Wine Making Tips from Andre: Fruit Wines and Fruit Winemaking ?Part 1 of 2
Once again we have advent of the summer season in Western New York and Ontario and while some home winemakers limit their endeavors to the grape, others, including myself, anxiously await the arrival of the fresh fruit. Once dismissed out of hand by some as inferior and often quaintly referred to as ?country? wines, fruit wines are enjoying a surge in popularity never seen before, embraced by amateur and professional vintners alike.
And why shouldn?t they? Our region has the good fortune to possess a burgeoning agribusiness in fruit other than grapes and, as many fruit farmers have discovered (as indicated by the surge in farm winery licenses), wine returns a much more appealing margin than fruit alone. For those who are still on the fence about the virtues of fruit wine, may I suggest that you take a day to tour some of the local wine trails and try them.
For me, a family outing to the local fruit farms, especially a ?U-Pick,? was always gleefully anticipated as a summertime ritual. The delicious baked goods and the jellies and jams made from the fruit could be enjoyed into the cold winter months. That is, of course, if they lasted that long.
We still make and love all these things, but taking the extra time and expense to produce wine from the strawberries, cherries, raspberries, blueberries, peaches, and other fruits adds another dimension that will challenge and hone your skills. This is because, unlike grapes (especially those varieties which one may regularly vint year after year), fruits, berries, and other feedstock used to make these wines have less predictable characteristics in their pH, acid, and sugar. Therefore, careful testing and attention to making the proper adjustments is important to producing a good fruit wine.
There is an abundance of websites that have good basic fruit wine recipes, and even recipes to make wine from vegetables and herbs. Simply plug ?fruit wine recipes? into a search engine.
Now for another reason why home winemakers should have a second look at fruit wines. Today, people are more health-conscious than ever. Almost every day for the past decade, starting with ?The French Paradox,? we?ve been bombarded with one clinical study after another that touts the health benefits of drinking red wine in moderation.
Well, surprise! The same health-promoting compounds found in Pinot Noir are found abundantly in fruits and berries. The polyphenol pigments that impart color to the fruit are known collectively as anthocyanins, a family of powerful antioxidants. The compound found in Pinot Noir called resveratrol is produced in greater amounts in this varietal as an antifungal because the skin of the grape is thin and susceptible to splitting. Resveratrol has been studied for its ability to block cell inflammation and oxidative stress related to arthritis and other degenerative diseases, as well as cancer treatment and prevention. *
Blackberries, mulberries, and especially blueberries are rich in powerful antioxidants like resveratrol. Blueberries also contain phytosterol and pterostilbene, which have recently been shown to be useful in lowering bad (LDL) cholesterol, preventing heart disease, and protecting the body against certain cancers.
None of these beneficial compounds are lost in the winemaking process, so why not raise a glass of fruit wine and drink to your health?
*Joseph, J.A., Shukitt-Hale B., Denisova, N.A. Bielinski D., Martin, A., McEwen, J.J., and Bickford, P.C. "Reversal of Age-Related Declines in the Neuronal Signal Transduction, Cognitive, and Motor Behavioral Deficits with Blueberry, Spinach, or Strawberry Dietary Supplementation," Journal of Neuroscience, September 15, 1999, Vol. 19, No. 18. pp. 8114-8121.]
Winemaking Tips from Ande Pazik of www.bubbleflo.com
E-mail Contact: dkceo@bubbleflo.com
Author: Andre Pazik of www.bubbleflo.com
Southern Wine
Take a chance and explore the vines of countries like: Uruguay, Bolivia, Chile, Argentina, South Africa, New Zealand, Australia, among others, and discover great wines, �undiscovered� varietals and significant value. These up and coming regions offer something for everyone�if looking for a �refreshing, light and interesting� white: Torrontes, might be it. If you like big, fruit bombs for a red: try decanting a Tannant.
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Conundrum Wine
There are clubs on every type of wine under the sun. There are Californian- only wine clubs, red wine clubs, sweet wine clubs, port wine clubs. There are "all the best across the world," "the tiny wines you can't find anywhere else," and all sorts of other combinations.
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Cabernet Franc
If you want to put together a cheese plate for a wine and cheese party, keep it simple. It is best not to present too many different flavours at once. Try a cheese plate with three styles, such as soft, creamy, and hard. A classic BC version would be fresh goat�s cheese (soft), a soft-rinded brie or camembert type (richer, creamier), and a cheddar (hard). Now choose an adaptable wine to use � the best choices would be a light-to-medium dry white (BC pinot blanc, pinot gris, or unwooded chardonnay) or a fruity, not-too-heavy red, such as pinot noir or merlot. These wines can easily accompany a range of flavours, but it is still best to avoid very strong or pungent flavours if you are going to mix and match.
Buy a good bottle of red wine today!
Wine List
Your first inclination is to taste your sample. Stop for a second and look at the wine. Tilt the glass and look at it against a white background. A shirtsleeve will do in a pinch. What do you see? Red wines vary greatly in color. As they age, you will see hints of reddish-brown around the edges. White wines become more golden as they age. Generally speaking, the darker the wine, the more full-bodied the taste.
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Wine Cup
The first lesson of collecting wine is to buy what you like. The market could go south, wine could not appreciate the way you feel it might, but in the end if you have wines you love, you haven't lost everything. Spend some time figuring out what you personally enjoy. Try different wines, and read web reviews and talk to friends for for best buy suggestions. Visit wineries and learn about how wines are made.
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The Scene - April 28 - Akron Beacon Journal
Mon, 28 Apr 2008 12:51:30 GMT
The Scene - April 28 Akron Beacon Journal, OH - An Antique and Treasure Appraisal Fair to benefit the CARE Center at Akron Children's Hospital will be from 9 am to 2 pm at the Considine Professional ... |
Sweet Wine
Labels: Wine Opener | Wine Pairing
Making your own wine
Copyright 2006 Michael Saville
Wine making has a rich history. It has been a part of humankind's diet over the centuries throughout the world. History books show this to be the case with the numerous quotes from almost all major civilizations about wine and its beneficial effects. For example, the Bible has wine held as a holy drink and is compared to the blood of Jesus.
It is generally considered that wine is the naturally fermented juice of fresh fruit or berries. But as a rule t is generally derived from grapes. In that sense, wine is an agricultural product as it is derived from grapes, an agricultural produce. With little assistance from mankind, grapes are converted by nature through a chemical process into an alcoholic beverage. Over time and through learning, we have come to know how to produce highest quality grapes to produce finest qualities of wine. We have also learned how to pair it with food so that we get the best effect of both.
It is possible to make wine from scratch rather than from a kit. However, there are some important things to think about when doing this. You need to collect the grapes carefully and separate them from the stems and press them to obtain grape juice. It is better if you use a commercially available grape press machine. If you choose to do it manually at home, there is a possibility you may not press the grapes right and ruin the whole batch. Ensure that you separate the seeds and skins from the grape juice. It is important to learn everything about your grape type as this will help greatly to achieve the wine you want. The grapes body and texture as well as colour influence all final results. Start the process of fermentation by adding sugar and alcohol to the fresh grape juice. Once the sugar is dissolved completely or the alcohol content reaches fifteen percent you have produced your own wine. Store the ready made wine in a cool place, first in wooden barrels and then once the wine is ready in bottles. You should store the bottles horizontally. Finally, do not forget the cork. Remember to seal your bottles with proper, air tight corks, which will keep your wine away from air and from getting oxidized.
For newcomers to the home wine making process, a wine making kit for beginners is probably the best choice to help get you started in this pastime. A wine making kit for beginners includes all of the basic equipment that you will need in order to produce wine right at home. In a typical wine making kit for beginners, you would receive: a primary fermentor, glass secondary fermentor, hydrometer, stopper and fermentation lock, siphon-hose, and a sterilizer. With a wine making kit you can create your own wine and name it whatever you want. You can even get kits that create labels for you that can specifically showcase your wine to whatever specifications you would like.
It is worthwhile giving a note of caution here. Before you consider undertaking the task of wine making, you should realize that wine making is a long process that requires a lot of patience. Additionally, wine making must be attended to with a great degree of precision, since a person who is not paying attention during the wine making process might find the end result to be wine with a horrible taste. However, if you are a person who truly appreciates the complexity of wine, you might find the process of home made wine making enjoyable in the sense of mastering an art. In attempting to create your own wine, you are forcing yourself to examine what is involved in making a wine that you appreciate, and wine is no longer something that you just purchase from your local wine shop.
About the Author
Michael Saville has prepared other information on all aspects of both wine making and wine tasting. For more information visit http://www.wine-making.me.uk
California Wineries
Temperature
Temperature is by far the more important of the two factors to watch. The "golden temperature" for wine is 55�F. Wine should normally be stored between 50-60�F, although a range of 45-65�F is considered OK and the most easily maintained by the normal collector. A lower, colder temperature causes the aging process to slow down, preventing the wine from aging properly. A higher, warmer temperature causes premature aging, although not in a "good" way. You cannot just put a bottle of wine in a desert and cause it to age 20 years!
Buy some sparkling wine right now!
Kosher Wine
The sommelier gives you a splash of wine and you, the host, must smell and taste the wine, with all eyes on you and all conversation halted. This only has to take moment and should not take much more than that. No one is expecting a tasting note from you or to hear what amazing nuances you find. All that fun will come later, if appropriate for your group. Right now, you are to assess that the wine is "sound or clean." A hearty swirl could in fact blow subtle problems off the nose and have them land right on your palate when you take the obligatory sip. However strong or subtle the problem, you want to avoid tasting it. Instead of swirling, simply lift the glass to your nose and take a sniff. If it smells bad you will know it and you will not want to taste that smell! The most common occurrence is a corky wine.
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Sweet Wine
Red wines become richer, as the initial fruit flavours mellow and the astringent tannins relax, contributing to the body and character.
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Wine Train
Many wines which are 30 years and older seem to benefit from Fran�ois Audouze�s �slow-oxygenation method�. Open the bottle 4-8 hours before you intend to serve it. Smell but do not pour any out of the bottle. Do not decant. Really. The theory here is old wines are damaged or destroyed by decanting (to remove the sediment) because this exposes them to too much oxygen. Wine is alive and always changing when it�s exposed to air. More here. A cautionary note: Capsules on old wines are usually made from lead; after opening, wipe the top of bottle and then wash your hands.
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Virginia Wine Country Events
Featured Virginia Event: Oakencroft Spring Fiesta. Closest winery to Charlottesville and the University of Virginia. Our first event of the year. Featuring tours, tastings of our premier wines, picnic by the lake, enjoy the spring time in Jefferson Country and the panaromic views of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Live Music, light fare.
Sam Simon, chairman and CEO, Atlas Oil Co. - MLive.com
Thu, 24 Apr 2008 06:13:49 GMT
Sam Simon, chairman and CEO, Atlas Oil Co. MLive.com, MI - •Three greatest passions: Family and faith, business, wine. •Most unique office decor: Anyone who steps into my office is immediately greeted by the tiger ... |
Wine Chillers
Tasting Notes
Labels: Wine Price | Wine Prints
Plans Aren't Wine, And They Don't Always Age Well
The following crossed my desk recently. The author gave me permission to share her story:
"Please alert people to something we're experiencing right now - having to clean up the mess of someone not naming more than one person as beneficiary on a life insurance policy. We are having an impossible time trying to get the funeral expenses paid for my sister and my mother. They died within four days of each other, and they left each other as beneficiary of their life insurance policies.
'If the person listed as a beneficiary dies, the insurance benefit goes into their estate.
'The problem is, neither of them had a will, either."
(Aside: This means that both estates, the mother's and the daughter's, will have to be probated by the Court, and the Court will decide who gets what. The process can be lengthy, and it can be expensive. The family might not see the funeral money for a while.)
"Also, please alert people to be sure that the person they choose to be their medical decision maker - the person who has Medical Power of Attorney - is willing to do what they would want done. Review the mental capacity of the appointed person regularly.
'My 85 year old Mother couldn't bring herself to honor my sister's Living Will that said she wanted to be allowed to go. The doctor wouldn't write a letter stating Mother wasn't capable of making these decisions for my sister, who was in a coma.
'So, my sister was put on life support, even though there was no hope that she would ever awaken or live a productive life. She lingered for months on a ventilator.
'My family and I wish we had thought about all these things sooner. We are taking a closer look at our own papers now."
She is soooo right.
Life insurance is something we all tend to forget about. When you started that new job, you made out your employer's insurance beneficiary papers on the first day. Have you thought about them since?
What about your Medical and Financial Powers of Attorney (you do have them, don't you?). If you've designated your spouse on one or both, what happens if you're in an accident together? Is there a secod person named who can step in?
If you made arrangements for your children when they were babies, are there things you should change now thatthey're older? Now that several years have gone by, would you still appoint the same people to care for your children in the event of a catastrophe?
Do you have a will? If not, some stranger in a black robe is going to be making decisions for you one day.
What about your parents? If one of them has passed away, has the survivor made the necessary changes to legal documents?
If one parent is in poor health or getting confused, is he or she still the only one legally appointed to make decisions for the other?
This doesn't really have anything to do with your age. Everyone over the age of 18 should give some thought to these questions, and then take action. Should you do something about it right now, before something goes tragically wrong?
You Betcha!
About The Author © 2004 Molly Shomer, All Rights Reserved. You are free to use this article as long as you include complete attribution, including live web site link and email link. Please notify me where the material will appear. The attribution should read: "Molly Shomer helps when you're struggling with eldercare. Find articles, resources, tools and support at http://www.eldercareteam.com |
People Wine
Open the bottle when it is very cold. Safety tips: Keep thumb on top of cork as you remove the cage - keep it there until the bottle is open. Point bottle away from people. Open it slowly, holding the cork and twisting the bottle...you want a sigh, not a pop.
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New Wine
If a wine is kept over 85�F for even a single month, irreparable damage is done to it. What hurts wine the most is temperature fluctuation. Even a steady storage at 65�F is better than storage that every day goes from 45�F - 65�F and back again. One of the effects of this gyration in temperature is that the cork is pulled in and out, and air has a better chance of getting in to the wine. Once that happens, you can kiss your aging goodbye. A good digital gauge makes this much easier to watch.
Celebrate with champagne today!
Port Wine
Offer a mixed bar. Not everyone drinks wine, so offer popular spirits such as gin, rum, scotch and vodka. For non-alcoholic drinks, offer fruit punch, juice, soda or sparkling water. A signature cocktail, created for your wedding, is also a great idea.
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Red Wines
Wine was also forbidden in the Islamic civilization, but after Geber and other Muslim chemists pioneered the distillation of wine, it was used for other purposes, including cosmetic and medical uses. In fact the 10th century Persian philosopher and scientist Al Biruni described recipes where herbs, minerals and even gemstones are mixed with wine for medicinal purposes. Wine was so revered and its effect so feared that elaborate theories were developed about which gemstone-cups would best counteract its negative side effects.
Treat your family to a great food and wine party!
Red Wines
Take the road less traveled and go for the varietals you don�t recognize. Chances are you will tap into something pleasant; and if it�s not to your liking� it�s OK, you didn�t have to mortgage your house to buy it. The idea is to explore and have fun with wine� while still holding on to your wallet.
Buy a wine bar
Napa Valley Current Events
Featured Napa Valley Event: Hands-on Cooking Class Hosted at CasaLana Bed and Breakfast in Calistoga with Terri Pischoff-Wuerthner this class is limited to 8 participants. The Topic is Classic Cajun". Includes recipe handouts, hands-on instruction, meals prepared and wine/beverage served with the meal. All equipment, tools and aprons are provided.
Sweet Wines | Syrah Wine
Labels: Wine Photography
Keeping Your Wine Chilled
Technology results in amazing new products practically every single day. When it comes to wine, the situation is no different as new and creative products come to market.
Keeping Your Wine Chilled
As any true wine enthusiast knows, a regular refrigerator is hardly big enough to hold all the different varieties of wine that a well-stocked house has in it. If you are going to have room to store your meats and vegetables, as well as your wine, you will need to find a different solution for your wine storage needs. Storing bottles of wine at room temperature (or in warm areas) can be damaging to the taste and quality of the vintage and not everyone can afford to have a wine cellar built. Some of the best options for most wine aficionados are chillers.
Wine chillers are small cases that are built to hold from six to 500 bottles of wine. These cases are made to keep wine at its optimum temperature for both red and white wines, and some have multiple temperatures and temperature zones available. The different companies that make these wine cabinets and wine chillers range from economical models for long term storage to sleek, beautiful show piece type cabinets.
One company known for its economical wine cellars is Vintage Keeper. This company offers four models, with bottle capacities ranging from 110 bottles to 500 bottles, and prices below $1500 for all models. The cabinets come with quiet cooling units that are attached to adjustable thermostats; these thermostats offer a range of temperatures between 50 and 72 degrees F. Vintage Keeper wine chillers also come in three different colors: black, burgundy and oak - which will suit any decor.
Another wine cabinet company that offers more extravagant wine cabinets is Le Cache. This company has two different cabinet frames available - cherry wood and maple wood. The doors and structure of these cabinets give them a look of elegant furniture even though inside they're a useful wine cooling system. The temperature range on these models is from 48 to 63 degrees F, and they also have fluorescent lighting to make choosing your favorite wine easier. Capacities range between 172 and 622 bottles.
Whether you just need a practical place to stow your bottles of wine or a display piece for your fine vintage wines - wine chillers are a great way to keep your wine collection under wraps. Your wine is kept at the correct temperature for drinking and out of the elements, meaning your wine will stay at its best and age gracefully.
About the Author
Xavier Moldini is with WineriesforYou.com - a directory of wineries.
Wine Flavors
What if there is no wine clerk available? Again, go by the ratings and by a type of wine you know you like. If there is more than one choice, write down the names of the ones you do not buy. The next time you're in a restaurant, if you see one on the menu, try a glass of it. Also, many wine shops now offer tastings to let you sample various types of wines to determine what your favorite is.
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Calories Foods
Weddings aren't the only big events to celebrate with wine. These tips also apply to parties such as graduations, reunions, birthdays and anniversaries.
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Wine Types
Decant old red wines to remove the sediment that has developed over the years. Before decanting an older wine be sure to stand it up for 6-12 hours so that the sediment settles to the bottom of the bottle. Decant just prior to serving and handle the wine very gently. Use a candle (or other good light shining up from beneath the bottle as you pour) to see when the sediment in the bottle starts to move into the neck. Stop pouring just prior to the sediment escaping from the bottle. If done properly, you�ll have less than an ounce left in the bottle and the decanted wine will be free of sediment. Dense reds from strong, maturing vintages (such as �82 Lafite-Rothschild) may want double-decanting.
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Wine Delivery
Sparkling wines are a little bit sweet and are, obviously, bubbly. The sweetness works well to cool the fire of any spicy dish, so if you or your guests like spicy food, that can be a fun match. Riesling work very well with spicy foods for the same reason. Fried foods are very likeable with sparkling wines, because the bubbles make the fried food seem less, well, fried.
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Monterey Current Events
Featured Monterey Event: Spring Winemaker Dinner at Chateau Julien Wine Estate. A bountiful Carmel Valley harvest of the finest local fare paired with limited release Estate Vineyard and Private Reserve wines acentuate the simple elegance and beauty of the Chateau this spring evening in the Valley. Barrel samplings and new releases selected by the Winemaker.
Swedish Wine | Sweet Sherries
Labels: Wine Online
