should be working asked:


I’m throwing my friend a bridal shower in the Cleveland area, and she mentioned she’d love a wine tasting…any suggestions? I’m not from the area at all!

kitty meow asked:


I’m gonna make a Honey ginger grilled chicken and one of the ingredients for its marinade is a dry white wine. What can I use as an alternate ingredient for a dry white wine which is cheaper??

ProblemSolver Rx asked:


I love the sweet taste of riesling, and I have had some red wines in the past that I enjoyed but do not remember their names.

Which red wines would you recommend for people who like the sweet taste of a riesling?

(p.s. I know riesling is a white wine, but I want to start drinking more red wine)

Thanks!!

tttyner asked:


I need to describe how you would determine the % ethanol content of red wine?

Baby Boy Due June 23rd asked:


What is the difference between these and where would i find wine coolers and what would they be called as i went to the store and saw coolers but when i bought them i realized they are flavored beer?

Is red wine beneficial for health or a potent poison? In the old times Plato said that “nothing more excellent or valuable than wine was ever granted by the Gods to man.” Nowadays research suggests that a glass of red wine each day may be providing you with more than just a little relaxation.

The French seem to know something about the health benefits of red wine considering that studies that compared French and German red wines, revealed that the French red wines delivered a greater health benefit due to their higher level of antioxidants. Experts believe that red wine contains certain compounds that help protect the heart. This has opened the door for other researchers to study the components in red wine that may be responsible for its health benefits.

In the last 10 years, thousands of research on red wine showed that moderate intake of this drink improves cardiovascular health. The cardio protective effect has been attributed to antioxidants present in the skin and seeds of red grapes.

Based on the research experts advise that the antioxidants, called flavonoids, reduce the risk of coronary heart disease in three ways: by reducing production of low density lipoprotein (the “bad” cholesterol), by boosting high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol (the good cholesterol) and by reducing blood clotting.

Furthermore researchers have found that moderate red wine consumption may be beneficial to more than just your heart. One study found that the antioxidant resveratrol, which is prevalent in the skin of red grapes, may inhibit tumour development in some cancers. Another study indicated that resveratrol aided in the formation of nerve cells, which experts believe may be helpful in the treatment of neurological diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.

The most recent studies on red wine presented at the American Association for Dental Research (AADR) annual meeting, in Orlando, Florida by the Canadians show that Red wine polyphenols may help fight gum disease. V. Houde, M. Boisvert and their colleagues from University Laval in Canada investigated the role of polyphenols, including those from red wine, in scavenging free radicals released by immune cells stimulated with components of bacteria causing periodontal diseases. Free radicals are believed to be at least partly responsible for the development of gum disease and are generated by immune cells during periodontitis. In order to have healthy gums it is important to that free radicals are maintained at low levels. Their results indicated that red wine polyphenols significantly modulate several inflammatory components released by macrophages (a population of host immune cells) in response to bacterial stimuli.

Visit Vintage Roots for organic wines.



By: Alison White

About the Author:

Pumagirrl asked:


I’m looking for a wine tasting room/bar close to Foothill and Garey in the Pomona, La Verne, Claremont area. Any suggestions?

Sharon M asked:


I’m planning a trip to New Zealand. Will be biking the West Coast of the South Island, ending with the train trip over the alps to Christchurch. Have a week afterwards and trying to decide where to spend it. I definitely want to do some wine tasting, and know a winery I like in Martinborough. That being said, I was also thinking of containing myself to the South Island on this trip. Is the Martinborough region better, worse, the same as Marlborough/Blenheim?

Perfect Pairings

October 10, 2007 ?€“ as published in the Beacon News and Naperville Sun

By Bill Garlough

When you think fall, you think of gorgeous colors, football and Oktoberfest celebrations. And when you think of Oktoberfest, you naturally think of German food and drink. While Oktoberfest is known for brats and beer (a lager style beer is best), German wines are also a staple and worth exploring.

Germany?€?s two Rs ?€“ Rieslings and Rotweins (red wines)

Germany has a long tradition of quality wine making. This is somewhat surprising due to this country?€?s northern location. Located in the 49-51 latitudes, Germany is on par with Newfoundland. Because of this northern climate, the Germans learned to position their vineyards with Southern exposures (for maximum sunlight), sloping into river valleys (to capture the warmth and moderation of water) and plant in soil and rocks that reflect sunshine (like slate). This approach is all designed to give their grapes the best chance to ripen. This has become less of a factor lately, as the Earth?€?s climatic shifts have given Germany warmer weather for the past decade.

Most of Germany?€?s vineyards are located in the Rhine and Mosel river valleys, with the Rheingau, the Mosel-Saar-Ruwer, the Rheinhessen and the Pfalz regions being the most important. Rieslings are Germany?€?s most famous (white) wine, ranging from bone dry to super sweet. Their high acidity and sugar levels allow for long term ageing. Only 20% of Germany?€?s production are Red wines, and are not as noteworthy.

Everyday German table wine is designated as QbA. Quality wine is termed QmP (Qualit??tswein mit Pr??dikat). This category is broken into 6 grape ripeness levels. The Germans harvest their grapes at different times in the Fall/Winter, which determines the grape juice?€?s sugar content. Kabinetts are the driest wines and Eiswein generally the sweetest wines. Look for the term Trocken if you prefer a very dry style.



Food Pairings

German wines tend to be low alcohol with high acidity. The benefits are the wine is food friendly and more quaffable. A glass of German Riesling may have an alcohol content of 7% versus a New World Chardonnay with 13-14%. The sweetness and good acidity of Rieslings are a favorite foil with spicy Asian dishes.

Two red varietals of distinction are Dornfelder and Sp??tburgunder. Dornfelder is an increasing popular wine due to its light and fruity character. They also have good acidity, are aromatic and easy to grow. Being light, they pair well with rich, heavy German food. Sp??tburgunders are Germany?€?s Pinot Noir. This wine tends to be more complex, higher quality and more difficult to grow. Germans pair this with nicer meals, including pork and beef dishes.

My company, My Chef Catering, has been involved with Oktoberfest events for 16 years. The largest is the Rotary Clubs of Naperville Oktoberfest, which routinely draws 12,000 patrons annually. We have served the following family recipe at these events:

Spaetzle

2 Eggs

1 ?? Cups Flour

?? tsp Salt

1/3 Cup Water

?? tsp Baking Powder ?€“ Optional for lighter Spaetzle

?? cup Buttered, toasted Bread Crumbs

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Lightly beat eggs. In a separate large bowl, mix together the dry ingredients. Add the eggs and beat until smooth and elastic. If too thick, add more water. Spoon half the mixture into a potato ricer. Press down the lever and the strands of dough will drop into the boiling water. Stir spaetzle gently to separate. When the water returns to a boil and the spaetzle rise to the surface, remove with slotted spoon, let drain for a few seconds, then place in a serving bowl. Place bowl in a 180 degree oven to keep warm. Repeat cooking process until dough has been used. Top finished spaetzle with toasted, buttered bread crumbs for a nice crunch.

Bill?€?s Picks

At a recent dinner with friends, we preferred the Riesling Kabinett and Sp??tburgunder for overall quality and sweetness level. Here are some good German wines that are locally available, with suggested retails prices:

German Whites

Listed in order from dry to sweet

Ress Kabinett Riesling $13

Fitz-Ritter Gew??rztraminer $17

Studert-Pr??m Riesling Sp??tlese $20

Dr. Loosen Riesling Auslese $37

German Reds

Bretz Dornfelder $13

Sch??fer Sp??tburgunder $15



For more from Bill Garlough’s Perfect Pairings visit My Chef.





By: Bill Garlough

About the Author:

Acetic; This is what happens when the wine is exposed to air. It develops a vinegary taste or smell.

Acidity; All wines contain some level of acid. The acid level needs to be in a proper balance with the other components and fruits in the wine so that you should be able to taste the crispiness and liveliness of the wine. This acidity is also vital in the aging process of the wine.

Aftertaste; This is the impression of flavor that you will get once you have swallowed the wine. It is also called the ?€?finish?€ of a wine.

Aroma; The smell of wines, especially that of young wines.

Aromatic; This is a term that this used for wines that have a distinct aroma, especially those with herbs and spices in them.

Astringent; This term is used when the tannin level in the wine dries out the mouth.

Austere; A somewhat hard tasting wine, where the character and fruitiness have been restrained.

Big; A full bodied powerful in aroma wine.

Bitter; This is usually considered as a fault bit it is also a characteristic of certain Italian wines.

Body; The weight and texture that is found in wines. You can describe a wine as light bodied or full bodied.

Bouquet; The intermingling of aromas that fine aged wines produce.

Breed; This is the term that is referred to as the bloodlines of the wine grapes. It is also used when noting the soil, the grapes and the techniques that are used to produce a good quality wine.

Chewy; This term is used to describe wines that have an unusual thick texture to the wine. It feels like you need to chew the wine before you swallow it.

Clean; Fresh wines that seem to have no defects. This term also refers to the aroma, appearance and flavor of the wines.

Complete; A mature wine that has a satisfying feel and a great aftertaste on the palette.

Complex; This is where you will find a combination of flavors and aroma elements in various types of wines.

Corked, corky; The wines smell like cork rather than wine. This is because it was bottled in correctly.

Deep; A wine that has many layers of taste that slowly reveals itself.

Delicate; A light fragrance, body and flavor in the wine.

Distinctive; An elegant and refined character in the wine that sets it apart.

Dry; There is a little amount of sugar in the wine.

Earthy; You can detect this in certain wines. The smell and flavor is bit like the earth or soil.

Elegant; A refined charactered wine. This is usually to describe a stylish and quality wine.

Extra dry; You can find this term on champagne bottles as they describe the wine.

Fat; A wine that is full of flavor and body.

Fine; A distinguished wine.

Flat; A wine that is lacking in liveliness. Also a wine with an insufficient amount of acid.

Flavor; Describing how the wine tastes.

Full; Describes a wine that has a rich body

Green; A tart wine that is made from unripe grapes. Also has a lack of fruit flavoring.

Grip; Firmness of structure and flavor.

Hard; Stiff and undeveloped.

Heady; High in alcohol and very full bodied.

Herbaceous; Aromas that are reminiscent of fresh grass or hay. It can also be a characteristic of some wines like Cabernets.

Honeyed; You will find a taste or smell that is like honey.

Intricate; The interweaving of subtle flavors and aromas within a wine.

Legs; The rivulets of wine that you see running down the sides of the glass after swirling or sipping the wine.

Length; The lingering aftertaste that you get from a wine.

Light; This refers to wines that are light in alcohol, weight and texture. The feeling that you get in the mouth when you drink the wine is also described as light.

Lively; A fresh wine that has vitality and crispness.

Mature; A fully developed, ready to drink wine.

Meaty; This is a wine that is firm in structure with a chewy, fruity taste.

Mellow; A smooth, soft wine that has no harsh characteristics.

Noble; Wines that have a great balance and a harmonious expression. The wines that are made from these types of grapes are considered as the finest wines in the world. You can find Merlot and Cabernet among this lot.

Nose; The smell that comes from the wine. You can get ?€?good nose?€ or a ?€?bad nose?€. A term used to detect faults in the wine.

Nutty; A nutlike aroma that develops in some wines.

Oak, oaky; This is the flavor and aroma that comes from aging the wine in oak casks or barrels. The taste is a mixture of vanilla, spices, smokiness and cloves.

Open; You can get the full character from the wine.

Oxidized; Flat, stale wines. Wines that have a sherry like and flavor and aroma. The state where wines becomes spoiled due to exposure to air.

Petillant; A light sparkle that can be seen in the wines.

Rich; A full, opulent wine with good body and aroma.

Ripe; Mature, fully ripe fruit.

Robust; A powerful, full bodied and heady wine.

Sharp; Biting or acidic.

Smoky; The aroma and flavor that a wine can get from being aged in an oak barrel or casket.

Sparkling; This is used where there are bubbles that are detectedable in the wine.

Spicy; A wine that has the characteristics of spices like cloves, mint, pepper and cinnamon.

Structure; The way that a wine in made with regard to its proportions and composition.

Supple; A wine that is yielding in flavor and is ready to drink.

Sweet; This usually indicates the presence of grape sugar that have not been completely converted to alcohol.

Tannin; This is a natural substance that is found in the skins, stems and seeds of certain grapes. This substance is also a major component in the structure of red wines.

Tart; A sharp wine that is acceptable to drink if it is not acidic.

Thin; Lacking in body and flavor.

Tired; Where a wine is past its peak flavor development. Old.

Vanilla; You will get this scent from the aging process of oak caskets.

Velvety; Smooth and very rich in texture.

Vigorous; A wine with a firm, strong body and flavor and a lively fruitiness.

Vinegary; Having the smell of vinegar.

Watery; Thin and lacking in any flavor.

Weedy; You will get the flavors and aromas of grass or hay. This scent becomes unpleasant only in excessive amounts.

Weighty; Forceful, strong, full bodied and powerful ?€“ terms to describe wines.

Woody; The aroma that comes when wine has been over aged in barrels or casks.

Yeasty; A bread smell that can be sometimes found in wines that have gone through a secondary fermentation process like champagne. Can be appealing if it is not excessive.

Young; Simple fine wines that have yet to become mature. Still undeveloped.



By: Muna wa Wanjiru

About the Author: