by Cris Drugan Isa-am, Mipav-os
Selecting an appraiser for your valuable assets is difficult enough; don’t get “tanked” over selecting one for your wine collection! As with any appraisal, when selecting a qualified appraiser look for a formal, up to date, education in appraisal theory, procedures, ethics, and law. The appraiser you hire should also be familiar with the type of property you want appraised and know how to value it correctly. Wine is no different. Where a wine retailer, wholesaler or importer may have “in depth” knowledge of the product and the trade, they may not know how to proceed in researching the proper values that you need for your purposes. This is where the formal appraisal methodology training comes in. On the other hand, a well-trained and otherwise competent appraiser may ...
by Kelly Wight
We love a traditional wine and cheese pairing event just as much as we love a popcorn and wine night. But, hey, it’s the holidays—and, oh what fun it is to add flair! We’re going full “Christmas Past” today with a look back at a wine tasting event from yesteryear that shows the fun and festive spirit only a Traveling Vineyard wine tasting can bring. Read on as Wine Guide Kisha Dlugos unravels a tale of food, wine and ugly Christmas sweaters! Setting the Sweater Scene West Virginia Wine Guide, Kisha Dlugos, snapped a photo of the tiny sweaters she brought to decorate the wine at her Ugly Christmas Sweater wine tasting. “Setting the scene is always important for a themed tasting—after all the Hosts and Guests expect to have the perfect setting for their night-in. My goal is...
by Mark Aselstine
Ok, so I know there's a million of them these days, seemingly everyone has an online wine club. Let's lump all of them into a few categories to start: First, there's an old group of them that largely predate the internet. The Original Wine of the Month Club and California Wine Club fit into that group. More recently, venture capital has found it's way into the wine space. Winc and Naked Wines fit this profile. There are others of course. Major media has come into the wine space. After all, they have significant email lists and the need for revenue, so household names like Forbes, the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times and many others now have wine clubs. Ok, so how do you choose the online wine club that's right for you? 1) If there's one that speaks to you on a deeper leve...
by Stuart George
It was a year that might turn even the most devout teetotaller to drink – unless their name is Trump. In 2017, we witnessed the inauguration of a Twitter-obsessed reality TV star as US President (whose grandfather came from the Pfalz wine region in Germany); the ongoing tragicomedy of North Korea; shocking events in Manchester and Las Vegas; a never-ending war in Syria; and the devastating consequences of Hurricane Harvey and the Mexican earthquake. Compared to these events, fermented grape juice becomes even more insignificant. Nonetheless, let’s try and look to 2018 with optimism and savour the chance to enjoy some great wines with friends and family. Vintages that end in “8” can be auspicious. Ten years on, the 2008 Bordeaux vintage is not seen as great but those who...
by Porto Planet
We have all heard that ‘an apple a day, keeps the doctor away’, but lately, more and more studies show that wine can bring many benefits to the body and make a significant contribution to maintaining our good health. So how can wine help us when we drink it regularly, but in moderation? Let’s see in detail! 1. LIVE LONGER! It is known that in Ikaria people live longer than anywhere else in the world. Daily consumption of wine is part of a diet that can enrich the lives of those who follow it because it is less reliant on animal feed and more on plant foods. The inhabitants of Crete and Sardinia, known for their longevity, enjoy red wine almost daily, appealing to the main part of their anti-aging lifestyle. A 2007 study shows that procyanidins, the compounds found in tannins of the r...
by Robert Lovell
As we enter deep winter and Christmas approaches, there is no better drink than a rich, fruity red wine. It’s an alcoholic beverage that goes with all the best Christmas foods - from Turkey to Mince Pies - and a red’s deep flavour acts as the perfect blanket for your mouth on a chilly night. There are a wide array of different red wines that can be enjoyed during the festive season, all with different flavours, different prices, and which compliment different delicious Christmas foodstuffs. So here’s a quick guide to some of the best red wines to should try over the festive season! Winter only comes around once a year, so it’s important to make the most of it and get the perfect reds to see you through the darker portion of the year. Here are some of the best red wines available ...
by Bob Ecker
Napa, California On the night of Sunday, October 8th, Northern California Wine Country was hit with a dangerous “perfect storm” of atmospheric conditions combining: warm temperatures, extremely low humidity, bone dry fields and forests and very strong winds. Beginning at 9:52 pm, 17 wildfires sprung up throughout the wine country counties of Napa, Sonoma, Lake and Mendocino Counties. These were considered wildland urban interface fires, meaning forest fires within close proximity to human habitation and businesses. And these fires were big and fast moving, among the worst in California’s history. The result was a tragic toll on some communities, notably in Santa Rosa in Sonoma County. Some people lost their lives, many were evacuated and some people are still displaced. Yet it...
by Sam Brown
So the date is set, the big day is getting nearer and the guests are eagerly anticipating the celebrations. For the hosts the planning of the perfect wedding breakfast is paramount so here is a selection of the best wine ideas to get you through the day and suit every taste, budget and reveller! Champagne, Cava or Prosecco – depending on budget or preference any one of these is perfect to kick off the proceedings and to toast the happy couple during the speeches. Prosecco has fast become the fashionable fizz of choice for many and there is a mind blowing range to choose from including a Rose variety. Champagne of course is the glorious and traditional one to choose if you are looking for a touch of opulence and glamour for your nuptials and of course you have the budget for it, but most...
by Rob Jones
Wine tasting at home with family and friends is a good way of getting to know what wines are popular. This helps if you are planning to host a dinner party. You will know which wines to choose that will go down well with your guests. Here are some tips and wine selections to help you get your wine tasting off to a great start. Number of Bottles It’s best to stick to four or five bottles of different wines. Any more and you might overload your palette and your taste buds won’t be as sensitive. There are eleven different wine regions in France. It’s best to pick your four or five bottles from the same region. Glasses Pick clear glasses with stems. The glass should be held by the stem. Bowl glasses are best so that you can put your nose into it to smell the aroma. Tasting Pour a lit...
by Joann Degaglia
Franciacorta is clearly Italy's answer to Champagne. A high-quality sparkling wine made in the Méthode Champenoise from Chardonnay and Pinot Noir (with limited amounts of Pinot Blanc), it rivals and in some cases surpasses some of Champagnes best with its complexity and finesse. Franciacorta is a relatively small wine region that encompasses about 48,000 acres with the actual vineyard areas about 4600 . Geologically the zone was once a huge glacier which descended upon the Val Camonica, depositing a large quantity of minerals atop morainic and bobani soils (red mixture of clay and silt). Climactically, it is much milder in the winter than most sub-alpine zones. Franciacorta's sparkling wines were promoted to DOCG status (the highest level of Italian wine classification) in 1995. This was ...