Join a Wine Club
May 30, 2008
Do you suggest I join a wine club? I really don’t have friends or family that are into drinking that much but I’m curious to learn and explore. Thanks for your help. - Linda in Boulder, CO
I highly recommend that you do join a wine club. Being curious is good but only if you satisfy it. For wine virgins, a wine club is a great place to hang out and meet like minded people that will happily take you into the fold and teach you everything you want to know. Also, one of the key benefits here is that you will be able to find out which wines are for you and weed out the others that aren’t.
Its the perfect way to find new wines on a consistent basis rather than having to go through a hit or miss, especially when your dropping good money for a bottle. Depending on how the wine club is set up, either every month or quarter the wine club will get together to where you get the chance to experience a selection of wines from all over the world. These can be whites, reds, rosé and maybe the odd sparkling or dessert wine.
This also will open you up to different wine varietals. Again though, you might not like all of them but this is a great way of wine tasting which provides a chance to enjoy some you’ve probably would have never found otherwise.So do it, simply do it Linda you might surprise yourself with how much you really, really enjoy it. Cheers!!
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!!
Saving Wine Labels
April 17, 2008
Any tips on saving wine labels? I have a bottle that I want to put to use and then afterward I would like to have the label as a keepsake. - Lima in Pawtucket, RI
The sentimental type… Lima, what an interesting curiosity you have. Saving wine labels is actually a bit tricky depending on the type of adhesive used, but the key is of course not tearing it as you remove it from the bottle. Many labels are like small works of art and can definitely become a keepsake as you’ve mentioned after the pleasure of sharing the contents with someone has long since passed.
To save wine labels you should first try your hand at the back label of the wine bottle. This will give you a pretty good idea of what you’re up against when you go after your goal. Depending on the adhesive used, you may have to soak the bottle in luke warm or even hot water to be able to separate the label from the bottle. After, about 5 - 10 minutes of soaking, remove the bottle from the water and try very carefully to peel the label off at the corners.
If that does not work, take a hair dryer of all things an hold it up to the label. The heat from the hair dryer should melt the glue sufficiently enough where you can begin to ease it off the bottle. I have used this method before in combination with a razor blade to effectively save wine labels. However, please beware that you have to be patient. Do not rush it. Take your time with it and remember to relax. Before long you will have something to keep the memory of the time spent over that perfect bottle close to heart. Cheers!!
Crémant the Other French Sparkling Wine
April 16, 2008
Is cremant another type of French Sparlking Wine or is it something completely different? - Joice in Manchester, NH
Well, you pretty much have it right. Crémant which is pronounced “cray-mawn” is a sparkling wine that is produced outside of Champagne. This interesting term was originally created to define sparkling wines with a pressure that is lower than 2.5 bar v.s. Champagne which has a pressure of 2.5 to 3.5 bar. Basically what this means is that crémants aren’t as bubbly as Champagnes.
It is possible that crémants can be made from grapes other than the traditional Champagne varieties. Also, the grapes for this type of sparkling wine have to be harvested by hand and the yields can not go beyond the set amount for their AOC which is the appellation d’origine contrôlée. On top of all that the wine has to age for at least one year.
I’ve enjoyed a few bottles on occasion and I suggest that you do as well but don’t get too hammered. Cheers!!
Why Grape Shatter Happens
April 10, 2008
Recently, we had a question from one of our readers - Ferhat, hailing from Istanbul, Turkey asked: Could you tell me why grape shatter happens please?
Ferhat, absolutely…
You see, small grapes have a tiny end on them which functions basically like a cap. As the grapes grow larger these caps fall off. But sometimes during a cool, wet spring… like how we are having right now in the southern U.S., a crop of grapes can fail to develop properly and this will lead to the cap at the end becoming very tough.
Now, when the warm weather of summer finally arrives and as the grape matures on the vine, it will begin to push up against this cap that is now very tough. The end result being is that instead of the cap falling off as it normally would, the grape actually shatters against the cap due to the pressure of being pressed up against it. When this occurs it can destroy whole yields and leads to what is known as a poor fruit set with bunches that only have a few grapes.
Grape shatter is a major concern that puts many vineyards at the mercy of the weather each and every year. Also, as a tid bit of wine trivia for you, grape shatter is known in French as Coulure. Click on that term and you will find some more info on the different ways that grape shatter can happen and the other problems that stem from it.
Ferhat, great question and I look forward to hearing more from you again along with our many readers out there that are curious about this beautiful and wonderful drink. Cheers!!
Do Your Wine Legs Have Body?
April 8, 2008
I notice sometimes that there are streaks of wine that flow back down into the glass after I take a sip. I’ve heard of this referred to as wine legs and I wanted to know what makes them. - Heather in Albany, GA
Ahhh… more wine trivia. Wine legs are something that any casual drinker has probably seen at one point or another and this term also goes by the name wine tears as the wonderful French call it. The principal behind why this happens is based upon the Marangoni effect. In simple terms this states that alcohol evaporates faster than water. The alcohol moves up the side of the glass as it evaporates, but since there is a film of water on top, it is pushed up in an arch.
As the ethanol evaporates, gravity takes over and the surface tension that is pulling the wine up is broken and the water runs back down into the glass in rivulets, hence the term. Some think that the more wine legs/wine tears the better the wine. Not necessarily so, to be straight forward, wine legs really won’t tell you that much when judging a wine based on appearance.
Although ethanol, which is the primary type of alcohol in wine is a major contributor to the “body” of a wine, having a bottle that has a high alcohol content does not guarantee a fullness or texture. Also, this phenomenon is usually seen in wines above 12% alcohol.
Regardless if this is a point of debate about a measure of quality for some people, it is definitely something interesting to look at, especially after you’ve had a few glasses. Believe it or not I have had some very curious conversations after I’ve made the comment to the person sitting next to me that they have great legs.
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!!
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!!!
Grape Powder
March 19, 2008
Is the grape powder on also where the wine yeast comes from? - Alana in Oceanside, CA
The grape powder is called bloom grape or bloom for short. You’ve probably noticed this before on soft fruits like blueberries and plums and such. It’s a waxy covering that protects fruit from moisture loss and certain types of diseases. The grape powder is flavorless and doesn’t have any effect on juice or wine.
Keep in mind also that some of it is dust as well. Until recently, many believed the white stuff was in part what caused yeast in wine which is responsible for the wine fermentation process. Make sure you wash them first before eating but then again, I’m sure that there are a few of you out there that like having adventures with tasting things au naturale. Cheers!!