For centuries now, vintners and great wine makers have been tirelessly fermenting grapes, other fruits and flowers to produce the wine that is served at feasts, parties and dinner tables.

There are thousands of varieties or types of wine to choose from. White, sparkling, red or rose wine are just some of the “colors” that you can choose from. 

Wine making is a very lucrative venture because there is a worldwide market. France, Italy, Australia, Spain, Chile and the United States have their share of the worldwide market and are the leading countries which export and produce wine.

Meanwhile, South Africa, Argentina, Portugal and Germany aren’t far behind.

California is the state which boasts the most of wine producers in the US. Vineyards are mostly found in Sonoma Valley, Monterey, Paso Robles, Santa Ynez and Napa Valley.

Here are just some of the popular wine makers in the country:

1. Greenvale Vineyards & Winery

This vineyard is located in Portsmouth, Rhode Island. They produce red and white wines located from grapes which are locally grown.

Chardonnays and Cabernets are produced from the fertile soils of Greenvale Vineyards.

2. The Mount Pleasant Winery

Located north of St. Louis in Augusta, the Mount Pleasant Vineyards and Winery produces the best wine out of quality grapes.

With Chambourcin grapes, a Nouveau-like wine is aged and fermented. Chambourcin is a type of red grape grown mostly in states located on the East.

3. Domaine Drouhin

Located in the Red Hills of the Dundee in Oregon, this vineyard claims a sense of history since it is owned by the Drouhin family. 

Their wine has received worldwide recognition due to class and quality. The Pinot Noir wines that they produce have the distinct flavors of berries and vanilla for an exquisite taste.

4. Savannah Chanelle Vineyards

Located in the mountains of Santa Cruz in California, the Savannah Chanelle vineyards produce Zinfandel, Cabernet Franc and Pinot Noir.

Pinot Noir is mostly produced in the vast vineyards of Savannah Chanelle and are on the top of the list when it comes to this type of wine.

5. Chappellet Winery

California, being the wine-producing state in the US, includes the Napa Valley region.

This is where the Chappellet Winery is located and they produce Chardonnay, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. This winery produces wines which undergo as little processing as possible.

6. Sanford Winery

This vineyard is located in Buellton, California in the Santa Ynez valley. They make Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.

When deciding which wine to serve your family, consider the bottles produced by such popluar wine makers and you can’t go wrong.

Jerry Shannon

http://www.articlesbase.com/food-and-beverage-articles/who-are-the-wine-makers-711577.html

In addition to describing wine color, the terms white and red used to indicate the way wine is fermented.

Believe it or not, just about all grapes, even red ones, have clear juice. The red pigment comes from the skin of the grape. By fermenting the juice with the pulp and skins, red wine is made. It is during this fermentation process, that the red color is pulled from the skins.

After fermenting for several days, the new wine is pressed and the
liquid and solids are separated. In addition to color, other materials are pulled from the skins during fermentation. These materials are what produce the astringency typical of red wine.

White and blush wines are made by first crushing, then pressing the crushed grapes. Once this is done, the liquid is separated from the solids prior to fermentation. Since almost almost no skin contact occurs only small amounts of color, bitterness or astringency are pulled from the skins.

This means that it is possible to make white wine from red grapes if the contact between the juice and the skins is limited. An example is French Champagne, which is made from the red Pinot Noir grape. Even though they have a pink tinge, White Zinfandel and all blush wines are considered white wines since the juice is separated from the solids prior to fermentation.

Rose wines, on the other hand, are considered red wines because even though it’s just for a short time, they are fermented with the juice and the skins.

While quality red wine can be made with rudimentary equipment, high quality white table wine is much more difficult to make this way. White wine oxidizes easily, and the effects of oxidation are more apparent.

That does not mean that it is not possible to make a good white wine at home. It just means that more and better winemaking equipment is needed to make a high quality white table wine.

Christiane Potts

Buying online is easy, but you are probably wondering, “Why should I bother when I can always buy my favorite wine from a local liquor store?” To some extent, you are correct. However, if you want to have a wider wine selection, you should definitely consider buying wine online.

Where Should You Buy?

When buying wine online, you have the choice of either buying from a winery website or from online wine merchants. Now, the first option is a good choice if you already know what you want to buy.

Buying Wine from a Winery Website

Many wineries have online stores offering mail order service. All you need to do is to fill up an online form or download one and send the form to the winery through email or fax, and you would soon have your wine delivered to your house. It’s as simple as that.

You’re probably thinking, “So, what’s the catch? Is there any?” Unfortunately, there are some drawbacks to buying wine online. First of all, these stores or wineries impose minimum orders. You can’t just place an order for a single bottle. This is not feasible for them. You need to place an order for six bottles. This depends on their policies. You can pick out different wines and place your order. You can pick out wines you haven’t tried before but you have heard to be of good quality and then you can order a mixed dozen. Of course, you can only order wines that the winery is offering.

Now, the second drawback to buying wine online is the freight charge. If you are buying wine online from a winery that is located within the same country, you would likely get free freight. However, do not be duped into thinking that this is actually “free”. Often the freight is conspicuously added to the purchase price.

If you are residing outside the country, you will definitely have to pay for freight charges. It is best, therefore, to maximize your freight payment by ordering several bottles of wine all at once.

Buying Your Wine from an Online Merchant

Buying wine online can have its advantages especially if you purchase your bottles of wine from an online merchant. First of all, you can place a mixed order. You can pick out wines from different regions or wineries. You will also likely save money from freight if you would purchase from online stores. The owners of these stores have practically imported the wine for their customers. They have also settled customs issues. So, you will have no more problems with the importation of your ordered bottles of wines

You will also enjoy better deals, discounts and offers. The competition between online merchants is fairly steep. To attract more customers, they offer competitive prices, better services and great freight deals.

Buying Wine Online – Is It Safe?

The wine industry is rapidly growing. Buying wine online is relatively safe. You just have to make sure that you get your wine from an established and trustworthy online merchant. It is very important that you check the online store first before you purchase anything. Make sure that they have a privacy policy. You should also ensure that they have secure data system or that information transmitted to them will be SSL encrypted. Usually, you will find this information from their website.

Getting Your Wine Delivered

When buying wine online, getting your purchase delivered safely and properly can be an issue. If you go to work during the day and there’s no one left at home to accept the delivery, you might worry about getting your purchases safely. It could disappear from the front porch. You can look for an online wine merchant that accepts delivery instructions. You can get the product delivered at work or you could have your neighbor accept the delivery for you.

There are risks involved in buying wine online, but if you want to have more choices when it comes to your wine repertoire, you would definitely enjoy shopping online. Your options are practically limitless. You are not limited by geography. You can visit an Italian winery website and get the best wines from them. You can go to an online wine merchant store and you can order a selection of special wines. Your wine inventory will certainly be unique once you start buying wine online.

ProChef360Blog
http://www.articlesbase.com/wines-and-spirits-articles/what-you-should-know-about-buying-wine-online-728885.html

A Mediterranean diet and healthy Italian cuisine makes you live longer.

Italy, the country known today had not officially formed until the 19th century, the Italian cuisine can claim their roots going back as far as 4th century BC.  Italian cuisine has evolved through centuries of political and social changes. When the New World was discovered significant changes occurred, and helped mold much of what is known as Italian cuisine.  The incorporation of potatoes, tomatoes, bell pepper and maize to the Italian cuisine all central parts of this cuisine but not introduced in this scale until the 18th century has shaped the food.

Conquerors, high-profile chefs, political upheavals had various influences throughout the centuries, and including neighboring regions, also the discovery of the New World. A concrete cuisine has formed to what is known today as Italian cuisine as one of the premiere cuisines in the world.

The country of Italy was only unified in 1861, and Italian cuisine is extremely varied which reflects the cultural diversity of its regions and its diverse history, including culinary influences from Roman, Greek, Norman, and Arab civilizations. A prime example of the Mediterranean diet, is tomatoes and olive oil. Italian cuisine is regarded and imitated all over the world for it’s robust flavour. As a general rule, northern and southern Italian cuisines are differentiated primarily by the cooking fat and style of pasta commonly used. Northern Italian cuisine is characterized by less use of olive oil, pasta and tomato sauce and more use of butter or lard, rice, corn for polenta and chesses for cream sauces. Northern Italian cuisine is famous for polenta and risotto, and the Southern Italian cuisine is known for seafood dishes, pizza and dark rich olive oil.

Ingredients and dishes vary by region, and cheese and wine are also a major part of the cuisine. There are many significant regional dishes that have become both national and regional.

Structured into several sections an Italian meal would include antipasto, the appetizer, primo, the pasta or rice dish, secondo a meat course, and dolce a great dessert. Known for more then 400 kinds of cheeses, Italy and the famous Parmigianino Reggiano, plus over 300 types of sausages, the Evolution of Italian Cuisine is an adventure of taste, ingredients, and flavoring techniques. Italy is famous all over the world for its rich and varied cuisine. Italian cuisine is an important part of Italian culture and the “Traditional Italian Cuisine” is not restricted to “old world” ingredients, but is taking what is found locally and creating an italian flavor.

If Italian Cuisine is about the Italian it is so only in a very restricted sense. Perhaps a great surprise and what is known as “Italian cuisine” is actually a galaxy of regional cuisines. Every region in fact has its cuisine, contributing to the broader one with its own dishes.

Italy is a country of a hundred cuisines and thousands of recipes dating back as far as the Middle Ages that are identifiably Italian. The rich history of “Italian Cuisine”, and the ingredients, dishes, techniques, and social customs behind the Italian food that are loved today. Italian cuisine enables people of all countries to live longer through the Italian enginuity of incorporating healthy ingrediants with love and care.

James Murray
http://www.articlesbase.com/food-and-beverage-articles/italian-cuisine-flavors-of-italy-732612.html

What do France, Italy, Spain, Australia, Chile, the United States of America, Romania, Germany, Portugal, Moldova, Hungary, South Africa, Croatia and Argentina have in common? Wine and wineries. These fourteen countries lead the world in the export of “vino.”

Italy is second only to France in the production of wines, and it’s all thanks to the famous region of Tuscany – or Toscana as the natives call it.

You’ll find Tuscany in the center of Italy. The famous fashion capital Milan is far to the north, near the borders of France and Switzerland, while Rome is a little to the south. Tuscany is a jewel set between the Tyrrhenian Sea on the west and the Apennines mountain range on the east. It consists of ten provinces, including Pisa (famous for the Leaning Tower of Pisa). The capital city is Florence (and it is here that you will find the historic Uffizi Gallery.)

Wine making in Tuscany is just as historic as Italy’s architecture and art. Indeed, it extends as far back as the beginning of time.

The History of Tuscany

Tuscany was first settled by the Etruscans in around 800 BCE, who quickly discovered the wild vines growing in abundance on the “sun-drenched” hills, and these grapes were carefully cultivated to improve their flavor.

Several varieties of grapes are grown in the region. Some of these grapes stand on their own when it comes to wine making – for example Cabernet Sauvignon comes only from the Cabernet Sauvignon grape, and the Lambrusco grape produces a variety of dry red wines: Lambrusco Grasparossa di Castelvetro, Lambrusco di Sorbara, Lambrusco Salamino di Santa Croce, and Lambrusco Reggiano).

Other wines are a blend of grape varieties. The famous Chianti is a blend three grapes -two red: Sangiovese and Canaiolo, and Malvasia, a white. (Although, there’s a story there. Until the 19th century Chianti was made only from the Sangiovese grape. A famous Italian statesman, Bettino Ricasoli, decreed that chianti should be made of the blend of three grapes. But since 1995 that practice has been dying out and most Chianti these days is again made only with the Sangiovese grape.)

The history of the evolution of a certain wine is just as fascinating as the history of the vineyards from which they come.

If you are a wine lover taking a vacation in Tuscany, you’ll want to visit a vineyard or two. Or more! You’ll find fourteen “wine roads” throughout the region – each one famous for the wine production from a particular type of grape. Follow each road and stop in at those companies and cellars which are open to the public.

Each of the provinces of Tuscany have at least one wine road – Florence and Grosseto have three each. Each road has its own sign system that indicates the wine it deals with, and the towns or places to stop of interest on it.

So renowned is Tuscany for its wine-making that several international travel firms offer tours devoted strictly to the wine lover. If you don’t feel like exploring the Italian countryside on your own, one of these tours – with like-minded people, will be just the thing for you.

Alastair Hamilton
http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/wine-making-in-tuscany-a-perfect-tour-87477.html

Wine selection is an important criterion essential in the wine festivals and all the other wine events. There are about three P’s which are essential in selecting the wines are as follows: Price, preference and pairing. These three P’s will definitely render you proper help in selecting some of the best wines. So it is essential that you keep in mind the when you are visiting some of the local vendors or the wine merchants in your locality and I can guarantee you that you will come along with a winning wine.

Price: This is one of the key components useful in determining the amount you are willing to pay for the wine and it will also help you find the wine that is right in determining the right wine for you. Gone are the days where you could get some of the best wines at considerable price of about $30. These days you can even find a considerable good wine for $15 or even at a lesser amount so it is essential that you become really eye centric about the amount of the wines. So you can remain completely assured about the fact that there is no reason that you do not have to drop a large sum out of your pocket. A well experienced wine merchant will definitely help you with providing well deserving ideas about some of the best ideas.

Preferences: This is what we all run behind sometimes even ignoring the price; these are ones which attracts our taste buds to the core. But as far as the wines are concerned then it is essential that you be concerned of the fact that who will drink the wine and what is the occasion for what you are sharing the wine are they new comers who are drinking the wine. Hence it is essential that you better find out all this then land up in a wine merchant’s shop to buy the wine. Consider the fact for example that you are hosting a happy hour party then it is essential that you go in for safe drinks which are not much strong you can probably go in for the reds and white wine. For the people who are not much used to the strong wines then it is essential that you give them a break and buy the wines that are soft like the Merlot or the Pinot Noir. For a white wine person who is not much accustomed to the enjoyable Gewurztraminer then you can probably go in for the recommendations on the wine merchant. Incase you are a new wine drinking then you can try the Riesling, Gewurztraminer or even the Muscat dessert wine incase your fantasies are the sweeter versions of the wine.
 
Pairing
Incase you are looking out for wines specifically for the purpose of pairing with the dinners then it is essential that you take into account the key ingredients that you would be using for the dinner specifically.

shijina

There are in the world of American connoisseurs and wine snobs a dozen cardinal rules of ostentatious wine service. Silly or otherwise, correct stemware is one of the first and foremost “rules” when it comes to properly serving fine wine.

As for correct stemware, it is suggested that you first get rid of those pretty wineglasses you received as a wedding gift. They may look lovely displayed on a shelf, but, with certain exceptions, they are worse than useless for drinking wine. Why? Because the wine-ignorant manufacturers make them in thimble sizes that don’t hold enough wine for more than a taste.

When you serve a guest the skimpy two-ounce portion of Tempranillo (http://www.wineaccess.com/wine/grape/Tempranillo/) that the average one of these baubles holds, he empties it at a single sip and waits, thirsty and embarrassed, for you to pour some more. In Europe you are served table wine in respectable stemmed bowls that hold seven, eight, or even nine ounces. Rarely are they poured more than two-thirds full; the head space allows the wine to send forth its fragrance, which is part of its flavor.

You will do better to serve table wine in your water goblets than in the tiny so-called wineglasses. If the water glass seems too big, pour it only half full. At a dinner in your home, four ounces of table wine is a decent serving; the average guest will have a second glass. Your old-fashioned cocktail glasses, or even your highball glasses, are equally acceptable.

Or buy some of the sensible wineglasses which a few manufacturers are at last beginning to place on the market in response to the urgent pleas of vintners. The best ones are plain in design, to let the wine’s color show through; they are tulip-shaped-narrower at the top than at the widest part of the bowl-thereby concentrating the wine’s bouquet to delight your olfactory sense. A fine glass of Pinot Noir (http://www.wineaccess.com/wine/grape/Pinot%20Noir/) will practically illuminate a red glow from a glass such as this.

They measure seven or eight ounces to their brim, providing a four-ounce serving when half full, and are sturdy enough to survive ordinary dishwashing. They can be used for all kinds of wine, pouring only a third of a glass when serving Sherry. The thimbles in your set of stemware will do for cordials; or, if they can hold at least two ounces without spilling onto the tablecloth, are also suitable for serving Sherry, Port, and other dessert wines.

Whoever first inflicted on American householders the several different grotesquely shaped, various-sized and colored glasses that are sold as complete sets for the separate serving of Claret, Barbera, Rhine wine, Sauterne, Sherry, and Port, must have copied them out of some rare old book treasured only by glassware hobbyists.

In medieval Europe, it is true; every ancient winegrowing district originally developed its own distinctive wineglass. For example, the old Rhine wine glasses were colored green to hide the fact that early Rhine wines were often cloudy and brown. Such relics of past centuries are no excuse for bamboozling the average American shopper into buying ridiculous glassware.

Sarah Martin
http://www.articlesbase.com/food-and-beverage-articles/correct-stemware-for-serving-wine-686939.html

You like to look and feel great-and you love your glass of red wine at dinner-but conventional diet gurus say you can’t have both.

How can you rationalize keeping the wine when you want be healthy?

If you think that you have a tough decision to make, then think again, because most diet plans don’t take into account all of the latest facts.

More and more studies are showing that although there are about 120 calories in a six-ounce glass of red wine, you should not stop having wine at dinner, because there are too many significant long-term health benefits and they outweigh the mere calorie intake.

In fact, wine might even be considered the new health drink.

For example, heart disease is the number one killer in the US and clinical studies have proven that, in moderation, men can lower the risk of heart disease by 50% by drinking two glasses of red wine a day. And women can reduce their risk by almost 30%, by drinking one glass of red wine a day.

Another top killer is cancer. Because red wine contains antioxidants, which scavenge destructive free-radicals that cause cellular damage, drinking wine in moderation will help prevent certain types of cancer such as prostate, colon and skin cancer.

Wine also helps our body to excrete excess sodium, so red wine acts like a diuretic, which lowers our blood pressure.

And in recent years, research studies have trumpeted a growing list of health problems that red wine can help fight such as arthritis, cataracts and kidney dysfunction. And, a new study in mice holds out hope for Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.

If this list doesn’t convince you that red wine should remain on your table at dinner and be long term part of your life, then check this out-wine helps reduce stress and digestive problems.

So, if you are a busy person and live life in high gear (as so many of us often do), then its recommended you enjoy at least one glass of wine with your meal, because wine relaxes us (including our digestive muscles). And we all know that digestive problems and high stress levels are the cause of innumerable health problems.

Now that you’re convinced that keeping wine at dinner is a good idea, you probably want to know; “Are all wines equally ‘healthy’?”

And the answer is NO. Red wines in general contain more antioxidants than white wine (and all other alcoholic drinks as a matter of fact).

And, even among red wines there are those that will do you more good. Specifically, red wines that improve with age, which means French Bordeaux, premium Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinot Noir as well as Merlot and Malbec.

It’s been shown that red grapes grown in higher altitude and cooler climates (like Chile, Argentina, some parts of California, Oregon, and in New York’s Finger Lakes) have more antioxidants than grapes grown in warmer climes on valley floors.

There are two reasons for this. First, the production of antioxidants are stimulated by ultraviolet light, which are more intense at higher altitudes. Secondly, in cooler climates, grapes ripen more slowly and therefore tend to be harvested later, which allows for a greater concentration of antioxidants (and better flavors too).

In summary, the decision is easy. Keep the wine and get rid of some other calorie source, because it couldn’t possible come close to the health benefits of a glass of a good red wine.

So enjoy your wine at dinner and let’s toast “To Good Wine and Healthy Pleasure!!!”

Randy Gilbert
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/the-new-wine-diet-how-adding-wine-to-your-meal-could-also-add-years-to-your-life-80138.html

Are you a wine conneisseur, or do you just love wine? Either way, it’s a good idea to at least know something about wine. You don’t want to appear uninformed while dining at an upscale restaurant with your date. With the following wine facts, you’ll be good to go.

Let’s say you’re dining at a seafood restaurant, and want to order your wine like you know what you’re doing. For pastas or seafood, white wine is best. Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio or Riesling are all good choices, unless you’re having salmon or duck, and in that case Cabernet Sauvignon would be the perfect choice. If you’re a true meat eater, and steak or prime rib are your favorites, then you might order a nice Merlot or Shiraz. For some people, the Shiraz and Syrah wines can be a bit bitter, whereas the Merlot is known to be velvety smooth, if you order a quality brand name.

Champagne lovers will truly enjoy their bubbling effervescense with such food choices as smoked salmon, eggs or oysters. It’s also good for breakfast served as a Mimosa. The great thing about champagne, is it’s good any time of day, and it’s a necessity for those special occasions when you’re looking for a nice wine out of the ordinary for your celebration.

If you’ve never had real sangria before, then it’s time you indulged yourself. By simply adding a few choice fruits to your wine, it will make any occasion a party. Just pour a bottle of red wine in a large pitcher, and add lemons, limes, star fruit and mangos, and then toss in a sprinkle of brown sugar and a few cinnamon sticks, and you’re all set. You’ll be the hit of any party, as long as you know your wines.

If you’ve never been to a wine tasting, then you must try it. This is the first step in deciding which wines are pleasing to your palette. First, swirl your glass of wine, to open up the aroma, or bouquet of the wine. Then smell the wine, and finally, the taste test. Do you like your wine sweet, dry or fruity? If you prefer the sweet wines, such as Port or Sauterne, then you’re a classic dessert wine drinker. If you like the fortified wines, with a higher alcohol content, then look for the wines that have the addition of a spirit, such as brandy.

If you prefer the dry wines, then you would probably choose a wine with a small amount of residual sugar. The more sugar in the wine, the sweeter it will be. The sweeter wines tend to linger on your tongue a little longer, but if you like a crisp, dry wine, then stay away from the sweet wines.

If you’re saving that vintage wine for a special occasion, make sure it will improve with age, as some wines tend to spoil if they’re kept too long. The red wines are usually better choices for aged wine, because they form more complex subtleties. Most premium wines are only at their best many years or even decades after their bottling.

For more information on wine, visit http://www.winemicroblog.com/

John Parks

For many years, wine has been an inseparable part of most bars and kitchens, all over the world. Celebrations and festivals are incomplete without a bottle of good red or white wine. If you belong to the class of people who simply love the taste of good wine, then perhaps Sacramento, California, is the right place for you. Wine tasting involves evaluating the taste, color, aroma and the texture. It also involves assessing the maturity, quality, flavor and suitability of the wine. Apart from evaluating the wine, wine tasting also includes indulging in several wine tasting kits, with blotting strips and aroma bottles.

All over the world, especially in the United States and Europe, wine tasting is a popular practice. In the United States, California is very famous for its wine tasting tours. Famous wineries offer tour and travel packages for wine connoisseurs and novices alike. In addition, luxury restaurants and hotels also feature wine tasting buffets and parties for the wine lovers.

If you are in Sacramento, California and want to enjoy an evening out, you could indulge in a winery tour. Wine tasting in Sacramento is both, a fun-filled as well as an educational experience for all wine lovers. You can indulge your taste buds in weekly sessions of tasting the different varieties of wine. Wine stewards and experts in the field of wine production dedicate their efforts towards guiding you in your search for the perfect vintage.

If you are a hardcore wine enthusiast, the wine tasting events and activities in Sacramento might appeal to you. As part of the special Sacramento wine tasting tours, you get to taste great wine and attend the various local wine festivals. At the same time you could visit the traditional wineries in the countryside. Wine tasting tours include the schedules of some of the most famous and largest vineyards and wineries of Sacramento. Some restaurants and hotels also feature special wine tasting holidays and festivals, to cheer up all wine aficionados. On such tours, guests and tourists can be a part of the various wine tasting activities, while they sip the best of wines, produced at the different local wineries.

Wines are grouped, based on the vintage, country or region of origin, wine competition results, variety, specific vendor reports, winery and style. For 4-6 sips, the flights cost around $3 and extra flights can be bought. To limit alcohol consumption, spitting and tasting of wine is encouraged. While tasting wine, guests are requested to abstain from sporting strong perfumes and scents, so that they do not get in the way of sensory perception. In most cases, bread and mature cheese or other delicatessen items are offered to the guests.

Wine tasting in Sacramento provides you with a better understanding of fine wines and vintage. Along with the winery representatives, wine stewards also help guests to choose the right wine and their assistance offers the much-needed confidence in making a decision about a particular wine or vintage. Their presence enlivens the experience and makes it memorable.

Kris Koonar
http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/wine-tasting-in-sacramento-95440.html