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Wine Making Supplies

Elkhart, IN (PRWEB) February 23, 2010

People who make their own wine are justifiably proud of their work, whether they use fresh fruit or wine making kits to produce their homemade wines. Bottles are shared at dinner parties, given as gifts and usually that’s as far as it goes – unless this wine happens to be a prize winner, that is.

Hobby vintners looking for a little more recognition for their wines have a golden opportunity in the form of the 2010 WineMaker International Amateur Wine Competition being sponsored by Elkhart’s Quality Wine and Ale Supply, which specializes in wine making supplies, beer brewing kits and other products for home brewers and vintners.

The contest is open to all amateur wine makers and includes separate categories for fifty different varietals, with prizes for varietals and best of show winners from Quality Wine and Ale Supply as well as from Winexpert, RJ Spagnols, Wine Maker Magazine and other sponsors. There’s a lot of chances to win; and even winemakers who don’t end up with prizes will gain something very valuable – feedback on their wines from the wine experts who make up the panel of judges for the competition.

As an additional incentive to their wine making customers, Quality Wine and Ale Supply is offering the chance to win additional gift certificates to those who enter the WineMaker International Amateur Wine Competition using their own entry form available on their website. The deadline for entries to the 2010 event is March 15th, so wine making hobbyists are strongly encouraged to enter as soon as possible before it’s too late to be considered.

Unfortunately the deadline will have come and gone too quickly for anyone who has just picked up a wine making kit; but they have a year to refine their craft and create a wine which just may walk away with a best of show prize for 2011. While it will soon be too late to enter the 2010 competition, it’s never too early to plan for the future.

For more information about the 2010 WineMaker International Amateur Wine Competition or to enter the event, please visit:

http://www.homebrewit.com/2010_WineMaker_International_Amateur_Wine_Competition_Info.php

Media Contact:

Quality Wine and Ale Supply

530 E Lexington Ave. #115

Elkhart, IN 46516

Tel: (574) 295-9975

Fax: (574) 295-9932

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Episode 2 of The Amateur Wino video series about wine. We review budget pinot noirs from California, and talk about the stages of tasting a wine, and about what acidity and tannins mean when it comes to wine. Also, see a sneak preview of our visit to the Russian River Valley and Copain Wines in Episode 3. Wines reviewed are the 2007 Wild Horse Central Coast Pinot Noir and the 2006 Sebastiani Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir.

Most white wines are not developed equal. You’ll find large differences in taste amongst different types of wine. If you’ve just reached drinking age and desire to become a wine connoisseur, you need to discover the distinct kinds of white wines which means you can be an educated buyer.

White wines are finest when they’re consumed within a year of purchase. Red wines are better for placing in the cellar and letting them age. White wines really should all be served at quite, incredibly cold temperatures, as chilled white wine is delicious. Pour a small quantity of wine into the glass and return the bottle to an ice bucket to prevent letting the wine inside your glass warm up to room temperature, where it might develop an acidic flavor.

Chardonnay is possibly one of the most well-known wine these days. Inside the California wine area, 95% of California wineries produce a minimum of one vintage of Chardonnay wine. This white wine comes in the chardonnay white grape, that will grow in virtually every single area where wine grapes might be grown. Chardonnays are regarded for their crisp, mellow taste. A chardonnay would never be described being a sweet white wine.

Don’t let the name scare you. The Sauvignon Blanc wine family (also sometimes called Fume Blanc) is definitely an exceptional starter wine for that beginning drinker. This crisp white wine is dry and light in body, producing it perfect for consuming with fruit, cheese, or merely on its own being a cocktail. You might detect an undertone of smoky, tart, or herbal taste. Sauvignon Blanc should be consumed soon right after they are purchased, since this wine won’t improve with age, and it may even worsen in flavor and entire body should you shop it to get a prolonged time frame.

Riesling is a very famous wine amongst beginning drinkers mainly because it includes a sweet flavor that appeals to novices. Rieslings are fragile, fragrant and fruity. They may be superb for serving with fruit, cheese and appetizer courses. Riesling can also be a very good wine to mix into a wine cocktail. To make an iced wine martini, just pour a glass of Riesling, add a shot of ice cold Vodka and garnish with three frozen seedless grapes – in no way olives. You may serve olives with chardonnay, however the powerful taste of olives will overpower the flavor of a delicate Riesling.

If you want to assess supermarket wine shopping to wine on line, well, you may have a lot of usefulness problems that could can come to mind. Very first, when you merely select wine on line, you no longer need to endure through long lines as well as travel time and in some cases dress up. You are able to simply just take a seat looking at your computer, connect with the net and research a broad collection of wine on line. In addition to that, to be able to pay for wine in bulk (conceivably like a memento or even you like to stock up on them due to the low price), it is also easier to just simply buy wine on line to get this shipped to your house.

One other benefit of purchasing wine on line is in case you have a particular wine option and it is not distributed or is seldom available in your own area of the country. In case you get on line, you’ll be able to select from an array of wines from around the world. You already know we have got a bigger selection repertoire with regards to wine on line.

Today, imagine if you prefer to browse through the top picks and browse a few reviews with the newest wines out there? Lo and behold, the world wide web can take care of the actual sorts of data you will need. There are tons of amateur and also experienced wine enthusiasts that keep on line journals, blogs and forums and even specific internet sites and acquire a great deal of first-hand the specifics of wine. You are able to merely type in your current desired research keywords and phrases in the search engines and you may effortlessly create a shortlist associated with reputable sites as well as wine sellers who do their own circulation of wine on line. These types of information and facts are usually very helpful in particular when you’re no serious wine buyer but you will need to provide wine in a specific purpose. Studies easiest on line.

One way of classifying wine is by color: red, white, or rose. Choosing one of these wines is a matter of individual taste. Determination of choice may be based on the food one is eating or serving, the occasion, or even time of the year. Most wines are categorized by color before any other distinction.

Wine may be classified as regular without bubbles or bubbly. Regular wines are ones we drink at any time; whereas, bubbly wines are ones we save for special occasions. These wines are further broken down into table wines or light wines, dessert or liqueur, and then the sparkling wines, the ones with bubbles.

Vino is made from fermented grape juice. The United States and Europe have set standards regulating the alcohol content in wines. It is by these standards that wine is broken down into table, dessert and sparkling.

According to the set regulations, table or light wines may not have an alcohol content exceeding 14 percent in the U.S. and, in Europe the alcohol content will range from 8.5 percent to 14 percent by volume. The 14 percent limit came about due to the natural fermentation process. Once the alcohol level reaches 14 percent or less there is not enough sugar in the juice to elevate the alcohol content beyond that amount. Another reason for this occurring is that the natural yeasts that settle on grapes die and the fermentation process stops when the alcohol level reaches 14 percent. In more recent years, many grapes are grown in warmer climates, so the natural alcohol content has gone to 14.5 or 15.5 percent. The grapes become overripe with warmer temperatures and the natural sugar content is much higher resulting in higher alcohol content before the juice stops fermenting. Also, gonzo yeast is added. This yeast does not die but continues its process beyond the 14 percent alcohol content. These, however, are still classified as table wines as the alcohol content occurs naturally. California wines, such as red Zinfandels, Cabernets, and Chardonnays, may fall into this category.

Dessert wines or liqueur wines (as named by the Europeans) have additional alcohol added to them raising their alcohol content above that 14 percent level. Sometimes this category of wine is sweeter than table wine but not always and they are not always served after dinner. Bottom line here is that additional alcohol has been added.

Sparkling wine is the bubbly wine. This type of wine contains bubbles formed naturally by carbon dioxide during the fermentation process. Some winemakers choose to keep these bubbles in the wine. Both the United States and Europe call these wines sparkling. Champagne which is made from a specific variety of grapes made under specific circumstances is from a region in France by the same name, Champagne. Champagne is a very popular and well known bubbly wine. All sparkling wines are not Champagne. However, until an updated agreement was made between the United States and the European Union, winemakers were able to label any natural sparkling wine as champagne. The word champagne could even be capitalized. Now the word American or Californian must be added as a prefix to Champagne so that wine buyers know that it is not the sparkling wine made in Champagne, France.

Matt is a consumer product specialist that enjoys matching consumers with products that best meet their needs. Matt is also a wine enthusiast. Come visit his latest website, http://www.LeverWineOpener.com, that discusses every type of lever wine opener such as the Rabbit wine opener and you’ll see why everyone who enjoys a nice glass of wine should consider having a Rabbit wine bottle opener in their kitchen.

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There are critics of the wine tasting process. Some feel that tasting is a normal part of their everyday actions. What is the big deal about wine tasting? When it comes to vino, drinking and tasting are not one in the same. Many wines have a variety of flavors going on at the same time. When tasting wine there are delicate nuances going on in the mouth.

In order to get the most out of a tasting, it must be done in a specific way. Never drink it in a hurry. Slowly sip it. Put thought into each sip and taste. Feel the taste!

When tasting vino, it is just as essential to really see the liquid, the color, the sparkle, the exact shade, how light reflects off of it. Then one smells it. Swirling and sniffing the wine go hand in hand. Swirl the wine of a half full glass. Do NOT swirl your wine if the glass is more than half full. Let it swirl several times so that it mixes with the air. Then the sniffing begins. One must actually put his nose into the glass in the space above the wine. Do not be afraid! Immediately think of any and all aromas you smell. The vapor coming from the wine should be pleasant to you. Whatever you think you smell you probably do. Lastly, one tastes the wine.

Only after swirling and sniffing is one permitted to taste. Hold a medium-sized sip of wine in your mouth, take in some air and allow it to go over the wine. Finally, swish the wine around in your mouth.

Swallow or spit the wine. With the help of your taste buds, you have felt the taste of the wine. You then taste the smell of the vaporized aromas by making use of your internal nasal passage.

To be good at wine smelling, one needs to develop his sense of smell. Take time to smell everything and create a repertoire of scents that are familiar to you; food smells, everyday smells and odors.

Embed all smells and odors into your mind. Breathe in through your mouth when smelling. Doing this will enhance your perception of aromas and smelling wines.

Matt is a consumer product specialist that enjoys matching consumers with products that best meet their needs. Matt is also a wine enthusiast. Come visit his latest website that discusses wine openers such as the Houdini wine opener and the lever wine opener that everyone who enjoys a nice glass of wine should consider having in their kitchen.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/wines-and-spirits-articles/wine-tasting-techniques-for-the-amateur-that-aspires-to-be-a-connoisseur-1733975.html

Depending on whether you are a wine drinker or wine collector will determine how much space you will need to store your wine and how. There are several rules that may be applied to storing wine.

Rule #1: Do not store good wine or Champagne in the refrigerator for more than a week. The flavor of the wine will go flat. Vibrations from the cycling of motors whether they are from the refrigerator, dishwasher or washer/dryer will diminish the flavor of wine. Also, the refrigerators temperature of 35 degrees F is too low for wine storage. The best temperature to store wine is between 53 and 59 degrees F. Storing outside of that range will take away from its flavor.

Rule #2: Storing temperature needs to be somewhat constant. Wine does not fair well with wide temperature fluctuations.

Rule #3: Wine needs to be stored in a damp area between 70% and 95% humidity. Under 70% humidity may dry out the cork, leaving the seal less than airtight. Above 95% humidity may result in mold which could result in the damaging of the label.

Rule #4: Wine should be stored in an area free from natural sunlight. Ultraviolet rays will cause the wine to deteriorate.

Rule #5: Wine needs to be stored away from odor producing chemicals. The strong odors from paint, paint remover, gasoline, etc. may penetrate into the wine changing the flavor.

A few wine collectors may be fortunate enough to live in a home that has an underground basement which satisfies the above criteria. However, the majority do not. A well insulated room may be built for storage which includes a climate control unit that humidifies and cools the air. There are also hygrometers available which measures the humidity. Some also give a digital temperature reading. The hygrometer readings should be checked daily to insure correct humidity and temperature.

This type of room would have racking systems as simple or elaborate as the collector would like. Racking systems can be made of wood, plastic, or metal. Some collectors store their wine in the wooden crates they came in. The case provides the dark environment needed to store it and there is little change in temperature due to the number of bottles stored in one small area.

Do not use cardboard boxes to store wine. Chemicals from the cardboard may enter into the bottle. Over time the high humidity in the room will deteriorate the box.

For apartment dwellers, a wine cave, which looks like a credenza, may be needed. They come in a variety of sizes, holding from 24 bottles to 2,800 bottles. One place to find caves is in wine accessory catalogs.

Matt is a consumer product specialist that enjoys matching consumers with products that best meet their needs. Matt is also a wine enthusiast. Come visit his latest website that discusses lever wine openers such as Rabbit wine openers and the Houdini wine opener that everyone who enjoys a nice glass of wine should consider having in their kitchen.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/wines-and-spirits-articles/from-wine-amateur-to-connoisseur-how-to-store-wine-1733994.html

The purpose of a Wine Tasting Event is to taste the wine and to enjoy a great social atmosphere with like-minded individuals. With that in mind, one must determine if he will drink each wine he has tasted or if he will spit it out. A few people do drink the wine they taste; however, it is recommended not to swallow the wine but to spit it out into a special spittoon that you will find at the event.

There are several reasons that one should not swallow the tasted wine. One, as the evening progresses and the tasting continue, if the taster has been swallowing the earlier tastings, his judgment in assessing the later wines will be hazed. The individual may be unable to thoroughly evaluate and appreciate the latter tastings. Two, holding the wine in ones mouth for 8 to 10 seconds gives the individual the ability to taste the wine completely without actually swallowing it. One is receiving the full taste without having the effects of the alcohol. Especially if the taster drove himself or others to the tasting, the alcohol effects could be dangerous.

Spitting receptacles are provided at the tasting events. The receptacle is generally one large plastic cup per individual or an ice bucket may be provided for several tasters to share. To some, spitting may seem to be an unacceptable behavior but the more experienced one becomes in tasting events he will see that spitting the wine is a typical occurrence.

Another point of etiquette that comes into play during a wine tasting event is the introduction of other smells. Certain smells will take away the tasters’ capacity to smell the wine. Smelling is a very important part of wine tasting. Foreign scents must not be introduced at a wine tasting; such as, smoking, perfumes, hair spray, after-shave lotion, or any scent that will hinder ones smell of the wine.

Wine tasters do not voice their opinion of the wines that they have tasted while others are still tasting their wine. Tasters want to make up their own minds on a wine without someone else’s interjection.

A behavior that may seem to be against good manners is the practice of loud gurgling or slurping when tasting wine. Pulling air into ones mouth, while tasting, does add to ones capacity to fully taste the wine. However, one may do this without being loud and annoying to others.

Matt is a consumer product specialist that enjoys matching consumers with products that best meet their needs. Matt is also a wine enthusiast. Come visit his latest website that discusses intimate details of the Rabbit wine opener and that everyone who enjoys a nice glass of wine should consider having a Rabbit wine bottle opener in their kitchen.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/wines-and-spirits-articles/how-an-amateur-can-share-the-same-wine-tasting-etiquette-as-a-wine-connoisseur-1733983.html