Tips on Storing Wine

Wine, like most things, changes over time. However, wine is unusual in that it can improve with age. Most wine enthusiasts have at least a few bottles that they are saving up for a special occasion, or until the wine reaches its peak. It is important to remember that wine is a natural and living thing and how it is stored will affect how well and how quickly it ages.

Correct storage of wine is essential to preserve it in its best condition and to allow the wine to develop to its full potential. Aged wine develops greater complexity, as the chemical reactions that occur during ageing add new aromas and flavours to the wine.  Here are some easy tips on the best way to store wine and should help you get the most from your collection. 

• Store your wine horizontally to keep the cork from cracking or shrinking and allowing air to enter.
• Store wine at around 70 percent humidity to help keep the cork properly moistened (very low humidity dries it out; very high humidity encourages growth of mold and mildew).
• Do not store wine in a room that is too cold as it causes the cork to shrink and therefore lets in air. Do not store wine in a room that is too hot, as the wine will age faster than it should.  Wine is best stored at any constant temperature within 5-18°C. Try to avoid exposing your wine to large temperature changes as it can damage the wine.
• Vibration interferes with aging and stirs up sediments so try to avoid storing your wine in an area that has Constant Vibration such as on top of a fridge. It is also good to avoid moving bottles until ready to be served.
• Try to Avoid storing your wine in Areas with Constant Light. Ultraviolet light can also give wine unpleasant odors and ruin the taste, so avoid storing wine near fluorescent or UV lighting.
• Try to stack wines on shelves made of plastic, wood, or cement as they resist temperature changes better than metal.
• Try to store wine with the labels upward. This makes it easier to see the sediment formed on the opposite side of the bottle when you open it.
• Note that when wine bottles are stored next to one another their temperatures remain stable. 
• Store sparkling wines and dry whites and rosés near the floor where the temperature is cooler as they are more affected by temperature problems than red wines.  You should also be aware that sparkling and white wines are the most sensitive to light.
• Do not store fruit, vegetables, cheeses or any other foods that are likely to ferment near the wine.
• It is a good idea to store wines in a location where you do not have to move them around to reach a specific bottle.  Once a wine is laid down it should stay there until it is opened.

Author: Ian Hamblin Vinrac Wine Rack Suppliers Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ian_Hamblin

Tips on Storing Wine

The health benefits of red wine

by SiMpLe ImPliCaTiOn

For all those passionate wine drinkers, there is nothing like a glass of tasty quality wine with a good dinner. The health benefits of red wine are well known among people, resulting from the fact that red wine protects against heart disease and stroke. Is this true? Maybe.

Many studies that investigated the benefits of red wine showed that red wine if consumed in moderate amounts (one drink a day for women and two drinks a day for men) lowers the risk of heart attack for people in middle age by 30-50%. Other studies showed that similar benefits on the heart can be obtained by drinking beer and other alcoholic drinks, but unlike the wine they showed no results in reducing the risk of contracting several types of cancer.

Other studies showed that red wine prevents LDL cholesterol ( the bad cholesterol ) from forming, and raises the HDL cholesterol ( the good cholesterol ). It is also found that red wine may prevent blood cloths and reduce the blood vessel damage caused by fat deposits.

So what is it in the red wine that is good for heart?

Red wine is very rich source of antioxidants and flavonoids, particularly in polyphenol antioxidant called reservatol to which a number of good benefits of wine have been attributed. It is found in skin and seeds of grapes and other plants like peanuts, blueberries and some pines, but only in traces. Scientists claim that it is this compound that is responsible for significant difference in lowering cancer, and that it is contained only in red wine in required amounts.

So what is moderate drinking? Well, it does mean a glass of wine a day, but not every day constantly. In fact, too much wine can be as bad as any other alcohol, and having alcohol in bigger amounts can actually offset the good we get from wine and lead to other alcohol related diseases.

I always choose red wine when offered with alcohol, simply because of being aware of the benefits it has for health. It always wins. Why drinking something that is just empty calories, when knowing all those good properties of wine nature gave us.

Learn more about this author, SiMpLe ImPliCaTiOn.

The health benefits of red wine

How to choose a great cheap red wine

With wine passing beer last year in US sales for the first time combined with the influx of new world wines challenging the old world standards for shelf space at your local beverage store or wine shop, choosing a wine can be more challenging than ever. A very good thing, however, is that wines are more affordable than ever as well!

If you are looking for an inexpensive, or "value," wine of any style, you can do what my wife and I have been doing successfully for more than 5 years now. We define a value wine as one that is less than $20, though you can change that to $8, 10 or whatever to suit your desires. When we are out shopping for groceries or driving by the local beverage store on the way home from work, we'll stop in and grab one, maybe two, bottles of a value wine we haven't tried before. Beyond price, the decision may not go much further than choosing based on a region we have had good selections from before, or maybe the same varietal, or grape, we like the most (Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, etc.). Of course, this may be too much of a risk for some, so how can you narrow down the choices beyond just the price?

Chances are you've probably had a glass or two of wine in your past and you can probably define some basic traits, in your own words, of what you liked or didn't like about that wine. Perhaps is tasted too sweet, or "burnt", or too spicy. In our opinion a "great" wine is only going to be a wine that you are going to enjoy and everybody has their own sense of taste. Now, go to the store with your personal tastes in mind and ask for help with finding a wine that matches or has similar characteristics that you like. With the increasing popularity of wine, more every-day grocery stores and beverage shops have someone on staff who has a decent understanding of wine that can help you with your decision. If you want a little more pedigree with your sommelier to increase your odds even more try going to the local wine shop or high-end grocery store.

Finally, take a few notes when you are drinking your fabulous value wine so that you can learn a little more and determine what great value wine you may want to try next. Cheers!

Learn more about this author, Ed Thralls.

How to choose a great cheap red wine

Learn How To Make Wine Today!

"Learn How To Make Wine Today!"

If I Can Do It Why Do Others Find Wine Making So Difficult?

I was thinking one day that there must be people out there who have seen their friends make wine and thought that “some day” they would like to start doing it themselves but have “never had the time to do it”. 

After all:

• Wouldn't it be great if there were a simpler, easier, no-risk way to make great tasting wine from your very first batch?
  
  
• Wouldn't it be wonderful if you knew the secrets to making great tasting wines quickly and affordably?
  
  
• Imagine the looks of shock and amazement on your friend's faces after they compliment you on your wine selection - and you tell them you made it yourself! 
  

Well, I've decided it's time to share with you the biggest and greatest tips and tricks I have discovered that have turned me from a “Home Made Wine Making Flunkie” into a hobby that my wife and I absolutely love – in only 5 short years.

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You will quickly find out that making wine is not as hard as you think ... so long as you know the steps you need to follow to be successful.

• Following the right process will actually save you money
  
  
• Your friends will turn to you as the group's wine expert once they taste the wine you have made
  
  
• There are simple things you can do to ensure that the temperature of your wine in is kept at a consistent level
  
  
• Fermenting wine certainly has an “aroma” to it but with a few “smarts” can be controlled so complaints are kept to a minimum

And ...

• You can be drinking a full bodied home made wine within 4 months if you know which kit to choose!

When you order your copy of "Delicious Wine Making Made Easy", here's what you get...

1. "Delicious Wine Making Made Easy" manual
(Signed - if you choose the shipped version)

- Click here to download the contents page.

2. Wine Making Recipe Card
- An easy-to-follow recipe card that you can download and print as many times as you would like (it's what I use to record everything I do when I make my wine)

3. Wine Tasting Course
- You made your own wine so learn how to properly enjoy it! Includes "classroom" sessions, wine evaluation form & scoring sheet as well as a recipe to make your own component descriptor kit

4. Wine/Liquor Recipes & Tutorials
- Make wines from fresh fruit, extracts, flowers, herbs, grains and more!

5. 1-Year "No Bull" Guarantee
- My policy has always been that you carry NO RISK with a complete hassle-free guarantee. In fact, I'm willing to take all of the risk!

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Learn How To Make Wine Today!

Take Control Of The Wine List

Do you ever just feel completely overwhelmed when you’re handed the wine list – especially for an important or special occasion? Most wine lists are written assuming the reader has a great knowledge of wine and geography and this can be very intimidating. But the good news is that understanding the three main ways wine lists are organized is the first step in helping you choose the perfect bottle of wine.

Imagine this—you are seated at an upscale restaurant with one of your best clients and then handed a wine list thicker than a college textbook.  You want to pick out the “perfect” wine to impress your client but everything looks like it is written in a foreign language.  After only a few minutes the server asks if you have made your selection, so you decide to order the most familiar thing on the menu.   You are not sure your selection will coordinate with your meals, and it costs more than your boss will tolerate for a client dinner.  By the time the bottle arrives, you have broken out in a cold sweat and are ready to take a big gulp!  The good news is that understanding the three main ways wine lists are organized is the first step to preventing this from ever happening to you.   

There are three primary types of wine lists - those organized by the grape varietal, by geography (or where it is made), and by flavor profile (progressive).  Keep in mind that some lists blend several of these methods.  Let’s explore each of these three types of wine lists:

By Grape Varietal.  Organized by the main grape variety used to produce the wine, this type of list definitely appeals to our varietally conscious culture.  It may be further organized by country or state.  Thinking of the grape varietal first and the origin second is an American trend.  Many European countries are now trying to focus more on the grape varieties despite regulations that ban the top rated wine from listing them on the label.  Sections for the popular varietals, e.g., Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, are usually listed, as well as an “other varietals” category for white and red.  These lesser known varietal sections can often be more interesting, and is where many bargains can be found!

By Geography. This wine list is organized by countries of origin and often has the more specific subcategories, like the regions or state, which is the traditional type of wine list.  If you love French wines, this type of list makes it easy.  Flip to the French section and then look at what regions or wines are offered.  The grape varietal used may (or may not) be listed next to the wines in this type of list.  This is not an issue for most wine from the US since the wine is usually labeled by grape varietal, e.g., Chardonnay or Pinot Noir.  The European wine industry, however, tends to focus on the region where it is produced and assumes we know what grapes are grown.  Even though the principal grapes of Burgundy are Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, they won’t appear on the bottle of Burgundy’s finest wines.    Progressive.  This type of list is a relatively new approach that is organized by the flavor and body profile.  A typical category might be dry-light-bodied whites, and the wines in that category may be ordered from mildest to fullest.  This allows diners to look for the type of wine they enjoy and then order options in the same flavor and body category.  Your favorite grapes or countries may be located in many different categories.  Once you get the hang of these lists, they are tons of fun.  They don’t require any special knowledge of geography or grapes—just a knowledge of what you like.

Hopefully you a have a better understanding of the three most common ways restaurants will organize their lists.  The geographic and grape varietal lists will account for 80% of the lists encountered, but the progressive list may be a growing trend for the future.  Hopefully the next time you take an important client (or that special someone) to dinner they will be impressed with your ability to find the right wine in no time!

©2007 Laurie Forster, The Wine Coach®

Laurie Forster, The Wine Coach®, combines her extensive knowledge of wine with her experience as a life coach.  As The Wine Coach®, Laurie creates unique and fun corporate events, private events and tours that help people de-mystify wine one glass at a time.  To learn more about The Wine Coach® and to sign up for her FREE Weekly Wine Tips, visit http://www.winecoach.info/

Take Control Of The Wine List

How Wine Helps Your Health by Caroline Silverstone

You constantly hear a variety of differing information about wine being good for one thing or another, or how alcohol consumption is good in moderation. You may also hear that it is bad altogether. It's hard to keep the information straight and even know what to believe sometimes. Yet, despite all the different things you hear that conflict with one another, one thing to remember is that many doctors recommend that you drink a glass of wine a day, especially red wine.

Studies show that red wine is effective in helping lower your bad cholesterol and raising your good cholesterol. Most of these scientific studies reveal that while white wine may help a little with cholesterol problems, it is the red wines and the ingredients from the skin of the grapes that help the most. Cholesterol has a direct impact on your heart's functioning because as it builds up in the arteries of your heart, it makes it difficult for the heart to pump blood. Therefore, because red wine helps reduce cholesterol, it also helps your heart.

Wine has been known to also have a positive effect on certain cancers, especially red wine. Once again red wine wins out over white! Certain antioxidants in the skins and seeds of the grape, which are used in the making of red wine, as well as other chemicals in the wine, may give you some amount of protection against the development and progression of some cancers.

It has been shown that people who drink no alcohol have less brainpower than those who drink wine moderately. This was shown in a study done on women over 70. There is also one quarter less mental decline in those who enjoy wine than in those who avoid it. So to keep sharp as you age, many experts recommend a glass of wine a day.

If you are looking to reduce the amount of fat you use in cooking, wine may be a good substitute for cooking oil. Wine can be used as a cooking liquid in roasting, slow cooking and more. It also makes a flavorful addition to sauces and many other types of dishes. Adding wine intensifies the taste of food with adding extra fat, which is certainly bad for your health.

There are many other health issues that may be helped through the moderate drinking of wine. These include:

gall stones blood clotting kidney stones bone density high blood pressure

The key to using wine to help your health is to drink it in moderation. Every study that links wine and good health makes a strong point of mentioning that you should only drink between 1 and 3 glasses of wine a day. Some recommendations are on the higher end, while others are on the lower end.

Some top tips for health include:

maintain a reasonable weight get exercise keep stress under control eat a balanced diet drink wine in moderation

By following these tips you will likely live a long, happy and fun life. Cheers!

To Find more about wine gift and wine accessories. Website provides info about wrought iron wine racks and wine chillers.

How Wine Helps Your Health by Caroline Silverstone

"Ode to Joy" played on wine glasses

"Ode to Joy" played on wine glasses