Wine Mixed Drinks
June 20, 2008
What are some wine mixed drinks that I could possibly try out this weekend for a party I’m throwing? - Brandy in Tulsa, OK
Wine is definitely a versatile drink which can co-exist perfectly with other types of alcohol. Mixing wine with various other substances can sometimes lead to very interesting effects. This allows you to explore this ancient drink in depth which the gods Dionysus and Bacchus came to enlighten us all. Brandy, here are a few wine mixed drinks that will keep you staggering around all summer long.
Say you’re in a fiesty to mood to conquer all that is before you with your charm and charisma… here’s a wine mixed drink that will put you in control.
Champagne Napolean
.5 oz. Curacao
.5 oz. Grand Marnier
.5 oz. Maraschino liqueur
Your Favorite Champagne
Mix your ingredients together with ice in your favorite mixing glass. Now strain into a chilled champagne flute. Fill with cold champagne. Consume. You are now the defactor ruler of the party.
Every had one of those days were you just wanted to give the finger to the world? Try this wine mixed drink for a quick pick-me-up.
Weep No More
1.5 oz. Cognac
1.5 oz. Dubonnet
1.5 oz. Lime Juice
Several Dashes of Maraschino Liqueur
Again shake, shake, shake with ice and strain this happy mixture into a chilled cocktail glass. Wala! You are now pure undeniable sunshine that will put an ultra-bright smile on everyone’s face that you meet.
What if after a day of relaxing by the pool you need a stiff drink to get you in the mood to party? Well you can’t get more stiff than this…
Bamboo Cocktail
2 oz. Dry Sherry
2 oz. Dry Vermouth
Several dashes of Angostura bitters
Ice
Stir these incredible ingredients together with ice in your handy mixing glass. Pour into a chilled cocktail glass and you have exactly what you need to quench the summer heat and put you in the mood for pure, uninhibited fun. Cheers!!
Wines for Summer
June 13, 2008
What are good wines for summer or is there such a thing? I’ve heard of Glogg in the winter that those crazy Scandinavians drink so is there a wine that is mainly produced for the summer months? - Kerner in Salt Lake City, UT
Ahhh wines for summer, yes Kerner there is such a correspondence between Glogg that is produced for the winter and consumed by those interesting people in higher longitudes and wines that were created for enjoyment in those balmy, Indian summer months.
For the constantly changing moods of summer, the following wines will serve you best. These are Riesling, Syrah, dry rose, Pinot Noir along with sparkling wines in general. Of course these will taste their best chilled for all the roses, bubblies and whites or slightly chilled for Syrah and Pinot Noir. On top of that, these choices will fit perfectly for that unexpected guest or for when you’re out on the grill cooking.
Sparkling wine is excellent for this because the fizz adds an interesting tang on the tongue and pairs great with fatty, salty foods. Do yourself a favor and get these wonderful wines for summer and enjoy the heat with a glass in hand and put that smile on your face while listening to Summer Wine by Nancy Sinatra. Cheers!!
Delas 2002 Les Launes Crozes Hermitage Syrah - Wine Review
June 4, 2008
I went to a wine tasting last night and came across a Delas 2002 Les Launes Crozes Hermitage Syrah. This wine was very unique I have to say for a syrah wine. The impression I received at first was light and fruity followed by a bit of tart kick when tasted on the middle of the palate. The finish of this wine was like pepper with a touch of olive hovering around afterwards. Again… I have to say that this was unique. Never quite had a syrah with a combination of this kind of lightness coupled with pepper. Possibly since it was vintage 2002, maybe it should have been consumed sooner… But still, would I the Wine Virgin complain about free wine?
Notes on the Vinters website has about this wine:
The color is a deep garnet red. The nose is essentially fruity, with strong aromas of cassis and plums, a touch of violets and is an ample, well-rounded wine.
Wine Region: Crozes Hermitage
Type of Wine: Red
Grape Type: Syrah
Country Where Produced: France
Cost to You: $20 +
Rating: 3 out of 5
Wine Storage Tips - The Right Way
May 22, 2008
Any wine storage tips? I bought a case of what hopefully will turn in a great batch and I want to make sure my investment is safe. Do you know what I could do for proper wine preservation? Thanks a whole lot! - Dana in Meridian, MS
Here are wine storage tips for all the lovers of wine who are keen on keeping a few bottles around for that special moment. Follow these easy guidelines for wine preservation and it won’t let you down.
Now, make sure you store your wine horizontally. Allow the wine lay on it’s on side which lets the cork keep in moisture while at the same time serves a dual purpose of letting the sediment to settle down at the bottom of the bottle.
For wine preservation, its absolutely important to keep your wine out of direct sunlight. If a bottle is exposed to light, the end result could lead to a loss of the aromas and flavors. As for other wine storage tips, one of the key things to understand about wine is that you need to keep the temperature in between 55 to 65ºF. If the temperature of the wine fluctuates or if it is stored at a higher temperature, the wine will age much faster.
Wide fluctuations in temperature will make the cork to expand and contract. This will let air into the bottle and the wine will become oxidized under these conditions. Another thing to keep in mind is the proper humidity levels. For wine preservation, having too high a level of humidity can lead to the over all deterioration of the wine labels whereas a low level of humidity can make the cork shrink which again will oxidize the wine or even worse lead to a condition called corked wine.
So there you go, easy huh? If you follow these simple wine storage tips you can make sure that your investment is kept safe and secure so when you are ready to enjoy that perfect bottle you aren’t faced with any surprises. Cheers!!
Wine Tasting Techniques
May 20, 2008
Share some wine tasting techniques with me please, I’m having trouble being able to really pick out the certain flavors of a wine. Much thanks Wine Virgin!! - Stacy in Summerville, SC
Wine tasting techniques? Never quite heard it put that way before Stacy but I will definitely show you some very simple wine tasting advice to develop your taste buds so you can enjoy all the flavors and aroma that wine can offer. First off, don’t be too worried in the beginning if you are having trouble developing your ability to taste. Some wines can have very subtle characteristics that the typical wine virgin might not be aware of.
Something that you can do for starters is go read my post real quick on how to cleanse your palate. This puts your nose and tongue at neutral place to start off at. When you are about to taste wine, always make sure you do this simple process first before you continue. Now have a notebook ready as well so you can jot down some wine tasting notes for refernce in the future to help you better discern between the all different types of wine. Here are 3 simple wine tasting tips to help you get your feet wet.
Really look at your wine. Sounds simple enough huh? Fill the bottom of your glass with wine and hold it up to the light. Take into account the color of it and if it appears clear or cloudy. Every wine will have a variation in its tint and slowly you will be able to tell the difference in similar wines based of their color.
Take a whiff. Seriously, the majority of our taste really comes through the nose and in order to taste a wine properly you really have to smell it first. Now hold the glass by it’s stem and swirl the wine around. This helps to release the flavor of it. Swirling the wine will actually fill the glass with the wine’s aroma. Now after you have finished swirling the wine, take another smell.
After this, you should be able to note a difference. How does the wine smell to you after doing this? Do this a few times and see if you can notice any changes. Now heres the fun part, take a small sip and taste it. Swish the wine around gently in your mouth. If aren’t really able to pick up those subtle flavors, don’t fret. This first taste prepares your mouth for the full pleasure of the wine.
After you’ve prepared your mouth, take your time with the second taste and allow yourself to begin to savor the wine. Again, swish it wash around in your mouth so you can enjoy the full flavor of it and here are some more wine tasting tips.
You need to inhale the scent through your nose as you continue to take sips. This allows you to get an idea of all the different flavors after you have become familiar with this process and have begun to compare different wines. With practice you will develop the ability to pick out wines from the wine tasting advice given above and with enough time you’ll get to enjoy the rich complexities of any bottle that you desire. Cheers!!
Wine Tasting Notes
April 23, 2008
Wine Virgin, I’m very new to all this but I want to know what wine tasting notes are and what’s the purpose behind them? - Pam in Salem, OR
The reason why wine tasting notes are taken to begin with is so that a person who attends a wine tasting event can comment on the particular style and flavor of a wine. There is a vernacular all it’s own that is based around wine tasting terms and here is a brief overview of what I mean.
Wine tasting notes are categorized into 3 separate events. When utilizing these agreed upon perceptions, a rough guide can be made that will communicate the characteristics of a particular wine.
- Color - Clarity of the wine when the contents are viewed in light
- Smell - Known as the “wine nose“. Also, another helpful tool to pinpoint the smell is with something called a
wine aroma wheel
- Taste - How it is perceived in by the “mouth” or “palate”, followed by the “finish”
After years of being a lover of wine, I have found that my wine tasting notes create something similar to an index. From this I’m able to have reference a wine that reminds me of previous bottle that I have enjoyed before. Also, taking these types of notes can really help you refine your senses and leads to an overall richer experience because you are able to pinpoint all of those subtle flavors and aromas. Cheers!!
Types of Wine Glasses
April 15, 2008
Wine Virgin, how many different types of wine glasses are there and do they really affect the taste like people say? - Phyla in San Jose, CA
Good question, there are about 6 types of wine glasses which are:
1. Champagne flute – A flute will hold six ounces and is roughly eight inches tall.
2. Champagne saucer – Short with a wide, shallow bowl.
3. Stemless wine glass – Basically the bastard child allowing for the choice of either red or white wines.
4. Bordeaux glass – Another bastard wine glass designed for both red and white wines.
5. White wine glass – Slightly taller than red wine glasses with a longer stem and narrower bowl.
6. Red wine glass – Much shorter stems along with wider bowls when compared to white wine glasses.
Keep in mind that there are almost as many different types of wine glasses available as there are wines. Unless you are an avid lush, you should stick with the main types listed above. No point in going crazy and seeking those rare and hard to find ones that will do nothing but suck your cash and leave you wondering if it was really worth the investment.
So does the type of wine glass really make that much of a difference in taste? Yes…. and most likely no. For those of the untrained palate, yes they exist… shhh!! They, you and more than likely I will not notice a difference. Yet for those who are in those rare circles of “taste” - to them and perhaps only them it is sacrilege to drink Pinot Noir in something other than a Pinot Noir glass. Oooo!!! Get the whip.
Look, save the money you would spend on those glasses and go out and buy a good bottle of your choice. Hell, do you think I would choose glass over my reason for existence?? Well do you??
Wine Body
March 26, 2008
Hello over there Wine Virgin, I want some help with a wine tasting term. Wine body??? What is it???? I have a hard time understanding why they even call it that when all wines are basically flavored water with alcohol right? - Shooshoo in Amsterdam, NY.
My mouth is open at the sacrilege that my eyes have read… 4 quick sentences of wine hatred, all from a person named Shooshoo. Did your mother smoke and drink while she was pregnant? I’m not a wine snob, but what is wrong with you?
You know, it’s been a good half hour since I first read your question and I’m still pissed off. Fortunately for your sake, I had a couple bottles to spare and I’m indifferent enough now to answer the essence of your question for all the curious wine virgins out there.
So Shooshoo, are you ready to understand what this wine tasting term really means?
Wine body is used to allow the taster a means to discern the weight of the liquid and how it feels in their mouth. I’m sure your well acquainted with this process which is good for you so you don’t have to do the equivalent of mental gymnastics to grasp this concept. Franks and beans anyone?
Right now, “think” of the successive viscosity between skim milk, whole milk, and cream and apply it to the idea of wine body. Everyone is able to realize the difference of how these types of milk feel against the tongue and cheeks when you drink them. Something else to “think” about also is the higher the alcohol content, the more likely it will have a fuller body.
Consider it possible that if you have been drinking similar types of wine that they might just have a similar weight and feel to them. This in turn could lead you to the assumption that all wines are just “flavored water with alcohol” and no that one… the whole world over… has anyway of distinguishing them by using this supposedly, esoteric concept.
The quickest and simplest way I can suggest to experience wine body is to try different wines! So let’s broaden your scope a bit shall we?
1. Light body wine - Riesling
2. Medium body wine - Chardonnay
3. Full body wine - Cabernet Sauvignon
There, now do it. Go and get those wines, open all three of them and compare them side by side and you will understand exactly what I’m talking about and when you do…. feel ashamed, very ashamed… woe unto you Shooshoo, woe unto you!!!
Wine Varietal Chart
March 20, 2008
Hello Wine Virgin, would there be anyway possible that you could provide me with a quick wine varietal chart with different wine types listed? I would really appreciate it. Thank you Wine Virgin!! - Charla in Big Lake, AK
I have to say that I am impressed that you truly want to get to know your wines, so just for you Charla, I went and found this wine varietal chart so you can learn exactly what you need to pinpoint those hidden flavors. Cheers!!
|
White Wines |
Aromas and Flavors |
Body |
|
Sparkling Wine |
Apple, pear, yeast |
Medium |
|
Sauvignon |
Herbaceous, |
Light |
|
Chardonnay |
Pear, |
Medium |
|
Viognier |
Floral, |
Medium |
|
Pinot |
Crisp, |
Light |
|
Pinot |
Pear, |
Medium |
|
Chenin |
Peaches, |
Light |
|
Gewurztraminer |
Lychee |
Medium |
|
Riesling |
Apple, |
Light |
|
Red
|
Aromas and Flavors |
Body |
|
Pinot |
Strawberry, |
Light |
|
Merlot |
Blackberry, |
Medium |
|
Zinfandel |
Berries, |
Medium |
|
Cabernet |
Blueberries, |
Heavy |
|
Syrah |
peppery, |
Medium |
|
Blackberry, |
Heavy |
|
|
Sangiovese |
Cherry, |
Light |
|
Raspberry, casis, herbacious |
Medium |
|
|
Barbera |
Berries |
Medium |
Refrigerate Red Wine Safe?
March 14, 2008
Can you refrigerate red wine? - Gary in Omaha, NB
Yes you can Gary and it’s even best to refrigerate red wine before you begin drinking it. To really enjoy your bottle, most red wines should be at served close to room temperature 55 to 65ºF which translates to about 30 minutes in the fridge. The caveat is that the red wines that are high in tannins and full bodied reds need warmer temperatures that help to soften these tannins and develop the flavor and aromas.
But again, lighter bodied reds are enjoyed better at slightly lower temperatures. You see, the slightly colder temperature slows the evaporation of alcohol, improving the it overall and making the wine smoother. Don’t over chill red wine as this will make the tannins in the wine taste rough and bitter.
The quickest way to chill red wine is in an ice bath. Now if you aren’t quite up to the task of being a complete lush one night and just can’t finish that opened red wine. It’s perfectly fine to refrigerate red wine after opening for a couple of days and this will give you a bit more time to drink it.
The worst thing a fledgling wino such as yourself could do is waste a bottle of wine. So keep that in mind and do not disappoint the Wine Virgin with such sacrilege!! I just might have to get the whip.