The Wine Bottle

David Artsmith  -  There are a lot of pros and cons to throwing a party. On the one hand everything will go down on your turf and you will have the home field advantage during the entire event, with the advantage of feeling more comfortable and relaxed as the party goes on. On the other hand it’s a lot of work. You are going to have a lot of people coming into your space, touching your things, and making a general mess.

However the bottom line is, if your going to bother to throw a party, you want to do it right. The question is, how do you ensure that you are the best host that you can possibly be?

The cornerstone of throwing a successful party is to understand the needs of your guests. Depending on who you invite, people will have vastly different requirements and expectations. You have to know the people who will be attending, and be able to interpret their vision of a successful party, in order to provide the experience they are looking for.

To a large extent throwing a party is about image. You are creating an atmosphere, a festive spirit that settles upon your home and encourages people to relax and enjoy their time there. Without this subtle feeling of celebration a party will suffer from a lack of inspiration.

Creating this subtle spirit is about adding details that cue of celebratory responses in the human mind. For instance, festive lights sparkling in a window or from the ceiling, makes people instantly think of a party, or a special occasion. The same is true of bright colors, and shiny patterns.

Another thing to consider when throwing a party is the actual feel and temperature of the space. You have to remember that when a building is filled with humans giving off body heat, its going to be considerably warmer than before the party when its relatively empty. Be sure to have access to windows that you can open if necessary, and fans or even air conditioning if possible. Air conditioning can generally be a problem since it tends to make one centralized location cooler than the rest of the house, and due to the fact that it requires closed windows you can end up with a stuffy feeling in the home. For this reason you may want to stick to fans that can better circulate the air in the space.

Food and drink is often the centerpiece of a party. Whether it’s a formal dinner engagement, or just a cocktail party with some friends, it is customary to provide a variety of refreshments to entertain the taste buds of your party guests.

Appetizers are pretty standard party fare. In general this will consist of small finger foods, or tiny portions of specialty dishes which are easy to eat while walking around and being mobile. In the case of parties centered around a meal of course the food will be much more elaborate and on stage.

As for drinks, you should be certain to provide a wide range of beverages. people tend to be finicky about liquids, with many people having very specific tastes as to what drinks they like and which ones they will refuse to imbibe. You should be certain to have the most eclectic assortment on hand that is possible, in order to ensure that everyone gets what they want. Don’t forget to have plenty of drink coasters around to protect your surfaces.

The question of whether or not to use disposable dishes and utensils is one which is hotly debated. On the one hand disposable implements are a lot easier to clean up, and when a party is over you will be thankful for every short cut you can take. However disposable utensils are also not as good for the environment, creating a huge glut of trash. They are also less attractive and stylish. When you compare a cheap plastic Spork to an elegant metal spoon, there is really no contest.

When getting your home ready for a fancy party it is important to consider your guests first. Who are they, what will they expect, how can you make them feel more comfortable? These are all the questions you should seek to answer when setting up and preparing for the big event.

David Artsmith  -  Champagne is a celebration, it’s a toast, and it’s the way to bring in the New Year with good cheer. This form of sparkling wine is the beverage of choice for our most joyous occasions, and our most formal ceremonies. So, how did this bubbly brew get to have such a place of honor and dignity in human society?

Part of the reason for champagne’s upscale reputation is that the nature of the liquid itself is festive. Store under high pressure, the bottle opens up slowly, with someone teasing the cork from the head of the bottle slowly. Even as they do anticipation rises in the room as everyone waits with bated breath for that one, loud, POP, that burst of sound that signals that the party is ready to begin. This is often followed by a spray of foam as it escapes eagerly from the body of the bottle

Then, when you put the champagne to your lips, it’s like the liquid is actually dancing on your tongue. A thousand tiny explosions of flavor pop in your mouth, until it almost feels alive inside of you; alive and ready to party.

Champaign is often coupled with wine coasters, or upscale drinks coasters in order to enhance the effect of the bottle through presentation.

There is also another explanation as to why Champagne has been so associated with celebratory events over the years. Its relatively expensive. The only liquid that can actually be legally labeled as “champagne” has to be made in the Champagne region of France. All other forms of champagne are technically sparkling wine. Because of the limited amount of the beverage which can be produced in this one region, it is priced higher. The higher price makes it a “special occasion” beverage.

This perception of being “special” and “celebratory” is one which champagne makers do their best to preserve. That is why the law exists determining who can and cannot name their product using that specific label. This is also the reason that so much money is used on contests which are designed to determine which si the best brand.

Champagne is a festive beverage that naturally excites all five of the senses. This fact, along with the idea of this as being a special, and celebratory beverage, have combined to make champagne one of the worlds most treasured beverages.

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.

Alcohol is one of the oldest institutions in human society. Some researchers claim that all of civilization was started as a way for humans to more easily produce beer. However, it has always been a double edged sword, proving both recreation and embarrassment to those who play with its intoxicating effects.

The key to drinking well is to find a balance. You want to sip just enough to lose the shackles of inhibition, without losing the control of good sense. Understanding this balance gives you power over the way that people perceive you.

A classic scene is to think of James Bond in a stylish suite sipping on a Vodka martini. This picture embodies sophistication. He is drinking, but he is in total control of the alcohol, and thus dominating it, he can enjoy the night and its mild effects. He chooses what happens next, and doesn’t let the alcohol do the talking for him. The use of stylish beverage coasters is another indicator of control and sophistication.

Many people drink out of fear and anxiety. This is not a healthy approach to life. Self medication of psychological problems only leads to a self destructive spiral. Instead you should drink to celebrate, to enhance and enjoy a situation, and to revel in the beauty of life. Drinking has to be a positive experience, or it will swiftly become a negative one.

That is why the sophisticated drinker will deal with their problems head on, in a sober and confrontational manner. Maybe a psychologist would help, or a friend. Whatever manner it occurs in, you should be happyw hen you start drinking.

This is because liquor tends to release pent up or sublimated emotional pain. That means that while you are hiding, and distancing yourself from this pain with each drink, you are also integrating the pain into your personality. This can result in you getting sad or getting into fights, when sober you would never consider such actions.

Being a sophisticated drinker is basically about control, derived through balance. You can’t use liquor to solve your problems. Instead, it should be a toast, a celebration of life. Deal with emotional pain in an appropriate place.