The Wine Bottle

Last weekend was yet another booze filled one for me.  Now I reach a point on Saturday afternoon when I feel desperate for a drink and it doesn’t matter what drink I have.

This Saturday I had polished off a bottle of Spanish Wine before 4pm.  The problem is I can knock back a whole bottle of wine, like it’s just a drink of water.  To be honest I think it’s getting a bit of a problem and I know I am going to have to knock it on the head.

When I do my weekly shop on a Friday, I used to just buy one bottle of wine to enjoy over the weekend. Now I find that I am buying at least 3 bottles to see us through Friday, Saturday and Sunday night.

Last week the supermarket had offers on Chilean wine and French wine, so I really went for it and got a couple of each.

The problem is if it’s in the house I will drink it and to be honest I’m not fussy about what the drink is. For Christmas we were given a bottle of Sambuca and a bottle of Baileys.  Over the past few weeks, these 2 bottles have been finished.  I think the problem is that instead of using the shot glasses we use a great big wine glass!

I think the only solution is going to be stopping drinking alcohol for a while.  It’s going to be quite hard work, but i think it has reached the point where I don’t have a choice.

I think my other half will have a few words to say about this, but I’m sure he will appreciate why I am doing it.

Mind you, I think the ban can probably wait until the weekend, so giving me time to polish off any booze lying around the house.   I think I still have a nice bottle of gin stored in the cupboard, so I think perhaps I will go and get a bottle of tonic to drink with this!!

Today we have a new Tesco Supermarket opening up in our Town.  Now according to our local radio station, this new store is going to be selling just about everything you could ever want.  It’s not really very fair for all the little independent traders who have been trading in the area for many years!!

Don’t get me wrong though I am sure in one way this is good for our area.  The new store has employed an addtional 250 staff, so at least that will be 250 less people getting benefits each week.

However, there is an awful lot of controversy because Tesco’s have been granted a 24 hour alcohol licence.  The new store is in an area of our town where crime is pretty high already.  I’m not convinced it is such a great idea granting them a 24 hour licence.  The scum that already roam the streets at night are just going to be even worse if they can get their hands on alcohol all night.

Don’t get me wrong though I am a lover of alcohol, but is it really necessary to be able to purchase it at 3.00 o’clock in the morning?

I have never felt the desire to still be drinking at this time of the morning and I would think if you are then you have a pretty bad alcohol problem.

The store was due to open at 8 this morning and I can imagine that they would have drafted in some local Dignitary and there will probably be a bit of a party afterwards.

I wonder if Tesco have provided the refreshments??

Personally my favourite wine is a glass of red, but I bet they will have quite a choice.  There will probably be German Wine, Italian Wine and maybe even some Portuguese Wine. I bit they haven’t gone all out though and provided any Champagne!!

Tesco have advertised that they are giving a local children’s hospice charity a 1,000 Pounds towards their new hospice.  This sounds like a huge amount, but when you consider that their 2009 pre-tax profits were just over 3 billion, it doesn’t really amount to much!!!

David Artsmith  -  Alcohol has a varied reputation. On one hand it is the bane of the drunk, the bitter poison that sends genius into madness, and drives success out into the gutters. It is also a way to toast good fortune, celebrate a victory, or enhance the fun and frivolaty of a party or festival.

Of all the different alcoholic beverages that you could choose, wine probably has the most sophisticated demeanor. Beer is often considered base, the draft of the common person, and hard liquor has a well deserved reputation for getting people wasted. However wine is that perfect balance between light and heavy, powerful enough to get you quite tipsy, yet refreshing enough to be taken in little sips.

Wine also has a reputation for having a more sophisticated taste than many of its alcohol counterparts. Wine is often composed of a variety of grapes, which can be mixed and matched, and added to by spices, or fruits, and hints of other flavors. The creation of wine beverages is a complex process, involving a variety of advanced metrics and tools which wineries can use to completely control the chemical process of its development.

Even the consumption of wine is high end, with a variety of accessories being made available to enhance every moment of the experience. From high end marble drink coasters, to vacuume wine stoppers, to accessories designed to release the bouquet of the wine, there are a lot of gadgets that can be employed.

Because of this complex reputation there are a variety of wine contests that are held around the world each year, to determine the best type of wine in any of a multitude of categories. These contests are a big deal, and are often associated with large cash prizes. The winners also get bragging rights, and the ability to claim the superiority of their own wares.

However to some extent the reputation of wine has been created by the vineyards that grow the grapes and make the product. It is important to the bottom line of a lot of companies that make wine to maintain this air of mystique, this classification as the beverage of gentry, and sophistication. The purpose of the contests held each year, of anointing a best and worst wine, is as much to maintain the popular spirit of the product as it is to actually judge the results.

In general wine has a reputation. Slightly nobler than lesser intoxicants, it is a more sophisticated way to get sloshed. This is a reputation which is carefully cultivated by both wine manufacturers, and wine enthusiasts alike.

Making beer at home is something that every true beer lover should try at some point. It is actually not that difficult of a process, and it is not expensive either.

So, how do you make beer at home? We will cover the main steps below. It really is that simple that you can learn the basic process involved in just 5 minutes.

Making beer at home requires you to only really follow a few steps. The first is to get yourself a beer kit, which is a kit that includes all of the different tools and materials that you are going to need to make the beer.

Having got yourself a beer kit, you next need to obtain the 4 main ingredients of beer – water, yeast, hops and malt. Water is the most abundant ingredient in any style of beer. Malted barley is barley grain that has carefully been soaked in water until it sprouts and is then dried and used to make beer. The distinctive aroma and slight bitterness of the finished brew is determined by the hops. As for the yeast, this is the catalyst which is needed to make the other ingredients come together.

The next thing that you need to do is add all of the ingredients together using the beer kit, and there are usually instructions that come with each different beer kit because each kit usually has some different aspects to it.

Should you wish to do so, you can deviate a little from the instructions provided with your beer kit to create a slightly more unique beer. Maybe you want to try adding some of your own flavorings to it, such as honey or banana.

Don’t worry about making mistakes as starting over is no big deal. In fact, practice and experimentation is the best way to learn. After a few batches, you are going to be quite good at making your own beer, and you will be surprised at the freshness and tastiness of it, especially compared to the beer that you are used to drinking.

To learn more from a home beer brewing expert, and to discover the simple secrets of brewing world class beer from the comfort of your home, visit: http://homebeerbrewingsecrets.com/

Typically, people make small home brews, and so if you are planning on making a large home brew, then there are several pointers that you are absolutely going to want to take into consideration.

Making a large home brew is ideal if you are planning to have a big party or if you have lots of storage space which would be otherwise wasted. If either of these apply to you then you have no excuse for not making a large batch of your favorite home brew beer! Should these circumstances not apply to you then you are probably better off sticking with smaller, more frequent, brews as you may end up with an unacceptable amount of wastage.

The first thing that you are going to want to think about when you are planning on making a large home brew is the fact that it is going to take a lot more time and effort. Therefore, make sure that you have the basic processed down to an art before making a large brew to avoid wasting your time and efforts.

Also, before making a start on making a large home brew, think carefully about whether you really have the space available to do it properly. After all, you can quite easily make a small home brew right in a tiny kitchen, however when it comes to a larger one you may have difficulty if you do not have enough room for everything.

After all you are going to need more room in the fridge, in the sink and on the countertop in general, and you certainly do not want to get started first and then realize that unfortunately you do not have enough room for everything and that you are thus in big trouble.

If you do not have sufficient space in your kitchen, then there are basically two options that you have; either you make a series of smaller brews one after the other, or you give a fellow beer lover a percentage of the finished product in return for them giving you the use of their kitchen.

In terms of the actual brewing process, it is exactly the same to make a large brew as it is to make a small one. Just make sure that you increase the quantities of the ingredients in equal measures.

To learn more from a home beer brewing expert, and to discover the simple secrets of brewing world class beer from the comfort of your home, visit: http://homebeerbrewingsecrets.com/

Making your own alcoholic drinks can be fun and challenging at the same time, and will not take up a lot of time or space. Usually one burner on your stove will be enough space, except for storage, and in about two hours, up to five gallons of home brew can be in the keg or ready for bottling.

Are you interested in home brewing? Maybe you have already followed up that interest and have already brewed some alcoholic beverages at your own home. Either way, you may want to consider joining a home brew club. Whether your beverage of choice is beer, wine or grain alcohol, and regardless of where in the country you reside, there is going to be a home brew club to match your interest.

Many times people follow directions for so long they tend to ignore the possibility there are other ways of doing things. Different methods and different ingredients can be used to achieve a whole range of different results. By joining a home brew club, you will access to the successful methods and ingredients that other home brewers have come across. The associations are designed for this type of sharing as well as gathering and sharing their finished products as well as discussing potential legal issues surrounding the home brewing industry.

By joining a home brew club, you can get many new ideas and can ask questions of your own, finding out if a technique will work before you try it. Others in the home brew club may have already tried and failed and can offer advice on how to do things correctly.

Many members of a home brew club are more than willing to share their knowledge and experience, despite the intense competition of brewing the best. Whether it be beer, wine or spirits that you want to improve your knowledge on, someone will be there to lend a helping hand.

A few times a year, you will probably find that regional competitions get organized, at which home brewers from a particular area have their best work judged. You will be going up against some pretty experienced people should you enter but do not let that put you off. This is one type of competition in which taking part is truly more important than winning. You are guaranteed to have great time!

To learn more from a home beer brewing expert, and to discover the simple secrets of brewing world class beer from the comfort of your home, visit: http://homebeerbrewingsecrets.com/

The word “beer” is often used as a generic noun to describe a cold refreshing beverage. However, beer lovers around the world will heartily agree that there’s nothing generic about beer.

In fact, world of beer gives you a multitude of options. It’s impossible to say which type is best, because they all have very different characteristics. You’d be surprised at how a pilsner can differ from a porter, or how a stout stands out from a cider.

The method of brewing tends to be somewhat similar for most commercially produced beers. However, the names given to different styles of beer generally reflect individual characteristics of the product, such as where it originated. Taste, appearance and aroma are just some of the qualities that make different beers unique.

Some common favorites include these:

Lager: Some of the world’s most popular beer brands are lagers. These include American styles including basic lager, all-malt lager, light lager, double pilsner, malt liquor and low-alcohol or “light” beers. Germany and the Czech Republic are seen as the international leaders in the production of them.

Ale: American amber, brown ale, porter, strong, sour and wild ales are also common American beers. Also falling under the category of “Ales” are Chile Beer, Pumpkin Ale, Belgian and French ales, English, German, Irish, Finnish, Scottish and Russian ales.

Cider: While not an official beer, cider is still enjoyed by many beer drinkers. Cider brewed from traditional English farms is a particular favorite of many.

Hybrids: Combining different beer styles or ingredients create this “experimental” beer. Berbed, smoked, fruit and vegetable beer and spiced beer are all types of hybrids.

You’re missing out if you haven’t tried at least the types of beer listed above. If you’re a beer drinker, you’re likely loyal to a tried and true brand, but remember that variety is the spice of life. There is a world of options available to you, so try something new next time you’re in a beer drinking mood.

To learn more from a home beer brewing expert, and to discover the simple secrets of brewing world class beer from the comfort of your home, visit: http://homebeerbrewingsecrets.com/

Britain now imports more wine than any other country in the world. We imported a grand total of 1.6 billion bottles in 2007, equating to thirty five standard bottles for every adult in the country which is absolutely staggering figure. The average British adult now drinks 12% more wine than they did just five years ago and forecasts predict our consumption will continue to grow far beyond that figure. Global wine and alcohol consumption is on the rise in past years and also forecast to grow considerably. The US are predicted to eventually become the world’s biggest consumer by 2012. The UK is 13th in the world, in terms of consumption per adult and despite Britain being a big importer, the amount we drink is completely dwarfed by other neighbouring European countries including France.

Red wine and white wine sales are on the increase as well as champagne, whisky and cognacs. This has incidentally caused an increase in the sale of almost all drinking glasses, including crystal glasses and the humble whisky glass. The British public consumed seven hundred and twenty million bottles of red wine and 764 million bottles of white wine in 2008 and that figure is expected to grow for 2009. However red wine is rapidly falling in popularity, as white wine and rose wine take larger shares of the increasing wine industry.

Wine merchants have been incredibly busy for the year of 2008. Additionally, reports have indicated that many wine accessories such as glass vases, decanters and dinnerware have been selling extremely fast as a natural accompaniment to wine. The thirst for wine is set to deepen in emerging economies such as China and Russia, whose consumption levels are soon expected to overtake that of Spain which is another nation historically associated with wine. It predicted that the financial and economic crisis affecting many wine consumer countries worldwide would only have ‘limited’ consequences for the growth of the wine sector. The report forecasts incredible growth for the coming four years roughly in line with pre-crisis trends. Either way it is a very terrifying thought.

What did the grape say when it was rolled over by a beer keg?

Not a word – all it did was “wine”!

What we drink says a lot about who we are – if you believe the marketing companies who target the mass markets with multi-million dollar commercials and campaigns. But is this really true?

Enjoying both beers and wines is not a mutually exclusive pastime – I personally drink both and conform with neither stereotypical image of either drinker – I’m not a young stud hanging out with great looking babes in a bar while ice-cold longnecks are guzzled by the truck load nor a wrinkly, liberal-looking, spectacle-wearing foodie with leather patches on my elbows.

Both beer and wine have long histories which carries a deep, cultural significance that is felt all around the world. The actual inventor of the wine and beer is not known, but what is known is thta they originated from the Middle East and most likely have been around since Neolithic times (around 5000 B.C.) – certainly the ancient Egyptians and various empires based to the East of the Mediterranean Sea have documented wines and beers as well as irrefutable archaeological evidence.

Certainly in those ancient times, there was no such thing as an NFL or Nascar event while cheese & wine parties were not exactly on the social menu. The division of potential consumers using marketing, and by extension, social stereotypes for beer and wine markets has created a false picture of who actually drinks them. Since wine producers in California started making headway in international markets bck in the 80’sWine was the alcoholic drink of the masses in Europe and not the upper crust – beer was drunk as water, simply because it was safe to drink due to the alcohol content and in fact, beer was not brewed for the purpose of getting drunk, at least, not in the beginning but to purify water.

Mass production of beer really started in the 20^th Century – in previous centuries other forms of alcohol dominated demand for getting smashed – and wine was one of the dominant beverages. With the coming of mass production also came mass marketing and in the case of beer, blue collar workers became the targeted demographic hoping they would want an ice-cold beverage after a hard day’s work. Girls, cars, smiling friends and being Mr. Popular in the bar were all part of the marketing mix thrown at potential beer drinkers being sold on fizzy, yellow brews. The self-owned breweries that have a good brew have been left out of the mainstream beer industry but appreciated by beer aficionados.

Marketing perception is rarely an accurate reflection of reality, if you consider that wine was discovered probably at an earlier date than beer from the archaeological evidence, wine would appear to have been the caveman’s first choice of fermented brew. If a caveman preferred wine to beer, this hardly matches the marketing perception that beer drinkers do not have taste nor being a hard-working macho-man precludes you from enjoying wine. Wine is also more potent than beer for those who wish to see who can get drunk the quickest.

On the other hand, wine experts and followers will probably point to the labor and skill which goes into creating a fine wine – the reality is that brewing beer also requires just as much artistry and imagination as producing a good bottle of plonk. The plethora of small breweries and family-owned brewers that have maintained their tradition for generations gives testimony to the great diversity of skill, taste, and ingenuity when it comes to making the best alcohol possible.

The bottom line – downing a beer or slurping a wine is not predetermined by social status or marketing categorization – it all comes down to one thing no matter who you are or what you do – your own taste.

By Mark Trumper, the guiding force of MaverickLabel.com, the Internet’s leading provider of labels, custom stickers and custom wine labels. From asset tags, to shipping labels to custom wine labels, MaverickLabel.com can provide all of your label needs. Call 1-800-537-8816.

There are findings all the time in the news about how wine effects the body, some positive, most negative. Most people already know about the downsides of drinking the stuff, so are only to happy when some good news in revealed. For example, there was a smile put on lots of people’s faces when news was released saying that those who drunk a glass of red wine each day were reducing their chances of heart attack because their blood was less viscous. Now there maybe another reason to dust of the glassware as scientists have found that wine actually aids digestive function.

A study that took place in Manchester, England recorded results from a study that involved giving some people a glass of wine (either white, red, rosé or champagne) to drink each evening for 2 month.The main finding from the study was that digestive transit was improved and there was less reported digestive discomfort from the participants who consumed a glass of wine in the evening each day. Red wine was triumphant in the results again, although both white and rosé still displayed positive results.  Unfortunately, champagne did not seem to help digestion so you can put those champagne glasses away again for the time being. Also, you cannot indulge yourself with wine and expect the same positive effects on digestion, as all the benefits are lost if you exceed more than one glass a day.

It is thought that although wine is a diuretic and so dehydrates the body if enough of it is consumed, it also works to relax muscles of the stomach and intestines. What this means is that anything you consume moves through the body with greater ease and no blockages are caused.  It is also worth taking into account that this study was conducted over a reasonably small space of time and there is no telling what the effect would be on the long term.  The overruling advice seems to be that you can enjoy the odd glass of wine without too much issue and it may even be good for you, but if you start feeling unwell or find youself drinking your wine out of glass vases then you may need to see a doctor