Buying wine at the grocery store may mean you’re taking home little more than water sugar and - in some cases - hydrochloric acid. Experts say that some wine is no better than a can of cola. And, unfortunately, the majority of champagnes are no better: probably about 30 per cent are worth the price at which they’re marked. Read more…
CHICAGO, May 19 /PRNewswire/ — Whether it’s a peaceful lunch in the country, a lively get-together in a downtown park or an outdoor concert complete with charcuterie — there’s no better companion for a picnic spread than a lovely glass (or plastic cup) of wine.Master Sommelier Andrea Robinson, one of the nations leading wine educators and host of Fine Living TV Network’s “Pairings with Andrea,” says there’s something about wine, picnic fare and the fresh outdoors that brings out the best in each other.
“Wine really is the perfect partner for any kind of picnic spread,” says Robinson. “Since wine is so versatile, it can go with everything from an elaborate cheese platter to a bucket of cold fried chicken. And choosing a wine to take on a picnic can be as easy as grabbing a bottle out of your refrigerator or wine pantry or getting a little more adventurous at your local wine shop.”
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Andrea shares these favorite food and wine pairing suggestions:
-- Picnic on the beach -- Substantial salads, such as Hot and Spicy Shrimp
and Avocado Salad, spooned into wraps or pitas for easy eating is a
great option for a day spent soaking up rays on the beach. Try pairing
your salad with a Sauvignon Blanc, whose richly layered flavors and
floral aromas unfold on the palate.
-- Picnic at outdoor concert or movie in the park -- We know that buttered
popcorn and movies go hand and hand, so treat yourself to gourmet
savory popcorn such as Truffled & Herbed Popcorn and wonderful wine-
friendly cheeses. For the most flexible popcorn pairing, pop the cork
on a Brut sparkling wine, whose lively acidity and yeasty quality are a
great partner to the buttery, toasty taste of popcorn.
-- Picnic on the boat -- For an afternoon dockside boat picnic, it can be
fun to make finger food versions of your favorite entrees, such as
Prosciutto-Sage Chicken "Ravioli" Bites. Round it out with seeded
crackers and savory dips such as hummus and tapenade. Pair it with a
dry Rose, whose tangy character is the perfect compliment to this
picnic meal.
Pick Up and Go Packaging
Grab-and-go wine options are now making it easier than ever to make wine a part of an outdoor gathering. From hip Tetra Paks to practical mini bottles or wine cubes, as wine packaging undergoes an evolution, packing up, carrying and serving a favorite wine is easy, delicious — and stylish.
Andrea dishes out the following tips to ensure a carefree picnic gathering.
-- Chill out -- Chill your wines ahead of time -- even the reds -- so they
don't get too warm in outdoor temperatures. Once you arrive, try
finding some shade to keep your wine out of the sun. There are also
great backpacks, picnic bags and insulated wine jackets with a blue ice
pack or pre-frozen insert that will help keep the bottles cool.
-- Think inside the box -- The new generation of boxed wines makes for a
great choice when dining in the great outdoors, especially poolside or
on the beach, where glass might be an issue. Try Tetra Paks, the soft-
sided, flexible cardboard boxes sealed with plastic screw caps, which
make transporting wine a breeze. Plus the super convenient screw cap
means you won't have to fight with an opener or go searching for that
corkscrew you forgot.
-- Stemware? Anything Goes -- No need to pack your fancy wine glasses.
People tend to get bogged down by lugging around wine glasses or
worrying about breaking them. Truth is any glass will do the trick --
and that includes plastic.
-- Mix and Match -- Single serving wine bottles allow you to mix and match
a variety of wines and food without having to transport several bottles
of wine. It's a great way, too, to offer a different wine pairing with
each course of your picnic spread.
-- How much wine to buy -- Plan for about two glasses of wine per guest
and estimate five glasses per bottle. To determine which kind of wines
to buy for a bigger group, use this formula: 60 percent white wine and
40 percent red wine.
For more information, tips and wine pairing advice, check out wineanswers.com or andreawine.com.
About Wine Market Council
Wine Market Council is an independent, non-profit trade association of grape growers, wine producers, importers, wholesalers, retailers and other organizations affiliated with the wine industry. For more information, visit winemarketcouncil.com or wineanswers.com.
About Andrea Robinson
Andrea Robinson is one of only 16 women in the world to hold the title of Master Sommelier from the prestigious Court of Master Sommeliers. Through her best-selling books, wine course DVD, award-winning television shows, andreawine.com Web site and Health and Eating Well magazine columns, Andrea talks and teaches about wine with hundreds of thousands of wine consumers and professionals each year.
GUERNEVILLE (RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY), Calif., Dec. 21 /PRNewswire/ — There’s nothing that brings a little sparkle to your holiday get together with friends and family more than champagne. In fact, Americans will consume more than 900 million glasses of champagne this year, over 40 percent during the holiday season, according to Impact Databank. While champagne will add the sparkle, what you don’t want to add are injuries to your holiday celebrations.
According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the careless handling of champagne is one of the most common causes for holiday-related eye injuries. These injuries are often caused by improperly opening the bottle, as a champagne cork is under 90 pounds of pressure — three times the pressure inside a car tire. So, before you break open a high-pressured bottle of bubbly, it’s important to know the proper technique. After 125 years of producing premium California champagne, Korbel Champagne Cellars is the authority on entertaining with bubbly. By following these simple tips, you can open the champagne bottle like a pro — without injury or spillage.
“Champagne is for sipping, not spraying,” said Gary Heck, owner and president of Korbel Champagne Cellars. “Follow these tips and you’re sure to get your fine champagne, like Korbel, in the glass, rather than all over your guests. And remember, practice makes perfect. The more you entertain and serve champagne, the easier it gets.”
While the popping of a cork may sound festive and exciting, it tends to waste champagne and can be dangerous. The recommended Korbel way to properly open a bottle is to ease the cork out slowly, with the sound of a gentle sigh. In order to celebrate this holiday season without injury (or wasting champagne) follow these five easy steps:
1. Make sure your champagne is chilled and unshaken. Chill the bottle for
at least four hours in the refrigerator (a warm bottle is more likely
to pop unexpectedly).
2. Remove the foil cap covering the top of the bottle, exposing a wire
hood.
3. Undo wire hood with six half-turns of the knob.
4. Hold bottle at a 45 degree angle while holding the cork firmly with one
hand and the base of the bottle with the other. Be sure to point the
bottle away from your guests.
5. Do not twist the cork. Rather, turn the bottle slowly while letting
the cork glide out gently, emitting a gentle sigh.
Note: Never use a corkscrew. A champagne cork is highly compressed. If a
corkscrew is inserted at an angle, you may have an exploding bottle in
your hand.
“Whether you’re toasting a good year or serving Mimosas at brunch, the holidays always call for champagne,” said Gary Heck. “Opening a champagne bottle can be tricky, but don’t be intimidated. These five easy steps to opening a champagne bottle will make your job much easier and faster.”
Other Champagne tips:
-- Champagne that has been refrigerated does not need to remain so. As
long as it's stored on its side, it can be returned to the wine rack
until ready to use.
-- Expect six generous glasses from one standard size (750ml) bottle.
-- The most popular champagne is Brut - it's medium-dry, light and crisp.
-- There's more than 50 million bubbles in a standard bottle of champagne.
-- It's best to serve champagne in tapered champagne flutes, as they
highlight the fine stream of bubbles. While short, wide goblets can be
used in a pinch, they tend to cause the bubbles to dissipate quickly.
-- When transporting champagne, keep the bottles upright. The shaking
bottles receive in the car can cause champagne to quickly lose its
sparkle after opening. Upright bottles keep wine movement to a minimum
and the bubbles in the wine.
-- Crisp and versatile, Brut, Natural, Chardonnay and Brut Rose are
delicious with hors d'oeuvres and rich enough to enjoy with many main
courses. Extra Dry and Sec offer a bit of sweetness that works well as
an aperitif or paired with dessert.
Established in 1882, Korbel Champagne Cellars has been a part of America’s greatest celebrations. Korbel is the number one selling premium methode champenoise produced champagne in America. Korbel urges that you celebrate responsibly.
Source: Korbel Champagne Cellars
As we get older, there comes a time when a night out at bars gets replaced by dinner parties.
Here’s a complete section on how to prepare drinks, feasts and plan accordingly.
1. Choose your weapon and gather your gear. If you’ve purchased a pricey ornamental champagne saber, whip it out. Otherwise, a solid butcher’s knife will do just fine. And have some glasses (and maybe a couple of towels) handy.
2. Remove the foil wrapper and little wire cage. This will make for a clean break, although some people say it’s not necessary to remove the packaging.
3. Grasp the bottle properly. That would be firmly, by the base, and pointed away from any onlookers. UrbanDaddy recommends a 30 degree to 45 degree angle, and a close inspection to “locate one of the two vertical seams running up the side of the bottle” to the lip. That intersection is where you’ll aim your saber.
4. Do the deed. Run your saber or knife (blunt edge toward the bottle’s lip) back along the neck toward your body, then quickly and firmly thrust it back toward the bottle’s tip, striking the lip sharply. (UrbanDaddy recommends a solid follow-through.)
5. Enjoy. If you’ve performed the task properly, the cork (with a little ring of glass around it) will fly off the end of the bottle. You’ll then commence pouring the bubbly, and offer a witty toast.
Read more.
When Michael Aaron learned that Wall Street investment banks were going to be shelling out record bonuses this holiday season, the savvy wine merchant uncorked his own plan to make serious dough.
He paid for a double-page advertisement in The New York Times, boasting a rare Methuselah-sized bottle of 1995 Dom Perignon. The price tag — $14,950.
“We thought we’d put this temptation out there,” said Aaron, chairman of Sherry-Lehmann wine store on Madison Avenue.
A report released Tuesday by the state comptroller said Wall Street is expected to pay out $23.9 billion in bonuses, shattering last year’s record by 17 percent.
The impact of such bonuses on the New York economy is profound.
Bonuses are expected to generate $1.6 billion in tax revenues for New York state and another $500 million for New York City. For every job created on Wall Street, three other jobs are created in the city and suburbs.
Read more.
In case champagne alone was not enough to get you excited, here are some ideas to jazz up the bubbly, first from MSN’s Lifestyle section, and a few more from our own WatchMojo.com.
