Tag: Wine

Kentucky Wine Making

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Most people would never think of Kentucky as being a good source of wine.  However, a winemaker named Jean Jacques Dufour in 1798 planted the first commercial vineyard in the small town of Nicholasville Kentucky and in 1860 Kentucky was known as the third largest producers of wine.  Of course this all came to a grinding stop when prohibition hit.

Today with special agriculture business grants and other government incentives the winemaking industry in Kentucky has been revitalized.  There are new vineyards popping up all over the place and now Kentucky has almost a thousand acres of grape planted ground with 50 registered wineries.

It is central Kentucky that boosts the most used soil for grape growing.  Some say that the soil in the bluegrass is likened to that to the soils in France. Kentucky was once covered with sea water and thus it is rich in limestone from the deposits of the fossils of shell fish.  Though the soil is good the climate is not.

Kentucky’s climate is considered to be in a moderate zone, the summers are warm and the winters are cool.  The weather in Kentucky is highly influenced by the Gulf of Mexico and thus it gets an average of 50 inches of rain per year.

Alas, the weather is a changing!  For the past ten years Kentucky has been in a moderate to severe drought and vineyards have to be hand watered to keep the vines from dying.

The weather in Kentucky changes quickly and they have had problems with spring frosts, ice storms and days of cold, all taking a toll on the grape crop.  So why do people want to grow grapes in Kentucky?  Well because when they do grow and the weather is good then the harvest is of great grapes and better wine.

One of the problems that Kentucky has faced is that the State does not have any guidance on what to grow, how to grow it or anything.  People were simply guessing or going by what their gut told them.  This was finally addressed in 2005 when the state hired a viticulturist and enologist.

There is a debate on varieties to plant in Kentucky and with the whole industry being quite new, there is lack of good history and data.  Some want a certain variety others want a different one. The ones that follow along with the recommendations of the state will get grants and cost help.  The ones that go there own way will have to do so on their own.

So what grapes are being grown in Kentucky?

Vidal Blanc
Chambourcin
Norton
Marechal Foch
Cayuga

No matter what grape is grown it is suggested that the vines be on grafted rootstock. Because of the abundance of disease and bugs in Kentucky it is practically unheard of to try and grow organically here.  The hot muggy summers give rise to black rot, powdery and downy mildews, phomopsis leaf and cane spot disease. The insects they deal with are Japanese beetles, grape cane gall maker, grape berry moths and grape flea beetles. Then of course there are the animals such as, raccoon, possums and deer. 

Grape growing in Kentucky is alive and well and anyone who takes on this task shows real commitment and passion for persevering through tough times and countless challenges. It is because of this character and the land that two can come together and bring to wine drinkers everywhere a great wine.  So give Kentucky wine a chance, they just might surprise you!

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Wine and Health Guide

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“Is wine good for you?” – perhaps one of the top 10 most regularly asked questions in our wine tasting events. It’s always interested me that this question is at the forefront of many wine drinker’s minds, and it’s clear this is linked to the increasing interest in what goes into wine, and how it is produced.

It’s regularly notedthat wines (particularly reds), when consumed in moderation help combat cardiovascular disease, certain types of cancer, and even Alzheimers. Epidemiologists for instance have consistently shown that the moderate consumption of alcohol and wine helps lower cardiovascular events such as heart failure. Why? Well although alcohol is a toxic substance, in moderation amongst other things, it is an anticoagulant (which in turn prevents blood clots).

It’s not only alcohol however – phenolic compounds present in wine are also known to be beneficial. One of these, Resveratrol (seemingly the wonder compound) seems to have an extraordinary breadth of benefits, from attacking cancer cells, protecting the heart and brain from damage, reducing inflammation, and lowering the instances of diabetes. Resveratrol has even been credited with reducing age related illnesses. Interestingly, 100 times more resveratrol is absorbed by the mouth than by the stomach. Because of this, it’s recommended you sip wine, rather than knock it back.

On this point, it’s not just how much you drink, but how you drink that matters. A further study (in Italy) has shown that consuming wines with a meal significantly reduces the risk of a heart attack.

THE FRENCH PARADOX

The perceived benefits of wine drinking are not new however. The well known French Paradox (essentially the observation that the French have a relatively low incidence of coronary disease, despite having a diet rich in fat) was first brought to light by an Irish doctor by the name of Samuel Black in 1819.

This phenomenon was revisited in 1991 on 60 Minutes, a CBS news program in USA, with the suggestion that red wine decreases the incidence of cardiac arrests. The follow-on? A 44% increase in red wine consumption, with US based wineries lobbying for the right to label their wines as “health foods.” The reaction from the American public was so great that wine brand Gallo had to put their Hearty Burgundy wine on allocation.

Inevitability, there have been dissenting voices, not least the statistics collected between 1990-2000 by The World Health Organisation who have shown coronary disease in the French may have been underestimated, and may be similar to those of neighbouring countries in Europe.

Despite all the research, as usual it’s all about moderation. Moderate drinkers have been defined by some as those who consume two 5 ounce glasses of wine a day, although sex, age, build, and general health all make generialisations risky. We know where the limits are – go overboard and all the adverse effects of excessive drinking are yours for the taking (liver disease, pancreatitis, cardiovascular disease..).

The future for wine and health? Well just last year in 2008, Philip Norrie, a Sydney based winemaker, created a wine with 100 times more resveratrol than standard wine. He calls it a “vascular pipe cleaner” – watch this space.

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California White Wine – Chardonnay

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One of the things I’ve learned already in this adventure of starting a wine club is that many people have tons of questions about grapes and different varietals of wine. In an effort to help educate people and answer some of these basic questions I’ve put together a few basics about some popular wines.

California Chardonnay:

The undisputed queen of the California White Wines, Chardonnay is a popular choice for many reasons.

Tasting Notes:

People generally describe Chardonnay as a crisp clean white wine. You’ll find small fig, citrus, tropical fruit or apple flavors in most bottles. More recently Chardonnay has started to be aged in oak barrels which gives the resulting wine a much deeper oak flavor which can be the strongest of all the flavors in the wine. One common thread with Chardonnay from all over the world, the balance of sugar and acid is outstanding and makes it an entirely drinkable wine for wine lovers and novices alike.

What Grape is It?

Genetic studies show that the grape is actually a cross between the Pinot Noir and Gouais Blanc grapes. California Chardonnay is typically grown in cool valleys because the fruit ripens so quickly that producers need to slow the process down in order to keep the alcohol content to a reasonable level.

History of the wine in California:

Although first planted in the 1800’s the grape was nearly forgotten during prohibition when farmers and wine makers were forced to take Chardonnay fields out and replace them with grapes with thicker skins so transport and concealment would be easier. A few patches in more rugged terrain survived, especially in the Santa Cruz mountains and the grape started a full scale comeback in the 1970’s. It is now the stable of the California white wine industry and the most popular white wine in the world.

Important Notes:

Chardonnay is generally thought of as one of the easiest wines to create. In fact many observers of the wine industry feel that any average winemaker can create an outstanding Chardonnay given the growing conditions within California’s cool valleys.

Pricing Structure:

Chardonnay under $ 8 or so per bottle will have some significant issues.

$ 8-$ 20 Typically good balance and complexity, but lacking in oak flavoring.

$ 20-$ 40 Great Chardonnays in this price range

$ 40+ Unless your palate and nose for wine is exceptional, you most likely will not be able to tell the difference between a $ 20 bottle scored at 92 points and a $ 80 bottle scored at 94 points by the major wine critics in the world.

To Sum It Up:

We don’t plan to offer Chardonnay through either of our initial two Uncorked Ventures wine clubs. Frankly you can find many good bottles of Chardonnay at lower price points that are readily available.

Vintage Guide

2007 92 D/H
2006 88 D
2005 94 D/H
2004 91 D
2003 90 D
2002 95 D
2001 96 D
2000 88 D
1999 89 D
1998 85 D
1997 93 D
1996 90 D
1995 91 D
1994 94 D
1993 90 D
1992 92 D
1991 94 D
1990 90 D

RATING:
95-100 Spectacular. Most producers made very good wines at all levels
90-94 Excellent. The best wines should be great. Consistency throughout the vintage.
85-89 Very Good. The best producers made top wines. Inconsistent thru the lower levels.
80-86 Good. Many producers made good wines with some inconsistency at the bottom.
75-79 Middling. Choose your producers carefully. Only the best may have made a top wine.
70-74 Below Average. Tough vintage to make good wines.
Under 70 A Poor vintage. Spend your money very carefully.

STATUS:
D=Drink
D/H=Drink or Hold
H=Hold

I hope this has helped you make an informed decision when buying a bottle of Chardonnay. Just remember, vintage is important with wine.

marriage need Champagne & red wine

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Express their feelings in marriage is very urgent, so on a finished film, they want to be able to realize their dreams of marriage 婚禮and desire to wear flat shoes married, she said: “There are good things wedding, delicious Champagne wine, each people are relaxed and happy to participate. “bus stop in the event of extreme dissatisfaction with the food on the wedding curse words as well as the men and women in the pit, though I think they are too evil, but then, I was sent to 0.5% in sympathy. Earlier friends wedding, and eye-catching is the one only Western-style lunch of wine, cut off all the fins on the belly of abalone and comments to extort, two to arrange a small dessert gift packages containing Macaron and butterflies cakes, have not put in the mouth Good Eye Candy, also received praise after the entrance, the bride gave good advice hateful Cupcake, it is wise. Although some people may be too Macaron slightly sweet, but it is easy butterfly cake hands full applause.

Recommended to eat strong-flavored spirits such as vodka Belon with the best choice if you want refreshing to Normandy, like Creamy election Coffin Bay. Other choices are sashimi sushi, seafood platter and air-dried ham and dozens of vegetables and style, M9, Australia and Japan, also beef and cattle A5. Another restaurant, the wine over a hundred models, including red wine, spirits, Champagne , beer and other parts, is adorned with the election. Do not miss this feature cocktails, hotel and catering manager Jordi Otero just the best bartenders in the 2010 Spanish title, in this classic Drymartinis addition to taste and Manhattans Champagne, as well its own deployment of Bankers’ Martini and The Purpleemperor etc. .

Dealers said the mainland more than red wine, Bordeaux in France due to domestic consumers of Champagne & wine estate surge in demand, set off speculation that the mainland market, worth eight wine Chateau soaring. Among the red wine of Château Lafite of the most significant price rise to one thousand nine hundred eighty-two vintage Lafite wine, for example, from the date of its worth, more than tripled, has exceeded fifty thousand yuan per bottle yuan. Lower the cost of watering the fake alcohol adulterated liquor. Chang Li Jiahua Wine Company in a hut, which the raw materials for wine full of modulation, such as the acidity of citric acid is used to cocktails, bartending amaranth red pigment used to color. In all of these raw materials, by just not making the necessary grape juice wine. Grape紅酒 must be hundred percent grape juice, fermented brewing, if less than the concentration of grape juice, even watered by the alcohol is made of fake alcohol.

Related Red Wine Articles

Ways To Match Up Red Wine With Foodstuff Completely

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Red wine is a cultured alternative of drink and it is definitely more enjoyed when served along with correct food. Yes, red wine and food pairing is certainly one of the best tricky and tedious tasks of all. It is extremely crucial that you simply pair a perfect wine with whatever special dish you are serving. Pairing a fantastic red wine will improve the tastes and savor of the meals being served. As there is certainly a wide range of red wine accessible out there, you must follow particular rules and pairing rules to be able to take out wonderful savor. There are several special wines which are best when served along with a few specific foods just like side dishes and appetizers. An important thing to remember is to know the field of your red wine and food. Consequently, we bring to you a few of the ideas and suggestions on how to pair red wine with food evenly.

Keep following ideas at heart while combination Red Wine with food properly

1. Red wines along with strong flavors can simply overshadow the flavor any food and vice versa.

2. Avoid coupling strong red wines such as Cabernet Sauvignon with fish recipes.

3. Wines such as Cabernet Sauvignon never work well with mixes of tomato dishes.

4. One should pair Merlot wines with desserts and chocolate.

5. It’s also recommended that keep Shiraz or Syrah red wine away from any type of fish dishes.

6. Pinot Noir is not at all a good selection when you’re planning to serve spicy and hot dishes.

7. Feel free to hand out mild wines like Barberra red wine with almost all varieties of dishes.

8. You may choose any of your favorite red wine to pair with various grilled steak recipes.

9. Your best option of red wines for barbecued dishes will be Chianti and Zinfandel.

10. While serving any dish made from blue cheese, you could always select red wine like Zinfandel.

11. You could pair Chianti along with various hard cheese recipes.

12. Choose Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon red wines when serving Sharp cheddar recipes.

13. Barberra red wine is the one single wine option that can be easily paired with different dishes such as lemon chicken, lasagna, pizza and pasta dishes.

14. It is actually better to serve wines Cabernet Sauvignon with roasts, lamb, duck, chocolate dishes and steak.

15. Choose Merlot while serving a variety of steak, chicken, and BBQ foods.

For additional details on red wine recipes please look at red wine recipes. You may also take a peek at some awesome white wine recipes by clicking white wine recipes.

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