Wine Tasting 101

If you feel a bit nervous about the idea of tasting wine, there’s really no need to be. Wine tasting 101 is pretty easy to get the hang of, and you’ll enjoy the idea of tasting a few different wines and getting the most out of them as well!

Let’s take a look at the basics of wine tasting 101 so you can enjoy the next bottle you open in a more involved way.

Take a look at it

Most people don’t actually take the time to look at their wine. But it’s a good step to take because it prepares you for the next two stages. As you learn more about different wines you may be able to get an idea of what each one will be like simply from taking a closer look at it.

Obviously you’ll be able to tell reds from whites, but you can sometimes take a stab at the age of a wine by looking at it as well. For instance if you pick up a glass of red wine and you see the edges of the color are somewhat orangey, you’ll know the wine will be older.

Smell it

This is where you prepare yourself for tasting it. Swirl the wine around inside the glass first – this is another key point in wine tasting 101. It will release more flavors and you can get a better idea of the different aromas and parts of the wine. What can you spot from the aromas? Which flavors jump out at you and which ones seem harder to pin down?

This is particularly good to do with one or more people since you can compare notes and perhaps gain a better understanding of what has gone into the wine as well.

Here’s the best bit – you get to have a taste!

Now comes the tasting. You might be surprised that there have been two stages to go through before you actually get to this bit. But as you might guess you now have a better idea of what to expect – you have prepared yourself for the actual tasting experience.

Make sure you don’t just take a gulp and swallow it straightaway. Let your mouth experience the wine by taking just a small amount and holding it in there. Give your taste buds time to taste the wine and experience the flavors you have already smelled. What do you sense from the wine?

You’ll often notice that there are several stages to the tasting process. Sometimes there might be flavors that immediately come to your notice, while it might take longer to reach the other deeper flavors within the wine. You may have noticed before that after a sip of wine you get an aftertaste. This can be good or bad depending on the wine and your own personal tastes!

But as you can see you can learn a lot from wine tasting 101 and experimenting with tasting lots of different wines you come across.

Wine Related Gifts

It’s easy to buy flowers for Mother’s Day. But while they will no doubt be appreciated they last but a few short days. Wouldn’t it be great to come up with a Mother’s Day gift idea that would last for a long time to come and be useful as well?

Luckily there are plenty of ways to come up with the perfect gift in this sense. Wine related gifts are particularly useful if your mom loves to drink the odd glass of wine. Not only can you treat her to a bottle of her favorite wine, you can also buy her one or two accessories with it.

What kinds of accessories are we talking about?

Well there are plenty of accessories that would make a fine Mother’s Day gift idea. For instance if your mom really appreciates tasting different wines and getting the most out of them, a wine aerator might be a good idea. The best one on the market is the Wine Weaver. It looks like a wine glass in itself and is available in lots of different colors, but the main benefit is that it fully aerates the wine as you pour it through the aerator and into a glass.

What about other gifts in this vein?

You could get a bottle stopper or a selection of them if you find something you like. These are available in anything from fun designs to designs that are truly innovative and keep the wine fresh for longer once it has been opened.

If you are happy to spend a bit more money you could even put together a wine hamper. Just pop in one or two bottles of her favorite wine, together with a foil cutter, a Wine Weaver in her favorite color and a few other items as well. You could even pop in some fine cheeses or chocolates to go along with it and to create a fully rounded experience. She would doubtless be delighted to receive such a well thought out gift.

Why are wine related gifts a winner on Mother’s Day?

There is nothing wrong with chocolates or flowers on their own. But it can be nice to surprise your mom with something she really isn’t expecting. Most Mother’s Day gifts are finite by their very nature, i.e. they don’t last long. But when you buy something superb like the Wine Weaver wine aerator, not only will she be able to use it and marvel at how it works on Mother’s Day, she will be able to use it long into the future too.

This is why it is a good area to look at more closely when you are looking for that all important gift to present to your mom on Mother’s Day. If you think it is time to find a Mother’s Day gift idea that will really surprise her and please her, perhaps you have hit on just the kind of solution that would work wonders. Cheers!

Wine Tasting Hosts

Some people love nothing more than to host a wine tasting party. Certainly if you have an interest in wine of all kinds – and you know plenty of other people who are the same – you will enjoy every aspect of hosting such a party. It may be a good idea to locate some wine accessories for wine tasting hosts first however, especially if this is your first party. Let’s look at what you should have close at hand.

A wine aerator

This is essential for being able to open and fully aerate any bottle of wine you have on the occasion. There will not be time to let the wine breathe naturally so a top quality aerator such as the Wine Weaver should be used.

This can also be used with both wine glasses and decanters, so you can see that it is a very handy piece of kit to have.

Wine glasses

This might sound obvious and indeed it should be! But remember that you will need different glasses depending on whether you are serving red or white wine to people. A red wine glass is traditionally shorter and wider than a white wine glass.

A foil cutter and bottle opener

These are essential tools to use for taking the foil off the bottles and opening them quickly and efficiently without any problems. Try and get the best possible quality you can in each case. You may also want a small receptacle handy to put the foils and corks into after opening the bottles.

A small buffet of appropriate foods

You may not think of food as being among the best wine accessories for wine tasting hosts. But since people will be trying several different kinds of wines during the party, it makes sense that they would want to have a bite to eat to cleanse their palate in between the wines.

In addition to this and in the same vein of thinking you should have some freshly drawn cold water available to sip as well.

Ice buckets

Not necessarily to put ice in, but to allow people to spit out the wine if they need to. Not everyone will be happy to swallow everything so it is always worthwhile to have these available. Make sure you have some napkins handy as well for spillages or any other purpose.

As you can see you have to think carefully about the details when you are hosting a wine tasting event. It is not enough to bring in several bottles of wine; you have to have all the essentials around as well so you can ensure you do not end up flailing around trying to find something essential on the day (or night). Once you have had some experience in hosting a wine tasting event you may find you know of one or two other wine accessories for wine tasting hosts that would come in really handy for you. But you can certainly make an excellent start with the ones listed above.

Cheese and Wine

Isn’t it strange how some types of food and drink seem to have been made for one another? This is certainly the case with cheese and wine, which always seem to be seen together in a variety of different situations.

But if you haven’t yet tried the two together you might be wondering why they make such a great partnership. After all you do sometimes come across tastings featuring the two elements. Just as with all other elements of wine tasting and indeed the task of learning about all kinds of different cheeses, it is good to find out more about this particular partnership too.

Is it like combining other ingredients together to form a great recipe?

Yes it is really. To say that wine goes together beautifully with cheese is something of a broad statement though. After all, we have dozens of superb wines to choose from and just as many cheeses as well. This means we have to be a bit more selective when it comes to finding a particular pairing that could work well.

It’s easy to get confused with all the different combinations you could go for with cheese and wine. But if you follow some basic rules it does make life a little easier. For example you have soft cheeses and hard cheeses, with lots of different ones falling into each group. You also have semi-soft and semi-hard varieties which are worth thinking about.

In the same vein you also have red, white and rose wines. So the trick is to figure out which type of cheese goes best with a particular type of wine – and don’t forget there are dry and sweet ones as well, plus everything in between!

It’s all about getting the overall flavor

This is what you are going for. There is really no hard and fast rule that says you have to pair a Sauvignon Blanc with a soft cheese of some kind. Everyone has different taste buds and what one person will love, another person will find repulsive!

This is the beauty of tasting these two fabulous items together. The overall flavor is also exceptionally important because you might want a fruity wine to go with a soft fluid type of cheese. It’s as much about the texture you get as the flavor and it adds another layer of experience to the tasting.

It’s all up to you

You can find inspiration in many different ways when you decide to combine cheese with wine in this way. For example you might decide to take a gastronomic tour of Italy, with some classic Italian cheeses paired with your favorite Italian wines. Or how about choosing a selection of your favorite hard cheeses and seeing which wines go best with each one?

This is the real reason why so many people enjoy putting the two together. There are so many taste combinations that can be achieved, and with plenty of inspiration available you can certainly enjoy cheese and wine in more ways than you might think.

Wine Decanter Aerator

Not every wine lover has a wine decanter aerator in their home. But it is usually the case that the ones who don’t have access to one have never tried using one before. You see, the quality of the wine that goes through an aerator before being drunk is invariably far better than it would be if it were simply poured straight into the glass.

We can see therefore that wine aerators are worth considering if you really want to kit out your home with some essential items to help you enjoy every bottle of wine even more than you do already. The only trouble is that there are lots of different aerators out there on the market today. This means you may find it difficult to choose the best aerator for your needs.

With that in mind here are a few tips that might help.

What is your budget?

Budget – it’s not something we all like to think about but it’s worth focusing on what kind of money you would be prepared to spend on a wine decanter aerator. After all you might be in the budget end of the scale or it could be that money is no object. Alternatively you may not mind too much about the price. But if you have at least a vague idea you can use it to help you narrow down the possibilities.

Do you want something that looks good as well as doing the job it is intended for?

Let’s face it some of the Wine Decanter Aerator on the market today don’t exactly look too attractive. They are designed to be functional and nothing more. They may do a great job of aerating your wine but if you want something you can keep on the kitchen shelf in between uses you might want to focus on something more like the Wine Weaver.

This great product is designed to look like a wine glass and it is freestanding when it isn’t being used. Since it is also available in several different colors you shouldn’t have any trouble finding the ideal one for your kitchen. You might even like it as an ornament as well as a wine aerator!

Try reading some of the reviews by other buyers before you invest in a particular wine aerator

This is a good way to find out just how good the wine aerators are before you buy them. If you go online you can usually read reviews for each aerator on plenty of different websites. Some people actually give out a lot of information, and since this is a wine aerator they tend to experiment a lot with it first. For instance they will pour a glass through their aerator and then test it against a glass poured straight from the bottle. Some of the comments reveal just how good certain aerators really are.

The wine decanter aerator you choose will be down to personal choice, of course. But the above tips should help a lot.

Italian Wine Regions

Wine Aerator

Every country has its own array of regions in which grapes are grown to produce a variety of wines. Italy is no different in this respect and if you plan to visit the country it may be worth exploring the variety of Italian wine regions that are there.

However you don’t need to go to Italy to find out where the different regions are. You can learn a lot about the wines of Italy simply by exploring the regions and finding out which grapes are grown where. Let’s take a closer look at the regions of Italy now.

What are the regions of Italy that grow grapes?

There are plenty of them, as you will see from the list below:

• Lombardy
• Trentino
• Alto Adige
• Latium
• Abruzzo
• Sicily
• Sardinia
• Romagna
• Tuscany
• Aosto Valley
• Emilia
• Umbria
• Calabria
• Piedmont
• Venito
• Basilicata
• Friuli
• Venezia Giulia
• Marches
• Campania
• Molise
• Apulia
• Liguria

As in all other countries every region has its own particular set of climate conditions, soil and other aspects that go to make particular grapes grow well in that region. So a wine from the Luguria region may taste totally different from one grown in the Calabria region, even if the same type of grape was grown in both places.

Perhaps it is not surprising then to learn that Italy is the world’s biggest exporter of wines, since it has so many regions and wines to sell to other countries. We should all be grateful that there are indeed so many different Italian wine regions to explore.

How can you find out more about each region?

The best way to learn more is to do some research into each area. If you happen to be going to Italy you can explore the regions that are closest to where you are staying. If you simply want to find a nice Italian wine it is best to know what kinds of wines you like the most, and then find a region that is most likely to supply such a wine for you.

Some regions offer both reds and whites in almost equal measure and quality. The Aosto Valley region is a good example of this. They have red and white grapes and are known for such delights as the Petit Rouge. This grape is indigenous to this particular region. Most regions have at least one variety that is unique to that area, and produces some fine wines as a result.

Do the flavors of the wines in different parts of Italy really vary a lot?

Indeed they do, and most of the time it is down to a number of conditions combined:

• The weather conditions
• The soil
• The type of grape(s) used

The more you look into the different Italian wine regions the more you will understand just how they are responsible for some amazing wines.

Serve Wine

No it’s not a trick title – there really are ways that you should know how to serve wine so you get the very best from every bottle you open from now on. If you get it right you’ll be amazed at the difference in the wine you are drinking.

There is no need to be daunted by the prospect of learning how to serve it either. Most of the tips you’ll read here are pretty simple once you know how to apply them. Let’s tackle a few of the most important points in turn so you can enjoy the benefits of a little wine knowledge!

Make sure it’s the right temperature

Most people know that you shouldn’t put a bottle of red wine in the fridge. Reds need to be warmer, ideally at room temperature, so make sure you put it in the right place for a few hours before you serve it.

Conversely white wine needs to be chilled. The best place for this might be the refrigerator but you need to ensure it’s not going to be too cold. A cellar, if you’re lucky enough to have one, could be the right place for you.

The need to fully aerate the wine – no matter what you might be drinking

This is very important if you really want to know how to serve wine. If you uncork the bottle and you pour it out straightaway – regardless of whether it is red or white – you will end up getting far from the full flavor.

So does this mean you have to sit and wait for your wine to breathe? Not if you know how to do it properly and speedily!

The best thing is to get a wine aerator – something like a Wine Weaver if you can, since this is the best one on the market and it looks as good as it works. You can use it with a glass or a decanter, depending on how much wine you want to drink and whether you have guests or not. Simply pour the wine through and it’s ready to drink straightaway. You’ll be bound to notice the difference too.

Use the right wine glass for the type of wine you’re serving

While you could drink any kind of wine from any kind of glass, there are traditionally different types of glasses for different kinds of wine.

For example red wine glasses are typically wider than white wine ones, which are taller and narrower. Make sure you select the right one for your needs.

Serve the right amount

This might sound strange but it’s not a good idea to fill a glass of wine almost to the brim. There’s a good reason for this – when you taste wine properly you should have enough room in your glass to swirl the wine around. This releases the flavors, particularly with red wine.

So now you know how to serve wine you can make sure you get it right on every occasion.

In case you didn’t already know, a certain Prince William and his fiancée Kate Middleton are getting married in Westminster Abbey on Friday 29^th April. Needless to say this will be a major event – the biggest wedding in the world for quite some time! Any Royal wedding is going to be a great time and a great spectacle, but you don’t need to be there to get into the spirit of the thing.

Okay so how can I celebrate the big event at home?

Of course there will be televised coverage of the wedding so you can watch it live and enjoy every moment of it. But you may want to plan more than just some time in front of the television.

Many people celebrate with a glass of wine or two, and if this appeals to you it is a good idea to plan for it in advance. Figure out how many people you want to invite round for the big occasion. Will you want to invite plenty of people and have a garden party of some kind? Perhaps you would rather have a smaller celebration with just the special someone in your own life?

Whatever you want to do, make sure you have some bottles of wine ready and keep them in the appropriate places. Red wine should always be at room temperature while the whites should be adequately chilled.

What about equipment for the big occasion?

Planning the Royal wedding must surely be a logistical nightmare, particularly with regard to security. But luckily your own celebrations will be far easier to arrange.

Just be sure you have some excellent accessories to help the day go with a swing. For example the famous Wine Weaver wine aerator is available in a stunning blue version that is perfect to fit in with the blue engagement ring as worn by the bride to be. Add in a foil cutter, a corkscrew and the right glasses for the wine you want to serve and you will be all set up to celebrate with a glass or two for the happy couple.

Can I use blue as a theme in other ways too?

Of course! Not only is blue one of the colors on the Union Jack (together with red and white) it is also the color of the sapphire in Kate’s engagement ring. This is the very same ring that Prince William’s mother Princess Diana wore for her own engagement and marriage.

In fact you may wish to set up a table with a royal blue tablecloth so you can arrange snacks, wine bottles and other items so they are close at hand when you need them. The Wine Weaver is attractive to look at as well as easy and efficient to use, so you can stand your Royal blue Wine Weaver in the middle of the table as a decoration. As you’ll see when you use it on the occasion of the Royal wedding, it really is a great item to have close at hand.

Wine Tasting Event

Most parties are lubricated to some extent with wine. But have you ever considered the idea of hosting a wine tasting event on its own? In this situation the wine is the star – the reason for having the party and the reason to get everyone tasting, testing and talking!

But how do you do it? If you’re considering doing it you’ll no doubt have some questions, so let’s tackle some of the most frequently asked ones right now.

Do I need a theme for my event?

It’s certainly good to have some kind of theme in mind because it will help you to organize your event. For instance some people like to organize a so called ‘blind tasting’. This means you will cover up the wines so no one knows what they are drinking. It can be more challenging if you are inviting people who have been to wine tastings event before and you’d like to test their skills.

Alternatively you could create a cheese and wine tasting event, where people get to mix and match different wines with different cheeses. You can then decide which combinations go together best and which ones do not.

Do I need to provide food as well?

It’s a good idea to have some food on hand. Obviously the main idea with hosting a wine tasting is to provide different types of wine, but some light snacks would be a good idea too. It would be a moot point if you are hosting a cheese and wine party, but if not you should organize some finger food that doesn’t have to be kept hot. This is the easiest solution so everyone can get on with tasting the wine.

Should I hold the event at home or somewhere else?

Most people would probably hold a wine tasting at home, but if you are inviting lots of people you may find it easier to find another venue to go to. A lot may also depend on your budget, since you will invariably have additional costs to bear in mind if you want to hire another venue to go to.

Do I need to have anything else on hand?

Yes a few things could well come in handy. Remember that this is a wine tasting and not just a party, and so not everyone will be eager to drink every single wine that is made available. It might seem strange to say you need some spittoons in case of this, but it is really best to have them, otherwise you will pretty much be forcing everyone to drink everything!

Water is another good thing to remember. Ice cold jugs of water are good for people to use when they want a refreshing mouth cleanser in between different wine tastings. As you gain experience in holding a wine tasting event you will certainly know how to tweak things and improve on your hosting skills for future events you may try. You can be sure there will be more!

It’s hard to believe that anyone would have missed out on the biggest Royal news story to hit the headlines in the last few months. Prince William and Kate Middleton are all set to get married in the biggest Royal wedding for quite some years. The big day is April 29^th and the wedding is set to take place in Westminster Abbey.

Needless to say everyone is out in force with their own ideas of getting some souvenir memorabilia for the big day. In years to come, we shall all have our own selection of wedding memorabilia for sure. Even Wine Weaver is getting in on the action, because we have a blue version of the Wine Weaver to help celebrate the upcoming wedding.

You may be familiar with the traditional saying that says a bride should have ‘something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue.” Kate will certainly have something blue because her engagement ring is the very same one that Princess Diana wore when she became engaged to Prince Charles back in the Eighties. Prince William said it was his way of ensuring his mother was part of the big day.

Various street parties are being planned in the UK on the day of the Royal wedding, since this has been made into a national holiday. This means we can expect to see red, white and blue banners, bunting and flags being waved and strung around to celebrate the event. But as we have seen, blue is a distinctive color for the wedding for different reasons as well, thanks to that all important engagement ring.

If you are planning to hold a celebration to tie in with the special wedding, you will probably already be preparing to make sure you have everything you need for the day itself. This means getting in some wine and other alcoholic drinks for the adults to enjoy! If you are serving wine you should definitely invest in a blue Wine Weaver to use for the big occasion. It will tie in beautifully with the colors and theme of the big day.

Of course it is also good to have one of these wine aerators on hand if you are planning to celebrate with several other people. The more people you have at your celebration, the more likely you are to open up several bottles of wine more frequently. Be sure you have one or more decanters ready to pour the wine into as soon as you uncork it. With a Royal blue Wine Weaver close at hand you can pour the wine straight into a decanter to aerate it and let all the flavors come flooding through. Once this is done you can immediately serve it to your guests and raise a glass to the happy Royal couple.

As you can see, it is not just Kate’s blue sapphire engagement ring that will be important on the day. As the Royal wedding takes place you will be able to have numerous blue themed items to help you celebrate, including the blue Wine Weaver itself.