The Wine Bottle

food and wine

For a lot of people, wine country is virtually uncharted territory. What wines go with what foods, when to drink each kind of wine and what are the best wines; these are mysteries to many people. Of course, it is impossible to know everything about wines, but this article will help uncover some of the mysteries about food wine. Knowing about dinner wines does not have to be obscure knowledge.

First of all, the old, traditional rule that white wine goes with fish and poultry and red wine goes with red meats is still a good rule to follow. The basic rule for food wine is that the tastes of the food and wine should react well with each other. Each bite of food should cover any taste of wine and any taste of wine should cover the taste of the food. Drinking wine with food is designed to be more of a palate cleanser, so that each bite of food tastes as good as the first and it is the same for the wine. You will know that a wine is a bad match for the food if you can taste the one or the other, over the other item. Of course, with so many different styles of foods mixed together in one dish, it makes it harder to pair wine to food. Another good rule to follow when trying to match foods and wines is to pair heavier wines with heavier dishes.

The main determination for food wine combinations is the balance of sweetness, acidity and bitterness of both the food and wine. It is pretty easy to figure out what wine should go with what foods by considering the wine and food characteristics. If a sweet food is being served, pair it with a sweeter wine. For bitter foods, a more bitter wine is in order. The best way to determine the acidity of a food is to determine if it would go better with more acid added. For example, adding lemon to a fish means that a more acidic wine should be consumed. Some common white wines that are acidic are: Rieslings, most sparkling wines and white Bordeauxs. Acidic red wines include: Gamays, Pinot Noirs and Sangioveses. Sweet white wines include: White Zinfandels, other forms of Rieslings and Chenin Blancs. Sweet red wines can include: Port and Lambrusco. There are not many bitter white wines, but there are some bitter red wines. These can include, red Zinfandels, Merlots and Cabernet Sauvignons.

Now you know how to pair food wine with the appropriate foods. There are a lot of different wines and it is nearly impossible to know them all. However, if you want to learn more, then joining a wine club or doing extra research can be a great help. It will increase your wine knowledge by a great deal.

We don’t often think of Michigan as a wine producing State do we, but look at the facts:

• Michigan has 13,500 acres of vineyards making Michigan the fourth largest grape-growing state.

• Almost all of this acreage is devoted to juice grapes such as Concord and Niagara.

• About 1,500 acres are dedicated to wine grapes, making Michigan the eighth in wine grape production.

• Vineyard area has increased 24% since 1997.

• Michigan’s 45 commercial wineries produce more than 200,000 cases of wine annually, making the state 13th in wine production. Over 95% of the production is from Michigan-grown grapes.

• Wineries are popular tourist destinations, attracting more than 600,000 visitors annually. Some of these wineries also have retail stores where it’s possible to purchase anything from a wine cellar kit to a wine cooler refrigerator.

• Wine production and winery tourism annually contribute $75 million to the state’s economy.

• Three types of grapes are used for wine in Michigan:

• • Vinifera varieties — these are the classic European varieties such as Chardonnay, Riesling (the most widely planted white), Pinot Noir (the most widely planted red), Pinot Grigio/Gris and Cabernet Franc; 58% of Michigan’s wine grapes are vinifera. Since 1998, 71% of the new plantings in Michigan have been vinifera varieties.

• • Hybrid varieties (sometimes called French/American hybrids) — these are botanical crosses between vinifera varieties and grapes native to North America. Typical names are Vidal, Chambourcin, Marechal Foch and Vignoles; 41% of Michigan’s wine grapes are hybrids.

• • Native varieties — actually close relatives of true native varieties. Common names are Concord and Niagara. Only 3% of Michigan’s wine is made from these hybrids.

• The vast majority of Michigan’s quality wine grapes grow within 25 miles of Lake Michigan. Here, the “lake effect” protects the vines with snow in winter, retards bud break in spring helping avoid frost damage, and extends the growing season by up to four weeks.

• Michigan has four federally approved viticultural areas (AVAs). In the northwest part of the state, near Traverse City, lie the Leelanau Peninsula and the Old Mission Peninsula. This area has a growing season averaging 145 days and an average heat accumulation of 2,350 growing degree days; 51% of Michigan’s wine grapes grow here. In the southwest part of the state are the Lake Michigan Shore and Fennville appellations, where 45% of Michigan’s wine grapes are grown. This area has a growing season averaging 160 days and an average heat accumulation of 2,750 heat units. Both are Region 6 on the USDA plant hardiness zone map.

• Harvest begins for early hybrid varieties at the end of August in the southwest and may extend into November for late-ripening vinifera varieties in the northwest.

• Michigan wines win many medals at prestigious competitions every year. More than 16% of the wines entered in the Michigan Wine & Spirits Competition had already won Gold Medals in regional, national and international competitions. A list of winners is available upon request.

• Michigan wineries make many styles of wine, from dry to sweet including Ice Wine, sparkling, fortified, fruit wines and eau-de-vie (fruit brandy).

• Michigan wines are usually “cool climate” – clean, crisp, balanced wines that exhibit real varietal charact.
• Michigan Wines are very popular choices in the offerings of Wine Clubs
  where you set up a monthly subscription to order wine online

Next time you’re savoring your favorite Chardonnay, check the label. It just may not have originated in California!

A wine club is a great way to learn about wine and to sample different wines that you might not otherwise try. Many people appreciate the gift of a wine club membership around the holidays, and it’s the gift that keeps on giving if the recipient is generous with the wine they receive.

So how do you choose a club? Are all clubs the same and are there important things you should look out for when choosing a membership. There are different things that can help you to choose the right one. Everything from cost to wine style will determine what club you choose.

The Cost Of Wine Club

While cost should not be the only thing that you think about when choosing a wine club it is important. If you are just starting to learn about wine it might be a good idea to start with an inexpensive membership. A wine tasting club that allows you to pay as little as $20 a month can still offer you some very decent wines to try.

More expensive wine clubs will allow you to try more exclusive ranges and will also offer you more bottles of wine each month. So settle on a price range that you are comfortable with and you are on your way to discovering great wines.

Choose Your Wine From Wine Club

There are different types of wine clubs that you can choose from and depending on your preferences you will probably go for a different club than your friends. You can join a wine club that only selects red or white wines. There are some clubs that will only showcase wines from California; others will choose wines from all over the world.

Some of clubs offers a selection of wines that are not commercially available, from small vineyards which are hard to come by otherwise. The choice is up to you and many of these memberships are extremely affordable.

Little Details For Choosing The Right Wine From Wine Club

Paying attention to little details can also help you to choose the right wine club. If the members have had memberships for a long time then you know that a club has excellent customer service. Be confirmed if shipping costs are included in your monthly membership fee or if they are included as an extra. You might also have other benefits to joining a particular club so look around and find the right type of wine club for you.

It’s very important that your collection is stored properly so it will last for years. The older your wine gets, the more mature its taste will become, and it gets more valuable as well. Wine racks range from very expensive to cheap, many try to stay on the cheap side. In this time, money saving is important, so if you want a cost effective wine cellar you may not want to spend a lot of money. It’s important that you have a quality wine rack plan before you go any further. Your job will be much more rewarding if you build with quality in mind so it wil last for years.

Make sure your wine rack uses the most of your avaliable space. The environment the wine is stored in is crucial to how high the quality stays. Wine storage is pretty simple, there are only three big factors to consider: light, humidity, temperature. Wine is tempermental and does not respond well to high heat or sunlight. The flavor and quality of your wine will be wrecked by the sunlight. Hold the temperature around fifty five degrees as steady as possible. New style glass corks save you from worrying about the cork drying out. If you already have your wine cellar storage constructed, there’s only one step left.

A Wine of the month club presents you with the best wines to add to your cellar bit by bit. Storing your wine will become an issue as you collect a wide variety of vintages. A fancy choice is a standalone corner wine rack. Each shelf of those racks will keep many wine bottles. It makes for simple retrieval as well since they are all out in the open. You can choose how elegant you want your wine rack to be. Don’t be afraid to ask for a discount if you are purchasing in bulk. Wine rack plans are a dime a dozen, if you go that route then you can save a lot of money.

The cheapest way to go is to construct your own. It’s fun to make a wall mounted wine rack, and it can be rewarding as well. All that is required are some standard tools and some free wine rack plans you can find anywhere on the internet. You can build a racking system for under ten dollars if you wanted to.

There is an even cheaper way to go, with just a bunch of wood and bricks you can build a decent wine cellar. Simply stack one or two bricks on each side of a plank, and add another plank on top and you’ve got a shelf, repeat and you’ve got two. These options give you the power to decide how much the project will cost. Making a budget wine rack is a great cheap and easy option that is simple to do for anybody. Check out our website for many more wine storage suggestions.

Wine Lovers Gifts

Looking for some top gift ideas for wine lovers that you know then worry no longer, because here is a list that is devoted to helping you “find a gift divine those who love wine”. Of course, it must go without saying that a personal vineyard tops this list, but if your budget doesn’t stretch quite that far there are a few more modestly priced gifts included. Take a quick browse through this list of…

10 Great Gift Ideas For Wine Lovers

1. The best gift is still the personal vineyard. Now, this isn’t realistic for most of us – but you can buy a share in many vineyards! This is a very cool gift which any wine lover will be absolutely thrilled with. While it may not make the recipient into a wine tycoon, this is a very thoughtful gift.

2. Wine glasses. This is a gift which every wine lover will not only appreciate, but actually use; and they’ll think of you whenever they do. Look for large wineglasses which are made with quality craftsmanship – these will be attractive and your wine loving friends will adore them.

3. A Purple “Instant Youth” bottle bag is another good choice. This bag can fit around a bottle of wine; the bag features the slogan “Instant Youth, just add wine”. This is a good gift which is sure to get a smile out of the recipient – and if you put a good bottle inside, this will also be a deeply appreciated gift.

4. You can even order a Cabernet Sauvignon, Petite Syrah, or Pinot Grigio and have it placed in a bottle with a personalized label of your choice. This thoughtful gift is a sure winner for any occasion. You can select the words for the label or even have a personal picture added.

5. A wine box or wine basket is another one of the top gift ideas for wine lovers. You can find these carrying cases in leather, wicker or even wood. They come in sizes which can accommodate one, two or more bottles and the better models include accessories like glasses, stoppers and corkscrews. These wine gifts are certain to be used and loved at summer picnics and outdoor concerts.

6. Any wine lover will be delighted by the Wineopoly board game. The tokens for this variation on Monopoly include a carafe, a wine glass, grapes, cheese and other wine-related icons. You can learn about wine as you play this game and have fun with your wine-loving friends.

7. Wine glass charms are practical, useful and oh, so elegant. There are many wine lovers who collect these and will love this thoughtful gift. A few companies will even let you custom order a set, which will give your present even more bling points.

8. A wine club membership is a fantastic gift idea for anyone, whether they are already serious about their wine or just learning. This is a great way to introduce them to your favorite winery. Wine club memberships are available with many options and can be customized to suit the tastes of the recipient.

9. Cookbooks that specialize in recipes involving wine are also welcome gifts. You can create a gift basket with a cookbook, a bottle of wine, and a few other small additions. Toss in a wine lover’s apron, potholders, corkscrew and some assorted pastas and cheese to create a unique and lovely presentation that is sure to please.

10. A novelty T-shirt with an original or inspired saying can be worn by any proud wine lover who is worth a bunch of grapes.

• Get a Tan with your Tannins…pick your own grapes
• The Wine is Divine but it crushed the poor grapes
• Nectar of the gods…Produced by our soles
• Us Old Vines Have The Best Wines
• Wine is fruit….and they recommend 4 servings of fruit daily

Reasons To Join A Wine Club

If you love to drink the “nectar of the gods” then joining a wine of the month club can provide you with more than just a few benefits. Many people are choosing wine as their hobby because it is considered slightly more refined than “kegger parties” or “making homemade lye soap”.

Joining a wine of the month club offers the opportunity to meet other enthusiasts and taste a lot of wines you may otherwise never have the chance to try.

More and more independent vineyards and bottlers are increasing their market share through self-promotion via wine clubs and mailings. If you are considering joining a wine club, I have listed the top 5 benefits for you to read. This way you are able to see that joining a wine club can bring much more to your table than just “a bottle of the good stuff”.

1. Your wine will arrive in an inconspicuous brown wrapper; perfect if you happen to have nosy neighbors.

• Wine clubs all deliver their goods via UPS in plain brown boxes, so you’re your nosy neighbor doesn’t have to see what’s being delivered to your home (it’s really none of their business anyway).

2. Impress your friends. People will be amazed at your wine collection, which will have some rare and unusual bottles – but you’ll know that you really didn’t spend a lot on your collection. You can tell friends that those bottles of small-bottling Petite Syrah in your cellar cost hundreds (they didn’t cost you hundreds, but they don’t have to know that).

3. Make Money. You can take advantage of your collection by hosting a wine tasting at your home! If you were so inclined, you could even charge a fee for the food and drink served at your tasting.

4. Saves Time and Effort. Being in a wine club can keep your wine collection well stocked, all without having to run out to buy wine. You’ll never have to run out at the last minute to find a bottle for dinner again!

5. Ha-Ha Time….Wine club benefits include the ability to play dozens of new practical jokes…

• You will be the only one who knows the exact features and description of the wine in the bottle, so if you decide to challenge friends to a wine taste off…….hey, you’ll beat the experts. A really good wine connoisseur may know the aromas and flavors but he sure as heck will not know exactly when and where it was bottled…..only you will know that it is from McQuiqqleburry Lantern Vineyards….

• Fill the empty bottles of really good wine with cheap stuff that you bought on sale and serve them to any of the pretentious snobs that you might know…. You know the ones that we are talking about, I’m sure. Make sure that others get the best wine you have and only your select guests should have glasses filled with your special “house wine”.

The wine snobs will probably spend a lot of time trying to rave about the wine as much as everyone else. This can be a great prank to reveal later; that is, if you can keep a straight face through dinner.