The Wine Bottle

If you’ve never heard of Greek wines, you must not be a real wine lover or historian. While there are many countries today that produce wines that are more popular and perhaps more appreciated, it’s thought that winemaking actually originated with the Greeks thousands and thousands of years ago. At that time, wines from Greece were produced in individual homes right along with everything else that was considered everyday foods, including bread, butter, cheese, meat dishes, and so on. Wine was considered a standard staple of the dining table and not something that was reserved for special occasions. It’s thought that during the Roman Empire, these wines were traded extensively as Rome opened up merchant routes all along the Mediterranean regions.

Wines of the Past

There have been many political upheavals and other problems that have kept Greece from competing in the global wine market; however, today they are just as competitive as wines from any other region of the world. This is a necessity as there has actually been a decline in recent years of domestic consumption of locally produced wine. Greek vineyard owners have, out of necessity, found themselves competing on the world market just to stay economically feasible. Those that produce wines have found that they have needed to introduce foreign grape varieties to their vineyards in order to stay competitive. In 1963, their first Cabernet Sauvignon vineyard was planted, and the 1960’s and 1970’s saw an ever evolving revolution in the area of wine making.

Reasons for Success in Making Greek Wines

One of the reasons for the success of wines from Greece is of course the climate of the country. With its warm and dry summers and mild winters, it makes for near perfect grape growing conditions. Also, there are literally hundreds of indigenous Greek grapes from which vineyard owners may produce their own unique brand, and foreign varieties do quite well when planted or grafted into existing vineyards.

It’s also interesting that many true wine connoisseurs are always on the lookout for exotic brands and varieties to try, something different than the standard French or Italian fare. In this regard, many upscale wine lovers are turning to Greek wines as they are truly unique in the world of winemaking.

Today you can easily find wines from Greece available in any local wine store or liquor shop. They are also available online from specialty importers. As Greek vineyard owners continue to appreciate the beautiful and perfect climate they are blessed with, it is certain that more and more world class Greek wines will continue to be available and will be competitive on the world market.

As with any rating system, there is no such thing as a universal wine rating system. Wines are rated by different Wine Clubs, groups, restaurants, food critics, magazines, and wine aficionados. Just like movies may get good or bad ratings depending on the critic, the same wine may get a higher or lower rating depending on who is doing the actual rating. Most wine rating systems work the same as any other rating system, awarding a number of points to a particular wine in a variety of categories. Wine Spectator, a leading magazine about wine, uses a 100-point system when rating wines. One you understand the different categories of how a wine is critiqued, you may be better able to understand the wine rating system you’re perusing.

What is Usually Evaluated

Most who review Wine evaluate it by more than just its flavor. Texture and aroma are also important. This is because these things are typically affected by the quality of the fruit that is used, the fermentation process, and the procedure used to make the wine. A poor quality aroma or lack of texture can affect anyone’s wine rating system, and quite a bit at that. To better illustrate, imagine have a cup of coffee that tastes good but smells like dishwater, or that is as thick as mud. Obviously the smell and texture of any beverage or food is important to the enjoyment of it, just as much as the actual taste.

How Evaluations Are Done

It’s important for an impartial wine rating system that wines are stored properly before they’re tasted. They are kept at room temperature of 70-72 degrees Fahrenheit. Most wines are sampled as soon as the bottle is poured, and then decanted and allowed to be set aside. They may be re-tasted in 20 minute intervals, to evaluate any changes in the character and taste.

You may have seen a wine taster take a sip of wine or water and spit it out afterwards. To be sure that there is no mixture of tastes and adulteration of the wine rating system, the taster may rinse his or her mouth with water and then spit that out. They may also spit out the wine simply because ingesting it may affect the taste of the next sip of wine.

Can You Trust a Wine Rating System?

One wine expert stated on his website that evaluating a wine is much like relating what you see shaped by clouds. Everyone is different and it’s all very subjective and open to interpretation. Think of a movie you saw that got great reviews, and you thought was a complete waste of time – or vice versa. Wine rating systems are just like that; if you have the same taste and preferences as the evaluator, then you’re likely to agree with his or her opinions. If your tastes are different, your opinions will be different as well. The best thing to do is experiment a bit with wine sample from a local winery and see which types appeal to your palate.

There are a very large variety of different types of wine and in order to really enjoy your wine selection it is necessary to know more than what type of wine goes with red meat and what type of wine goes with fish. It is important to select the correct type of wine that will augment the flavor of the meal instead of clashing with it. The properly selected wine will clean and refresh the pallet which will allow the flavor of the meal to be as enjoyable from the first bite to the last. The correct wine will support and not overpower the flavor of your meal.

Types of Wine.

Wines come in two major categories Red and White, but each category will have many sub categories. Many gourmands will argue that red wines can only be served with red meats and exotics such as ostrich and emus and white wines should only be paired with fish, poultry, roast pork, and deserts. Several hundred year ago this may have been true but with all of the new vineyards and the hundreds of wine processing techniques available today Who is to say what is right and wrong, as long as the particular food and wine pairing provides a pleasant dining experience.

The variety grapes uses in the wine making process determines the basic type of wine produced. Some grapes are very hardy and will grow almost anywhere and in any type of climate. Others are so sensitive that they are grown only is specific regions of the world. All grapes can have good years and bad years and it will have a large impact on the quality and availability of a specific type of wine in any given year. Even a novice wine drinker with an untrained pallet can tell the difference in the quality of a wine when tasted side by side.

Barbera

Barber is mostly grown in warm coastal regions and is commonly grown in Italy’s Piedmont region and has been imported to the Unite States sometime in the late 19Th century. Wines made from the Barber grape tend to have a lively cherry flavor and a high acidity content. The wines usually have a very deep, intense red color.

Cabernet Sauvignon

Usually grown in cooler and damper climates such as the Loire region of Southwest France, Long Island and Northern California in the United States. The Cabernet grapes produce wines that have a deep purple color and a herb like aroma. One of the best known wine producing grapes in the world and it produces a very consistent and recognizable flavor.

Chardonnay

The Chardonnay grape has become very popular in recent years and it produces one of the finest white Burgundy wines in the world. Known for it mid-season ripening and versatility it can be grown in all of the wine producing regions of the world.

Riesling

Riesling grapes is also grown in the cooler temperate regions of Europe. It can product a white dry wine that has a flowery and fruity flavor with a high acid and low alcohol content.

Sangiovese

The Sangiovese grapes is grown almost exclusively in the Tuscany region of Italy and it produces a dark red wine with a cherry or plum like flavors and aromas. Recently is has been imported into California but the vine takes several years of aging to reach its peak flavor.

Many people are surprised to find out the truth about United States wines. Most assume that the best wines in the world are produced in France or areas of the Mediterranean, and while it’s true that many people may prefer or know more about French wines, there are many varieties of wines from the United States that are just as good.

Probably the most famous area of wine production is Napa Valley, California, where some 90% of North American wines are produced. These vineyards were mostly started by Spaniards who planted as they established missions; most wines were used for religious sacraments but were also used during daily life. The vine cuttings they used were typically from Mexico and were brought to the U.S. in the early 1500’s.

Today most grapes are of the French, Italian and Spanish varieties, which is why United States wines are on the same level quality-wise as these more commonly known French wines. Advances in planting and grape hybrid technology have made it possible for any region of the world to produce a wine of any variety and quality.

For many years the most popular types of wines were Bordeaux and Chardonnay, but in the 1980’s many grew tired of this type of wine, especially as more and more varieties became readily available at wine and liquor stores everywhere. Suddenly vineyards producing Unites States wines began experimenting with different and more obscure varieties of grapes and grape hybrids. The warmer weather of California’s Napa Valley also affects the taste of the wines, making them taste a bit fruitier than other brands of wines. It also allows for higher alcohol content during the fermentation process; most California wines are at 13.5% alcohol.

There are of course other areas of the country that produce very fine wines, including the Great Lakes regions around the state of Michigan, and the Rocky Mountain region of Colorado. These areas have very favorable weather and growing conditions for very fine wines.

United States wines are now so popular that many plan their entire vacations around wineries and wine tours. Planning tours of Napa Valley is so popular that many travel agents and tourism boards plan entire excursions for groups such as AARP and other travel clubs. The U.S. is actually the fourth largest wine producing country in the world, and there’s good reason for that. While some may not think of United States wines as being of the same quality as French or Spanish wines, the truth is that they are of very high quality, variety, and vintage. If you fancy yourself a wine connoisseur, you would do well to make sure you add these wines to your regular drinking experience.

Beer brewing in Europe continues to be a serious traditional business. For thousands of years, Europe has been a leader in brewing this popular beverage. Many countries have perfected distinctive beers; some are like mythological ambrosia. Maintaining the quality of centuries-old recipes, many brewers realise that their strength lies in maintaining tradition over promoting innovation. Not to say there aren’t several breweries experimenting with new flavours, but mostly they leave the newfangled risk-taking to the Americans. Why fix and change that which is not broken? Click here if you like to learn how to make your own beer.

To promote the preservation of European beer culture, several countries have banded together to create organizations such as the European Beer Consumers’ Union (EBCU). This union was founded in Bruges in 1990 with three founding members: Campaign for Real Ale of Great Britain, Objectieve Bierproevers of Belgium and PINT of the Netherlands. It sounds like a Monty Pythonesque union with contrived names, but it is a legitimate one with twelve countries as members: the above three, plus Austria, Switzerland, Italy, Poland, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland and France.

Their aims are simple: preserve European beer culture, its traditions, beer brewing and breweries; promote traditional beers; support the consumption of traditional beers; and represent European drinkers in a campaign for choice, quality and value. This is not the only pro-quality beer organization in Europe. Others include the Guinness 1759 Society, the British Guild of Beer Writers, and the Brothers of Beer.

The continued production of traditional beers has added one innovation to its traditional facade: beer tours. Beertrips.com, founded in 1998, promotes many beer-tasting experiences in countries like Belgium, France, England, Germany and Austria. If you are interested in experiencing Germany’s beers, for example, there is a 10-day tour of Munich’s Fruhlingsfest and Bavarian Country Breweries. A personal favourite is the Brewers and Distilleries of Scotland tour. Check the website for details.

Each country in Europe seems to have a beer type focus. In Ireland, they continue to promote their stout beers. Stout is thick and heavy, with an earthy, full-bodied taste. They sell lagers and ales, but the focus and specialty is on beers like Guinness. The Guinness brewery was bought and opened in 1759 in Dublin, Ireland by Arthur Guinness. The original stout is strong and bitter-tasting.

In Spain, lager is the most popular. Spanish lagers are a touch stronger than other countries’ lager offerings. Two of their most popular beers are Especial and Extra. Especial is a pilsner beer, quite light in colour and taste while Extra is a pale lager.

Alas, until recently, Sweden had been a beer desert for decades. Their people have choked and sputtered for more to slake their thirst, all to no avail. Histrionics aside, it was the rigidly-controlled regulations for beer brewing that depleted this country’s brewers. Since Sweden joined the European Union in 1995, its regulations have grown more lax and the country has transformed itself from a desert to a vibrant and diverse beer culture. The industry in Sweden imports from many other countries; this has inspired a search for their own beer identity. How better to discover a beer identity than to try many things to see what works for the people of the country?

In Holland, the industry continues to produce their own phylum of beer: Bierbok. A good version of this type of beer is difficult to produce. Bokbier is a 16th century beer from Bavaria that has endured and been perfected. It is dark in colour (red-brown to black), sweet on the tongue with a mixture of bittersweet flavours, such as toffee, raisins, licorice, coffee, and chocolate. These are not ingredients, but flavours. It is a beer strong in alcohol with an alcohol percentage of 6.5% to 8%.

When applied to beer brewing, history and tradition are not necessarily dusty, boring or dry like old history books or documents. Thousands of years ago, beer was a product in development; it was new and ever-changing. Beer brewing traditions live on and interest drinkers because of the exceptional tastes developed over centuries, not in spite of history and tradition. Click here if you like to learn how to make your own beer.

If you’re unsure of the meaning, winter wines are those that are preferred during the cold winter months and that will help take the nip out of the air, giving you a toasty warm feeling all over. These are wines that are considered full-body and lush, as opposed to the light and refreshing wines you would enjoy during the summer months. If you’re a wine lover, you understand the appeal of the wines of winter, and find that they’re easily preferred over the standard winter beverages of hot cocoa or tea. Sure, those are all well and good, but how do they taste with a fine selection of cheese and olives?

When considering your options, you would probably prefer an elegant Cabernet Sauvignon or an earthy Chateauneuf-du-Pape. These are both complex wines with a hearty aroma and reassuring body. Neither needs to be very expensive, as they are both typically very fine choices regardless of vintage or name brand.

Reisling is another fine choice when it comes to winter wines. While still crisp and fruity as you would expect from a summer choice, it is intense with a typically rounded finish – perfect for those late winter lunches when you’ve slept in decided to spend all day inside. While still served slightly chilled, it’s a perfect match for seafood or shellfish, or for when you want to just nibble some cheese in front of the fire.

Consider a good port as another choice when it comes to hearty wines. Aging these in wines in oak barrels means adding distilled grape spirits, often cognac, in order to boost the alcohol content. White port is also a good choice, and is served cold or slightly chilled; these range from dry to very sweet. Port is such a popular choice when it comes to winter wines that there are actually rules of etiquette that once surrounded its serving; typically the bottle is passed “port to port,” meaning that the host pours a glass for the person to their right and then passes the bottle to their left; this is repeated until the bottle makes its way around the table. Of course, if it’s just the two of you, it may be a good idea to be a bit more modest about this practice and save some for later!

Burgundy wines are also fine choices for winter, as they are typically the heaviest or most full-bodied wines there are. If you’re looking to stay away from chilled wines and want something to keep you warm that’s not too sweet but still full of flavor, burgundies are probably your best choice.

Winter wines are good options for the cold months when you’re looking to try something new and want to get away from the overly fruity and sweet wines of summer. When you’re stuck indoors and are looking for ways to keep yourself warm, you should definitely give your wine tasting some renewed attention with any of these options.

If you have special occasion coming up like an anniversary or birthday that requires giving a gift it is the ideal time to consider a wine gift basket. They make elegant gifts for anyone who enjoys wine and the frequently include additional treats besides wine. They may also include such delights as fruit, nuts, candy, cheeses and wine accessories like bottle openers and corkscrews, drip stoppers and foil cutters or whatever else you think the recipient may enjoy. You can buy them already assembled or you can make your own for a very special gift-giving touch. If you know the type of wine the reciever likes you can build your gift around that, or you can create a surprise basket.

Buying Prepared Baskets

If you’d rather buy a wine gift basket pre-packaged, stop into your local liquor store to see if they have a selection available. Good liquor stores often sell gift baskets, especially during the holiday season. You should have a range of wines from which to choose and then you can add extra products.

Shop Online

The internet is the first place to search for customizable gift baskets. Begin by selecting one or more bottles of wine of your choice, then start adding complementary products from the wide range available. Complementary products could include smoked salmon and caviar, savory crackers or cheese crackers, soft or hard cheeses, cheese knives, nuts, exclusive mustards or honey … there’s no limit to what you can add.

The online business will then deliver the packaged gift basket to you or to the gift recipient. This is an easy option if you are choosing a corporate gift or to thank a staff member.

Create Your Own Gift Baskets

Creating your own wine gift basket gives allows you to add that additional personal touch. Begin by purchasing an attractive basket. A simple and inexpensive basket will do the job because you can decorate it with fabric or colored tissue paper. Buy your wine of choice or choose champagne for a special celebration, add some additional products depending on the preferences of the gift recipient. You don’t need to limit your basket to wine or wine-themed gifts for example. You could include handicrafts for someone interested in arts and crafts, or a book about wine for a wine lover who is also interested in the history or the making of wine. Add some quality food products to accompany the wine, pack everything into your decorated basket and wrap the whole thing in clear cellophane.

If you are able to, deliver the gift basket to the recipient personally so you can see their joy when they receive it. If you’re very lucky they might even share the bottle of wine with you.

For the non-wine drinker you can still put together a stunning gift basket. You could try a coffee-themed gift basket for a coffee lover that could include coffee mugs, freshly roasted coffee beans from different coffee-growing regions of the world, gourmet cookies, toffees and nuts. A tea lover would probably enjoy a range of teas from different regions, together with a teapot and strainer and a fine china teacup. A tea or coffee gift basket could, in fact, be packed onto a well-decorated tray instead that a basket. Again, wrap the whole package in pretty paper and add a ribbon.

There is no limit to what you can incorporate into your gift basket.

David Artsmith  -  Bartending is a fun and exciting profession, but it takes skill with both drinks and people. The following tips are fairly common sense guidelines that anyone interested in the profession should know and follow.

1. You should shy away from discussions of religion, or political matters. All it will do is lead to a fight or make people uncomfortable

2. Make sure that the bar stays neat, clean, and tidy. Wipe it down after you serve every drink, and keep the entire environment neat and tidy. Use drink coasters to ensure that the space maintains its luster.

3. Know the trendy drinks. While you don’t have to have the entire drink recipe guide memorized, it helps to be familiar with the more trendy beverages of the day.

4. Do your best to learn about sports, especially local sports. People in bars will often be watching or talking about local sports events. If you understand what they are talking about, you can participate as well.

5. Greet everyone as they come in. Pay attention to people as they come in, especially if they are new to the bar; welcome them with a warm greeting and a smiling face.

6. Always serve a beverage by the base of the glass, and not by the top. Nobody wants to put their lips to a place where your hand just was. As you serve drinks, make sure you hold the glass by the bottom, away from where drinking will actually occur.

7. Personal hygiene is important. Make sure that you look neat and sharp, and that you don’t smell bad. You are part of the ambiance of the bar and so your appearance and personal attributes matter.

8. Pay extra attention to regulars and big tippers. While you should strive to treat everyone equally, someone who is a constant in the tavern, or who is willing to pay extra for extra service, should receive extra special attention from you.

9. Stay alert. In any establishment where drinking occurs, violence can erupt. You should stay alert, watching for trouble so that you can nip it in the bud. If you can diffuse a fight with a few words it’s a lot easier than having to call the bouncer over.

10. You should also do your best to have fun with it. Bartending is a social position. If you look like you are having fun, other people will have more fun as well. Try to relax into the job, and enjoy meeting the people who enter the bar. Be friendly, light, and humorous, and your job will be a lot easier.

I have been with my current firm for just over 6 months now.

In that time, I must admit I have learnt a great deal about everything related to the computer world.

I will admit, that at first I was rather embarrassed as some of the staff are more than half my age, and they knew more than I did. However, it is just something you have to take in your stride and grin and bear it. After all, they may be knowledgeable about their computers, but I have plenty of life experience and could certainly tell them a thing or two. They probably look at me and think I’m an old dinosaur, well past my sell by date and really boring. However, I think they would be totally shocked by some of my past antics and would certainly view me in a different light if they knew half the things I had got up to!!

The company I work for are very good to us and they really go out of their way to look after the staff.

We have a few computer consoles in the offices and at lunch time all the lads take part in their daily Xbox or Playstation challenge and it can get very riotous and competitive, however it is all taken in good spirit. We also lucky enough to have a pool table that they all use a great deal.

We also have a fantastic staff incentive scheme. This was set up for all members of staff who not only do a great job, but go a little further than they have to.

It’s a great scheme and members of staff can be nominated by their colleagues and then rewarded. So far I have managed to bag a great bottle of Spanish Wine and a fantastic bottle of French Wine.

As we do have some youngsters in the office, other rewards on offer are chocolates, beauty products and gift vouchers, after all we don’t want them drinking illegally.

A nice bottle of Italian Wine has just been added to the collection of goodies so I might just have to work a little bit harder to see if I can get nominated!!

Right now I am off to make tea for the gang and earn myself a few bonus points.

Making wine is probably as old as humankind itself, and one of the oldest winemaking regions in the world is Italy. Italian wines traces their roots as far back as the Roman Empire, and probably even before that. Rome is the city that began bottling wines for ease of transportation, storage and use. Today, wines from Italy account for about one-fifth of all the wines produced in the world.

There are thousands of vineyards in Italy, and while many wines are produced in modern distilleries, some rustic villages still produce wine in the old fashion way by stomping the grapes under their bare feet, claiming this makes the wine taste the best. Commercially available wines are of course prepared under much more hygienic conditions, so don’t worry about the bottles you’re considering purchasing from your local wine shop.

The favorable weather of the Mediterranean area makes for very favorable growing conditions for Italian wines, and true wine connoisseurs know that weather has a great affect on the quality of the wines. There are also many different elevations along the coast of Italy, allowing the country to produce many different types of grapes and therefore types of wines.

Italian wines are typically much less sweet and a bit more dry and acidic than most other wines produced around the world. This makes them a typically better accompaniment for food than other wines, whose strong or fruity flavors may interfere with the taste of your meal. Most restaurants therefore are known to carry a wide variety of Italian wines, most especially those that specialize in Italian food! Real wine lovers know that it’s almost perverse to have a French wine with Italian food.

Italy has certified some 350 grapes for use in their wines, and there are some 500 other varieties and hybrid varieties that are used for Italian wines. Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon are two of the most commonly used for red wine, and chardonnay and reisling for white wines.

The country of course prides itself on its wine varieties, and so laws are somewhat stringent when it comes to how they can be labeled and referred. However, some winemakers took it upon themselves to step away from common blends and grapes used in order to produce richer and more flavorful wines. The term “Super Tuscan” refers to Italian wines that do not have the traditional blending of grapes that one would typically find in the different regions. Some of these blending varieties were initially labeled as “table wines” by the Italian appellation system, but that term is seen as somewhat derogatory, and so makers of these Italian wines began to use the term Super Tuscan.

If you’re looking to expand your list of favorites, then you must consider Italian wines. There is such a wide variety, and the winemakers take such pride in their product, that you are sure to find many that are just to your liking. So the next time you are at an Italian restaurant be sure to try one of the fine wines available, you will be pleasantly surprised.