Mademoiselle French Collection Wine Magazine 2017

Castello di Amorosa

The Castle in NAPA Valley

CONTENT

Wine Tasting Wine Tasting Courses Wine Tasting Party The Right Temperature For Storing Wine The Beauty Of Sparkling Wine An Introduction To Chardonnay Wine Tasting Journal - Unusual Wine Gift

2017

Castello di Amorosa

The Castle in NAPA Valley

An Art Print Wine Gift Wine Decanters - Elegant Wine Gifts Napa Valley Wine Tour is Incredible Gift Wine Glasses: Gift That Combines Form with Function What to Consider when Classifying Fine Wines?

The Exquisite History of Wine Wine Collecting For Beginners Choosing the Best Wine for Each Occasion California Red Wine Gift Suggestions Wine and Cheese:

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The opinion expressed in each article is the opinion of its author and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of The Victoria Napolitano Group LLC. Therefore, The Victoria Napolitano Group LLC. carries no responsibility for the opinion expressed thereon.

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EDITORS’ CHOICE Even though many just assume that wine tasting is sipping, swishing, and swallowing - many are amazed to find that it’s actually a bit more. Wine tasting is more of an art, an art that is used to distinguish the taste of fine wines. Wine can be a tasty and refreshing drink - if the bottle was stored correctly and aged properly.

Wine tasting begins with the swishing. The reason why wine tasters swish the wine around in their mouths is to get the taste.

Both the front and the back areas of the tongue contain taste buds, although neither one has any distinct sensation in taste. Taste buds can detect food and liquid that is bitter, salty or sweet, without a problem. To get the proper taste from wine however, you need to swish it around in your mouth and allow your taste buds and sense of smell to bring out the unique and fine flavors in the wine.

When you have a cold however, the wine can taste very different. When tasting your wine, your sense of smell has a major impact on the taste. What many fail to realize, is that over 75% of our taste is due to our sense of smell. When we have a cold, our sense of smell is affected. Therefore, when eating or tasting wine with a cold, the taste will appear different. Wine tasters all over the world will tell you that tasting wine is more about a sense of smell than the actual taste buds.

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The art of wine tasting is indeed an art.

Wine tasters do however, follow some general guidelines and rules that judge how great a wine is. These techniques can help you bring the most out of your wine, providing you follow them and know how to bring out the taste.

The first thing to do with wine is to look. With wine, you can tell quite a bit about it by looking at it. You should always start by pouring the wine into a clear glass, then taking a few minutes to look at the color. As far as the color goes, white whines aren’t white, but actually yellow, green, or brown. Red wines on the other hand are normally a pale red or dark brown color. Red wine gets better with age, while white whines get more stale with age.

Next, is the smell of the wine, which you should do in two steps. You should start with a brief smell to get a general idea of the wine, then take a deep, long smell.

This deeper smell should allow you take

the flavor of the wine in. The more experienced wine tasters prefer to sit back a bit and think about the smell before they actually taste the wine.

Last but not least, is to taste the wine.

To properly taste the wine, you should first take a sip, swish it around in your mouth, and then swallow. Once you swish the wine around in your mouth, you’ll bring out the rich and bold flavors of the wine. After swallowing, you’ll be able to distinguish the after taste of the wine, and the overall flavor.

Once you have looked at the wine, smelled it, and finally tasted it, you’ll be able to evaluate the wine from a taster’s standpoint. This is the easiest way to determine the quality of the wine, and whether or not it has been properly stored and aged. As with all things in life - the more you taste wine - the better you will get at distinguishing the unique flavors.

Victoria is the magazine publisher of over 200+ magazines and the managing partner of The Victoria Napolitano Group LLC... She is the creator and designer of : The Mademoiselle French Collection, the founder of The Victoria Napolitano Shopping Network (VNSN.TV).

Victoria has recently be accredited as a journalist and magazine publisher for the 2017 prestigious Baselworld Watch & Jewelry Show in Switzerland.

When asked about her future plans, Victoria's simply says,, "Look for me on Forbes Top list, soon!"

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Wine Tasting

Wine tasting is the art of evaluating wines. When wine tasting you utilize the sensory of sight smell and taste. Wine tasters evaluate the look of the wine in the glass, the fragrance of the wine and the taste of the wine. There is also the “finish” of the wine or the aftertaste.

Wine tasters when tasting wines are served wines without knowing what color the wine is nor do they know who the maker is and the origin of the wine.

This is called “Blind Tasting.”

When wine tasters are trying to determine the similarities and differences they do what is called “Vertical” and “Horizontal” tasting. Vertical are the differences in same wine types but different vintages. Horizontal tasting is wines from the same vintage but different wineries.

The serving temperature for a tasting of wine should be between 60 and 68 degrees Fahrenheit. Keeping this temperature helps with tasting the wines’ flavors. When wine tasting the order of the tasting should be with the sparkling wines, the light wines, and then

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the heavy whites and heavy reds. Heavy wines have a deep color to them while the sweeter wines are thick and generally leave streaks called “legs” on the side of the glass when it is swirled.

The art of wine tasting is as follows; color, swirl, smell, taste and savor. A wine taster must look for clarity and to do this it is easiest to put the wine against a white background. The wine taster is looking at the components of the wine to determine whether the wine is balanced. Another thing a taster looks for is the quality of the wine or the clarity of the flavor.

Wine tasters can taste several wines at one tasting. This being the case, the tasters do not actually drink the wines since they are alcohol. When tasting the wines the taster holds the wine in his mouth to get the flavor in his taste buds then wine tasters generally spit out the wine after testing. There are several wineries throughout the world where one can visit and taste different wines some wineries will charge a small fee to cover the cost of the tours.

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Wine Tasting Courses To learn how to taste wine like an expert there are wine tasting courses that can be taken. Wine tasting courses are offered both on-line as well as wine schools throughout the country. A wine tasting course can offer you a variety of aspect as there are several things involved in the art of wine tasting.

A wine tasting course can teach you wine and food pairing. How to know what wines go well with what foods.

The course can teach you about wine reviews and ratings, how you are to go about ranking or rating a wine. A wine tasting course can offer an academic and certification program where one will learn the history of wine, the ability to learn and understand the components of wine.

There are several levels of a wine tasting course. The foundation program, the intermediate program certificate and the advanced program. The ultimate program is the Diploma Oenotropae, this is named after the granddaughter of the Greek God of wine, Dionysus. This diploma can take up to two years to earn.

Wine tasting courses will teach you the language used in the description of the

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wines, which to the average person can seem strange as the descriptions are usually things that are not edible. Such as oak, pine, grass, even leather.

Another program in the wine tasting course is the art of reading and deciphering wine labels. Most wine labels have eight things listed. For example, 1.

The wine maker or winery, 2. The region or country the grapes were grown, 3.

The vintage or the year the grapes were harvested, 4. The variety or the kind of grapes the wine was made from. 5. The ripeness. 6. Bottling and winery information 7. Other required information.

And 8. Optional information. All of this will be taught when taking a course in wine tasting.

The wine tasting course can either be for the person who just wants to learn more about the world of wines as well as the person who wants to be a professional. Those who are professional wine tasters are also called sommeliers. They are those who are highly trained and knowledgeable and generally work in fine restaurants working with the chefs to pair wines with food dishes.

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Wine Tasting Party A wine tasting party is a great way to get together with friends and family and to learn about wines and taste different wines. To begin planning your wine tasting party you must first determine how many people will be attending your party. Once the guest list is determined you must send out invitations at least two weeks in advance.

To make things easier you could just purchase a wine tasting kit which would include all the necessary things for a wine tasting party. If you prefer doing everything yourself you can make your own tasting cards that have the type of wine on it, the vineyard, the year and a description of the wine.

To clear your palate between wine tasting, you want to provide plain crackers or bread so that each wine can be experienced to the fullest. Other supplies needed are wine glasses. Each guest should have one to two glasses. Water for rinsing glasses and some sort of bowl or bucket for discarding wine after each testing.

Make a card for each guest so that each can make note of the characteristics of the wine. If you would like to have your guests do what is called a “blind tasting,� then all you do is instead of writing the information on the card have the guest write down what wine they think it is with the year, vineyard, etc.

Appetizers such as cheese, fruit or some other light treat is something that can be served either before or after the wine tasting party. The temperature of all the wines being served should be room temperature to get the best flavor out of the wine. The final thing necessary for a wine tasting party is laughter and a good time had by everyone.

For your wine tasting decorations first,

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you want to keep the room well lit. You can go as simple as just a plain table cloth or you could get creative and decorate with vintage things. When tasting wines you don’t want to pour a full glass of wine. You want to pour no more than about two ounces of wine per glass and per wine for each person.

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Although position is important when storing wine, temperature is the most important storing factor overall. Even though you may not have the ideal conditions for storage, you should always have the optimal level of temperature.

The temperature when storing your wine is very important, as it affects the overall quality, flavor, and longevity of the wine. Most wines need to be stored for long periods of time, which is why the temperature is so very important.

The temperature for storing wine should always be between 50 and 65 degrees F. When stored in this range, the wine will develop quite nicely. In the days before refrigeration, wine was stored in underground cellars and caves.

When refrigeration came along, it quickly became the eas-

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iest and most preferred way to store wine, as it allowed you to maintain the same desired temperature.

In this day and age, science plays a major role with wine making. Science has proved over the years that aging is actually a chain of chemical reactions that occur over time. Depending on the temperature, the chemical reactions can either be good or bad. Chemical reactions all have unique energy factors that need to be met for each individual reaction to happen. If the temperature isn’t right, the chemical reactions in the wine won’t occur.

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The Right Temperature For Storing Wine

If wine is stored in direct sunlight or in a hot area, the increase in temperature can result in a chemical reaction that can damage both the flavor and the quality of the wine. Wine that has been damaged from heat will normally turn brown due to the oxidation. When this happens, the flavor and quality of the wine won’t be any good.

Wine that is damaged from heat loses all of it’s flavor and color, making it virtually impossible to drink - or sell.

Colder temperatures on the other hand may slow the aging process, although it can also prevent the wine from getting the chemical reactions it needs as well. Lower temperatures may not affect the quality or taste of the wine, although it isn’t recommended. All bottles of wine, until

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they have been opened, should be stored in a location with a temperature above 50 degrees F. This way, the wine will be in the proper temperature for storage and able to get the chemical reactions it needs.

You should keep any open bottles in your refrigerator, as the average temperature is normally 41 degrees F. You shouldn’t keep bottles that you haven’t opened in the fridge, as the temperature is much too cold. If you follow the above tips when storing your wine, you’ll find the taste to be spectacular. Storing wine will always raise the value and add to the taste - providing you store it the right way.

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The Beauty Of Sparkling Wine Sparkling wine is well known for it’s tiny bubbles that race to the surface.

Sparkling wine is one of the most exotic yet refreshing types of wine, providing memories and happiness once the cork is released into the air. For many years, this exotic wine has proven to be among the most popular types of wine for celebrations and special achievements.

By looking at sparkling wine, you’ll find it to be a complete mystery. When tasting the wine, friends and lovers choose to discuss the refreshing, nutty aroma. Even though this type of wine is very popular, it can be hard to describe.

Although the taste and aroma can be right there, lingering in the air - it’s still something that is nearly impossible to find the words for.

When you first open a bottle of sparkling wine, the carbon dioxide aroma that instantly fills the air is an experience that you have to smell to believe.

A true feast for all of your senses, sparkling wine can instantly put you at ease.

Drinking this wine is a feast for your taste buds, bringing several different flavors to rest on your tongue at the same time.

Even though the nature of sparkling wine is really unknown, society as a whole as really accepted it. Although many don’t realize it, the crisp and delicate taste of this wine isn’t what made it what it is today. Similar to the shine and splendor of the finest diamonds, sparkling wine emits a truly elegant aura and romance that makes it easy to distinguish from other types of wine.

Sparkling wine was first discovered in France by Dom Perignon, who was a monk in the Champagne region. He actually stumbled upon this fine wine while performing his duties as a cellar

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master in the Benedictine Abbey. Dom would hide his discovery for many years, as the public didn’t really respond in the way that he had been hoping.

Although Dom Perignon’s sparkling wine wasn’t popular at first, it would grow and become more popular over the years. Once people in France and people around the world caught wind this amazing sparkling wine, they simply had to experience it for themselves.

At this point, it didn’t take long for Dom Perignon to become a legend and one of the most important wine makers throughout the rich and cherished history of France.

The formula and techniques that Dom used to produce his sparkling wine eventually become known as the traditional way of making Champagne.

The process is still used throughout the world today, producing some of the best sparkling wines. Even though sparkling wine is made in various locations, many agree that the best place is the Champagne region of France - which is where sparkling wine first began and was first introduced to the world.

These days, sparkling wine is an essential part of life, for celebrations and events. With most celebrations, sparkling wine is simply a must have.

There are many manufacturers of the wine these days, although most prefer to have the original and still the best Dom Perignon. No matter where the future of wine goes, sparkling wine will never die. It will always be the wine that sparks celebrations, and the wine that makes events come to life. From it’s truly unique and breathtaking taste to it’s amazing look and splendid aroma - sparkling wine has the appeal and the flavor to keep people celebrating and living life for years and years to come.

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An Introduction To Chardonnay

Chardonnay grape is the most popular type of white wine, found all over the world. The flavor, taste, and aroma of it will though, depending on where it was made and what processing methods were used. Chardonnay has a variety of different styles and flavors, and remains a major type of grape. As a result of it’s popularity, this fine wine spread throughout Europe and other locations of the world such as Australia and California.

As more and more wine makers discovered Chardonnay, the fine wine began to grow quite well in South Africa and other areas as well. With it being a non aroma type wine, oak seems to work very well with it. The

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richest and most complex are American and French Chardonnay, which are also among the most preferred white wines. Even though it does suffer from fatigue, the flavor and richness of this wine will keep it loved by many for years to come.

Chardonnay originated from the Burgundy and Champagne area of France. Although white Burgundy is a popular wine that is prepared with Aligote, a lesser known grape, the fact remains that white Burgundy can’t be made without the use of Chardonnay grape.

What this goes to show, is that Chardonnay grapes have more than a few uses.

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In appearance, Chardonnay grapes are green in color with thin skins. The grape is a result of the Pinot and Croatian Blanc grape, which are extinct to this day.

Chardonnay on the other hand is still popular, fermented and aged using oak barrels that help to bring out the vanilla flavor the wine is well known for. It can also be aged and fermented using bottles, although it won’t age quite as much as red wine.

Almost all Chardonnay wines are considered to be chilled, making them work extremely well with dishes that contain butter and cheeses. The wines also have less acid content as well, which makes them work well with seafood as well. There are a lot of food that you can

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pair Chardonnay with, which is what makes it so popular. A lot of fine restaurants serve it as well, especially Italian and seafood restaurants.

The Chardonnay grape can also be used in making Champagne and other types of sparkling wines. Although Chardonnay wine is the most popular use, there are several other uses for the grape that lead to some truly fine wines. Oak is often times used with the wine as well, which provides it with some great flavors as it ages. Although it can be a bit on the expensive side, it still remains one of the most preferred types of wine.

You can find it at any wine or alcohol store - making it a great addition to your wine or drink collection.

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Wine Tasting Journal Unusual Wine Gift It is easy to get stuck in a rut when giving a gift to a wine enthusiast. Of course, a nice bottle of wine is always appreciated but there can be problems for the gift giver. It’s hard to know which wine another person will enjoy and appreciate. You also don’t want to give the same type of gift as most other people will give. For an unusual wine gift, a wine tasting journal would be a lovely and useful idea.

A wine tasting journal is very useful, especially to new wine enthusiasts. A wine journal helps you to keep track of which wines you have tried and what they think of them.

Many people will also make note of what foods they were eating with the wine and whether they paired well or not. By keeping records of these combinations, it will help you in selecting the perfect wine to go with any meal.

Often wine enthusiasts prefer a small journal that they can easily take with them in a pocket. This way they can record the names of wines that they taste at restaurants or while traveling. They can also record which foods were served and how they felt about the pairings. This allows the wine enthusiast to write their impressions as they feel them so they don’t forget or leave out details later on.

How the person will use the wine tasting journal is personal to them. Some people merely make a note of the name and year of the wine along with the foods they were paired with.

Other people will be more detailed and in-

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clude their feelings and thoughts as they were drinking the wine. A wine journal can be as intimate and poetic as a diary to the wine enthusiast.

You can find wine tasting journals at various on-line stores and sometimes in your local wine shop. They can be quite plain or be very sophisticated with leather bindings and parchment pages. This will depend on what you plan on spending, as well as the tastes of the recipient. Obviously a leather bound journal will be higher priced than one that’s covered with cardboard but it would be a very sophisticated option.

If you have a difficult time finding just the right wine tasting journal, you could always create one for that special person. You can find lovely bound notebooks at most bookstores that would work. As with purchasing wine tasting journals, there are a wide variety of plain journals available in all price ranges. You can personalize your gift by adding photos or artwork to the front. An elegant bookmark would add to this gift, as well.

Next time you are looking for a gift for a wine lover, think beyond the usual bottle of wine.

A wine tasting journal will give the person many years of pleasure and usefulness. Every time they use their new journal to record or review their wine tasting experiences, they will remember the thoughtfulness of your gift.

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Photography: Jim Sullivan

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D

ario Sattui, owner of Castello di Amorosa in Calistoga, California and great grandson of San Francisco California pioneer vintner, Vittorio Sattui, was born in San Francisco in 1941 and raised in San Francisco and Fairfax in Marin County. He attended Drake High School and then College of Marin. As a child, Sattui was an entrepreneur and loved playing sports. He started various businesses in grammar school, high school and college and gained valuable experience in the basics of business.

His great grandfather Vittorio Sattui, an Italian immigrant, founded V. Sattui Winery in 1885 in San Francisco. As Vittorio lived to be 94 years old, Dario got to know him and was fascinated by his stories and photos of the old winery, above which the Vittorio Sattui family continued to live even after Prohibition closed the old V. Sattui Winery. As a child, Dario would play among the barrels and tanks in the underground cellars while dreaming of reviving V. Sattui Winery when he grew up.

He kept this dream alive as he furthered his education receiving a B.S. in Accounting and Finance from San Jose State University in 1965 and then an M.B.A. with an emphasis in Marketing from University of California, Berkeley in 1969.

Following graduation, Sattui traveled around Europe for two years in an old VW van. It was during this period his fascination for medieval architecture began to take shape. Living out of his van, Sattui would visit medieval castles, monasteries, palaces farmhouses and wineries studying their designs, taking photographs and completing detailed sketches and renderings.

In 1972, Sattui returned to the U.S. with the intent of re-establishing his great grandfather’s original V. Sattui winery which had been dormant for more than 50 years. With $8,000 and a novel approach to the wine business he re-opened V. Sattui winery in St. Helena and turned a profit in the first year of operation.

Armed with his vault of medieval architectural renderings and another passionate dream, Sattui purchased a 171 acre vineyard property in Calistoga in 1993 and began construction of Castello di Amorosa Winery in 1994. Clearly, the success of V.Sattui winery built the 121,000 square foot, 12th century style, authentic Tuscan castle winery.

His hobbies include travel, sports, nature, eating and drinking well, business ideas and restoring medieval buildings.

Learn more about Dario’s inspiration for building Castello di Amorosa.

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Castello di Amorosa produces primarily Italian style wines while reflecting California’s unique climate, soil and growing conditions. The majority of our red wine grapes are grown in the Napa Valley, while our white grapes are grown in the Carneros district of the Napa Valley or in the Anderson Valley in Mendocino County, as both of these cool areas are ideal for white wine grapes. Some grapes are also purchased from select growers.

Winemaking Philosophy Brooks Painter, a veteran winemaker of more than 30 years and Winemaker of the Year in the 2014 American Fine Wine Competition, presides over all winemaking production. His goal is to make delicious, classically structured, intensely flavored, well-balanced, elegant wines which showcase the “Terroir” of each unique vineyard site.

Terroir The Napa Valley has been producing fine and memorable wines for more than a century. Indeed, the words “Napa Valley” have become synonymous with great California wine to consumers all over the world. Yet many wine lovers have not discovered the full expressive range of Napa Valley wine, as magnificence takes many subtle forms.

Learn more Vineyards Castello di Amorosa is a Certified Napa Green winery, and our estate vineyards are in the heart of the Diamond Mountain District, a nested American Viticultural Area (AVA) within the Napa Valley. Located east of highway 29 and just 3 miles south of the city of Calistoga, our 30 acres of vineyards surrounding the Castello are planted to Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Sangiovese and Primitivo.

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2015 LA FANTASIA An Italian style soft sparkling wine which is lower in alcohol, naturally sweet and refreshing with bright aromas of cherry, exotic flowers and wild berries.

castellodiamorosa.com

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Photography: Jim Sullivan

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4045 Saint Helena Highway Calistoga, California 94515 707 967 6272

castellodiamorosa.com

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An Art Print Wine Gift If you need a gift for a wine loving friend, you may want to consider something different from the bottle of wine that you usually give them. Anyone who is known to be a wine enthusiast is bound to get several bottles of wine on any gift giving occasion. We know they probably have more wine glasses and corkscrews than the local department store, too. So what could you give that will make your gift stand out from the crowd? I suggest a nice piece of wine art by Ann Rea for a refreshing change of pace.

Ann Rea is a San Francisco-based artist who specializes in the gorgeous scenery of California’s majestic wine country. Many wine makers in California have commissioned Ann to create unique landscapes specifically for their vineyards. Often these paintings become logos or even wine labels that help promote certain brands. She has created these vineyard portraits for some of the larger wineries such as R.H. Phillips, Wente, Gloria Ferrer, Gallo and Markham as well as small, lesser known wineries.

The wine maker starts the process by giving Ann tours of their vineyards. They explain to her every factor that makes their wines distinctive including soil conditions and climate. Once Ann feels she understands what goes into the wine, she then sets her easel literally in among the vines. She then uses her oils to capture on canvas the essence of each vineyard. Sometimes she will paint several pictures over the seasons to show the vary-

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ing colors from season to season.

This innovative pairing of fine art and wine is unique to the wineries and to wine enthusiasts. The wineries profit from increased brand awareness in the public as well as sales of art prints. The wine enthusiast gets a work of art that provides a lasting memory of a fine wine or vineyard. For anyone who has been on a wine tour, vineyard art prints are a wonderful way to savor the memories for many years.

Ann Rea has a growing reputation not just among wine enthusiasts but also in the art world. She has gained a reputation in the art world by her signature use of color as well as her uncanny ability to capture the swift changes of light in the vineyards. Her paintings are in the style of French Impressionism and each one shows a special spot in the particular vineyard. People often purchase several of her prints that depict specific vineyards in each season so they can have a set.

If you are simply driven to get that bottle of wine for your friend, why not choose one that pairs with an Ann Rea art print? A delicious bottle of Gallo white wine would be a great base to your wine gift. Do a search on-line to find a Gallo vineyard print from Ann Rea. Once it arrives, place the print in a beautiful frame to give with the white wine and voila!and there you have it. The perfect pair for an outstanding and unique wine gift!

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Wine Decanters Wine Decanters

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Wine Decanters - Elegant Wine Gifts It has become common knowledge that you should open a bottle of red wine at least an hour before serving in order to let it breathe.

However letting the wine breathe in it’s own bottle isn’t doing any good at all. The wine needs contact with oxygen to improve the flavor and aroma. Very little surface of the wine is exposed to the air while in the bottle.

That’s why true wine connoisseurs will always use a wine decanter, especially for younger red wines. A decanter is a container for wine or other spirits and is often quite decorative.

The key to a good decanter is the amount of wine surface that gets exposed to the air.

Therefore, a red wine decanter needs to have a wide base. White wine does not need to breathe as much as red so decanters for white wine do not have to be as wide.

When you decant the wine, you should maximize the aeration effect by pouring it slowly against the side of the decanter. This and the traditional swirling in the wineglass will help the oxygen really permeate the wine. An hour is not enough time to breathe for many red wines. Especially young wines tend to be more harsh and can benefit greatly from being decanted several hours before serving.

Another benefit of decanting wines is that it separates any sediments from the wine before they end up in your wineglass. Sediment develops naturally over time as wines age. Although aged wines do not need to breathe very long, decanting will help ensure that the wines clarity and brilliance remain unmarred

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by any deposits. You will need to pour slowly and don’t decant the last ounce. You can strain that last bit later and use in cooking for wonderful flavor.

When choosing a wine decanter as a gift, you will find yourself confronted with a lot of choices. They are available in designs to fit every decor style as well as in a wide range of prices. Therefore you will need to consider your budget as well as the tastes of the person you are giving the decanter to.

For a very tasteful and elegant gift, one company stands above the rest. Variedly is a glass making company with over 250 years of history behind it and has a well-deserved reputation for the highest quality glassware. In 1990, the Riedel Glass Works bought another very old glass company from the Spiegelau family. That company had been making glass for almost 500 years.

Riedel continuously creates innovative designs as well as classic timeless styles. All of their decanters are optimized to enhance the wine drinkers experience whether created from hand-blown glass or fine crystal. Some of their decanters are so elaborate or unusual as to almost qualify as art.

Decanters make a lovely wine gift as they combine the finest elements of form and functioning. Any wine lover on your list will appreciate your thoughtfulness in presenting them with a useful wine decanter.

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Napa Valley Wine Tour is Incredible Gift If you want an outstanding gift for that special wine lover, perhaps you should think about combining a gift of travel with their love of wine. A wine tour to the Napa Valley in California would fit the bill very nicely. With it’s enjoyable weather and gorgeous scenery, the Napa Valley is a beautiful place to visit any time of the year. There are many wineries located in this region of California which makes it an ideal vacation spot for a wine enthusiast.

Although the region is renowned for producing many fine wines, the Napa Valley is only about 30 miles long. Concentrated in this small area are over 200 wineries. Many of these have been family-owned for several generations and produce some excellent wines. Because of the abundance of small wineries, there is a huge variety of wines produced in this area.

Wine tours were originally created more as a promotional tool for the small wineries to call attention to their wines. These tours grew in popularity over time and have resulted in a significant sideline and business for the wine growers. It has grown to a huge industry with millions of tourists visiting each year.

Wine tours give wine lovers a chance to see the wineries from all aspects, from the growing grapes to the production of the wines. Most of the wineries offer individual tours but there are also organized tour groups that visit several wineries across the valley. These tours not only let the wine enthusiast see some of the finest wineries, they also often are able to purchase the wines at bargain prices right at the wineries.

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Napa Valley tours give wine lovers a chance to observe the wine making process from beginning to end and are sure to be very educational.

Many of the wineries also have wonderful eateries tucked away where you are served excellent meals that you can enjoy with your wines. Fantastic scenery, sunny skies, gourmet meals and fine wine... truly a wine lover’s dream gift.

Many tours can be arranged through your local travel agents, whether you live in New England or Florida. Before seeing your travel agent, you will need to decide on a budget for your wine tour gift. Once you know that, then you can make decisions on what your gift will include.

Often you can get a great rate on inclusive packages that cover the flight, hotel and tour all in one package. Price will be determined by what you include in your wine tour gift. Hotel and transportation are two things to consider when choosing the package. By doing a bit of research, you may find it is less expensive to pick a hotel just outside the actual valley but provide transportation to the wine tour’s starting location.

If you truly want to give a very special gift, consider giving a Napa Valley wine tour. Anyone getting this as a gift will be getting a chance to experience world class wines while enjoying lovely scenery and fine foods. The memories created by these experiences will last a lifetime and they will always appreciate you for giving this incredible wine gift.

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Wine Glasses:

Gift That Combines Form with Function The popularity of wine has led to a veritable plethora of accessories to go with it. Any type of wine accessory will be a welcome and useful gift for a wine lover. In this article we will talk about the most basic and necessary accessory item: wine glasses.

Wine glasses are an essential accessory for any wine drinker. A good set of glasses will not only be beautiful to look at but will enhance the wine tasting experience. The shape of the glass is very influential on the taste and aroma of the wine served so it is key to purchase the correct glasses for the type of wine being served.

Red wines benefit greatly from being served in glasses that have a wide base that somewhat tapers to a thinner lip. This shape provides ample room for the wine to breathe while the narrower top holds the flavor and bouquet in for the drinker’s enjoyment. Cabernet, Merlot and Bordeaux are three suggestions for wines that should be served in this type of glassware.

White wines do not need to breathe as long as red wines so tend to have narrower bowls than the red wine glasses. Because white wines are usually best served chilled, the design helps keep the wine cold by not exposing as much surface to the air. Some white wines that are served in this type of glass include Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio and Sauvignon Blanc.

Champagne glasses, also called champagne flutes, are taller with thin, narrow bowls.

The goal of these type of glasses is to prevent much aeration so that it stays attractively effervescent and stays chilled. There are also

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sherry glasses that are smaller than other wine glasses but these are less commonly used than the other three styles.

An important facet of wine glass design is the stem. Although it has become more popular to use stemless glasses for wine drinking, a true connoisseur of wine tasting will never use these. The stem is actually made to be able to hold the wineglass for a reason. Holding the bowl of the wine glass will change the temperature of the wine which will negatively impact the flavor of the wine.

Wine glasses come in a large variety of price points to fit into any gift giver’s budget. This will mainly depend on the quality and material used in making the glass set. Obviously, a standard glass will be less expensive but you will generally not find as much in creative designs as you would with higher end materials.

Hand blown glass is a bit higher priced and much more delicate when used in wineglasses. Designs using hand blown glass however can be very beautiful. Wine glass sets made from hand blown glass are lovely decor accents when properly displayed in an open wine rack.

You can also purchase crystal wine glass sets for a very elegant and sophisticated gift.

Crystal wine glass sets can be very ornate and opulent. Crystal presents your wine in the best possible way, adding sparkle and elegance to the table.

No matter which that you choose, a wine lover is sure to appreciate a gift of good wine glasses. This is a wine gift that can combine the best of form and function.

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What to Consider when Classifying Fine Wines?

A not so typical rose wine made from the Merlot grape, this deeply pink-hued wine stands out from the rest. Combining the features of a red and white wine, this rosé is a light refreshing version of the red Merlot, with just the right body and crisp flavors to make it a default wine of choice for meals.

These attributes are also the main reason why this particular wine is considered as a fine wine.

However, the exact and true meaning of a white wine can’t be underrated. There are many definitions and characteristics that have been used just to define fine wines but all of them may still vary from one person to another.

The main reason behind this is that people have different tastes. Therefore, what may seem fine to one person may not for others.

This goes to show that fine wines will be classified according to the criteria of the person drinking the wine.

Classification of wines according to its fine quality and distinction is usually based on the “track record” of the wine, where its value and reputation is used as an underlying factor that will define the quality of wines being sold at an auction.

Nevertheless, to clearly identify the real excellence behind a good wine will still depend on some solid factors that people must know.

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Here is a list of some of the aspects that must be considered when classifying fine wines: 1. Typicity

Fine wines are generally classified according to its given mode of production and area. For instance, most of the fine wines are typified as German made. However, one cannot simply deduce that what has worked as fine before may not necessarily be fine today.

2. Balance

In order for a wine to be classified as fine, there must be some balance in all of its parts.

This means that no part of the wine, such as its flavor or color, should be a cut above the rest. It is extremely important that all of the elements contained in the wine should achieve harmony with one another in order to come up with one delectable taste.

3. Complexity

The elements contained in wines should not be basic and simple. Even if it achieves balance, the elements should have a little distinction from one another so as to create an unfathomable taste that drinkers would like to discover. It is that certain mystery that creates the fineness in wines.

Indeed, the fineness of wines is fully dependent on its quality. Fine wines should always make an impression.

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Wine Guide

The Exquisite History of Wine Wine has been called the elixir of happiness – and not without good reason. It is hard to imagine any party or celebration without any representative from the vine. This is probably why people have always assumed that wine was born right next to man.

But how did wine really originate? Who came up with the idea of fermenting fruits with the purpose of making the alcoholic beverages?

Records of the use of wine go back all the way to ancient Egypt in 2500 BC. But it is not implausible that wine was used earlier than that.

Evidence seems to point to the Ancient Middle Eastern civilizations as the originators of wine.

Early man probably stumbled upon the wonders that fermentation did to fruits (especially grapes with its high sugar content). Archaeological excavations have unearthed ancient wineries and fermenting pools. This is a testament to the popularity and early knowledge about wines.

Wine, for that matter, has been used for a startling variety of purposes. In the early days, aside from being the choice beverage for celebrations, wine was also used symbolically in religious sacraments, and during taking vows.

There is even evidence that wine was used as medicine for frail countenances, and as an antiseptic for wounds. That is why wine has maintained an importance beyond that of making one drunk.

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The popularity of wine spread from the Old World and its cultures to the newly found lands annexed by their empires. From here the cultivation of grapes needed for winemaking spread to the lands of South America and Australia.

The enology, or the study of wine making, of different cultures has made for a dizzying variety of wine. The main types of wine are Table Wines, Sparkling Wines, and Fortified Wines.

Table Wines are pressed grape juice that is allowed to ferment naturally – with or without a little addition of sugar and yeast to aid the fermentation. These wines can be sweet or dry, depending on the vinification (or fermentation style), and they typically have a low alcohol content of 7 to 15 percent.

Fortified Wines have additional alcohol content in them and are have typically 14 to 23 percent alcohol in them.

Sparkling Wine was first discovered in the 18th century by a monk named Dom Pierre Perignon.

Sparkling Wine is wine witch has a bubbly texture to it lent by the carbon dioxide that forms within it during the fermentation. Technically, it is a doubly fermented wine, with the second fermentation happening in the bottle itself. Extra yeast and sugar is added to the wine to produce carbon dioxide that builds up until the wine is uncorked.

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Wine Collecting For Beginners Collecting wine can be a very fun and exciting hobby - especially when you try to find the wine. If you are looking to collect wine, you may end up spending a bit more money than you thought. Wine collecting is a great hobby, although it can be very expensive. If you are just starting out, the tips below may come in very handy to help you get started.

The first thing to do, is find a place to store your wine. You can store your wine at home, although you’ll need to have a location with the proper amount of space and cooling temperature (between 50 and 65 degrees F).

You’ll also need to determine what brands and types of wine you are planning to collect.

There are several options to choose from, including red and white wine. You’ll also need to find some places with good quality and refinery to buy your wine from.

You can always participate in tastings and trade shows as well. Here, you can meet other people who are into wine collecting, and get to know local traders. You should also strive to learn as much as you can about wine.

You can learn a lot about wine on the Internet, or by reading magazines and newsletters dedicated to wine. By doing so, you can also learn more about storage, buying wine, and even cooling your wine.

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To better prepare your wine for storage, you can try tasting different varieties. This way, you can identify which wines you need to age more. You’ll learn more about wine this way as well, such as how to distinguish tastes. You may also want to learn how to identify the flavor quality as well. As you may already know, there is a difference among rare vintage wines and wines that are instantly processed.

If you are just beginning to collect wine, you should avoid purchasing in bulk until you know for sure what types of wine you wish to collect. When you visit a wine trader, you should let him know that you are a collector.

This way, he can inform you whether or not the wines you are collecting are available in his inventory. If you hope to collect wines from other areas, he may be able to give you contact information for finding the wines you are interested in.

Keep in mind that wine collecting isn’t all about fun - it’s also a great way to eventually start your own business. You can attend wine shows and tasting events to learn more about the different brands, and also find wines that will bring in higher profits. Once you have collected some rare bottles of wine - you can start selling and watch your profits soar.

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Choosing the Best Wine for Each Occasion VNSN.TV

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There are really no hard and fast rules when choosing the best wine for each occasion especially when you consider the fact that people are partial to certain wines depending on their personal preference and taste. Here are a few ‘soft’ guidelines to help you choose the right wine for the right occasion. This will give you a good idea on how to complement an occasion – and certain dishes – with the right kind of wine.

1. White Wines – white wines, being lighter and drier than red wines are best served during the earlier part of the evening or before the main course. Chardonnay, having wide appeal among most wine connoisseurs, is also perfect for serving along with rich tasting courses, especially those that have creamy sauces. Sauvignon Blanc, while not as dry as Chardonnay, still makes excellent company with salads, shrimp, and fish due to its fruity nature.

White wines are perfect for starting off an evening on the right foot, and are also wonderful for toasts and special occasions. Champagne is a regular fixture at weddings and is indispensable at such occasions.

2. Red Wines – red wines are great for main courses and are typically served during the latter part of any occasion. Their full bodied nature makes them a great complement to hearty meals. If you are looking for the wine

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that is most certain to please the most people, go for Merlot. It has a balanced mix of body and lightness that make it the perfect choice for most dishes. It particularly does well with poultry, pork and lamb.

The scintillating aroma of plum, vanilla and blackberry make Pinot Noir an intriguing proposition during special occasions. It is not as heralded as Merlot or Cabernet, so many people may not recognize its unique blend. It goes well with creamy sauces.

For spicy foods, Shiraz is a fiery complement. It has a peppery taste that will greatly enhance the flavor in barbeques, roasts, and chili or spicy dishes.

For a hearty, full taste, look no further than Chianti. Chianti is the best wine to accompany tomato dishes and poultry. It is wonderfully versatile in having varied range in price and quality.

During some occasions you may want to prepare servings of both red and white wine, and have your guests sample which they would have for the rest of the evening. Most people choose their drinks early on and keep them until the end of the reception.

In a matter of time, you can be an expert cheese and wine matchmaker.

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California Red Wine Gift Suggestions Although California has an outstanding reputation for fine white wines, don’t overlook some of it’s red wine offerings. The climate, soil conditions and proximity to water make much of California highly suitable to growing wine grapes.

There are three very nice red wines that are produced in California that you should consider when giving a gift of California wine.

Merlot is a thin-skinned red grape that originated in Italy in the early 19th century. California has dedicated well over 50,000 acres to growing the Merlot grape varietal. For many years, Merlots were primarily used as a blending wine but the proper vintage can be enjoyable on it’s own.

Some of the highest quality Merlot grapes are grown in California, mainly in the Sonoma and Napa Valley wine regions. The excellent soil conditions in those areas help to produce Merlots that are delicious stand alone wines. The variety in soils can produce Merlots that range from a smooth, velvety wine to wines that are more similar in composition to Cabernet Sauvignon.

Merlots are low in tannin which creates a smooth, easy-to-drink wine that has a low acidity level. This is due partially to the thin skin of the grape as well as to it’s earlier ripening stage.

It lends itself to a huge variety of flavors such as black cherry, plum and current as well as tangier notes like bay leaf and bell peppers.

Merlot tends to be less intense than other red wines and so is easier to pair with different food

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combinations. It is worth noting that Merlot should be served slightly colder than other red wines. Room temperatures bring out the best in other reds but Merlots can develop unpleasant notes if it is allowed to get too warm. Chilling for just a brief time will help to keep this wine at it’s best.

Another red wine that is rising in popularity recently is the Pinot Noir. Traditionally this varietal is difficult to grow consistently as it is delicate and mutates easily. This can result in undesirable qualities in the wine produced from these grapes. This difficulty contributes to the somewhat higher prices of fine vintages of Pinot Noir but the quality is well worth spending a bit more.

Pinot Noir wines are lighter in color than many other red wines and are one of the most delicately flavored reds. An aromatic wine, you will often find wines with notes of cherries, berries, spices and even violets. Due to it’s delicate flavor, you will want to pair Pinot Noir with less spicy foods so that the flavor of the wine will not be covered.

Another red wine produced in California that makes a lovely wine gift is the Cabernet Sauvignon. Because the demand is so high, some vintages can be a little on the expensive side but if you search you should find a reasonable California vintage. This red wine ages very well, developing a rich complexity and wide depth of flavors. Although it may cost a bit more, this wine will make a very impressive gift.

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Wine and Cheese:

How Make the Perfect Combination Wine and cheese parties, which were popular in the 70s, are gaining back their popularity in recent times. The ability of the two to bring out each other’s best is simply indescribable. Another good thing about cheese and wine parties is that they’re appropriate for any season or any reason.

Unfortunately many people get confused with the wide array of cheese and wines available.

Many are confused about which kind of cheese to serve with which type of wine. Luckily, wine and cheese matching is simple, and in no time, you can host a very enjoyable wine and cheese party.

When it comes to cheese and wine parties, the first rule is simple and direct to the point: never used those cheap boxed wines. Wines that come in boxes are definitely convenient to open, but that’s about it. In order to bring out good combinations of flavors in cheese, or any food for that matter, you should pair it with the real deal.

The basic rule about pairing food with wine is that you shouldn’t overpower the other. This is especially true with cheese. The flavors of cheese shouldn’t dominate the taste of wine and vise versa. The pleasures of each bite of food should replace the delights of each sip of wine and conversely the bliss of every sip of wine should replace the delights of every

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bite of food. Simply put, strong cheeses should pair well with strong wines, while mild cheeses would go well with mild wines.

Acidic wines go perfectly well with pungent cheeses. Brie goes well with sparkling wine or Chardonnay while goat cheese matches well with Sauvignon Blanc.

Sweetish wines go perfectly with soft cheeses. A slice of Camembert goes well with Chenin Blanc or Vouvray.

Full bodied red wines pair perfectly with hard cheeses. Red Bordeaux, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Red Zinfandel, could do wonders with a sliver of Parmegiano Regiano or Romana cheese.

Even the humble common cheese like cheddar could be paired well with sweet wines such as Port, Vermouth, and Sherry. Aged cheddar, with its sharpness, could go well with a glass of Shiraz Cabernet, which is equally tangy.

When it comes to cheese and wine pairing, the best guide is one’s taste. If it seems good, then it must be a good much. Of course it takes time to discover the good matches, so one should not despair with a few errors in matching.

In a matter of time, you can be an expert cheese and wine matchmaker.

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