Even if you have never read any studies into the effects of wine and health and how they are related, you will probably know something about how the two go together. Many different studies have appeared to show that a moderate intake of wine on a daily basis (or thereabouts) improves health and reduces the chance of getting major diseases like heart disease or cancer.

There are certainly some interesting findings that are worth noting with this subject, so let’s take a closer look shall we?

Have you ever heard of the French Paradox?

This was the topic that hit the headlines some twenty years ago, concerning – as you might expect – the French. Apparently their diet is quite high in fat, as you will know if you have ever taken a holiday there. But they are also known for their love of wine, and it appears that their rate of heart disease is a lot lower than would be expected for that country.

So does this mean we can all drink a lot of wine and be merry?

Well no of course not, but it does give us food for thought, so to speak.

Moderate wine drinking – typically referred to as one or two glasses a day at most – seems to be what is recommended to give you the chance of reducing your chances of getting several major diseases. Nothing protects you totally of course, but it is intriguing to know that wine and health are linked in more ways than we might expect.

Of course we should remember that moderation is always the key. If you drink a lot – more than the recommended amounts – you go from having potential health advantages to potential health problems. So always make sure you keep things in balance.

The issue of balance has never been more in focus than when it comes to research into heart attacks. Apparently research has shown that drinking fewer than thirty units a week can protect you against heart disease. But those people who regularly drink more than this amount will put themselves at greater risk as a consequence.

This has been borne out by people who live in the Mediterranean. They tend to prefer red wine to white, and they have enjoyed lower instances of heart disease over time as well. However it probably has something to do with their diet as well, so the whole picture needs to be looked at in this context.

Is it worth finding out more about the relationship between the wine you drink and your health?

Definitely; you should always take advice from your doctor however. If you are trying to lose weight, some diets will allow wine to be drunk. The new Sonoma diet (named after the region in California that is renowned for its wine production) encourages wine consumption in moderation!

Wine and health are definitely linked, and perhaps in more beneficial ways than we might think. Provided you don’t overdo it, that regular glass of wine could have some incredible benefits.

If you know anything at all about wine you will probably have heard of wine aerators. These wine aerators do the work of getting the best possible taste from your wine. This applies regardless of whether you are drinking red or white.

Wine Aerator

It’s worth remembering that some wine aerators are designed to be used with either red or white wine. Others are designed to be used with either. So, if you are thinking of heading out to buy an aerator to use at home, it’s worth remembering this when you compare different models.

That’s fair enough, but do I really need an aerator at all?

It’s a fair question, and the answer really depends on how much of a wine aficionado you are! Some people are quite happy to crack open a bottle of wine – red or white – and drink it as it is. Others prefer to get it to the right temperature first, and ensure they give it the right length of time to breathe as well.

Letting a wine breathe may be something you are familiar with, but also something you don’t usually do. This is where the aerator comes in. If you were to uncork a bottle of red and leave it sitting on the table to breathe, you’d have to wait a pretty long time for the taste to change. Just think about the narrowness of the bottle – you won’t get much oxygen through it to combine with the wine to get the taste you want.

So this is where the aerator comes in, is that right?

Absolutely – it makes light work of aerating your wine because the wine aerators do the work of getting the maximum amount of oxygen into the wine. This releases all the amazing flavors and aromas for you to enjoy.

You may even find you enjoy your wine a lot more after you start using an aerator than you did before.

There are lots of different types and designs of aerator though. How do I know which one to choose?

It’s a fair question. It can seem difficult to find something that will do the job better than any other aerator will. Ideally you want something that isn’t too expensive and is designed to allow the maximum degree of oxygen to interact with the wine. It also helps if you can find one that can easily be used with both a decanter and a wine glass, like the Wine Weaver for example. It means you will get the maximum degree of versatility out of the product.

If I didn’t buy an aerator, could I do the job myself?

In theory you could, but you would have to decant the wine into a decanter and leave it to breathe for a while. The major advantage of an aerator is that you can uncork the bottle and pour it through the wine aerator straight into the glass to enjoy immediately.

This is why we say wine aerators do the work, and not you!

Isn’t it annoying when you crack open a bottle of wine and pour a glass ready to drink, only to have someone ask you to let it breathe first? You might think there is little point in doing it. Why does a wine need decanting when there is nothing to stop you drinking it as soon as it’s poured from the bottle?

In truth there is nothing to stop you drinking it straightaway. But here is a little experiment for you. Once you have opened that bottle of wine and poured out a glass, decant the rest and then try them both after a while. You might be surprised at the difference.

Okay so how do you decant wine?

Quite simply, you use a wine decanter. Sometimes you can get a wine decanter and aerator built into one. A good example of this would be the Wine Weaver. This is designed to perform both functions in one.

The idea is quite a simple one, and you will understand how it works by looking at the design of a wine decanter and aerator. It is designed to allow the maximum amount of wine to get into contact with the air. The oxygen in the air will allow the wine to breathe and bring out every single flavor and aroma that has been corked up in the bottle with it.

This is how to get the most out of every bottle of wine you buy, regardless of whether it is a new one or one that is several years old.

But is it really necessary to buy one of these devices?

In actual fact there are two answers to the question “Why does a wine need decanting?” The first is that the longer a wine has been lying in a rack for, the more chance there is that sediment has fallen to the underside of the bottle. Decanting the wine will get rid of this sediment. It won’t hurt you if you were to drink it, but it will affect the taste of the wine – and the clarity as well.

The second reason to use one is to let the air get to the wine, as described above. Both of these methods will enable you to get the very best out of any bottle of wine – and that alone can have some great advantages.

Let’s say for example that you have a fine wine that you have been saving for a special occasion. You want to make the very best of it, don’t you? To be able to do this you will need to let it breathe – and you can do just that with a decanter and aerator.

Alternatively you might have bought a cheap bottle of wine and you want to get the best out of it that you can. Decanting it will bring out the flavors and improve the taste no end – so you can see that it helps in every situation.

So, why does a wine need decanting? I think we now know the answer, don’t you?

If you really want to get the most out of every bottle of wine you open, you have to use a wine aerator. So the next big thing to ask is this – what is the best kitchen wine aerator you could possibly use?

One that has style

Let’s face it you’re probably not going to tuck the aerator into a drawer somewhere. It is probably going to be on display. In fact if you are going to keep it out in the kitchen you’ll want one that looks sensational – and not all wine aerators have the goods when it comes to looks.

A good example of an attractive wine aerator that also does the job of fully aerating the wine is the Wine Weaver. This is stunning to look at and it even has a wine glass appearance, making it the perfect item to keep out to show people. It even provides a nice talking point at parties!

One that does the job properly

Different aerators have different ways of getting the air into the wine, whether you are about to drink a white or a red wine. So it might be a good idea to check out the whole range of aerators and read some reviews to see which ones continually come up trumps in the results.

Most people look online now to see if they can get the opinions of people who have already bought a particular item. You’ll see this is a good way of comparing different aerators to find the best kitchen wine aerator without simply looking at promotional material. You will get a more honest review of them and you will easily be able to see which ones perform as they should do.

One that fits your budget

It might seem silly to put this last, because it has a big effect on our purchases. Let’s face it if you found an aerator for $30 and one for $100, which one would you rather buy? Most of us would probably go for the cheaper one.

So set some kind of budget before you start looking for a wine aerator. Once you have done that you can begin the task of finding the best aerator in your price range that does the job you need it to.

You may be thinking at this point that it would be virtually impossible to try and find a wine aerator that looks good, doesn’t cost the earth and aerates your wine beautifully all the time. But you will find several models that fit the bill. Quite often the Wine Weaver comes out on top though, perhaps because it filters out the sediment (if there is any) as well as aerating wine before pouring it into a glass or a decanter. The ability to use it with glasses and decanters also makes it a good bet for the best kitchen wine aerator. As you can see, there are lots of things to think about when it comes to finding the best one.

So you’ve decided you want to get the most out of every bottle of wine you buy and you’re ready to buy a wine aerator as a result. You’ve read about them online, been recommended to them by friends, and now you’re ready to buy. The only problem is you are unsure about which one to get. This is where it pays to see the best wine aerators compared, so you know which one will suit your needs, budget and aesthetic tendencies.

We’ve taken a look at three top models to give you an idea of the differences between them. Which one will be the best buy for you?

The Vinturi wine aerator

This wine aerator – often referred to just as the Vinturi – is a thin and efficient looking aerator that is able to work with both a wine glass and a decanter. This is a good point about the design that you should always look for.

It is also portable so there is nothing to stop you taking it away with you or using it in a variety of situations.

The Vinalito wine aerator

Many lists of the best wine aerators compared will include this model among those tried. The design is similar to the aerator reviewed above, and in a similar way it will also work by decanting the wine into a glass or a decanter, depending on your needs.

The Vinalito is also in a similar price bracket to the other two aerators mentioned here. It is also clear, so you can see the wine pouring through and into your glass.

The Wine Weaver wine aerator

The first thing you will notice about this aerator is that it is perfectly shaped like a wine glass. It also has the advantage of being available in a number of different colors. This means that no matter what kind of décor you have, you’ll always be able to find a Wine Weaver to go with it.

Indeed this particular model has been designed so that it can be displayed quite happily on its own, as well as being used to expertly aerate any bottle of wine you wish to drink. Some people even buy two – one for red wine (in red of course) and the other for white wine. The plastic design also makes it virtually unbreakable.

The verdict?

Everyone has their own opinion on what makes the best aerator. But the Wine Weaver comes out on top for getting the most air into the wine by virtue of its amazing and intriguing design. It is actually quite amazing to watch it pour through all the little holes in the aerator and find its way into your glass.

The price is right too and as mentioned before you can choose from any number of colors to suit your needs, décor and likes. So the Wine Weaver wins the day and it certainly gets solid reviews any time the best wine aerators compared go head to head.

What do you think about first when the subject of wine comes up? The chances are you’ll think about reds, whites or roses, depending on what your own personal favorite might be. You may also think about wines made from a certain grape. But it’s probably true to say that the last thing on your mind is the different wine bottle shapes you might come across.

This is a real pity because you’d be amazed at how much the shape of a wine bottle can tell you.

I thought all wine bottles were the same?

It’s surprising how many people fall for that belief. If you have ever gone shopping down the wine aisle in your local store, you’ll certainly find lots of differently shaped bottles on display. But you may just think they happen to be the ones that the particular wine producer likes to use.

In actual fact they reveal what kind of wine is inside the bottle. Typically speaking certain wine bottles are used for bottling certain types of wine. So if you get to know some of the shapes, you will instantly be able to tell what the wine is without even looking at the label.

Okay I can see how that would be a handy thing to know. What tips can you give me?

If you like drinking wine from the Rhine region you’ll notice the bottles are tall and rather on the thin side. You may also see these referred to as the hock wines.

On the other hand if you are partial to a Chardonnay you will have noticed the distinctive shape of the bottle in this case. It has sloping shoulders and is commonly known as a burgundy bottle. Don’t let the burgundy name fool you though – you are just as likely to find white wines in this bottle as you are red wines.

Other different wine bottle shapes exist for other grape varieties as well. For example an Alsace bottle is so called because it generally caters for French wines from the Alsace region. You may also see it referred to as a Mosel style bottle, because this region in Germany also frequently uses this style. You can find any number of different wines inside though, and the bottle is not dissimilar to the hock style mentioned above.

I’ve seen some thicker bottles too. What are those?

Some wine bottles are indeed made from thicker glass. Generally these are made to house fortified wines. Typically these will include port and sherry. Champagne is also stored in bottles with a thicker glass, although this has to be the case to cope with the pressure at which the champagne is stored in the bottle. If the glass was any thinner it would easily shatter.

So you’ve learned a little about the different bottles in use already. Next time you go to the store to buy a bottle of wine, take a look at the different wine bottle shapes and see if you can guess what’s inside – without reading the label!

You may at first think that red wine is red and white wine is white, and there is little more to it than that. But of course nothing could be further from the truth. Different regions and grapes can combine to create truly memorable wines that will be among the best you have ever tasted. This is as true about Californian wine as it is about wines that hail from any other part of the world.

So why should I be interested in wines from the Californian region?

Well for starters there are literally hundreds of wineries in the Californian region. If you know a little bit about the region – and about the vineyards that exist there – you will probably immediately think of Napa Valley. But California has a lot more to offer than this when it comes to exploring its region for all the best wines you’ll find. Indeed grape vines have been grown and cultivated here to make wine for centuries.

This is definitely the heart of wine making in the US though – around ninety per cent of all the wine that is made in the US is from this very region.

Does California have just one main wine region?

No, in actual fact it has four. Napa Valley, mentioned earlier in this article, forms part of the North Coast region. Elsewhere there is the South Coast, as well as the Central Coast and the Central Valley.

One of the main differences you will learn about Californian wine is that different regions tend to have different types of weather and climates. This can lead to different grapes and results between the different regions, all helping to create a very diverse mix of Californian wines.

Are there any particular grapes that are unique to California?

Yes, just one – but you will probably have heard of it. It is the Zinfandel grape, and while no one is quite sure where the name originated from, most people will agree that it is capable of producing fine wines.

It’s not all about the Zinfandel grape variety though; you will come across many other delightful wines that are made from other grapes. Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Cabernet Sauvignon are three good examples.

How much should I expect to spend on a good bottle of Californian wine?

It really depends – as with every other wine region in the world the prices can vary markedly between bottles. Some will be exceptionally expensive but you probably won’t find those in the shops.

In truth you will find a wide range of bottles available at a variety of prices, so it is really the case of searching through the available wines in stores near you to see which ones appeal to you and fit into your price bracket. It’s easy to get caught up in the ins and outs of wine tasting, but in the end if you try a bottle of Californian wine and you like it, you will be happy! You’ll still be learning about Californian wine in the process, after all.

Do you ever feel like you taste the wine in your wine glass and you aren’t getting the full benefit from it? You may do if you have ever seen professional wine tasters sampling a glass of wine. Learning how to taste wine to get the best from it is a skill, that’s for sure – but luckily it’s a skill anyone can learn.

So if you want to join the band of people who enjoy tasting all kinds of different wines, you’re in the right place!

Are there different stages to wine tasting?

Yes there are, and perhaps not surprisingly they are all related to the senses. When you sample wine you will go through these three phases:

• Look
• Smell
• Taste

You might think looking at the wine wouldn’t tell you too much about it, but you’d be amazed how much you can tell about a wine before you even taste it. Firstly you will see whether it has any sediment in it. This would tell you the wine wasn’t filtered properly and sometimes you might have to swirl it around a little to see anything floating in it. It’s possible to get bits of cork in it too.

Over time as you gain experience you might be able to guess the age of the wine as well. Older reds have a duller color for example.

Okay so that’s the visual element taken care of. What about the aroma?

Half of the joy of a glass of wine is in the aroma it brings with it. But while you can tell a lot simply from sniffing the top of the glass, you can reveal even more by swirling the wine around to release more of the aromas.

Some people like sniffing the wine to prepare themselves for the taste of it. But you can also try and guess what has gone into the wine, simply from taking a sniff!

Now we come to the best bit – tasting it!

That’s right. We’ve seen that learning how to taste wine is a three stage process, but this is the bit we all enjoy the most. It’s not just a case of taking a sip and swallowing it though. If you do this you won’t get the best from any bottle you might buy.

The trick is to take a small sip and swirl it around in your mouth, much as you swirled the wine around in the glass to look at it initially. This will reveal all the flavors – some of which you might miss if you just take a sip and swallow it straightaway.

The great thing about wine tasting is that the more you do, the better you get. This will bring a whole new dimension to every single bottle of wine you crack open in the future. You’ll find you get a lot more from it simply by following these three steps to learn how to taste wine. It’ll give every bottle a new beginning.

When you’re spending good money on good wine, it makes sense to learn how to choose wine glasses as well. After all you wouldn’t want to pour an expensive burgundy into a cheap wine glass, would you? The two just don’t go together.

It’s also nice to have some good quality wine glasses, although there is no need to panic at the thought of having to spend lots of money on them. It really isn’t necessary to do so. It’s perfectly possible to create a collection of wine accessories – wine glasses included – without spending lots of hard earned money on them. Just as you don’t need to spend lots of cash on a wine aerator to get the most benefit out of your wine, you don’t need to overspend on your wine glasses either. You just need to know what type of glasses to buy.

So there are certain pointers to look for when you are buying your wine glasses?

Yes there are. But they are quite simple to be aware of. For example don’t get wine glasses that are too small. You should aerate your wine by using a proper wine aerator, but you will still get the most out of your wine by swirling it around in the glass before you drink it. This is far easier to do in a glass that has a large sized bowl – basically the bottom part of the glass.

What about budget?

Of course you should always have an idea of price before you decide how to choose wine glasses that will suit your needs. A rough idea should suffice; you can then start looking to see what is available.

Are there different types for red and white wines?

Yes there are, so it might pay to think about which wines you tend to drink the most. Red wine glasses are typically bigger and if you compare the top of the glass to ones that are designed to take white wine, you will see they are more open as well. If you appreciate the aromas that come with a heady red wine, you will realize why this is the case.

What about these new non stemmed wine glasses?

Some people like these wine glasses because they are different. They look as if you won’t be able to keep them balanced when you set them down on the table.

But if you are a real wine aficionado you will probably want to stick with the stemmed version. This is because ideally the wine glass should be held by the stem and not by the glass itself. The idea is that you will be able to enjoy the wine as it should be served, simply by not heating up the glass with your fingers.

You can see that the process of learning how to choose wine glasses might be a bit more involved than you thought it was. But don’t worry – all the tips above will make it easier to find just what you need.

When it comes to having a good knowledge about wine, you may not know as much as the experts do. But it’s surprising how much you can pick up in a relatively short space of time. You will also learn a lot if you focus on the wines of a particular region, such as California for example. You may already have heard of the Napa Valley, where many famous and much loved wines hail from. But how much do you know about Diamond Creek Vineyards, a famous company that has been producing amazing wines there for several decades now.

What kinds of wines does the vineyard produce?

This vineyard stands apart from many others for several reasons. But one of those reasons is that it only uses one grape to produce all its wine from – the Cabernet Sauvignon grape. This is characterized by having quite a thick skin, and it is also quite small in size compared to other grapes.

So does all the wine from the Diamond Creek Vineyards taste the same?

Not a bit of it – in fact there are some amazing characteristics of this particular vineyard that might surprise you. They are responsible for creating some truly memorable wines.

Even though this is one area of the Napa Valley, there are actually five distinctly different vineyards here. They differ in terms of geography, climate and even soil, each providing different growing conditions for the grapes.

For example the Volcanic Hill is a lot warmer than the Gravelly Meadow, with the Red Rock Terrace sitting somewhere in the middle. Further down to the south west of the vineyards you will find the two smallest areas for grape growing. These are positioned either side of the Diamond Creek itself. They are the coolest of the five areas for growing. They are the Lake Vineyard and the Petit Verdot vineyard.

So who started all this then? Who first bought the land to start the vineyards?

This tale goes right back to the late Sixties, when Al Brounstein went against all modern thinking to do with wines and chose the Napa Valley area by the Diamond Creek to set up his vineyard.

Needless to say he was right in his choice, and the vineyard is now one of the most famous ones in the whole area – indeed in the whole of California. It took four years from purchasing the land to the first bottles of wine being produced. The wines have always been known as fine ones, and they sell for three figures per bottle. They are much sought after and it can be difficult to get hold of them, such is the demand for the different Cabernet Sauvignon wines to come out of the area.

Al Brounstein is sadly no longer around to run the business, but it has been kept in the immediate family. Thankfully the success of the Diamond Creek Vineyards looks set to continue long into the future.