Easy Wine Making

Author: artmaraut13  //  Category: Wine Spirits Articles

 

The basic concept of how wine is produced is for the most part, is common knowledge. We all know that grapes are squished and fermented for a period of time to turn into wine. But, the process of making wine is an art that is reserved for those who put in the effort. So I am going the show you the easy wine making way.

It takes about fifty pounds of good, rip grapes to produce about five gallons of terrific wine. Materials like plastic vats large enough to accommodate grapes can be purchased from your local wine supply shop.

 

Once the grapes are harvested you’ll need to place the grape clusters into the vat and crush them. The age old method of crushing the grapes by foot has not been surpassed by technology.

But, for smaller vats, grapes can be crushed by hand or with a potato masher. Both work equally as well as the foot. The vat should be no more than two-thirds full when all of the grapes are crushed. Unwanted yeast can produce premature fermentation.

You will need to add the appropriate amount of Campden tablets which is pre-measured amounts of potassium metabisulfite to the grapes to stop this unwanted yeast growth. Cover the vat with a towel and allow it to sit for a day.

The day after you have crushed the grapes you’ll need to add a packet of wine yeast. Bread yeast and wine yeast are two different yeasts and should not be substituted for each other.

Montrachet and prix de mousse are common types of yeast used to ferment wine. The crushed grapes at this stage are known as the must. Use your hands to stir in the yeast.

Comb through the must and remove the cluster of stems. Squeeze off any of the berries that may still be attached to the stems. Only a few stems can be left in the must.

 

Cover the vat of must with a towel and set to the side. In about one or two days the must will begin to fizz. By the third day the must will appear to be boiling. Within a week the fizzing will subside and it is time to separate the wine from the leftover seeds, grape skins, and pulp. The mixture can be poured into mesh bags or cheese clothes.

It then needs to be squeezed, strained and poured into a glass carboy, also available at wine making shops, or poured into an empty wine barrel. From this moment on the wine should no longer come into contact with the air. An airlock can be used with a carboy or a barrel. An airlock prevents air from getting into the container but allows gas to escape.

It only takes about two to three weeks in the container for all of the fizzing to subside. At this point, you will need to rack the wine. Racking is the process that removes the wine from the lees which is the spent yeast and grape bits that have fallen to the bottom of the barrel.

You can use a hose to siphon the clear wine into a carboy and clean out the lees from the old container. Then pour the wine back into the original container. After about two to three months the wine is ready for a second racking.

Three to four months after that, do a third and final racking. Wine can be aged in a cool completely dark place. It is also important to top off the barrel. This can be done by using a similar wine. At this point, the wine is able to be tasted but, the longer a wine ages, the better it is.

This is the way to easy wine making

 

 

 

Great Fine Wine

Author: artmaraut13  //  Category: Wine Spirits Articles

 

A Great fine wine is meant to be enjoyed. Drink what you love best and with what you love best. Life is complex enough without having to stress over that one and only {perfect|ideal} wine to go with a particular food. If you take pleasure in a fine red wine with fish, drink it, and if you benefit from a fine white wine with beef, drink it. If you take pleasure in a red wine with chocolate, enjoy.  Just bear in mind, a good rule of thumb is red wines commonly are best served with red meat and firm cheese; white wines are best served with fish, poultry and light vegetable dishes. Sweet white wines are served with dessert.

A great fine wine that displays fruit that tastes ripe will make your mouth think of berries almost melting with flavor on your pallet, apples and pears that are wet, crisp, and soft all at once, or passion fruits that have begun to wrinkle,  generally thought of as a sign of rot in fruits,  are  bursting with flavor. The minute before it begins to rot is the ripest a fruit can be, and this is the exact flavor that you want to pair together with spicy food.

 Today’s most popular types of wines are the red wine, the white wine, the sparkling wine, the table wine, the cooking wine and port wines.

When it comes to popularity, red wines are at the top, one type of red wine is produced in Bordeaux, France. These types of wine, known as cabernet sauvignon, are red wines and are the foremost choice of food connoisseurs the world over. This is by far the most popular wine known to consumers.

There are other exquisite red wines that are considered to be very popular such as the Grenache red wine which comes with a distinct smoked raspberry flavor; then you have the Merlot that tastes like cherry with chocolate, and there is the Pinot Noir that has a very special taste which is something like mint, black cherries and raspberries combined together. The Pinot Noir is however, remarkably difficult to cultivate

Sparkling wine is well known for its petite bubbles that race to the surface and tickle the nose. Sparkling wine is one of the most exotic yet refreshing kinds of wine, providing memories and happiness once the cork is released into the air. For several years, this exotic wine has proven to be among the most popular kinds of wine for celebrations and special achievements. 

Port wine is positively one of the most popular. Most likely, if you are a wine novice then you are probably wondering what port wine even is. For these people, port wine may need an explanation, here is a bit of information.

There are many different types of wines produced around the world. Many people are familiar with the classic red and white types of wine that give a sense of elegance to any meal. There are also wines that are designed to be more of an after dinner drink and these are known as port wine.

One final wine well worth mentioning because it is almost  unheard of is called ice wine.The rarest wine known today is Ice Wine.Ice wine is produced under only very  extreme weather conditions. Ice wine is mainly grown and processed in the Pacific Northwest Region, where the weather conditions are perfect for growing it.

As odd as it may seem, ice wine is produced in small quantities only  and  the  finest of quality, lack of availability, makes it  exceptionally rare. Unfortunately, do to how tremendously|exceptionally expensive it is , there are only a few lucky people who are actually able to take pleasure in this wine.

Grapes Wine

Author: artmaraut13  //  Category: Wine Spirits Articles

Diverse Drinks: Red vs. White Grapes Wines

Grapes wines are known for their long history with mankind. From the ancient Greeks who wrote great epics centered about wine, to the wine-loving French that mysteriously never gain pounds even when their diet is full of saturated fat. And the list of the varieties of such wines is about as long as their history; with each kind of wine being in a class of its own.

But if you must simply divide the wine according to its taste and purpose, a choice between red wine and white wine would be the most appropriate division between them.

While it may be an oversimplification to clump all the grapes wines in the world into two categories, most wines that come from grapes can be prepared in two ways: fermenting them with the skins, or without the skins. The former produces red wine, and the latter produces white wine.

Here is a quick breakdown of the two main differences between red and white wines.

Red wines are called red wines not because they are blue or black or orange or pink: it is because they are red. From deep hues of red to lighter shades of red, all grapes wines that are dark and opaque are called red wines. This is because of the tannins in the grape skins that dyes the wine red, and gives red wine its distinct color. Now take note that a few red wines may appear bluish or even blackish, but shine a light through them and you will see a shade of red there somewhere.

While red wine is called red, white wine is called white not because of its color, but its lack thereof. White grapes wines are fermented without the skin; only the pulp of the grapes is left to ferment in the vats.

This causes the solution to be clear, as most grape pulp is clear and transparent. Without any skin to provide the tannins, the white wine then does not gain color: making it clear by nature.

Because of the presence of a high amount of tannins in the solution, red wines have a distinctly stronger and more complex taste; often to the disliking of newcomers to the wine scene. This heavy, strong taste makes red wine go well with foods that are equally strong and complex in nature. Beef, lamb, duck, sausages, and other meats are prime matches for red wines.

Conversely, the lack of tannins in white wines gives them a tangy, almost fruity flavor. This makes them easier to the palette, and goes well with foods that are light in flavor too.

It helps you savor the taste without overpowering the taste buds, like what red wines tend to do. This makes white wines ideal for meals with chicken, seafood, turkey and other light foods.

Remember, there are many other varieties of grapes wines out there, and it would not do them justice to simply be grouped into these two very broad categories of red and white wine.

Just learn to appreciate the flavor and texture of each wine, whether dark or transparent, and you will eventually understand why this broad categorization simply will not be able to encompass all the wines out there in the world.

Try Something Different – Visit a Winery

Author: artmaraut13  //  Category: Wine Spirits Articles

Are you looking for something different to do now that the weather is getting nicer? Would you like to learn more about the wine made in your area? Are you interested in spending your hard earned cash at a local business rather than sending it out of state or overseas? If you answered yes to any of these questions, I suggest you visit a winery near your home very soon. I recently learned that there are now wineries in every state in the nation so chances are there is at least one in your area.

There are several reasons to grab your wine tote and visit your local winery and today I’m going to share a few of them with you. First, most local wineries offer low or no cost tours and tastings. You’ll have the chance to sample several different wines and then buy only the ones you like best. You’ll also have a chance to tour the vineyard and winery and learn how they make the wine. There will be someone there to answer your questions and you might even be lucky enough to talk to the owner.

When you go, be sure to pack your picnic baskets because most wineries have picnic tables or decks where you can sit down and enjoy a picnic dinner and a bottle of wine. Since wineries are usually out in the country, they offer spectacular views of the surrounding areas. Can you think of a better way to relax than with a romantic picnic in the country?

Another feature that many wineries offer are Saturday outdoor music. You can kick back and sip your favorite wine as local talent shares their music with you. If kicking back isn’t your speed, many wineries offer dancing as well. Most allow you to bring your own food so call your friends, pack your picnic backpack and make an evening of it.

Make plans to visit a local winery this spring. You’ll find the atmosphere relaxing and entertaining. Whether you go for a tasting and tour, a romantic picnic for two or an evening of music, you’ll have a fantastic time and you may even find a new hobby.

Wine Making Supplies

Author: artmaraut13  //  Category: Wine Spirits Articles

Wine is perhaps the most iconic of beverages.  Wine is a drink made from fermented grape juice. Grape juice is extracted by pressing, and to this juice yeast is added.

The fermented juice is then allowed to mature in barrels or other vessels.  After they have spent the desired amount of time maturing, the liquid is then bottled.

These bottles are usually sealed with corks, in keeping with tradition.  Of course, the production could not have been done without wine making supplies.

Wine has long been part of human history.  In the olden days, clean water was rare.  To avoid sickness, alcoholic beverages like beer and wine were the norm.

The alcohol in beer and wine killed bacteria, and thus these two were safe to drink.  Even then, wine was always more expensive than beer.  Today, wine is still considered of a higher rank than beer.  Wine has also been part of religious ceremonies.  Ancient cultures venerated wine as a drink above all others, a drink of the gods, so to speak.

The process of wine making itself is not terribly complicated and a set of wine making supplies is mostly tanks, bottles, tubes, and barrels.  Wine is made from ingredients that are not hard to find; higher-quality specimens will take a bit more effort to source, though.

Wine making supplies can be bought from specialty stores.  The grapes can be a different story.  While wine making supplies can be bought from specialists, wine makers usually grow their own grapes, as the kind of grape affects the final product.

It is quite rare that wine grape growers would sell their grapes for someone else to process.  The complete wine process, after all, starts from the seeds and ends in the glasses.

Even after you have managed to locate purveyors of wine making supplies, you might encounter difficulties in acquiring knowledge of the process.  Wine makers can be an exclusive lot, with the majority of them having several generations’ worth of history.

Some can be downright snobbish, even towards their fellow wine makers.  As such, it might be challenging to get started on making wine, unless you would keep it to a small operation at home.  Home wine makers are a more gregarious and open group.

Home wine making supply stores are often meeting places, where wines and knowledge are exchanged.  Home wine making supplies are also more affordable than the ones used for big-time operations.

Like the complexity of the flavour of wine, its lore is deep, and the techniques for making the best-quality wine are well-kept secrets.  The best wine can fetch huge prices in the market, and can make fortunes for their producers.  With so much at stake, it is not surprising that wine makers can be secretive about what they do.

Large-scale wine making requires a lot of space.  The land for growing grapes must also possess certain properties.  Space is required for the extraction and fermentation procedures.

Wine maturation will also need a lot of space; bottles and barrels may need to be stored for years or even decades, and production goes on every year.

The quality of wine is often a function of the length of time invested in it.  It is not uncommon to find out how good a wine will perform in the market years after production.

If you have the space, have money for wine making supplies, and the patience to wait years on end for your investments to bear fruit, then wine making might be an appropriate endeavour.  Just remember, with wine as with everything else, haste makes waste.

Personalized Wine Bottles Uniquely Yours

Author: artmaraut13  //  Category: Wine Spirits Articles

Personalized wine bottles offers individuals, corporations, wineries, and restaurants, among others, the ability to create their own unique custom wine bottle labels. Choose from a variety of personalized wine bottles and label options guaranteed to meet each person’s custom requirements. Personalized wine bottles make beautiful, unique gifts or can be used to add that special touch to someone’s personal wine collection.

These personalized wine bottles make great gifts for weddings, anniversaries, or other momentous event.  They’re are easy to find and order from one of the many e-commerce sites that can be found online.  Many of them make it simple for you to create and design your own personal label, pay for them and have them shipped directly to you.

Wine hobbyists who produce their own fruit wine need these personalized wine bottles to promote their line of vintages at wine shops and wineries.  These attention getting labels are just what you need to get the word out about your product.

Design a label that is uniquely yours with your family name or business name.  You can go online and create them yourself, choose the font, colors, type of paper, etc.  Most of the custom label companies will recommend your product to be printed on water resistant, matte or high gloss paper.    

Some sites offering personalized wine bottles not only offer your own product for the home wine vintner but also offer a line of premium wines with delivery to your doorstep or the person you are honoring.  Online shopping provides a unique shopping experience guaranteed to provide you with a great bottle of personalized wine or case at an affordable price. Let them help you leave an everlasting impression with personalized wine bottles.    

The homemade wine enthusiast can label their wine and bottle it in personalized wine bottles.  By ordering online your personalized wine bottle labels you can save tons while looking like a million dollar vintner.  Digital label makers are available that arrive with their own software.  These digital labels, printed in full color, will make quite a splash.

The next time you need to thank a few special clients for their patronage or celebrate a retirement, personalized wine bottles are a great choice.

Why French Wine is Still King of the Hill

Author: artmaraut13  //  Category: Wine Spirits Articles

With an annual production of seven to eight billion bottles per year, its no wonder France is the most famous and highest wine producing country in the world. There are a number of wine making regions dotted around France with some areas being dated as far back as 600 BC.

The wines produced today reflect a changing world, with a larger range of pricing, both cheaper and expensive, available to consumers. To keep its reputation as the top winemaking country, France has had to adapt and incorporate new manufacturing and transportation technology in its production process.
In the recent past, the French have been very protective of their origins and wine naming conventions, and with good reason, protecting such famous names as Bordeaux, Champagne and Burgundy.

The guidelines used to protect naming origins and winemaking for French regions is known as the  Appellation d’Origine Controlee (AOC) system. The body in charge, sets down and enforces the rules in the AOE system which is also used to determine which winemaking practices and grape varieties are allowed to be used in the specific wine producing regions of France.

Another term that is very French is “terrior”, which indicates a number of growing factors that can vary from vineyard to vineyard, taking into account factors like, soil condition, orientation toward the sun and slope of the land.

A number of the most famous and prominent grape varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc and Syrah all originally came from the vineyards of France. The last few hundred years of exploration and colonization has seen the spread on both number and popularity of these grape varieties across the globe.

The spread of grapes across many countries also brought with it a number of winemakers armed with the knowledge of French winemaking techniques.

The rich history embedded in the French winemaking conjures up dreamy images of the roving vinewyards of France. It has remained a leader in grape varieties, wine sales and production for hundreds of years. On top of all of this, it has managed to retain the pole position while still adhering to its age old winemaking traditions.

It is for these reasons that France is still the flagship country leading the world in wine production standards.

Follow the link for more information on French Wines.

Choosing the Perfect Stemless Wine Glasses

Author: artmaraut13  //  Category: Wine Spirits Articles

The traditional way in which wine lovers consume their favorite beverage is through a stemmed or crystal wine glass with varying lengths of the stem. However, the stemless wine glass has been making waves and is the latest craze in trendy restaurants, bars and pubs. This can be attributed to the wine industry’s attempt to lessen the formality of wine drinking and demystify wine among consumers. There are people who are put off with drinking wine due to the seemingly elegance of drinking the brew due to the formality that are more accentuated by the use of wine glasses.

Features of the Stemless Wine Glass

Stemless wine glasses are comfortable to hold and if you have them engraved they can be presented as a custom made gift that will be appreciated and used for years. Stemless Wine Glasses are normally hand blown of 24% lead crystal with two distinct impressions. To hold them let your thumb and forefinger nestle in the niches and swirl the wine to aerate and release its aromas. You’ll be proud to serve up your favorite vintage in these eye catching stemless plastic wine glasses.

Casual yet elegant, these wine glasses are appropriate for fine wine enjoyment, as well as casual sipping. The wine tumblers are shaped to fit into a dishwasher and fine-tuned to enhance the pleasure of your favorite wine varietals. For the first time in glass history the design parameters such as shape of tumbler, size and diameter of rim, have been fine turned to enhance the worlds most important grape varietals.

Food pairing can be more flexible with the bowled tumbler of the stemless glass. Glass companies are also releasing several variations of the stemless wine glass that can accommodate different kinds of wines. It can also fit in with non-traditional or casual pairing as you can be more flexible with what food you will match with a particular wine. Some critics say that the stemless wine glass would hasten the warming up of the wine during drinking. However, with the new technology and designs applied by the manufacturers, this concern is addressed.

How To Become A Successful Bartender

Author: artmaraut13  //  Category: Wine Spirits Articles

Setting up your own bar is actually quite easy to do.  There are however, a few things that good bartenders need to know to run a bar efficiently.  In order for a bar to succeed, you’ll need to have the basic wines, liquors, and spirits – along with the right equipment.  Although these things are essential, bartenders also need the proper technique for mixing drinks and cocktails as well.

With bartending, the location of the bar is very important.  The bar should be placed in an area that is easy to reach and provides plenty of space behind it.  There should be plenty of room for glasses and drinks, along with a chair or two as well.  The bartender has to learn the area behind the bar, and know everything about it.  Bartenders need to know their area well – and how to perform their mixing duties when business heats up.

Another job bartenders have is knowing their drinks.  Bartenders are responsible for serving and mixing drinks, which is a wide variety to say the least.  It can be nearly impossible to know every possible drink mixture, why is why most bartenders use mixing lists hidden under the bar to help them know what goes in each drink.

Bartenders don’t have a lot of time to mix drinks, which makes it nearly impossible to read each and every label.The best resolution of this problem is to arrange you alcohol and drinks properly, so that you know where everything is.  This way, when business picks up and you find yourself short on time – you’ll know where everything is.

To become a successful bartender, or mixologist, it takes years of practice.  There are several styles of bartending as well, including the well known and very impressive flair style.  Flair bartending involves very impressive techniques and tricks, which will leave customers truly amazed.  Flair is the hardest style of bartending to perfect, taking years and years of practice.  Flair bartenders all around the world will tell you that flair brings the most crowds – although it can also cost a lot of money in broken bottles along the way!

Each and every bar should also have the basic spirits, such as Tequila, Vodka, Rum, and Gin.  There should be also be fruit juices on hand as well, such as lemon juice, orange juice, and even pineapple juice.Most of the mixed drinks need juice, for example screwdrivers- which are made by using Vodka and orange juice.  Mixed drinks are very popular, making it essential for the bartender to be a good mixologist – and have the right materials on hand at all times.

A lot of drinks that bartenders mix will require special gadgets such as shakers, measuring cups, rinsing bowls, and straws.  Shakers are the most commonly used gadget, as they are essential for mixing alcohol.  Bartenders will also need to keep cloth on hand as well, to quickly clean up spills and wipe down the mixing area from time to time.

As a career, bartending can provide you with a lot of money.  If you go to college and learn the techniques required for bartending, you can make more money than you ever thought possible.  The job is high paying, a lot of fun, and a great way to meet new people.  There are a lot of colleges and universities that offer bartending, or you can study online.  No matter which way you go – bartending will be a lot of fun and will take you far in life as an exciting career.

Three Thrills Happening With Red Wine On The Dinner Table

Author: artmaraut13  //  Category: Wine Spirits Articles

Red wine has become quite popular these days. Health conscious people are more inclined to drink dry red wine than any other types of alcoholic beverages because red wine is said to be good for the heart. Studies show that red wine has components that help unclog the arteries leading to the heart and that people who drink wine are more likely to live longer than those people who do not drink at all. Of course these claims that red wine can prolong life are still debatable but that is beside the point. Even if wine does not prolong life, the fact that this type of wine goes well with lots of things at dinner that is good enough for most people.

Red Wine And Cheese

Many people love to serve red wine with certain types of cheese. According to experts, some types of cheese bring out the flavor of certain types of red wines. If you are one of those people who love to drink wine after dinner, try drinking your wine with some cheese.

Red Wine And Good Conversations

Wine can help you unwind and have fun with your friends after a long stressful day at the office. According to experts, a glass of red wine and a lot of good conversation at the dinner table can help reduce the risk of hypertension.

Red Wine And Good Food

A lot of people swear that their dinner is never complete without a glass of wine. No, these people are not teetotalers. Drinking wine is not a sign that the person is teetotaler or something like that. One can always enjoy wine at home without getting drunk. The Europeans are mostly known for drinking wine before and after dinner. There are also a lot of Americans who like to have wine after eating a heavy meal. Red wine goes especially well with pasta or meat based food while white goes well with light dinner and vegetable based food. Wine can surely make your dinner more enjoyable. Just make sure that you do not drive if you drink more than the required alcohol limits for drivers. You don’t really want to end up on the wrong side of the law because you have high levels of alcohol in your blood. If you have taken excess amount of alcohol than the timit then ask someone else to drive you home.