Don’t Cry Over Spilt Wine
Well now you’ve really gone and done it: you’ve spilled wine. Most people will agree that red wine stains are among the worst to endure. Why does something that tastes so good have to be such a pain to clean? Technically the pigment of grape skins contains a chemical called anthocyanin (which belongs to the family of food coloring). This chemical acts like the fabric dyes and easily attaches to rugs, clothes, etc. The end result is that every wine enthusiast will, at some...
Read MoreYear of the Dragon 2012: Chinese Wine and Culture
As I was putting together my previous blog on Year of the Dragon 2012: The Rise of Chinese Wines, I came across a lot of near Chinese traditions regarding wine that I want to share with you. In China, they have a saying, “A thousand cups of wine is not too much when the bosom of friends meets together.” In other words, wine brings people together, and a close friendship means happiness. Just like many other places in the world, the Chinese use wine to celebrate many...
Read MoreYear of the Dragon 2012: The Rise of Chinese Wines
Happy Chinese New Year 2012—it is the year of the dragon, the only supernatural animal in the Chinese zodiac, and so a year considered to be the luckiest in the lunar domain. It is not luck, however, which has seen Chinese wine rise to the attention of enthusiasts worldwide. The Rise of Chinese Wine When you think of Chinese wine, think of Chilean or Argentinean wine ten or fifteen years ago. China’s wine production and quality of wine is growing at an enormous...
Read MoreSparkling Wines and Champagne: 1. The Origins Of Champagne
Champagne, Sparkling Wine… …Bubbly. Champers. Fizz. Champanky. Carbonated wine has many different names, but inevitably shows up at any party indicating the same thing: celebration. It is the definitional drink to ring in some form of good news or cheer. Sparkling wine is highly carbonated and full of a fun, rich history. When you hear that loud ‘pop’ and a bulbous wine cork goes flying across the room on Year Years, chances are it came from a bottle of...
Read MoreIcewine 1: The History Of Ice Wine
Recently I have had a lot of people asking me about ice wine(s.) How it is made, where it comes from, and what, if any, rules or regulations apply to this exquisite winter-time wine. So, in response I thought I would explore the wonderful and frozen world of ice wines in this, the first blog post in an upcoming 3-part blog series. Where Did Ice Wine Come From? Like many inventions, ice wine was originally discovered in Germany, somewhere between the late 1800’s to the early...
Read MoreTo Cork It, Or Not to Cork It?
To Cork It, Or Not to Cork It? Chances are if you’re reading this blog, you have at least heard of Dom Perignon, if not the man, then at least his legacy in the prestigious Champagne company of the same name. Dom was a Benedictine monk, and contrary popular belief, this monk did not discover the in-bottle secondary fermentation technique responsible for the carbonation found in ‘sparkling’ Champagne wines like Dom Perignon. He did, however, invent something...
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