Enjoying Wines

Archive for the ‘General Wine info’ Category

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If you have ever been wine tasting, then you know, for that moment in time, it gives you the feeling for the finer things in life. Imagine having that feeling all the time and investing in high value items in the same instance. You can do just that by investing in fine wines. The best wines, especially if they are in high demand, will be a worthy investment for the person looking to have a good time and earn money.

Before you start purchasing any ol’ bottle of wine you will want to learn everything you can about wine. There are a few ways you can go about this. You can choose to do it on your own. Gather up some books and learn the basics on how vintage wines are made, everything from genetics of the vine to the climate. All of this will be important when choosing your fine wines. You can also employ the expertise of someone called a sommelier, which is a person who purchases high-end wines for restaurants and clubs. Having a sommelier at your beck and call can be handy after you have begun investing as well.

There is no telling where investing in fine wines will take you when you have all the right knowledge and tools. If you are interested in French wines, then maybe it will take you to France. Keep in mind that you will want to choose one particular area of wine country and keep your investments within that region. You can decide by visiting different places and learning about their procedures and more importantly, their reputations. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Wine makers are usually more than happy to explain their processes and to tell how regarded their vintage wines are.

When buying a relatively new wine, are you sure it is vintage or is meant to be aged for many years? Many wines today are meant to be consumed, not shelved. Are you certain that the high priced wine you are about to buy is truly vintage or is it just a passing fad? Price does not always mean quality. These are all things you should keep in mind when investing in fine wines. If you are smart and learn what to look out for, while at the same time building up knowledge of the wine choices from around the world, then you will do just fine with your new investment!

We all hear about wine storage, but what about storing our wine glasses? It is just as important that you have proper wine glass rack, not only to keep your wine glasses from getting chipped or broken, but also to display them in an attractive and decorative way. Especially if you have gone all out and bought yourself some high quality wine glasses, of course you are going to want to show them off. There are many excellent options when it comes to wine glass rack, and the first step is to become more educated on the selection and on which wine glass rack devices will be most suitable to you.

Wine Glass Racks

One of the best ways to store your wine glasses is on a wine rack. A wine rack like this will not only be stable and hold your wine glasses safely, but will also be decorative and add an elegant touch to your home décor. These racks are available in a variety of different sizes and colors, and you will have to consider your own needs in order to choose the one that will work best for you.

The wall wine rack is usually available as a wooden piece and it is designed in a manner that makes it easy to fit it into a shelf, or it may even is laced beneath a cabinet. The upshot of buying a wine glass rack is that it is available in many styles and so you can choose to keep them on a table top though in such an instance, the numbers of glasses held will only be a few. It may be a better idea to go in for a wine glass rack that can be hung from the ceiling because such a rack will also hold additional glasses, besides saving space.

Hanging Wine Glass Rack

It is also common to find very stylish wine hanging wine glass racks that are also very suitable for holding wine glasses made out of crystals and which gives a very elegant appearance and which are charming and which also add value to the home. However, many people prefer the traditional wooden wine glass rack, which is more conventional in its looks and which lends an air of solidity as well as is old fashioned.

The hanging wine glass rack is also very functional and once the wine glasses have been washed, they can then be slid back into the rack where they can dry and thus lessens your worries. The hanging wine glass rack can also enhance your kitchen where it makes an excellent decoration piece and which is also easy as far as space requirements go, since you can always choose to have a small wine glass rack when space is at a premium.

You will truly appreciate taking the time to provide your wine glasses with the proper rack devices, as it will keep them from chipping, cracking, and getting fogged up. You can even buy the proper materials and make a rack box yourself, just make sure that it is durable and will be protective for your wine glasses.

We don’t often think of Michigan as a wine producing State do we, but look at the facts:

• Michigan has 13,500 acres of vineyards making Michigan the fourth largest grape-growing state.

• All of this acreage is devoted to juice grapes such as Concord and Niagara.

• About 700 hectares are devoted to wine grapes, making Michigan the eighth in wine grape production.

• Vineyard area has increased 24% since 1997.

• Michigan’s 45 commercial wineries produce more than 200,000 cases of wine annually, making the state 13th in wine production. Over 95% of the production is from Michigan-grown grapes.

• Wineries are popular tourist destinations, attracting more than 600,000 visitors annually. Some of these wineries also have retail stores where it’s possible to purchase anything from a wine cellar kit to a wine cooler refrigerator.

• Wine production and winery tourism annually contribute $75 million to the state’s economy.

• Three types of grapes are used for wine in Michigan:

• • Vinifera varieties — these are the classic European varieties such as Chardonnay, Riesling (the most widely planted white), Pinot Noir (the most widely planted red), Pinot Grigio/Gris and Cabernet Franc; 58% of Michigan’s wine grapes are vinifera. Since 1998, 71% of the new plantings in Michigan have been vinifera varieties.

• • Hybrid varieties (sometimes called French/American hybrids) — these are botanical crosses between vinifera varieties and grapes native to North America. Typical names are Vidal, Chambourcin, Marechal Foch and Vignoles; 41% of Michigan’s wine grapes are hybrids.

• • Native varieties — actually close relatives of true native varieties. Usual names are Concord and Niagara. Only 3% of Michigan’s wine is made from these hybrids.

• Most of Michigan’s quality wine grapes grow within 25 miles of Lake Michigan. Here, the “lake effect” protects the vines with snow in winter, retards bud break in spring helping avoid frost damage, and extends the growing season by up to four weeks.

• Michigan has deemed four federally approved viticultural areas (AVAs). In the northwest part of the state, near Traverse City, lie the Leelanau Peninsula and the Old Mission Peninsula. This area has a growing season averaging 145 days and an average heat accumulation of 2,350 growing degree days; 51% of Michigan’s wine grapes grow here. In the southwest part of the state lie the Lake Michigan Shore and Fennville appellations, where 45% of Michigan’s wine grapes are grown. This area has a growing season averaging 160 days and an average heat accumulation of 2,750 heat units or sometimes called growing degree days. Each are Region 6 on the USDA plant hardiness zone map.

• Harvest begins for early hybrid varieties at the end of late August in the southwest and may extend into mid November for late-ripening vinifera varieties in the northwest.

• Michigan wines win numerous medals at prestigious competitions every year. More than 16% of the wines entered in the Michigan Wine & Spirits Competition had already won Gold Medals in regional, national and international competitions. A list of winners is available upon request.

• Michigan wineries make many styles of wine, from dry to sweet including Ice Wine, sparkling, fortified, fruit wines and eau-de-vie (fruit brandy).

• Michigan wines are usually “cool climate” – clean, crisp, balanced wines that exhibit real varietal charact.
• Michigan Wines are very popular choices in the offerings of Wine Clubs
  where you set up a monthly subscription to order wine online

Next time you’re savoring your favorite Chardonnay, check the label. It just may not have originated in California!