Archive for the ‘Wine’ Category

New Hampshire Wineries & Winery Tours

May 6th, 2013 |

One of the most scenic states in all of the New England states is New Hampshire. For those looking to glimpse the stunning fall foliage in the region, taking a tour of New Hampshire wineries can add a little fun and excitement to the trip. Every year thousands of visitors take the trip to New Hampshire to witness the glorious change in colors on the trees from deep reds to vibrant oranges. While spending time admiring the wonder of mother nature, explore the vineyards in the area and sample the wine produced by this lovely part of the country.

A fine example of the quality vineyards in New Hampshire is the Candia Vineyard. It is a small New England vineyard, which captures the spirit of the state with its rugged individualism. Candia Vineyards produce wine that is nationally and internationally recognized for its unique flavor.

Another fine example of wines produced in New Hampshire come from Flagg Hill Winery. There is a nice variety of wines at Flagg Hill winery that produces dessert wines along with fruit and grape wines. Visitors are welcome to explore the vineyards and stop into the winery for a sample of the wine.

The New Hampshire wineries are putting the state on the map in the wine industry. With quaint bed and breakfasts located throughout the state, it is an ideal spot to plan a romantic getaway. New England is a beautiful region of the country through the entire year, but it really shines during the autumn. While visiting New Hampshire wineries, spend some time enjoying the harvest from this unique New England state.

Wine tasting events are featured during the year in New Hampshire that will show off the bounty of New Hampshire wineries for visitors to enjoy. New Hampshire has a quaint small town feel in many of the towns and cities in the state. It is a great place to bring the family and explore New Hampshire wineries.

Vintner’s Cellar Winery

801 Islington

Portsmouth, NH 03801

(603) 431-2058

What Occasions are Appropriate for Champagne Gifts?

April 25th, 2013 |

I ask myself this question whenever an event comes up. Some events are surefire excuses for gifting Champagne — a wedding, an anniversary, or a fancy Christmas party. Other events are less easy to predict. Is it appropriate to bring Champagne to a first date? What about meeting a significant other’s parents for the first time?

There are a few rules of thumb to remember when considering a gift of Champagne. First, let’s come to an understanding of what Champagne is.

All sparkling wines are not Champagnes. Champagne refers to sparkling wine made in a specific region in France. The name “Champagne” is closely guarded, and for good reason. The Champagne region of France is very small, and the people who make and enjoy wine from this region are incredibly proud of their product. Legend has it that Champagne inventor Dom Perignon (a monk) exclaimed “I’m tasting stars!” upon his first taste of Champagne, and if you haven’t tried it yet, your experience will be similar. Champagne, made the traditional way, can be a sublime experience.

So, before you jump out and purchase a (probably costly) bottle of authentic Champagne, consider these questions.

How “Fancy” Is The Event You’re Attending?

If you try to bring Champagne to a backyard barbeque, you might embarrass the host or the attendees by overshooting the mark. A backyard barbeque is the perfect place to bring a nice red that matches well with meat — like a Syrah or a Cabernet Sauvignon. Unless the backyard in question belongs to an ex-President, a backyard barbeque is not the perfect place for Champagne. Always consider the set (the people at the event) and the setting (where the event is located) before purchasing an expensive bottle.

How Many People Will Be Drinking Your Bottle?

Since Champagne (real Champagne) can be pretty expensive, with some bottles costing well over $100 or $200 dollars, a large event where a large number of people will be partaking of your wine is not the ideal environment for a Champagne gift. If you’re attending a small dinner party, say 8 people or less, a nice bottle of Champagne (or even two bottles if you can swing it) would make an excellent gift.

If You’re Gifting The Bottle To An Individual – How Well Do You Know Them?

A first date or a casual acquaintance may be a little surprised if you offer them an obviously upscale bottle of Champagne, or any other varietal for that matter. I once made the mistake of bringing a bottle of
Nicolas Feuillatte Vintage 1996 on a first date, attempting to impress the young lady. Not only did she turn her nose up at the taste, she seemed put off by my flashiness. While there are certainly some people who would be impressed by the presentation of such a fine bottle, she was not one of them. This is the risk you run when overgifting Champagne. Similarly, if you present a bottle that’s over the top to a new boss or new employee, you run the risk of seeming too pushy or trying too hard. Never a good move in the world of business.

Use your common sense when considering the gift of a fine product like Champagne. It is a celebratory and often delicious wine, but in the wrong hands it can be an awkward presence. There are plenty of excellent wines that would gift just as well as a fancy Champagne — explore your wine shop and don’t be afraid to ask for help.

See also:

South Carolina Wineries & Winery Tours

April 12th, 2013 |

South Carolina can be a difficult climate for grape growing. However, in the 1600s explorers noted that wild grapes grew in the hot climate on the shores of the state. The climate can be extremely hot in South Carolina, which can be tough on grapes.

Today the wines produced in South Carolina use the local muscadine grapes as well as grapes imported from other vineyards to create spectacular wines. South Carolina wineries are open for tastings. There are some special events and festivals during the growing year that celebrate the wines of the region. While the climate may not be perfect for grape growing, the wineries of the state have found a way to create wines in the region that are distinct and unique.

A trip to South Carolina allows you to enjoy all the state has to offer from fine dining to cultural experiences that you will not find anywhere else in the country. The wineries in the region offer wine tastings and festivals throughout the year. The Williams Vineyard, for instance, celebrates the muscadine grape in fun events for the entire family.

The Valentine Sagefield Vineyard and winery is the perfect romantic getaway for couples with a bed and breakfast available right on the premises. A stay at this vineyard allows you to explore the wines and vineyards and the surrounding area. This winery offers wines made from local muscadine grapes as well as fruits of the region for some interesting hybrid wines.

Lowcountry Winery has a fine selection of wines available that will suit all tastes. Sample wines at this winery that incorporate fruits such as peaches and raspberries in the wines to create a completely unique flavor. The winery is located in an historic area of the state which allows visitors to see the South Carolina of days gone by.

Hampton Street Vineyard

1207 Hampton Street

Columbia SC 29201

(803)252-0850

www.hamptonstreetvineyard.com

Indiantown Vineyards

1 Highway 261

West Hemingway SC 29554

(843)558-7673

Valentine Sage Field Vinyards & Winery

1185 N Silverton

Jackson, SC 29831

(803) 471-9809

Carolina Vineyards Winery

4922 S Kings Hwy

Myrtle Beach, SC 29575

(843) 361-9181

How to Pair Wine with Cheese

March 28th, 2013 |

The idea of pairing wine with cheese is to improve the flavor of the cheese as well as the wine. By creating a good wine pairing, the flavor profiles of the wine will pop out easier, as will the texture and flavors unique to the cheese you’ve chosen to serve. It has been said that in ancient Greece, cheese was grated into wine to enhance the flavor of both.

You may be wondering “How do I know how to pair which wine with which cheese?” Just like with pairing wine with food, there are no specific “rules” when it comes to wine and cheese pairings. I can offer you suggestions, and yes there are certain pairings that just won’t work, but as a rule, you should serve a cheese you like to eat with a wine you like to drink.

Pairing Cheeses With Specific Wines

For those looking for more specific wine and cheese pairings, below are some popular wine varietals with lists of good cheese pairings and a few notes on each.

Cabernet Sauvignon

With a rich flavor and complex tasting notes, Cabernet Sauvignon is one of the most popular red wines in the world. These wines are bold and intense, with deep fruit flavors that are often heavy on licorice or cassis. Other wine tasters hint at cedar or even “pencil lead” notes in Cab Sauv, but you’re the best judge of your own taste.

In general, avoid sheep’s milk cheeses when pairing with Cabs. Pretty much all cow’s milk or goat’s milk cheeses will work, no matter the age. This complex wine can carry the sometimes salty flavors found in these cheeses. Even mildly flavored bleu cheeses pair well with such a complicated wine. I’d suggest Gouda as a beginner’s cheese to pair with Cabernet Sauvignon.

Pinot Noir

Featuring flavors of red berries and a heavily floral nose, Pinot Noir is a generally pricier and more luxurious red wine than other varietals.

No goat milk cheeses will work with this wine, the cheese from goat’s milk is simply too acidic. Also avoid bleu cheeses, as the inherent flavor in these cheeses will wash out the exquisite fruit flavors of a good Pinot. My suggestion would be a hard sheep’s milk cheese, like the classic Spanish Manchego or Zamorano.

Syrah/Shiraz

This popular red wine is often described as “lush” or “full bodied” but can also be gentle enough to support many types of cheese. Blended Syrah and Shiraz is even more “gentle”, and has a quality that wine snobs call “backbone” which allows for more open ended pairing with cheese.

Strong flavored sheep’s or cow’s milk cheeses are the ideal match with Syrah. As with most of the wines on the red side, avoid bleu cheese. A nice British farmhouse cheddar is an eager mate for this spicy little wine, as is an Alpine cow’s milk cheese like Bierkase.

Chardonnay

Seriously versatile, and featuring flavors of apple, citrus, and sweet butter, Chardonnay can pair with cheeses that most other wines would rebel against. Remember that Chardonnay is the principal varietal used in the production of Champagne and sparkling wines, so this can be a very sweet or dry wine, but is always a celebratory one.

Cow’s milk cheeses and cow’s milk blues pair perfectly with Chardonnay. In particular, the sweet fruity flavors of Chardonnay blend well with the big acidity found in even the most aged cow’s or even goat’s milk cheeses. Avoid sheep’s milk cheeses when drinking Chardonnay, as the flavor of this cheese will be almost unnoticeable. You may as well be eating yogurt. Epoisses, a soft and stinky French cow’s milk cheese, would be an ideal candidate for pairing with Chardonnay. A good bleu for Chardonnay would be something like Beenleigh Blue from England.

Champagne / sparkling wine

Sparkling wines and Champagnes pair better with cheese than most other types of wine. Why? The bubbles in the champagne provide a quality to the cheese experience that interacts with butterfat and can wipe away any possible bad interactions. Cow’s milk and goat’s milk would be your best bet, although Champagne and sparkling wine are well known for pairing with exotic and otherwise difficult to pair bries and soft cheeses. The perfect pair with a Champagne may be Fromage de Meaux, a soft raw cow’s milk brie. You could also try a stinky but dense cow’s milk cheese like Langres or Morbier.

Sauvignon Blanc

Known as an incredibly “crisp” wine, this highly acidic and light bodied wine is not exactly versatile when it comes to cheese pairing.

Avoid cow’s milk cheeses with Sauv Blanc, as their salt and acid contents clash with the often fruity after-flavors of a good Sauvignon Blanc. Bleus are also a bad idea — I’d stick with sheep’s or goat’s milk cheeses. Try a sweet and buttery sheep’s milk cheese like the French cheese Ossau Iraty or Berkswell.

By learning these basic rules — for instance, avoiding bleu cheese when pairing with any wine besides Champagne, or pairing reds with sheep’s milk cheeses — you can take the guesswork out of wine and cheese pairing. As always, eat what tastes good, and drink what you like. If you follow your own taste, you will find it difficult to be disappointed with any pairing.

See also:

Wineries & Winery Tours Directory

February 18th, 2013 |

The winery section at Ask Deb serves as both a guide to winery tours and a directory of wineries throughout the United States. The sidebar on the left side of this page has a list of 29 states where wineries can be found. Simply click on the state of your choice to be taken to the appropriate page.

Wineries

Facilities that handle the production, warehousing and bottling of wine are known as wineries. A winery typically requires a winemaker who is an expert in the winemaking process. He is able to produce a variety wines (such as Pinot Noir, Merlot, Cabernet, Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon) from the fermentation of different types of grapes.

Wineries exist in different types and sizes. Farm wineries produce and sell their own wines. Commercial wineries acquire grapes from remote locations and produce the wine in modern facilities. Smaller wine facilities ordinarily only carry enough equipment to produce wine, while larger facilities contain storage rooms (wine cellars) capable of holding hundreds of bottles and barrels of wine. Wine cellars also vary by location, some are built above ground (also known as a wine room) and others are built underground.

Winery Tours

The styles of architecture used to build wineries make them beautiful and captivating sites. It’s because of this that winery tours are so popular.

Touring a winery can be a rich and enlightening experience. A typical winery tour includes a guided walk through the vineyards, cellars and production rooms where you will learn about the history of wine making, witness the wine making process and taste samples of wine. Many of the winery locations that allow tours also have separate wine tasting rooms known as “cellar doors” where patrons can view a display of all the wine products offered by the winery and enjoy a sampling of wine before making a purchase.

For wine tips and advice please visit our wine page. If you would like to submit a new listing to our directory or correct an existing one, please send an email to questions {at} askdeb.com.

Washington Wineries & Winery Tours

February 18th, 2013 |

Washington State is the second largest producer of wine in the United States preceded by California. Wine production in the state dates back to the 1800s, but it took off in the 1950s and 1960s. Today there are more than six hundred wineries available to visit in the state that offers a stunning selection of varieties to wine lovers. The industry has grown at an astronomical rate and continues to thrive today. The reputation of Washington wineries and wines has reached virtually every corner of the globe.

The wineries of the Pacific Northwest have become some of the most popular among wine lovers. Taking wine tours in the state can become overwhelming with over six hundred wineries to visit. Travelers can visit Washington wineries by region and schedule visits to coordinate with events and festivals in the area. This is a wonderful way to enjoy live music and regional cuisine while enjoying the wines of Washington State. The natural beauty that surrounds the vineyards and wineries offer visitors a visually stunning area to visit while enjoying the wines and hospitality of the state.

There are more than thirty varieties of grapes used to produce wine in Washington State. The wines produced by Washington wineries are available in every state and forty countries around the world. Serious wine lovers and critics around the world have recognized the wines of the state as some of the finest in the world.

Washington wineries have used some techniques used in old school wineries and combined the fruits of the region to create some distinctive wines with rich raspberry and blackberry flavors. A trip through wine country in Washington State offer visitors a rich variety of wines to sample. Washington has wine bars, restaurants and wineries all over the state to provide travelers with every opportunity to try the wines of Washington.

Les Collines Vineyard

4137 Hood Road

Walla Walla WA 99362

(509)526-4123

Lopez Island Vineyards

724 Fisherman Bay Road

Lopez Island WA 98261

(360)468-3644

www.lopezislandvineyards.com

Snake River Vineyards-Taggares

17855 West Highway 124

Burbank WA 99323

(509)547-6851

Stillwater Creek Vineyards

8811 Road K Southwest

Royal City WA 99357

(509)346-1177

Tunnel Hill Winery

39 Knapps Coulee Rd

Chelan, WA 98816

(509) 682-3243

Spyder Lake Winery

3307 Meridian Ave E

Edgewood, WA 98371

(253) 445-8034

Balsamroot Winery

300 Ivan Morse Rd

Manson, WA 98831

(509) 687-3000

Tildio Winery

70 E Wapato Lake Rd

Manson, WA 98831

(509) 687-8463

Carpenter Creek Winery

20376 E Hickox Rd

Mount Vernon, WA 98273

(360) 848-6673

Tulip Valley Vineyard & Orchard

16163 State Rte 536

Mount Vernon, WA 98273

(360) 428-6894

Wawawai Canyon Winery

5602 State Rte 270

Pullman, WA 99163

(509) 338-4916

Merry Cellars

245 SE Paradise St

Pullman, WA 99163

(509) 338-4699

Cave B Estate Winery

348 Silica Rd NW

Quincy, WA 98848

(509) 785-3500

Waterbrook Winery – Production

2784 McDonald Rd

Touchet, WA 99360

(509) 522-1263

Rulo Winery

3525 Pranger Rd

Walla Walla, WA 99362

(509) 525-7856

Three Rivers Winery

5641 W Hwy 12

Walla Walla, WA 99362

(509) 524-0892

Facelli Winery

16120 Wdnvlrdm Rd NE

Woodinville, WA 98072

(425) 488-1020

Gorman Winery

19501 144th Ave NE

Woodinville, WA 98072

(425) 483-2925

Red Sky Winery

19495 144th Ave NE

Woodinville, WA 98072

(425) 481-9864

Virginia Wineries & Winery Tours

February 18th, 2013 |

With more than one hundred wineries operating in Virginia, the state has become recognized as a global contender in the wine industry. Virginia has a four hundred year history of wine production and has used this time to perfect the art of wine making. Wine got started in the state as a way to produce a beverage that could serve as an alternative to the drinking water in the area. The history of wine production in Virginia even includes one of the founding fathers of the country, Thomas Jefferson.

Today, visitors to Virginia can enjoy a fabulous vacation while spending time in the many tourist attractions that the state has to offer. A trip through the wine trails in Virginia gives tourists a chance to enjoy the natural beauty of Virginia while sampling the wines of the region.

Fall is an especially beautiful time to visit the Virginia vineyards with the harvest in full swing and the opportunity to taste some of the varieties of the area. Virginia has numerous wine trails available for visitors to explore during their time in the state. Many of the vineyards are family owned and operated and visitors have a chance to meet the vintners and learn some of the techniques that they use to create the wines. Virginia wineries use many of the old school techniques that are commonly used in Europe. The wine trails include multiple wineries and visitors may have to schedule their trip over several days to fully appreciate the wines and countryside.

Enjoy live music and regional cuisine during events and festivals scheduled at the wineries in Virginia. A trip through Virginia wine country is a wonderful opportunity to enjoy all that Virginia has to offer while sampling some of the varieties of Virginia wine available for your tasting pleasure.

Landwirt Vineyard

8359 Simmers Valley Road

Harrisonburg VA 22802

(540)833-6000

www.stauntonweb.com/landwirt.html

Veritas Winery & Vineyard

145 Saddleback Farm

Afton VA 22943

(540)456-8000

www.veritaswines.com

Miracle Valley Vineyard LLC

3841 Cobbler Mountain Rd

Delaplane, VA 20144

(540) 364-0228

Leogrand Vinyards

1343 Wingfield

Goode, VA 24556

(540) 586-4066

Athena Vineyards & Wineery LLC

3138 Jessie Dupont Memorial Hwy

Heathsville, VA 22473

(804) 580-5599

White Fences Vineyard

1 White Fences Dr

Irvington, VA 22480

(804) 438-5711

Wintergreen Winery

462 Winery Ln

Nellysford, VA 22958

(434) 361-2519

Boxwood Winery

2042 Burrland Ln

The Plains, VA 20198

(540) 687-8778

Belle Mount Vineyards

2570 Newland Rd

Warsaw, VA 22572

(804) 333-4700

Village Winery

40405 Browns Ln

Waterford, VA 20197

(540) 882-3780

Vermont Wineries & Winery Tours

February 18th, 2013 |

The history of Vermont wines does not go back as far as some of the other wine producing states in the country. In fact, the first commercial winery in Vermont opened its doors in 1997. Despite this late entry into the wine making industry and the exceptionally cold climate, Vermont has thrived in the wine industry producing some of the most interesting and versatile wines on the market.

Vermont is an ideal location to spend on a wine tour enjoying the products of the state’s wineries. Most of the wineries in the state offer tastings for visitors, but it is important to check in advance for hours and to determine if you need an appointment. The wine tastings in Vermont are a unique opportunity to learn about wine making in the state and the difficulties of grape growing in such a cold New England state.

The growing season in Vermont is much shorter than in other areas of the country, but the choice of grapes and the hard work of the vintners make the less than ideal climate work. Vermont also uses some of the fruits of the area to create fruit wines such as apple wines.

Organically grown grapes are used in some of the wineries in Vermont. It takes perseverance and hard work to produce wines in this part of the country and when a visit to the wineries gives visitors a chance to meet the hearty bunch that choose to grow grapes in such an adverse climate. Vermont is also home to some of the most stunning bed and breakfasts in the country. With the spectacular natural beauty of the state, the award winning wineries and a quaint bed and breakfast, Vermont is guaranteed to provide an ideal setting for a wine tasting holiday.

Ottauquechee Valley Winery

5573 Woodstock Rd

Hartford, VT 05047

(802) 295-9463

Snow Farm Winery Tasting Room

52 Main

Proctor, VT 05765

(802) 459-3450

Grand View Winery

3200 Waterburystowe Rd

Waterbury, VT 05676

(802) 244-7012

Texas Wineries & Winery Tours

February 18th, 2013 |

Wine lovers are familiar with all of the popular wine regions of the country, but many may not realize that Texas has a rich history of wine making and grape growing. Wines have been produced in the area since the 1600s. The climate in the state is dry and sunny, making it an ideal location for producing grapes for wine production. While California may be well known for its grape production and wineries, the vineyards and wineries of Texas have been around much longer.

Like many other states in the country, prohibition put a stop to wine production in the state, but it experienced a renewal in the 1970s as a new interest in fine wines began to take hold in the United States.

There are currently more than one hundred and sixty Texas wineries operating today. Texas is the fifth largest wine producing state in the country. Today, visitors to the state can experience the wine trails of Texas and visit the states charming wineries. The state of Texas is large and daunting to a wine lover who wishes to explore the wines of Texas. There are several wine trails in the state that make vacationing on a wine vacation much easier. It will still take a visitor several trips to do the trails justice, but the wine trails link together the various wineries so that visitors can easily plan their trip.

Texas is home to fabulous cuisine, great sites and wonderful wines that pair well with the foods of the region. With more than one hundred and sixty wineries, visitors should plan on a number of trips to the state to fully appreciate the diverse wines available in Texas. The wines in Texas have endured for hundreds of years and it is because of the hard work of Texas vintners who have strived to perfect the technique of wine making.

Belding Farms

RR 1 Box 140

Mc Camey TX 79752

(432)395-2466

Bluff Dale Vineyards

5222 County Road 148

Bluff Dale TX 76433

(254)728-3540

Certenberg Vineyards Inc Fm

1851 One Vineya

South Voca TX 76887

(325)239-5500

Granite Hill Vineyards

600 Wc Ranch Road

Willow City TX 78675

(830)685-3592

Menard Valley Vineyard

2781 Vineyard Road

Menard TX 76859

(325)396-2604

Rockhouse Vineyards

802 South Austin Street

Comanche TX 76442

(325)356-9100

Rosewood Vineyard Inc

6512 County Road 315

Llano TX 78643

(325)247-3218

Stimson Lane Vinyards

12720 Hillcrest Road

Dallas TX 75230

(972)386-5309

(972)866-0803

Nashwood Winery – Inc

11661 Preston Rd #240

Dallas, TX 75230

(214) 346-9932

Mandola Estate Winery

13308 W Ranch Rd 150

Dripping Springs, TX 78620

(512) 858-1470

Su VINO Winery

120 S Main St Ste 40

Grapevine, TX 76051

(817) 424-0123

D’Vine Wine (Divine Winery)

101 N Kentucky

McKinney, TX 75069

(972) 542-3030

Lone Oak

4781 E Lone Oak Rd

Valley View, TX 76272

(940) 637-2612

Tennessee Wineries & Winery Tours

February 18th, 2013 |

While you may only know of the recent entries into the wine market from Tennessee, the wine industry actually goes back to the 1800s. When prohibition wiped out the wine making industry in Tennessee, it took decades for the unique flavors of Tennessee wine to make a comeback. In the 1980s, Tennessee wineries began to produce varieties that captured the attention of the rest of the country.

Today, there are over twenty five wineries in the state producing wine for commercial consumption. The wineries are open for tastings and special events throughout the year for serious wine lovers to visit and enjoy.

The Clinch Mountain Winery offers visitors a chance to sample wines made from only Tennessee grown grapes. The winery uses six grape varieties to produce the over twenty wine varieties for visitors to enjoy. The winery is family owned and operated with a unique selection of wines available.

Countryside Vineyards and Winery has nationally recognized varieties of wines and is open all year to the public for tastings. It is located in a stunningly beautiful area of the state at the foot of the Appalachian Mountains. Countryside Winery offers a sampling of the fruit wines common in the region such as blackberry and strawberry wines.

Those looking for award winning Tennessee or southern wines should take a trip to Holly Ridge Winery and Vineyard. Visitors will find a selection of grape wines along with southern fruit wines.

Tennessee offers festivals that celebrate the wines of the region throughout the year. Visit the state for the annual spring Toast to Tennessee event that features live music and a sampling of the wines of the state. It is a great opportunity to try Tennessee wines at a fun and exciting festival. Wine over Water takes place in the fall and also has wine selections from other areas of the world available for tasting.

Strikers’ Premium Winery

480 County Rd 172

Athens, TN 37303

(423) 507-8816

Pennsylvania Wineries & Winery Tours

February 18th, 2013 |

The state of Pennsylvania enjoys a moderate climate which is perfect for grape growing and wine production. The east coast state is perfectly situated to accommodate the special needs of vineyards, which make it a perfect destination to include on a wine tour of the country.

Pennsylvania opened its first commercially successful winery in 1793. The Pennsylvania Vine Company is the first, but there are now more than one hundred wineries in the state. Because of the temperate climate in the state, vineyards have the ability to grow a great variety of grapes for wine production. Some of the varieties produced in Pennsylvania include Catawba, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Chambourcin, Cayuga, Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Reisling, Vidal Blanc, and Seyval Blanc among others.

There are wine trails to explore that are the perfect way to explore Pennsylvania wine country. Exploring Pennsylvania wineries along the wine trails gives visitors an opportunity to enjoy the natural beauty of the state while traveling from winery to winery. The wineries each have their own hours and schedule for wine tasting, but you may be able to sample some of the produce of the region as well at some of the wineries. Some offer grape juice for visitors to bring home and make their own wine. You can sample foods along with the wines of Pennsylvania in some of the wineries.

The stunning natural environment of the Pennsylvania vineyards gives visitors a chance to spend some quiet time with the family or a loved one while enjoying the spectacular scenery. Look for bed and breakfasts and inns located in the vicinity of the several wine trails in the state for a lovely place to stay while on holiday.

An exploration of the wine country of the United States would not be complete without a visit to the wineries of Pennsylvania. While California is best known for wine production, Pennsylvania and other states offer wine lovers an interesting alternative.

Cherry Valley Vineyard

RR5 Box 5100

Saylorsburg PA 18353

(570)992-2255

www.cherryvalleyvineyards.com

Naylor Wine Cellars Inc

4069 Vineyard Road Ste 80

Stewartstown PA 17363

(717)993-2431

www.naylorwine.com

Oak Spring Winery

100 Logan Valley Mall

Altoona, PA 16601

(814) 942-0423

Raspberry Acres Winery

250 Clawson Rd

Blairsville, PA 15717

(724) 459-0611

Olde Mill Race Wines

1439 Clover Mill Rd

Chester Springs, PA 19425

(888) 655-9463

Paradocx Vineyard

879-B E Baltimore Pke

East Marlborough, PA 19348

(610) 444-9003

LA Casa Narcisi Winery

4578 Gibsonia Rd

Gibsonia, PA 15044

(724) 444-4744

Glen Mere Winery

3338 Seven Valleys

Glen Rock, PA 17327

(717) 227-9029

Cullari Vineyards & Winerys

2149 Sand Hill Rd

Hershey, PA 17033

(717) 533-8985

Kreutz Creek Winery

300 W State St

Media, PA 19063

(610) 565-9080

Chaddsford Winery

1555 Applewood Cir

Morrisville, PA 19067

(215) 321-9228

Blue Mountain Vineyards

351 W Schuylkill Rd

North Coventry, PA 19464

(610) 323-5969

Vineyardstars

735 N Bucknell St

Philadelphia, PA 19130

(215) 236-3299

Quaker Ridge Winery

1500 W Chestnut

Washington, PA 15301

(724) 222-3170

Crossing Vineyards & Winery

1853 Wrightstown Rd

Washington Crossing, PA 18977

(215) 493-6500

Oregon Wineries & Winery Tours

February 18th, 2013 |

Grape growing in Oregon goes back to the 1800s, but the commercial success of Oregon wineries did not begin until the 1960s. The history of wineries and vineyards in the state dates before prohibition when wine growers experimented with different grape varieties to find the ones that responded well to the Oregon climate and soil.

After prohibition, the wine production in Oregon resumed, but it did not really take off until three decades later. During these years, it was the wines of California that had captured the market in the rest of the country.

Oregon wineries began to take off in the 1960s and produced some fine wines that made the country sit up and take notice. Pinot Noir grapes planted in the Willamette Valley in Oregon were the impetus for a growing wine country in the state.

Today, visitors to Oregon can explore the fifteen wine growing regions in the state and more than three hundred wineries. Serious wine enthusiasts will revisit the state year after year to get a full tasting experience of the wines and wineries in the state.

Oregon has a some lovely scenery to offer those traveling to the state to explore the wine regions. It is a wonderful place to take the family for a scenic vacation while spending time in the various wine tasting rooms across the state. Wineries are scattered across the state where visitors can experience some of the breathtaking scenery of Oregon.

Festivals and events scheduled during the growing season, give visitors a chance to sample the cuisine of the area while enjoying the wine. Bed and Breakfasts and inns dot the countryside to provide visitors with a charming place to stay while on a wine tasting tour of the state. It is the ideal location for a romantic holiday for couples.

Acme Wineworks

P O Box 48

Carlton OR 97111

(503)852-6969

Advanced Vineyard Systems Inc

4651 Northeast Riverside Drive

Mcminnville OR 97128

(503)434-9766

Andrew Rich Wines

3287 N E Alameda Street

Portland OR 97212

(541)284-6622

Beacon Hill Vineyards

22040 Northeast Ridge Rd

Gaston OR 97119

(503)662-4859

Belle Ponte Wine Cellars

12470 N E Rowland Road

Carlton OR 97111

(503)852-6389

Bethel Heights Vineyard

6060 Bethel Heights Road Northwest

Salem OR 97304

(503)581-2262

www.bethelheights.com

Boran Vineyards Inc.

30088 S W Eggers Road

Hillsboro OR 97123

(503)628-1298

Brick House Vineyards

18200 Northeast Lewis Rogers Lane

Newberg OR 97132

(503)538-5136

www.brickhousewines.com

Cornucopia Vineyards

12020 Northeast Stag Hollow Road

Carlton OR 97111

(503)852-7788

Cristom Vineyards

6905 Spring Valley Road Northwest

Salem OR 97304

(503)375-3068

www.cristomwines.com

Doerner Vineyards

461 Heydon Road

Roseburg OR 97470

(541)673-7984

Dundee Wine Company Hopewell Vineyard

3180 Lone Star Road Northwest

Salem OR 97304

(503)540-0859

Freju Cellars

16691 South West McFee Place

Hillsboro OR 97123

(503)628-7843

Hauer Of The Daven

16425 South East Webfoot Road

Dayton OR 97114

(541)868-7359

Houston Vineyards

86187 Hoya Lane

Eugene OR 97405

(541)747-4681

Idytwood Winery

917 South East Yamhill Street

Portland OR 97015

(503)236-3890

Medict Vineyards

28005 North East Bell Road

Newberg OR 97132

(541)538-9668

Melrose Vineyards

885 Melqua Road

Roseburg OR 97470

(541)672-6080

www.melrosevineyards.com

Montinore Vineyards – Winery- Office

3663 Southwest Dilley Road

Forest Grove OR 97116

(503)359-5012

www.montinore.com

Oak Grove Orchards Winery

6090 Crowley Road

Rickreall OR 97371

(541)364-7052

Rainsong Vineyards

92989 Templeton Road

Cheshire OR 97419

(541)998-1786

Raptor Ridge Winery

29090 South West Wildhaven Lane

Sherwood OR 97140

(541)887-5595

Redhawk Vineyard

2995 Michigan City Road Northwest

Salem OR 97304

(503)362-1596

www.redhawkwine.com

River’s Edge

1395 River Drive

Elkton OR 97436

(541)584-2357

www.riversedgewinery.com

Saga Vineyards

30815 South Wall Street

Colton OR 97017

(503)824-4600

Saint Josef’s Wine Cellar

28836 South Barlow Road

Canby OR 97013

(503)651-3190

www.atlasofwineries.com

Salem Hills Vineyard & Winery

7934 Skyline Road South

Salem OR 97306

(503)362-5250

Sineann Cellars

8899 Champoeg Road

Saint Paul OR 97137

(503)678-5058

Stag Hollow Vineyards

7930 Blackburn Road

Yamhill OR 97148

(503)662-4022

www.staghollow.com

Strangeland Vineyards & Winery

8500 Hopewell Road North West

Salem OR 97304

(503)581-0355

www.stangelandwinery.com

Troon Vineyards

1475 Kubli Road

Grants Pass OR 97527

(541)846-6562

Van Duzer Wines Of Oregon

11975 Smithfield Road

Dallas OR 97338

(503)623-6420

www.vanduzer.com

Wasson Brothers Winery

41901 Oregon 26

Sandy OR 97055

(503)668-3124

Wooldridge Creek Winery

818 Slagle Creek

Grants Pass, OR 97527

(541) 846-6364

Francis – Tannahill Winery

609 NE Cowls St

McMinnville, OR 97128

(503) 434-6196

Redman Vineyard & Winery

18975 NE Ribbon Ridge Rd

Newberg, OR 97132

(503) 554-1290

Hillcrest Vineyard

240 Vineyard Ln

Roseburg, OR 97470

(541) 673-3709

Oklahoma Wineries & Winery Tours

February 18th, 2013 |

The wine industry is not what you normally think of in the state of Oklahoma, however, there is a thriving community of wineries and vineyards located all over the state. Events and festivals showcase the unique flavor of Oklahoma wines. Visitors to the area have the opportunity to visit Oklahoma wineries and learn the techniques that local vintners use to create the distinct Oklahoma flavors.

Wineries in Oklahoma blend the flavors of fruits with traditional wines and create some truly special bottles. The Black Sheep Winery and Vineyard, for example, uses strawberries, plums and peaches to flavor the wines.

The most popular grapes that are grown in Oklahoma for wine production are Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay. A good variety of grapes in the vineyards guarantees a harvest throughout the grape growing season.

Wine tours and wine trails in Oklahoma are available all over the state so that wine lovers who visit the state have plenty to see when they tour the area. The beautiful countryside of Oklahoma provides a fabulous vacation destination for families and couples looking for something a little different on their next vacation. Wine tours are a wonderful way to spend a weekend with someone you love as you stroll through the vineyards on a romantic getaway. Pack a picnic and enjoy the scenery in Oklahoma as you tour the wineries and vineyards.

Oklahoma is a slice of America that attracts tourists looking for a naturally beautiful environment. For those who want to explore the culture of the region fully, explore the fruit and grape wines of Oklahoma. There are now more than a dozen wineries in the state in the short time that Oklahoma has been producing wine commercially. While the state has not been producing wines as long as some other states in the country, it has made amazing strides in that time.

Canadian River Vineyards & Winery LLC

7050 Slaughterville Road

Lexington OK 73051

(405)872-5565

Nuyaka Creek Winery

35230 South 177th West Ave.

Bristow OK 74010

(918)756-7568

www.nuyakacreek.com

Twin Lakes Vineyard

1612 Linwood Boulevard

Oklahoma City OK 73106

(405)236-0955

E & J Gallo Winery

2700 Coltrane Pl

Edmond, OK 73034

(405) 330-0159

Ohio Wineries & Winery Tours

February 18th, 2013 |

The history of Ohio wineries goes back to the 1800s when the first grapes were planted to take advantage of the rich growing climate and soil in the region. The wines produced by the first wineries quickly became popular around the country because of its unique flavor. The wines produced at this time had a uniquely sweeter flavor that was well accepted in the wine drinking world.

Ohio wineries took some time to return to prominence after prohibition was repealed in the 1930s. For decades the wineries struggled to bring wine to the public and sustain the vineyards. It wasn’t until the sixties that the vineyards finally managed to make a comeback on the stage as a contender in the American wine market. There are now more than forty wineries across the state of Ohio with a variety of wines that can please all tastes.

A trip through the Canal County Ohio Wine Trail is a great way to explore the wineries in the state. Wineries offer entertainment in the state along with the festivals and events throughout the year that celebrate Ohio wines. Ohio may not be the first place you think of for a wine country holiday, but it should be on the list of every serious wine lover who wants to sample the wines of the United States. Wagon rides, pumpkins and much more make the time spent in Ohio wine country an event for the whole family.

Ohio can also be a romantic getaway for couples looking for a place to go away for some rest and relaxation. Explore the vineyards and stroll the trails in this lovely part of the country. Wine tastings are available at various wineries in the state, but you will have to check with each winery for a schedule to make sure that you visit each winery on your list. With more than forty wineries in the area, there are plenty to visit and enjoy.

Debevc Farm

6890 South River Road

West Geneva OH 44041

(440)466-7601

Vineyard Square Inc

1605 State Road

Vermilion OH 44089

(440)967-5403

Vineyards of Madison

6700 Grape Arbor Drive

Madison OH 44057

(440)428-7646

Harmony Hill Vineyards & Estate Winery

2534 Swings Corner Point Isabel Rd

Bethel, OH 45106

(513) 734-3548

Matus Winery

15674 Gore Orphanage Rd

Wakeman, OH 44889

(440) 774-9463

North Carolina Wineries & Winery Tours

February 18th, 2013 |

North Carolina is the home of the Scuppernong grape. It is now widely used in the southeast region of the country, but it was first discovered in North Carolina in the 1500s. The big white grape as it was called, is the first cultivated grape in the United States.

The long history of North Carolina wineries has produced almost ninety wineries in production currently. The tremendous growth of the muscadine grapes from the region and the desire for wines produced from North Carolina grapes is responsible for the growth of the wine making industry in the state.

The North Carolina Grape Council was created in 1986 and has been working to promote the grapes and wines of the state. Visitors to North Carolina will find a full schedule of wine tastings and festivals planned for the year that give visitors an opportunity to try the wines.

North Carolina is a beautiful state and the vineyards in the region along with the many wineries are a wonderful opportunity to spend time in the natural environment while exploring the southern vineyards. A tour through a winery gives wine lovers a chance to see how the wines that they love are made. Winemaking is an art and each winery has its own techniques and methods to create the unique wines of this area.

The wineries in North Carolina are a blend of southern hospitality and the fine art of winemaking. Visitors can experience much more than just great wines when they visit the region. Live music and festivals that feature the cuisine of the region are also prominently displayed at the events scheduled during the year in North Carolina wine country. The Yadkin Valley wine trail is just one example of the areas where travelers can explore and enjoy superior wines while enjoying the natural environment.

Black Wolf Vineyards

283 Vineyard Lane

Dobson NC 27017

(336)374-6164

www.blackwolfvineyards.com

Childress Vineyards

8506 Hampton Road

Clemmons NC 27012

(336)712-2420

Hill’s Orchard And Vineyard

3452 Marvin Hill Pl. (finch Farm Road)

Trinity NC 27370

(336)475-7042

web.northstate.net/~hillsplace/index.html

Laurel Gray Vineyards

5726 Old Highway 421

Hamptonville NC 27020

(336)468-8463

www.laurelgray.com

Rockhouse Vineyards

1525 Turner Road

Tryon NC 28782

(828)863-2784

Round Peak Vineyards

765 Round Peak Church Road

Mount Airy NC 27030

(336)352-5595

www.roundpeak.com

Stony Knoll Vineyards

1143 Stony Knoll Road

Dobson NC 27017

(336)374-5752

Westbend Vineyards

5394 Williams Road

Lewisville NC 27023

(336)945-5032

www.westbendvineyards.com

Grove Winery & Vineyards

7360 Brooks Bridge Rd

Gibsonville, NC 27249

(336) 584-4060

South Creek Vineyards & Winery

2240 S Creek Rd

Nebo, NC 28761

(828) 652-5729

New York Wineries & Winery Tours

February 18th, 2013 |

The second largest producer of wines in the United States is in New York state. The state boasts a history that goes back as far as the seventeenth century. The oldest winery in the United States makes its home in the state as well as the first bonded winery in the country.

There are a wide variety of grapes grown in the state. Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Riesling, Seyval Blanc and sparkling wines are all produced by the wineries of New York. French hybrid grapes as well as American hybrid grapes are used in various regions of the state.

The Lake Erie and Chautauqua regions of New York create some of the wines produced in the state. There are approximately twenty thousand acres of grape growing in the area with much of it dedicated to concord grapes for juice. However, European and French American grapes make up the final ten percent of the land for use in the seven wineries of the area.

The Niagara region of the state produces wines in a variety of wineries, but four of these wineries are located in the Niagara escarpment region of the state. The slope offers ideal conditions for the grapes in this region and it is a worthwhile area for wine lovers to visit.

There are almost three hundred wineries in the state of New York. A tour through the wineries in the state may take a lifetime to fully appreciate. Wine lovers can spend a great deal of time in the state of New York exploring the various wine regions and wineries to sample the high quality product of the area.

New York wineries are the perfect solution for a weekend getaway to various parts of the state. New York state is a stunning part of the country and can be a wonderful place to spend some time with the whole family.

Bully Hill Vineyards Inc

8843 Ght Memorial Drive

Pulteney NY 14874

(607)868-3610

www.bullyhill.com

Cayuga Creek Vineyards

7953 Footes Corners Road

Interlaken NY 14847

(607)532-4345

Digrazia Vineyards Limited

9 Cascade Mountain Road

Amenia NY 12501

(845)373-7800

Galluccio Estate Vineyards LLC

294 Main

Huntington NY 11743

(631)549-6600

Lucas Vineyards Winery

3862 County Road 150

Interlaken NY 14847

(607)532-4825
www.lucasvineyards.com

Martha Clara Viticulture Office

171 Sound Avenue

Riverhead NY 11901

(631)298-2649

National Grape Cooperative Association Inc

Portage Road

Westfield NY 14787

(716)326-5200

www.nationalgrape.com

Palmer Vineyards

132 Main Road

Cutchogue NY 11935

(631)734-5182

Peconic Bay Winery

31320 Main Rd

Cutchogue NY 11935

(631)734-7361

www.peconicbaywinery.com

Pindar Vineyards Inc

591 Bicycle Path Suite A

Port Jefferson Sta NY 11776

(631)473-4689

Rock Stream Vineyards

162 Fir Tree Point Road

Rock Stream NY 14878

(607)243-5395

www.rockstreamvineyards.com

Venture Vineyards Inc

8830 Upper Lake Road

Lodi NY 14860

(607)582-6774

Whitecliff Vineyard and Winery

331 McKinstry Road

Gardiner NY 12525

(845)255-4613

www.whitecliffwine.com

Long Point Winery

1485 Lake Rd

Aurora, NY 13026

(315) 364-6990

Wolffer Estate Sagpond Vineyard

139 Sagg Rd

Bridgehampton, NY 11932

(631) 537-5108

Peconic Bay Winery

31320 Main Rd

Cutchogue, NY 11935

(631) 734-7361

Nagy’s New Land Vineyard & Winery

577 Lerch Rd

Geneva, NY 14456

(315) 585-4432

White Springs Winery L L C

4200 State Rte 14

Geneva, NY 14456

(315) 781-9463

Ventosa Vineyard

3514 E Lake Rd

Geneva, NY 14456

(315) 719-0000

Hazlitt Winery

5712 State Rte 414

Hector, NY 14841

(607) 546-5712

Freedom Run Winery Inc

5138 Lower Mountain Rd

Lockport, NY 14094

(716) 433-4136

Stoutridge Vineyard

10 Ann Kaley Ln

Marlboro, NY 12542

(845) 236-7620

Palmer Vineyards Inc

108 Sound Ave

Riverhead, NY 11901

(631) 722-9463

Arcadian Estate Winery

4184 Rte 14

Rock Stream, NY 14878

(607) 535-2068

Rock Stream Vineyards

162 Fir Tree Point Rd

Rock Stream, NY 14878

(607) 243-5395

Yellow Barn Winery

18876 County Rte 66

Watertown, NY 13601

(315) 782-1824

Thorpe Vineyard

8150 Chimney Heights Blvd

Wolcott, NY 14590

(315) 594-2502

New Mexico Wineries & Winery Tours

February 18th, 2013 |

New Mexico has the longest history of wine growing in the United States. The first grapes planted in the area that is now the state of New Mexico was in the 17th century. The area north of present day San Antonio is the location where grapes were first planted in the state. The grapes that were used are thought to be a variety of European grape named Monica.

Today there are forty two wineries in the state producing approximately seven hundred thousand gallons of wine each year. Tours of the wine trails in New Mexico are a wonderful way to explore the region with the family. The rich history of wine production in New Mexico makes it an interesting and fun day for the family.

Regular events are scheduled during the growing year such as festivals and tasting events. Wine lovers will have to schedule more than one trip to the region to visit the various wineries in New Mexico. Explore the North New Mexico wine trails, the Central trails and the Southern trails on each of your trips to the state. Each of the wineries has its own hours and wine tasting events so make sure that you check in advance to plan your vacation in New Mexico’s wine country.

The climate of the region make it an ideal location for growing Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Merlot, Riesling, Pinot Noir and Sauvignon Blanc. The sun in the region makes it the perfect place for these well known and high quality grapes to create some award winning wines.

A visit to New Mexico is not complete without a visit to the tasting rooms of these New Mexico wineries to sample some of the best wine in the country. The Southwest region of the United States has an ideal climate for growing grapes and now you can explore the wines of this region with a visit to the trails in New Mexico.

Blue Teal Vineyards

2461 Calle De Guadalupe

Mesilla, NM 88046

(505) 524-0390

New Jersey Wineries & Winery Tours

February 18th, 2013 |

New Jersey has been producing high quality wines since the colonial period of history. Despite the smaller amount of land in New Jersey, it still manages to be the fifth highest producer of wine in the United States today. Those looking for a tour of local wineries in New Jersey will find that there are a number to choose from that all produce quality wines in the tradition of European wineries.

In New Jersey wineries, you will find an attention to quality that rivals the great wineries of Italy and France. The Quality Wine Alliance ensures that the products of these wineries is the very best possible. No wine is given the stamp of approval from the alliance until it has passed the quality standards. When you pick up a bottle of New Jersey wine that has been stamped with the Quality Wine Allowance seal of approval, you know you are getting the very best wine possible. New Jersey is home to award winning wines from the various growers in the state.

The region hosts wine trail events and festivals throughout the growing season for wine lovers to explore the various wineries located all over the state. There are more than thirty five wineries and vineyards in the state for wine lovers to choose from for a day of wine tasting and touring. A family adventure can be planned touring through the vineyards to see how the grapes are grown. You can also see how winemakers use various techniques to produce the highest quality wines. Each winemaker has his own technique for producing wine and a tour is the best way to explore this art.

Jazz festivals and food tasting events are scheduled during the year to showcase the wines and wineries in the area. Each winery has its own calendar of events so check in advance to plan your day of wine tasting and touring.

Unionville Vineyards

9 Rocktown Road

Ringoes NJ 08551

(908)788-0400

www.unionvillevineyards.com

Altasian Cellars

518 2nd St

Belvidere, NJ 07823

(908) 475-4803

Turdo Vineyards

3911 Bayshore

Cape May, NJ 08204

(609) 884-5591

Sutter Home Winery

118 Westfield Ave

Clark, NJ 07066

(732) 827-2980

Grape Beginnings Wine School

54 W Main St

Freehold, NJ 07728

(732) 431-3313

www.grapebeginningswineschool.com

Bellview Winery

150 Atlantic St

Landisville, NJ 08326

(856) 697-7172

www.bellviewwinery.com

4jg’s Orchards & Vineyards LLC

127 Hillsdale Rd

Morganville, NJ 07751

(732) 817-9463

Nevada Wineries & Winery Tours

February 18th, 2013 |

Nevada wineries have joined the booming wine industry with three vineyards in the state that hope to bring a new kind of tourism to the region. Following in the footsteps of California, with a rich history of wine production, Nevada hopes to encourage visitors to the state to tour the vineyards and sample the wine.

The Pahrump Winery offers visitors a gift shop, fine dining restaurant and year round tours for visitors. This Nevada winery offers visitors a place to enjoy the beautiful scenery while spending time sampling the wines. The winery holds special events for travelers such as weddings and parties. The Pahrump winery offers visitors a chance to experience a behind the scenes view to winemaking.

The Tahoe Ridge winery is the second oldest in the state and uses grapes from its own vineyards as well as those imported from California. This Nevada winery offers a tasting room and is open to the public year round but the schedule may change during different seasons. Plan ahead when visiting Nevada wineries to be sure that you can experience the wines in the tasting rooms.

The Churchill Vineyards is the third winery in Nevada’s blooming wine business. This winery is experimenting with several varieties to find the ideal grapes for wine production in the region.

The potential growth of the Nevada winery business can promote and grow surrounding businesses in the region. Other areas of the country have experienced tremendous growth in the bed and breakfast industry as a result of the growing wine industries and Nevada hopes to reap the same rewards.

Nevada wineries offer visitors a chance to explore the new vineyards and sample their production. In the years to come, Nevada wineries will continue to grow and explore this burgeoning new industry. And wine lovers will have a chance to experience the growth right along with them.

Pahrump Valley Vineyards

3810 Winery Road

Pahrump NV 89048

(775)751-7800

www.pahrumpwinery.com

Nebraska Wineries & Winery Tours

February 18th, 2013 |

Nebraska wineries began in the mid nineteenth century. Today, the oldest winery in existence in the area began in the mid 1990s. The difficult growing climate, limits the amount of European wines that can be produced in the area. The existing wineries produce an American-European hybrid that can withstand the climate.

A wine inspired vacation in Nebraska will take you to various regions of the state. Area wineries offer tasting rooms for visitors and tours of the vineyards. While the variety of grapes and wines in Nebraska is limited by the climate, there are some innovative techniques happening at the wineries that are producing some of the finest wines in the country. Watch winemakers ply their trade and sample the products of the hard work and artistry of Nebraska winemaking.

Nebraska offers a wonderfully scenic vacation for wine lovers who wish to explore the vineyards. While the climate and soil make it difficult to grow European grapes, the unique climate has led to some distinctive varieties of grapes that create the unique flavor of Nebraska wines. The innovation of Nebraska wineries produces fine wines within their own climate and soil restrictions. The winemakers have proven to the world that fine wines can be created without European vines.

Many of the vineyards sell their wines directly to the public and can be ordered online. There are restrictions in some states regarding the sale and shipment of wine, so you should check with your state before ordering. It is a great way to sample the wines of Nebraska wineries before you make the trip to the area.

Check the vineyards to find more information regarding hours of operation for the tasting rooms and to explore the vineyards. Not every winery is open to the public so make sure that you plan your trip to Nebraska wineries before you make your travel arrangements.

Last Chance Winery

432 2nd Street

Crawford NE 69339

(308)665-2712

Winery Cuthills Vineyard

54663 853 Road

Pierce NE 68767

(402)329-6774

www.cuthills.com

Missouri Wineries & Winery Tours

February 18th, 2013 |

German settlers in Missouri brought to the area clippings from their vineyards back home. In the 1800s the immigrants planted vineyards on the south bank of the Missouri river and by 1848 had begun producing wine. These early Missouri wineries produced 1000 gallons of wine during that year and have grown by leaps and bounds since.

The early wineries in Missouri were second only to the wines produced in California. They continued to grow and develop until Prohibition put a stop to wine production in the region. Today, there are seven wine producing regions in Missouri and each produces a distinctive wine. Wine lovers can sample the various products of these regions by touring the Missouri wineries in the region.

The Augusta, Hermann, Ozark Highlands, Ozark Mountains, Southeast, Central and Western regions are home to Missouri wineries. Each of these regions of the state have their own unique flavor and personality. Serious wine lovers will need to make several trips to the state to explore each of the Missouri wineries special flavor.

The various regions have a thriving business community surrounding the wineries so that visitors have a choice of inns, motels and bed and breakfasts to visit while sipping wines in the vineyards. The Missouri wineries bring in a bustling business for the surrounding area. Visitors can take part in special events throughout the year that feature Missouri wine. Festivals and craft shows give travelers an opportunity to try the regional cuisine and celebrate the wines of the area.

Missouri wineries are an ideal place to take a romantic weekend getaway, family vacation or a place to enjoy some solitary time exploring the vineyards. The old world charm of European wines are alive and well in Missouri wineries. Meet winemakers and learn the artistry of winemaking in the way it has been done for centuries.

Wine Country of Missouri

15959 Quiet Oak Rd

Chesterfield, MO 63017

(314) 537-4934

Wine Rack

1139 E Vine St # E

Poplar Bluff, MO 63901

(573) 785-0999

Patrician Wine Marketing

737 Beardsley Ct

Saint Louis, MO 63135

(314) 522-3804

Bombay Wine & Spirits

7884 Mexico Rd

Saint Peters, MO 63376

(636) 970-7030

Minnesota Wineries & Winery Tours

February 18th, 2013 |

Minnesota travelers will discover that the wine industry in the state is thriving and producing some of the finest fruit wines in the country. The Minnesota wineries lie at the same latitude of the Bordeaux region of France. The climate and rainfall in the area result in an ideal grape that is made into fine wines of all varieties.

Minnesota wineries rely on a grape variety that is harvested early before the autumn frost, which arrives earlier in this part of the country than other areas. The hearty grapes are cultivated in the sunny climates of Minnesota summers.

The Three Rivers Wine Trail is made up of five of the oldest Minnesota wineries in the Mississippi, Cannon and Saint Croix river valleys. Visitors to the region can take their time exploring the trail and vineyards while sampling the products of the wineries. The Three Rivers Wine Trail gives visitors the chance to try some of the wine produced in Minnesota. Each of the Minnesota wineries on the trail offer visitors a chance to try their wine, explore the vineyards and watch the winemakers at work.

Couples can stay in a bed and breakfast or one of the local motels or inns. Events are scheduled throughout the year to offer wine lovers a chance to participate in wine festivals and sample the local cuisine. Plan a cheese and chocolate weekend while exploring the Minnesota wineries. The wine trail hosts a number of events during the year and visitors are encouraged to check out the various events to plan a full weekend or day trip to the area.

Wine tours in Minnesota are available all year long and visitors can plan to host events and special get togethers at the wineries. Sample some of the varieties of local wines in the Minnesota wineries while enjoying the lush scenic region.

Saint Croix Vineyards

6428 Manning Avenue North

Stillwater MN 55082

(651)430-3310

www.scvwines.com

Vintage One Wines

11631 Magnolia Ct

Champlin, MN 55316

(763) 323-0620

S&S Winery

201 11th Ave N

Hopkins, MN 55343

(952) 832-2623

Michigan Wineries & Winery Tours

February 18th, 2013 |

The state of Michigan is home to more than two thousand acres of wine grape producing land. There are more than one hundred and twelve wine producing wineries in the state including small boutique wineries. There are more than fourteen thousand acres devoted to grape production and only a small amount of the land is used to produce wine.

The wine industry in Michigan has created a bustling tourist business in the state. With visitors coming from all over the country to visit the Michigan wineries and sample the wines of the region, tourism is helping local business surrounding the vineyards and wineries.

The wines of Michigan are historically a sweeter wine, but many of the wineries have branched into more refined and dry flavors. Fruit wines have been cultivated in Michigan with cherry wines and apple being the most popular fruit wine. Michigan also specializes in ice wines, which cultivate the grapes from the vine while they are still frozen. A small number of the Michigan wineries produce wine using this technique.

Visitors to Michigan can explore the wine trails while spending time in the area bed and breakfast establishments. The romance of the area and the exquisite scenic view from the vineyards make a trip to Michigan wineries an ideal romantic trip. Tour the various bed and breakfasts that feature Michigan wines exclusively. Clubs and resorts in the state of Michigan offer guests some of the finest wines in the region.

Tourists to the area should check out the special events taking place at the wineries for an exclusive chance to sample the fine wines of the season. Dinners, concerts and festivals that celebrate the wine industry in Michigan make the trip something special. Meet the winemakers and discover the techniques and intricate art of winemaking in the state of Michigan.

Hickory Creek Winery

750 Browntown Rd

Buchanan, MI 49107

(269) 422-1100

Front Street Wine Co

113 S Front

Dowagiac, MI 49047

(269) 782-9878

A H D Vintners

27470 Gloede Dr

Warren, MI 48088

(586) 774-5232

Leorie Vineyard

6994 Peninsula Drive

Traverse City MI 49686

(231)933-1133

Martha’s Vineyard B&B

473 Blue Star Highway

South Haven MI 49090

(269)637-9373

www.marthasvy.com

Nicholas Blacks River – Vine Yard Wineries

5670 North Black River Road

Cheboygan MI 49721

(231)625-9060

Maryland Wineries & Winery Tours

February 18th, 2013 |

The history of winemaking in Maryland goes back to the 1600s. The state of Maryland has four different geographic regions that are suitable for growing grapes for winemaking. The central part of the state is the location for most of the Maryland wineries. In this region of the state the vineyards grow Merlot, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinot Gris. The wines from this area of the state are some of the finest in the country.

The eastern shore of the state is home to a great many grape varieties. The southern and western regions of the state each have vineyards and various grapes planted for Maryland wineries located in these parts of Maryland.

Wine trails through the state allow visitors to sample various wines in different areas. There are more than three hundred varieties of wines to choose from in Maryland wineries. There are wines in Maryland to suit every taste and budget. Families can choose to enjoy the sights and beauty of Maryland while visiting the wine trails of Maryland.

The Chesapeake Wine Trail is on the eastern side of the state and is home to eight wineries. This part of the state is home to sandy beaches and stunning waterfront views. The Chesapeake Wine trail is a great choice when you are planning a family vacation to the beach. Spend time enjoying the fine wines of Maryland while relaxing with your family in this scenic part of the state.

There are six wineries on the Frederick Wine Trail. The wineries in this wine trail produce over half of the wine produced by the state. Enjoy these Maryland wineries to learn more about how the wine is produced and sample the product of these beautiful vineyards.

You will need several trips to the State of Maryland to enjoy the wine trails and the fine wines produced by Maryland wineries.

Frederick Cellars LLC

221 NE St

Frederick, MD 21701

(301) 668-0311

Berrywine Plantations – Linganore Wine Cellars

13601 Glissans Mill Rd

Mount Airy, MD 21771

(410) 795-6432

St Michaels Winery LLC

605 S Talbot

Saint Michaels, MD 21663

(410) 745-0808

Basignani Winery Ltd

15722 Falls Rd

Sparks Glencoe, MD 21152

(410) 472-0703

Maine Wineries & Winery Tours

February 18th, 2013 |

The land in Maine is not conducive to growing grapes, but that isn’t stopping some Maine wineries from using the great gifts that they have for producing fine wines. Maine wineries do produce wines from grapes, but they must get their grapes from other parts of the country. What Maine wineries do have access to that make the wineries a unique experience, is blueberries. Maine wineries are hoping to start a trend in fine wines and introduce the other fruit wines to the world with award winning blueberry wines.

The Maine wineries are trying to change the mind of the world about wines made from other fruits. There is a misconception that these wines are very sweet and not as refined as the grape wines, but the winemakers are producing wines that will dispel this myth. There are some innovative techniques being used in the Maine wineries to produce some very dry and distinct wines from fruits not usually associated with wine.

Maine is a lovely scenic state to visit and explore the lovely New England coastline. Maine wineries make it a treat for wine lovers and those seeking a new flavor in wines. Learn how wines are made in these wineries while discovering how the local fruits are being incorporated in Maine wines.

The wineries in Maine offer some great activities while you sample their products. Learn about wine making, sample the products, enjoy a cooking class or other special event while touring the wineries. Check the various wineries events calendar when you plan your trip to Maine. The state of Maine is home to the world’s best seafood and lobster, quaint bed and breakfasts, antique shops, gorgeous beaches and now flavorful and unique wines. Maine wineries offer visitors wines made from grapes, blueberries, apples and even cranberries for some of the most surprisingly refined wine n the country.

Winterport Winery

279 South Main

Winterport ME 04496

(207)223-4500

www.winterportwinery.com

Kentucky Wineries & Winery Tours

February 18th, 2013 |

Kentucky wineries have a long and storied history that goes all the way back to the late 1700s when the first vineyards were planted for wine making on the Kentucky River. By the end of the 1800s Kentucky had become the third largest producer of wine in the country. Prohibition caused planters to turn their attention to other crops and the wine industry ceased to exist during this time.

In 1976, Kentucky farmers began exploring the use of grapes and wine making on their land. Today there are nearly fifty wineries in the state and five hundred acres of land produces the grapes used in the winemaking. Tourism to the area has exploded with serious wine lovers coming to sample the wines produced by Kentucky wineries. The wineries have responded to this interest in their product by making the time at their wineries an event to remember. The wineries offer dinners, wine tastings and even concerts.

Kentucky wineries offer wine lovers a chance to sample the best that Kentucky has to offer while spending time in this beautiful part of the country. There are multiple varieties of wine for the beginning wine lover or someone who has spent a lifetime enjoying fine wines. Each winery offers a different experience and visitors can visit the website of each winery to plan special events.

Kentucky wineries are located all over the state. Plan your visit to Kentucky by exploring the wineries in the state. With more than fifty to choose from, you may have to return to Kentucky over and over to see each one. Enjoy the music, culture and cuisine of Kentucky while you visit wine country in the region. Kentucky may be well known for bourbon, but it is becoming the place to visit for serious wine lovers all over the world.

Jean Farris Winery and Bistro

6825 Old Richmond Rd

Lexington, KY 40515

(859) 263-9463

Illinois Wineries & Winery Tours

February 18th, 2013 |

Wine making has been a part of Illinois history since the 1700s, but in the last decade, the industry has taken off and made Illinois one of the top twelve wine producing states in the country. Before prohibition, Illinois was a top producer of wine in the country. When prohibition started, Illinois wineries were forced to stop production.

In 1979, new vineyards were planted to take advantage of the growing interest in wine that took root in the 1970s. Since that time, Illinois wineries have been enjoying increasing demand for their wines. This interest in wine production in Illinois has resulted in almost seventy wineries throughout the state.

The vineyards and wineries have created a booming industry in the area that includes bed and breakfast establishments and local artisans and crafters. The Shawnee Hills Wine Trail features twelve local Illinois wineries that are open for tours and visitors. The wine trail is thirty miles and includes the wineries, bed and breakfasts, antique shops, and places for travelers to stop and enjoy the cuisine of the region.

Each of the Illinois wineries on the Shawnee Hills Wine Trail are family owned businesses that offer serious wine lovers a chance to taste the wines of the region.

Many of the wineries in Illinois are conveniently located in one of the six wine trails in the state. Along with the Shawnee Hills Wine Trail, wine lovers can spend time exploring the Wabash Valley Wine Trail, the Southern Illinois Wine Trail, the Heartland Rivers Wine Trail, Illinois River Wine Trail and the Northern Illinois Wine Trail. The six wine trails in the state will keep visitors coming back again and again to explore a different region of the state and the wineries located in that area.

Visitors can take their time exploring one trail after another as they discover the charming local wineries and the surrounding businesses.

Ameo Vineyards

400 North Mill Street

Greenup IL 62428

(217)923-9963

Bella Terra Winery

755 Parker City Rd

Creal Springs, IL 62922

(618) 658-8882

Fox Creek Vineyards

5502 N Fox Rd

Olney, IL 62450

(618) 392-0418

Goat Tower Winery

1300 E Rte 40

Casey, IL 62420

(217) 932-2073

Two Oaks Vineyard

13231 Bowling Alley Road

Benton IL 62812

(618)435-3821

www.twooaksvineyard.com

Vineyard Food Pantry

803 East Kettering Park Drive

Urbana IL 61801

(217)384-3076

Von Jakob Vineyard

1309 Sadler Road

Pomona IL 62975

(618)893-4500

www.vonjakobvineyard.com

Florida Wineries & Winery Tours

February 18th, 2013 |

The history of Florida wineries goes all the way back to the early Spanish settlers in the 1500s that began growing the wild grapes that they found in the lush near tropical climate. While most people associate citrus with Florida, there is actually a thriving wine industry in the state that offers wineries that are open to the public for tours and tastings.

There are more than twenty- five wineries operating in Florida. Some of these Florida wineries are certified by the state, which means they are open to the public and offer tours and tastings. The non-certified wineries may not be open to the public, but you can call in advance for more information.

The soil and growing conditions in Florida are ideal for grape growers. While much of the state appears flat, there are hilly areas that resemble the wine growing regions in other states. Visiting the Florida wineries is an interesting break from the many tourist sites in the state. Spending a day away from the tourist traps enjoying a fine wine from the growers in Florida is a nice way to break up your vacation.

The Florida wineries are not on the beaten track and this gives you a chance to explore some of the rural areas of the state. You will find the folks on these farms and vineyards to be warm and welcoming. One winery located in one of the most beautiful historic areas of the state is San Sebastian winery located in historic St. Augustine. The winery uses grapes from growers in Florida including a vineyard the winery owns in the Panhandle. The winery has a wine tasting room and a rooftop area where visitors can enjoy music while sipping the wine.

Florida wineries may get lost amongst the beaches and tourist attractions in the state, but once you visit, you will go back again and again.

Rosa Fiorelli Winery & Vineyard

4250 County Rd 675

Bradenton, FL 34211

(941) 322-0976

Kingdom Spirits & Fine Wines

2026 Badlands Dr

Brandon, FL 33511

(813) 657-4744

Florida Estates Winery

3101 37th Ave N

Saint Petersburg, FL 33713

(727) 526-2113

Florida Orange Groves – Inc and Winery

1500 Pasadena Ave S

Saint Petersburg, FL 33707

(800) 338-7923

Wine Warehouse of St Petersburg

5571 4th St N

Saint Petersburg, FL 33703

(727) 527-7000

Connecticut Wineries & Winery Tours

February 18th, 2013 |

New England wineries and in particular the Connecticut wineries are an ideal place to visit during the fall months. The wineries on the Connecticut winery trail are some of the most charming that you will find in all of the six New England states. The fall season allows wine lovers to enjoy the incredible scenery in New England during autumn.

The wineries on the Connecticut trail offer wine seminars, tastings and hiking trails for visitors to enjoy while enjoying the quality wines of the region. Many Connecticut wineries are located on historic farms that have been producing wine for many years.

The Connecticut wine trail includes ten wineries that are open to the public for self guided tours or on tours conducted by the host. Unique flavors of the region include a pumpkin spiced wine that is offered during the fall season. It is a favorite amongst the visitors to the farm.

Hikers and outdoor enthusiasts will enjoy the fall foliage while exploring the wineries on the trail. The Connecticut wine trail is one of the biggest tourist attractions in the state, with visitors coming back several times a year to visit the wineries in the region. It is impossible to visit every one of the wineries in a day and many families plan vacations around the lush outdoor scenery and the wineries of the region.

On a Connecticut winery tour, you will learn about the art of wine making and enjoy some of the native food and culture of the region. Winemakers in the region take guests on tours themselves and lucky participants might get a chance to sample a wine that is still in production. A vacation in the countryside of Connecticut is not complete without a trip through the wine making regions. Stay is quaint bed and breakfast establishments in the region while you enjoy a beautiful New England autumn.

Rowayton Wine Shop

158 Rowayton Ave

Norwalk, CT 06853

(203) 299-0404

Garys Wine & Spirit

24 Norwich Ave

Norwich, CT 06360

(860) 823-1266

Colorado Wineries & Winery Tours

February 15th, 2013 |

In the 1970s, the wine industry experienced a boom and Colorado wineries exploded right along with the rest of the world. Colorado wineries have experienced tremendous growth in the last decade, but grapes have been cultivated in the Grand Valley since the late 1800s. The census of 1899 shows that Colorado produced 1744 gallons of wine and harvested almost 600,000 pounds of grapes.

Colorado is the last place that many people think of when they consider wineries. The high elevation and extreme winter weather would seem to make growing grapes impossible. However, the growers in Colorado have developed a technique that not only allows grapes to survive, but thrive under these less than ideal conditions. Since the late 1800s, grape growers in Colorado have developed methods to help their grapes survive and produce fine wines for the world to enjoy.

Some wineries in the area claim that the higher elevation and dryer air give their product a unique flavor that is not available any other place on earth. The Colorado wineries believe that the grapes that survive a Colorado winter contain all of the ideal characteristics of the finest wine making grapes.

Today there are many wineries for the wine lover to tour and enjoy. Some Colorado wineries may offer tours and host special events. It is best to check in advance to find a winery that is open to tours. Serious wine lovers can enjoy the spectacular scenery in Colorado while sampling some of the fine Colorado wine. The wineries are located all over the state in various regions. Festivals and tasting events are happening throughout the state. June and July kick off the summer wine tours in the state with countless festivals and celebrations that feature entertainment along with a great sampling of Colorado wines and foods. Enjoy the history of Colorado grape growers and wineries.

Grande River Vineyards-Field Office

3724 F 1/4 Road

Palisade CO 81526

(970)464-5976

Plum Creek Vineyards Company

14139 3785 Road

Paonia CO 81428

(970)527-4775

Vineyard Management Inc

78436 US Highway 40

Winter Park CO 80482

(970)722-0490

California Wineries & Winery Tours

February 15th, 2013 |

California has a rich history in wine making. The state of California provides almost ninety percent of the American wine production. Wineries in California date back as far as the eighteenth century when missionaries planted vineyards to produce wine for church services. Today there are more than 1200 wineries in the state and they produce wine that is shipped all over the world.

A number of the California wineries include boutique wineries that offer visitors the chance to view and tour a small vineyard. The wines of California have rivaled the best wines of France since the day they were introduced to the world.

A tour of the California wineries will take you through some of the most beautiful regions of the state. California is a large and geographically diverse state and a serious wine lover could spend years touring the wineries in the various regions of California.

The most famous region of the state is on the northern coast and it includes the Napa Valley, Sonoma and Mendocino. These wines have become world class leaders in the wine world. A tour of wine country in California should include these world famous wine regions.

A tour of wine country should also include the other regions of California including the Santa Clara Valley, the Santa Cruz Mountains, San Lucas and the Santa Maria Valley in the central coast region of the state. These are just a few of the notable regions to visit in this rich wine region. The central valley of the state includes the Sierra Foothills.

The southern region of the state boasts notable wine regions as well including the Ramona Valley, Temecula Valley and the San Pasqual Valley.

There are many other wine areas that boast some of the best boutique Caliornia wineries in the state. No tour of California wine country would be complete without a visit to these regions as well.

The Gourmet Wine Club of California

7920 Alta Sunrise Dr Ste 115

Citrus Heights, CA 95610

(916) 863-2701

A & L Pirrone Vineyards Inc

843 Garrison Avenue

Modesto CA 95358

(209)550-0502

Agajanian Vineyard

4582 West Jacquelyn Avenue

Fresno CA 93722

(559)271-2426

Ahnfeldt Vineyard Management

2133 Monticello Road

Napa CA 94558

(707)257-2293

Allied Grape Growers

347 Healdsburg Avenue Suite J

Healdsburg CA 95448

(707)433-6525

www.alliedgrapegrowers.com

Aloise Francisco Vineyards

1054 Bayview Avenue

Napa CA 94559

(707)252-4005

American Wine Essentials

1472 North Milpitas Boulevard

Milpitas CA 95035

(408)719-8486

www.winecabinets.com

Anderson Valley Viticultural Services

18560 Mountain View Road

Boonville CA 95415

(707)895-2636

Anthony Vineyards Inc

52301 Enterprise Way

Coachella CA 92236

(760)391-5400

Arciero Vineyards

5011 East Highway 46

Paso Robles CA 93446

(805)238-3094

Arciero Vineyards

5625 East Highway 46

Paso Robles CA 93446

(805)226-0357

Vineyards Arioto-Bosio Partnership

42470 15th

Greenfield CA 93927

(831)674-0321

Arreguin Vineyard Management

960 East School Way

Redwood Valley CA 95470

(707)485-8611

Arroyo Seco Vineyards Inc

12805 Llagas Avenue

San Martin CA 95046

(408)683-0998

Babcock Winery & Vineyards

5175 East Highway 246

Lompoc CA 93436

(805)736-1455

www.babcockwinery.com

Barbour Vineyard Enterprises

975 Vintage Avenue # D

Saint Helena CA 94574

(707)963-0540

www.barbourvineyards.com

Barnwood Vineyards

4044 El Roblar

New Cuyama CA 93254

(661)766-2112

www.barnwoodwine.com

Bartolomei BROS Vineyard

2300 McClure Subdivision

Ukiah CA 95482

(707)462-2205

Bayview Vineyards

5135 Solano Avenue

Napa CA 94558

(707)257-3910

Beard Ranches Inc

1361 Main Street

Saint Helena CA 94574

(707)963-5545

Beauregard Vineyards

55 Municipal Wharf

Santa Cruz CA 95060

(831)425-7777

www.beauregardvineyards.com

Beckstoffer Vineyards

25 Retiro Way

San Francisco CA 94123

(415)674-8720

Alabama Wineries & Winery Tours

February 15th, 2013 |

Wineries have begun springing up in Alabama since the discovery of the fruit of the region and its refined taste. Alabama is not usually the first place that pops into your mind when you are looking for fine wines, but serious wine consumers are quickly discovering the unique flavor that is the product of Alabama wineries. The muscadine grape that is at the heart of the flavorful wines in Alabama has at its origin the regional scuppernong grape. The white grape takes its name from the Scuppernong River that flows through the region.

Alabama is a wonderfully diverse state that is open to outdoor enthusiasts and wine lovers alike. The ideal season to visit Alabama wineries is in January and this is also the best time to camp in the region. Touring the wineries while hiking the fabulous trails in the region takes you through some of the mountainous terrain in the state where the wineries make their home. The combination of beautiful scenery and fine wines make a trip through Alabama wine country a great choice for your next holiday.

A lovely family vacation is possible when traveling through this spectacular part of the country. The kids will enjoy the fabulous hiking trails while mom and dad can tour some of the wineries to sample some of the finest Alabama wines. Southern hospitality is on full display at Alabama wineries where the hosts of the wineries work to make the experience one to remember.

Alabama wines will please the serious wine lover with elegant selections. The fruit wines in the region should not be missed as well. A trip through the Alabama wineries would not be complete without a sampling of a southern peach wine or some of the other unique flavors. Alabama offers scenic trails, southern hospitality and some of the finest wines in the country.

Maria’s Vineyard

3940 Fortner Street

Dothan AL 36305

(334)702-0679

Wills Creek Vineyards

10522 Duck Springs Road

Attalla AL 35954

(256)538-5452

www.muscadine.com

Wine Questions & Answers

February 15th, 2013 |

The history of wine goes back to around 6,000 BC and is a widely consumed alcoholic veberage. Wine come in many flavors that ten to vary greatly between wineries and vineyards. It’s no wonder so many of our readers often visit our “Wine Questions & Answers” page.

If you would like to contribute your own wine advice or wine tips or if you’d like to ask a question about wine please send us an email at questions [at] askdeb.com.

Wine Advice

The pages listed here contain general wine advice written by the AskDeb team. We will expand this section as more wine questions are submitted.

Recent Wine Related Blog Posts

The following are recent wine related blog post we feel are relevant to our readers.

How to Taste Wine

How Do You Build a Wine Cellar?

Wine collecting is usually seen as an ‘exclusive” hobby requiring vast amounts of space and an unlimited supply of cash.

Why Are the Roofs and Walls
of Wine Cellars Black?

Like any food product, wine has certain storage conditions under which it is best kept. Some of these storage conditions are a no brainer.

How Do I Know How to Pair
which Wine with Which Cheese?

What Should I Serve
at a Wine and Cheese Party?

My brother’s anxious voice on the other end of the telephone let me know just how serious he was about the question. He’s graduating with his PhD soon, and is having quite a soiree to celebrate.

When Is the Best Time of Year
to Visit Wine Country?

The California wine country is one of the top vacation destinations in America. From honeymoons and anniversary celebrations to graduation trips and wine tours, every year hundreds of thousands of people from around the world flock to the California wine country.

What’s the Right Way
to Open Wine Bottles?

With so many gadgets on the market these days aimed at easing the pain of opening a wine bottle, it is easy to forget that once upon a time there was just one preferred method.

Why Are Wine Bottles Stored
nn Their Sides?

Some peculiarities of the wine world can be chalked up to tradition. The storage of wine in bottles, for instance, is really a holdover from a time when glass bottles were the best storage method.

How Do You Buy Champagne Flutes?

Champagne flutes can be the trickiest wine accessory to purchase. A proper or improper glass can make or break the Champagne or sparkling wine experience.

What Are Some Things You Can Do
with Empty Wine Bottles?

Those of us with a serious wine habit find we have a stockpile of empty wine bottles — personally, I end up with 5 – 10 empty bottles per week, depending on the season. During celebration seasons, such as Christmas-New Year’s or around my birthday, I can have many more.

What Occasions Are Appropriate
for Champagne Gifts?

I ask myself this question whenever an event comes up. Some events are surefire excuses for gifting Champagne — a wedding, an anniversary, or a fancy Christmas party.

How Do You Buy Wine Glasses?

When you start to get serious about wine, you realize that the glass you drink your wine from can really influence the experience.

How Do I Start a Wine Tasting Club?

My greatest interest these days is wine — tasting, purchasing, collecting, studying . . . I want to do it all, and I want my friends and family to share in the experience.

What Is a Wine of the Month Club?

A wine of the month club is the perfect way to experience new wines without ever leaving your home.

When Did the California Wine Industry Begin?

California has a long and interesting tradition of wine making, or viticulture. The wine industry in California claims its beginning in 1769, when the first grape vines were planted at Mission San Diego, by the Franciscan missionary Father Junipero Serra.

How Can I Make a Wine Gift Basket?

If you have someone special in your life who loves wine, a gift basket featuring a few bottles makes a perfect present.

What Is a Wine Auction?

A wine auction is exactly what the name implies — an auction held in the interest of selling wine. What sets a wine auction apart from some other auctions is that wine auctions tend to deal in extremely valuable (“auction quality”) wines.

What Is the California Wine Club?

Formed in 1990 by wine lovers Bruce and Pam Boring, the California Wine Club is a well known wine of the month club dedicated to digging through the thousands of labels produced in California every year and providing the best of the best shipped right to consumer’s doors.

What Is Wine Spectator?

Wine Spectator is a magazine and online resource for the world of wine. While the main focus of the magazine is almost exclusively on wine reviews and tasting notes.

How Do You Gift Wrap a Wine Bottle?

I don’t know about you, but sometimes I’m pressed for a gift idea. A wedding or birthday party springs up that I’ve forgotten about, or maybe I’ve just been invited to an event on a whim.

How Do You Remove Wine Labels
from Bottles ff Wine?

An excellent bottle of wine is one of my true joys in life. There is nothing more relaxing to me after a hard day of work than to meet up with a good friend and a bottle of one of my favorite wines.

What Is a Syrah Wine?

Americans are drinking more wine now than a decade ago. The gradual increase in wine drinking may have something to do with our health concerns — after all, it is widely believed that a few glasses of red wine a week have a significant heart health benefit.

Who Attends Wine Tours, and Why?

Is Home Wine Making Legal
or Illegal?

How Do You Make Your Own Wine?

In most states in America, it is completely legal to make a restricted amount of wine right in your own home. Not only is homebrewing a popular hobby but it is not as difficult a task as some might think, and does not have to be a particularly expensive hobby.

Why Is Napa Wine So Expensive?

Friends of mine ask me many wine related questions. Some of them have no answer — “Why do some corks get tainted and others don’t?” or “What is the best wine with a steak?”

Wine Tips

Whether you’re looking for reds, whites or blush our wine tips will guide you through the wine selecting process and hopefully make it a simple and fun task.

When a recipe calls for dry white wine as an ingredient what type of white wine do you suggest?

I would use Chardonnay or a Sauvignon Blanc or a good, dry, white Vermouth.

What is the proper temperature for wine to be served?

Rich tasting white wines like Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc and Pinot Gris should be served near cellar temperature – around 50-55 degrees Fahrenheit. Light, crisp wines like a dry Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, rose and sparkling wines should be served a bit cooler. Red wines are best served room temperature.

If you have refrigerated your wine, let it sit out at room temperature for about 15-30 minutes for best results.

How can I pick the right wine to compliment the food being served?

Pick a wine that you enjoy since it is common to have wine before and after the meal as well. The best rule of thumb is to use common sense. If the meal is light, pair it with a light wine. If the meal is rich, go for a heavier wine. Here is a listing of wines to help you with your choices.

Selected dry and off-dry white wines, lightest to weightiest:

Soave, Orvieto, Pinot Grigio
Off-dry Riesling
Dry Riesling
Muscadet
Champagne and other dry sparkling wines
Chenin Blanc
French Chablis and other unoaked Chardonnays
Sauvignon Blanc
White Bordeaux
White Burgundy
Pinot Gris (Alsace, Tokay)
Gewürztraminer
Barrel-fermented or barrel-aged Chardonnay (United States, Australia)

Selected red wines, lightest to weightiest:

Valpolicella
Beaujolais
Dolcetto
Rioja
California Pinot Noir
Burgundy
Barbera
Chianti Classico
Barbaresco
Barolo
Bordeaux
Merlot (United States)
Zinfandel
Cabernet Sauvignon (United States, Australia)
Rhône, Syrah, Shiraz

How Do You Gift Wrap A Wine Bottle?

February 15th, 2013 |

I don’t know about you, but sometimes I’m pressed for a gift idea. A wedding or birthday party springs up that I’ve forgotten about, or maybe I’ve just been invited to an event on a whim. Maybe a friend has just had a baby — because births are difficult to predict, most of us are often left without a gift or even an idea of what to give the new parents. In these sorts of situations, a bottle of wine (or even a celebratory bottle of Champagne) can be a perfect gift.

How do you gift wrap a wine bottle? The problem in wrapping a bottle of wine (or any bottle) is the shape. Whereas most gifts come in boxes or can be placed in boxes without looking too tacky, a bottle’s shape presents some unique shapes which are a challenge to wrap.

There is always the option of placing the bottle in a gift basket of sorts (see my article “How do you make a wine gift basket?”), and this is especially appropriate if the bottle you’re gifting is particularly fancy.

However, for most occasions, an entire gift basket may not be appropriate. As with giving a single rose instead of a bouqet, gifting a single well wrapped bottle is the ultimate classy move.

Most wine stores have several products to assist you if you’re extremely short on time or would rather not attempt to gift wrap a wine bottle yourself. Items like drawstring bags (perfectly sized for various sizes of wine bottles) or even decorative cardboard or paper sleeves are relatively inexpensive and provide the coverage you want when gift wrapping. Also, some of these products can help to personalize the gift — I’ve seen wine stores selling cover-up bags emblazoned with a sports team’s logo, the names of popular universities, and even phrases like “It’s a boy!” or “Merry Christmas”. However, as these items will be seen by some as a bit on the tacky side, it may be nicer to wrap the bottle yourself.

Traditional Wine Bottle Wrap

The traditional wine bottle wrap would be tissue paper (or tinted plastic wrap) surrounding the bottle itself and tied at the neck of the bottle with a length or two of color coordinated ribbon or string. You’ll find that if you use enough tissue paper or plastic wrap, the “leftovers” from the wrapping will bloom from the top of the bottle and cover the neck completely, also adding a nice decorative element. When selecting a color of tissue paper, remember that dark or deeply saturated colors (red, gold, green, black, etc) will work better to conceal the contents.

Method For Gift Wrapping A Wine Bottle

Another popular method for gift wrapping a wine bottle is an “incomplete” or “partial” wrap. Wine lovers won’t be surprised that you’re gifting them a bottle, but may relish the surprise of the specific vintage or variety of wine you’re gifting. Luckily, covering up the bottle’s label requires less time and materials than wrapping the bottle itself, and offers many opportunities for creativity.

Ribbon enhanced with wire at its edges can be a quick and attractive label cover — simply select two or three colors or patterns of wire ribbon and twist them around the label of the wine, concealing the label and adding a touch of elegance to your presentation. I have even seen people cut more traditional wrapping paper to size and cover the bottle’s label all the way around with the paper. This gives you the chance to add a personalized note right on the paper, or attach one to the paper with a bit of tape.

There are many ways to gift wrap a wine bottle — many of which aren’t covered here. If you have a unique suggestion for gift wrapping wine, post it over at the AskDeb.com forum. I’d be happy to hear your idea and share it with others.

Remember that a bottle of wine is both a thoughtful and useful gift for many occasions. Don’t let the odd shape of a wine bottle keep you from wrapping your gift — just use one of the suggestions above. The gift recipient will appreciate the personal touch.

See also:

What Is the Wine of the Month Club?
What Are Some Good Wine Blogs?
What Is the Mediterranean Diet?
Good Cheap Wines: 100 Quality Wines Anyone Can Afford
Wine Related Questions and Answers
eBay Auctions
How to Sell Artwork Online

What Are Wine Tours, And How Do Wine Tours Work?

February 15th, 2013 |

There are any number of events and tourist destinations geared toward wine lovers. From winery visits and wine tastings to wine lover’s cruises and tours of wine regions, people who appreciate wine have a variety of options when it comes to entertainment that caters to their tastes. The most adventurous wine related event might be the wine tour. A wine tour is a scheduled calendar of wine related events organized by a tour company or individual attended by people interested in wine. Food, tours of wine sites, entertainment, and even some lodging are covered under a the cost of the tour event. Think of it as a wine vacation.

What
Are Wine Tours?

People from all walks of life enjoy wine tours. Most wine tours are geared toward a specific group of wine enthusiasts — one tour may offer a large number of visits to family wineries with very few frills thrown in, and this kind of tour might cater to the serious student of viticulture or perhaps winemakers themselves. Another tour may offer two or three tours of wineries with plenty of recreational activities and dinners sprinkled about for the more casual wine lover. Still, do not be surprised if you meet a wide variety of people on a wine tour. The idea that wine is a beverage of the idle rich is simply not true.

How Wine Tours Work

People go on wine tours for various reasons. One good reason is educational. I have been on a tour of Oregon wineries full of wine lovers looking to learn more — a chef interested in expanding his knowledge of wine because he was opening his own restaurant, or a married couple taking detailed notes in order to prepare to start their own small winery in Washington. Still others are into it for knowledge, but for different reasons. I have seen a big rise in the number of wine tour attendees simply looking to bolster their own significant knowledge of wine — these people may be serious collectors brushing up on their regional wine knowledge, or casual wine drinkers expanding their wine vocabulary, as it were.

Quite often, people take wine tours to celebrate, or because they’ve been given the trip as a gift. On the same trip to Oregon, a newlywed couple was celebrating their honeymoon, and wine country (no matter where it is) is certainly a romantic destination. I have been on wine tours in Europe with older married couples celebrating anniversaries, students on tour as graduation gifts, and groups of old friends simply celebrating life.

The point is that wine has reached a new status in America — a drink for all types of people. Wine tours in your own state can open your eyes to the wine being made right in your own backyard. Remember that every state in the country has at least one winery, and all wineries will be happy to offer some sort of tour, perhaps even allowing you to taste their wares. Going on a tour of Texas wineries in college really opened my eyes to the exploding wine culture in my home state, known more for its beer drinking and barbecue than its Pinot Noir and Riesling. Next time you plan a trip here in America, consider searching out a local winery and including it on your vacation. Much can be learned about a state from drinking wines produced there — a red wine from California will have totally different characteristics than one produced in New York, though I have had amazing wine from both states.

A wine tour will do more than increase your knowledge of wine. You’ll meet interesting people with whom you share at least one interest. Treat yourself to a wine tour, and soak up the beauty of the world’s wine regions.

See also:

What Is the Wine of the Month Club?
What Are Some Good Wine Blogs?
What Is the Mediterranean Diet?
Good Cheap Wines: 100 Quality Wines Anyone Can Afford
Wine Related Questions and Answers
eBay Auctions
How to Sell Artwork Online

How To Taste Wine

February 15th, 2013 |

Wine is a deliciously sophisticated drink enjoyed all over the world. It invokes the concept of romance and elegance along with a little class. Wine is used for celebrations, upscale dinners, social functions, or just an evening with a special someone. What is more is that the art of wine-tasting has become more popular over the years. Wine touches all of our basic senses such as smell, touch, and taste. But wine-tasting is more than just drinking a glass of wine. You need to be able to appreciate the subtle differences in flavors. Being a true wine connoisseur takes real talent and a sensitive palate. If you want to impress your girlfriend and need to know how to taste wine, here are some things to keep in mind when you pop the cork.

Wine Tasting Guide

This wine tasting guide will detail the standard and commonly accepted way to taste wine. First we will begin with preparation.

Before you can taste the wine, you need to prepare it to make sure you have the best conditions in order to provide the best taste. If there are several wines to taste, the order that you taste them in is important. You should always start out with a light wine and progress down to the stronger, more flavorful wines. A good way to arrange a selection of wines is to put white wines before red wines, young wines before older wines, and drier wines before sweeter wines.

You always want to serve wine at just the right temperature. Reds should be served at slightly below room temperature while whites are served slightly above room temperature. Many people believe that a newly opened bottle fo wine needs time to breath. This is only true of certain vintages of reds. If a wine has been properly stored and served at the correct temperature, then it should be perfectly fine to open and immediately drink. Pouring the wine into the wine glass is also usually sufficient airing.

Sometimes red wine must be decanted. This is required only if the wine has developed sediment in the bottle. A good way to decant the wine is to get a light source such as a lamp. Set the bottle up for awhile and let all the sediment settle to the bottom. After you open up the bottle, hold the bottle up to the lamp as you pour it. Watch the neck of the bottle. The light should shine bright enough to see through the bottle. As you slowly pour the wine, watch the neck. As soon as you see sediment appear, stop pouring. It shouldn’t appear until at least half of the wine has been poured. Once sediment appears, throw the rest of the wine away. It may seem like a waste of a good vintage but you don’t want the sediment to ruin the wine.

Look At The Wine

After the bottle of wine has been opened, you will want to inspect its color. To do this, you will want a good wine glass. The glass should be clear so that you can see the color properly. Pour a small amount of wine into the glass, about a third of the way to a half full.

Next, hold the glass up to the light by the stem. You want to see the color of the wine in the best possible light. You want to check out the wine’s color by looking from the rim to the center of the glass. This will give the best variations of color. Red wines are not just red. They can be purple, ruby, maroon, or even a reddish brown depending on their age. Younger reds are darker and have more purple hues while older reds turn to an almost orange hue. You also want to inspect the opacity of the wine. Older reds will be more translucent than younger red wines.

When it comes to the color of white wines, the name is misleading. White wines tend to be yellow or have an almost greenish tint to them. Some of them can even be brown. The more color there is in a white wine, the more flavor it has. White wines do not age very well, at least not as well as reds. Red wines may become richer in flavor as they age but white wines tend to break down.

Smell The Wine

Smell is very important in wines. Since our taste buds can be limited to salty or sweet tastes, smell can alter that taste slightly and create a new experience. Different varieties of wine all have different aromas. When you smell the wine, you are trying to pick out the individual aromas.

To get the best smell out of your wine, swirl it around the glass a few times. Swirling the wine aerates it by stirring up the molecules. After you swirl it, hold the glass a few inches from your face and try to smell it. Just get a quick whiff and then sit back and think about the aroma. Then go back and actually stick your nose inside the glass and take a deeper whiff. All of the aromas define a wine’s character.

And Finally…Taste The Wine

Now it comes down to the big moment. You finally get to taste the wine. Take a small sip and savor the taste. You are looking for certain qualities in the wine. Try to determine if the wine is light or rich, smooth or strong, or heavy or refreshing. Let the first sip sit in your mouth a moment as you contemplate this. You will then either swallow the wine or spit it out into a small spittoon or glass. Many wine-tasting events prefer you to spit the wine out because after you swallow too much wine, your senses become dulled and you cannot accurately taste the wine.

You can then take another sip of the wine and swish it around your mouth. Take in some air to mix with it. This is to give you a second impression and maybe give you the opportunity to pick out some more qualities. After you swallow or spit the wine out, notice the aftertaste. A good wine will leave its taste in your mouth longer than a young or cheaper wine.

After you have finished tasting the wine, if you are at a wine-tasting event you would record your observations on a record sheet. Then you move on to the next wine. Be sure to have a clean palate before smelling or tasting it. Taking a couple of drinks of water should do the trick. You don’t want any of the previous wine lingering. Also make sure you use a clean glass or rinse your glass out with a small amount of the next wine. Keep repeating the process as you try all the different wines and record what you think of them. It may take practice but after you taste enough wines, you eventually start recognizing certain flavors and qualities.

See also:

What Is the Wine of the Month Club?
What Are Some Good Wine Blogs?
What Is the Mediterranean Diet?
Good Cheap Wines: 100 Quality Wines Anyone Can Afford
Wine Related Questions and Answers
Golden Corral Coupons
Olive Garden Coupons

What Is a Syrah Wine?

February 15th, 2013 |

There is also the fact that more wine, and a greater variety of wine, is available to us in America. One example of this is the growing popularity of a wine called Syrah.

How Did Shiraz and Syrah Wine Get Their Names?

Known by two names, Syrah and Shiraz, this wine is made from a grape of the same name. The Syrah grape is native to the Rhone valley in France, and is best known in France for its use in Hermitage wine. In Australia, this wine is exclusively referred to as Shiraz, and makes up the majority of Australian wine. There are some excellent Shiraz wines coming out of Australia, and often their price is affordable to most wine lovers. McLaren’s 2004 Linchpin Shiraz is an outstanding example of this dark and mysterious grape, and can be found for under $25 at most wine retailers. Wyndham Estate, also from Australia, produces amazing Shiraz wines, and both their reserve and standard labels can be found for $30 or less.

Of course, you don’t even have to spend this much to enjoy a good Shiraz. Many domestic bottlers are marketing their Syrah wines as “Australian style Shiraz”. Tomasello Winery, an American winemaker, features Aussie-style Shiraz labels for under $20, some as low as $14.99 suggested retail. Columbia Valley Syrah (note the more common American spelling) will set you back only about $15 and has won more than a few domestic wine awards.

Common Flavor Notes for Syrah Wine

Syrah is known to be a dark colored, heavy red wine. The most common flavor notes for Syrah are blackberry, pepper, plum, and spice, though many wine enthusiasts talk about Syrah in terms of licorice, mocha, etc. It is a relatively complex wine that is easily paired with food, especially spicy “ethnic” foods like Mexican or Indian cuisine, and especially beef dishes.

This dark skinned grape is the 6th most common grape grown for wine in the entire world, and is climbing steadily. Whether this is just a flash in the pan for wine lovers or a long term love affair is yet to be seen. One thing is sure — Syrah blends well with other wines, and this will ensure it will be grown in large numbers for quite a while, as blended reds are themselves some of the more popular wines in the world.

Do not be confused by a similarly named varietal — Petit Sirah — which is a wine made from a different grape entirely from Syrah. While the Durif grape (used to make Petit Sirah) is in fact a cross breed between a Syrah grape and another grape (Peloursin), it produces a completely different wine with its own flavor profiles and history.

It is recommended that Syrah be served around 64 degrees Fahrenheit, which is incredibly warm for wine, even red wine. A good Syrah can be aged for up to five years before enjoying, and this aging process will only serve to further mellow out the spiciness of a good Syrah. So take your time, age your Syrah, cook up a good steak, and enjoy this dark wine native to France but made most popular by the Australians.

See also:

What Is the Wine of the Month Club?
What Are Some Good Wine Blogs?
What Is the Mediterranean Diet?
Good Cheap Wines: 100 Quality Wines Anyone Can Afford
Wine Related Questions and Answers
Blackeyed Pea Coupons
Bob Evans Coupons

What Is Wine Spectator?

February 15th, 2013 |

Wine Spectator is a magazine and online resource for the world of wine. While the main focus of the magazine is almost exclusively on wine reviews and tasting notes, the magazine and website also include lifestyle articles, recipes, food reviews, and a highly controversial restaurant rating system known as the Wine Spectator Award of Excellence. More on the controversy later.

History of Wine Spectator Magazine

The history of wine spectator magazine is relatively young since it began in 1976 as a small collection of wine notes printed on newsprint — a far cry from the massive and attractively designed oversized magazine it is today. Wine Spectator presents 16 issues every year — monthly issues as well as special editions — and their editors review thousands and thousands of wines, culminating in a “Best Of” edition at year’s end.

Articles I’ve read recently in Wine Spectator have discussed relations between wine producers, the age old debate over natural vs. artificial cork, an advice article about the new “bitter” trend in American taste as evidenced by the proliferation of bitter liquors on restaurant menus, and the much anticipated Best Wines of 2008.

The website for Wine Spectator (www.WineSpectator.com) can naturally offer more updates than the magazine, and a wider variety of content. When stories like the current wildfires in Australia pop up in the news, the Wine Spectator website can address the story from a wine lover’s perspective — perhaps this is a little insensitive, but there are a ton of solid wineries affected by or in the way of the fires, and wine aficionados do want to hear about how these wildfires affect the wine industry. The website also offers a large number of editor’s blogs (7 as of this writing) as well as a useful archive of past editor’s and guests blogs.

Now for the controversy — since 1981, Wine Spectator has handed out an award to restaurants it deems “Excellent”. The Wine Spectator Award of Excellence is meant to identify restaurants around the world that not only feature excellent food but an excellent wine list. In other words, this award points restaurant seekers and wine lovers towards what the editors at Wine Spectator believe to be the best places to eat and enjoy great wines.

To apply for an Award of Excellence, restaurateurs submit a cover letter, a menu, a wine list, and (here’s the tricky part) a $250 application fee. In August 2008, an Italian restaurant called Osteria L’Intrepido (the Fearless Critic . . . get it?) received the award. The only problem is that Osteria L’Intrepido does not exist — it is a hoax perpetrated by a wine author and critic of Wine Spectator. Not only does the restaurant not exist, but its wine list was made up of some of the worst wines ever reviewed by Wine Spectator itself. The implication is that all that is required to earn the “Excellence” award is the application fee. As embarassing as this has been for Wine Spectator, however, the editors apologized and came up with some passable excuses, and the incident has blown over for the majority of the magazine’s audience.

Aside from the controversy and the magazine’s naysayers, most people respect the opinions of Wine Spectator. Often when you’re hunting for a good bottle of wine, you’ll find the Wine Spectator rating displayed prominently by the wine retailer, especially if the wine has an 85 rating or above. I must admit using this rating as a selling point myself, even convincing friends and family to purchase one bottle over another simply because of the Wine Spectator rating. The truth is you should take these ratings with a grain of salt. Just because a few editors at a wine magazine think a bottle is a 90 or a 92 or an 88 does not mean you will like it. Take your own tastes into account before purchasing.

If you’re looking for a general guide to wines, or enjoy reading about wine culture and wine reviews, there may be no better source than Wine Spectator. You can pick up a copy at most large magazine retailers and bookstores. Just don’t trust those Awards of Excellence.

See also:

Why Is Napa Wine So Expensive?

February 15th, 2013 |

Friends of mine ask me many wine related questions. Some of them have no answer — “Why do some corks get tainted and others don’t?” or “What is the best wine with a steak?” While I can often supply some kind of suggestion, these kinds of questions have no one true answer.

Still other wine questions do have one empirical truth. One question I get all the time is about California wine.

“Why is Napa wine so expensive?”

Factors For Napa Valley, California Wine Prices

The truth is there is no one reason for why wine from the Napa Valley region in California tends to cost a distinct amount more than wines from other regions, even some from the same state. There are many reasons why Napa wine costs more than wines sitting right next to them on the shelf.

The main reason is cost to the winemaker. It simply costs more per acre to plant vines in Napa Valley than in, say, San Luis Obispo or Sonoma. Land in Napa Valley ranges from $75,000 to $200,000 per acre, that’s right, per acre. Since almost no winemaker can afford to pay this kind of money in cash, most wineries start out with some serious debt to deal with.

Not only is the land expensive in Napa, but wine cultivation in general is not a cheap concern. To the ridiculously high land bill found above, you can expect to add around $45,000 per acre to begin a vineyard — that is, if you’re using proper wine cultivation methods. Where does this money go? Soil preparation, the purchase of baby vines and rootstock, irrigation and drainage systems, and the construction of trellising for the vines to grow on. There are many more factors, but these are the big boys. Remember also that a vineyard may not begin to produce palatable wine for years — the debt grows and grows as a winemaker prepares to produce amazing wines.

Add in labor costs and the price of starting a vineyard is incredibly high. After all, most vineyards — especially fancy vineyards in Napa — must be hand pruned several times a year. So the high cost of land in Napa is an early handicap and an early price booster for those brave enough to begin a vineyard there.

Another factor in the price of Napa wines is buzz. The average wine consumer may not know much, but it is likely they’ve heard of Napa. Television, films, and pop culture in general have made sure of that. Naturally, a wine that features the name “Napa Valley” prominently on its label (a process which is highly regulated to ensure the wine really does come from Napa) can ask for more money per bottle than one made in, say, West Texas.

As much as simple pop culture buzz can raise the price of a wine, a solid review from a well known wine critic can go even further in hiking up a bottle’s price. Because wines from Napa have been celebrated for so long in America, and because they’re generally pretty damn good, they are often well reviewed. This extra buzz factor can mean the difference between a $12 bottle and a $50 bottle. Wine retailers can inflate the price to whatever level they believe will still be profitable. It is not unusual to find a bottle of wine that cost five dollars to produce selling for well over the fifty dollar mark. Why does this work? We in the wine world have stars in our eyes over certain vintages, and happily shell out an obscene amount of money for our darlings.

So why is Napa wine so expensive? A combination of land cost, vineyard cost, winemaker debt, name recognition, and consumer buzz. If you’re looking for incredible California wines but don’t want to shell out the extra sums of money required for a Napa purchase, consider buying from one of the lesser known (but still opulent) regions: Mendocino County, Central Valley, or Sierra Foothills. You’ll get a quality California wine at a much reduced price.

See also:

Is Home Wine Making Legal or Illegal?

February 15th, 2013 |

There are many benefits to making your own wine at home. For starters, it is a fun process with a potentially delicious and cost effective end result. Another benefit for the wine enthusiast is that you can learn to create wines that will perfectly suit your taste. You will no longer have to rely on wines made by other wineries — if you like your wine extremely sweet or on the incredibly dry side, you can concoct just such a wine and enjoy it with your family and friends.

But the question comes up again and again — is home wine making legal or not?

Legality of Home Winemaking

The answer is . . . yes and no.

Before I go into the details of the legality of home winemaking, I would suggest that after reading this brief article, you find out if making wine at home is legal in your state. I can think of at least one state, Alabama, where it is technically illegal to brew any kind of alcoholic beverage in one’s home. Rather than trust my advice implicitly, check with the local authorities before you get yourself in trouble with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms.

Legal Homebrewing History

Now, a brief history of the legality of homebrewing. After Prohibition, the legality of homebrewing was very unclear. It wasn’t until 1979 that the federal government made an explicit decision about homebrewing, and President Jimmy Carter signed into a law a bill that allowed certain amounts of certain alcoholic beverages to be legally brewed in citizen’s homes. Technically, the bill refers to “beer”, but the legalese included in the bill allows for other alcoholic beverages (including sake and cider as well as a very confusing “etc”) to be brewed within legal boundaries. This bill allowed between 100 and 200 gallons of homebrew to be made per year, strangely enough based on your marital status. 100 gallons for single individuals, 200 gallons for married couples. Obviously the federal government has a sense of humor, or at least understands the pressures of married life. Also, citizens are not allowed to sell their beverages (without the standard license offered to other alcoholic beverage retailers) and homebrewers must be 18 years old to brew — and of legal drinking age to drink their wares.

As with any federal regulation, a problem arises when states decide to enforce their own rules. Take the states of Tennessee or Texas. It seems these states allow the federal law to determine their state law — both states allow the standard 100-200 gallon limits of wine or beer to be brewed at home and enjoyed by a family or their guests within certain legal parameters. In opposition to this attitude, some states feel they can police this issue better on their own. In Idaho, for instance, only “beer” made from “native materials” is technically legal — while in Utah, under no circumstances can any citizen of that state manufacture an alcoholic product without a proper license from the state.

While it may appear to be legal within the borders of the United States to brew between 100 and 200 gallons of wine at home, as stated above it is best to check your local statutes. A great resource for doing so can be found here:
http://www.beertown.org/homebrewing/legal.html

See also:

How to Make Your Own Wine

February 15th, 2013 |

In most states in America, it is completely legal to make a restricted amount of wine right in your own home. Not only is homebrewing a popular hobby (the American Homebrewing Association’s rather conservative estimate claims there are around 500,000 homebrewers at any given time) but it is not as difficult a task as some might think, and does not have to be a particularly expensive hobby.

After all, wine is merely “a fermented beverage made from the juice of any fruit”. Galileo has famously described wine as “sunlight held together by water”, and this simple philosophical definition points out the ease with which wine can be made. All you need are the proper materials, a little bit of space, and the desire to make your own delicious homebrewed vino.

How do you make your own wine?

Homemade Winemaking Equipment

The most important material in home winemaking is fruit. Wine can be made from almost any fruit in the world. I have personally made wine from pears, apples, grapes (of course), and even figs. Making wine at home is a great way to use a large quantity of fruit you may have on hand — perhaps there is a fruit that is grown in large amounts in your area, or maybe you have a few fruit trees on your property that have delivered a particularly robust crop this year. No matter how you get it, in order to make wine you must have a pretty good quantity of your chosen fruit.

You’ll also need a large glass container which will work as a “fermenting vessel”. A proper vessel for fermenting your fruit can be obtained at a hobby store or brewing shop. The reason you should go ahead and shell out for the slightly more expensive brewshop jugs is that they will have an “airlock”. The airlock on your fermenting jug will allow carbon dioxide to escape the jug without allowing air to enter. Air in your fermentation jug will oxidize the fermenting fruit and ruin your brewing process. To find a brew shop in your area, use your old friend Google or another internet search.

A large “food grade” tub or plastic container with a lid will be handy when pressing the juice from your fruit. If you don’t feel like you can press or squeeze the juice out of your fruit by hand, an electric juicer will be of great assistance. Yeast, also obtainable from brew shops or in most grocery stores, is a necessity, as is a siphoning tube. If you don’t want to spend your entire life boiling your equipment, pick up some sterilization tablets or powder from a cleaning supply store, or perhaps also from your local big box store.

Home Wine Making Instructions

When you’re ready to make wine, gather your fruit and juice it and follow these home wine making instructions. How much fruit juice do you need? Enough to fill the fermentation vessel. Never water down your juice, as suggested by some homebrewing advice books, because the wine will suffer from the addition of water — basically, you’ll end up with watery wine.

Stomp, juice, press, or squeeze your fruit into your food grade tub. If using a particularly “frothy” fruit (apples, pears, etc), your siphoning tube will come in handy. You don’t want to add froth to your eventual fermentation mix. When you have enough juice to fill your fermentation jug, decide if you need to add sugar. Very sweet juices will not need sugar — I’m thinking here of plums or sweet grapes. However, to most other fruits I would add a pound or two of sugar per gallon of juice. If you aren’t a sweet wine fan, or if you like a particularly “dry” wine, you can reduce or cut the sugar entirely. Remember that sugar is food for yeast, and the more sugar you add the more alcohol content will be in the wine. Experiment with different sugar levels to find the quality of wine you like best, from very sweet to very dry.

Add your sterilization tablets to some water and sterilize your fermenting vessel. You can also boil the heck out of it if you want to avoid sterilization tablets. The idea is to ferment your juice in a completely clean vessel, avoiding impurities. Pour your fruit juice into your fermenting jug, and “activate” your yeast by adding it to a little warm water and sugar in a cup. After a few minutes, the yeast is “alive” and ready to go to work. Add the yeast to the fruit juice in your fermenting jug. Airlock your jug and watch as bubbles should begin to form in the airlock within a few hours of sealing off your fermentation jug. These bubbles mean that the yeast is reacting to the sugar in the jug, and alcohol is forming.

Set your fermentation jug in a relatively warm and safe place. Ideally, you should ferment your wine between 8 months and one full year. Trying to drink the wine too soon will leave you with a bad taste in your mouth. Wine takes time, and the more time you take the more you’ll be rewarded.

A little hint — I’ve found that placing the jug in a particularly cold spot for a week before opening will clear up or “clarify” the wine, improving its look and perhaps its taste.

At this point, you’re ready to bottle and cork your wine. Don’t forget to sterilize the bottles and corks you use. Print out your own fancy label, making note of the fruit, sugar amount, and year of bottling. Ideally, you’ll wait another year or two to drink the fantastic wine you’ve made.

Share it with friends. Show them how easy the process is. Who knows — perhaps you’ll start a local fad.

See also:

How to Remove Wine Labels

February 15th, 2013 |

An excellent bottle of wine is one of my true joys in life. There is nothing more relaxing to me after a hard day of work than to meet up with a good friend and a bottle of one of my favorite wines.

Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end. Even after the bottle has been turned completely upside down and the last precious drops make their way into my glass, I find I want to remember great wines I’ve shared with friends and family. The best way to do this, in my opinion, is by saving the labels in my cellar book. Some people paste labels into scrapbooks, and still others keep them in picture frames or other displays.

Methods For Removing Wine Labels

There are a number of methods for removing wine labels. I’ve heard it all, and read about more than a few in wine magazines. Let’s take a look at three easy and usually successful methods.

Steam / Hot Water Method

Really this is two different methods, but they work on the same principle.

Those of us lucky enough to own a home espresso machine will have an easy time of steaming a label off a bottle of wine. Grab your empty wine bottle, charge up your espresso machine, and put on something to protect your hands — remember that steam is incredibly hot and can burn. (Don’t laugh — I’ve burned myself at least once forgetting this simple rule.)

Placing the label a safe distance from the steam wand on the machine, turn the machine up enough to produce a steady but not overpowering amount of steam. Run the steam around the edge of the label a few times until you see the label begin to peel. With many bottles, this is all you’ll need — you may then carefully peel the label off, applying gentle pressure. Just to be safe, though, it may be wise to continue steaming the label until all of the glue beneath has weakened. Ideally, you will be able to remove the label with very little force and without any tearing.

Those who do not own an espresso machine are still in luck — a teapot will do just fine, but remember, it is just as dangerous to your skin as a steam wand. Once the water in the teapot is boiling, hold the bottle in the steam until the label begins to peel. Apply gentle pressure and the label will come right off.

Still others prefer to fill the bottle itself with very hot water. Make sure not to get the label itself wet in the process, as this can ruin the look of the label and at worst can destroy it altogether. Let the hot water sit in the bottle until the glue holding on the label is weak enough to allow you to peel the label off.

Hot water can work like magic to remove a label, but there is some danger that the label will be damaged.

Laminate / Tape Method

Wine stores and catalogs often advertise a sort of laminate or tape that is about the size or a little larger than most wine labels. The idea is to place the tape over the label, press firmly to make sure it has stuck, and to gentle peel the tape (and hopefully the label) off the bottle.

The problems with this method are many. For one, many wine labels are too large or too small for the size of the tape. Also, it may be difficult to remove the label intact from the bottle, as the tape may provide too much force and tear the label right off. Also, there is no way to remove the tape once it has been applied to the label, making for a rather junky looking label presentation. One way around this is to display the labels in such a way that the tape doesn’t show — scrapbooking or framing methods would work best once tape has been stuck to a label, as you would most likely use tape to affix the labels eventually anyway.

Soaking In Water Method

I think the most common method for removing wine labels is to soak the empty bottle in water. Fill your kitchen sink with medium hot water (if the water is too hot it could destroy the label) and two drops of dishwashing liquid. If you use too much dishwashing liquid, the label will be destroyed just as thoroughly as if you use scalding hot water. In around half an hour, the label will either have come right off, or will be pulling away from the bottle enough for you to finish the job with your hands or a single edged razor blade. Be careful with the blade — if you don’t hold it at the correct angle, it will most likely cut the label in half, create too much “drag” and tear the label off the bottle, or could even slip and cut you.

Many people these days simply ask the winery for labels, and most wineries are happy to oblige. I don’t think of this as true wine label collecting — after all, when I drink a bottle of wine and remove the label, I have the satisfaction of my memory of drinking the very wine that the label came with. It is just as legitimate to display or mount a label received directly from a winery, but I feel like this cheapens the experience, and therefore would rather remove the label myself.

There are many other methods for removing wine labels — some soak their bottles in gasoline, still others use a hair dryer to weaken the glue, etc. I find these three methods the safest and most dependable methods of saving wine bottle labels. How you store wine bottles and display them is your business.

See also:

How to Remove a Stye from Your Eye
How to Remove Rust Stains from a Bathtub
How to Remove Wallpaper
How to Remove Warts
How to Manage Email
How Much Should I Weigh
Benihana Coupons

How to Buy Wine Glasses

February 15th, 2013 |

When you start to get serious about wine, you realize that the glass you drink your wine from can really influence the experience. How many of us have been served perfectly good sparkling wine at a party only to have the taste or the bubbles ruined by the cheap Dixie cup it is served in? Besides the inferiority of cardboard cups, certain wines will perform better when drunk from certain shapes or styles of glass. Just like a sonnet wouldn’t quite be a sonnet without the end-rhymes and meter, a beautiful Pinot Noir is not the same served in a drinking cup.

Types Of Wine Glasses

There are many different types of wine glass, but they fit into three basic categories. Champagne and sparkling wines are traditionally served in flutes (long slender glasses) which serve to maintain the effervescence and particular “bouquet” of sparkling wine. Red wines are served in glasses with large “bowls” so that they may be swirled in order to bring out the aromas of the wine, and to expose the wine to greater amounts of oxygen. White wine, on the other hand, should be served in a normal sized wine glass, and doesn’t require the large bowl that red wine requires, as it doesnt need the exposure to oxygen. Some wine snobs feel that all wines, besides sparkling, benefit from swirling, but in my opinion swirling a white wine is a waste of time. The bottom line is — most wine drinkers don’t need more than three styles of wine glass: flutes, large bowl glasses for reds, and standard size glasses for whites.

Rules For Choosing Wine Glass Style or Brand

When choosing a particular brand or style of glass, I have three rules I go by.

Make sure the glasses are of sufficient size.
Not too big, not too small. The range of glasses should be appropriate to the wine type (see above for the difference between flutes, red wine glasses, and white wine glasses) but not large or small. I have seen many “boutique” style glasses that are so small it would require them to be filled to the absolute brim in order to get a full glass, and this simply will not do.
Make sure the material the glasses are made of is appropriate.
Ideally, your glass will be clear and unadorned. I am usually uncomfortable drinking any type of wine from a colored glass. It makes me wonder what the server is trying to hide? Is there cork or mold in the wine? Is the wine inferior and oily? Avoid colored glasses. Some people say that crystal, or even cut crystal, is ideal for wine, but I say whatever floats your boat — as long as they are clear — is fine. After all, you’re the one drinking out of them most of the time.
Consider the shape of the glass.
The glass should have a steam. I have seen trendy restaurants lately featuring stemless glasses for wine, and this is fine if you want to spend half your life cleaning fingerprints off the glass. Besides, I find that a glass clutched in my hand causes the wine to reach an unpleasant temperature. Remember, body heat transfers easily through glass or crystal. A stem is a must have for wine glasses. Another shape consideration is the taper at the top of the glass. This taper, while pleasing to the eye, also assist in enjoying the bouqet of a wine. Wine, especially red wine, is meant to be enjoyed in the nose as well as in the mouth. When swirling your wine, the aromas release in a tapered glass will be concentrated toward the nose, increasing your appreciation. Remember that the shape of a glass may be just as important as the size and the color.

The next time you’re at your favorite restaurant, notice the glasses they use to serve wine. Obviously you enjoy the glasses at this restaurant, or it wouldn’t be your favorite. You would do well to imitate the style of glasses they use, because restaurants consider all of the above suggestions when purchasing wine glasses, and this takes the guesswork out of the purchase.

See also:

When Is the Best Time of Year to Visit Wine Country?

February 15th, 2013 |

The “wine country” is made up of several counties in Northern California. It includes many famous wine growing regions such as Napa Valley, Sonoma, Russian River Valley, and Dry Creek Valley. By far the largest producer of wine in the wine country is Sonoma, though the most famous and prestigious is the Napa Valley.

So if you’re planning a trip to the wine country, the first question you may have is “When is the best time of year to visit wine country?”

Seasons To Visit California Wine Country

The goods news is that you can’t go wrong when picking a time to visit California wine country. Though there are differences between the seasons in California wine country, there is no one month “better” than another — just variations in weather and wine activity. This area of the country has something to offer its visitors year round, though conditions and attractions vary from month to month. You can decide what kind of experience your after and select a time of year to visit which best fits your idea of a wine country vacation.

Winter

December and January in wine country are unique in that there are simply no crowds to contend with. If you’re looking to visit particularly popular wineries, like those in Sonoma or Napa, and you want to avoid groups of tourists and crowded restaurants (not to mention crowded wine tours), these two winter months are ideal for you. There is a certain beauty to the vineyards during these months, as the trellises normally supporting live vines will be all but completely bare. It isn’t that the vines are “dead” — they are simply dormant. For proof that even the dormant winter months can be beautiful, schedule your trip to wine country in December or January — as an added bonus, you may often be the only visitor to certain wineries.

In February, you may begin to see a few more wine enthusiasts popping up here and there, although you are more likely to be bothered by photographers or nature freaks. February is the month when wild mustard flowers come into bloom across wine country, and is considered one of the more picturesque times to be in northern California. Perhaps because there are still sparse crowds, and also because of the beauty of the wild mustard flowers, you are likely to meet many shutterbugs snapping away. Vines will still be dormant, although the trellises will not appear as bare because of wildflowers just starting to pop up among the vines.

Spring

In March and April, the tourist season will have truly begun. For one thing, the temperatures will have evened out, allowing for more time outdoors. Also, the wildflowers that can be found everywhere in the wine country are blooming while the vines in the vineyards are awakening and budding. Expect decent crowds when you visit the more touristy spots, though small wineries and out of the way locations will still be pretty bare.

Late Spring through Summer

From May to the end of August is the serious tourist season in wine country. Weekends will bring heavy crowds — not necessarily a bad thing. If you want to meet likeminded people and don’t mind waiting a bit for a table at your favorite wine country restaurant, this warm (even hot) season can be quite the vacation spot. During this time, the vines are budding and showing grapes, and people’s minds turn to the coming harvest, talking about the recent weather, the amount of rain, and how they feel the new crop will turn out. This is the most “exciting” time to visit the wine country, and certainly the most crowded.

Fall

September through October is harvest time — a unique time to visit the wine country if you’re a fan of viticulture. Depending on what part of the wine country you’re in, you could pull into a winery at its busiest, or maybe you’ve just missed the harvest but can still see the process finishing up. Once upon a time this was a pretty quiet time in California wine country, but these days just as many people will be visiting wine country during the harvest season as visited during the summer, most likely due to an increased interest in wine production.

November in wine country is similar to December and January, except that wildflowers and vines are just starting to lose their vegetation. The beautiful golden colors of falling leaves make for a romantic getaway, and another great photo opportunity for wine country tourists. Crowds will have fallen off considerably, but so will wine production, so if that is what you want to see, you must arrive in wine country earlier in the year.

No matter when you decide to visit, wine country is a unique destination for wine lovers. It is the greatest concentration of vineyards and wineries in America, and for those of us who call ourselves wine snobs, it is a kind of Mecca. Here’s hoping to do visit the California wine country, no matter what month you decide to take your vacation. Just don’t forget to bring plenty of film.

See also:

How to Start a Wine Tasting Club

February 15th, 2013 |

A new hobby can be great for the mind and body — forget about laughter, sometimes the best medicine is simply experiencing and learning about something new.

We’ve all heard it before, from friends or family members: “Maybe you should get a hobby.” It turns out that advice was pretty sound. According to the Mind / Body Center at Harvard University, hobbies reduce stress, lower blood pressure, and trigger your brain’s “relaxation response”.

Participating in your hobby with friends is naturally more beneficial. Social contact is right up there with Prozac in terms of staving away depression. People join all kinds of clubs to pursue their hobby with people of a like mindset. The most common “hobby club” in America is probably the book club, where a group agrees to read a certain book then meets on a regular basis to discuss the book.

My greatest interest these days is wine — tasting, purchasing, collecting, studying . . . I want to do it all, and I want my friends and family to share in the experience. How would I go about starting a wine tasting club? What sorts of activities do wine tasting clubs take part in? How do I know what wines to pick for my club to taste?

The world of wine can be basically divided into two groups, and it is important to determine which of these camps you and your friends belong to before jumping into forming a tasting club.

The Casual Wine Drinker

I believe I fall into this category. I am just as happy drinking a bottle of Two Buck Chuck as I am sipping, swishing, and spitting a vintage label. The casual wine drinker may scoff at the almost religious manner in which a bottle of wine is presented at a nice restaurant. Who wants to smell a cork when there’s a delicious bottle of wine to enjoy? Sure, more experienced drinkers of wine may consider we casual wine drinkers amateurs, but our appreciation of wine is just as important as the wine aficionado, and many wine tasting clubs are geared for the casual type. A wine tasting club peopled with casual or amateur wine drinkers will look quite different from that aimed at the aficionado.

Wine Aficionados

Like it or not, some people take wine quite seriously. These are the people you see in restaurants inspecting the bottle when it is presented by a waiter. They sniff the cork, they peruse the label as though it were a real estate contract, they take great pains to “inspect” the wine before it is poured. There is something to be said for this kind of respect for wine — it is not my style, but I certainly understand this type of wine consumer. As with the casual wine drinker, the wine aficionado will require a very different kind of wine tasting club.

Basics — How many wines, and what kind?

The general rule at a wine tasting seems to be to taste no more than six wines. Obviously, if your group is on the casual side of wine appreciation, you can alter this number at your discretion, tasting four wines for instance, or eight. I suppose the sky’s the limit, as long as you are tasting and discussing the wines properly, and not simply drinking eight bottles of wine with your friends.

The types of wines you taste is also up to you — learn about the members of your club, their personal tastes and what types of wines they’d be interested in tasting. The casual wine tasting club is more likely to stick to familiar varieties of wine — Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Merlot, Pinot Grigio, etc. Picking up a basic guide to wine, such as Wine for Dummies, will help you pick varietals. A more experienced or fancy wine tasting club will be more likely to branch out and taste some of the less familiar varietals — Charbono, Gamay, Pinotage, Zweigelt, etc. Having said this, even a casual wine tasting club could benefit from the occasional unfamiliar varietal. What’s a wine tasting club for, if not for expanding the wine experience of its members?

Supplies Needed For A Wine Club

Some of the supplies needed for a wine club include a set of proper wine glasses for each taster, which should be set out beforehand. If you have a dozen members, and you’re tasting six wines, this adds up to a large number of glasses. Make sure you have the proper supplies, or suggest that the group “go in” on a proper set together.

A “wine placemat” and a scoring sheet are standard materials. The placemat will indicate where the glasses are to be set, and will number the wines for identification without prejudice. Remember, you probably don’t want the members of the club to know what they’re drinking beforehand, as it might affect their opinion of the wine. We’re going for a pure taste opinion here. As for the scoring sheet, the basic categories for scoring a wine are Appearance, Aroma, Body, Taste, and Finish, or words along these lines. After tasting the wine, the club member should be provided with a cardboard cup to spit the wine into (we don’t want our club members becoming intoxicated before the end of the club meeting) and they should then proceed to make some judgments on the wine, rating the wine in each category according to a number system.

Don’t forget bags to completely cover the wines as they’re being poured. This will also help to keep the wines anonymous.

Pieces of bread or relatively flavorless crackers should be provided to ‘cleanse the palate’ between glasses. It is common for one wine’s taste to muddy or even mask the flavor of another wine.

After drinking each wine, a discussion should take place. What did the members like or dislike about each wine? Would they purchase the wine in the future? Often these talks branch out in many directions, and don’t be surprised if you find your club eventually discussing politics, religion, or some other “no-no” topic — like great music, a great wine can often initiate conversation.

Remember, even if your wine tasting club is full of very serious wine aficionados, the point is to have fun. There are no right or wrong answers when tasting wine.

If you set your tasting up properly, and serve solid enjoyable wines, you and your wine tasting club are sure to have a good time. Hopefully, you’ll have many more meetings the future.

See also:

What Is a Wine of the Month Club?

February 15th, 2013 |

A wine of the month club is the perfect way to experience new wines without ever leaving your home.

Like any “_____ of the month” club, when you join a wine of the month club you can expect a selection of wines to arrive at your door each month. The type, cost, and regularity of these shipments varies from club to club.

So how do you know which wine of the month club to join? There are a few factors to help determine what club you should join.

Monthly Wine Club Costs

The most important factor for most customers is going to be the cost of the monthly wine club. There are as many wine of the month clubs as there are budgets, and even the pricier wine of the month clubs offer increments of delivery to help out if you’re not looking to spend a ton of money.

Full disclosure, my family is a member of Wine of the Month from Amazing Clubs. I chose this club because of cost. Their 12 month delivery program averages out to $33.95 a month, which is a savings of four bucks per month over their one month service. For 12 months of service from my club, I pay just over $407 for the year. As mentioned, however, you can sign up for just one month at $37.95 and give their service a try.

Other cost options for wine of the month clubs — WineExpress.com’s Perfect Pair club runs a little cheaper by the month ($35.80) but doesn’t offer any discount if you order an annual subscription. You’ll be paying $35.80 per month regardless of how many months you order.

Wine of the month clubs can run as high as $1219 per year (the highest I’ve seen) also offered by WineExpress.com — the difference is, for paying a little more you get 3 reds and 3 whites each month. This breaks down to just under $17 per bottle, and many of the bottles you’ll get from this club are worth far more than this.

Getting Variety In Wine Of The Month Clubs

Ask yourself — do you drink mostly red or white wines? Do you want to pair your wine delivery with a food item, like a wine and cheese combination? Do you want just a couple of wines per month, or multiple bottles?

No matter your desire, there’s likely a wine of the month club that suits your taste and need for variety. Gourmet Monthly Clubs offers a Wine and Cheese club, for instance, that pairs a red and a white wine with an appropriate cheese for each, each month. This takes the guess work out of the difficult task of pairing wine and cheese. There’s also the California Wine Club, which is just what its name implies — a selection of either two reds, two whites, or one of each delivered to your door each month, all of which come from California vineyards. This club also allows you to continue to order a certain bottle if it strikes your fancy. WineExpress.com, whose clubs are certainly worth your time, offers a red-only and a white-only club, known as Rich Reds or Winning Whites.

Decide what kind of wine experience you want — be it wine paired with a certain food, or wine from a certain region — and sign up for the club that fits your needs.

Reputation

Perhaps the best online source for wine, K&L Wine Merchants out of San Francisco, offer some of the best loved wine clubs right from their website. If a wine club’s reputation is of utmost concern to you, check out their wide variety of clubs. From the Best Buy wine club (for those of us looking to save some dough) to the Champagne club (the best champagnes and sparkling wines of the world) this famous wine merchant has an option you’re sure to love. They even offer a Personal Sommelier Service where you are the boss — you decide what wines, how many, what varieties, and how often they are shipped to you. Once you’ve made your list, K&L’s sommeliers will send you wines that they feel will fit your taste.

Remember when picking a wine of the month club to look for added value items. Many clubs offer extras with their packages, such as newsletters about their wine offerings, books about wine, or coupons for future orders. Selecting a club that offers you a bit more for your money is a great way to lower cost, add value, and expand your knowledge of wine and wine tasting.

See also:

Olive Garden Coupons
Clairol Coupons
How to Handle Boredom in Your Marriage?
How to Manage Depression
How Much Car Can I Afford?
How to Prevent Rust on Your Car
How Much Does Car Insurance Cost?

What to Serve at a Wine and Cheese Party

February 15th, 2013 |

My brother’s anxious voice on the other end of the telephone let me know just how serious he was about the question. He’s graduating with his PhD soon, and is having quite a soiree to celebrate. Many of his guests will be people he wants to impress — old friends, relatives, even professors who sit on a committee that could make or break his dissertation.

So rather than do what I would normally do — give him bad advice intentionally to mess with him — I decided to take his question seriously.

Many people think a wine and cheese party is easy to throw. They head down to the local supermarket, buy a red bottle and a white bottle, crack open a block of cheddar, put some Air Supply on the stereo and wait for the doorbell to ring. I think a truly successful wine and cheese party is so much more than just wine and cheese — and certainly should be planned a little better than a trip to a big box store.

Pairing Wines and Cheeses For Your Party

It’s probably a good idea to consider a wide variety of wine tastes when pairing wines and cheeses for your party. Certainly you’ll want red selections as well as whites. I know I have a particular preference for red wines, and my girlfriend seems to prefer whites — surely we aren’t all that different from the rest of the world.

Red Wines and Cheddar

For reds, I’d offer a couple of bottles of Pinot Noir, and a couple of blends. When selecting Pinots, pick one slightly more expensive bottle, and one more bargain priced. The main reason for this, besides saving a bit of money, is that Pinots of different prices have very different characteristics. A cheaper Pinot will have milder flavor notes, which many people with less complex palates will certainly appreciate. The more expensive Pinot will be a bolder wine, appealing to those of your guests impressed by Big Red Wines. With Pinot, offer some aged cheddar and perhaps some Parmesan, either in small pieces or baked in thin layers in the oven as a Frite. It will be tres French.

Cheese For Red Blends

As for the red blend, look for a French blend known as Cotes du Rhone. This blend is palatable to most people, and there are many who will seek out this extremely versatile and tasy wine. A couple of bottles of the same variety of Cotes du Rhone will go fast — so be sure and set out the Gruyere cheese as quickly as possible. This pairing of a versatile red blend and a rather hard and strongly flavored cheese is one of my personal favorites.

Pairing White Wines With Cheeses

Now, onto the white wines. If you’re really looking to impress, grab a couple bottles of a moderately-priced sparkling wine. Believe it or not, there are decent sparkling wines that won’t cause you to take out a second mortgage. I suggest sparkling because of its celebratory nature, and because it will raise some eyebrows among those who know you. “He picked THIS?” Always a good reaction. With your sparkling wine, set out a buttery creamy cheese such as Explorateur or any triple cream brie.

For a companion white wine, you can’t go wrong with Chardonnay. This is perhaps the most popular wine in America (and certainly the most produced wine in the country) and your guests that don’t want a red will flock to this offering. Also, there are plenty of affordable but solid Chardonnays on the market. Pair your Chardonnay with a good Camembert like Hudson Valley or Willow Hill.

Additions To Your Wine and Cheese Party

Now that you’ve got your wines and cheeses picked, consider some additions to the table, such as chutneys, chocolate, fruit, crackers, and other small snack items. Remember not to splurge on these items, but don’t go too cheap either. The flavors will suffer as will your reputation.

Select wine and cheese pairings that compliment one another, offer a large enough variety of wines and cheeses, and provide those who may not want to eat cheese with other food items, and your party will be a success. As for playing Air Supply . . . well I certainly wouldn’t do it, but that’s a different article . . .

See also:

How to Buy Champagne Flutes

February 15th, 2013 |

Champagne flutes can be the trickiest wine accessory to purchase. A proper or improper glass can make or break the Champagne or sparkling wine experience. Sparkling wines are very sensitive to the various elements of wine drinking — I have been at a party featuring a very smoky entree, and the flavor of the smoke snuck into the Champagne being offered and ruined a potentially wonderful experience.

Factors To Consider When Purchasing Champagne Flutes

As with all wine glasses, only buy glass or crystal. Silver or pewter glasses are just a no no, though many people purchase them thinking they look fancy. Colored glasses are likewise a big DON’T for sparkling wine, as part of the experience of drinking it is enjoying the color and watching the bubbles rise to the top. Perhaps the most important factor is the shape of the glass.

The general shape of a Champagne flute should be like that of a tulip: tall, slender, narrow-shaped “flute” glasses serve Champagne best. This is one instance in which I agree with the other wine snobs out there — Champagne is best in a traditional Champagne glass.

If you plan on serving or drinking vintage Champagnes (not something I enjoy, but to each his own), it would be good to invest in flutes with more bulbous bottoms, so as to better release the bouquet of the vintage bubbly. The purpose of the narrow flute opening is to concentrate or trap the subtle and delicate aromas of a fine aged sparkling wine.

Reasons For Serving Champagne In Flutes

There are three other reasons why Champagne is best served in a flute.

1. Preserving the temperature of the wine.

The long thin stem will keep your hand from raising the temperature of the Champagne. Temperature is incredibly important to the enjoyment of sparkling wine. Keep your bubbly at the appropriate temperature and everyone will enjoy it more. Who wants to drink lukewarm or (worse) warm sparkling wine?

2. Showcasing the bubbles

The thin glass and thin bowl shape will concentrate and push the bubbles up so that you and your guests can enjoy the bubbles — a fine bubble is a mark of a good Champagne, and those in the know will want to see your particular bottle’s bubble quality.

3. Preventing the effervescence from dissipating

Just like a wide bowl will encourage the aromas of a red wine to dissipate (and therefore be enjoyed further by the drinker), a narrow ‘fluted’ shape will keep the bubbles in the bubbly, right where you want them. Yes, its true that a fine sparkling wine or Champagne will hold its bubble for an incredibly long time (I once kept a bottle of Shramsberg open for two days and it was still plenty effervescent), the shape of the glass could potentially ruin the bubbles, and Champagne without bubbles is just expensive white wine.

Purchasing a properly shaped flute will be an investment that will pay off each time you treat yourself (or are treated) to a bottle of Champagne or sparkling wine. Keep these factors in mind when you shop, and look forward to many happy nights with a bottle and a loved one.

See also:

Why Are the Roofs and Walls of Wine Cellars Black?

February 15th, 2013 |

Like any food product, wine has certain storage conditions under which it is best kept. Some of these storage conditions are a no brainer. It is easy to see why bottles of wine are stored on their side, for instance. If the cork in the wine bottle is allowed to dry out, it will shrink and allow oxygen into the bottle, spoiling a potentially valuable bottle of wine. Still other questions about wine storage are not so easily understood.

Are Black Walls Still Necessary For Wine Cellars?

The truth is, with today’s technology, it may not be totally necessary to paint the walls and roof of your wine cellar black.

Storing Wine Without Light

The idea behind the black paint in wine cellars is that it will help to keep light off the wine you’re storing. Black paint also absorbs heat better than lighter colors. So between black paint’s light and heat absorption, it is an ideal color for most wine cellars.

Wine can spoil when exposed to heat and light, just as a dry cork or too much or too little humidity can damage or change the flavor of the wine. For starters, changes in temperature can cause the volume of the wine in the bottle to change. Too hot, and the volume expands, potentially tainting the cork or causing the line to weak past a less elastic cork. Too cold, and the volume condenses. A constant fluctuation in the volume of a wine is not good for the consistency or flavor of the beverage.

Wine Aging and Storage Temperature

Also, fluctuations in temperature cause chemical reactions within the wine to change their rate. This means that a wine may age too fast or too slow depending on the temperature. Also, chemical reaction changes occur exponentially — in other words, doubling the storage temperature of a wine doesn’t simply ‘double’ the rate of the chemical reactions. Most studies show that every 10 degree change in a wine’s temperature causes a doubling in the rate of chemical reactions and possibly its aging. Temperature changes can seriously impact a wine’s shelf life or even spoil it altogether.

Controlling Wine Cellar Temperature With Black Paint

The best way to control temperature in days past was to coat the inside of a wine cellar in black paint. These days, most wine cellars have cooling systems and humidity control machines or ozone machines that do the work of the old “black paint” trick, and then some. You’ll find wine cellars today of all colors — even white, the least temperature absorbent and most light reflecting color of them all.

Still, it may be a good idea to paint your wine cellar black — for one, it will look really cool, and will be a kind of throwback to wine cellars of the past. For another, every bit on control you can have over the wine’s storage conditions will help store and age your wine.

Though modern technology has pretty much done away with the practical need for black walls in wine cellars, it is still traditional for many people to paint their walls just such a color. What is important to remember is you must have control over temperature, humidity, light, and even vibration in your wine cellar. Control these elements, and your wine collection will bring you joy for many years.

See also:

How to Build a Wine Cellar

February 15th, 2013 |

Wine collecting is usually seen as an ‘exclusive” hobby requiring vast amounts of space and an unlimited supply of cash.

This does not have to be the case. There are plenty of excellent wines, even collectable labels, that cost between thirty and a hundred bucks apiece. Sure, you may want to occasionally splurge and purchase a bottle or two of vintage awe inspiring wines, especially if you have an appropriate place to store them — but truly, as wine consumption increases in America, the average price per bottle (even good bottles) continues to dip.

A true collector of wine will want a proper wine storage facility. Known as “wine cellars”, these areas are usually protected from the elements by being located inside a collector’s home.

Where Should I Install My Wine Cellar?

The first question you must ask yourself — where do you want to store your wine?

While many collectors are going against the norm and installing wine storage areas in large closets or other areas inside their home, the traditional wine cellar is located in a basement or cellar, hence the name.

This article will run down the basics of constructing a traditional wine cellar — an area for storing wine located in a basement. As with any major construction project, you may need to hire electricians, carpenters, and other helpers. This rundown of the basics is meant as an educational too only.

Because many of us are already lacking plentiful storage for our home items, the cellar described here is meant to take up just a portion of the average household basement. Besides the space issue, there are few beginning wine collectors who own enough wine to justify the conversion of an entire cellar.

Supplies Needed To Build A Wine Cellar

6” x 6” ceramic tile (enough to form the floor of your wine cellar area)
1 bag dry quick-set tile mortar
8 wine racks (custom ordered to fit your space)
exterior grade door, insulated and double paned
cooling unit (can be found through home improvement stores)
lighting fixture
four pieces of 1/2” drywall
4 R-13 insulation pieces with vapor barrier
2 R-19 insulation pieces with vapor barrier
twenty-four 2” x 4” x 96” studs
1” x 3” baseboard molding (amount will vary)
bulk 8d common nails
bulk 1-1/4” drywall screws
bulk 2” drywall screws
bulk 3” drywall screws
1 bag drywall mud
1 roll of drywall seam tape
2-3 gallons of primer
2-3 gallons of paint

Wine Cellar Building Considerations

When building your wine cellar, take the following four features into consideration:

Racking
Lighting
Doors and Floors
Climate control

These four factors will help to control the climate in your wine cellar space — remember that wine cellars have different requirements from most interior rooms in your home in order to properly age and protect wines. Controlling light, humidity, and temperature is important. Too much heat, humidity, or natural or artificial light can quickly spoil your expensive collection.

Wine Cellar Rack Kits

If you want to avoid installing or custom ordering your wine racks, consider purchasing one of any number of do-it-yourself wine rack kits. This not only makes your job easier, but allows you a certain level of customization in terms of how your wine will be stored.

Cooling Systems

In order to keep your wine cellar at the recommended temperature and humidity levels, a proper cooling system is a necessity. Quality cooling systems will be one of the more expensive parts of your cellar project, as they run between $1,000 and $12,000. Your wine cellar should be kept between 55 and 58 degrees fahrenheit, with a relative humidity of 75 percent.

Wine Cellar Building Steps

The first step is preparing your floor. Remove any carpeting or padding in your potential wine cellar space. Once you’re down to a bare concrete floor, you can begin construction. Using two existing walls of your cellar will cut down on materials and construction, as long as those walls have an insulation rating of at least R-13. Assuming they do, check the insulation of the floor and ceiling. A minimum R-19 insulation is required for a wine cellar. If your ceiling fits the bill, remove any existing lighting, as this is another feature of the cellar you will want to control.
After installing your own light fixture (both style and heat are important factors in choosing a lighting fixture for a wine cellar), you can decide how you want the floor to look. Ceramic tile is the best material, although pretty much any flooring besides carpet will do. Carpet will get wet and mildew and add a nasty flavor to your wine.
Frame your two new walls with studs, remembering to double stud the wall where your door will hang. The door you order should come from the factory pretty much ready to install, with hardware attached and the door itself pre hung.
When insulating the room, remember that a vapor barrier should be added after the insulation, to maintain humidity. Over the vapor barrier, install playwood with drywall screws.
Next, turn your attention to the floor. If using ceramic tile, spread a layer of tile mortar before installation. Select tile that will match your cellar design.
With the door, floors, and ceiling ready, its time to install your wine racks. Make sure your cooling is installed level so that it works optimally.
Crown and floor moldings will add a final beautiful design touch to your cellar. With racks installed, the cooling system go, and the door hung, you’re at last ready to stock your new wine cellar.

Some key points to consider when installing a wine cellar — insulation minimums (R-13 for walls, R-19 for floor and ceilings), temperature control (via cooling units), humidity control, the overall design of the cellar, and your wine rack design.

With proper installation and insulation, the wine in your wine cellar could very well outlast you. Now gather your friends and toast your new space.

See also:

Page 1 of 212 »

You are currently browsing the archives for the Wine category.