Now, Where Did I Put That Corkscrew?

To add to the list of the health benefits of drinking wine is the latest theory that drinking just a glass a day can slow dementia. New research, published in the medical journal, Neurology, shows that drinking wine is particularly beneficial to those already experiencing memory problems. Study participants who consumed a drink a day — mostly red wine — developed dementia at an 85% slower rate than people with mild cognitive impairment who never drank alcohol. Researchers did warn, however, that excessive alcohol should be avoided so don’t forget to stop drinking.

The ABC's of Dessert Wine

[From Ladies Who Launch Wine Tip]

You may have heard of Chateau d'Yquem, the ultra lush and exceedingly expensive dessert wine from France but there are countless dessert wines out there from around the world to suit every taste and budget. Consider these ten examples from A to V as a very good place to start.

Aszu – Produced in the Tokaj-Hegyalja region of Hungary, this white wine is referred to as Tokaj Aszu (TOKE-eye-ee AHS-oo). It has flavors of nut and caramel with dried apricot and orange fruit and a refreshing acidity. Look for five or six puttonyos (related to the sugar level) for the best examples.

Banyuls – Made in the South of France predominantly from Grenache grapes. This red sweet wine is nutty and rich — almost Port-like.

Eiswein – German for “ice wine”, this rich wine is most often made from Riesling grapes picked while frozen on the vine. It is concentrated and fruity with a zing of acidity to balance out the sweetness. Worthwhile examples of ice wine are also made in Canada.

Marsala – When you think of Marsala you may think of an oxidized, mass produced Sicilian red wine best reserved for cooking (if that). But, pick up a bottle of Marco De Bartoli’s “Vecchio Samperi” Marsala and change your perception forever. The wine is delicious with flavors of dried fruit, maple, nuts, spice, and caramel. If you think it sounds like an ice cream topping, you are not too far off.

Moscato d'Asti – A slightly sparkling white wine from Piedmont, Italy, this is a lighter alternative to the luscious dessert wine crowd. The moderate sweetness and thirst-quenching bubbles make it perfect for dessert or for lounging by the pool in summer.

Port – A fortified red (and occasionally white) wine from Portugal, there are too many styles of Port to get into here but the general character is of dried fruit, toast and spice.

Recioto – Also a red wine, this sweet cousin of Amarone from the Veneto region of Italy is a plush, full-bodied, raisin-y treat.

Sauternes – The famous region of Bordeaux, France (home of the aforementioned Chateau d’Yquem) that produces complex, opulent and honeyed white dessert wines. Although it can be thought of as a dessert wine, some would argue it is the perfect partner for Foie Gras.

Sherry – This fortified white wine from Spain has many different personalities from bone dry to sweet. Pedro Ximenez is the sweetest, with a raisin-y flavor and thick texture.

Vin Santo – Primarily made in Tuscany, Italy, this white dessert wine is traditionally served with biscotti. Quality and price can vary drastically so ask your wine merchant or sommelier about reliable producers. The best examples taste of fig, caramel and honey.

Cheers!

Scoring Deals at Auction

[From Ladies Who Launch Weekly Wine Tip]

Contrary to popular opinion wine auctions are not just for the well-to-do. If you do some homework ahead of time and keep a level head at the auction, there are some great bargains out there to help you start (or fill out) your wine collection. We have provided some tips that should help you to keep your shirt and walk out with a great deal on a bottle, or even a case or two.

# Order the catalog or, if possible, download it from the auction website for free.
# Pick a focus. Decide what type of wine you want to bid on be it White Burgundy, Red Bordeaux, California Cabernet, etc. It will keep you from getting overwhelmed.
# Look for mixed lots. Investor’s typically skip these items and the savvy bidder can pick up an interesting odd lot of great bottles.
# Go early and stay late. Auctions are typically set up around lunches and most of the heavy bidding gets done during the middle of the day.
# Check retail prices ahead of time. Sites such as http://winesearcher.com provide retail prices on most bottles you will find at auction. You would be surprised how many people buy wine at auction that they could have purchased cheaper from their neighborhood retailer.
# Take into account the buyer’s premium, taxes and shipping before you decide that something is a good deal. All of these things can add over 20% to the hammer price so be wary.
# Set a limit for bidding. On any given lot you should know that when the bidding gets to a certain level, you will put down your paddle and admit defeat.

Keep in mind that auctions are fun and joining in on the action can be adrenaline-inducing. Some auction houses even include perks such as pre-sale tastings (for a reasonable charge), complimentary Champagne, free tasting bottles at the auction event or lunch for attendees (one plate per paddle please!). Click on this link http://www.wine-searcher.com/merchants/x,auction for a list of auction houses and their urls. For more specific information, visit the Collector’s Corner column at http://bonvivantwineguide.com .

Happy Bidding!

Chardonnay or Pouilly Fuisse?

[From The Ladies Who Launch Weekly Wine Tip]

Wine can be a mystifying subject and it doesn’t help that each country has its own protocol for wine names and labels. U.S. wine labels are relatively easy to decipher because most tell us the grape, the place it was produced, the year it was produced and even the percentage of alcohol. Although that certainly does not tell the whole story about what is inside the bottle, at least you know that if you like Chardonnay, you are getting Chardonnay.

The vast majority of European wine labels do not disclose the grape but are more focused on the region in which the wine was produced, for example, Burgundy in France. The chart below matches up five of the world’s most popular grape varieties with some of their aliases in other countries. This is by no means an exhaustive list but a useful reference to print out or put in your Palm or Blackberry. When you see these names in a wine store or on a restaurant wine list you will at least know that if you purchase/order a Gevrey-Chambertin you are not going to be drinking a Merlot.

White Wines

Chardonnay – White Burgundy, France (Chablis, Corton-Charlemagne, Meursault, Montrachet, Macon Blanc, Pouilly Fuisse)

Sauvignon Blanc – Loire Valley, France (Sancerre, Pouilly Fume); White Bordeaux, France (Entre Deux Mers, Graves/Pessac Leognan — often blended with the Semillion grape)

Red Wines

Cabernet Sauvignon – Red Bordeaux (Medoc, Margaux, Saint Estephe, Pauillac, Saint Julien, Listrac, Moulis, Graves/Pessac Leognan — blended with other grapes including Merlot & Cabernet Franc); Italian Super Tuscans (Tuscan IGT, Bolgheri — blended with other grapes including Merlot, Sangiovese and, increasingly, Syrah)

Merlot - Red Bordeaux (Saint Emilion, Cotes de Castillon, Cotes de Francs, Pomerol, Fronsac — blended with other grapes including Cabernet Sauvignon & Cabernet Franc); Italian Super Tuscans (Tuscan IGT, Bolgheri — blended with other grapes including Cabernet Sauvignon, Sangiovese and, increasingly, Syrah)

Pinot Noir – Red Burgundy (Marsannay, Fixin, Gevrey-Chambertin, Morey-St-Denis, Chambolle-Musigny, Vougeot, Vosne-Romanee, Flagey-Echezeaux, Nuits-St-Georges, Beaune, Savigny-les-Beaune, Chorey-les-Beaune, Pommard, Volnay); Austria & Germany (Spatburgunder); Italy (Pinot Nero)

Syrah – Australia (Shiraz); Northern Rhone (Cote Rotie, Cornas, Hermitage)

Cheers!

The Truth About Sulfites

[From The Ladies Who Launch Weekly Wine Tip]

Many people blame the sulfites in red wine for giving them what is commonly referred to as a “red wine headache”. In reality, sulfites, which are naturally occurring in grapes, onions, garlic and many other plants, are generally above suspicion and have been used in winemaking since Roman times. Sulpher dioxide acts as a preservative as well as an antioxidant. Sulfites can be added to wine at different times during the grape growing and winemaking processes. At the outset, sulfur may be sprayed directly on the vines to deter insects and disease. Sulfur can then be added during winemaking to impede the growth of mold and bacteria naturally found on grapes. Some wines that are produced without the use of sulfites during the winemaking phase can have unusual odors and flavors. Before bottling, sulfites, in the form of gas or tables, are often added to prevent spoilage or oxidation in the finished wine.

A common misperception is that U.S. wines — and wines imported to the U.S. — have more sulfites, or “chemicals” than wines from France or Italy. This is not the case. The words "Contains Sulfites" are mandatory on labels of wine sold in the United States that have more than 10ppm (points per million) of sulfites. These labeling regulations do not apply to wines sold in France, Italy, or most other countries. If a U.S. wine label reads “No Added Sulfites” it simply means that the amount is less than 10ppm but since sulfites naturally occur in grapes there really is no such thing as a sulfite free wine.

We are not saying you cannot get a headache from drinking red wine. In fact, drink a whole lot of it and you are practically guaranteed a good old fashioned “red wine headache”, sometimes referred to as a hangover. If you continue to blame sulfites (and it is true that about 1% of the population is sensitive to sulfites) don’t let red wine take all the heat. Sulfite levels are actually much higher in white wines because they need more antioxidant help (provided by the tannins from the grape skins in red wines) to keep them fresh in the bottle. Bottoms up!

Romance Your Valentine With Wine

Here are a few tips and wine pairings that will have your Valentine eating out of the palm of your hand in no time. [From Ladies Who Launch Weekly Wine Tip]

Oysters and Champagne are the perfect start to an amorous meal and one of the classic wine and food unions. For the best results, go for a Blanc de Blanc Champagne (which means that it is made from 100% Chardonnay.) A few good options are the Duval Leroy Blanc de Chardonnay Champagne for approximately $40 or the Nicolas Feuillatte Blanc del Blancs NV for around $30.

What better to satisfy your sweet tooth than a little chocolate. If that is what you are craving Cabernet Sauvignon is the perfect pairing. A bold and full-bodied wine, Cabernet goes particularly well with dark chocolate. Better yet, Chateau Calon Segur, a Cabernet Sauvignon blend from the Bordeaux region of France, has a heart right on the label. You should be able to find it (you don’t think the heart label is lost on retailers, do you?) at your local wine shop for around $50.

If chocolate (or dessert in general) is not your thing but you still feel like lingering, head straight for the sweet wines. For something different try a sweet Marsala and, no, it is not what you are thinking. Marsala is confusing at best but, trust us, the artisan Marsala made by De Bartoli is a real indulgence and the Marsala Superiore Riserva is a decadent end to any meal. If you can’t find the De Bartoli (available at Italian Wine Merchants and Vino in New York, then try an Ice Wine from Canada, Austria or Germany.

Happy Valentine’s Day & Cheers.

Proper Wine Serving Temperatures

[From Ladies Who Launch Weekly Wine Tip]

Many people make the mistake of serving white wines too cold and red wines too warm. The temperature at which you serve and drink wine is more important to the experience than you might suspect. When served too cold or too warm, wines can lose their true personality — pleasing aromas and flavors can be masked and disagreeable characteristics exaggerated. When wine is served over 68°F alcohol aromas are so pronounced that they may be the only thing you can smell, while wines served at less than 45°F will have no discernable aromas at all. Some of these temperature recommendations are going to sound cooler than what you are used to, but if you stick to our guidelines, you should be happily drinking refreshing wine in no time.

White wines stored in your average refrigerator (~40°F) are too cold to drink. Assuming that you do not have a wine refrigerator or wine cellar set to the appropriate serving temperature, your best bet is to chill your room temperature whites in the fridge for between 45 - 90 minutes before serving and drinking. This will enable the aromas and flavors in the wine to shine. On the other hand, if you are serving a very simple (ok, cheap) white it is best to serve the wine a bit colder to disguise the off flavors or faults. One caveat, many restaurants serve whites too cold and insist on jamming your bottle back in the ice bucket every time you turn your back. If you can’t hold your wine glass without a mitten, ask the waiter to rescue the wine from the ice and leave it on your table.

Red wines, on the other hand, are often served too warm. The golden rule that we all hear is to serve red wines at “room temperature” but as we all know room temperature varies greatly depending on the room and the season. On top of those variations, the idea of what room temperature is has changed greatly over time and now is generally considered to be about 72°F which is far too warm to serve wine properly. Again, unless your wines are stored in a wine refrigerator, wine cellar, or other consistently cool place, they will probably benefit from 20 to 30 minutes in the refrigerator before serving and drinking. Generally speaking, lighter reds such as Beajoulais, young Burgundy and Pinot Noir from Oregon and California should be served cooler than Bordeaux, Barolo, Rhone wines and Cabernet and Merlot from Washington and California. If your wine is served too warm in a restaurant, don’t be afraid to ask the waiter to chill it down for you. If you get an exaggerated eye roll in response, chances are your waiter probably knows less than you do about wine. Hand them the bottle and roll your eyes right back.

While we are not suggesting you over-think the serving temperature of the wines you drink, we guarantee that your experience will be enhanced if you keep these simple tips in mind. Just remember that if you are in doubt, cooler is better.

Here is a simple primer that includes serving temperatures and the length of time you should chill a wine in the refrigerator if the bottle has been stored at room temperature:

Champagne and Sparkling Wines - 45-50°F (2-3 Hours)
Inexpensive White Wines and Sweet Wines-50-55°F (90 Minutes- 2 Hours)
Good Dry White Wines- 55-60°F (45 Minutes- 90 Minutes)
Lighter Red Wines- 60-65°F (30-45 Minutes)
Bigger Red Wines- 65-68°F (20-30 Minutes)

The Half Bottle Trick

[From the Ladies Who Launch weekly lifestyle tip]

Ever wondered what to do with that perfectly good wine that is leftover in the bottle? Besides drinking it yourself (perhaps you did a little too much of that over the holidays?) we recommend utilizing the ‘half bottle trick.’ You don’t need to purchase fancy vacuum sealers or cans of inert gas to keep your wine fresh; all you really need is a few clean, empty half bottles of wine and a few old corks — or a few of those fancy cork stoppers if have always wondered what to do with them.

If you buy a full bottle of wine with the intention of only drinking half of it yourself with dinner, immediately pour about half of the bottle’s contents into your clean half bottle container. Leave some room at the top of the bottle and have an old cork ready to top it off. Give the cork a quick sniff to rule out mustiness or any off odors and insert the clean side of the cork (the one with no wine stains on it) into the bottle. Viola! You now have a good half bottle for your next evening’s meal.

If you are not sure how much of the full bottle you will be drinking, just have the clean half bottle and cork ready so you can store it as soon as you are done. You can use a simple kitchen funnel to transfer the wine from the large bottle to the half bottle. Storing leftover wine in a half bottle works better than simply recorking the full bottle because it minimizes the amount of air that can get to the wine and spoil it. Store the half bottle on the counter (for red wine) away from any heat sources and in the refrigerator (for white wine.) Now you never have to waste a drop of the “good stuff” ever again!

Cheers and happy leftovers.

Holiday Gifts for Wine Lovers

(Republished from the Ladies Who Launch Weekly Lifestyle Tip)

It’s that time of year again alright! The holidays are fast approaching and there are parties to attend, gifts to buy, and precious little time to get it all done. Well, you don’t have to run all over town tracking down gifts for your wine-loving friends and family members. Just sit down at your computer with these tips in hand (and a glass of wine if you wish – hey, why not?) and you’ll be crossing presents off your list in no time.

The Neophyte
Wine Lover's Journal Gift Set. Inspire the new-found wine lover with a gift that helps them remember their favorite bottles. Available at http://www.iwawine.com ; $40.

Rabbit 6-Piece Corkscrew Kit. Tasting wine is the key to learning. Uncork their knowledge with the essential Rabbit Corkscrew. Purchase at http://www.iwawine.com ; $70.

The Bon Vivant
Esperienze Wine Decanter. Wine appreciation at its best. To purchase visit http://wineenthusiast.com ; $40.

Sonoma Leather Wine Carrier. Let them BYOB in style with this handsome tote from http://redenvelope.com ; $100.

The Collector
The Oxford Companion to Wine, 3rd Edition. The latest version of this indispensable reference book. Available at http://amazon.com ; $40.

Chateau Laguiole Waiter Style Corkscrew. Now they can open their best bottles in style (maybe they’ll share!) with this beautiful corkscrew and leather case. http://wineenthusiast.com; $100.

The Enthusiast Who Has Everything
Riedel Sake Set. Turn them on to something new with glasses and a carafe from the preeminent glassmaker. Purchase at http://redenvelope.com; $38.

Sherry-Lehmann Gift Card. It won’t be re-gifted if they pick it out themselves. Send them shopping at the famed NY wine merchant, in-store or online. Available at http://sherry-lehmann.com ; $50 - $1000.

Of course, in due time you can get wine lovers the best gift of all -- a subscription to the Bon Vivant Wine Guide. Stay Tuned and happy cyber-shopping!