s article I report on several food pairings for a California red wine. The selected wine is a Merlot grown somewhere in California and vinified by the E. & J. Gallo Winery, a very high volume producer. Merlot grapes probably originated in Bordeaux, France. I don’t think anyone is going to expect Bordeaux quality at these prices; the question is can we get a drinkable wine.

OUR WINE REVIEW POLICY All wines that we taste and review are purchased at the full retail price.

Wine Reviewed Barefoot Cellars Merlot 2007 13.3% alcohol about $8

Let’s start by quoting the marketing materials. Tasting Note: Ruby red in color, the nose reveals red berry, boysenberry, chocolate, and anise. Medium bodied, fruity, slightly tannic on the finish. Serving suggestion: Beef, pasta with red sauce, chicken, stews. And now for my reactions.

I first tried this wine with a beef stew accompanied by carrots and potatoes, perked up with Harissa, a fiery Tunisian hot-pepper sauce. The wine was hearty but definitely not very subtle. It tasted of plums, chocolate, and tobacco. The length was moderate. I liked the way that the Merlot balanced the spices. There was a bit left in my glass so I took a stab in the dark; I tried it with a home-made deep dish apple pie with raisins. This wine was rather flat and yet managed to maintain itself.

The next meal was a cheeseless lasagna with ground chicken and frozen peas. While the wine was fairly long and round its fruit wasn’t clearly defined. It picked up when facing the ground black peppercorns. This wine far surpassed the Gallo wines of my youth.

My final food pairing involved a commercially prepared barbecued chicken breast in a light herb sauce accompanied by a side of soft wheat kernels that had been cooked in a beef sauce. The Merlot became rather sweet. Now you can taste the fruit. It was somewhat acidic and sharper in the presence of the wheat than when facing the chicken. As the meal went on it became fruitier. This is probably a function of the temperature; I put the bottle in the fridge for about 15 minutes before the meal. As it warmed, it changed character somewhat.

I ended the bottle with two local cheeses. In the presence of a white Muenster the wine was fruity and slightly acidic. It was somewhat consistent and even a bit chewy. And when paired with a yellow Cheddar it did become more acidic, but didn’t really have a lot of taste. Basically the wine washed down the cheese.

Final verdict. OK, but nothing more. There are enough cheap wines around that I don’t think I’ll be buying another bottle. Perhaps I should have known from the label, gimmicks usually don’t do the job.

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The red wine pill has been expounded to have the same impact as drinking one thousand bottles of red wine. The sole problem is that nobody is going to drink that much alcohol. The red wine pill contains the vital component is red wine called resveratrol, this is a robust substance created by plants and found in the skin of varied fruits which helps them to fight off damaging substances and bacteria.

Resveratrol Extract may help one Live LongerIts usually asked do you need to live longer? And if the solution to the issue is yes, then it’s critical for you to know about resveratrol extract. It is a derivative of red wine.

The red wine pill offers the solution to the issue by giving you the ability to concentrate the real benefit of red wine in a way that you can stay abreast of it every day. If you are able to use the red wine tablet on a consistent basis it will actually have a positive effect on your health. Just to give you a rationalization to try it here are some of the things the red wine tablet has been announced to do for folks.

Initial research and studies show that red wine ingredient has powerful health effects, including life extension. But the same result was not found in studies with mice, however on the other hand older and fat mice given resveratrol extract ended up becoming just as healthy as young, slimmer mice. This confirms the tough effect in replacing exercise and making a contribution to weight reduction by Resveratrol extract. One thing you need to understand is that the red wine tablet will give you more endurance. It was also shown that they had a much slower heart rate. These are a large amount of attributes that you would find in professional athletes who were in prime condition.

a few supplements include added red wine extracts, both for their resveratrol content and for promotion purposes. In the usual extraction process, the roots of jap knotweed are sliced prior to being heated up. The heating process is done in giant metal chambers known as extractors. Before this process, the plants are tested to stop contamination with heavy metals or chemicals.

The parts in debt wine tablet will help generate energy in the body’s cells does for giving you more of a capability to burn fat which will in turn help you to shed pounds. The same studies that were done to decide that the ingredients in debt wine pill gave folks more endurance were also done to ratify that it gave folk more energy as well . This may in turn give you more energy to work out and help you stay in better overall shape.

resveratrol red wine pill products review

So if you’d like to fight off diseases then this is surely a solution you would like to consider.

resveratrol red wine pill products review

Gift a glass of fizz to those who appreciate the real aroma of classy champagne with champagne delivery that would be done right on their doorsteps. Champagne is the symbol of friendship and mutual liking. Here is a short write-up on how you can revive the old charm of friendship with champagne delivery to your long forgotten buddies or friends who are staying far from you.

Champagne is an ideal way to celebrate friendship and happy times. When with friends, a bottle of champagne can be a great accompaniment to conversations and chit chat. When away from friends, champagne delivery is the best way to tell your friend that you miss him and miss the good old days when you were together.

Champagne is also the drink of victory. Victory, around the world, is not completely celebrated without popping a bottle of champagne and forcing its content to shoot up to heaven, thanking God and showering it on to others, celebrating with you. Whether it is the victory of Michael Schumacher in Formula 1 or a much awaited promotion in office, all kinds of victory is celebrated around the world with champagne.

Whether you want to convey to your friend that you miss him or whether you want to congratulate your friend on her victory, you can send a bottle of champagne to convey your feelings in the best possible way. Now champagne delivery is not a very difficult job. You can send a fine bottle of classy champagne to your friend through internet.

Some of the good online flower delivery web sites do allow the facility of champagne delivery. You can choose to send your love this way. You just have to log in to the flower delivery site and give the details where you want to send your good tidings.

This week we amp up for the Toronto International Film Festival chatting with a star winemaker, the talented and charming winemaker Marco Piccoli of Jackson-Triggs Vintners. Be sure to tune in as Casey Howe, Marketing Manager join us too, directing us to special TIFF food and wine pairings and celebrity wine pairings too! Set that dial to CP24 Radio1050 ( 1050 am radio dial) or on line at www.CP24 .com every Saturday morning at 10a.m. to connect with The Wine Ladies radio show. BREAKING NEWS …

Health professionals have recognized the nutritive and the health benefits of red wine for years even centuries. Hippocrates recommended specific wines to purge fever, disinfect wounds, as diuretics, or nutritional supplements, around 450 B.C. Many books have been written about the health benefits of red wine as early as 1410 A.D. Many studies worldwide have concluded that most healthy people who drink wine on a regular basis and with moderation live longer. Wine, for centuries, has been considered as a remedy rather than a toxin. In America, for a whole generation, mainly following the Prohibition years, the potential health benefits of red wine were denied. But, in 1991, the medicinal properties of wine begin to return when the French Paradox was publicly revealed following a closed scrutiny on the diet of people in Southern France. It was found out that they had a much lower rate of heart disease than in America notwithstanding their intake of high proportion of fatty foods. Since then, over three thousands studies have broken out all over the World, most importantly in America and provided evidence of health benefits of red wine.





MEDICAL STUDIES ON HEALTH BENEFITS OF RED WINE

Many medical studies have showed multiple health benefits of red wine, including lowered risks of stroke, colorectal tumors, some types of cancers, senile dementia, and even the common cold. A Harvard research has indicated that moderate intake of red wine is very beneficial for heart health. The cardio protective effect has been attributed to antioxidants present in the skin and seeds of red grapes. Scientists believe that the antioxidants, called flavonoids, reduce the risk of coronary heart disease. Other researches have found that moderate red wine may also inhibit tumor development in some cancers and may as well be helpful in the treatment of diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. At the University of California, researchers have determined that Cabernet Sauvignon has the highest concentration of flavonoids. Sweeter the wine, the fewer flavonoids. Dryer red wines are the best bet for a flavonoid boost. They have also found out that grape juice or non alcoholic red wine contains the same antioxydant profile as red wine. However, grape juice does not lower LDL cholesterol the Bad cholesterol) levels compared to red wine. Flavonoids increase HDL cholesterol(the Good cholesterol) and prevent blood clotting , plaques formation in arteries and reduce the blood vessel damage caused by fat deposits. It is very important here to mention that health benefits of red wine consumption should be limited to two servings per day for Men and one serving per day for Women to reap the maximum health benefits. Moderate amounts of wine should be limited to individuals with a clean bill of health. People with medical and social conditions worsened by alcohol should not consume alcohol at all. Since the evidence seems clear now that health benefits of red wine have been proven, here is a toast to your health! Cheers!

What is Champagne? Lets start with the fundamental question of what Champagne exactly is. Champagne is a sparkling wine. Simply put, a wine that has bubbles or is carbonated. Thus, Champagne is after all wine. Champagne is actually a northern region in France. It is here that Champagne is made and bottled for the world to enjoy. In fact, only if the wine is from the Champagne region, can it be called Champagne. If it is manufactured any where else in the world, it is known as sparkling wine.

Origin Of Champagne The origin of Champagne like almost anything else is disputed. The most common folklore is that a monk with the name of Dom Pérignon introduced bubbles into the wine by mistake. However, he then went on to clarify and improve the drink dramatically and it came to be liked by French aristocracy. This led to the royal image of Champagne. The other theory however is that sparkling wine was first commercially produced in the region of Languedoc in the 1530s.

The English also claim that they helped the drink. This is actually an interesting angle. There was a significant and strong trade of French wines to the British aisles. Most wine was fortified with a bit of brandy and sugar to help the wine along it arduous journey. However, Champagne, was much closer to the aisles, yet a certain amount of sugar was still added to them, as the British liked their wine sweet. Now the early bottling which left a small amount of yeast in the bottles with the added sugar, caused the carbon dioxide that is emitted during fermentation to be trapped inside the bottle. This led to fizzy wines. Now fizzy wines are supposed to be fun and enjoyable. At least that is what the marketing efforts in those times lead us to believe. And since then, Champagne has been used in all celebrations around the world.

Whatever be the case, “Champagne” was born around the 1700s. Method Of Production methodé champenoise is the traditional method used in the making of Champagne. A primary fermentation of the wine occurs first. Pinot noir, pinot meunier and chardonnay are the grapes used in the manufacturing of the wine. Now while bottling this wine, a few grams of yeast and a few more grams of rock sugar are added. This induces the secondary fermentation which produces the bubbles in the wine. As the yeast begins to consume the sugar, alcohol and carbon dioxide are produced. Since the carbon dioxide is not allowed to escape, it is absorbed into the wine. Thus, when we open the champagne bottled, we are welcomed with tiny streaming bubbles.

How To Serve Champagne Champagne should be served in Champagne flutes. A flute a slim glass which tapers slightly inwards towards the top. This helps in containing the bubbles for a longer period of time and hence, allows you to enjoy your Champange to the fullest. Champagne is usually stored at 55 F in a dark damp location at an angle, like most other wine is. You must chill the Champagne for a few hours to bring the temperature down to 45 F before serving. Popping open a Champagne, though fun, leads to wastage of the drink and if you are paying $100 upwards for a bottle, you wouldn’t want that to happen. Hence, Champagne must be sighed opened, but gently uncorking it at an angle of 45 degrees. This allows more of the champagne to remain in the bottle.

Innovate With Champagne Champagne can also be enjoyed when mixed with other things as well to get some very smooth and refined cocktails. Mimosa’s are a great way of having champagne. It was invented in 1925 at the Ritz Hotel in Paris. Add equal measures of champagne and orange juice in a champagne flute and garnish it with an orange slice to enjoy this lovely drink. Add 1/2 measure of Campari and make it a Grand Mimosa. Another great way to have champagne is to add 1/2 measure of crème de cassis to champagne. Garnish it with a twist of lemon peel. You can now enjoy the Kir Royale. Lastly, for the love of beer, you can have your champagne with stout too. Add chilled stout (preferably Guinness) to a chilled white wine glass and half fill it. Now add chilled champagne to top the glass. Incidently this drink was invented to mourn the death of Prince Albert, Husband of Queen Victoria). Hence the name, Black Velvet.

More About Champagne There are different kinds of Champagne. These vary in their dryness and sweetness. The driest of all is the Brut. This is a standard Champagne. Next in line is Extra dry. If you prefer sweeter wines, then sec and semi sec are sweeter in that order. You also have the blanc de blancs which is made only from chardonnay grapes. and blanc de noirs, made from either or both pinot meunier and pinot noir.

While the French like the Champagne to be young and youthful, the English prefer their Champagne to be rounder and mellower, hence they prefer aged wines. A little aging of wines in a dark cupboard is recommended for most champagnes. Atleast 6 months for regular wines and a minimum of 8 years for Vintage wines.

A Vintage Champagne is one on which the year of the harvest is printed on the bottle. This is an unblended wine from a single harvest in that year. They are generally considered superior and hence, also carry a premium. Recent great vintage has been in the years 1990, 1995 and to some extent 1996.

Champagne’s are rated on a 100 point scale by experts. They each publish their findings independently. There is variation, but of a very small order.

Some of the great brands of Champagne are Dom Pérignon, Taittinger, Krug, Moët & Chandon, Bollinger and Laurent-Perrier. You can safely pick any one of them and enjoy the rich flavours of France in all its glory.

The term white wine does not necessarily refer to the color of the grapes used. White wine can be made from red or even very dark colored grapes. What is important is that the fleshy part which is clear in appearance is separated or has limited contact with the skin during juicing to ensure that a clear juice is produced.

Winemaking, also called vinification refers to the production of wines. There are three basic steps in winemaking: preparation, fermentation and maturation.

Preparation

Grapes are carefully picked from the vineyard. It is important that they are picked at the right age and at the right time, this ensures that the chemical composition of the fruit is in the right balance. Such factors contribute in t he production of a good wine.

After picking, the grapes are cleaned and checked for bruises. Bruised grapes are then set aside, they are no longer suitable to make wine. All skins, seeds and stems are removed before juicing. The result, a clear juice perfect for making white wine.

Fermentation

This is the process of adding live yeast to the juice. The yeast turns the sugar content of the juice into alcohol. Fermentation may last for three to four weeks.

Maturation

Also known as aging, this is the process of storing wine to further develop its flavor and aroma. Wines can be stored in barrels, steel vats or directly in bottles. The important thing is that wines are stored away from sunlight.

Whether white, red or rose wine; the dedication and patience exerted in its production is something which should truly be appreciated of a fine drink.

If you hankering for fine German wine and food, why not consider the Mosel region of central western Germany on the border of Luxembourg? While I can’t guarantee that you’ll find a bargain, I know you’ll have fun on this fact-filled wine education tour in which we review a local white Riesling tasted with several meals and paired with imported cheeses.

The Mosel Valley has long been considered one of the most beautiful river valleys in the world. This region, formerly known as Mosel-Saar-Ruwer in honor of its three rivers, is proud of its Riesling wine. Some of the greatest Rieslings in Germany and in fact in the entire world come from the Mosel Valley. Experts can often identify Mosel Rieslings because of the slate in the local soil, which may impart a taste of flint. Mosel vineyard slopes are among the steepest in the wine-producing world, sometimes attaining 70 degrees. The soil is so precious that every spring local workers lug pails of soil up these slopes. This arduous activity temporarily reverses the effect of the rains that wash the soil down every winter.

Mosel is fifth among the thirteen German wine regions with respect to both vineyard acreage and total wine production. Slightly more than three quarters of the wine produced here is QbA and somewhat less than one quarter is higher quality QmP wine. Only one percent is table wine. More than half of all Mosel wine is Riesling. The German hybrid Mueller-Thurgau represents about 20% of the wine production. In third place is the historic variety Elbing that dates back to Roman times and is the major grape variety in the neighboring country of Luxembourg. Only about 2% of Mosel wine is red.

Basically the Mosel Valley runs from Koblenz not far from Germany’s former capital Bonn to the city of Trier that sits very close to the border. These two cities are linked by the Mosel Weinstrasse (Mosel Wine Road) which is about 140 miles (224 kilometers) long on the eastern side of the river and somewhat less on the western side. Of course, you could take the autobahn to get between Koblenz and Trier at breakneck speed. If you do, you’ll miss the interesting little towns and vineyards along the way.

Bernkastel-Kues is a town of about eight thousand that sits astride the Mosel River with Bernkastel on the east bank and Kues on the west bank. Bernkastel is about seven hundred years old but the area itself was first inhabited thousands of years ago. Bernkastel’s medieval town square is lovely with numerous half-timbered houses, some of which were built in the Fifteenth Century. St. Michaelsbrunnen (St. Michael’s Fountain) is right on the square and other historic fountains are nearby. Make sure to see the ruins of Burgruine Landshut (Castle of Landshut) for an excellent view of the city and surrounding vineyards. The first weekend of September marks the annual Weinfest der Mittelmosel (Wine Festival of the Middle Moselle River Valley) that includes a festive procession and a great fireworks display.

Bernkastel is home to the Bernkasteler Doctor vineyard producing one of Germany’s most expensive wines. According to popular legend a Fourteenth Century Archbishop of Trier was too sick to be helped by traditional medicine. He tasted some of the local wine, recovered, and said, “The best doctor grows in this vineyard in Bernkastel.” Due to questionable changes in German wine laws wine bottles labeled Bernkasteler Doctor may now be made by thirteen producers instead of three as previously. Let the buyer beware.

Kues was home to the Fifteenth Century theologian and philosopher Nikolaus Casanus, founder of the St.-Nikolaus-Hospital that operates a wine estate and the Mosel-Weinmuseum (Mosel Wine Museum). The museum’s library is open for tours and its wine cellar is open for tastings. Several local winemakers hold Tage der offenen Weinkeller (Open wine cellar days) in which they present and sell their wine in their own wine cellars.

Before we review the Mosel wine and imported cheeses that we were lucky enough to purchase at a local wine store and a local Italian food store, here are some suggestions of what to eat with indigenous wines when touring this beautiful region. Start with Gaensestopfleher (Foie Gras). For your second course enjoy Entenbrust an Brombeerjus (Duck Breast in Blackberry Juice). And for dessert indulge yourself with Schokoladencreme (Chocolate Mousse).

OUR WINE REVIEW POLICY All wines that we taste and review are purchased at the full retail price.

Wine Reviewed St. Urbans-Hof Riesling Kabinett 2005 8.6% alcohol about $20.00

Let’s start by quoting the marketing materials. The 2005 Piesporter Goldtroepfchen Riesling Kabinett – still manages to show true Kabinett delicacy on the palate, which Weis attributes in part to earlier harvest and frankly in part to this site’s compatibility with higher yields. Skin contact and minimal clarification in the cellar help compensate for any danger of dilution. (Lower-yielding parcels nowadays must result in Spaetlese or Auslese.) Pineapple, grapefruit, black currant, and Golden Delicious apple dominate the proceedings, suffused with an aura of smoky, crushed stone, and mouthwatering acidity. This is once again a ‘little’ Mosel archetype and a terrific value … And now for the review.

Before the meal I thought to taste this wine on its own. It was delicately acidic and palate cleansing with light bubbles. Then I started with sweet and sour purchased barbecued chicken wings. The wine was fine with light acidity. Now I was ready to begin, so to speak. My initial pairing involved a commercial barbecued chicken leg with the paprika-coated skin, potatoes roasted in chicken fat, and some disappointing pickle slices. The wine’s fruit intensified to meet the chicken’s fat. This Riesling was quite round when dealing with the melt-in-your-mouth potatoes.

The next meal was an omelet with a local Provolone cheese and Turkish salad. The wine was round, thick, and pleasantly sweet. The word feathery came to mind. It sort of floated especially after the Turkish salad. Then I savored a high-quality, chocolate-coated vanilla ice cream bar. The wine retained its acidity; it was almost a good match.

The final meal was more of a snack. I ate some packaged Texas corn fritters with generous dollops of 14% sour cream. The wine was bold, sweet, and pleasantly acidic but frankly wasted on such plebian fare. I did finish the bottle with home made barbecued chicken to which the wine did honor. Even though the barbecue sauce wasn’t sweet the combination was excellent.

The initial cheese pairing was with a Dutch Edam that was nutty, a bit fatty, and somewhat sour. The Riesling’s sweetness seemed to step up a notch and it displayed tingling acidity. It’s been a long time since I enjoyed a wine and cheese pairing this much. Then I went to a mild-tasting Italian Friulano. The wine was acidic with sugar in the background.

Final verdict. This Riesling is a winner. I wouldn’t hesitate to pair it with a top of the line German poultry dish, the kind that you pay big bucks for over there. At 8.9% this is one of the least alcoholic wines that I have tasted in a long, long time. And you know what, I didn’t miss it a bit.

 

If you like red wine but don’t know much about it, you’ve come to the right place. In this article we look at some handy tips for buying and serving red wine.

Work up through the sizes

If you are going to be serving more than one glass (or bottle) of red wine, the key thing to remember is to work through the sizes. In other words, start with a light red wine such as a Merlot, Barbara or Gamay, then move onto a medium bodied wine like a Tempranillo, Pinot Noir or Malbec, and/or finish with a full bodied red wine such as Shiraz, Zinfandel or Cabernet Sauvignon. If you start with the heavier red wine first, you’ll find that this will overpower the lighter red wine.

Full-bodied red wines are best saved for food

Big, powerful red wines such as Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz work best with tasty red meat. Why? Because these red wines are full of tannins, body and alcohol, which taste good with meat proteins but are often too harsh drunk on their own.

Light red wines work best over lunch

Soft and gentle red wines, such as Merlot and Gamay, are a great choice if you are drinking over lunch. This is because they are low in tannin, alcohol and acidity, which makes them easy to drink and not too powerful for the afternoon ahead. Similarly, they are a great choice as an aperitif, or for drinking on their own on a summer’s afternoon.

Buy for the person and occasion

Everyone has different tastes when it comes to red wine, so make sure that you buy your red wine to suit the person who will be drinking it. For example, if you are buying for yourself, go for something that you will like, not what the shop assistant or your friend likes. Also, it’s worth considering the occasion. If you hosting a dinner party, then a big full bodied red wine is bound to come up trumps but if you are having a lunchtime drinks party then a softer and fruitier red wine will be far more appropriate.

Focus on the style

 

When it comes to choosing a bottle of red wine, if you don’t know where to start or could do with a helping hand, it’s worth looking to retailers who focus on wine styles. Wine styles can give you a lot more choice compared to if you focus on grapes, countries or regions. For example, if you know that you like an Aussie Cabernet Sauvignon, the chances are you’ll stick to that in future, but if you discover that you like “Huge Reds” (full bodied, fruity reds) then you’ll have a host of different grapes to choose from including Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec and Zinfandel from Old and New World Countries.

Look to where the value is

Don’t be tempted to splash out on big brands or famous names, as you’ll end up paying for the labels. Instead, it is far better is to look to the lesser known regions, where you’ll get all the same quality for a fraction of the price. For example, try a Chilean Cabernet Merlot as a value alternative to a Classic Bordeaux.

Serving is the easy bit

The key to serving red wine is to place it in the kitchen before drinking to ensure that it is the right temperature. Also, especially if you have an old vintage or full-bodied red wine, you might want to open in advance to let it breath. Easy as that!

So now you’ve got the tips, you’ll be ready to put them in to action.