Articles About Wine
One of our goals at 100BestWines is to help you enhance and develop your knowledge of wine. We constantly add to our warehouse of interesting and educational content based on your questions and comments. We have built our site to provide context-sensitive access to these articles, but have consolidated our "library" listings below to help you navigate quickly to the areas in which you have the most interest.
Buying Wine as a Gift
Wine related gifts are one of the most personal, unique and appreciated, and needn't be limited to simply the choice of a single bottle — there are many options, some of which are wine gifts that keep giving.
Choosing a Wine for Your Party Host
Choosing the perfect wine as a gift for a party host is an old, venerated, and perfectly acceptable "thank you" for your invitation to the party and a sign that you care about and acknowledge the hard work of the person hosting the party. Begin by determining a price point that doesn't break the bank and work from there to find a delicious, complex wine that your host will enjoy.
Essential Wines — Seven Bottles Cover All Occasions
Like that little black Chanel 'A — line' dress that never goes out of style, there are a few must have wines for a small collection that should always be at the ready that will please most any discerning guest's palate and never go out of style. Your mission, without having to stock an entire cellar, is to purchase wines that bridge the varietal palate from light and fruity white wines to robust, full-bodied red wines. Purchase varietals that most everyone will recognize and trust.
How to Host a Blind Wine Tasting Party
Throwing a wine tasting party can be both entertaining and educational for you and your guests, no matter what your level of wine understanding might be. However, throwing a "blind" wine tasting can kick your party up a notch by making it more of a challenge or game for your guests, and making wine tasting scents even more important.
How to Host a Wine Tasting Party
Whether you're an experienced wine connoisseur or new to the world of wine, hosting a wine tasting party can be fun for you, your family, and friends. While having a wine tasting party can sound a bit pretentious, it's actually a great way to spend some quality time with friends while learning about different wines. It's also quite simple to prepare for as long as you understand the basic elements of what a wine tasting party consists of.
Our Twelve Wines of Christmas
Everyone relishes a happy and joyful holiday season, and while decorations and festivities abound, nothing is more satisfying than the warm companionship and conversation of holiday dining. When you enjoy your special traditions and recipes for that fabulous family meal, the superb banquet with friends, or the cozy dinner for two, nothing adds more to special holiday dining than just the right partnering with wine. But always remember Rule #1 of pairing wine with food — there are NO rules when it comes to matching wine with your favorite recipe. Don’t worry whether it's red or white, dry or fruity — the ultimate match is the one that best pleases your palate. And when you discover that perfect match, make notes so you can replicate your success, and share it with others.
The "Rhone Rangers" — Fabulous Alternatives to Burgundy and Bordeaux
The Rhone region of France is developing into an alternative wine growing area to the more expensive and well established Burgundy and Bordeaux regions. Located just south of Burgundy, the Rhone region meanders along the Rhone River almost 150 miles from Avignon to Lyon. With two distinct areas of terroir, the region is made up of the Northern Rhone with hard rock soils and the Southern Rhone with its gentler Mediterranean soils and climate. Because of these north and south differences the wines produced are quite different as well.
The Mayonnaise Jar and the 2 Glasses of Wine
When things in your life seem almost too much to handle, when 24 hours in a day are not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar and the 2 glasses of wine...
Top Ten Reasons to Buy Wine Online
Don’t you just love the Internet. How many things have you been able to do online that you never thought possible, or even imagined, just ten years ago? Well, there’s no segment of life that isn’t available in our new, online world, and now buying wine is on that list.
Valentine's Day Essentials
Your mission should be to make this special day as personal as possible and, hopefully, last well beyond the actual Valentine's Day. The best part is that you can make all the plans right from your PC and purchase every item online. Couldn't be easier! The options are nearly endless, but here are a few ideas that we have tried and KNOW will work for you.
Opening Wine Bottles: the Proper Technique
The table is set, the lights are dim, and the guests have arrived. You confidently hold the perfectly chosen wine and begin screwing down the corkscrew. As you fumble with the opener, trying to get it to screw down evenly, you start to notice those little flecks of cork as they start to drop inside the bottle. You struggle to save the cork as you gently pull, but it’s too late. The cork has broken in two and you’re standing there wondering if anyone will notice if you just push it into the bottle.
Riedel Wineglasses: The Science Inside
One aspect of wine where science is particularly interesting is the area of wineglasses, specifically Riedel wineglasses. It was the Riedel Company that first took the wine glass and made it both a form of science and a form of art.
The Classic Grape Varieties
Each type of wine, or varietal, takes the name of the grape variety from which they were produced. Wines must be made up of at least 75 percent of a particular grape variety to carry the varietals name.
Three Simple Ways to Make Your Wine Taste Better
Most of the times, we drink a bottle of wine without fully appreciating its texture and aroma. Wine is volatile and will react to its environment. There are three simple steps to obtain a better tasting wine.
What is the Correct Temperature to Serve Wine?
Everyone knows the general rule of thumb when it comes to wine serving temperatures; serve white wines cold and red wines warm…right? Well, the truth is that most people, including waiters, serve their white wines too cold and their red wines too warm. In fact, there are even a few red wines that taste better when chilled. Who knew?
Wine and Your Health
We’ve all heard the claims, moderate wine consumption, for instance a glass of red wine once a day, is good for your health. Just look at the French, they do nothing but eat fatty foods and drink wine with each meal, yet they manage to suffer from lower levels of heart disease than other nationalities. So, can it really be true, are there health benefits to red wine?
Wine Rating Systems Explained
Like most rating systems, whether it’s used to determine the best hotel, Olympic ice-skater, or next pop singer, they’re highly subjective and dependent upon a variety of factors. When it comes to rating wine, things like the taster’s personal preferences, the type of wine glass used, or the wine’s serving temperature, one system’s winner may not be another’s. So, keeping that in mind, don’t simply rely on a certain wine rating system’s choice for the best tasting wine without knowing what your own likes or dislikes are. It’s like reading a glowing movie review only to find that when you actually see the movie you’re not as much of a fan of French subtitled epic dramas about turn-of-the-century mimes as the reviewer might have been.
Brined Maple Turkey with Cream Gravy
We have chosen a somewhat unique recipe for the Thanksgiving Holiday that is sure to please the guests and a few wine suggestions that will marry the flavors of the dish, not conflict with your traditional side dishes, and certainly please the palate. Our selection is a brine-soaked, maple-glazed roasted turkey paired with a selection of fruity, light Zinfandels.
Food and Wine Pairing
When only one variety of grapes is used to make a wine, the wine is called a varietal and is named after that grape. Regulations vary by location, but in California at least 75% of the juice in a wine must be of a particular grape in order for the wine to be labeled as a varietal.
Wine Pairing Tips For French and Italian Wines
Many people are intimidated by the task of selecting wine in a fine restaurant. This article is intended to provide a simple guide that will enable anyone to feel confident enough to choose a wine that will impress their dinner guests. The focus is on French and Italian wines.
Keep Wine Chilled - Use a Wine Cooler
Wines taste best served at the right temperature. From 7°C for non vintage sparkling to 18°C for vintage port. Different types of wines need to be served at different temperatures. Wine coolers serve the purpose of chilling your wine to the right temperature.
What Are the Different Kinds of Wine Racks?
When searching for the right wine rack, it seems as if there are just as many kinds of racks as there are wines themselves. You can stand them on the floor, hang them from the wall, suspend them from the ceiling, or stack them on the table. It can be a daunting task to find out what kind of wine rack is right for you.
What You Should Know Before Buying a Wine Rack
Wine connoisseurs all know that the proper storage of wine is important to its final flavor. Once it is already bottled, wine will still mature and gain body and flavor. Proper care should be taken when handling wine, or else its potential for greatness will go to waste. To keep their wine well preserved, the discriminating connoisseur will choose a proper wine rack.
All About Crystal Wine Glasses
Many wine experts say that wine must be served in the best wine crystal glasses to get its full blessing, although not of necessity. There are a few central principles to keep in mind when choosing wine crystal glasses that will help one get the utmost from their favorite bottle.
Choosing a Corkscrew – So Many Choices, So Many Prices, So Much Hype
So we just selected the perfect wine, bought it on-line, and had it delivered. We sat down to enjoy it and realized the top doesn't unscrew. It's back to basics - what must one do to select and buy a corkscrew – and why must it be so difficult?
Don't Waste an Open Bottle - Use Wine Vacuum Storage
Recently, I purchased a new and revolutionary wine accessory that enables you to not only decant your wine to enhance flavors and aromas, but then allows you to preserve the remaining wine for you to enjoy later. The V-1 Decanter by Metrokane is the world’s first wine vacuum storage decanter designed by Ed Kilduff of Pollen Design. I purchased the V-1 from International Wine Accessories.
Riedel Wineglasses: The Science Inside
One aspect of wine where science is particularly interesting is the area of wineglasses, specifically Riedel wineglasses. It was the Riedel Company that first took the wine glass and made it both a form of science and a form of art.
Select the Proper Glass for the Particular Wine
Just as a golfer chooses the right club, a tennis player the right racket, or a surgeon the right instrument, choosing the right glass for the right wine can improve the quality, enjoyment, and overall performance of your wine and tasting experience.
Serving With Wine Glasses
While wine is a type of alcohol, it refutes this "easy to serve" concept. It's not horribly difficult to serve, but when compared to other forms of alcohol, its proper service requires a little more know how, a know-how that is facilitated by an understanding of the different types of wine glasses.
Vinturi Essential Wine Aerator Is Key to Unlocking Complexities of Wine
At 100BestWines.com, we are constantly on the lookout for ways to enhance and improve the enjoyment of wine – from finding the best bottle of affordable zinfandel, to in this case, discovering a simple yet effective invention that rapidly improves the taste of wine without years of aging or hours of decanting.
Washing Stemware and Wine Glasses
Whether you have fine, expensive crystal or inexpensive everyday stemware, you should follow a few simple steps to properly care for your wine glasses.
Why Decant Wine and How To Do It
Many people ask me, "Why decant wine?" There are two primary reasons why it is good to decant a wine - aeration and sediment removal. Many red wines, some white wines, and Vintage Ports will benefit from aeration in order to soften the hard tannins that remain in the wine.
Over-the-Top Weddings — Personalized Wines for Our Big Day Or "How Our Guests Never Forgot Our Wedding"
Wine, champagne, or sparkling wine bottles that have been personalized for your wedding day are an ideal solution for newlyweds hoping to create a unique, spectacular, and memorable experience for themselves and their guests.
Personalized Wines - The Ultimate, Unique Expression of Caring and Connection
With just a little effort, you can create a treasured and lasting memory of an event by adding a personal touch to wine or other gift items. Your care and thoughtfulness will be appreciated by your guests and they will surely mention it to their friends or associates.
Personalizing Wine
Personalizing the label for a bottle of wine is a unique way providing the perfect gift that will truly be one of a kind. Personalized wine is perfect for special birthdays, holidays, corporate events, weddings, or any special occasion that calls for a lasting and memorable gift.
Introduction to Wine Clubs
Wine clubs are a fun way for wine lovers to experience wine at its fullest. You can give a wine club membership as a present to a loved one or enjoy the benefits of it on your own.
Wine Clubs - A Convenient Way to Know Wine
Wine clubs have been sprouting up in recent years as a result of an increased interest in wine and greater wine consumption. For wine lovers and would-be wine drinkers, joining a wine club brings numerous benefits.
How To Find Great Wine Gift Baskets For Any Occasion
Birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, new babies, college graduation, and even Christmas can leave many gift givers struggling to decide what to give that person who has everything. There are few people who do not drink or cook with wine. Therefore, creating a lavish basket full of wine and vineyard themed products can make for an unforgettable celebration.
Wine Gift Baskets
Extending toasts of wine enthusiasm through gifts of wine baskets has become a hot presentation idea. Offered as corporate gifts or for festival occasions, romantic getaways and family celebratory events, wine baskets herald all the excitement and anticipation ahead. They open up fresh perspectives and great conversation, and revitalize relationships!
Wine Gift Baskets - The Perfect Gift if Done Right
As a housewarming gift, or holiday offering, wine gift baskets make a great gift. There’s so much more to wine consumption than a bottle of wine resting in a basket of raffia, however. Spice up your wine gift baskets with some nifty additions that will wow your recipient, and feed your creativity.
