Plastic Wine Corks

Plastic Wine Corks

In order to alleviate the problem of cork taint, synthetic cork closures were adopted by some bottlers. The new "plastic" corks are still used by some vintners, but they are not the perfect solution. In fact, they are so sticky, removal from the bottle is difficult and removal from standard corkscrews almost impossible. Wine spoilage is also a problem with plastic corks because they lose elasticity over time, and let in too much air. This causes oxidation of the wine, and often results in formation of acetic acid as described above. In general, the plastic corks decrease the shelf life and may spoil wines that are meant to age longer. The plastic alternative has been a disappointment.

Changing Tradition: Wineries Go to Screw Tops

A 30-month study conducted by Hogue Cellars, a winery in the Columbia Valley region of Washington State, compared synthetic cork, natural cork and a type of screw top called a "Stelvin" cap. Their findings suggest that the screw caps are superior closures to either of the alternatives. Granted, Hogue Cellars is fanatical about the merits of screw caps.

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Another potential problem with corks

Another potential problem with corks is that they occasionally "fail" and let too much air into the bottle over time. For short-term storage, this is not a disaster, and may even impart a pleasant flavor to the wine. In long term storage, this air in the bottle can create vinegar if there is a certain type of bacteria present. It takes many months of exposure to air before the wine actually tastes like vinegar, but the presence of acetic acid does indicate that the wine is spoiled.

So why do wineries still use cork? With such a high percentage of spoilage, it would seem that an alternate form of closure is needed. But corking wine is a very old tradition, and that may be what keeps corks in wine bottles. Also in its favor, cork is a renewable and biodegradable material, unlike plastic or metal.

One other factor may be in play: the romance of the cork. Who doesn't love the pop of the wine cork? The perception has been that fine wines are corked and inexpensive wines use synthetic corks or screw tops. This may be changing.

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TCA is an extremely potent chemical

What's Wrong with a Cork?

For hundreds of years or more, corks have been used to seal wine bottles. It's a tradition. But it is estimated that from 5 to 7% of stored wines are spoiled because of a type of mold that grows on cork. More specifically, the wine is spoiled by a dank, musty-smelling chemical called TCA that is a by-product of the mold. TCA simply spoils the taste of the wine. This condition is called "cork taint," and the bottle is considered "corked."

TCA is an extremely potent chemical, and tiny amounts can ruin a bottle of wine. Some say that 10 billion bottles of wine could be ruined by just one ounce of TCA. As the compound forms, it first takes away the aroma and flavor of the wine, then imparts its own unpleasant properties to the bottle. Experienced wine tasters can detect TCA in concentrations of 1-2 parts per trillion. At 10 parts per trillion, all wine drinkers will notice that the wine smells like a wet dog wearing moldy newspapers. It will taste even worse.

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A Master Sommelier is buying and managing thousands of bottles of wine

A Master Sommelier is buying and managing thousands of bottles of wine starting in the early morning and working with chefs for future menu planning to have the right wines on hand to support all menu items. Not an easy job.

Drinking wine can be enjoyed by everybody. Some people just like to drink a glass of wine and have the feeling that it adds just that special thing to the moment. Others focus on the wine itself and get a great experience from analyzing the wine they are drinking.

People have drunk wine for almost 9000 years. While developing agriculture and building up civilization, wine has been a part of our lives. The Ancient Greeks and Romans even dedicated a god to wine.

We don't know exactly from which vessels wine was consumed in the old days but it has not always been a glass cup. Nowadays wine is hardly drunk from anything else than a wine glass. As many of us simply know, the wine drinking experience is lost when drinking wine out of something else than a real wine glass. Connoisseur or not, the glass you are drinking your wine from can be of great influence to your drinking experience.

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With the requirement of having practical experience

In 2012 there were 11 titles of Master Sommelier bestowed and 7 were in Northern California, 1 in Southern California, 1 in Seattle, 1 in New York, and 1 in Aspen. In my random survey of title holders it appears that virtually all are employed in the restaurant industry. It is important to recognize there are only 129 Master Sommeliers in the US.

With the requirement of having practical experience in the beverage industry, supplemented with the 4 levels of course work, the process to become a MS can be 5 or more years in total and cost $4,000 exclusive of wine purchases.

The job of a Sommelier is to promote wine within a restaurant setting, raise the standards of beverage services, and manage the profitability of the beverage component for a restaurant. Therefore, not all employees of a restaurant wearing a suit and delivering wine to the table are Master Sommeliers. Having gotten to know a great Master Sommelier in Las Vegas, Mr. Kevin Vogt, I have found you can get a lot of wine experiences and information from a Master Sommelier for the simple price of a bottle of wine. Ultimately, they consult with the customer to enhance the customers experience with the total restaurant (food, beverages, and ambience). Actually, wine service can be very complicated, especially when a demanding customer is thrown into the mix.

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The second title of professional status in wine

Today, after 2 years of intense study, the Masters of Wine final exam comprises four-3 hour sessions of questioning on-viticulture, winemaking, wine business and relevant issues confronting the wine business. Part two involves three blind tastings of 12 flights of wines each followed with a written paper on all elements of each of the wines. Finally a 10,000 word dissertation must be delivered and defended before a board.

You will find Masters of Wine to be involved in such areas as wine education, wine imports, and food industry and winery companies.

The second title of professional status in wine is that of Master Sommelier awarded from The Court of Master Sommeliers. The Court of Master Sommeliers was established in 1969 in the UK to encourage improved standards of beverage knowledge and service in hotels and restaurants. Today there are approximately 200 individuals who have earned The Court of Master Sommeliers title, a process that can take 5 years of formal course work and practical service industry experience to complete. Actual course work can be accomplished in a couple of years.

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The Fortified Wine Years

The effects of the 21st Amendment have had a major impact on the history of wine consumption in the U.S. during the 20th and 21st Centuries. Its legacy is a tangle of state and county laws that regulate the production and sale of wine.

The Fortified Wine Years

Immediately after the repeal of Prohibition, wine consumption dropped as Americans had renewed access to spirits and beer. From the repeal of Prohibition to the late 1950s, high-alcohol dessert and fortified wines dominated the market. These were the darkest days of the history of wine production and consumption. Many fortified wines were produced and sold extremely cheaply, and catered to the "misery market". "Winos" drank these overly alcoholic concoctions because they were the cheapest way to get drunk. In the quest for short-term profits, unscrupulous producers stamped a black mark on the history of wine in America.

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The 21st Amendment: Repeal of Prohibition

The 21st Amendment: Repeal of Prohibition

After a decade of the "noble experiment", Congress passed the 21st Amendment. It ended national Prohibition and transferred the authority to allow or ban production and sale of alcohol to individual states. Many states relegated this authority to the county level. Counties in some states prohibit alcohol to this day. The history of wine production and sales since the repeal of Prohibition has been governed by the 21st Amendment, not the free trade mandates of the U.S. Constitution.

Because every state has the power to make their own laws regarding wine sales, it has effectively made commercial wine distribution a convoluted mess. Marketing wine in the U.S. continues to be a difficult and frustrating task, especially for smaller wineries.

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Due to the inaccessibility of alcohol

Because of the Volstead Act, American wine consumption actually increased during Prohibition. The traditional American alcoholic beverages of beer and distilled spirits were illegal to produce and sell from 1920-1933. As a result, regions like Lodi saw a massive increase in demand for grapes used for home winemaking.

Prohibition did not curtail the American apetite for alcohol, it merely destroyed the legal framework that governed alcohol sales. Due to the inaccessibility of alcohol, the use of other drugs, including cocaine and marijauna greatly increased. Additionally, the government lost a major source of revenue from taxing alcohol as organize crime took over the means of production and distribution. The American public became increasingly dissolutioned with the government's stubborn attempt to attain the impossible.

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The most important thing to keep in mind

The most important thing to keep in mind when tasting a wine is to be sure to use your senses. Enjoying a glass of wine is not simply about drinking and noting the taste, but about inspecting all aspects of the wine.

Color is very important in wine which is why people are often seen holding a glass of wine up to the light before drinking it. As wine ages the color of the wine changes. Red wines in general begin as a very dark red or purple color. Over time, red wines tend to fade from this dark shade to a garnet and finally a brick red. At first this color change might only be noticed around the rim of a wine, but over the years the entire wine will fade. White wine on the other hand tends to darken with age. White wines usually start out straw or lemon in color and age to dark amber.

Why is the color of a wine so important to inspect? The color of a bottle of wine with respect to it's age can be an important key in determining if a bottle of wine has been manufactured poorly. For example, if a one-year-old bottle of Sauvignon Blanc is already a very dark, deep amber color when the bottle is first opened, this could signify that the bottle has not been manufactured and processed correctly causing the wine to age prematurely and not taste it's best. The same can be said for red wines, if a young bottle of Merlot is already a brick red or brown color when opened, chances are good there was a problem with the bottle and it will not have optimal taste.

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Luxurious style with a handcrafted look that rivals fine custom racking

Luxurious style with a handcrafted look that rivals fine custom racking, in mahogany or Redwood, with the look and quality that will last a life time, the wine racks are always useful and decorative.

Many wine racks models have the ability to meet the clients' needs with an eye catching appeal. The labels on the bottles are easily read when stored the proper way.

Feel free to pour yourself a glass of your favorite wine and take a gander are some of the many designs without even leaving home. And the next time you reach for that perfect vintage, you might just slip it out of the perfect wine rack!

To many people the sight of a man or woman in a restaurant or bar sniffing and swirling a glass of wine before ultimately tasting it and relaying their satisfaction to the server can seem rather pretentious. However, this is actually the best way to get the most from your bottle of wine; to see, smell and taste every aspect. Whether it is an expensive box of wine or a prize winning bottle of Merlot, to truly appreciate a bottle of wine it is important to learn how to correctly taste wine.

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Using the wine racks

Using the wine racks, the client will have no fear about its bottles' movement and sediment being disturbed. As wood specie, maple is very stable and allows the wine to mature without worry of movement or instability. The bottles are stored individually on wine cellar shelving allowing fetching the needed bottles easily without disturbing or re-arranging other bottles. There is plenty of space between bottles to ensure reasonable air circulation and temperature consistency.

The wine is important for many customers, so they can choose a wine storage system that can depend on to grow as the wine collection grows. The wine racks can be useful to build a complete wine cellar or fill a corner, a counter, or an entire room. The stackable mix and match storage components give even difficult to fill spaces a custom look. Proper wine storage starts with wine racks and ends with cool, controlled temperatures. They are always great deals for the wine enthusiast.

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A personalized wine label is particularly great

A personalized wine label is particularly great when coupled with wine that evokes even more sentiment. Giving someone wine from a year that is of particular importance or from a region that they hold as special can make a personalized wine label, and the wine inside, that much more cherished.

Wine Openers and Accessories

Wine is a product that has several accessories: it is the teenage girl of the alcohol industry. Because of this, many wine lovers can always use wine devices to supplement their collection. From something as small as a wine opener to something as large as a wine rack, anything to do with wine makes a great gift for both the accomplished wine connoisseur and the aspiring wine connoisseur.

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Wine Clubs are an extremely easy gift to give

What's more, Wine Clubs are an extremely easy gift to give. The Internet is swimming with a variety of Wine Clubs, clubs that provide quick and easy enrollment. However, when giving the gift of a Wine Club, keep in mind that some are only allowed to ship to certain states. Thus, be sure that you find one able to deliver to the state where the gift recipient resides.

Personalized Wine Labels

Personalized wine labels are one of those rare gifts that combine emotion and practicability: the bottle's label allows for the conveyance of a personal touch while the bottle's contents allow for enjoyment of a different sense. A personalized wine label is something that can be held onto: long after the bottle is emptied, it can be kept the way cards, letters, and photographs are stored, all retained with the purpose of sentiment. From giving newlyweds a wine bottle that reads, "First Christmas" to giving your parents one that reads, "Thirtieth Christmas," a personalized wine label invites a plethora of possibilities.

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Wine Clubs

However, there are certain gifts that allow for avoidance of long lines, screaming children, and the "Sold Out" signs sure to plague the Tickle Me Elmo section of local department stores. One of these is the gift of wine, a gift that represents friendship, celebration, and so much health that it runs a close second to giving a kidney. Because there are a variety of ways wine can be given, it is simply one of the easiest gifts to give and an even easier one to receive. When giving wine, there's no need to keep the receipt.

Wine Clubs

Enrolling a friend, a spouse, or a relative in a Wine Club is one of the most unique gifts you can give the wine lover. For the wine novice, a Wine Club provides education on and exposure to the different types of wine, all the while teaching the drinker that wine does not necessarily come in a box. For the connoisseur, a Wine Club allows the drinker to keep their cellar full as bottles show up on their front porch with the regularity of a full moon. A Wine Club also indulges members with inside information, special deals, wine secrets and exposure to rare vintages.

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Many formal wine tastings do not allow you

Many formal wine tastings do not allow you to swallow the wine. The tasting is simply to get the taste, smell the bouquet and enjoy the overall experience of the wine. At your casual tasting you can feel free to allow your guests to drink the wine, but there may be sobriety issues if you do this. It is also important to realize that you may not get the full flavor and effect of the wine as you get deeper into the tastings.

Either way that you perform your tasting you will want to have clean glasses for each person and each bottle. You will also need a clean white tablecloth. The white tablecloth will allow you to get a good view of the wine. The tablecloth allows you to see the wine's body and any sediment that may be in the glass from an aged wine. Candlelight will also allow you to see the wine clearly and any sediment that may be in the bottle or decanter. Clean glasses are extremely important, as any residue in the glass will cause your wine to have an impure taste.

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If you're doing a blind wine tasting

If you're doing a blind wine tasting I would suggest you mix the order up as to alleviate any perceptions or expectancies of your guests. You can make your vertical wine tasting party more fun and interesting by turning it into a blind wine tasting. This also ensures an impartial judgment of the wine. You can remove the labels from the wine bottles and place them in wine bags so your guests have no idea the vintage of the wine. It's always interesting to see if your guest tasters can really tell the difference between an older more expensive varietal as opposed to that younger and obviously much "cheaper" wine. Have fun with it...after all it's your party.

If you enjoy wine and your friends enjoy wine, a casual wine tasting can be a great way to enjoy wine together and test each other's palates. You can hold blind tastings if you really want to test your skills and the skills of your friends, or you can just get together and try out the different types of wines that you and your friends enjoy.

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Regarding the order to serve the wines in

Regarding the order to serve the wines in, their are different opinions as to whether to serve from younger to older or older to younger. The general belief is that the wines should be served from youngest to oldest with the reasoning being that younger wines tend to be more simple in taste while the older wines are more complex. Serving wines in this order tends to build up the palate through the tasting.

On the other hand some younger wines can be quite bold while older wines may be more subtle, so by serving from youngest to oldest the palate may burn out early and your guests will not be able to enjoy and appreciate the subtleties of the older wines. I really feel it's all in relation to the vintages (ages) of the wines you are serving. If the wines are all relatively new the order of tasting may not matter. However if you are throwing in a much older vintage with newer vintages you may want the older vintage to get special attention and consideration.

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Stepping up to the tasting bar

The tasting room and outside veranda here are an ideal way to while away a few hours on a sunny afternoon.  From either inside or outdoors, you'll take in a panoramic view of the surrounding valley.  You can buy Soaring Wings wine by the glass, partnered with Nebraska made cheese, sausage, and other delicacies.  Local art adorns the walls, and Soaring Wings hosts live music acts on Friday nights and Sunday afternoons.

Stepping up to the tasting bar, we were delighted to see so many varied styles to sample.  Soaring Wings wines have won almost 150 medals in international competitions, so chances are anything you select will please your palate.  Our favorite was a slightly dry red, the Special Reserve St. Croix.  Made with grapes that thrive in eastern Nebraska's river valley, this wine is rich and satisfying, with a dark fruit bouquet.

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Omaha Area Wineries

Omaha Area Wineries

With the better part of an afternoon ahead of us, we hit the road to explore two Omaha area wineries.

Driving south from Omaha, the metro area evolves into a rich river valley, with expansive farms beckoning along the way.  It's easy to see why agriculture prospers here, as the Missouri River and fertile soil combine to provide a bountiful harvest.

Just 15 minutes south of Omaha in the midst of this lush valley, you'll find Soaring Wings Vineyards.  Since 2003, the Shaw family has been operating this 11 acre winery and vineyard on land that was a former Native American settlement.  Numerous artifacts have been found on site, and farming has been the primary pursuit since the 1800's.

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On this one hour Missouri River cruise

Lauritzen Gardens, Omaha's primary botanical gardens, is a 100 acre oasis of tranquility, ideal for a little exercise on foot.  Wander amongst the rose gardens, Victorian garden, arboretum, or the floral display hall.  After lunch at Johnny's Cafe and Steakhouse, a wonderful history laden Omaha tradition since 1922, it was time to explore Omaha's ongoing relationship with the Missouri River on the River City Star.

On The Missouri River

On this one hour Missouri River cruise, you'll glide along Omaha's riverfront parks, including the Lewis and Clark Landing. This 23 acre park site is one of Omaha's gathering spots, featuring a boardwalk on top of the river wall, marina, and nightly live music in season.  You'll also pass the Heartland of America Park and Fountain, the Omaha skyline, and downtown Council Bluffs Iowa just across the river.

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Pair Regional Wines with Regional Dishes

Pair Regional Wines with Regional Dishes

Commandment 7 - SEE THE WHOLE PICTURE

How many times have you heard, "pair Pinot Noir with duck or Cabernet Sauvignon with lamb?" While for the most part, these can be good suggestions; a good wine pairing takes into account more than just the meat or protein served in a dish. How many different ways can duck be prepared? How many recipes could you find for lamb? When pairing food and wine together, you need to see the big picture. Pair the wine not only to the protein, but also the sauce, vegetables, and starch in a dish. By taking the entire dish into account, you will be selecting a wine that will pair much more successfully with the whole plate.

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Wine has been around for thousands of years

Salty and Sour Flavors Bring Out the Positive Characteristics of Flavor

Sweet, Bitter and Savory Flavors Bring out the Negative Characteristics of Flavor

Commandment 6 - THINK LOCALLY

Wine has been around for thousands of years; and throughout most of its history, people were not as mobile as they are today. If you were born in Tuscany a hundred years ago; then most likely you would live your life in Tuscany, and die in Tuscany. You lived your entire life eating the foods of Tuscany and drinking the wines of Tuscany. Common sense dictates that the wines and foods of a region pair together well. Just because we live in a time when you can jump on a computer, book a ticket to Paris, and be in Europe tomorrow; does not mean that we should forget about the roots of wine and food. If you are serving a regional dish, pair it with a wine from that region. They were both made to go together.

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Use these changes in perception to your advantage

In its simplest terms, salty and sour flavors bring out the positive characteristics and flavors of a food or wine. Bitter, sweet, and savory flavors bring out the negative characteristics and flavors. Chefs understand this, and it explains why almost all sauces are either salty or sour. We season with salt and squeeze lemon on a vast assortment of different foods. There is a reason that they serve salty cheeses at a wine tasting - they are trying to sell wine!

Use these changes in perception to your advantage. To make wines taste better, pair them with foods that have salty or sour flavors. To make foods better, wines that are high in acidity and sour flavors work best.

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A decanter serves a couple of functions for your wine

For around $10 you can rest easy knowing that you won't be damaging any surface in your home, and isn't $10 better than having to replace a piece of carpet?

Decanter

A decanter serves a couple of functions for your wine.  It helps to aerate it, allowing the flavors and aromas to open up and it helps to serve as a pitcher for serving the wine.  Decanters come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and materials.  Pricing varies depending on the size, design, what it's made of, and quite frankly, where you buy it from.

Allowing your wine to sit in a decanter for 15 to 30 minutes after opening is great for opening up your wine and ensuring that you get the most out of it.  A decanter can turn a $10 wine into a $20 one just by allowing all the flavors to be presented.  You can find a serviceable decanter starting at about $20, but they do go upwards of $80 to $100 for more elaborate decanters made out of more expensive materials.

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Most of us have had the experience of pouring a glass of wine

Foil cutters can be found either by themselves or in accessory packages.  You simply place them over the top of the wine bottle, apply pressure, and rotate them, cutting a circle around the top of the foil that can then be removed to provide access to the cork.  What's nice about a foil cutter is that they provide a clean cut, remove any danger to yourself, and won't shred the foil into little bits that can find their way into the bottle if you're not careful.  At only a few dollars at an wine shop, there's no reason not to have one of these stored next to your corkscrew.

Drip Collar

Most of us have had the experience of pouring a glass of wine, and then having to catch the drip that starts a race down the side of the bottle.  A drip collar is a great way to avoid drops making their way down a bottle to come to rest on your counter, floor, or carpeting.  A simple piece of metal with a felt lining is simply placed around the neck of the bottle and held in place by your hand while you pour.  Any wine that drips over is just absorbed into the felt instead of staining a surface in your home.

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In the absence of either a metal or marble chiller

In the absence of either a metal or marble chiller, a nice ice bucket is a good way to keep your wine chilled while you enjoy it.  Simply put the wine in, place some ice and add a bit of water to give it a nice ice bath to preserve the temperature while you're drinking it. Many stores sell an electric chiller for a single bottle, and while these are nice, they are often extremely expensive and aren't nearly as effective as chilling the bottle ahead of time and then preserving the temperature with an ice bucket or metal/marble chiller.  They are good for bringing a bottle of red down a few degrees, but you're better off just getting a wine fridge for that purpose when it comes down to it.

A Quality Foil Cutter

Sure, a lot of bottles are moving towards screw-cap, and many others are starting to add little pull tabs that make it easy to remove the foil cap.  All of that being said, there are still far more wineries that are still wrapping theirs in foil without any means to remove it.  While any corkscrew will come with a knife to remove this, there is also the danger of cutting yourself with the knife.

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Men and women have been collecting wine for centuries

Men and women have been collecting wine for centuries, because of the stunning qualities of wine. The nuances in taste, quality, and aromas dependent on vintner techniques and grape selection make the collection of wine an art form similar to collecting oil paintings or sculptures. But wine also has the ability to become a social centerpiece at a meal, a means of promoting friendship (as pointed out by poet Gay), and even a commercial enterprise for those who like to buy, sell, and trade bottles of wine.

An Amazing Array

Australians appreciate wine and in 2006 the country was the sixth largest producer of the world's wine. Wine is produced in all the states and the variety of growing conditions has led to the creation of wines from every categories including red wine, white wine, sparking wine, fortified wine, and dessert wine. Even more fascinating is the fact that the various categories of wine include variations depending on which Australian state grapes and production methods were used.

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Wall Mounted Wine Rack Plans

6) Wall Mounted Wine Rack Plans

Wall mounted wine racks are great space savers and allow you to display your wine collection in the best possible light while preserving your wine. Some wall mounted wine racks cradle the entire bottle, evenly distributing its weight while others are designed to hold the bottles by inserting the neck of the bottle into a padded hole in the wall mounted wine rack. The latter design makes it easier to read the labels and remove the wine bottles from the wine rack. Many wall mounted wine racks are also modular in nature. Additional shelves can be easily added to accommodate one's growing wine collection. 

In 1738 poet John Gay wrote in The Squire and His Cure: From wine what sudden friendship springs! Wine has a long history that dates back to at least 4000 BC. Ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics in tombs include pictures of royalty drinking wine. In fact, the oldest known bottle of wine is dated from 325 AD and was found in 1867 in a Roman sarcophagus unearthed in Germany.

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Wine Cart And Wine Trolley Plans

4) Wine Cart And Wine Trolley Plans

Wine carts and trolleys are multifunctional. They allow you to easily move wine and other items from the kitchen to other rooms or even outdoors with ease when entertaining guests. Another example of a multifunctional wine rack would be to incorporate it in a kitchen island for the purpose of saving space as well. 

5) Stackable and Modular Wine Rack Plans

Modular or stackable wine racks allow you to start small and easily add to your collection as and when needed. This option is cost effective and can be used for all types of situations and wine collectors. Such racks are especially useful when storing wine in cellars. If you have a wine collection that comprises many bottles of just a few varieties of wine, you could consider selecting  building plans for stackable bins or diamond cubes. Conversely, if you have a wine collection that comprises many varieties each with a relatively low number of bottles, then a stackable shelf-like plan would be more ideal. You can label each shelf for each wine variety for ease of management. 

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The science behind why we like wine takes a PhD

The science behind why we like wine takes a PhD to fully understand, which is why the wine industry is so interested in understanding the science behind wines' taste, flavor, aroma, and mouth-feel. One of the leaders in this research in the U.S. is Dr. Ann Noble a former professor at the University of California-Davis. Dr. Noble is the premier expert on the interaction of flavor, aroma and mouth-feel and is the inventor of the Wine Aroma Wheel. Another expert on the chemistry of fine wines is Mr. Henry Wedler, a candidate for his PhD in Computational Organic Chemistry. His expertise is the chemistry of fine wines relating to the primary senses of olfaction (perception of aromas), as well as taste (perceived by gustation) as well as of mouth-feel, perceived by the sense of touch (nociception).

The research of Dr. Noble and others and the work in chemistry of Wedler and others, we can begin to explain and understand why we like a specific wine at a given time and with a meal pairing. It can be said that wine is not a drinker's beverage like beer; it should be enjoyed as art. (Although there are many who would argue that craft beers are similar to wine in their complexity.) Processing why we like specific art is a mental exercise much like appreciating wine art.

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Consumer's drive the wine marke

Consumer's drive the wine market and wineries produce wines that satisfy their market niche, not just in varietals but in flavors, aromas, and style and price points. This explains why there are so many wineries producing labels in each varietal category. Conversely, it is expensive to be a trail blazer in the wine business. The selection of grape's or varietals to be grown (table, raisin or wine), are based on demand forecasts, consumer appreciation of the terroir, and the market revenue per ton for the fruit.

With wine it is the equivalent of "Continuing Education classes"; the education and discovery never ends. Even a casual drinker of wine eventually will arrive at a point where subjects of "flavor", "taste" and "mouth-feel" will become-the search. Well, maybe obsession would be the extreme but the experiences with wine are greatly enhanced when there is a focus on the aroma, flavor and mouth-feel of wine. The question now becomes: Are you getting a full 100% enjoyment out of your bottle of wine? Try bringing the total experience of that bottle of wine into your consciousness.

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wine, raisin, or table grapes

For example, Malbec has seen a surge in planted acreage over the last few years. If we consider bearing acreage versus non-bearing it will be noted that planting commitments were made in 2012 to plant new Melbac (data prior to 2012 is not definitive enough). Roughly, 30 percent of the total acreage for Malbec is just coming on-line in 2015. This means that wineries and vineyards are anticipating an up-swing in demand for Melbac wines. Comparatively, Syrah has seen a negative 3% change in 2014 versus 2013; granted the Syrah base isn't very large (approximately 19,000 acres in California). Cabernet Sauvignon continues to be the star performer in California considering commitment to acreage. But, in crush numbers alone, even Cabernet Sauvignon decreased in 2014.

California acreage committed to all types of grapes (2014) was 928,000 of which wine grapes account for 66% of the total committed acreage. Overall, acreage committed to all grapes was down 0.5 percent 2014 vs. 2013. Elaborating on the point made earlier; the time before the vines become "bearing" is 3 to 4 years and farmers today are projecting that other crops can produce higher yield crops than grapes (wine, raisin, or table grapes).

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If you feel you must tell the guests the price of the wine

If you feel you must tell the guests the price of the wine, be sure you tell them after the tasting is over. This is because it is a natural perception that an expensive wine is superior to a wine that costs a low dollar amount of money. This may be true in some circumstances but it isn't always the case. You don't want assumptions to be made before the wine has been tasted or it will ruin the wine tasting.

Italy has the a long illustrious history in wine dating back to the Roman Empire and the Ancient Greeks who planted some vineyards in Sicily and other parts of Southern Italy like; Calabria and Campania. The Romans with their far reaching Empire that stretched across Europe and into North Africa, planted vineyards in every corner of their domain, including; France, Germany, Spain, and Croatia.

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Wine and Chocolate Tasting

Wine and Chocolate Tasting

Chocolate and wine can go together if you do it right. Some people completely disagree but this is because they do not know how to pair up the two together. When you drink wine with chocolate it is important to be sure the wine is as sweet as the chocolate you are serving. If you have a wine that is not as sweet as the chocolate it will cause the wine to taste very sour.

If you want to serve lighter wines at a wine tasting with chocolate it is best to stick with chocolates that are lighter also. For instance, the white chocolates are the best with the lighter wines. A white zinfandel will go very well when you pair it with a chocolate that is bittersweet.

Priceless Tasting

Priceless wine tasting is not telling the guests how much the bottle of wine costs. If you have several bottles of wine you don't want to let anyone know the price of the wine. When guests know what the price of the wine is their judgment is tainted. Never reveal the price of the wine.

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Wine and Cheese Tasting

Wine and Cheese Tasting

There are many different palate influences that cheese has when you drink a particular wine. When you taste specific wine combinations properly you will understand how well cheese and wine really do go together.

The best way to serve a Cabernet sauvignon is with blue cheese. All you need is just a little. You might serve the blue cheese with an unflavored French bread also. The blue cheese acts by coating the mouth and laying a foundation which will soften the wine and make it taste very good.

The best way to test this is by taking a taste of the wine first. Wait a minute. Then take a bite of the cheese and take another drink. You will see a big difference.

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The following information provides you with the wine

The following information provides you with the wine making supplies and instructions for making that award winning bottle of wine. The instructions are easy to follow, but to make a good tasting wine requires a bit of aging. So, we must patiently wait for our wine to ferment properly, which can take 3-6 months or longer. The wine will be ready to bottle after one month and could be drinkable in another month, but longer might result in a better tasting wine, particularly with red wine.

I know it will be difficult to wait, but it will be worth it! You can label your wine, naming it after yourself, your dog, a certain whimsy, or anything else that meets your fancy.

How to Make Homemade Wine - Wine Making Kit

To learn how to make homemade wine, I think it's best to start with a wine making kit. There are a number of websites that sell the kits. Many of the kits are quite nice as they come packaged with reusable equipment, quality ingredients, and easy-to-follow wine making instructions.

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Hopefully, your tastes in wine

Hopefully, your tastes in wine, like mine, have matured and taken on new levels of wine appreciation, opting for the sophisticated flavors and aromas of red wine types like Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Zinfandel or those found in white wine types, such as Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio, or Moscato - none of which requires us to pick dandelions if we want to indulge in some wine making of our own.

Learn How to Make Homemade Wine that Tastes Great!

You are probably wondering if the homemade wine will taste any good, and it will be helpful to know that award winning homemade wines do exist and are quite easy to make. Homemade wine can yield the same excellent complexity, flavor, and aroma of many vineyard wines.

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If you love wine

Lately, more and more foreign wine companies started to see the huge potential for imported wine in China's domestic market and followed the French predominance. Still, the French wines - principally from Bordeaux - are having the largest market share but other nations are catching up. According to a research, carried out by Wine Intelligence Vinitrac, the ten most popular wine producing countries for Chinese consumers are France, China, Italy, Australia, Spain, Chile, New Zealand, Portugal, Germany and Argentina.

If you love wine, you've probably had thoughts of learning how to make homemade wine!

Many of us remember our parents making wine and perhaps for some it wasn't such a fond memory, especially when as a kid you weren't old enough to drink wine. Did you have to pick dandelions for your dad's dandelion wine? If so, I can empathize with you because so did I. We lived in the country where dandelions grew abundantly and freely, unlike my suburban lawn today where the sight of even one dandelion becomes the neighborhood eyesore.

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Wine is prepared from more than one varieties

Wine is prepared from more than one varieties of Vitis vinifera like Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Gamay and Merlot. When one of these varieties is used the resultant is termed as varietal. The world's most expensive wines come from the regions like Bordeaux and Rhone Valley are blended from different varieties of the same vintage. Wine can also be prepared from the hybrid varieties of grapes obtained by genetic cross breeding. Vitis labrusca, Vitis aestivalis, Vitis rupestris, Vitis rotundifolia and Vitis riparia are native North American varieties of grapes grown for the production of jams, jellies or sometimes wine.

Hybridization is a different process so cannot be confused with grafting. Most of the world's grape vineyards are planted with the European variety of grapevine Vitis vinifera grafted with the North American species rootstock. This is basically done because the North American species are resistant to Phyllosera a root louse that damages the roots of grapevines resulting in death. In the late 19th century most of the vineyards of Europe were destroyed by a bug leading to deaths of grapevines and heavy economic loss. Grafting is a common practice in all wine producing nations except Argentina, Chile and Canary Islands and only these areas include vineyards free from any devastating pests. Associated with wine production terroir is an important concept that includes variety of grapevine to be used, elevation and shape of vineyard, type and chemistry of soil, climate and seasonal conditions and the local yeast cultures to be used. The fermentation, ageing and processing of wine in terroir may result in good wine production.

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Wine has a very rich history

Wine has a very rich history which is 6000 BC old and is thought to have originated in the borders of Georgia and Iran. The wine was prepared in Europe for the first time about 4500 BC ago in the Balkans and was very common in Rome, Thrace and ancient Greece. Wine also deserves an important role in religion throughout the history. The Greek god Dionysus and the Roman god Bacchus symbolize wine and the wine is used in the catholic and Jewish ceremonies. The word wine has originated from a Proto-Germanic word winam which means grape. The earliest cultivation of grapevine Vitis vinifera first started in Georgia. Wine has been prepared in India from the Vedic times. Viticulture started in India first in the Indus valley where grapevines were introduced for the first time from Persia about 5000 BC ago. Chanakya, the chief minister of the Emperor Chandragupta Maurya has discussed about wine in his writings about 4th century BC ago and has designated wine by the term Madhu. He has focused on the side effects of wine and has strongly condemned the use of wine.

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Wine is one of the most fascinating drinks

Wine is one of the most fascinating drinks among the European citizens. It is an alcoholic beverage prepared from the fermented grape juice. Grapes have the chemical property of carrying out fermentation without the utilization of sugars, enzymes or other nutrients. It is prepared fermenting the crushed grapes with the different types of yeast strains. Yeast consumes all the sugars present in grapes and converts them into alcohol. Different types of grapes and different strains of grapes are responsible for the production of different types of wines. Apples and berries are also utilized for the preparation of wines and the wines obtained are named after the name of the fruit like apple wine or elderberry wine or are popularly name as fruit wine or country wine. Barley and rice wine are prepared from the starch based materials and resemble beer and spirit more than wine and ginger wine is fortified with brandy. The term wine is used for these beverages because of their high alcoholic content. The commercial use of the term English wine is under the government control.

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Go on a Ghost Walk

For something a little on the spookier side why not consider a ghost walk around the city and try to catch a glimpse of some of Edinburgh's former residents. You can journey into the vaulted chambers below The Royal Mile - this underground area is supposedly the most haunted place in Scotland. At the end of your tour, escape to one of the brightly lit, comfortable Edinburgh hotels where you can enjoy a delectable meal and forget about things that go bump in the night.

Taste a Bit of Scottish History

If you don't know the difference between whisky or whiskey or what differentiates a malt from a blend then you should visit the Scottish Whisky Experiment - and if you do, well you should go along anyway! The interactive tour, which includes a thrilling barrel ride and stop in the tasting room, tells the story of Scotland's most famous drink. At the end of the tour, you can visit the shop where you can use your newly found knowledge of Scotch whisky to choose souvenir bottles for your friends and loved ones back home. Afterwards, stumble back to one of the affordable hotels for a good night's sleep before your next day of adventure.

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For visitors that haven't yet had the opportunity to visit Scotland, Edinburgh is the perfect gateway city showcasing a mixture of art, culture and fascinating history. Whether you're into hiking or Hogwarts you'll find that the city has plenty of attractions designed to appeal to even the pickiest of tourists. Edinburgh is also famous for hosting several world famous festivals throughout the year which range from the fun Edinburgh Fringe Festival, to the Edinburgh International Book Festival and the Edinburgh Military Tattoo. However, if festivals don't take your fancy you'll find that there's plenty to do on a year round basis, as well as numerous cheap hotels to choose from:

Climb to Arthur's Seat

For the best views of the city you'll need to make quite a climb, but once you reach the top of Edinburgh's extinct volcano you'll find that the views are well worth it. From the top of the peak, you can enjoy breath-taking views of Edinburgh and the surrounding countryside. While there, visit the Our Dynamic Earth museum for an in-depth look at the geographical processes that shaped Scotland's varied landscape.

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Something Engraved

Whether you go for cut crystal or stainless steel, getting something engraved is a sure-fire way of giving them a gift to remember. Depending on what you go for, you'll be able to engrave your chosen initials, a name or even a message, while in terms of products available, there are, among lots of other things, whisky tumblers, brandy glasses, hip flasks, cufflinks, keyrings, charm bracelets and wine stoppers.

Gift Experience Days Out

With plenty of time on their hands, treating them to a gift experience day is also a pretty safe bet. The choice is almost endless, with everything from dinner-and-theatre deals, to tea at Harrods or a tour of Windsor Castle. One particularly popular option is the Gourmet Lunch Cruise that includes a three-course lunch on a glass-bottom boat on the Thames, as well as a 'ride' on the London Eye.

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Bushmills is a small town on the Causeway Coast of Northern Ireland less than six miles from Portrush. It is a popular place to visit and is most famous as being the home of the Bushmills Distillery. It is also the closest town to the Giant's Causeway, one of the most popular attractions on the island of Ireland and a world heritage site.

It is a quaint and picturesque village that it is hundreds of years old. Many of the old buildings have been preserved and provide a picture-postcard type setting. Bushmills is an official conservation village and has over 90 listed buildings. That makes it interesting from a heritage and architectural point of view, but it also makes it beautiful.

Bushmills is a peaceful and quiet place without any hustle or bustle. It is a village where taking it slowly is the order of the day, whether that means browsing through the small and independent shops, eating in the friendly cafes or restaurants, or soaking up the atmosphere in the traditional bars which often host live entertainment.

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Bubble #10: Tech start-ups, IPOs: The market for IPOs has been very frothy of late with first day gains of 100% in some cases. Of recent IPOs - Twitter is up 64% - to $42 from its IPO price of $26 - even though it is yet to report a profit. Potbelly Corp., a sandwich restaurant chain, went public at $14 and now trades at about $30, up over 100%. Encouraged by this highly receptive market, many other start ups without profits - such as Chegg that just went public on Wednesday - are also hitting the market - raising hundreds of millions in cash and garnering billion-dollar valuations on zero profits. It's sort of like the go-go dot-com days and many analysts are wary of these eyebrow-raising valuations.

So there you have it - 10 potential bubbles... which I plan to follow through the end of Obama's term. And while we've identified these ten, I wouldn't be surprised if there's something completely out of left field that hits us and takes markets down... only time will tell.

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Bubble #8: Cattle and beef futures: Cattle futures are at an all-time high since November 1984, to $1.34 per pound from slightly over a dollar a pound at the beginning of the year. Prices have spiked because - over the past few years - farmers trimmed their herds due to droughts and high feed costs that made cattle farming unsustainable. Now, supply lags demand, but rising beef prices may slow beef consumption in favor of cheaper alternatives such as chicken and pork. With feed prices dropping in 2013, ranchers may start to build herds and stabilize supply and demand by the end of 2015 - so, again, a crash is unlikely.

Bubble #9: Student loan debt: Over the past ten years, federal student debt has tripled to over $1 trillion in June 2013, with default rates rising sharply since the financial crisis in 2007 with jobs hard to come by for new grads. Default rates are up from about 5% in 2007 to over 10% in 2012 and rising and even Ivy League grads are part of the growing default trend.

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In a similar vein for those smaller gifts whisky stone

3. In a similar vein for those smaller gifts don't get too hung up on details. Grandad is a whisky lover. Stop getting paralyzed over what sort! Yes, whisky is one of those spirits were the taste of one to another is dramatically different. So I've got some great tips here. If you don't know which ones they tend to prefer stick to something fairly neutral - Lowland or Speyside. Get yourself into a local bottle shop with a decent selection and talk to someone. Quite often the whiskies are broken into regions so that makes life easier. Then start looking at special editions. Every distillery does them. Extra matured, two casks, different casks, the selection really is endless. Grab one. Most whisky lovers will pick up the "main" bottling, so a different bottling is a different taste, but one they are sure to enjoy trying. And if you would rather do an experience instead think about some of the distillery tours. Some are pretty spectacular frankly.

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2. Start with a broad idea of what someone likes. For instance, you don't have to know what sort of films they like if you at least know they are into films generally. If you do know what they are in to so much the better. But mind you that leads on to one more snag - do they already have it. Time to think outside the box - outside the DVD box that is. Go bigger. What about a cinema pass for a year? Nice touch but could be a bit pricey. What about a Netflix subscription? Now there's a good idea. Not only is it the gift that keeps on giving but you can actually spread your cost through the year - after all it's a monthly subscription. And that leads you to next Christmas. If they've used it you can always check if they would like you to renew it. Or if you've fallen out it will suddenly stop working - if you remember to cancel it of course.

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And finally, does anyone appreciate gift vouchers? It's always nice to get a gift but doesn't it just get largely forgotten about?

It's a nightmare isn't it? Personally I always find it easier to buy for the women in my life. Maybe they just expect less, or are too kind to give me that withering look when they open it and it's rubbish. Whichever it is I've just always found that easier. So try these 5 tips out to avoid the nightmare.

1.       Don't, whatever you do, just grab the first thing that you see. I used to do this when I did the whole man Christmas shopping thing. You know the one. Where you don't start until 23 December - at the earliest! But as I said you need to start earlier. Otherwise you end up picking up a... metal detector. Not a good idea for your husband ladies. He will probably just think you are trying to get him to go out early and scour the beach and give you peace (so if that's what you are after go for it). But your nephew aged 10 may love it.

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