Wine - Part 20

Archive for the ‘Wine’ Category

Wine Temperature Basics

May 10th, 2010

What is the best temperature to serve and store your pet wines? I have been questioned this question many times. Trying to be responsive to Blog readers and business clients, I embarked on what turned to be a two-day research project. What I found is hundreds and hundreds of websites that present information on wine storage and serving temperatures. As you can imagine, the opinions about temperature facts were all over the board.

Keeping your wine at the right temperature is critical to maximizing its value and taste. Wines kept at too high of a temperature will age quicker than desired. Wine stored at too cold of a temperature can develop deposits or other sediments in it. Each type of wine has its own desirable storage temperature range. Keep in mind the ideal storage temperature is not always the same as the ideal serving temperature.

Some general information was reasonably consistent from one website to another. The common refrigerator generally operates at 35 degrees F. The lighter the wine the cooler it should be served. The warmest you should serve any wine is 60 to 65 degrees F. Wine should be stored where humidity is about 70 percent. If you had to pick one temperature to store wine, store it at 55 degrees F.

Based on website research, the following table represents averages of all the information that was found. This table for obvious reasons cannot be described as the best answer to the best temperatures for storing and serving your wine. It can be used as a guide for your information and use. With over 1,000 different types and variations, the wine temperatures evaluated were limited to a few varieties that are more common.

No one can tell you the precise storage or serving temperatures of wine. The largest variable to consider is what your own personal tastes tell you. Having a wine refrigerator to better control the temperatures of your stored wine can help you experiment to find just the right temperatures for your tastes. For more information on wine refrigerators see: http://idealwinecoolers.com

WINE NAME

STORING TEMP

SERVING TEMP

Vintage Port

65

Bordeaux

63

Merlot

62

63

Red Burgundy

63

Cabernet

63

Shiraz

62

Pinot Noir

61

63

Rioja

61

62

Chianti

56

60

Zinfandel

59

64

Rhones

58

60

White Zinfandel

43

60

Cabinet Sauvignon

45

59

Maderia

57

58

Tawny Port

52

58

White Burgundy

50

57

Rose

44

48

Beaujolais

52

48

Viognier

50

52

Sauternes

51

Chablis

50

52

Chardonnay

52

47

Riesling

46

Champagne

45

Sparkling Wines

45

Ice Wines

43

Asti Spumanti

50

52

Author: Ronald Senn, Vice-president, Ideal Wine Coolers, Jan/2010

Ronald Senn is currently Vice-president of Ideal Wine Coolers. Ron served in the U.S. Navy from 1966-1970. Ron graduated from the University of Arizona with BS and MS Degrees. Ron is retired from the U.S. Forest Service after serving over 30 years.

Come visit our website: http://www.idealwinecoolers.com/page/home/index.html

Also visit our blog: http://www.winecoolerblog.com

Correlated Blogs

Technorati Tags: Basics, temperature, Wine

Posted in Wine |

Tags: Basics, temperature, Wine |

No Comments »

What is the difference between Chardonnay, Merlot, and Muscat wine?

May 10th, 2010

Correlated Blogs

Technorati Tags: between, chardonnay, difference, Merlot, Muscat, Wine

Posted in Wine |

Tags: between, chardonnay, difference, Merlot, Muscat, Wine |

2 Comments »

Wine And Cheese Parties Are Positively Delicious!

May 10th, 2010

If there is one thing we all like I reckon we can all agree it would be food. In many cultures around the world food is a very vital aspect of life with unique occasions and food intertwined with each other. Food is a social and fundamental part of society. Face it going to feast with a friend is much more fun than eating feast alone. I don’t know that is why feast parties are such a genius thought, the notion of a group of people getting together to share a meal as well as stimulating conversation while sipping a glorious wine is nothing small of sublime. Putting together such a gathering of companions does not need to be a daunting task, which often seems to be one of the main reasons many people do not host as many soirees as they would like. A much more simple wine and cheese party can give the same jovial atmosphere as a feast party with less work, less deprivation and above all less stress on the host or hostess.

Not much is required for having a wine and cheese party compared to holding a feast party. Decor can be moderately simple and often works best as such. Fancy plates and glasses are not obligatory any. While it is vital to make sure that you have proper wine glasses, do not go out and buy glasses just for the occasion. As stated in an earlier article, Essential Wine Accessories, red wines tend to be served in a larger bowl style glass than whites because of their larger bouquets, but many wine glass companies nowadays manufacture a more universal wine glass which is suitable for both reds and whites. Don’t feel obliged to buy red wine glasses if you only drink white and vice versa because if you would only get use out of them irregularly when you had an event like a wine and cheese party it is not worth the deprivation.

Plates are much the same as wine glasses. If you do not plot on throwing many events it is not worth the expensive of going out and purchasing small serving or even mingling plates. Mingling plates are unique plates that have a hole in one side to side in a wine glass so that while a self is eating and drinking they do not have to agonize about balancing their glass or setting it down somewhere. Instead you can opt for a much less expensive yet still fashionable thought of cocktail napkins. Go down to your local party supply store and pick up a variety of small cocktail napkins in different colors and patterns. By a variety of cocktail napkins not only is less expensive but also means you can better color or theme coordinate if you are having a themed wine and cheese party.

The most vital part of a wine and cheese night is of course the wine and cheese! It is vital to pair the two as best as possible, even if neither you nor your guests are sommeliers. Wine and cheese from the same regions tend to go very well together, but this does not mean you have to serve a French wine with a French cheese. Some of the most vital and most well loved pairings for wine and cheese are:

Brie with Merlot, Champagne or a Sweet Sherry

Camembert with Chenin Blanc or Cabernet

Sharp Cheddar with Cabernet, Sauvignon Blanc or Rioja

Cream Cheese with White Zinfandel

Muenster with Beaujolais or Zinfandel

Roquefort with Tawny Port

Swiss with Gewurztraminer

So as you can see having a wine and cheese party is very simple, inexpensive and just as enjoyable as a full on feast party! Don’t stress if you don’t have the right sort of glasses or plates, the wine and cheese party is meant to be a stress free social event with friends and loved ones.

Dominic Milner is a well known cyber chef with over ten years experience in the catering diligence. Learn how to cook today with his top collection of online free recipes! Whether you want to cook up a meal for the family or bake with the kids he has the recipes for you.

Correlated Blogs

Technorati Tags: Cheese, Delicious, Parties, Positively, Wine

Posted in Wine |

Tags: Cheese, Delicious, Parties, Positively, Wine |

No Comments »

Club Wine, California Wine & Wine Clubs of North America

Archive for the ‘Wine’ Category

Wine Temperature Basics

Correlated Blogs

What is the difference between Chardonnay, Merlot, and Muscat wine?

Correlated Blogs

Wine And Cheese Parties Are Positively Delicious!

Correlated Blogs