12/18/08 - Wine Course
Using Bargain Wines to Your Advantage
Using bargain wines is often preferable for occasions when it would be unwise to to invest a large amount of money in expensive wine.
Do you really want to use top-notch red wine for making sangria or for serving up at parties, when friends have already had enough to drink? No, I didn't think so!
Drinking Bargain Wines
Blended wine is usually cheaper and a reasonable bet in terms of drinkability. As a general rule, Chilean blends are the cheapest option, although it's often worth paying that little bit extra for Australian blends. In fact, a number of Australian producers market two excellent blends at the lower end of the price spectrum, one white and one red. The red is a blend of cabernet sauvignon and shiraz and the white consists of semillon and chardonnay. Keep an eye out for these grape combinations, if you're after a bargain!
Another winner at the cheaper end of the market is Spanish Rioja (both red and white). As Rioja is usually less fruity than the previously mentioned blends it is generally better for serving with food, rather than drinking on its own.
Other Uses of Bargain Wines
Sangria
If you're making sangria, you need red quaffing wine - and lots of it. As sangria is made from red wine, sugar, fruit juice and spirits, the quality of the red wine becomes largely secondary. This is where boxed wines come into their own. Buy large boxes that are relatively cheap - no one will notice! Be sure to purchase reasonable quality fruit juice and don't go for the absolute cheapest wine as you may live to regret it, the following morning!
Large Parties and Receptions
When serving wine to a large party, cost is obviously important. As a rule, boxed whites are generally more palatable than boxed reds, so if want to trim costs, anywhere, buying cheaper white wine may be a safer option.
A great way to improve boxed red wine is to add a reasonable quality bottle of red wine. Provided that you choose the correct bottle of red, this can make an impressive difference to the taste. Of course, you do need some suitable decanters or serving carafes and a little patience to pull this one off, successfully.
Finally, choose your nibbles wisely. Plain potato chips will do little to help you disguise a poor wine. Instead opt for a selection of cheeses, as they will enhance the flavor of even the cheapest of wines.
About The Author Since Neil Best first pondered the question, Who made the first wine anyway? he's been recording his findings at http://www.goodglug.com Find about your favorite wine regions, wine recipes, and speciality wines along with how it's made and how best to store it for maximum enjoyment neilbest@rocketmail.com
Labels: Wine Bottles                         
2:09 PM
Thursday August 21, 2008 - Wine Society
A Featured Wine Society Article
Know Your Kind of Wine Today The right combination between food and wine is a source of ultimate bliss for every connoisseur. Both wine and food can benefit from the right pairing. The right wine can accentuate unexpected gastronomical aspects of food and vice versa, wine can shine in a new light when accompanied by the right dish. In order to savor the splendor of such combinations, one does not need to frequent expensive restaurants and buy overpriced wines. Rather, when combining food and wine it is one???s intuition and curiosity that are of paramount importance.
About the AuthorArt of Wine Tasting.
Labels: Wine Bottles 8:58 PM
This composition on Italy Wine was written with the purest intention of spreading information Italy Wine . Let it retain its purity.
Italy Wine For Your Reading Pleasure
Why Wine Gift Baskets Are Always A Popular Choice For Christmas Gifts Don't we all love receiving food as a gift? Who cares what the occasion is? We all love to get good food. Food is one of those meaningful presents that says so much more than when you receive just another useless object. Food represents comfort and the good things in life. This holiday season, or for any reason, when you're trying to figure out a good gift to give, you ought to look into wine gift baskets. For the wine connoisseur or the wine novice, wine gift baskets are a great way to tell someone you care and give them something interesting, different, and delicious. A variety of wine gift baskets are available for your gift-giving pleasure. You can select a basket which features red wine. Such a basket can consist of just one type of red wine like merlot or red zinfandel, for example. You can find wine gift baskets which will have a variety of merlots so the recipient can taste and compare different brands. You can also get a wine basket which contains a variety of wine styles. That way your friend can compare a merlot with a cabernet sauvignon. Wine gift baskets are available with white wines and blushes, too. Don't know what type of wine to give? A good idea is to give them a basket which contains a chardonnay, a merlot, and a blush. Then you have all the bases covered. Wine gift baskets come in a number of price points. There's a basket to suit every budget. You can spend anywhere from around $30 to in excess of $200. Obviously this means there are a wealth of options from which to choose. Wine gift baskets don't have to be just wine, either. You can select a gift basket which includes complementary food items such as candies, fruits, and cheeses. Imagine their joy when they receive a lovely wicker basket containing a bottle of exquisite Californian sauvignon blanc, a bar of delicious Swiss chocolate, a box of fine British crackers, and a block of fresh Italian mozzarella cheese. Wine gift baskets can be educational for the novice wine drinker and an exciting gift for the wine lover on your gift shopping list. One of the best things about them is their convenience. There a number of mail order companies which will be happy to send you a free catalog from which you can select your gifts and have them shipped to your friends and family. In addition to catalogs, there are plenty of online companies from which to choose. Often, a business will allow you to shop both online and through their catalog. Online ordering is safe and convenient and allows you to do more research on your gift items. This holiday season, or any time you're in search of a thoughtful gift, look into giving a wine gift basket. It's certain they'll love it.
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