Wine collecting can be fun and exciting especially when you travel searching for the wine of you choice. If you are planning to collect wines, you may need to spend more money on wines that have high category brands and those that are vintage. Here are some tips to help you in collecting wines.

1.    You may start finding a storage place for your wine collections. You may create a place for cooling and storing at home for all the wines you collect.

2.    You should determine what type and brands you would like to collect. You may have the option of buying only the red or white wines. You should have a plan on where you want to start buying wines with good refinery and quality.

3.    You may participate in trade shows where there are wine exhibits. This is a chance for you to get to know the members of the wine clubs and get to know the local wine traders.

4.    You should educate yourself on wines. You may purchase wine magazines and wine newsletters for more information about wines. They will also be able to provide you tips about buying, storing and cooling wines.

5.    You may purchase magnums for wine storage. It will make the wine more processed because of the small cork that covers the entire hole of the bottle. It protects the content from air and sunlight as well.

6.    You may consider purchasing “wine futures”. This can assure you of acquiring the best international wines.

7.    You may try tasting varieties of wines to prepare them for storage. You can identify which wine needs more aging. You may learn more about wine when you master the art of tasting and distinguishing which wine is the best.

8.    Learn how to identify flavor quality. There is a difference between the vintage wines and the instantly processed wines.

9.    Before purchasing wine in bulk, make sure that you are sure about what kinds of wines you would like to collect.

10.    You should also let the wine traders know that you are a wine enthusiast. They can let you know if the wines you collect are available in their stores. You could even ask for their contact numbers with advice on what wine you should get if you travel to a particular place.

Collecting wine doesn’t just provide leisure and fun. It may also be considered as a gateway to starting up your own business. You may attend local wine festivals and tasting events to discover new brands of wines and locally made ones that could have high potential in the market.



By: Jerry Shannon

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Sparkling wine is called sparkling because of those sweet, delightful little effervescence bubbles which are created by trapping carbon dioxide. Sparkling wine is usually the preferred one for special occasions and celebrations. This is probably attributed to the fact that those tiny little bubbles appear to be having their own fun dancing merrily around in your fluted glass. It is difficult to describe the flavor and texture to someone who has never had the pleasure of tasting and feeling it as it is a complete and delightful amazing mystery to most.

When you first open a bottle, the carbon dioxide aroma instantly fills the air is an experience that you have to both smell and see to believe. Sparkling wine is a true feast for all of your senses, and can instantly make any occasion a special celebration. Drinking it is pleasurable which brings several different nutty flavors to your taste buds. Similar to the beauty and elegance of the finest diamonds, it emits a truly splendid aura and romance that makes it immediately distinguishable.

Champagne is indeed a sparkling wine made from the highest quality of grapes, using the highest quality of processing method created hundreds of years ago. Sparkling wines that are labeled champagne can only come from Champagne a small region in northern France. There is a definite and distinct difference between many sparkling wines and champagne because of both the quality and the processing method used to make champagne is extremely complicated. Today there are many wonderful and nice tasting sparkling wines made by several different reputable wineries from quality grapes using the traditional, champagne-like method.

However, there are some also a wide variety of sparkling wines that are made from poor quality grapes and fermented though quick, bulk processing methods and distributed around the world for quick profits. They tend to be sweeter with additional sugars added in to offset the poor quality in grapes and processing. They are pretty easy to spot as they usually are sold at a much lesser price. They do not reflect the original quality because they are not made using the classic champagne-making process. Some people have commented that champagne gives them headaches; but this could be caused by drinking a cheap bottle of sparkling wine that has been made with poor processing standards.

Sparkling wine was first discovered in France by Dom Perignon, who was a monk in the Champagne region. There are many variations of this story, but it appears true that he actually stumbled upon champagne while performing his duties in the Benedictine Abbey. Initially Dom Perignon’s sparkling wine wasn’t popular at first, but it grew to become very popular over the years and today has grown into a multi-billion dollar business. Dom eventually became the chief wine-maker at the abbey and over the many years, perfected the champagne fermenting process until his death in 1715. Once the French people and others tried this amazing sparkling wine, they became immediate and lasting fans. From then on, it didn’t take long for Dom Perignon to become an important legend to come from the rich and cherished wine-making history of France.

The formula and techniques that Dom used to produce sparkling wine eventually become known as the traditional way of making Champagne, called (Methode Champenoise) which includes a second in-bottle fermentation process. The process is still used throughout the world today, producing some of the best sparkling wines. Even though they may be made in various locations, many are in agreement that the best place remains the Champagne region of France, the original birthplace and the first beginning and introduction to the world. There are many, fabulous sparkling wines that come from this region at surprisingly affordable prices. If you have never tasted a sparkling wine or have never experienced one that you enjoy, try a higher quality or even sample the original Dom Perignon. Buy to a higher standard at a price that you can afford, as the quality varies greatly.

These days, bubbly wine is an essential ingredient for celebrations and events. With most celebrations it is the only one of choice for special occasions. There are many wineries that can manufacture high quality sparkling wines, although many prefer the original and still the best, Dom Perignon. No matter what the future of wine will be sparkling wines will always be a popular choice. It remains the wine that marks celebrations, and helps memorable events come to life. From its truly unique and breathtaking taste to its amazing look and splendid aroma, sparkling wine has the appeal and the flavor to keep people celebrating and enjoying life today and for future generations.



By: The Backyard Wine Enthusaist

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You can easily detect a genuine wine expert by the way he handles the wine in terms of smelling and tasting it and not merely just drinking the wine. Anybody can drink wine but it takes a lot of experience to taste wine.

Wines have become a staple feature of every household during meal times, particularly when they are eating red meat. Red meats like pork or beef roasts are best with red wines. On the other hand, white meats like fish and chicken are better with white whine.

There are a thousand and one varieties, or type of wines depending on the vineyard where they were grown as well as the type of grapes they are made of. It takes experience and a real romance with wine to be able to distinguish its characteristics just by smelling and tasting. 

Basically, wines that have been stored properly should taste smooth. Wines that taste off or stale are either not of good quality or they were stored improperly and their corks tainted.

So how should you taste wine? Wines should be tasted by swishing the wine in your mouth, allowing your taste buds to perceive the flavor and taste of the wine. While the act of tasting makes uses of your tongue, a person’s sense of smell actually does most of the detection. Both a person’s sense of taste and sense of smell should be used when tasting wines.

While the two senses are indeed very important tools in determining a wine’s quality, the physical appearance of the wine is equally important. You can get a better look at a wine’s appearance and color by pouring them in a clear glass and look through it using a white table cloth or other white background.

If wines are generally red or white, then why do we have to study their colors? White wines are actually not perfectly white because their color ranges from yellow to brown and green. White wines with darker colors have more flavor and are older. While aging improves the flavor of red wines, this doesn’t hold true for white wines which may go bad with time. Red wines that are lighter in color are older. You will be able to examine a red wine’s age by tilting a glass with red wine, allowing some to settle on the glass rim, and examining its color. When the color of the wine that settles on the glass rim is brownish, then it has been aged.

Wine experts also swirl the wine to observe how it moves in the glass. A wine that swirls nicely wine may mean it has a higher sweetness and alcohol content.

While the taste of wine is generally subjective as it depends on a persons taste and preferences, wine connoisseurs follow specific guidelines in wine tasting. Being able to taste and smell wine the right way can certainly to the pleasure of drinking them.



By: Jerry Shannon

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I have a delicious blush wine made from Muscadine grapes that I bought at a local winery I visited recently. I bought a case and love to drink it but wanted to experiment with it as well. Is it ok to use a kind of sweet wine to cook with? I was thinking maybe a creamy garlic wine sauce with pasta??? Any other suggestions?

By: BiotechChic

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I’m not a fan of drinking wine, but I enjoy the flavor it adds to dishes when it is used in the cooking process. I’m planning on making a chicken dish with swiss cheese for dinner tonight and would like to substitute a dry white wine for the water my recipe calls for. Problem is, I have no idea what to look for. I know the general rule is not to cook with a wine you wouldn’t drink. Whats a girl to do if she doesn’t drink wine in the first place?

By: MissEmilie

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I’m 20 years old and i like to cook with wine, and i dont live at home anymore so i cant buy any. And a few of my recipes ask for red wine, or sherry. Sometimes white wine, but mainly red wine. I was woundering if there was anything i could use in place of the wine or sherry? Also how old do you have to be to buy cooking wine? At my grocery store the cooking wine is by the vinegar, so would i be able to buy it?

By: JB

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Did you know that that there are as many varieties of wine as there are grapes? When you see a wine brand, take time to study the wine’s name if only to have more information on the specific area where the grapes from which the wine was made, were cultivated.

The wine industry has become of global proportion that only a wine connoisseur would be able to have knowledge of the exact location where some wine brands are made. 

While the type of grapes from which the wine was made is responsible for the difference in the taste of wines, the length of time that the skin of the grapes were left in the juice after pressing or mashing determines the color of the wine. Red wines have such color because the grapes’ skin was left for a long time after pressing. On the other hand, white wine has a lighter color because the skin was left on for only a short time. 

Many people think that good wine comes with a hefty price tag. On the contrary, not all expensive wines are considered good wines and not all affordable wines are second-class wines.

As a general rule, white wine is ideal when eating chicken or fish and red wine is ideal when eating red meat like beef and lamb. However, you can drink red or white wine with anything or on any occasion.

California produces some of the best wines. Among these are white wines like Sauvignon Blanc which is a very popular picnic wine and chardonnay, also known as the king of white wines. Among the best red wines from California are pinot noir, ideal when eating pasta which has a red sauce and cabernet sauvignon, also known as the king of red wine due to its rich taste.

The French take their wines seriously, requiring labels that will inform the buyer about the wine’s quality and vineyard. Take note that French wine manufacturers are mandated to state the company or bottler name, the volume of the bottle and the alcohol content. France is also a good source of wine. For romantic occasions, try Rose’ des Ricevs, a dry intense wine from Champagne. Eating with friends? Try Coteaux de Pierrevert, a dry white and rose wine from Provence. For all occasions, serve Cotes de Blaye et Premieres Cotes de Blaye, a white wine from Bordeaux. Wine is a global industry and is sourced from all over the world. To make an extensive list of the existing wines would be an exercise in futility. People can benefit from a list of some of the best wines in the world, some of them coming from the United States particularly in California, and from France.



By: Jerry Shannon

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There are several myths that make good wine trivia. These myths and truths are a great way to quiz your wine loving friends and give them and yourself and education at the same time. Here are the top ten wine myths revealed.

1. Aged Wine is Better than Young Wine

Not all wines require aging. In fact, many wines are intended to be drunk young and they do not require aging. Typically, red wines that have high tannins are the only wines that require aging. There are also some white wines that will benefit from aging, such as Rieslings, but in general they are intended to be drunk young as well. There are also those wines that taste worse after being aged and those that will not change much at all.

2. Red Wine Should Never Be Chilled

There are some light reds such as the Beaujolais that will benefit from being chilled. Beaujolais Nouveau is the first wine that is made from each year’s harvest. The wine was originally made for the workers of the winery, but the wine quickly spread in popularity to local bistros. There are several festivals that are held around the world that celebrate the wine’s release.

3. “Reserve” Wines Are Top of the Line

On American labels, “reserve” has no true meaning and is used at the discretion of the winemaker. The term is often used to designate a special wine, although the reputation of the vineyard will often have an effect on the quality and price of the wine.

4. Wines With Sulfates Will Give You a Headache

Sulfates only cause headaches in about one percent of the population and this tends to be those who suffer from asthma. Sulfates are naturally present in wine and sulfur is abundant in various forms in all living things. Sulfites are used as a preservative by winemakers worldwide and only the United States notes the sulfite warning on the label. The amounts of added sulfites are small and all whites will have more than reds.

There are several other reasons that you may be having a headache. These causes may be:

• Histamines: Histamines cause the blood vessels in your brain to dilate and are higher in red wines than whites. They are found in aged and fermented foods.

• Tyramines: Found in cultured foods such as cheese and yogurt as well as ferment foods such as wine, dark beer, soy sauce, chocolate and a few other foods. Tyramines cause your blood vessels to constrict.

• Congeners: These are organic compounds that are found in the by-products of the fermentation process and give wine its flavor. When they enter your blood stream, the immune system recognizes them as poisons and releases cytokines to eliminate them. These are more prevalent in red wines.

• Prostaglandins: These are naturally occurring in your body and are pain producers. The dilation of the arteries triggers their release. They may also be responsible for migraine headaches.

• Sensitivities to Elements in Wine Production: Some people are sensitive to certain types of wood while other are sensitive to the chemicals that are used in a particular area.

5. All German Wines Are Sweet

There are a variety of German wines and they range from dry to very sweet like wines that are produced in various other countries. If you see “trocken” on a German wine label it means “dry.”

6. ***** tops Are a Sign of Cheap Wine

More and more wineries are using ***** tops so that they may avoid cork contamination of their wines. Don’t be surprised if you find a high dollar bottle with a ***** top.

7. Wines Should Always Breathe

Allowing a wine to breathe is generally only necessary for those wines that need further aging. Breathing also allows the wine to be exposed to air and to soften the tannins.

8. All Wines Have the Same Amount of Alcohol

The level of alcohol in a wine depends on the amount of sugar that has been converted during fermentation. There are also wines that have been fortified with alcohol to raise the alcohol content.

9. The More a Wine Costs, the Better It Is

The price of a wine depends on numerous factors. The land of the vineyard, the price of the packaging, the types of grapes that are used, how the wine is aged and the reputation of the winery or winemaker all have an effect on the price of a bottle of wine. You may find a fairly expensive bottle of wine and think that it will be good when in fact you wish you hadn’t spent so much on it.

10. Zinfandel is a Pink Wine

Zinfandel is actually a red grape, but the name has become very popular due to the blush wine, the White Zinfandel. There are several good red Zinfandels.



By: David Beart

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Even though many just assume that wine tasting is sipping, swishing, and swallowing – many are amazed to find that it’s actually a bit more. Wine tasting is more of an art, an art that is used to distinguish the taste of fine wines. Wine can be a tasty and refreshing drink – if the bottle was stored correctly and aged properly.

Wine tasting begins with the swishing. The reason why wine tasters swish the wine around in their mouths is to get the taste. Both the front and the back areas of the tongue contain taste buds, although neither one has any distinct sensation in taste. Taste buds can detect food and liquid that is bitter, salty or sweet, without a problem. To get the proper taste from wine however, you need to swish it around in your mouth and allow your taste buds and sense of smell to bring out the unique and fine flavors in the wine.

When you have a cold however, the wine can taste very different. When tasting your wine, your sense of smell has a major impact on the taste. What many fail to realize, is that over 75% of our taste is due to our sense of smell. When we have a cold, our sense of smell is affected. Therefore, when eating or tasting wine with a cold, the taste will appear different. Wine tasters all over the world will tell you that tasting wine is more about a sense of smell than the actual taste buds.

The art of wine tasting is indeed an art. Wine tasters do however, follow some general guidelines and rules that judge how great a wine is. These techniques can help you bring the most out of your wine, providing you follow them and know how to bring out the taste.

The first thing to do with wine is to look. With wine, you can tell quite a bit about it by looking at it. You should always start by pouring the wine into a clear glass, then taking a few minutes to look at the color. As far as the color goes, white whines aren’t white, but actually yellow, green, or brown. Red wines on the other hand are normally a pale red or dark brown color. Red wine gets better with age, while white whines get more stale with age.

Next, is the smell of the wine, which you should do in two steps. You should start with a brief smell to get a general idea of the wine, then take a deep, long smell. This deeper smell should allow you take the flavor of the wine in. The more experienced wine tasters prefer to sit back a bit and think about the smell before they actually taste the wine. 

Last but not least, is to taste the wine. To properly taste the wine, you should first take a sip, swish it around in your mouth, and then swallow. Once you swish the wine around in your mouth, you’ll bring out the rich and bold flavors of the wine. After swallowing, you’ll be able to distinguish the after taste of the wine, and the overall flavor.

Once you have looked at the wine, smelled it, and finally tasted it, you’ll be able to evaluate the wine from a taster’s standpoint. This is the easiest way to determine the quality of the wine, and whether or not it has been properly stored and aged. As with all things in life – the more you taste wine – the better you will get at distinguishing the unique flavors.



By: Jerry Shannon

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Selecting a good wine off of a wine list can be a real challenge, especially if you have never heard of them before. You meal won’t likely be ruined by your wine selection, but you want to be able to enjoy your food and your wine together. Here are a few strategies to help.

The first strategy is to know which wines are food-friendly. You want your food to pair well with your wine selection. If you are ordering a bottle or two for a whole table, you will want a versatile wine that goes with everyone’s meal choices.

A food-friendly red wine is a Pinot Noir. A food-friendly white wine is a Riesling. Chances are that any respectable wine-serving restaurant will have both on the menu. There are great Pinot Noirs from Oregon and California. The best Rieslings are from Alsace and Germany, but if those aren’t options New York and Canada have good Rieslings as well.

The next strategy is to get a copy of the wine list in advance. This is great if you are trying to impress a group of friends or family with your wine knowledge. Take the wine list and do some research on the Internet if you need to. You can even look up pronunciations so that you can practice before ordering. Several restaurants have web sites or they can fax you a copy as well. Most restaurants will have no problems with sending you the list.

The third strategy is to ask for help. The person you would want to ask is a sommelier. They know wine and they will be able to answer all of your wine questions. Not all restaurants have sommeliers, but if you need to you can get a copy of the wine list and work through it with the sommelier. They will know a lot about the wines and will help you pair what people might be ordering with wines off of the list.

If the restaurant does have sommelier, they will know their wine list intimately. They are taking care of all the aspects of the wine at the restaurant. In most cases, they have personally chosen the wines, stored them, written the descriptions and trained their staff.

In some restaurants, the wine list can be your friend. The list will also let you know what quality of wine is available at the restaurant. The list can be very simple with just a blush, a white and a red. On the other hand, you may have several options for each category. Some lists will provide household wine names that are highly advertised, popular and considered “everyday” wines. If the restaurant really cares about your wine experience, they will offer a variety of different brands and types so that you can mix and match throughout your meal.

Once you have a wine list, you may have to do some deciphering. The list may be very basic and only list the names of the wine and the price. This can be difficult if they are wines that you have never heard of before. Then the wine list may be divided by country or varietal. This is a little more helpful as you will know where the wine is coming from and if it is red or white. Another wine list that is extremely helpful is the “stylish” wine list. These listing the wines under headings of “Dry and Crisp” or “Full-Bodied Reds.” They may even include descriptions such as “oaky” or “hints of chocolate.” This gives you a better idea of what you are getting when you order that wine. The progrogessive wine list may include all of the above. They will most likely list the wines from lightest to richest, or sweet to dry. The price may also be progressive with the most expensive being at the bottom of each section.

Now that you have an idea of what you are going to order, how do you know if it goes with your food? Look for chef suggestions in a menu first. These wines will be off the wine list and have been tested to see what dishes they go with best. The dish you are ordering may have a suggested wine below it.

If a food leaves a sour taste in your mouth, then a wine that is high in acid will complement it. A sour food might include fish with lemon ******** on it or a vinaigrette dressing on a salad. A wine with a high acidity level might be a Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling or Chenin Blanc.

The sweeter the food, the less sweet the wine will taste. If you order dessert, get a wine that is sweeter than your dessert. Even a moderately sweet wine may taste bitter if paired with something really sweet. Suggested sweet pairings include New York Cheesecake and Muscat, Tiramisu and Port, or Bread Pudding with a late harvest Riesling.

If your food has a hint of bitterness, you will want a wine with some bitterness such as a red wine with some tannin. For example, you may choose a Cabernet Sauvignon or Shiraz.



By: David Beart

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