by Sidd Banerji
Indian history is almost as old as human history. We had well organized society with community functions in proper system and expert methods. Mahenzodaro and Harappa are the two archeological sectors, now within Pakistan territory, which has evidences of human dwelling in much advanced status, way back 5000 years.Unbelievable advancement in prehistoric period, in food and drinks astonish today's historians. We have mention of wine in Indian form, in mythology,of high order. Old scriptures talk in detail of the arena where specially alcoholic drinks out of grapes are discussed in length. Indian society had known the warmth and enchantments of the elixir long back, much in past when modern day's glitz and glamor were yet to peep into society. Probably the core benefits and its social values ...
by David Gaier
People ask me all the time about screwcaps on wine.Now, most people don’t think much about the science of wine; they just want to know one thing: can a bottle of wine with a screwcap be any good?Simple answer? Yep. Lots of really good wines today are closed with a screwcap, including so-called super premium wines, which can fetch $100 a bottle or more. But I’d like to qualify what I’m saying with a few points.First of all, the jury is out on whether or not screw caps will work effectively and enable some wines, particularly big, bold reds, to age in bottle for 10, 20, or even 30 years. We just don’t know, because screw caps haven’t been around that long and until recently, vendors were putting screwcaps mostly on whites that were meant to be drunk very young, typically within one...
by David Gaier
I have to say it: France, and specifically Bourgogne, what we in the great USA call Burgundy, is where the world’s best Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays are grown. And I say “grown” because Burgundy is all about the vineyard rather than the chateau or winery.Not to say that there aren’t some excellent and least interesting Pinots and Chardonnays from other places – old world and new, oaked and unoaked, cool climate and hot climate, austere and crisp, or sweet, caramel-y, and in my view pretty much undrinkable—think Yellowtail. Or, actually, don’t.But seriously, I’ve tasted Pinots from New Zealand and Oregon that rival the best from Burgundy, and just this week I had a Chardonnay from Italy that I might have sworn was a Premier Cru from France.But the fact remains that for a whol...
by Christopher J Davies
Wine, Roses and Cuisine Perfectly in RomeThe Perfect Winter VacationBy Christopher J. DaviesIf you are thinking about making a winter vacation to Rome, odds are that you really love delicious food and wine. Rome's mild Mediterranean weather allows you to eat outside as early as a sunny March afternoon. Best of all, you will find the city less crowded than during spring or summer.Rome's many tourist sites are within walking distance of the world famous Spanish Steps which climb a steep slope between the Piazza di Spagna at the base and Piazza Trinità dei Monti, dominated by the church of Trinità dei Monti. The Scalinata-as the steps are known to the Romans-is the widest staircase in Europe.At the top sits one of the highest acclaimed hotels in the world: The Hotel Hassler. It is owned and...
by Ron Kapon
New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Atlanta and Los Angeles may be some of the finalists but the winner for best food and wine is clearly Las Vegas. There are 170 Master Sommeliers in the world (the result of wine knowledge and blind tastings are part of the rigorous exam), 74 live in the USA and of those 17 work in Las Vegas. There are 75 Wine Spectator Grand Award winning restaurants worldwide and six are in Las Vegas. 33 of the 788 Best of Award of Excellence restaurants are also situated there. With that as a basis, follow along with me as I slice, dice and slurp my way through the best food and wine of Fun City.Janelle Brown of the New York Times in 2004 wrote: "When the Rat Pack moved out, Las Vegas lost its reputation for chic. Between the ubiquitous frozen margaritas, the roving bach...
by Steve Boston
Whether purchasing a collector’s vintage bottle, appreciating a wine’s sweet aroma and savory taste or simply storing it for a special occasion, most wine connoisseurs agree that appropriate storage is the key component to collecting wines. Storage OptionsStorage options range from an in-home wine cellar, wine vaults or cabinets, off-site private storage areas, to a rack placed in the corner of the basement. In-home wine cellars or boxes may be purchased to install from price ranges anywhere from a few hundred dollars all the way up to $4000 for serious collectors. For most collectors, however, a pre-made option generally serves the same purpose. For a select few, primarily investment collectors, it may prove to be more cost effective to have a storage area custom built by a qualif...
by Laura Ness
At this year's ZAP, the 20th annual festival of all things Zin, I sought out new winemakers and old vines. Which was sometimes old winemakers with a new label, and occasionally, old vines being worked on by a new winemaker, or a fairly new winemaker doing something new with old vines. And I wanted to taste the Zin-based blends: featured at separate tables this year. Thanks to the ZAP program, the event was sliced by appellation, price range, old vines, vineyard designates, wines made by women: even winemaker’s hair color. So many fun ways to cut this slightly nutty, rum soaked fruitcake.First, the absolute talk of the town was Vittorio’s Secret, a righteously decadent in its own right Zin blend from old vine Mendocino Zin (63%), Petite Sirah (19%) and Carignane (18%), crafted by Bob K...
by Jenny Benzie, Advanced Sommelier + Champagne Taster
So, you've invited a group of friends over, every one is bringing a bottle and you want to make sure your wine tasting event occurs without any 'flaws.' Below are a few mistakes to avoid if you are hosting a wine tasting event to ensure you get a 'Gold Medal!'Dirty glassware can cause your wine tasting event to go from 'Brilliant' to 'Dull.'. Here are a few tips to ensure clean glasses: * Don't just pull the glasses from your cabinet or a box - they will have a stale, cardboard smell. * Don't wash your glasses with soapy water - this can leave a film. * Never use a paper towel to dry your glasses - this will leave an 'off' odor in the glass (and lint!). * Rinse your glasses with warm water and gently dry by hand with a polishing cloth. How can you identify what's in the glass ...
by Stef Smulders
Though frequently called the Tuscany of the North of Italy, the Oltrepo Pavese in Lombardy is fairly unknown abroad. Tourists pass the area closely when traveling to the real Tuscany, to Umbria or further south. This is a pity as the Oltrepo really offers something worthwhile for almost every tourist, especially food and wine lovers.The area offer several attractions: smooth hills, medieval villages and castles, panoramic views, authentic Italian food and local wines. The Oltrepo happens to be the largest wine producing area of Lombardy and one of the largest in Italy, especially of the Pinot Nero. The landscape is scattered with vineyards that are freely accessible for hikers or even mountain biking.The Oltrepo Pavese is part of the province of Pavia, in the southern part of Lombardy. Olt...
by John Horvatinovich
Hiro Sushi has helped pave the way for other sushi restaurants in the Omaha area. What helped the community eventually accept and appreciate sushi is what owner Milton Yin set out to do 8 years ago. That was to deliver a diverse menu and a memorable dining experience. Offering Japanese and Chinese menu items, Hiro Sushi was able to draw the excited and even reluctant consumers into the restaurant to experience something new and unique to Omaha. Currently the menu is still very diverse, and even if you are not a seafood fan, there are plenty of items to choose from on the menu. Hiro Sushi has many signature items and one of the most popular is the Salmon Plank. Trust me when I tell you, it is one of the best salmon dishes you will ever have. They start with a thick Scottish salmon,...
