Tag: Wine

I Love Italian Regional Cuisine – Pairing Basilicata Cuisine With Red Wine

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Basilicata is the instep of the Italian boot. This hilly and mountainous region is located in the southwest corner of Italy. Like so many other parts of Italy this region has known a series of conquerors, each of whom has left a cultural and culinary trace. The region is known for caves that have been occupied for thousands of years and have now become trendy tourist attractions, complete with upscale restaurants.

Start your meal with some delicious vegetables. One great dish is Piatto di Erbe alla Lucana (Dish of Herbs Lucana Style) consisting of eggplants, onions, yellow peppers, tomatoes, garlic, olive oil, and a few other ingredients. Start by salting the eggplants to remove their bitter juices. Fry and then simmer the veggies and their accompaniments. This isn’t a quick dish, but you’ll enjoy it whether you are a vegetarian or not. The suggested wine pairing is an Italian Syrah.

Lamb is really popular in Basilicata. Make sure to try Cutturiddi o Agnello in Casseruola (Cutturiddi or Lamb Casserole) which is made from a combination of lamb breast and shoulder with pearl onions, chili peppers, ripe tomatoes, and a few other ingredients. The classic wine pairing is the local Aglianico del Vulture DOC named for the extinct Mount Vulture volcano that gives the wine its special taste.

Maybe you like your lamb baked. Try Agnello e Funghi al Forno (Baked Lamb with mushrooms), ideally made with cardoncelli mushrooms that tend to grow under thistle bushes. The other ingredients include chili peppers and olive oil. Suggested wine pairings include Italian Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, and Pinot Nero. I have a sneaking suspicion that Aglianico del Vulture would also work very well.

Nobody will blame us for yet another popular but different local lamb specialty, this time based on leg of lamb. Agnello Venosino (Lamb Venosino style). Other ingredients include asparagus, onions, grated Pecorino cheese, eggs, and olive oil. This delicious dish calls for an Italian Cabernet Sauvignon, or those Piedmont prizes, Barbaresco DOCG and Barolo DOCG.

Let’s not forget chicken. One local dish is Pollo alla Potentina (Chicken Potenza Style), chicken braised in white wine with onions, tomatoes, sweet peppers, and some other ingredients. Recommended wine pairings include an Italian Pinot Nero and a Barbera from Piedmont.

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Wine Dispenser Machine

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Dispensers have been in bars and pubs for many years, but these days wine is coming back into style, and as a result, many are now looking for a wine dispenser machine. There are a few problems with this concept that can be answered with technology, but obviously lower end establishments could not afford decent wine dispensers, especially if they plan to maintain a high level of quality.

The problem with wine is that it needs to be maintained at a specific temperature, and that temperature will change depending on the type of wine that is being used. White wine and red wine will both need to be kept at a different temperature, and this is where a dual zone wine cooler comes in. Such coolers have two compartments and a control panel between the two that will govern the temperature in both.

This fact has served many well in both the bar and the home, but it can be taken a step further with a wine dispenser machine. In order for the wine to retain its taste and remain drinkable for the end user, certain steps need to be followed, and these are carefully adhered to when building a wine dispenser machine. It should be noted however that these are not cheap, and they should never be taken lightly.

Some of the cheaper dispensers will cost somewhere around $ 400-$ 500, which isn’t exactly a small amount of money. If you want to go for one of higher capacity, or maybe one with additional cooling options, then you will be looking at the four figure range. For some businesses this will be out of the question, but for others it will be required. To be perfectly honest, it all depends on the level of clientele you bring I, and how much money your establishment is actually making.

As luck would have it though, there are plenty of savings to be found both online and offline, though you will find most of your deals in the online world. You may be able to find used wine dispensers, and buying pre-owned is often much better than buying straight from the factory floor. That being said, now might be a great time for you to head over to your favorite search engine and do a quick search for these wine dispensing units.

Pouring from bottles is old school, and you probably want to get away from this practice as soon as possible. So find a good wine dispenser and see what it does for your business. Just remember not to cut corners when purchasing, and make sure you are buying from a reputable dealer. In some cases, your business may depend on your ability to dispense wine.

Dual Zone Wine Coolers

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When it comes to red and white wines, two different temperatures are required, and in the past this need was addressed by a wine cellar. The problem these days however is that most people do not actually have a wine cellar. Why? Because modern conveniences and technology have allowed us to cool our wine without the need for huge cellars. This is most certainly helpful, but it doesn’t mean we don’t have choices to make. For instance there are a number of different wine cooling options when one looks at a wine refrigerator, one of which is happens to be dual zone wine coolers.

Wines are an interesting commodity as you have probably discovered over the years. There are some who like red wine, and then there are those who like white wine. There are also those who hate one with a passion but love the other. In direct contrast there are those who love both types of wine, and this is where dual zone coolers come in handy.

These are precisely what they sound like, and that is to say that dual wine coolers are actually a wine refrigerator that contain separate compartments that maintain separate temperatures. Yes, red wine and white wine should be stored at different temperatures, and dual zone wine coolers make it possible to do so without owning more than one refrigeration unit.

In the center you should find a divider, and on the divider there would be a control panel capable of governing the temperature on both sides. There are a few things that you will need to ask yourself before you actually start utilizing one of these devices. For one, does it really maintain different temperatures? You can test this with a thermometer, and in some cases one will actually be built into the cooler.

In addition to that you need to determine whether or not the cooler seals properly. You cannot have any leaks outside or within as this will defeat the purpose entirely. Dual zone coolers can be very delicate objects, and ensuring that they are made properly will certainly go a long way. That being said, you’ll certainly want to look into them, and even determine what the price happens to be.

It will depend on the size of course, but you can normally expect to pay about $ 300 for a cheaper unit, while you would pay about $ 1500 for a high end model. It all depends on the options you want and how many wine bottles you actually need to store. Either way, it is clear that wine storage has become much easier, and overall, it has become less expensive, even if the initial cost is a bit high.

Wine Tasting In Malaga

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Malaga is one of the cultural centres of southern Spain and it bequeathed to the world flamenco dance, cubist art and some very tasty wines. You can enjoy sweet Spanish wines when you go wine tasting in Malaga and they are the perfect accompaniment to all tapas.

Wine has been produced in Malaga for centuries by various peoples including the Phoenicians and the Moors. Despite being Arabic and forbidden by their religion the Moors were even enticed to produce and drink wine. Along with fantastic Moorish architecture it is one of the legacies which they have left to Malaga.

Most Malaga wines are made from the Muscat grape but they can also be of the Pedro Ximenez variety. They tend to be very rich with an earthy taste. Visitors to this part of Spain can visit a number of attractive and interesting Bodegas including the Antigua Casa de Guardia in the mountains of Malaga. Located high up in Axarquia amidst groves of fig trees, this is an award-winning winery which has been favoured by Isabel II, who was once Queen of Spain. In honour of her visit the Moscatel Isabel II wine was named after her. The Antigua Casa de Guardia is the oldest bodega in Malaga having been founded in 1840 and the wines are kept in oak casks.

This is just one of many worthwhile testing destinations within the Sierra Nevada and if you want to find out more about wine production in the area then the Mijas Wine Museum is the place to go. Located in San Sebastian, it is open all year around and offers introductory courses to Spanish wine as well as regular tasting sessions.

The Malaga Wine Museum

Within the province of Malaga is the town of Marbella which started life as a small fishing village and has many wine bars that serve tapas. Near to Marbella in Ojen is the Malaga wine Museum.

More than 20,000 tourists go to the museum every year and the surrounding area is where many of the best Malaga wines were created. Indeed the museum itself is a restored distillery. In the 19th century a brand of snaps was first made here which was named after its creator Pedro Morales as Pedro Morales Aguardiente de Ojen.

Malaga Restaurants

When considering which wines to drink is important to take into account what you are eating. Malaga is a seaside city in the south of Spain which has a fantastic range of local food and restaurants.

These restaurants include the famous Chiringuitos, which are beachside bars or taverns that serve freshly-caught fish. Malaga has some white wines that will go well with the catch of the day.

If you want to drink world-class wines in a star-studded setting then visit La Posada de Antonio, a restaurant which is owned by actor Antonio Banderas. The chef there prides himself on serving authentic Spanish food in conjunction with an intriguing wine list. The grilled meat and tapas are both recommended.

Learn the Best Health Benefits From Drinking Red Wine

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Isn’t it wonderful to finally find out that something we like is finally good for us. There have been many articles written recently about the health advantages of drinking red wine. The news people have started calling this phenomena the French Paradox. We all know the French eat diets filled with rich sauces and eat food products rich in creams butter and cheese but yet these people seem to live longer. Through research it has been found that they have a lower incidence of heart disease. Why we may ask? The final result has been thought to be the red wine they drink. In this article I will highlight the benefits of drinking great wine.

Get Free: Wine Health Benefits

First, Researchers have found that  wine lowers the cholesterol by changing our blood lipid levels. Wine also makes it very difficult for blood to clump up in our blood vessels to form clots. If there are already clots it may help to dissolve them preventing our risk from stroke. If wine is drunk in moderation it can lower blood pressure. Some studies even went as far as to say red wine can lower our insulin levels. But do keep i mind these researchers are saying yes it is healthy to drink some wine in moderation, but an excess of drinking can cause many issues that will out weigh the good it does.

How to Find: Information About Wine

Secondly, red wine can be a good source of anti-oxidants. It is hard to watch TV without seeing the advantage of aniti-oxidants that are found in fruits. Another benefit from great wine is that doctors have found that it can reduce stomach ulcers.

Third, red wine does not suppress the immune system as does many other alcoholic beverages tend to due. Too much other alcoholic beverages tend to increase our risk of getting sick.

Fourth, red wine has also been found to increase bone mass. This is especially a plus for women who tend to have issues. With so many women fearing the consequences of Osteoporosis red wine could be a pleasant remedy.

Lastly, with the stressful lives all of us live today, and the scientific research that has done drinking 1 to 3 glasses of wine may be just what we need to keep our bodies healthier. It heals both the body and the soul.

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