Enjoying Wines

Archive for July, 2009

Crystal wine glasses can be great for a gift. They are elegant and simple. It’s a kind of gift that one will be used for many years.

Consider giving Crystal wine glasses as a gift for weddings and graduations. They also make good gift for bridal showers.

There are a lot of styles and colors when it comes to Crystal wine glasses. So it will be easy for you to find one for someone special in your life. Make sure to keep the recipients personal style when you choose a gift for them.

You can find Crystal wine glasses in a gift shops. There are even more choices on the internet. Lots of style available to suite just about every budget.

Usually it costs from $10 to $50 for a set of four. You can do research for the best price on the brand that you’re looking for.

Especially for a wedding gift, you better decide what you want to have engraved onto the glass. You may be want to buy a 2 piece set.

For instance you might want to put the names of the bride and groom. Or you might want to have the wedding date engraved. No matter what you decide to do the wine glasses are sure to be a hit!

When it comes to Crystal wine glasses it should be personal. So, think hard what type and style that will make your gift stand out.

Try to search on the internet for a perfect idea. People really love gifts that come from the heart. An Engraving on acrylic wine glasses will tell your loved one how much you care!

Giving crystal wine glasses as a gift is a fantastic idea. They make a beautiful addition to any collection. They also make great keep sake to hand down to future generations. With proper care they will last for many years!.

Pinot Noir Chardonnay is the term the rest of the world, outside Champagne, use to describe a sparkling wine. The name Pinot Chardonnay has been derived from the varieties of grapes used in its production, while the old name ‘Champagne’ is now only used by the wines produced from the same name region in France, due to European Union action to protect its name.

Don’t be fooled, the quality, texture and taste of a Pinot Chardonnay can be just as alluring and exciting as any Champagne. Needless to say that most Pinot Chardonnays are produced using the same methods as its French counterparts.
Big name distrbutors Moet and Chandon even list a few hidden Pinot Chardonnay gems in the inventory lists.$$$   With some of these wines even being produced from the Yarra Valley in Australia.

New Zealand has also carved a reputation for producing some great ‘Sparklers’ with many originating from the North Island.

The experimentation with various grape types has lead to some great successes (and failures)  Popuilar types of grapes used in these experiments are usually Semillon Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Sauvignon Shiraz   And trust me, there is a great reason you won’t find a Sauvignon Blanc Chardonnay on store shelves.  But the mix of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay with the sparkling fermentation process has been a tremendous success.

Pinot Chardonnay has proven to be a winner at social outings such as picnics and BBQ’s, which has led them to be sold in 200ml and 375ml bottles.  Packaging and delivery of sparking varieties is also easy thanks to the advancements of technology in these areas over the years.

Probably the most exciting point of Pinot Chardonnays is because they are called Pinot Chardonnays and not Champagne they are nowhere near the same price…you win.

See if your friends can taste the difference and set up a blind taste test this weekend – you’ll probably be very surprised!

Follow the link for more information on Pinot Noir Chardonnay.

Wine glasses are what we’ll be looking at in this part of our wine 101 guide…

There are many different types of wine glasses, of varying styles and quality, and, in order to get the most enjoyment out of a bottle of wine, it’s necessary to give at least a little thought when choosing which you plan to buy and use. There are a number of manufacturers of fine, and somewhat expensive, wine glasses, designed specifically for use with certain wines. It’s not necessary to buy expensive ones though, and neither must you have specific glasses for specific wines.

Despite the multitude of choices available, you can quite adequately get by with just three different types of wine glasses. A standard-shaped white wine glass, something with a larger bowl for reds, and a flute or similar style for Champagne are all you need to start with. There are other considerations too, though, to ensure you make the right choice from within these 3 standard types of wine glasses.

First of all, you need to pay attention to the material from which they’re made. At the very least, the glass must be plain and clear. Part of the enjoyment of wine is appreciation of the colour, which can impart a lot of information about the wine (such as its age and the quality of grapes used in its making). Consequently, wine glasses made from coloured or frosted glass, or worse still solid materials such as pewter or silver, are not recommended.

The size of the glasses is the next consideration. The bowl should be large enough to allow a fair measure to be poured, whilst leaving enough room for the wine to be gently swirled without spillage. This swirling action is to release aromas from the wine, and is therefore vitally important.

Thirdly, they must have a stem, not just for aesthetic reasons, but so that the wine glass may be held without covering the bowl in greasy fingerprints. Holding by the stem also ensures that warmth from the hand does not increase the temperature of a wine that has been served chilled.

Lastly, the shape of the bowl is of considerable importance. A wine glass should taper toward the top, so the opening is narrower than the bowl itself. Whilst this appearance is aesthetically pleasing, it’s also of functional importance. When you swirl wine to release its aromas, this tapered shape serves to concentrate the aromas towards the nose.