Louise Truswell asked:


 

If you like red wine but don’t know much about it, you’ve come to the right place. In this article we look at some handy tips for buying and serving red wine.

Work up through the sizes

If you are going to be serving more than one glass (or bottle) of red wine, the key thing to remember is to work through the sizes. In other words, start with a light red wine such as a Merlot, Barbara or Gamay, then move onto a medium bodied wine like a Tempranillo, Pinot Noir or Malbec, and/or finish with a full bodied red wine such as Shiraz, Zinfandel or Cabernet Sauvignon. If you start with the heavier red wine first, you’ll find that this will overpower the lighter red wine.

Full-bodied red wines are best saved for food

Big, powerful red wines such as Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz work best with tasty red meat. Why? Because these red wines are full of tannins, body and alcohol, which taste good with meat proteins but are often too harsh drunk on their own.

Light red wines work best over lunch

Soft and gentle red wines, such as Merlot and Gamay, are a great choice if you are drinking over lunch. This is because they are low in tannin, alcohol and acidity, which makes them easy to drink and not too powerful for the afternoon ahead. Similarly, they are a great choice as an aperitif, or for drinking on their own on a summer’s afternoon.

Buy for the person and occasion

Everyone has different tastes when it comes to red wine, so make sure that you buy your red wine to suit the person who will be drinking it. For example, if you are buying for yourself, go for something that you will like, not what the shop assistant or your friend likes. Also, it’s worth considering the occasion. If you hosting a dinner party, then a big full bodied red wine is bound to come up trumps but if you are having a lunchtime drinks party then a softer and fruitier red wine will be far more appropriate.

Focus on the style

 

When it comes to choosing a bottle of red wine, if you don’t know where to start or could do with a helping hand, it’s worth looking to retailers who focus on wine styles. Wine styles can give you a lot more choice compared to if you focus on grapes, countries or regions. For example, if you know that you like an Aussie Cabernet Sauvignon, the chances are you’ll stick to that in future, but if you discover that you like “Huge Reds” (full bodied, fruity reds) then you’ll have a host of different grapes to choose from including Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec and Zinfandel from Old and New World Countries.

Look to where the value is

Don’t be tempted to splash out on big brands or famous names, as you’ll end up paying for the labels. Instead, it is far better is to look to the lesser known regions, where you’ll get all the same quality for a fraction of the price. For example, try a Chilean Cabernet Merlot as a value alternative to a Classic Bordeaux.

Serving is the easy bit

The key to serving red wine is to place it in the kitchen before drinking to ensure that it is the right temperature. Also, especially if you have an old vintage or full-bodied red wine, you might want to open in advance to let it breath. Easy as that!

So now you’ve got the tips, you’ll be ready to put them in to action.



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Diana Griffiths asked:


Serves 6

Makes a delicious alternative to traditional roast pork

Ingredients:

1.5kg loin of pork, off the bone, skin removed Salt and black pepper 1 tablespoon fennel seeds 2-3 large knobs of butter Olive oil 8 cloves of garlic Handful of fresh rosemary 4 bay leaves 1 fennel bulb, sliced Half a bottle of Chardonnay (or other white wine)

Method:

Preheat oven to 400F. Tie up pork loin with 2 or 3 bits or string, season, then roll the meat in the fennel seeds until well covered. Fry the meat in half the butter and a little olive oil until it is golden brown. Throw in the garlic, herbs, fennel and wine then cover the tray loosely with wet greaseproof paper and place in the oven for 1 hour 15 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow the meat to rest. Whilst the meat is resting, make a sauce by scraping off the goodness in the bottom of the pan and adding the rest of the butter. Correct the seasoning and crush a couple of the garlic cloves.

Salamander Cookshop Blog – Our cookshop blog features regular articles and recipes for you to try. Each article gives helpful tips, from choosing the right frying pan, to selecting essential cookware for your kitchen. We are also building a selection of recipes, including fish and meat dishes, stews and desserts. Feel free to leave a comment or get in touch. Also take a look at our favourite sites.

Previously published on the Salamanader Cookshop Blog. Author: Diana Griffiths – We will be publishing lots more articles and recipes soon – including sweet, savoury and snacks.



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Bryan Burbank asked:


Isn’t it wonderful to finally find out that something we like is finally good for us. There have been many articles written recently about the health advantages of drinking red wine. The news people have started calling this phenomena the French Paradox. We all know the French eat diets filled with rich sauces and eat food products rich in creams butter and cheese but yet these people seem to live longer. Through research it has been found that they have a lower incidence of heart disease. Why we may ask? The final result has been thought to be the red wine they drink. In this article I will highlight the benefits of drinking great wine.

Get Free: Wine Health Benefits

First, Researchers have found that  wine lowers the cholesterol by changing our blood lipid levels. Wine also makes it very difficult for blood to clump up in our blood vessels to form clots. If there are already clots it may help to dissolve them preventing our risk from stroke. If wine is drunk in moderation it can lower blood pressure. Some studies even went as far as to say red wine can lower our insulin levels. But do keep i mind these researchers are saying yes it is healthy to drink some wine in moderation, but an excess of drinking can cause many issues that will out weigh the good it does.

How to Find: Information About Wine

Secondly, red wine can be a good source of anti-oxidants. It is hard to watch TV without seeing the advantage of aniti-oxidants that are found in fruits. Another benefit from great wine is that doctors have found that it can reduce stomach ulcers.

Third, red wine does not suppress the immune system as does many other alcoholic beverages tend to due. Too much other alcoholic beverages tend to increase our risk of getting sick.

Fourth, red wine has also been found to increase bone mass. This is especially a plus for women who tend to have issues. With so many women fearing the consequences of Osteoporosis red wine could be a pleasant remedy.

Lastly, with the stressful lives all of us live today, and the scientific research that has done drinking 1 to 3 glasses of wine may be just what we need to keep our bodies healthier. It heals both the body and the soul.



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sreejith asked:


Some of the people who use red wine may have a doubt. They are okay with red wine but confused with the colour of the wine being red. The colour of the red wine is red since the colour for the wine is accomplished from different varieties of grapes which range form reddish, a deep purple and even to beautiful blue.

The grapes which give colour to the wine is classified on the basis of colour like almost black, garnet, light red, dark red, ruby red, deep violet, opaque purple, maroon and so on. The skins of the grapes are responsible for providing the distinct spectrum of colours to the red wine.

The skins of the grapes remain in contact with the juice of the grapes even while the fermentation is happening. This causes the tannins as well as the colours to disperse into the wine.

The specific red hue of any individual wine is entirely dependent on the type of grapes which is used for fermentation as well as the period of time the pigmentation of the skin remains in contact with the grape juice. One can see about fifty varieties of red wine in the market.

Some of the varietals of red wine which occupy the top slot are:

Cabernet Sauvignon

Zinfandel Merlot

Pinot Noir

Cabernet Francs

Syrah

Petite Sirah

Sangiovese

Shiraz

Grenache as well as

Malbec.

The red wines are usually known by their common regional names. In France, the red wine is Bordeaux which is manufactured primarily from Cabernet Francs, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot varietals of grapes.

If you want to order a wine while you are in Italy, the most popular name will be Chianti, which is made from Sangiovese varietal of the grapes.



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Michael Hutchins asked:


Most wine lovers, at some point, have taken the opportunity to participate in a wine tasting. In many cases, the tastings were sponsored by a commercial winery. Sometimes local merchants who sell wine will have a tasting. Even cruise lines have wine tastings on many cruises. However, did you know that it’s quite possible to turn your home bar, or wine bar, into a very professional wine tasting event!

 Of course your wine tasting doesn’t necessarily have to be “professional”, but i’m sure you’d like it to be authentic and fun. This article will provide some keys to a successful wine tasting.

Home wine tasings should be rather small gatherings. Anywhere from 4-8 friends is perfect. Tell your friends to each bring a bottle of wine in a specific price range. Now, there are two schools of thought on the types of wine to bring. Some wine tastings feature all of the same type of wine, a Merlot, for example. Other tastings feature a variety of different types of wines. The single type of wine tasting is not as challenging to the taste buds, and therefore a better choice for an amateur event.

Certainly, you want your wine tasting to go as smoothly as possible. Consequently, preparation is the key. Definitely have a quality wine opener on hand. It’s well worth the investment to purchase a heavy duty commercial opener. They are fast and effortless, and seldom damage the cork. They also are much more durable then standard corkscrews. A good, modestly priced opener has two prongs that slide down the cork and help ease the cork out of the bottle has you twist. Also, make sure you have a wine bucket handy with ice, or an electric wine chiller, in case one of your guest brings a wine that needs chilling. A wine cart is a terrific way to present all the bottles, and even serve the guests as it moves around the room.

Make sure that you number the bottles and disguise the labels. Have appropriate stemware on hand for the type of wine you’re serving.

 Instruct your guests to evaluate the wines using a 3 step process. First, have them look at the clarity and color. Wine should have an appealing look.After all, presentation is everything! Next, they should smell the wine. Try to get your guest’s first impressions, as they are always the most accurate. Wine aromas change the longer they meet with the air. Have your guests inhale deeply and describe what they smell. Finally, have them taste the wine. The glasses should be no more than 1/8 full. Have them roll the wine evenly around their mouths, taking in a little air. Air can enhance the flavors.

It’s interesting to note that when evaluating the wines, your guests will seldom show a consensus on which wine is “best” .Remember, this process demonstrates that we all have different tastes. There are no “right” or “wrong” judgements. The rating system is simple. The wines are scored on a 1-10 basis, with 10 being the highest. Add up the scores for each wine and divide it by the number of tasters. The highest average wins.

Wine tastings at home are not only fun, but they give you the opportunity to show off your wine furniture and wine carts. Also, they keep you experimenting, and this process will always introduce you to new “favorites



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Stan T. Little asked:


Chardonnay grapes wine can go well with seafood mixed in cream sauce whereas Dry Riesling tastes better with a none cream sauce which has a subtle and light taste. In the same way, you can try a combination of different seafood like shellfish, crabs and lobsters with Chenin Blanc. There are plenty of interesting combination, which you can try in the process of white wine making at home and use them as wine accompaniments.

The process of white wine making differs from preparing a red wine with the kind of grapes that are used, the method of fermentation which influences the quality and taste of the wine. In white wine making, you can use either white grapes or black grapes to get a clear juice. Besides, in that process, the skin is taken out from the juice before it is put in the crusher. Further, you need to add good quality of yeast to the juice to make it ready for fermentation so that you can get good white wine from this process. Then you need to filter it and store them in stainless steel containers for a few months to get a nice flavor from the wine.

White wine making in wineries

The method of white wine making in wineries is quite different than the preparation that is made at home. The process of separating the stems and stalks from the grapes is the first step before starting with crushing so that all the tannin is removed for preparing white wine. Sulphur dioxide is added to the grapes to prevent the process of fermentation to help in retaining and preserving the taste of the wine for a long time. The next process is pressing which is done using machines where the skin and the seeds are separated from the grape juice, which is collected in steel tanks, where the sediment gets settled down at the bottom. They may be transferred to wooden barrels or steel tanks, where yeast is added to the grape juice to begin the process of fermentation.

The number of days required for fermentation depends on the type of wine which has been produced. Sometimes, the wine is stored in steel tanks which can bring down the cost of manufacturing wine and the process is always much easier. However, white wine making using oak barrels is also a preferred way used for fermentation of wines. After fermentation takes place, the wine is filtered to remove any kind of particles or residue that may have been left over in the process. Thus, white wine making requires great skill and mastery to get that perfect wine blend.



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Alison White asked:


The art of tasting the wine is naturally as old as the art of wine-making itself. Nowadays the activity of wine taster has turned in an appreciated career for some. If the ancient people used to taste wine before they consumed it now we have experts that taste the wine for us and tell us which wine is better than the other.

One of the challenges of this “job” is to be able to translate the taste of wine into language. Greeks used different words to describe wine but today with so many more wines to elaborate upon describing the taste of a wine is a real challenge. Sometimes, fruit, flowers and vegetables are used as a reference. Some experts use the smell of food to describe the wines. As Victoria Moore advises in one of the Guardian’s articles, the ‘terrifyingly organised Angela Mount applies the same exactitude to the discussion of food smells in wine’. She describes the taste of Zonte’s Footstep Shiraz Viognier 2004 as ‘figs’ and baked apricot, cooked in the oven with a few dabs of butter.”

Another challenging part of the wine taster job is the ability to spit or gob. Victoria Moore helps us again with information about this difficult ability to gain. In wine circles the ability to spit like an Icelandic geyser is a critical social skill. As a wine taster you can even be labeled by this ability and the inability to perform this important part of the job is deployed as the most final and cutting of insults, and at tastings there is a very clear spitocracy. “The most experienced and revered palates scour the tables at great speed, swirl, gargle, then, with something of the swagger with which a cowboy might draw his pistol, their glance flicks in the direction of the spittoon and, at long range, a jet of liquid arcs suddenly into it” explains Victoria Moore.



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James Copper asked:


Alcohol is one of those things that can be very harmful if you get addicted to them. In fact, excessive alcohol consumption can even lead to death. However, recent research has found out that despite the harmful effects of alcohol, certain types of alcohol, like red wine, if consumed in moderation, can be beneficial to your health. In fact, research tells that if you have about two glasses of red wine a day, it can work wonders for your health!

You must be quite startled at the revelation that drinking red wine can actually do good to your health. But then, it is a scientifically proven thing. One of the areas that alcohol can assist you is the realm of heart disease. Drinking a moderate quantity of wine can actually lower the risks of getting a heart attack or a stroke. This can be readily proven with the example of the French population. The French have a high fat diet but strangely enough, they have one of the lowest heart disease rates in the world! How is this possible? Some doctors went to the root of the matter and discovered that it is their tendency to consume red wine with their meals that lowers the risk of heart diseases.

However, although the reason has been narrowed down to the consumption of red wine, researchers are not yet sure as to what component of the red wine has this beneficial quality of lowering heart disease risks. Some believe that it is the presence of flavonoids or any other antioxidant that has this wonderful effect on the human body. In order to find out more about the disease fighting properties of red wine, researchers are also working on grapes and grape juices.

The benefits of consuming red wine are great. In fact, it reduces chances of heart diseases by as much as 50%. This is one of the benefits that will be great news to all wine lovers. However, the idea is to drink in moderation and savour the taste and the benefits.

Other health benefits of this alcoholic beverage are:

It increases the level of good cholesterol in the body.

Decrease chances of Alzheimer’s disease.

Decrease chances of prostate cancer.

Helps cure cold, decrease number of fat cells.

Although the world is going gaga over the benefits of drinking red wine, nothing has been confirmed scientifically till now. Thus, it is advisable that you go and ask your doctor about the true benefits of drinking red wine and how it will affect your system.

It is agreed that it is one of the most loved drinks around he world and recent medical discoveries show it in good light, but still you need to be sure of its advantages and disadvantages before embarking upon consuming it regularly as a means of keeping in good health. Research is still on to identify whether it is red wine that benefits your health or just a component in it. Thus, try to be absolutely sure about it before getting merry!



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