by Quini Team
Written by: KL TurnerNatural cork has enjoyed a long romance with the wine bottle. Over the past 250 years, corks have sealed many a high profile vintage in anticipation of opening night. The pop, the pour, and the pleasure all combine to deliver a great wine experience. Why is cork so beloved? And does anything else even come close to performing this essential wine task?Cork’s CharmCut from the bark of the Quercus suber oak tree, each natural cork is comprised of millions of flexible, air-filled cells. Each cork has a different makeup of cell sizes, shapes, and flexibility. On a microscale, that means every cork allows a unique amount of oxygen into the mix, giving each bottle of the same wine subtle variations in taste and style, increasing its complexity.Wines sealed with natural cork...
by Quini Team
Written by: Sean Weiderick If you have ever wanted to host a wine party, but you were not sure where to start, then here are some ideas to get you started:What you will need:– Enough wine glasses for all your guests. Everyone should have the same type of glass as it can affect people’s perception of wine. Proper stemware is ideal.– Some way for people to record their impressions of the wine(s).– Refreshments are always welcome but, take care, it’s better not to serve anything too spicy or anything that might affect your ability to taste; avoid citrus, eggs (sulphur ruins your palate for all wines except sparkling wine) or anything too overpowering. Cheese, bread and crackers are good choices.– Water. It’s good to stay hydrated when you’re drinking wine.– Wine, of course. ...
by Andrew John Chalk
I was interested when the Israel Wine Producers Association (IWPA) came to town recently to publicize new developments in Israeli wine. Although, Israeli wine has been around retail stores here since the 1980s, it has been characterized by products targeted at the niche market of observant jews seeking a kosher product. If you wanted good wine, you looked elsewhere.Things are different this time around. Israeli produces are pitching their wines based on the quality of their product. Essentially saying that they are able to compete successfully in the U.S. market (their number one export market) against wines from anywhere in a given price category. The reasons for this change of focus are several fold. First, Israel has seen a boom in the number of wineries in the country (there were 70 in...
by Elena Cawley
Q: How long does a bottle of wine last after it has been opened?A: Generally, the sweeter the wine and the higher the alcohol content, the longer it will last. Most dry wines are good for about 3-4 days. Sweet wines, however, can last 2-3 weeks. A port-style wine, which is higher in alcohol content, can taste great even months after it has been opened. I never have to worry about wine going bad. Wine usually lasts only about 30 minutes in my house. Q: What is the perfect temperature for serving wine?A: White wines and all sweet wines are usually served chilled. The best temperature for these wines is 50-55 degrees. Red wines show off their best characteristics served at 60-70 degrees. Whatever the temperature of your wine, remember that the atmosphere is what’s important and it should a...
by Ron Kapon
As defined by the Brewers Association a craft brewery produces less than 6 million barrels of beer a year (there are 31 gallons in a barrel). It is a distinctively flavored beer that is brewed and distributed regionally. If any alcoholic beverage industry member (who is not a craft brewer) owns or controls 25% or more of the brewery, then it cannot be called a craft brewery. To be a craft brewer, one must have “a majority of its total beverage alcohol volume in beers whose flavor derives from traditional innovative brewing ingredients and their fermentation.” Flavored malt beverages are not considered beers. Craft brewers may use other adjuncts like fruit, spices, rye, or oatmeal to enhance the flavor & mouth feel of their beers.Source- http://www.brewersassociation.org/statistics/craf...
by Quini Team
Man has been making wine in sync with nature for centuries. Many a prehistoric party started with grapes planted and harvested by the moon. Animals roamed the vineyards, mixing up the soil with their hooves and claws, adding a variety of elements to the process. It is only in more recent history that winemakers replaced natural fertilizers and pesticides with industrial chemicals in the name of progress.Biodynamic wines have gained a strong following, but does this affectionately called “viticultural voodoo” actually make a difference where it counts? Since the same exact grape cannot be grown both conventionally and biodynamically, empirical tasting evidence remains elusive. Still, the biodynamic fan base seems to be trending upward as sippers seek simplicity and authenticity.Cover Cr...
by Quini Team
Every day is a good day for vino. But the turn of the year sure gets wine and food festivals going. From Dine Out Vancouver and the California Wine Fair, to the world renowned Vancouver International Wine Festival and EAT!, another major event held in Vancouver, wine tasting enthusiasts everywhere are in for a treat this spring. But extravaganzas of magnitude can be overwhelming with hundreds or even thousands of wines poured, and at times tens of thousands of people attending.How do you navigate the maze of stunning wines, excited wine representatives and droves of winos moving from table to table?Everyone will seem to be trying to squeeze in as many wine tastings as they can. But when you look closely, you’ll notice some people doing things differently. They’re the ones who may have ...
by Andrew John Chalk
Many readers will have visited Sonoma County in northern California wine country and sampled the Zinfandels made in the sub-region named Dry Creek Valley. The 70+ wineries there are so small (median production is only about 4750 cases) that most sell all that they make at the “cellar door” (either in a tasting room or through Internet orders). Additionally, 150 grape growers sell fruit to these winemakers and another 80+ wineries besides. This direct sales link is vital to small wineries as it vastly reduces their costs of distribution. One result, is that there are many good wines that do not make their way onto retail shelves here, or do so only at a restricted set of outlets (basically the finer wine stores in town).To taste the gamut of Dry Creek wine making you really need to visi...
by John Neimann
Trying new types of wine is half the fun of finding that special bottle. Getting recommendations from friends and associates is always easier in taking that first step to try something new. With hundreds of different varietals and even more wine regions across the world, it can all seem overwhelming. So from time to time Today's wine will publish recommendations from our Tasting Panel to help you discover that great bottle of wine. First of all, a couple of our favorite varietals as of late are Petit Syrah and Carmenere Both these varietals tend to have bold flavors and and tannins, and the Petit Syrahs are a lovely inky dark color. One of our favorites was one we had in Paso Robles – the San Simeon Petit Syrah from San Antonio Vineyard. Midnight Cellars in Paso Robles was one o...
by John Neimann
What could be complicated about buying a wine bottle opener? If your only experience has been with those handy, disposable two piece plastic corkscrews hanging on the rack at the checkout counter, then your wine bottle opening life has been simple, perhaps a bit frustrating, but nonetheless simple. We'll provide information that will help you avoid buying an opener that has you using a strainer to remove cork debris and a towel for clean up as often as you use the opener.Damaged Wine CorkDamaged Cork 2Damaged Cork and Wine SpillNow that you think you are ready to move up or are planning on buying a wine bottle opener as a gift there are a number of factors to consider. As with any decision where many choices are available, a little information, thought and analysis about what’s availab...
