Nothing enhances a great Christmas dinner like serving the right wine. Just as you have many options when putting together your Christmas feast, you also have an abundance of delectable wines from which to choose. Serve your family and friends the right wines to complement the food you serve for a tasteful and satisfying Christmas dinner experience. Red or White? The first question that comes to mind when deciding on wine options is whether you should serve a red or white wine. The … [Read more...]
We are thrilled to announce the arrival of 2 new EdgeStar large capacity wine cabinets. Their new high-capacity design is different from anything we’ve seen from EdgeStar thus far. The fully finished black cabinet, black trimmed glass door, black wire shelving, and soft blue LED interior lighting make for an understated yet elegant wine display, and in a world full of attention-grabbing appliances, these units are a breath of fresh air. The shelving is removable and adjustable, so you can … [Read more...]
Quick Characteristics Winery: Cakebread Cellars Location: Napa, CA Grape Variety: 94% Zinfandel, 6% Petite Sirah Vintage: 2010 ABV: 15.10% pH: 3.70 Acidity: 0.62 g/100 ml Aroma: Raspberries, Plums, Cherries, Peppercorn & Chocolate Flavor: Blackberries, Cherries, Raspberries with Chocolate-like Finish Harvested: 09/24–10/07 (2010) Bottled … [Read more...]
Don't spend hours searching the web for the perfect gifts for your family, friends and coworkers. Stock up on aerators, corkscrews, vacuum bottle stoppers, stemware and decanters from WineCoolerDirect.com, and you'll have fun and unique gifts for everyone on your list. And you'll save money, too! For a limited time only, you'll get $25 off when you spend $150 or more on glassware & wine accessories. … [Read more...]
There are many cookbooks that offer great advice on what wines to pair with different kinds of meat, but it is not as easy to come across a resource with good tips and strategies for pairing wine with vegetables. These two are perfect pairings as they are both products of the sun and soil. Here are some quick tips for pairing wine and vegetables so you are ready for your next dinner party or family get together. Lettuce and Salads Salads are versatile enough to appear on a dinner table … [Read more...]
There are many white wines out there which go under-appreciated. I am not sure why this is, but from a market standpoint they also seem to be underrated. Well, I would like to make a few converts. I believe that the 2012 Torrontes of San Pedro de Yacochuya could make that happen. I hold a special place in my heart for Argentina and more so for the region of Salta, from which this lovely wine was born. Salta is one of the major wine regions of Argentina rarely spoken of. The Province … [Read more...]
Everybody knows somebody who is crazy about wine. Their obsession makes gift buying both easy and difficult, because although you know you intend you give them something wine-related, you are unsure as to what exactly they would benefit from or enjoy receiving the most. The first question we suggest you ask yourself is: What stage of wine-o are they? Have they recently discovered their love of wine? Have they been into wine awhile but are still learning all there is to know? Or are they a … [Read more...]
California’s Northern Coast is home to a variety of well-known red wines: the elegant Pinot Noirs and old-vine Zinfandels of Sonoma, the structured Cabernet Sauvignons of Napa Valley. Many people forget that Chardonnay is actually California’s largest crop, accounting for an approximate 20% of its annual harvest. I’m as guilty as anyone of tending more toward reds than white wines when it’s California wines that I’m purchasing. Recognizing this, I recently paid a visit to my local wine shop, … [Read more...]
If done correctly, pairing wine with your meat will enhance the overall taste of your entire meal. However, many people just pick out the same wine to go with every meal, no matter what is being served. Let's take a closer look at the most popular types of wine and how they pair with common meats you may cook for your family. Red Meat Red wines typically go better with red meat, but you must also consider how you plan to prepare the meat. When you serve a grilled steak, you need a red wine … [Read more...]
Us wine enthusiasts go through life, drinking and consuming many wines, on many occasions and even on non-occasions. It is usually the occasions which help us remember the wines we enjoyed. Often, it is the occasion which makes the wine, or the wines which make the occasion. However, every now and then, there are those wines you have, lacking any occurrence of such moments or those of celebration which are memorable all their own. They reawaken your senses and inspire. These wines are the … [Read more...]
It’s officially entertaining season. You’ve planned a menu, picked the best bottles of bubbly, and compiled the hippest holiday playlist your iPod has ever seen. Not to add to your ever-growing list of to-dos, but it’s important to remember that serving up the perfect wines and/or champagne goes way beyond the bottles themselves. Whether you’re hosting a traditional Thanksgiving dinner, a festive Christmas party, a swanky New Year’s Eve bash or all of the above, you’re going to need some … [Read more...]
Fortified wine, also called dessert wine, has a higher alcohol content than other wines. Contrary to popular belief, this higher alcohol content is not a result of distilling these wines; it is due to the addition of spirits. Why were spirits originally added to wine, and what are the features of the varieties of fortified wine? Let's take a closer look at the history and types of fortified wine: The History of Fortified Wines Before refrigeration, wine bottles, and the ability to air mail … [Read more...]
Believe it or not, more wine is traditionally sold in preparation of the Thanksgiving holiday than any other time of the year. Preparing a Thanksgiving party is stressful enough without the added task of pairing wines with your appetizers, entrees and desserts. Fortunately, if you choose your wines wisely it is easy to select a few options which go with nearly all of the dishes being served at your holiday party. Sparkling Wine as a Starter One of the easiest ways get your Thanksgiving … [Read more...]
One winery inspired my foray into wine writing. It was where I fell in love with wine tasting, the conversation, the experience. It is where I go when I daydream about days in the wine country and will always be a special place to me. Oh, and they make great wine. Really great wine. Last weekend we were grilling steaks and my husband wanted to open a good bottle. I had just finished tasting 80 wines and my palate was shot. I couldn’t think about what I might want so he was in … [Read more...]
There’s More Than One Way to Open a Bottle We’ve all been there: On a picnic, at the park, or out on the water. Wherever you are, you’re away from home and you've brought a fantastic bottle of wine with you. You talk it up to your companions and everyone is itching to try it. You go to open it and realize you forgot to bring a wine opening corkscrew. (Insert expletives here.) This is the precise moment when you realize just how essential that cumbersome tool truly is. They come in all … [Read more...]
There are quite a few reasons to download a wine app for your smartphone or tablet. Maybe you want to find that perfect pairing for your dinner party while you're at the store. Or, maybe you want to have an inventory of what bottles are in your collection right at the tips of your fingers. Or, perhaps you want to find out who has the best price on your favorite bottle of Chardonnay. There are a number of wine apps available for both the iPhone and Android smartphones, but weeding through … [Read more...]
This week has been short on inspiration and long on distraction. The monster landscaping project has stolen my attention; what is left has been poured out at the sewing machine and at my daughter’s school. You might think that would require more wine, but I haven’t opened much lately. It was time to write my weekly review, but lately I had only opened small production wines from less well-known regions. Lovely, but hard to get a hold of and composed of more obscure grapes. So where does … [Read more...]
From rustic to modern, wall-mounted wine racking is a space-saving wine storage solution that, when done right, can double as a work of art. Whether your collection is large or small, displaying bottles on the wall can be a creative and fun way to feature your most impressive or favorite bottles. Wood Wine Racks If you’re looking to add a natural touch to your space, try mounting a wooden wine rack on your dining room or kitchen wall. You can match furniture finishes for a put-together … [Read more...]
You likely have foods that you enjoy every fall. Perhaps you roast butternut squash, or you make hearty chili to enjoy while watching the early games of the football season. However, have you ever thought about pairing a wine with your seasonal recipes? Summer is an easy wine-pairing season and a great time to make wine cocktails. A pitcher of sangria goes well with virtually every summer meal. The heavier dishes traditionally served during the fall present slightly more challenges. Here … [Read more...]
Deep in the Texas Hill Country, in the unassuming town of Mason, a variety of artisans are hard at work. From woodworking to winemaking, the concentration of talent in the small town is evident. Scott Haupert and Manny Silerio are doing their part to showcase the talent and terroir of the region. Together with winemaker Don Pullum, Scott and Manny began Sandstone Cellars with the goal of sharing the unique wines of Mason County. The climate and soil in Mason County has been compared to … [Read more...]
Beneath Silkbush Mountain, in the Breede River Valley, lives a story. It is a story with unlikely unions. It is a story that began decades ago and will continue to develop for years to come. It is the story of Silkbush Mountain Vineyards. When Dave Jefferson first visited South Africa in 1994, he could not have known what was to come. While he had been in the grape business for years in Napa and Sonoma, he had no experience with South African wines and was blown away by the quality and … [Read more...]
