Wednesday - Wine Rating
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 Food                         
5:23 PM
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Exploring Barossa Wineries Down Under With a name like Barossa, your taste buds should be tingling with anticipation if you are going to make the trip to Australia. Here is some information on exploring the wineries of Barossa that will help you set up your trip. The Barossa Valley in Australia is home to many different wineries and vineyards. Australia is relatively new to the wine making world, but more and more varieties and wineries from this country are becoming popular in the US and Europe. Known for introducing the world to the red wine known as Shiraz, Australian vineyards are producing wines that are rivaling those from the Napa Valley in California, and even those that come from France. Barossa wine excursions are a great way to explore this part of Australia, and enjoy some of the wines that this area has to offer. One company that has spent years introducing wine enthusiasts to the Barossa Valley and surrounding areas is Barossa Vintage (+61 8 8524 5353), located in Lyndoch, Barossa Valley. Barossa Vintage offers chauffeur driven excursions to the many wineries in the area, as well as packages that include accommodations or transfers to and from the airport in the region. The company will be happy to help you arrange accommodations in one of the many bed and breakfast establishments located in Barossa Valley, or if you've booked a room already, they are willing to pick you up from any area spot in Barossa Valley, Adelaide or Adelaide Hills. Most of the packages offered by Barossa Vintage take place in their roomy Kia Carnival (a minivan type of vehicle) and can range from a short half day to a custom full day event. The half day package will take you to at least three wineries in the Barossa Valley, and include either morning or afternoon tea. This is a good way to get a glimpse of the wineries available in the area, but most people opt for a full day outing in order to enjoy all of the wineries and tastings Barossa has to offer. A full day excursion starts out with a morning tea, which is provided by the local Lyndoch Bakery (known for their fresh baked cakes) and also includes a ?bistro lunch? where wine can be purchased by the glass. You will be able to see at least four different wineries while on the full day excursion, and you will be able to taste some of the many full bodied red wines produced here, as well as some white wines and even fortified wines (such as port). Additional stops can be arranged to see different parts of southern Australia aside from Barossa Valley. These stops can include seeing the McLaren Vale wine area or the Clare Valley wine area. The Barossa Valley of Australia is fast becoming a popular destination for wine lovers from all over the globe. If you enjoy the full bodied taste of an Australian red wine, then this trip is for you.
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