by Rob Jones
What exactly is Gin? Well it is basically a clear herbal spirit which is perfect for shaking up with fruits, veg, herbs and juices, and other spirits! If you're new to the fashionable world of gin cocktail making it is recommended that you test the water (or rather the gin) and try out the more well-known ones to begin with. The best way to start is to search through as many of the available recipes you can find until you find the one that you think you will enjoy the best. The recipe selections include many well-known brands of gin that are readily available at your local supermarket, and which again you need to try a few to find a favourite. The next step is to add in some of the other ingredients from your favourites list but don’t be afraid to try something new, that’s all par...
by Susanna Gaertner
At my first glimpse of the bottle from this hitherto unknown to me Texan winery, I didn't know exactly what to think, not to mention that “Texas Red Wine” did not sound promising. But you shouldn't judge a book by the cover. While I freely admit to not loving the label, I am IN love with the contents. The TX6 from Locations Wine is crafted from blend of assorted Bordeaux varietals, barrel aged in neutral French oak for ten months and then released for what turns out to be a singularly stunning red wine. Locations purposefully blends across appellations to produce wine removing restrictions held within traditional winemaking circles. Unfettered by the demands of local laws and restrictions, Phinney can mix across appellations to select from “all the things I care about: old vines,...
by Cris Drugan Isa-am, Mipav-os
Located in Austria along the Danube River between the village of Melk and Krems, Wauchau is a small wine region in the Western part of the country that usually accounts for only around 3% of Austria’s wine production. Terraced vineyards consist of rock with intermittent layers of silt, clay & sand. Wauchau uses a classification system based on alcohol levels. 1) The lightest wines, Steinfeder, for wines with an alcohol level under 11.5% 2) and the ripest, Federspeil, for wines between 11.5 and 12.5% alcohol and 3) Smaragd, for wines over 12.5% alcohol. Wines from Wachau are labeled by varietal with the listed varietal needing to constitute at least 85% of the blend. Similarly, at least 85% of the grapes from a given harvest must come from the vintage year on the label. I tried two wines...
by Cris Drugan Isa-am, Mipav-os
Selecting an appraiser for your valuable assets is difficult enough; don’t get “tanked” over selecting one for your wine collection! As with any appraisal, when selecting a qualified appraiser look for a formal, up to date, education in appraisal theory, procedures, ethics, and law. The appraiser you hire should also be familiar with the type of property you want appraised and know how to value it correctly. Wine is no different. Where a wine retailer, wholesaler or importer may have “in depth” knowledge of the product and the trade, they may not know how to proceed in researching the proper values that you need for your purposes. This is where the formal appraisal methodology training comes in. On the other hand, a well-trained and otherwise competent appraiser may ...
by Kelly Wight
We love a traditional wine and cheese pairing event just as much as we love a popcorn and wine night. But, hey, it’s the holidays—and, oh what fun it is to add flair! We’re going full “Christmas Past” today with a look back at a wine tasting event from yesteryear that shows the fun and festive spirit only a Traveling Vineyard wine tasting can bring. Read on as Wine Guide Kisha Dlugos unravels a tale of food, wine and ugly Christmas sweaters! Setting the Sweater Scene West Virginia Wine Guide, Kisha Dlugos, snapped a photo of the tiny sweaters she brought to decorate the wine at her Ugly Christmas Sweater wine tasting. “Setting the scene is always important for a themed tasting—after all the Hosts and Guests expect to have the perfect setting for their night-in. My goal is...
by Mark Aselstine
Ok, so I know there's a million of them these days, seemingly everyone has an online wine club. Let's lump all of them into a few categories to start: First, there's an old group of them that largely predate the internet. The Original Wine of the Month Club and California Wine Club fit into that group. More recently, venture capital has found it's way into the wine space. Winc and Naked Wines fit this profile. There are others of course. Major media has come into the wine space. After all, they have significant email lists and the need for revenue, so household names like Forbes, the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times and many others now have wine clubs. Ok, so how do you choose the online wine club that's right for you? 1) If there's one that speaks to you on a deeper leve...
by Stuart George
It was a year that might turn even the most devout teetotaller to drink – unless their name is Trump. In 2017, we witnessed the inauguration of a Twitter-obsessed reality TV star as US President (whose grandfather came from the Pfalz wine region in Germany); the ongoing tragicomedy of North Korea; shocking events in Manchester and Las Vegas; a never-ending war in Syria; and the devastating consequences of Hurricane Harvey and the Mexican earthquake. Compared to these events, fermented grape juice becomes even more insignificant. Nonetheless, let’s try and look to 2018 with optimism and savour the chance to enjoy some great wines with friends and family. Vintages that end in “8” can be auspicious. Ten years on, the 2008 Bordeaux vintage is not seen as great but those who...
by Porto Planet
We have all heard that ‘an apple a day, keeps the doctor away’, but lately, more and more studies show that wine can bring many benefits to the body and make a significant contribution to maintaining our good health. So how can wine help us when we drink it regularly, but in moderation? Let’s see in detail! 1. LIVE LONGER! It is known that in Ikaria people live longer than anywhere else in the world. Daily consumption of wine is part of a diet that can enrich the lives of those who follow it because it is less reliant on animal feed and more on plant foods. The inhabitants of Crete and Sardinia, known for their longevity, enjoy red wine almost daily, appealing to the main part of their anti-aging lifestyle. A 2007 study shows that procyanidins, the compounds found in tannins of the r...
by Robert Lovell
As we enter deep winter and Christmas approaches, there is no better drink than a rich, fruity red wine. It’s an alcoholic beverage that goes with all the best Christmas foods - from Turkey to Mince Pies - and a red’s deep flavour acts as the perfect blanket for your mouth on a chilly night. There are a wide array of different red wines that can be enjoyed during the festive season, all with different flavours, different prices, and which compliment different delicious Christmas foodstuffs. So here’s a quick guide to some of the best red wines to should try over the festive season! Winter only comes around once a year, so it’s important to make the most of it and get the perfect reds to see you through the darker portion of the year. Here are some of the best red wines available ...
by Bob Ecker
Napa, California On the night of Sunday, October 8th, Northern California Wine Country was hit with a dangerous “perfect storm” of atmospheric conditions combining: warm temperatures, extremely low humidity, bone dry fields and forests and very strong winds. Beginning at 9:52 pm, 17 wildfires sprung up throughout the wine country counties of Napa, Sonoma, Lake and Mendocino Counties. These were considered wildland urban interface fires, meaning forest fires within close proximity to human habitation and businesses. And these fires were big and fast moving, among the worst in California’s history. The result was a tragic toll on some communities, notably in Santa Rosa in Sonoma County. Some people lost their lives, many were evacuated and some people are still displaced. Yet it...
