There's no great mystery to wine tasting - it simply is what it says.  Tasting the flavors in the grape and learning to appreciate the differences between the different varieties on offer.

If you've never done it before then try it at home, perhaps with a few friends.  First take three of four different varieties of wine (red, white, rose - or a mixture of all three).  It should be a light-hearted occasion with perhaps everyone contributing a bottle.  Make a note of each bottle's name, its manufacturer and year produced and arm yourself with a glass for each bottle and a notepad for your findings.

 
Opening Correctly
Open the bottle with a good opener being sure not to leave any cork behind in the bottle, as this can affect the taste and opacity of the wine.  

 
Checking the Color

Now pour a little wine into the glass (a fifth of a glass is adequate for tasting purposes).  Notice the color of the wine as it enters the glass and hold it up to the light so that you take a better look at it's tone and opacity.  The color is an indicator of the flavors and fullness of the wine. Make a note of its shade; if it's a red wine, is it a light cherry shade, a rich damson red, or does it have an even deeper burgundy tone?  If it's a white wine, is it a gold or amber toned white, or does it have a fresher citrus tone?  If it's rose, is it a warm rose-petal pink, or does it have cooler violet tones?   Whatever your findings - note them down next to the name of the wine.

 
Does it have Legs?
Now give the wine a good swirl in the glass and, again, hold it up to the light.  You may notice 'legs' trailing down the glass as the flavors of the wine all meld together.  Again make a note of this.

 
Breaking Down the Components
Now bring the glass up to your nose and inhale deeply.  Close you eyes and try to 'see' the components that make up the wine you are smelling.  For example, you might get a strong aroma of strawberries, plums or cherries, or pick up elements of lemony zest, or even spicy cinnamon or chocolate notes.  Again, write your findings down.

 
The First Sip
Now inhale the wine again but this time bring it up to your lips with the flavors you have 'pictured' clearly in your mind.  Close your eyes again and take a good sip of the wine.  What are your initial thoughts at it hits your mouth?  It might be immediately fresh and vibrant, it might be soft and melony, it might be rich and jammy.

 
Letting in Air
Swirl the wine around in your mouth letting it coat every part and, as you do so, purse your lips as if you are about to whistle and then breathe in just a little air to fully release the flavors of the wine.  Don't breathe in too much or you may find yourself coughing - practice makes perfect!

 
A Good Finish
Now hold the wine in your mouth for a few moments more before letting it slide seductively down your throat (professional wine tasters wouldn't swallow of course but this is a more personal and fun experiment).  Make a note of all the flavors that you have tasted and of the ones that linger on in your mouth after you have swallowed.  Wines that continue to linger are said to have a long-finish.  If you find this to be the case, then again, make a note of it.  

 
Cleansing your Palate

Don't forget to provide a good sized jug of water and additional glasses, so that all of your guests can thoroughly cleanse their palates between tastings.

 
Adding to the Experience
You may consider reading the wine labels, with their description of the grapes and flavors before tasting, but I would suggest leaving this until the end of the tasting and then testing your abilities to see whether you picked up on those listed.  It all adds to the experience and can boost your confidence if you're new to the experience.

 
Building a Collection
One last thing; if possible, take either a photo-copy of each wine label or, better still, the labels themselves and attach them to your notes so that you can, over time, build up a collection of your favorite varieties.

Happy Tasting!

The Douro Valley of northwest Portugal is particularly well known for its Port wine. This wine is not a Port, but it is made from typical Port grapes such as Tinta Roriz, Tinta Barroca, Touriga Franca and Touriga Nacional. While this wine isn't organic, the producer has developed an Environment Management System, which it sees as a contribution for sustainable development and the preservation of natural resources. By the way, Charamba is a Nineteenth Century Portuguese dance.

OUR WINE REVIEW POLICY All wines that we taste and review have been purchased at the full retail price.

Wine Reviewed Charamba Douro 2007 13.0% alcohol cost about .

Let's start by quoting the marketing materials. Tasting Note: Deep purple color with ruby highlights; aromas of plum, black currant, and spice; dry, medium to full-bodied, crisp acidity, with flavors of spice, earth, and red currant. Serving Suggestion: Serve with spareribs. And now for my review.

At the first sips the wine started thin but was quite long. It pleasantly tasted of oak. Its first pairing was with home made chicken "nuggets" with Mediterranean spices to which I added an orange slightly sweet, slightly spicy Thai dipping sauce. With the sauced chicken the wine was powerful with a pleasant taste of oak. It was round and lightly tannic. The wine balanced nicely with the accompanying potatoes roasted in chicken fat. There was also an overly spicy salsa with tomatoes, onions, green peppers, and cilantro that weakened the Douro somewhat.

The next meal involved a boxed eggplant parmigiana that I freely doused with grated Parmesan cheese. The wine presented the right combination of acid and tannins. There were plums and caramel.

My final meal was composed of barbecued beef ribs covered in a sweet ketchup-based sauce. This wine was quite powerful and tasted oaky with some tobacco. The accompaniments were the same as in the initial pairing. With the potatoes the wine retained its power and washed the grease away. Once again the salsa weakened the wine, but only marginally.

I ended the bottle with two local cheeses. When paired with a relatively tasteless brick cheese, the wine provided some black cherries and cinnamon. It was pleasant but not powerful. When paired with a tastier Swiss cheese, the wine was somewhat acidic with black cherries but it was weakened.

Final verdict. Not bad for a bargain wine. I would buy it again. In fact, you may be lucky enough to find it for considerably less.

We have plans to review several fine Australian wines to accompany our columns on fine French, Italian, and German wines. This is our second review of an inexpensive Australian wine (the first was a Shiraz tasted early in this series.) Whenever you think of red Australian wines you most likely think of hefty products, not roses. But please don't jump to conclusions or you may miss out on some really good wines.

The Coonawarra (Aboriginal for wild honeysuckle) region of southern Australia is famous for powerful Cabernet Sauvignon wines. Its terra rosa soil is rich red clay over limestone and the climate is quite similar to Bordeaux, France. Kym Tolley is the owner-founder of Penley Estates, named for Penfold on his mother's side and Tolley on his father's side. Both families are well-known Australian winemakers to say the least. Tolley studied under Australia's greatest winemaker, Max Shubert, the creator of Australia's absolute number one wine, Penfold Grange, rarely found for less than 0-400. In fact, some of the early vintages go for more than ,000. Unless we follow in the footsteps of that lucky guy who literally stumbled upon Australia's largest gold mine, we definitely won't be reviewing Penfold Grange in any of our wine columns.

OUR WINE REVIEW POLICY All wines that we taste and review are purchased at the full retail price.

Wine Reviewed Penley Estate Over The Moon Rose 2007 13.5 % alcohol about .50

Let's start with the marketing materials. Penley's rose is a quirky cuvee of Merlot, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay [see below], and Cabernet Sauvignon. They get the most out of their all-star lineup, crafting a vivid, refreshing wine with layers of strawberry, plum, and cassis fruit flavors. Serve this at your next Sunday afternoon barbecue party and your friends will be 'Over the Moon".

According to the producer, the Merlot is floral, the Pinot Noir is strawberry-like, and the Cabernet Sauvignon supplies cassis and a little dry tannin. Despite those marketing materials the producer makes no mention of Chardonnay grapes. I started by sipping this wine alone. It was quite sweet with almost a candy-like flavor, but with refreshing acidity. The first meal consisted of chicken slow-cooked with dates and olives, accompanied by a medley of roasted white and sweet potatoes, and green beans. The wine's sweetness melded with the chicken's sweetness and it did a good job of cutting the grease. I got bubble gum as well as strawberries. The finish wasn't bad.

The second meal was cold barbecued chicken with potato salad, coleslaw, and eggplant in a tomato and vinegar sauce. Strawberry was the predominant flavor. This must be what a strawberry wine cooler tastes like but I confess with pride that I will never know for sure. The potato salad made the rose taste round but bubble gum resurfaced only to disappear again when faced with the coleslaw. The powerful eggplant muted the wine.

The final meal centered around a simple omelet. The wine was nice and fruity. This was a relatively good combination. Canned palm hearts muted the wine as did some spicy tortilla chips.

I finished the tasting with two cheeses. The first was a rather sweet whipped cream cheese. The rose was fruity but very short. In the presence of a marbled cheddar cheese this liquid retained its fruit and was somewhat longer.

Final verdict. I don't think I would buy this wine again. While it didn't send me over the moon it might have got me over the crack in the sidewalk. I'll be tasting some big Australian reds fairly soon.

Ideal Wine Coolers is located in the Sonoran Desert near Tucson, Arizona.  People have commented that a business selling wine refrigerators should be closer to the infamous wine growing regions of the United States like Napa Valley for example.  The fact of this matter is that the Desert Southwest is home to more than just the Grand Canyon.  A wide variety of award winning wines can be discovered in the great State of Arizona.

The Spanish Missionaries of the 1700's were the first a€œArizonansa€ to start producing wine in the region.  Wineries scattered here and there survived through the years, but in the 1970's, wine cultivation in Arizona really begin to flourish as an industry.  Currently there are over 30 vintners actively culturing grapes in the great state of Arizona and the industry, while young, is growing fast.  One of the largest vegetative zones in Arizona is the high desert grassland with elevations ranging from 4,000 to 5,000 feet in elevation.  It is in this elevation zone where most of the wineries in the state are established. 

There are three primary wine growing zones in the state.  One of the zones is in northern Arizona and is commonly associated with the Verde River Valley.  Towns with names like Skull Valley, Cornville, Jerome, and Sedona are the focal point of what I term the Northern Zone.  In what I call the Southern Central zone, the communities of Sonoita, Patagonia and Elgin are the focal points.  The last zone can simply be called the Wilcox Zone, where several wineries are located, but other close communities like Bowie and Portal also are home to wine growers.

Because of the clustering of wineries within each respective zone, it is very realistic to make a day trip to one of the growing areas to discover Arizona wines.  To tour the Northern Zone, take Interstate 17 north from Phoenix and then State Highway 179 to Sedona.  Take Alternate 89 from Sedona to reach the Jerome area.  To visit the Wilcox Zone, take Interstate 10 east from Tucson to reach that wine growing area.  The Southern Central Zone can be accessed by taking Interstate 10 east to State Highway 83 to reach Sonoita.  Wineries in Patagonia and Elgin can be reached from Sonoita on State Highway 82.

Arizona's high desert grassland hot daytime temperatures and cooler nights make for a€œhappya€ grapes.  The climate and soils in the wine growing regions of Arizona are similar to regions around the world like southeastern Australia, Spain and southern France.  The Arizona Wine Grower's Association (AWGA) also views the Arizona wine growing region as similar to the area located around Paso Robles, California.  If you want to know more about Arizona Winery locations, check the website of the AWGA.

Some Arizona wines have received national and international awards. They have been served in prestigious places like the White House.  Red and white wine types that are especially good are Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Mataro, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Shiraz and Zinfandel.  Arizona's wine country, while infantile relative to other U.S. wine growing regions, is worth the time to investigate.

Do not forget to keep all your wines safely stored to protect their taste and longevity.  At Ideal Wine Coolers, you can find a wide variety of wine storage solutions that will fit your every need. 

Author: Ronald Senn, Vice-president, Ideal Wine Coolers, 2/2010

Oldest wine glass with a stem and foot, are fifteenth century enamel wine glasses that can hold more than four ozs of liquid. The darker wines are difficult to grow in the German climate and many of the wines are lighter in appearance than red wines produced in other areas of the world.

Putting your wine in your freezer, or fridge is a bad idea for the reason that different kinds of wine beverages need to be at certain temperatures for the finest taste. Besides that, a balloon shaped wine glass would be one of the best to promote and emphasize on the sensual aroma of the wine as it promotes room for oxidation.

White wine glasses are also divided into two different types which would be crisp whites and fuller whites. Crisp white wine glasses usually have a larger rim .Likewise, the yeasts and spores of fungi that turn wine insipid and flat or perhaps change it sour can also be in the air.

If you do so and find that you don't like the wine and it's important to take a note of the name of that wine. You'll undoubtedly have liked some pay a lot more than others. But have you ever stopped and made a note of the wines that you particularly like?

Again, this is really a matter of personal taste. It's noticeable that some French dishes actually involve cooking chicken in red wine. Drinking wine is very much a personal experience. You've undoubtedly got your own preferences.

Health and fitness positive aspects are reported to be acquired through consuming 1 to 2 glasses of wine on a daily basis. They often have wine makers in attendance as well as experts, to help you through the evening and offer advice if needed.

A wine cooler or refrigerator is a very space efficient storage method and these units are designed to store wines at the ideal temperature for aging and for drinking.Like drinking increases the blood alcohol and that exceeds the limit, than if you later have to drive than it is a serious problem

Only in between the latitudes approximately 30-50° N and 30-40° S are the climatic conditions suitable for wines of the finest standard. We are all now used to ordering a bottle of Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir or a Rioja. No other concept has made the enjoyment of Wine so easily accessible to all.

The amazing service and mouth watering cuisines makes this place as one of the most wanted venues in New York for organizing events.Buying a wine storage refrigerator does require some research so you can get the right type for your needs and also one that fits into your budget.

Though they come at a fee, they relive you of all the complications and planning that is associated with organizing any birthday party. They are the best people to handle any complications that may arise at the last minute.

Red wine is the ultimate choice of drink for many people. A known fact is that red wine is extremely delicious, but unknown to many is that fact that it has a number of health benefits as well. Red wine is rich in anti oxidants and can protect your heart. Drinking moderate amount of wine daily can decrease the risk of a heart attack. Red wine also improves the good cholesterol in your body and reduces the formation of bad cholesterol. It is also a great source to boost your immune system.

Red wine can be great for ladies as it has anti-aging properties, apart from the ability to improve the complexion and fight obesity. Resveratrol and flavonoids in red wine can also help prevent the growth of cancer cells.

When we are talking about red wine the most famous types that come into mind are Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. Red wine is also available in a variety of flavours, such as cherry, plum, strawberry, blackberry, raspberry, currant, gooseberry, boysenberry, raisin, and fig.

Health benefits aside, a delicious meal paired with your favourite red wine will make you feel relaxed even after a stressful day at work. Red wine also makes great gifts for friends and family and is suitable for almost any occasion. A gift basket containing red wine, glasses, and cheese would be a really different gift and people will really appreciate it.

Only if you shop around and try many different varieties of red wine you will find the perfect taste to suit your palate. So if you want to buy cheap red wines online, visit BIGshop today. You'll find all the varieties of wine from some of the most popular brands, such as Lyrup Crossing, Jacob's Creek Grenache, Falcon Ridge, Drifters, De Bortoli Willowglen and more. Also check out their wine fridge available at a cheap price to preserve all your favourite wines.

This is soiree is a bottle-top wine aerator. SoirA©e fits securely into any wine bottle allowing you to pour without dripping directly through the SoirA©e. By pouring wine with a SoirA©e,the SoirA©e creates an intermediary stage where the wine is infused with oxygen and then cascades into your glass. In using the SoirA©e to aerate your wine, you will notice the subtleties and character of the wine emerge immediately upon entering your glass. SoirA©e delivers a truly open wine just by pouring through it

Technical Details

-This is bottle-top wine aerator
-Without dripping directly through the SoirA©e.
-In using the SoirA©e to aerate wine emerge immediately upon entering your glass

Customer Reviews

"fun gizmo"

By S. Sung
I bought this for my husband who is the wine drinker in the family--he can never be bothered to use a decanter. The aerator is pretty and fun to watch but can be a little precarious when handling. You have to be careful that it is securely in place in the bottle top of course. I bought it liking that it was made out of glass and not plastic which I thought would help the taste of the wine. I have to say we hold our breathe handling it because it seems pretty fragile. It is a bit difficult to store it because it is glass. The aerator does come with a little stand that it sits in but it is easy to knock it off and there is nowhere to put the rubber stoppers that would make the aerator fit correctly so I end up putting it all back in the box...which makes us use it less frequently. I bought the Venturi with the stand and that tends to be the one we go to since it is already sitting out and ready for action. Happy with the product though

"Pretty and Functional"
By A. Day (Idaho)
I got this as a gift for my dad for Christmas. He was a sommelier for a 4 star restaurant for a number of years and he says that it works wonderfully.

"Best Wine Aerator"
By W. Black (Bay Area, CA USA)
I got interested in aerators after experiencing a blind taste test with the Vinturi at a winery. I couldn't really see that the Vinturi was adding a lot of surface air to the wine, but the taste difference was striking. I Googled around a lot and found that people didn't like the Vinturi because it requires two hands and careful pouring (causing spills), and it's not really easy to clean.

I found a comparative review at an online wine site, where they tested I think five different aerators. They judged that the Soiree produces the best tasting wine, and gave the Vinturi a very close second. The others tested all came in a lot lower than these two.

I picked the Soiree because I like the bottle-top functioning, and I think the large-surface-area technology is better than what the Vinturi has. It's also very easy to rinse out after use. In using the Soiree you turn the bottle vertical, so the wine flows out in a thin sheet all over the insides of the glass sphere, exposing it to lots of air.

The only thing I don't like about the Soiree is that a tablespoon or so of aerated wine flows back into the bottle after each pour. Fine if you're going to drink the bottle in one setting, but maybe not so good if you're going to put half the bottle in the fridge for tomorrow. Maybe I'm being too neurotic about that.

See more : Wine Glass Decanter , Stem Wine Glass , Disposable Wine Glasses

There are always good times to be had when you are able to enjoy a fine bottle of wine with your friends.

Some people don't see a reason to put their wines in the refrigerator, and most might simply put the wine inside of a regular refrigerator. However, what many people don't know, is that putting the wine in the refrigerator can ruin your bottle of wine. This is why you need to purchase a wine storage refrigerator.

Many are under the assumption that wine doesn't go bad, because it's an alcoholic beverage. This in fact isn't true. While it's true that wine is an alcoholic beverage, it can and will go bad. It will go bad from the air, and from any mold and bacteria that might be floating around. So, how can mold and bacteria get into your wine if it is corked? This is because corks breathe. This means that they allow air, and whatever is in the air into the bottle of wine. So, if someone has moldy or old food in the refrigerator, these bacteria and spores can find their way inside of your nice bottle of wine. Especially if the wine has been opened already, it will spoil. You'll know it's spoiled, because it will have a bad, sour, vinegar taste. In some cases, bad wine can make you sick. So to avoid this, be sure to purchase a wine storage refrigerator.

Another advantage of having a storage refrigerator, is that certain wines, such as white wine, are highlighted in flavor when they are chilled. A standard refrigerator is set for the temperature of your food. But a wine refrigerator will be specially designed, and temperature set to not only keep your bottle of wine fresh, but to also bring out the best notes and flavors in your wine. So it really is to your advantage to buy a wine storage refrigerator.

A wine storage refrigerator makes a nice gift for yourself, or for the wine enthusiast in your circle. Instead of waiting on line for an overpriced bottled of wine, you and your friends can enjoy perfectly chilled bottles right in your home, in your environment. You can set up events, such as wine tastings, or wine and cheese nights. Or, if you'd like to host something more intimate, you can create a dinner date that features wines that will have a wonderful flavor, because they were stored in a wine storage refrigerator. When you and your guest notice the difference in the flavor, and when you stop having to pour good bottles down the drain, you will be very glad that you bought a wine storage refrigerator.

Nicole Roberts
We carry a wide selection of wine storage refrigerator that fit every individuals personal taste and style

There are many different versions of coolers on the market...

...but they all have one thing in common. They are designed for one purpose and that is to maintain the quality of fine wines. They do this by protecting wines from the two main causes of damage which are heat and light. A good quality wine storage cooler will also protect from changes in humidity that can also affect the wines.

The key features for any wine storage cooler is that it be light proof and that it will maintain the correct and consistent temperature for wine storage. There are two main methods for maintaining temperature control in today's modern wine storage coolers.

Those with a passive cooling system don't have adjustable temperature gauges. The temperature is maintained by the construction elements of the cooler instead. The construction will usually be a double walled cooler with some sort of insulating material between the ways, such as styrofoam.

An active cooling system on the wine storage unit is the best choice for storing white wines. That is because white wines should be served at least slightly chilled and so should be kept at lower temperatures than other wines. This type of system will usually contain similar insulation to the passive systems but will also have a variable refrigeration system as well.

There are a large variety of wine storage coolers on the market today ranging in both size and price. No matter what size the collection is there will be a cooler that would be appropriate. You will have to decide which size and price will work for your budget when choosing a wine storage cooler for a gift to your favorite wine lover.

An insulated bottle wine cooler is a portable cooler designed for just one or two bottles of wine. This is a perfect wine gift for people who travel but still like to take their wines or that free spirit friend who loves to picnic in the park. The wine will maintain the temperature that it is already at so if you want chilled white wine, you should chill it before putting it into the bottle cooler.

There are wine storage coolers that are perfect for apartment dwellers in features. They are quite small, holding only up to twenty bottles of wine, and they are designed to fit on the countertop. This is a convenient and attractive option for those who live where floor space is at a premium. This is also an easily portable style so can be moved if necessary.

Larger wine storage coolers hold around thirty bottles. These can often be constructed to appear as built-in units to blend in with the decor of the home. This is a good option for the budding wine collector or those who just like to have a variety of wines available at any given time.

If the wine lover is serious about collecting wines, there are larger options for up to one hundred and sixty bottles. These are built in wine storage coolers and are very customizable to individual needs. This option is a pricier choice but would make a fantastic wine gift for someone special.

Although position is important when storing wine, temperature is the most important storing factor overall.  Even though you may not have the ideal conditions for storage, you should always have the optimal level of temperature.  The temperature when storing your wine is very important, as it affects the overall quality, flavor, and longevity of the wine.  Most wines need to be stored for long periods of time, which is why the temperature is so very important.

The temperature for storing wine should always be between 50 and 65 degrees F. When stored in this range, the wine will develop quite nicely.  In the days before refrigeration, wine was stored in underground cellars and caves.  When refrigeration came along, it quickly became the easiest and most preferred way to store wine, as it allowed you to maintain the same desired temperature.

In this day and age, science plays a major role with wine making.  Science has proved over the years that aging is actually a chain of chemical reactions that occur over time.  Depending on the temperature, the chemical reactions can either be good or bad.  Chemical reactions all have unique energy factors that need to be met for each individual reaction to happen.  If the temperature isn't right, the chemical reactions in the wine won't occur.

If wine is stored in direct sunlight or in a hot area, the increase in temperature can result in a chemical reaction that can damage both the flavor and the quality of the wine.  Wine that has been damaged from heat will normally turn brown due to the oxidation.  When this happens, the flavor and quality of the wine won't be any good.  Wine that is damaged from heat loses all of it's flavor and color, making it virtually impossible to drink - or sell.

Colder temperatures on the other hand may slow the aging process, although it can also prevent the wine from getting the chemical reactions it needs as well.  Lower temperatures may not affect the quality or taste of the wine, although it isn't recommended.  All bottles of wine, until they have been opened, should be stored in a location with a temperature above 50 degrees F.  This way, the wine will be in the proper temperature for storage and able to get the chemical reactions it needs.

You should keep any open bottles in your refrigerator, as the average temperature is normally 41 degrees F.  You shouldn't keep bottles that you haven't opened in the fridge, as the temperature is much too cold.  If you follow the above tips when storing your wine, you'll find the taste to be spectacular.  Storing wine will always raise the value and add to the taste - providing you store it the right way.