Enjoying Wines

Archive for June, 2009

Wine is a drink that is made from grapes, basically. There are a lot of other wines which are also made from other fruits and plants but grapes are the most common contributors to wine than any other fruit. Wine is stored in wine bottles which are also stored in a wine rack. A wine rack works as a shelf for wine bottles. The main purpose of these storage units are to really hold the wine bottles in which wine is stored.

The Shape Of A Wine Rack

A basic wine rack is shaped or designed like a book shelf only the shelves are tilted upwards at the back of each shelf. At the front part of each shelf, there is supposed to be a stopper or a contraption that is supposed to support the wine bottle and prevent it from slipping forward. The wine bottles in the wine rack are stored almost upside down or at an angle as long as the cork in each bottle is immersed in the liquid. Some people also store the wine bottle lying on the side; any angle is permissible as long as the cork is immersed in liquid. The reason behind this angle is to keep the cork immersed in the liquid to prevent it from drying up and eventually falling into the wine if it is stored standing right side up.

There are many variations to a wine rack design which may suit any home owner or individual’s preferences. The design mentioned above is the most basic design for a rack and it is made of wood. There are also some racks which are made with iron or plastic or any other medium that can effectively hold a wine bottle and stop it. A wine rack made with wrought iron is appealing to some people and this can be quite attractive especially the wine rack that can be placed on top of the counter or the table at the house.

Some wine racks are designed to hold wine glasses for the convenience of the owner. Wine glass holders also come in different designs. There is even a hanging wine glass rack where the glasses can be store hanging upside down. The size of the wine rack depends on the needs of the individual or the home owner. If the owner is a connoisseur of wine, then he or she might like to have a bigger wine rack in which to store many bottles of wine.

A home winemaker will usually start off with a basic kit bought at the specialty store. After a batch or two, he or she might feel like exploring and making a unique wine or a wine that matches their taste preferences.

That is where wine making recipes come in. These wine making recipes do not really mess with the basic mixture of sugars, yeast, and water. What they do is add little bits of things that change the characteristics of the wine. Herbs and fruits are favorites for this process.

The basic idea is to put a little less water and replace it with something else. Not everything can be used though. Some herbs and fruits seeds might contain toxins, so asking a horticulturist will keep you from poisoning yourself. For fruits, you only really need to remove the seeds.

The following wine making recipes are suggestions as to what would produce a nice wine when finished, and the amounts can be changed according to your tastes.

An old favorite is mead. When we say “old favorite”, we really mean old. Mead was a favorite during the Middle Ages. The basic premise of mead is that it is made with honey in addition to water.

The honey gives sweetness to the resulting wine, as well as that distinctive rich taste. Try replacing a half-liter of water with honey and mix it in well before adding yeast. This is a wine making recipe with a lot of history behind it, and the result tastes best after around a year of aging.

Berries are among the most popular choices to add to wine. They have distinct flavors and lend these to the resulting wine. Blueberries and strawberries are the most common.

Since berries do not contain enough sugars, white sugar is usually added to keep the fermentation at optimal levels. Wine connoisseurs often find blueberry notes in ordinary wines, so adding blueberries intensifies that layer of taste.

Strawberries give notes of that characteristic sweet smell. Other berries like raspberries and cranberries may also be used. You can even mix two or more types in. Just remember to keep the sugar and water ratios in proportion. Berries may change the color of the wine as well.

Bananas can go very well in wine. You can use dried bananas or crush fresh ones. Remember that dried bananas have more flavors per unit of weight. Bananas are mostly starch, so sugar is added to the mix. Another favorite in wine making recipes is citrus.

Citrus fruits give a sharp tang and aroma to wine. Oranges, limes, or lemons give wine more acidity, which makes them taste lighter and fruitier.

Other fruits that make good wine are cherries, plums, apples, peaches, apricots, and pears. Flowers that find their way into wines are dandelions, red clover, calendula, violet, rose, and elderflowers. The basic idea is that if it is edible, it can be made into wine. As usual, sugar is added to make the magic happen.

Herb wines are not very common, but they are liked in some European countries like Greece and Italy. Anise and licorice are the most common, but you should not be surprised to find herb wines made with herbs usually used in savory dishes like basil and oregano.

Remember that it is up to you what kind of wine you want to make. A wine making recipe is a guide, and the result is still dependent on the maker. Make something that matches your tastes, for that extra bit of satisfaction. Most of all, remember to be patient; with wine and others, good things come to those who wait.

How To Serve Champagne

Sending Champagne is a quick and elegant gift option for any speacial occation . Ordering Champagne or Sparkling Wine is a simple process, where you can find vintage bottles ready to ship or lovely gift baskets that include champagne, and gourmet chocolates as well.  If you have received champagne and are unsure on how to chill your bottle, and serve the champagne correctly I invite you to read on.

Champagne is a incredibly enjoyable and chic drink generally served at special functions or romantic liaisons. However, it should be imbibed in at other times as well.  Sparkling wines and champagnes come in quite a few price ranges, consequently it can be easy to discover excellent bottle champagne that is within your budget.There is always the choice of opting for a less expensive French champagnes, Italian Prosecco, Italian Spumante, California sparkling wines, or Spanish Cava. Many of these can also create incredibly yummy champagne cocktails that are great for any occasion.

What Temperature Should Champagne Be Served At?

For champagne to preserve its enchanting distinctive characteristics , and to absolutely get pleasure from the wine it requires it to be served cold.What is the best serving temperature Somewhere in the range of 43 to 48°F (7°C) is the right temperature for chilling champagne. While the wine is kept chilled in this range, it will maintain the bouquet , and the flavor of the champagne.

How to Chill Your Champagne How to Chill Your Champagne Perfectly

Option one is to leave your bottle in the refrigerator for 2-4 hours .

Tip:It is not a good for the bottle to remain or to be refrigerated longer than this time period as it is too cold to store champagne . Never freeze the bottle!

The second option is to put the unopened bottle in a bucket of ice for about 20-30 minutes to chill your bottle to the right temperature .

You will need a You will need an ice bucket, with approximately four cups of ice, and 2 -3 cups of cold water.If you are in a big hurry to open your bottle you can flip the unopened bottle with the neck of the bottle tucked into the ice water and let the bottle chill for ten to fifteen minutes. This action will chill the first couple of glasses of champagne rapidly . After opening the bottle place it back into the bucket the right way.

When opening a bottle of champagne remove enough of the foil to be able to liberate the twisted-wire cage. Take the wire hood and turn the wire stem six times counter clock wise. It is wise to keep a finger or thumb over the cork at this point as it could pop out of its own accord.  If the cork is loose, remove it carefully with the wire cage. Most of the time , the cork has to be eased out slowly, and to do this, clasp the bottle away from you and anyone else , at a 45 degree angle. Hold the cork and gently turn the bottle in one direction .

Don’t Waste The Bubbles

The cork should not pop, the sound will be more of a gentle swoosh.  Popping the cork, and spraying frothing bubbles down your arm, and far and wide is something you might see at a celebratory event. However, fine bottles of champagne deserve a degree of respect and why squander the bubbles . The champagne cork is not a child’s toy, and care should be taken when removing it .There is about 70 pounds-per-square-inch of pressure behind it, thus producing a formidable missile.

Tip: To reduce the pressure behind the cork, it helps greatly if the champagne is properly chilled — at 45°F the gas is reduced one atmosphere of pressure — and you avoid shaking it as much as possible before opening it .

Before pouring, the neck of the bottle should be dabbed up with a clean cloth. Then commence serving by pouring a little down the side of the fluted champagne glass , and your objective is to fill the glass only half way, thus allowing the froth to settle .Then you can go around and top up to about the two-thirds mark, and this will prevent any frothing over

Champagne has reached its maturity and is all set for immediate consumption as soon as it leaves the champagne house . However, champagne may be stored in cellar-like conditions for several years. The important conditions are a constant, cool temperature and no light. The bottles must be stored horizontally to keep the cork moist and thus retain its elasticity. This will keep the gas in and the air out of the bottles.

Once opened, a bottle of champagne need not be consumed in one sitting if it is properly closed. You can purchase inexpensive champagne stoppers which are made just for this purpose. When the bottle is placed in a refrigerator, it should be ready for another “bubbling” for up to several days.

Tip: It is best if champagne is served in fluted glassware, as this will keep the bouquet, and distinguishing bubbles from disappearing up into the air.  Hold the champagne glass by the stem, so as to prevent your hands from warming the luscious wine.

Sending Champagne as a gift

Enjoy your bubbly and if you are looking for the perfect gift for any occation Champagne & FLowers are an elegant, and a great way to celebrate any occation.