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Wine, when it was only French, was a luxurious drink of the rich and the classy.  Wine, in its democratized forms, is now a luxury made available at every supermarket and has come a far way from its tradition of being produced in France and Germany.

Lately wine drinkers have the choice of selecting their bottle of wine produced in the vine yards of California, Chile, Australia and India, to name a few. Wine had always had a high brand image as a drink meant only for the aristocrats unlike beer, whiskey and brandy which is more associated the common man’s pub drink. Read the rest of this entry »

There are many kinds of beverages in the world. And one of the most loved beverages in the world is wine.

Wine is an alcoholic drink that is derived from the fermentation of grape juice. Due to the natural chemical composition and balance of the grapes, the fruit ferments without adding sugars, acids, enzymes and other nutrients.

Although grapes are the most common fruit that is being used, other fruits, berries and even grains can be used to produce wine. For example, wines such as apple wine or elderberry wine are made from apples and elderberries, respectively. Japanese sake is made from rice. Philippine tuba is fermented from coconut sap. Generally, wines that are not made from fruit almost taste like beer. In most cases, wines refer to beverages that have high alcohol content. Read the rest of this entry »

One doesn’t need to be a ‘professional wine taster’ a ‘wine snob’ or a fully paid-up member of ‘CAMRA’ in order to experience the most enjoyment from your favourite tipple in the right glass.

I’m not trying to preach to the converted or teach Grandma to suck eggs, there is already plenty written about choosing the correct shape glass to enhance the flavour of a whole variety of different grapes and grains. But in all honesty who invites eight friends for dinner and then provides a different glass for each drink; after all who is doing the washing up when they’ve all gone home.

What I’m trying to do here is offer a little practical advise on choosing the right glass for the for the right occasion without breaking the bank. Read the rest of this entry »

Unless you have spent a good bit of time touring Spain’s beautiful countryside, you may not know that in many ways the country is one big vineyard. In that respect it is very much like California’s Napa Valley and Sonoma County. It is hard to drive for more than a few minutes in any direction without seeing vineyards. The same is true for most regions of Spain.

Spain has been producing wine off and on for nearly 3,000 years. Excepting a big gap between 711 A.D. and 1492 A.D., when conquering Islamic Moors outlawed wine production, it has mostly been on. In fact Spain introduced vineyards to the Americas. Spaniards sent the first cuttings to Mexico in the 16th century. By 1701 vines and cuttings were sent to Baja, California. It took until 1830 for the vineyards to work their way up to Sonoma County, thanks largely to the Spanish missionaries who also built a series of missions from south to north in California. Read the rest of this entry »

Pairing food and wine is an art. To create a pleasurable dining experience, there are some basic considerations to understanding how food enhances the taste of wine, and vice versa. The goal is to find balance and synergy, keeping in mind that this process is one of personal preferences. Success is achieved when you find a combination that is pleasing to your palate.

Here are some suggestions on how to pair food and wine, so that they may accentuate the flavors in one another and as a result, taste better.

Consider how the dish is being prepared, and if there will be a dominate seasoning, sauce or flavor. Delicate foods should be served with a delicate wine, while heavy dishes go better with heavy full bodied wine. Read the rest of this entry »