Enjoying Wines

Archive for April, 2009

It is a popular belief that the glass you use to serve a fine wine is almost as important to your enjoyment of the drink as the wine itself. The shape, colour and fabric of wine glasses are all supposed to influence the way you appreciate the flavour and aroma of a wine. Whether there is really much truth to this or not remains to be seen but there are some convincing arguments that a wine really does taste better if drunk from the right glass.

So how do we tell which ones we should be using? With so many different shapes and sizes out there it’s difficult to tell which ones will be the best. Most people agree that a specially designed glass is required for some types of wine. The most common example of this is the tall, thin champagne flutes which are designed to retain the ‘fizziness’ in sparkling wines by reducing the surface area at the top of the glass. A serious wine buff will also use different glasses for red and white wines – a rounder, wider bowl for reds to allow more space for the wine to breathe, and a slightly smaller, tulip-shaped bowl for whites to help retain their cool temperature.

But some people take this theory a lot further. Real wine geeks say that the difference between wines runs a lot deeper than just the colour, and that for each different variety of wine there is a glass designed especially to enhance the experience of drinking it. No one has taken this further than Austrian wine glass manufacturer Riedel, the company that came up with the idea. They actually produce customised glasses not only for different types of wine, but also for different varieties and vintages within each type – although few people could afford to collect the whole set!

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Iittala Senta White Wine Glasses-Set of 2
Price: $24.99
The iittala Senta White Wine Glasses come in a set of two and have a soft round cup perfect for white wine. The top of the thin stem has a decorative lip that is mirrored by a small ridge at the bottom. The base of the glass is very flat to prevent tipping.

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As for what the glass is made from, lots of people believe that a fine wine tastes better if drunk from a crystal glass. This is not entirely true – although drinking from a lead crystal glass is usually considered to be more enjoyable. It’s actually more about the aroma than the flavour, the majority of what we think we ‘taste’ when we drink wine is in fact a combination of its smell and the the evaporated aromas in the mouth. Crystal wine glasses, due to their heightened lead content (for a glass to count as ‘Crystal’ in Europe it has to contain at least 24% lead) have a slightly rougher surface than glass, which helps to release the aroma better by causing friction as the wine moves inside the glass.

Aside from this, the differences are almost entirely aesthetic. A lead crystal glass is clearer so you can see the wine better, allowing serious tasters to examine its ‘legs’ more easily. It’s also a lot heavier than glass – again because of the high lead content – sparkles more and makes that nice ringing sound when you tap it – science aside, it’s just generally more satisfying to drink from a crystal glass!

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Riedel O Cabernet Wine Glass-2 Pack
Price: $23.6
Designed by Maximilian Riedel this set of two 21.125-ounce Riedel O Cabernet Glasses has something missing – there is no stem or base. These stunning glasses are generously sized to allow the bouquet to fully develop and the shape directs the flow of wine onto the region of the tongue that perceives sweetness which accentuates the wine’s fruity flavor. O is the innovative take on the wine tumbler which for centuries has been used as an all-round drinking vessel. O is the ideal glass for everyday use and for every occasion. A glass that is easy to use it fits in every dishwasher picnic basket minibar and small kitchen. Broken stems are a thing of the past. These glasses are made of nonleaded glass and each stands 4.875 inches tall. Dishwasher-safe.The Story of RiedelFew glass makers can claim a history dating to the 17th century. But that’s when Johann Christoph Riedel began in Bohemia what would become a renowned story of glass enterprise. Modern-day Riedel continues a generations-long history of fine glassmaking with Claus Riedel innovating the technique of designing a wineglass shape according to the character of the wine. This revolutionary technique has changed the face of wineglass making the world over. Riedel embraces a holistic pleasure of life including all five senses. They are committed to creating a pleasurable zest for life out of every glass object they make. Riedel is unmatched in the world of glass.

Are you looking for some wine racks to help you store your new collection of fine wines? Wood wine racks are the perfect addition to any cellar–or kitchen–and there are a number of sites and stores you can visit to find the perfect racks for your space.

Country Pine Series 26-Bottle Scallop Storage Wine Rack Set
Price: $48.98

About This Wine RackThe Country Pine Series 26-Bottle Scallop Storage Rack Set offers the popular individual bottle storage at a very low cost. This wine storage rack is made of Pine which is best known for its rustic beauty. Pine is characterized by its soft creamy color combined with subtle streaks and small knot patterns. Included in the set is two – 13 bottle racks that are connected by scalloped crossbars to hold a total of 26 bottles of wine. Assembly is easy by interlocking the scalloped crossbars into the end pieces. Assembly instructions and all necessary hardware is included. Three complete sets are shown above.
If you want to high-end design and a rack that you know will last for a while, you can visit Macy’s furniture store, or browse the selections at Bloomingdale’s and Neiman Marcus. You’ll find a variety of sophisticated designs, as well as wood wine racks that are accented with wrought iron, crystal, or carved designs. There are racks of every size at these department stores, so you’re sure to find the wine rack that will suit you best. Be prepared to spend a few hundred dollars however, for this type of quality. While it is well worth it, there are a few other places you could shop to get a wine rack that you’ll be proud to have.

If you go to stores like Target or Stein Mart often, you know there are lots of discounted products for you to choose from at these locations. And, chances are you’ve purchased a few other home accessories there, so why not shop for wood wine racks? You’ll be surprised at all the styles and brands you’ll find, and you can choose from small racks that will fit just below your kitchen cabinet, to stackable racks that are best suited for your home wine cellar. You can expect to spend at least $40 less than what you would pay at another department store, and you may even be able to find the racks already assembled, which makes them even easier to bring home.

If you want to choose your wood wine racks online, you can visit sites like www.winecellarinnovations.com, where you’ll get information on how to have your very own wine cellar built from the ground up. There are plenty of wine rack options to choose from, and you can customize them by choosing the type of wood and shelf design you want. www.wineracks.com also have a great selection of wood wine racks, and most of them are under $100. www.wineoutfitters.com also has great wine rack choices, as well as instructions for storage.

These sites will also give you information on the types of wines that you should store, and which wines go best with certain types of meals and desserts. For more shopping choices, visit www.tjmaxx.com or www.target.com for more wood wine racks selections.
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Many people believe that dry white wines do not taste as good as red wines. This is not true. White wines may not be as popular as red wines around the world but that does not mean that dry white wines do not taste good. We have to understand that the taste of the wine is influenced by its fermentation and storing process. In other words, if the wine uses the best grapes, is properly fermented, processed and stored, it will generally taste good. However, since manufacturers differ in terms of the raw materials that they use, their manufacturing and storing processes, the taste of their wines also differ. If you want to find the best tasting dry white wines, you need to know which manufacturers are producing good wines and which are not.

Searching For The Best Dry White Wines

The best way to find the good dry white wines is to go on a wine tasting expedition. Remember that different people have different taste when it comes to wines so what works for another person may not work for you at all. To find dry white wines and white wine sangrias that suit your palate, you should let your palate be your guide. If you can afford it, you should go wine tasting in different regions. According to experts, every region has its own distinctive taste when it comes to wines so if you are hunting for the best wines, you should taste the specialties of these different places.

Now, if you cannot afford to travel to different places to go wine tasting, you can still taste the different wines from different regions by joining a wine tasting club. There are plenty of wine tasting clubs around the country. There might even be a wine club in your locality. To find out if there are any wine clubs near you, ask around. The next time you buy some dry white wine in your local wine shop; ask that person on the counter if he or she knows about any wine tasting clubs in your area. Most wine shop owners are also members of wine tasting clubs so they should be able to help you in that area. Another way to find out if there are any wine clubs in your locality is to join in one of those only communities of wine enthusiasts. There are a lot of online communities of wine enthusiasts so all you have to do is log on to their site and be a member.