The Wine Bottle

Wine glasses are what we’ll be looking at in this part of our wine 101 guide…

There are many different types of wine glasses, of varying styles and quality, and, in order to get the most enjoyment out of a bottle of wine, it’s necessary to give at least a little thought when choosing which you plan to buy and use. There are a number of manufacturers of fine, and somewhat expensive, wine glasses, designed specifically for use with certain wines. It’s not necessary to buy expensive ones though, and neither must you have specific glasses for specific wines.

Despite the multitude of choices available, you can quite adequately get by with just three different types of wine glasses. A standard-shaped white wine glass, something with a larger bowl for reds, and a flute or similar style for Champagne are all you need to start with. There are other considerations too, though, to ensure you make the right choice from within these 3 standard types of wine glasses.

Firstly, pay attention to the material from which they’re made. At the very least, the glass must be plain and clear. Part of the enjoyment of wine is appreciation of the colour, which can impart a lot of information about the wine (such as its age and the quality of grapes used in its making). Consequently, wine glasses made from coloured or frosted glass, or worse still solid materials such as pewter or silver, are not recommended.

Secondly, make sure that you select glasses which are of a sufficient size. The bowl should be large enough to allow a fair measure to be poured, whilst leaving enough room for the wine to be gently swirled without spillage. This swirling action is to release aromas from the wine, and is therefore vitally important.

Thirdly, they must have a stem, not just for aesthetic reasons, but so that the wine glass may be held without covering the bowl in greasy fingerprints. Holding by the stem also ensures that warmth from the hand does not increase the temperature of a wine that has been served chilled.

Lastly, the shape of the bowl is of considerable importance. A wine glass should taper toward the top, so the opening is narrower than the bowl itself. This shape not only looks good, but also serves a functional purpose. When you swirl wine to release its aromas, this tapered shape serves to concentrate the aromas towards the nose.

There is nothing like a bottle of wine to make yourself relaxed after a hard day’s work or sitting at dinner with families and friends especially when there is something to celebrate. A glass or two of red wine everyday can be valuable to your health and it really can be good for your heart. But do you know that there is something more delicious and healthier than that you use to buy at your liquor store? Yes, there is and it could be right there back in your own backyard. You see, these days, many people are very enthralled at the idea of learning how to grow grapes right in their own backyard on their own and would definitely want to turn their house into their very own personal mini-Napa Valley.

There is a great difference if an individual can teach himself how to grow grapes on their own. First of all, if you love wine and the health benefits that you can get from it, then, it’s time you learn how to grow them by yourself and learn how to make your own red wine. You know how much is one bottle of wine from the liquor or grocery store, right? Well, then, if you can make your own wine, that would save you a lot of money and furthermore, you are confident that your own red wine is more natural and safe compared to what you are buying, right? Growing wine grapes is practically easy right now because on the Internet, a lot of websites are promoting lots of book guides, online tutorials and other learning tools to help you out with the growing of grapes. You just need to first read a lot of reviews on these various learning tools and choose one which you think is best for you.

Another reason why you should try to learn the “art” of growing grape vines is a lot of people would also like to enjoy the benefits of eating fresh grapes and drinking healthy red wine and if you can learn all these things, you might as well put up your own liquor store strictly selling nothing but all kinds of wine, a sort of “healthy liquor store”, so to speak and people will gladly patronize your product, knowing that they are healthier than what is commercially available.

bartending service

The bar you love is probably where you unwind after a stressful day at work. Your friendly bartender, with the amazing bartending service he provides, helps you throw off all your cares and worries. A lot of this ability comes from the bartender’s skill, not just at mixing a superb cocktail but also at listening to what you have to say. A poor bartender will only add to your stress, not ease it. Bartending is a lot like being an artist; it takes a lot of skill to be any good.

Reputed bars and pubs the world over attribute much of their success to the quality and unique brand of their bartending services. Primarily, good bartending is the outcome of a sound training program, which was designed to impart knowledge in the mixing and serving of drinks. However, the range of drinks any particular bar offers will depend on the skill and experience of the barman or female bartender.

This service is offered by numerous catering establishments and also for special occasions – hotels, restaurants, bars, pubs, banquets, clubs, private parties or wedding receptions and even by many reputed airlines. Drinks mixed by bartenders range from those based on internationally recognized, mixed drink recipes and names, to the ones created exclusively by a resident bartender. In many cases, the bartender must be skilled enough to create a drink based on the specific requests of patrons. There are special bartending training programs offered by several bartending schools or institutions and even by some reputed hotels around the world. Tending bar is a specialized profession and skilled bartenders are much sought after.

Bars and clubs everywhere attribute their success to the quality of the bartending service they provide. The basis of this quality is in the bar’s training programs. Poorly trained bartenders will offer poor service, whereas well trained bartenders will offer exceptional service, and will be adept at mixing a wide variety of drinks. Some barkeeps these days are also skilled flair bartenders, offering exciting entertainment for the patrons. Most places in the world offer bar services of some kind, so bartenders are in high demand. At the very least, a bartender should have enough bartending training to be able to mix the basic drinks that customers request.

The most important thing for a bartender to remember is to keep things clean. A professionally conducted bartending service is one of the greatest assets an establishment can have. When you next visit a bar or club, and while you’re there enjoying yourself and having a few drinks, give the bartender a nod, because it’s his skill and art that enables you to have a good time.

Wine enthusiasts around the world consider French wine to be superior and prefer French wine above any other. There are many varities of wines, the more commonly known ones are red, white, rose and champagne.

There are thirteen different regions in France with literally thousands of vineyards that produce wine. France is also known for having the ideal location for growing grapes. The soil conditions are perfect and the vineyards are very close to the water. The climate in France is also idealic for grape growing and therefore makes it one of the best locations in the world for wine.

Wines are usually classified according to the grape varieties they are made from. One grape variety, the Barbera, is often used for red wine. Grown mainly in Piedmont, Italy, this variety is quite adaptable to other regions, and is also grown on a limited scale in the United States. Barbera grapes produce wines with a full-bodied fruity taste as they have a high natural acidity.

Wine enthusiasts all know about one variety grown in many parts of the world, the Cabernet Sauvignon. Grown primarily in Medoc, France, this grape variety has found its way to California, Australia and other wine-making countries. Wine enthusiasts would consider Cabernet Sauvignon wines to be among the best red wines in the world. Among the white varieties, the Chardonnay is easily the most popular, producing some of the world’s finest white wines. These French wine varieties are very popular when dining.

French wine varies from the most common types that you can find in wine stores everywhere, to the rare varieties, which can be very difficult to find. If you are looking for one of the rarer varieties of French wine, the Internet is always a good source of information. Rare vintage French wine can be extremely hard to find, but by looking at the many different wine websites and wine forums, you may find what you are looking for.

All in all, French wine is a cut above the rest. Other wines may use the same methods in production and even the same ingredients, but they don’t taste the same as those made in France. Why not impress your friends with a little wine knowledge and some fool proof wine values. When you taste a wine that was made in France – you’ll know it, because French wine has a taste and aroma like no other.

An increasing number of people are starting to collect wines. Many times people love to bring back wines when they travel in those parts of the world that produce excellent wines. The best way to store your collection is with a custom wine cellar. This will make it so that all your treasured bottles will get better with the passage of time.

Installing a custom wine cellar is a way to protect the investment you make in the wine. They make the perfect environment for your white, dessert, and red wines so that they can grow tastier as they age. When stored properly in a custom wine cellar your fine wines they can age well and develop flavors which are delicate and rich.

It is the aging process that allows wine to develop the flavors sought after by the wine enthusiasts. There are a wide array of sizes of custom wine cellars. The only real limit is the space that you have and your budget. If you do not have much space or are renting consider purchasing a wine storage cabinet or wine refrigerator instead.

They come in many different sizes and styles and create a stable environment to store your wine. Putting in a custom wine cellar can be an expensive endeavor but it is a great investment for those who truly enjoy collecting wine. Many times people will use their basement for wine storage but in reality any free space in your home can be turned into a custom wine cellar.

Make sure that the room is big enough to handle your current wine collection as well as new additions. After choosing the location you will need to have a cooling unit installed which can keep the room at a constant temperature and humidity. The best way to hold the bottles is on wood racks. The last step is to install a seal so that the conditions can be maintained inside the room.

The recent rise in food consciousness has made many people ask for foods that are grown organically; no fertilizers, pest control methods, anything other than what Mother Nature provides. Yet others prefer to eat food with fewer miles.

That is, food that is grown closer to where they are consumed. The concept of food miles is rocking the consumer produce market and it can ultimately contribute to the goal of saving the world. Some people have taken this desire to have foods that are close to home to the next level. They have started growing their own food and make things like wine and beer in their own homes!

Home beer makers and winemakers usually do it as a hobby, but some have grown into local enterprises. Communities of enthusiasts regularly convene to try out each other’s wines and beers. Most make their wine or beer in sheds or basements and enjoy the fruits of their labour in their own homes. If you’re interested in making wine then you’ll need wine ingredients and home wine making supplies.

A set of wine making supplies won’t cost too much. It’s mostly tanks, bottles, tubes, and barrels (optional, though some would have it no other way). The basic ingredients for wine are not hard to find; the better kinds might take a bit of digging around though. Home wine making supplies can be bought from specialty stores.

These stores would also usually have a wealth of information for the starting home winemaker. Ask around and they would probably recommend a starter set or a selection of tools based on your needs.

Note that home wine making supply stores also serve as meeting places for fellow home wine makers and a lot can be gained from visiting regularly. These folks love talking about their wines and would not hesitate to lend a helping hand to a newcomer.

They’ll help you get on your feet and will get you up to speed on the latest news on the scene. They also have a lot of tips to share and often talk to each other on how to improve wine qualities and home production methods.

You will not need much space to do this either. Just a corner in your basement or a small shed to store your equipment. The wine, whether in steel fermenting tanks or the traditional, old-school barrels, should be kept somewhere cool; the basement is ideal for this. If ever you are unsure of what to do, ask your new wine making friends or look it up on the World Wide Web.

If the concept of home wine making intrigues and interests you, and you feel that you are ready to undertake this fun and rewarding endeavour, here’s a short checklist for you. One, find some space; you’ll need enough for the wine making process and fermentation vessel storage. Two, know what kind of wine you want to make; this will influence your choice of grapes, yeasts, and even your fermentation containers.

Third, ask for help and advice from local home wine makers. Fourth, find a home wine making supply store, and buy what you need. Finally, set it up and you’re ready to go.

Remember that wine needs to age and mature. This hobby is not for the impatient, as it may be weeks or months and even years, if you’re totally serious, before you can get a taste of the results. So leave that barrel in the basement alone; good things come to those who wait.

Absinthe is a strong liquor which is generally between 45 and 75% ABV (alcohol by volume), about twice as strong as other types of alcoholic beverages such as whisky and vodka.

Otherwise known as “The Green Fairy” or “La Fee Verte”, Absinthe was the drink associated with La Belle Epoque and Bohemian Paris. It was given to French soldiers in the 1840s to treat malaria and they brought the drink home with them. Absinthe bars opened all over Paris and special Absinthe hours or “L’heure verte” took place daily. By the middle of the 19th century Pernod, distillers of Absinthe, were making over 30,000 liters of Absinthe every day for the French people to buy!

About Absinthe History

Legend says that Dr Pierre Ordinaire created Absinthe in the Swiss town of Couvet in the 18th century as an elixir or tonic for his patients. The Absinthe recipe eventually got into the hands of Henri-Louis Pernod who first distilled Absinthe in Couvet and then later in Pontarlier, France under the name of Pernod Fils.

Pernod used a wine base and various herbs including common wormwood (artemisia absinthium), aniseed, fennel, lemon balm, hyssop, angelica, dittany, star anise, nutmeg and juniper.

Famous drinkers of the Green Fairy were Van Gogh, Pablo Picasso, Oscar Wilde, Ernest Hemingway, Degas, Gauguin, Verlaine and Baudelaire.

Absinthe became more popular than wine, In France, and the prohibition movement campaigned to get Absinthe banned because:-

– Thujone, in wormwood, was thought to be similar to THC in cannabis and thought to be psychoactive.
– Absinthe was linked with the loose morals of the artists, writers and courtesans of Montmartre.
– Absinthe was thought to have psychedelic effects, to cause hallucinations, convulsions and to drive people insane.

It was even claimed that an Absinthe drinker murdered his whole family – just the excuse that the prohibition movement were looking for to persuade the government to ban Absinthe. The buying, selling and consumption of Absinthe in France was made illegal in France in 1915 and in many other countries around this time.

Many studies have shown that Absinthe, including vintage Absinthe, only contains very small amounts of thujone and is perfectly safe to drink. Absinthe has been legalized in many countries since the 1990s and here has been an Absinthe revival in many countries, including the USA who have only recently allowed a few brands to go on sale.

About Absinthe Essences

To enjoy Absinthe, you can either order bottles of Absinthe online or you can make your own Absinthe using essences from AbsintheKit.com. These essences are used by the Absinthe industry and are made using traditional herbal ingredients such as wormwood, aniseed and fennel. Simply mix with either Everclear or vodka to make your very own Absinthe. There are four different types of essence available.

About Absinthe Preparation

The correct way to prepare Absinthe is to follow the ritual:-

– Pour 25-50ml Absinthe into an Absinthe glass.
– Rest a slotted Absinthe spoon on the top of the glass.
– Place a sugar cube on the spoon.
– Drip iced water over the sugar using an Absinthe fountain or pour slowly from a carafe.
– Watch the Absinthe louche.
– Drink your wonderful Absinthe drink.

I hope you have now learned all about Absinthe, the mysterious drink with a very interesting past and a great taste.

Make Them Round, Plump, and Juicy!

Grapes are fruits that grown in clusters on vines. Grapes are enjoyed all across the globe. Certain varieties are used for making wine, and others are meant for eating.  These two kinds are called wine grapes and table grapes, respectively.

These are fruits, and are therefore plants.  They need the right kind of nutrition to maximize their quality.  Feeding grapes in different ways will produce different results.  Strangely enough, wine grapes and table grapes have some differences in the way they are cultivated.

Table grapes are expected to be sweet and juicy. The visual appeal of roundness and plumpness also makes them sell well.  Feeding grapes destined for as-is consumption entails making the soil rich and fertile.  This makes the grapes grow quickly.  Water is important, as it makes the grapes juicy.  

Fertilizers are also used to accelerate growth, but care must be taken when doing so.  Being largely made of water, grapes can carry the flavor of whatever chemicals there are in the soil.

Excessive fertilizers or the wrong kind of fertilizers can affect the taste of grapes, making them bitter or sour.

 These reminders in feeding grapes will ensure the sweet and juicy qualities sought after in table grapes.  Proper ripening is of course vital in making sure that consumers get the best fruit.  Picking too soon will mean that the grapes will be sour.  

Too late, and the grapes would become soggy and spoil too quickly.

Wine grapes on the other hand, to coin a phrase, are a different animal altogether.  The requirements for wine grapes vary, and so do the methods for feeding grapes.

Some winemakers want their grapes sweet and juicy, to make sweet, less alcoholic wines. Others will want drier, smaller grapes; these grapes have concentrated flavors, and less water means drier wines.

 Dryness in alcoholic drinks refers to the ratio of water to alcohol — the less water in it, ergo the drier it is, the higher the alcohol concentration.  To these ends, two sets of considerations for feeding grapes may be generalized.  

Sweetness is affected by the minerals in the soil.  Soil analyses will reveal which kinds of nutrients are available or lacking for sweet grapes.  The soil’s capacity to retain water is directly related to how juicy the grapes will be.  

Feeding grapes a steady supply of nutrients and water will make them sweet and full, like table grapes are expected to be.  The wines made from these grapes are lighter in colour, body, and bouquet.

The flavour will also be sweeter, as a result of higher sugar content and lower alcoholic volume.

For drier, darker, and deeper wines, a different way of feeding grapes is done. The soil will often have a larger proportion of sand, to reduce the water retention capability of the soil.

Less water in the soil means less water for the grapes.  The grapes that are grow smaller, but have a more concentrated flavour.  The sand and gravel mixed into the soil will also change the chemical properties of the soil.  

Minerals leaching out of the rocks and into the grapes will change their flavour.  As a result, these grapes have less water and thus are smaller.  The slowed growth reduces the sweetness and increases the concentration of other flavouring agents.  

Tannins, the substances that give dark grapes their colour, are thus more concentrated.  The wines made from grapes like these are more full-bodied, have stronger flavours and heavier bouquets, and deeper colours.  They will also have more alcohol, because of the lower water content.

These are just general characteristics of grape cultivation.  If you want to know more specific facts, the Web has a wealth of information.

The thing that most determines the taste of the wine is the quality of the grapes that are used to make it.  Therefore the grape planting and growing process is a vital step in the wine making process.

What is true for real estate is true in planting your grapes vines; location.  By giving your grapevines the best access to sunlight as possible aids in photosynthesis.  That process fills the grapes with sugars which becomes alcohol after fermentation.

The type of soil that grape vines are planted in is also important to the health of the vine.  You will also want to ensure that both sides of the vine get the same amount of sun.  Grapevines do not like to sit in puddles or really wet areas.

Make sure there is good drainage whenever you plant your vines.  Soil that is lacking in nutrients allows the vine to grow small grapes that are perfect for wine.  There is no need to use compost or fertilizers on the soil.  If the soil is so poor that it won’t even grow weeds on it, you can use some compost to grow your vines in.

Plant your vines about six feet apart and if you are going to be growing a large crop, the vines should be grown in rows that are eight feet wide.  Each grapevine will produce about one gallon of wine.

You may loose some grapes due to a small crop or pests like insects or birds so you might want to plant extra grapevines depending on how much wine you would like to produce.  Since it is a vine, you will need to supply a trellis for the grapevine to grow on.

Dig a larger then normal hole for the vines.  This allows the soil to be loosened allowing for good drainage.

The first year that your grape vine is growing tie the strongest shoot to the trellis with a piece of string.  String does not damage the shoot like wire could.

Clip any other shoots that grow from the roots.  When the vine is in the dormant season you will need to once again prune your vine back.  In the spring when the buds have begun to grow again, select the strongest shoots from the upright shoot and tie them loosely to the wire as they grow.

These shoots will become the arms of the vine where the grapes will grow in years to come.

When it comes time to harvest, it will be beneficial to purchase a hydrometer.  It can be bought from a local winemaking supply shop.  A Hydrometer measures the specific gravity of liquids.

It will tell you the sugar content of the berries.  An ideal gravity is between 1.095 and 1.105, the latter being the better one.   It is then time to harvest the grapes.

The process of grape planting can take years in order to make wine but, with the right amount of effort the process is simple and well worth the reward you will receive in the end.

There are a number of countries where Absinthe is legal to buy, sell and consume. Gone are the times when Absinthe was clandestine, when it had to be distilled in secrecy, shipped from other countries or labeled differently. In most countries it is not a crime now to distill Absinthe.

Absinthe is a herbal liquor which has an anise taste. It is usually served diluted with iced water, which causes the famous louche effect, and was a popular beverage in the 19th century. It was declared as illigal in many countries at the beginning of the 20th century due to suspected neuronal effects of chemical thujone found in wormwood. Not only was Absinthe an intoxicant,but it was also perceived to give hallucination to its users.

The medical professionals claimed that Absinthe contained substantially large amounts of thujone which they alleged was psychoactive, like THC in the drug cannabis, and could cause psychedelic effects. We now have evidence that Absinthe contains small amounts of thujone and is equivalent to any other strong spirit. It may however give you a very different type of drunkenness, if you end up consuming it in excess. The alcohol when combined with these unique blend of herbs act as both a sedative and a stimulant – very strange. Some people in the past have described it as a “lucid” or “clear headed” drunkenness.

Countries where Absinthe has legal status include:-

United States – few brands of Absinthe were approved in the US with low thujone content in 2007 after being banned in 1912. The USA only allows “thujone free” beverages to be sold but Absinthes with less than 10 parts per million of thujone (less than 10mg per liter) count as thujone free.

The EU (European Union) – Absinthe was legalized in the EU in 1988 but there is a regulation regarding thujone content in drinks in the EU. Up to 10mg/kg of thujone is permitted in alcohol with more than 25% alcohol by volume, and up to 35mg/kg in alcohol labeled “bitters”.

Australia – Absinthe drinking is legal. Bitters can have a thujone not more than 35mg/kg and other beverages can contain up to 10mg/kg.

Brazil – Absinthe of up to 10mg/kg thujone and that it should have less than 55% abv can be traded and consumed.

Canada – Post March 2007 it’s sale and distribution is looked after by the separate Canadian province liquor boards that regulates thujone. A decent number of provinces disallow any thujone containing alcoholic drink to be sold, however Absinthe is legal in Nova Scotia, British Columbia, Ontario and Quebec. Quebec and Ontario law permits Absinthe with up to 10mg/kg thujone to be sold legally.

Czech Republic – Absinthe was never banned.

France – France famously banned Absinthe in 1915. French law that came in effect in 1988 allows thujone beverages to be sold if they comply with EU laws and if they are labeled “spiritueux à base de plantes d’absinthe” and not Absinthe. France also has regulations regarding fenchone which is found in fennel, a key ingredient of Absinthe, so beverages also have to have low fenchone contents (up to 5mg/liter).

Hungary – Absinthe became legal in 2004.

Israel – Absinthe enjoys a legal status in Israel.

Ireland – thujone containing Absinthe is illegal to buy and sell but can be imported for personal consumption.

Netherlands – Absinthe bann was lifted in 2004 after being banned in 1909. Absinthe should necessarily meet EU requirements.

New Zealand – The drink is legal.

Portugal – Absinthe was always allowed.

Russia – High thujone Absinthes (up to 75mg/kg thujone) are available in Russia.

Serbia – Serbia seems to disallow Absinthe containing thujone or above 50% abv to be sold.

South Africa – Absinthe is legal as of 2005.

Sweden – Absinthe made in accordance to EU guidelines can be sold and is labeled as containing wormwood. The Absinthe kit site is located in Sweden.

Switzerland – The home of Absinthe legalized Absinthe in 2005 after banning it in 1908.

UK – It never got banned. Absinthe must follow directions given in EU legislation.

As now known there are many countries where Absinthe can be legally enjoyed. You may want to make your own Absinthe using Absinthe essences from AbsintheKit.com. These essences are used for making authentic Absinthe and can be shipped world wide. They do not require distillation, that has already been done for you, and so are perfectly legal. Check them out.