The dish [ March 12th, 2010 ] Posted in » Helen Austyn

Call me old fashioned.

There is something about the tradition and ritual of wine that I find oddly comforting.

I almost never come across a robust dry sherry by the glass in a restaurant ­ unless, of course, it’s a Spanish restaurant ­ but when I do I can hardly resist. This is a superb aperitif, but one that is hardly appreciated any more in this chardonnay-laden world.

The Domecq dry Manzanilla sherry recently crossed my desk, which reminded me of my passion for the dry sherries. Both the Domecq Manzanilla and “La Ina” (a dry fino) retail for about $15 a bottle. Try them with roasted almonds or Sevilla olives.
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champagne, sparkling wine, sparkling wine

There are books that have a special significance. By the author-signed first editions of great classics, for example, as bibliophile equipped, of course. Among the books with the prominent role also includes books that have become established over many years on the textbook market. Lawyers are Brox, Medicus, call earlier semesters Flume, from the medical area, it resounds loudly Harms, Silbernagl and Pschyrembel, physicists insist on Demtroder, Bergmann / Schaefer and Tipler. Among the religious works of the leading best-selling classics include the Talmud, the Koran and the Bible. And so we are dealing here with a book of particular value, do it a kind of Bible: it is the German Bible, the foam winemaking.

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March 8th, 2010 | Leave a Comment

Mitchell Beazley Pocket Guides

Wines of Spain by Jan Read

wines of Spain

wines of Spain

Wineries, regions and vintages are reviewed in this rather useful pocket guide written by veteran wine journalist Jan Read. He is probably the most experienced contemporary writer on Spanish wines and lives, breathes, tastes – and naturally – consumes them. The guide has been published at an ideal time, as Spain is leaving behind its past image as a country with a reputation for inexpensive and moderately priced wines, which left much to be desired, into a modern European winemaking country.
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March 8th, 2010 | Leave a Comment

The Vintner’s Table Cookbook

vintner_stableRecipes from a Winery Chef

By Mary Evely

Published by Simi Winery
P. O. Box 698, Healdsburg CA 95448
Tel: 707 433 6981 Fax: 707 433 6253

Edited, designed and manufactured in the USA by Favorite Recipes Press
2451 Atrium Way, Nashville TN 37214

In her foreword to ‘The Vintner’s Table Cookbook’, Zelma Lang, Winemaker and President of Simi, pays tribute to the years of dedicated work which Simi Chef Mary Evely has put to good use in this out-of-the-ordinary cookbook. The observation that ‘The serious study of how wines pair best with different foods has, for the most part, been undertaken either haphazardly or intuitively.’ will find a sympathetic chord in the hearts of many wine lovers.
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March 8th, 2010 | Leave a Comment

Source of White Wines

White
Wines from France

Region and Wines Grape Varieties
Burgundy Chardonnay
Chablis Chardonnay
Champagne Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier
Condrieu, Chateau Grillet Viognier
Graves Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon
Hermitage Marsanne and Roussanne
Muscadet Muscadet
Sancerre, Pouilly-Fumé Sauvignon Blanc
Sauternes Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc
Vouvray, Montlouis Chenin Blanc

White
Wines from Germany
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March 8th, 2010 | Leave a Comment

Types of White Grapes

a. Chardonnay (Shar doe nay)
Where it is produced : France, US, Australia, South Africa, Chile, New Zealand and many other places.
Characteristics : Known as the “King of White Wine”, it is currently the most popular white wine grape. It’s color is pale to straw yellow and its aroma can vary from region to region. In cooler climates, there are hints of apple, citrus, butter and vanilla whereas in the warmer climate, the aroma swings toward melon and tropical fruits. It is usually oaked and is full bodied and toasty with moderate acidity.

b. Sauvignon Blanc (Saw Vee nyon blahnk)
Where it is produced : Bordeaux, Loire Valley, US, Australia, South Africa, Chile, New Zealand, Italy and many other places.
Characteristics : Also known as Fumé Blanc, this grape is a popular blending grape for Bordeaux wines. It’s color is light to medium yellow with a tinge of green. It has a grassy bouquet like the smell of freshly cut lawn. May also display scents of lemons, asparagus and fig.
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March 8th, 2010 | Leave a Comment

White wines styles and details information

While red wines are probably more popular for wine lovers, it’s not surprising that most of them start out drinking white wine first. One big difference between red and white wine is the absence of tannin, which gives you that harsh or astingent taste when you have too much of it. That is the reason why white wine is often enjoyed chilled. There are many styles of white wines that can be made and the broad styles are mentioned here. Like red wine, there are many different types of grapes used for white wines and I will feature the most popular ones here. Included here is the popular white wines of France, Germany and Italy.

Style of White Wines

For white wines, the style is determined by three factors:

Dry or Sweet:This depends on the grape used and the fermentation process. By stopping the fermentation prematurely, some of the grape’s natural sugar remains. Alternatively, some unfermented (sweet) wine is added to the wine.
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March 8th, 2010 | Leave a Comment

Wine serving guide

winePROPER SERVING of wine is important for the enjoyment of the wine. It would be most tragic if an excellent bottle of aged wine is served at the wrong temperature or with the wrong glasses. Following some of the simple rules stated below can help you impress your friends especially when you have a wine buff among them who can settle for nothing less than a perfect glass of wine. Also, what type of wine service you might expect at a good restaurant. A review of the common wine openers available.
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March 7th, 2010 | Leave a Comment

Wine storage

Storage of wines is important especially if you intend to invest in wine or want to keep some of the better wines until it matures. Wine is very much an organic product which may change with time, temperature, light and movement. Unless you have ideal storing conditions, it is not wise to buy old expensive wines for keeps or wait too long before you drink the wine. Otherwise, you’ll probably end up with the most expensive vinegar around. Fortunately there are many storage options available including storing opened wines. An overview of wine coolers available in Singapore as well.

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March 7th, 2010 | Leave a Comment

Types of Red Grapes

a. Cabernet Sauvignon (Ka-ber-nay soh-vin-yoh)
Where it is produced : Bordeaux, California, Washington, Australia, South Africa, Chile, Argentina, Italy, Romania and Bulgaria.
Characteristics : Known as the “King of Red Wine”, it is the most popular red wine grape to date. It’s color is medium to dark red with usually strong tannins. When grape is young, it has vegetal aroma - mint and green bell pepper. With greater maturity, it develops softer tannins with strong flavor of blackcurrent. The very good wines are able to age for long and may develop chocolate, leather, tobacco, lead pencil or cedar aromas.
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March 7th, 2010 | Leave a Comment

Red wine details

red-winesPeople starting with wine often gets confuse with the type of red wine available. Shall I have the “Red Bordeaux” or the “Cabernet Sauvignon”? For all you know, you could be having the same wine! The problem is that some wine producers name their wine after the region where the grape is grown and others based on the variety of the grapes used.

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March 7th, 2010 | Leave a Comment

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