Category: Zinfandel Wine

Holiday Turkey and Wine

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This past Thanksgiving we were blessed to be invited to a dear friend’s house.  This was the first time in years that we were just able to enjoy the feast and company of friends without the messy clean-up that comes with entertaining in our own home.  I did not have to stuff the turkey or roll up my sleeves at the sink trying to get the baking pan clean.  My joy was short lived when my wife made the Thanksgiving announcement that, “Everyone is invited to our house for a big December holiday feast”.   There was a resounding cheer at the gathering from everyone at the table.  Hands were raised and voices heard to say, “We will be there”.  At the last count we had fifteen couples, my daughter, two grandkids and one obnoxious “grand-dog” called Bones.

When December rolled around, my wife started preparations immediately.  First, we had to do spring cleaning in December, which included walls, furnace registers, base boards, floors, etc.  The next step was the obligatory decorations that needed to be scattered around the house, including an ornate light display for the outside that had me untangling and hanging lights for days.  I was sent to the Party Store to rent tables, chairs and huge serving platters for the food.  My final assignment was to get “The Birds” and the wine to go with it.  I was beginning to wish we had entertained at Thanksgiving.

Before I left to do the shopping, my wife told me, “Make sure you talk to someone at the wine store so you get the right wine to compliment the turkey”.  I said, “Why didn’t you ask everyone to bring their own wine, instead of us risking that we wouldn’t buy their favorite?”  My wife raised her voice at least one octave and replied, “We are doing the entertainment so it is our responsibility not theirs and besides I want everything to be just perfect”.  I love my wife dearly and I have learned when it is best to just say, “Yes Dear”.  Before I left, I hopped on the computer and did my research so I could portray to the wine store clerk how knowledgeable I was about pairing turkey with wine.  I didn’t want to embarrass myself at the wine store.

The general consensus from the web research was for a lighter red (not over burdened with tannins) or several white wines that tended to be fruity and slightly sweeter.  Another caution, that seems well advised, is during dinner stick with wines lower in alcohol content.  Northhamptonwines.com stated, “Save the 15 percent alcohol ‘in your face Zins’ for after dinner when it is OK for folks to go to sleep.” 

The top choices I found for red wine lovers were Pinot Noir, Merlot, Shiraz and Red Zinfandel. White wine enthusiasts might enjoy a Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Beaujolais Nouveau or White Burgundy.  If some of your guests have a sweet-tooth, then try White Zinfandel or Cranberry Wine.  Save the desert wines for after the main meal when it is time to devour the pumpkin and pecan pie.

Not everyone is a wine drinker.  I also ran across some advice for people for pairing turkey with beer and cocktails.  The consensus was that a beer should be complex but not over bearing.  A good choice might be pale ale from one of the smaller breweries.  Another website suggested that for the cocktail drinkers, gin cocktails like an English Rose, Park Avenue or Verbena Martini would work.

I went to the wine store and made my selections with an air of “I know what I am doing”.  When I arrived home my wife said, “What wine did you decide on?” I smiled and told her, “One of each, a total of 12 bottles”. She exclaimed, “We won’t be able to serve all that wine at dinner!”  I responded, “I wouldn’t think of doing that.  I am going to raffle off any that we don’t serve.”  My wife grabbed her forehead and walked away stating, “What I am I going to do with you.”  I let her have the final word and started preparing the raffle tickets.

I always maintain that there are a lot of people that will tell you what wine to pair with what food.  In the end, as I always say, buy the wine you like, store wine properly in a wine refrigerator, serve it at the proper temperature and enjoy it immensely.

See Wine and Beverage Storage Solutions:  http://idealwinecoolers.com/

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Piedirosso wine in Positano

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When You book a nice apartment in Positano Apartment in Positano – Amalfi Coast, with us You’ll realize  how beautiful and magic this town is.

At sunset, the town is the only producer and winemaker Joseph Apicella. His wine making from time immemorial, although until the ’75 sold in bulk, everywhere there were wine bars and restaurants can appreciate a good red, that had nothing to envy to the most famous wines. Then, Peppe Apicella (that’s how his friends call him) began to bottle his wine and courageously to propose around Italy, especially where the presence of his fellow villagers had given rise to the emergence of restaurants and pizzerias. This applies, in fact, that by Sunsets are irradiated throughout Italy for generations of pizza, that the example of Louis Jordan, who was the first after the war he opened a pizzeria in Loreto di Novara.The expansion and success come from the eighties, though Apicella remains committed to the principle that only a small winery can provide those treatments that require a good wine. So the five acres of family were the ones with the old screws Piedirosso and Aglianico, foot works, and with a yield on the ninety quintals per hectare, well below the 110 expected to be disciplined in ’95.

The company produces white, red and rosé for a total of forty thousand bottles, with a predominance of red, the type not only more distant tradition, but most in demand by the market. And it was the growing success of this wine to push Apicella to create, since 2000, a Rosso Riserva Vigna battered three thousand units, based on 60% and Aglianico Piedirosso, with three years of aging, including two in bottle. Vigna battered represents the first milestone of the family Apicella, where even the children – Prisco young winemaker, and Fiorina, studies in business – live with love and the fate of the transport. At first this was followed a’Scippata Reserve, which is indicated by the name of the local vineyard, all on foot works, which originally appeared rugged and steep, as often is the territory here. The fund was established in the early thirties with the purchase of the forest that the Old Forest, an excellent investment for the particular nature of the land and all the happy position at noon. Just one hectare, to break up by force of arms and an ax, before planting the cuttings and Piedirosso Dyer, rigorously chosen among the best in the area.

Then, the wise provision of the grape in the framework, where each item includes five cuttings together. Ordered geometry, which gave rise to a series of plots, each capable of containing three rows of vines grown on pergolas, with the typical plant chestnut poles.Since 1931, a period in which it is born a’Scippata – apart from the modern equipment and new winemaking techniques – here nothing has changed. Peppe Apicella, heir to the vineyard, I worked as his ancestor, with operations carried out manually, given the rugged nature of the place. Pruning, tying the branches, the change of guardians, we always refers to gestures and techniques of the past. Careful harvest in early November – a date not to be overlooked for a grape rather delicate as the dye – can count on only forty pounds, or just over one hectare of vineyard. Then in the cellar, that philosophy requires a delicate baling and a long fermentation on the skins for better respect of the original character of the grape

Book our apartment in Positano, and You’ll enjoy the unique atmosphere of this beautiful town

 

 

Carbohydrates In Wine

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First, researchers say one to two (and no more) drinks of wine is beneficial to your heart and brain health. The wine contains antioxidants that have reported benefits for years. The alcohol itself has positive benefits in moderation. While you could get this second benefit from beer or hard alcohol as well, you lose the antioxidants. Second, wine is a food drink.

One suggestion as to why some of these antioxidants are present in red wines is that grapes that have been distressed during their growth will exhibit the highest level of antioxidants. Red-skinned grapes seem to have better growing success in less temperate climates but exhibit the effects of stressful weather conditions in the form of higher levels of resveratrol. Before all you wine enthusiasts start shouting, “I told you so!” let me point out that many of the same antioxidant benefits can also be found in dark beers, too.

White wines can be found in several varieties, and these can range in calories and carbohydrates significantly. Though most white wines contain between 100 and 120 calories per five-ounce glass, some can run as high as 217. Grams of carbohydrates per glass can vary even among those wines with similar caloric content. If you are concerned about the calories in white wine, you’ll want to examine the specific type of wine for more insight.

So, what about carbohydrates? Many nutritionists may not think a lot about low-carbohydrate diets. However, in case you’re following one of these faddish plans, then you may find it difficult to fit in much wine. The amounts may differ, but a 5-ounce serving of dry white table wine can consist of 1.25 grams of carbohydrates, whereas a glass of red can go up to 2.5 grams and sweet wines may have considerably more

According to Atkins refined carbohydrates, in particular sugar and flour, are the main cause of obesity. He also felt that saturated fat was not a major nutritional problem, and was much less a factor in developing vascular disease than the trans fats often found in hydrogenated oils. At the risk of oversimplifying, this diet tells you to cut the carbs and not worry about dietary fat. It also recommends nutritional supplements and exercise.

Good carbohydrates are high in fiber or high in good fats, and have a low glycemic index, which means they are digested and absorbed slowly. Preferred carbohydrates have more nutritional value than the alternatives. The South Beach Diet allows brown rice in moderation, but discourages white rice. When you eat carbohydrates, you should also eat fiber or fat to slow digestion of the carbohydrates.

One drawback of the Zone Diet is the need to measure your food intake quite precisely. The food groups are broken into ‘blocks’ subdivided into ‘mini-blocks’. A typical meal might involve one block of Carbohydrates, composed of three mini-blocks such as 1 cup of green beans, 2 cups of yellow squash, and 1 glass of red wine. As with many diets, you should buy a specialized cookbook. Let’s talk about the pros and cons of this diet.

Different types of grapes and different strains of grapes are responsible for the production of different types of wines. Apples and berries are also utilized for the preparation of wines and the wines obtained are named after the name of the fruit like apple wine or elderberry wine or are popularly name as fruit wine or country wine. Barley and rice wine are prepared from the starch based materials and resemble beer and spirit more than wine and ginger wine is fortified with brandy.

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Plastic Wine Glass

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Though the idea about plastic wine glass would make a lot of wine connoisseur cringe, it contains their place in lots of kitchens. A plastic wine glass makes a perfect drinking vessel for the majority of any beverage. You could of course drink champagne or even wine from plastic or else acrylic goblets, though the experience might not be clam as swanky as in case you are sipping as of fine crystal. The cause wine & champagne are consumed as of glasses made a sure way is to transport out the complex aromas & flavors contained within. Obviously with other beverages it is really not the concern so plastic must be fine to utilize.

The thought of plastic wine glass in general is distant from an appealing single to any grave drinker of wine. Persons who consider themselves as wine connoisseurs might ridicule at the thought of drinking wine away of a plastic elements, as this is the far cry as of the crystal & other materials they favor for their own. This is more preferred wine glass are said to improve the experience of consumption a fine wine. This way that the beam reflects off the goblet will often improve the color & richness of wine being taken in. They also inform that the equanimity of the actual glass or crystal itself can too have an impact at the wine’s flavor, giving it as smoother & more sophisticated flavor.

Yet, there is an exact place in this earth for plastic goblets that is why they are accessible for sale. Many populaces choose to go along with plastic, & we’ll get onto the reasons abruptly. Not only could wine be consumed along with plastic wine glass, but other beverages could easily be used along with these also. Whether it is wine, champagne, or else even teas, sodas, juices, or water, plastic wine glass are very diverse at the terms of how this can be used. It is a far weep from the exclusive character of crystal & other goblets.

After that there are others who will utilize goblets to serving certain kinds of foodstuffs inside them. Perhaps you’ve been to the restaurant serving dessert which gave you the mousse, pudding, or else even a cake otherwise ice cream inside the plastic wine glass. This would be close to impossible to provide in a gemstone goblet, which would approximately be sure to smash under any type of direct pressure practical by silverware.

Another advantage of plastic wine glass is the detail that they come at many different colors & even sizes. Unlike additional glasses that are somewhat unbending & similar in look, you can locate red plastic wine glasses, green plastic wine glasses, & many other dissimilar colors & designs. Just regarding anything is available in case you take the occasion to look around.

As of here, it is up to you for finding your plastic wine glasses. There are many obtainable online, & what you finish up getting really based upon the personal tastes.

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Nova Scotia Wine

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Bay of Fundy tides called us to Nova Scotia, but we also wanted to try Nova Scotia Wines. Would it come as a surprise to you that there are six distinct wine growing regions in Nova Scotia?

We’re not talking Italy or California, though its longitude of 44 degrees north is about the same as Bordeaux, France which is also 44 degrees north. Not a bad wine growing area to be compared to, eh?…. so why not wines in Nova Scotia?

They produce grapes that grow well in this maritime climate. Marechal Foch, DeChaunac, Baco Noir, Leon Millot, Seyval Blanc and L’Acadie Blanc. Never heard of most of those varietals? Neither had we until we visited and tasted. They also grow nice Muscats, Chardonnays, and Pinot Noirs.

Our first introduction to Nova Scotia wines came in Lunenburg, the first town where we stopped for the night. The innkeeper at our B&B recommended a Domaine de Grand Pre L’Acadie Blanc. We had it with a wonderful seafood dinner overlooking the town wharf. Great dinner. Great wine!

Most of the white wines we tried go well with the wonderful sea food you’ll find… I mean it is a maritime provence, right? That gives it a moderate climate and good seafood. Nova Scotia is in one of the cooler climate ranges for growing wine grapes, but it has a long tradition for growing grapes going back to the 1600s.

The wine growing areas are in protected valleys and on sheltered hillsides. They are suited to growing cool climate grapes thanks to the long fall season and to the temperature moderating maritime influence.

The wine growing district of the Malagash Penninsula is in northeast Nova Scotia where you’ll find Jost Vineyards.

The tides of the Bay of Fundy had us spending a few days in the Annapolis Valley, so we tasted at Domaine de Grand Pre. Grand Pre is the oldest operating vineyard in Nova Scotia. They have a great tasting room and a nice restaurant.

We also tasted at Sainte-Famille Wines; a small family run winery with good wines and a nice little gift shop. There are a couple of other wineries in the area.

The LaHave River Valley district is on the Southern Shores with a couple of wineries near Lunenburg. There is also a small district in the Bear River Valley on the South West Coast. You can visit the Wines of Nova Scotia website for more information.

Several of these wineries make great Ice Wines. As you can imagine, the climate is good for this style of wine too.

One word of warning for wine lovers… Some of the wineries only make fruit wines like berry wine, so if you’re wanting wine from grapes, check first… especially if there is a tasting fee. We have nothing against fruit wines, but you have to know what you’re getting into.

We found tasting Nova Scotia wines was a great addition to the whole trip. We discovered some new favorites to share with our wine loving buddies at home. Go taste some for yourself and see what you think.

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