of glasses. A red wine glass normally has a large bowl that closes in around the top for swirling the wine around and to allow for the bouquet to develop inside the glass. White wine glasses have a smaller bowl that does not close in so much around the top because white wine doesn’t develop as nice in the glass as a red wine does. Now champagne or sparkling wine glasses should be in a tulip shaped glass so the bubbles have to travel farther up through the wine. The saucer glasses that have seen used throughout the years actually is a martini glass.

Glasses can range in size and costs which is beyond this discussion.

If you are on a budget and are going to only have one glass I suggest that you buy an 8 to 10 ounce glass that closes in around the top. This can work for whites and reds and in a pinch a sparkling wine. Make sure the glass is clear to fully get maximum enjoyment from color of the wine.

Stem or no stem. The stem on the glass has two purposes. One to ensure the glass isn’t full of fingerprints and second to make sure the wine temperature is not being effected by your hot hand. I have both stemmed and stemless of glasses. Sometimes a stemmed glass just seems tipsy for the evening on hand.

Opening a Bottle

Always make sure your wine is at the proper wine temperature. To open a bottle of wine you need a corkscrew that you are comfortable with plus a foil cutter. Corkscrews come in all types of sizes and shapes. Two  important  parts you need on any corkscrew is a pigtail style screw and not a ice auger type. (this chews the cork up which can get into your wine) Your corkscrew needs a good form of leverage depending on your strength. The new man made corks used in many of the wines today require a little more strength or leverage. I suggest a waiters corkscrew, a wing type or the larger easy leveler corkscrew. If your corkscrew does not have a knife you will need a foil cutter to do a professional job. If using a knife cut the foil right below the drip lip where the foil cutter will cut above it.  Another option is to cut the foil off completely if it is not in good shape. DO NOT PULL THE CORK THROUGH THE FOIL. (very unprofessional)

I stay away from the battery or air operated openers because they seem to run out of power right when I want to use them. Some of my friends love them but they do have a good backup corkscrew available.

Make sure to look inside the neck of the  bottle to make sure there are no unwanted particles hiding. Use a clean towel to clean out any particles inside.

Pouring Wine

Pouring wine into a glass is not that difficult but you want to be careful as not to drip the wine on people or the table cloth. The wine bottle has a drip lip around the top of the bottle. When you are done pouring turn the bottle about a quarter of a turn to get the last drip of wine to fall into the glass. I suggest to customers to fill a empty wine bottle with water and practice a bit.

Fill each wine glass about 1/2  way, to allow enough room for the imbiber to swirl the liquid around in the bowl, releasing the aroma and letting the wine breathe. It can always be refilled. I hate it when someone fills my glass up so full I can not swirl or sniff without the fear of spilling it. Again make sure your at the proper or close wine temperature.

Tasting and Drinking Wine

To get full enjoyment from the wine you need to make sure the wine is properly prepared. Wine is a living thing that can get better with age or simply die in the bottle. When opening a bottle use your eyes and nose to determine if the wine is still good. Some wines such a bigger reds will improve when using a aerator. Make sure the wine temperature is correct.

 

For some great information on Legendary Food Aphrodisiacs and wine

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