Cooking with Wine
April 3, 2008
Hi Wine Virgin, I’m planning a dinner and I’ll be cooking with wine. Does the type of wine varietal and quality really matter that much or can I choose something off the shelf and go with it? - Marlene in Burbank, CA
Marlene, simply put, when cooking with wine… it will definitely have an impact on the taste, along with your guests willingness to make the leap of faith and eat what you prepare. When selecting a wine to cook with, unless a recipe calls for it, use a dry wine and not a sweet one.
More often than not, white wine goes with fish, chicken and pork dishes. Where cooking with red wine fits nicely with beef. However, don’t be afraid to experiment. Cooking with white wine provides a wide range of opportunities to go after and doesn’t limit you.
When planning to cook with wine, it’s important to know beforehand what items you want to have a heightened flavor. Say for instance, adding a young wine with high acidity to a dish that is a bit on the mellow side to balance it out. Typically, I add a splash of wine to the meal that I know I will drink with the dinner itself. But this isn’t necessary. Also, since you’re cooking the wine, the wine varietal isn’t a big deal.
Select a good wine to cook with but not a wine that you wouldn’t want to drink and don’t use a wine that you would want to enjoy just by itself either. Definitely, do not use one that has been sitting in the fridge for a while and out of wine guilt, you feel like putting it to use.
Hey, I understand with being a lush myself how hard it can be to pour unused wine down the drain but still… don’t use an old oxidized bottle to prepare a meal with. Believe me, you will see that polite but “I really don’t want to eat this” look on their faces as the end up picking it over like a two year old brat.
What is a Wine Somalie?
April 2, 2008
Hey Wine Virgin, what is a wine somalie? I’m really curious about starting my adventure in wine, thanks for the help. - Lynn in Douglas, WY
Consider a wine somalie aka wine sommelier to be your go to person at a restaurant where they will help you select the best wines to choose from. The word sommelier is a French term that basically translates into wine steward. They will pair together and suggest wines that are best suited for a particular food and they are especially keen on helping out with selecting a specific wine varietal.
The sommelier is responsible for taking into consideration the tastes of the patron and will work accordingly around what a person is willing to spend on a bottle. Sommeliers also decant wines, when necessary. Decanting, is the process of pouring the wine into a decanter before serving it. This allows the wine to breathe and will help any sediment that’s in the to settle at the bottom of the decanter.
Travel is usually part of a professional sommelier’s career. Many travel to select different wine varietals for their restaurant. So when you go to enjoy a nice dinner, sit back and relax. Allow the wine sommelier to handle all your needs and take pleasure in their knowledge and experience. Cheers!!
How to Clean a Decanter
April 1, 2008
Will you tell me how to clean a decanter? I have a wine decanter that has a very narrow neck and there is stain in it that I can’t make go away. I’ve tried soaking it in vinegar and trying to scrub it with long brushes. What can I do? - Jean in Clovis, NM
Ok, first thing’s first… in order to clean a decanter such as yours. Go out and find some bees. Yes, bees. Its Spring now, they should be out pollinating and rummaging around flowers and such. Go find some. Now, get some super glue, and some very fine grain sand paper along with a needle. Get a tiny drop of super glue on the needle and tear off a small bit of that fine grain sand paper.
Take your first bee and gently rub that drop of super glue all over your little newfound buddy’s back. Carefully attach the sand paper to it and do this with 10 other bees. (Be) careful now… haha. They can sting ya know. After you have completed this most delicate task. Put your little friends into your wine decanter.
Now shake it really fast and sit back and marvel at how pissed off they get as you watch them clean a decanter in no time flat. Seriously, its amazing. But then again by now you are wondering how much I’ve had to drink tonight aren’t you? Well… don’t worry about that.
Here’s, a simpler but less exciting way that isn’t entertaining at all. Put some ice chunks and some salt in your decanter and shake it and swirl it around for a couple minutes. There… easy huh? I still think you should try it with some bees though. Have fun.