Whats in my wine?

Sometimes winemakers dont have to list everything they put into their wines. We know that there are some levels of sulfites and yeasts which are used in helping the fermentation of the wine. But preservatives and fining agents as well as other flavorings can be added too.  So what exactly is inside that bottle of vino?

Sulfur Dioxide which helps kill off bacteria that can ruin the flavor of a wine and is also used to stop the fermentation.

Potassium Sorbate which is used in making cheese and yogurt. It is used to keep fermentation from continuing and kills of microbials.

Tannin Powder is used to enhance the varietals of less tannin enriched grapes. This powder is usually mixed with other natural things like grape skins, seeds and bark.

There is also some concentrated wine grape juice added to boost color and sweetness. So if that wasn't bad enough, did you know that some can have fish bladders. These are used to make the wine less bitter and cloudy. Gelatine and egg whites are added sometimes to make white and rose wines more clear too.

Clay and Plastic or "Polyvinylpolypyrrolidone" is added to absorb astringency and enhances colors. And then sometimes when the yeast in the wine starts to become less active, then vitamins are added to get them working again.

Now this doesn't really detour me from trying budget wines, but it is kind of interesting to know what is in some of those fancy labeled bottles.

~Cheers

Uncorking Bay Bridge Vineyard Merlot

This weeks wine is Bay Bridge Vineyard Merlot. I wasnt able to find much information about this vineyard which in my experience leaves me to believe that it is produced by a vinter.

I picked this bottle up at Quality Food Centers (aka Kroger) for $2.99. This is the first time that I have tried a Merlot (I know its typically peoples intro wine) and it was very strong and bold.

My Notes: Leggy earthy bitter sour lingering full palette heavy body high tannin mild acidity bold sharp.

For a bolder red than what I am use to, I really appreciated this wine and liked it, especially since it is a budget wine.

So like I said before this was a very strong wine. It was very well balanced with a great lingering aftertaste which from what I read is what you want to look for in a wine.

I cant wait to try this with a steak or a good bowl of pasta!!

~Cheers

Beauty and The Bordeaux

We all have heard that a glass of wine is good and beneficial. But did you know that it is also used for beauty? Thats right our dear red wine has secret benefits for our cosmetic health as well.

So lets start with our hair. We all want that gorgeous supermodel hair. Well shampoo and condition like you normally would but use a red wine as a final wash. Doing so will add a luster and to your hair and help thicken it. If you are losing hair, drinking red wine will help prevent this. It also increase circulation to the scalp and reduces dandruff and flakes.

How about the face? Well how about a wine facial? Red wine restores natural glow to the skin and removes blemishes. You have fine lines? Well there is anti aging properties to wine. Open your pores with a nice hot towel or steam bath and then just mix the wine with rosehips, grapes, and essential oils. Rub into the skin for about 5-10 minutes and wash with cold water to close them up again.

Red wine can also be used in scrubs. Add 2tbs of red wine to 2tbs of pip pulp or you can use epsom salt or sugar for a sugar scrub. If you use organic wine as part of your beauty regiment then you have the added benefits of it having antioxidants, and the tannins are excellent for the skin. And because red wine has anti-inflammatory properties, you can use it to treat acne outbreaks, oily skin, and as an antiseptic.

For your teeth, it helps strengthens gums and harden enamel, and prevents tooth decay. If your Diabetic, it can help control glucose levels, and help the pancreas create more natural insulin. And have you ever heard of Quercetin? Well its in red wine and can help to prevent lung cancer, lower breast cancer risks, and reduce cancer cell growth.

Are you someone who gets sick alot? Well researchers have shown that it has components that prevent colds, and that it can actually open your sinuses and help you breath (and probably sleep) better.

These are just some of the many benefits with drinking red wine. And not let us forget its heart benefits as well. So go grab yourself some bottles of red and start drinking to your health. HOWEVER, please do so responsibly and in moderation.

Tonight's #wine is #baybridge #merlot #winetime #wine30 #amateurwinedrinkers #amateurwinesnob http://ift.tt/1MwMxGR #winestagram #winelover #winesofinstagram

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Uncorking Barefoot Wine Red Moscato

This weeks wine is Barefoot Wine's Red Moscato.

Wine Makers Notes: "Refreshingly sweet, Red Moscato dances with all the right fruits. Juicy flavors of red cherry and raspberry shimmy with a sweet citrus until the last sip."

My Notes: "Peach, raspberries, smooth crisp juicy floral fruity finish, low acidity, medium tannin, light body."







This was my first experience with this wine. I have seen it on the shelf at the store but a girlfriend of mine asked me if I wanted a glass, and I said "sure why not, Ive been meaning to try them (Barefoot)."

It had a complex aroma and was surprisingly sweet and berry flavor with hints of peach. It was very smooth, with a great fruity finish and a little aftertaste.

This wine to me was much likened to that of a wine cooler than I would consider a table wine, however, I could see its place there.

This was at a camping trip and I was really happy that I had the chance to try it. I think I may need to have a bottle for myself. Im starting to find that I need a special wine refrigerator.

~Cheers

Tonight's #wine is #cranelake #sweetred decanted and arerated with the #magicdecanter

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Magic Decanter Review

I was given a Magic Decanter the other day to review for the blog. I did up an article about the differences in decanting and aerating a while back, and well I have now done both and found that there really is a difference. With the Magic Decanter you get the best of both worlds without the wait. There are two venting holes that aerate and decant as it pours into your glass.

Now there are other versions of this decanting system that have a stand but this one is hand held. I took a $4.99 bottle of budget wine and before running it through the magic decanter it was bitter, and the the aroma was very perfumed.

After it had been poured through this, it took on a whole new flavor. The aromatics changed from perfume to floral, and the overall taste seemed more balanced and mature. It gave it a better bouquet, enhanced the flavors and smoothed the finish. That budget wine, after having been decanted and aerated became a wine that I would expect to go for $15.

As you can see from the picture to the right, it comes with a display stand, a mesh screen, an a 'satin' draw string bag. This is the perfect under $20 gift to get someone, especially if they are a wine drinker LOVER.

I received this product for free for an honest review.

Wine and Sex

Lets face it, when it comes to sex, 9 times out of 10 it starts with alcohol. Wreater we are out on the 'hunt' or just out with that special someone. Alcohol is a social lubricant. It relaxes us, and allows us to be more open and honest.
After about two drinks people are really starting to feel good and open and loosen up. This is the time where pleasure and is optimal and our brains are stimulated.

When in moderation it helps in sexual pleasure, and we are more open to the idea of it. So where does wine come in? Well for women, red wine make their sex drive active than other drinks. It has been found that by drinking red wine, blood flow becomes more pronounced in women's neither regions. But anything after two drinks and it begins to have the opposite effect. If you ever attend a match maker or dating mixer, most will have a 2 drink max for this very reason.

For men, red wine increases things in most of the vital areas. There is more blood flow to the erectile tissues as well as a boost in testosterone. Most males lose testosterone over time, but drinking red wine actually helps block the enzyme that causes the body to excrete it.
But when men have to much alcohol including wine, it can cause a man to have trouble functioning and getting the job done.

So when it comes to sex and alcohol, it is best to have a good balance. Plus no one likes sloppy sex, unless you really don't care about that and are only out for the 'game'. But that's a different story.

Uncorking Oak Leaf 2013 Moscato

This weeks wine is Oak Leaf 2013 Moscato.

Wine Makers Notes: "This light-bodied, sweet Moscato has a soft floral aroma, hints of peach and pineapple, and a refreshing finish."

Awards and Accolades:
Silver 2013 Los Angeles International Wine & Spirits
Gold/Best Bargain Wine - 2013 Consumer Wine Awards

My Notes: leggy, peach, apple, berry, floral, bright, sweet, medium body, medium tannin, medium acidity, fruity finish, juicy, crisp, refreshing, middle of tongue.

I was really pleased with this bargain wine. I have had Oak Leaf before and I must say that for a sub $4.00 wine they are always really surprising.

I have yet to find one I don't care for. One thing however, this Moscato wasn't as sweet as some of the others that I have had. It was still sweet but not as sweet. Still for under $4.00 it is going to be a staple in my house.

I recently gave two bottles of this Moscato as gifts to some friends who were new to drinking wine. They later called me and asked where they could get it, and when I told them Walmart and the price they were really shocked.

I am always learning new things about wine it seems like daily. Maybe one day Ill be a professional.

~Cheers

4 Quick Tips for Judging Wine

What makes a good wine? Well there are a few steps that can help you determine this. Just because you like a wine doesn't always mean that its a "quality" wine, however, it is a first step to actually enjoying it.
You may have seen pictures, movies, or people where they swirl the wine in a glass and then plunge their noses into the glass. This is actually a real thing. You really can not trust just the label. Sure the front label can entice you and draw you in with pretty colors. But reading the back label can sometimes give you an idea of what to expect, and another thing to look for are awards and accolades that may be printed. These are all ok, pre-pour indicators, but here are some simple steps to help you evaluate the wine you are about to drink.

1.) Smell: Before ever taking a spi, stick your nose into the glass. Does it smell like wine? Is there a a nice fragrance and aroma? Then the wine passes the first test. But if the wine smells like wet dog, or old wet news paper, then your wine is probably "corked" (meaning the wine has leeched some of the bitter off putting tastes found within the cork) and should probably just be poured down the drain.

2.) Balance: When a wine is in "balance" it means that the fruit, tannin, acidity and alcohol all work together and are balanced. One does not stand out over the other, they are all uniformed. You do not want the burn from the alcohol in your throat or the high tannin drying out your mouth to over shoot the flavor of the wine itself. You want it all to be cohesive.

3.) Depth: This is not referring to the color, but to the taste. When you take your first sip, really move it around your mouth and experience the wine. Pay attention to what you are tasting. Are you picking up berry, nut, coffee, notes or are you getting musty, earthy, leather, meaty notes. What is it you are tasting. Pay attention to it all. Even if you can not come up with literal name/taste comparisons.

4.) Finish: This is all about the aftertaste of the wine. If you swallow it and the taste is gone a second later, you probably have a lower quality of wine. However, if you can still taste the wine several seconds later you have a more quality of wine. The longer the linger the better the wine.

Keeping these few simple tips in mind when you uncork your next bottle will really give you a players field advantage in being able to fully determine the wines 'worth'. And if you are out to dinner or on a date, dont hesitate to ask the wine steward for suggestions. It may be a coy charming way of winning over your date.

Tonight's #wine is a 2013 sweet #redwine by Tisdale

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Uncorking Amour de Paris Peach Sparkling Wine

This weeks wine is Amour de Paris Peach. It is a sparkling white wine from France that was picked up at Trader Joe's. I couldn't find any information about this wine other than reviews by others. I am not sure why Trader Joe's wines are so hard to find any information about?

My Notes: gummy (not in a stick to your teeth way) peach, pineapple, spicy, fruity, cheeky, front of pallet, refreshing, fruity juicy floral finish.

This wine is OVER THE TOP PEACH flavor. So if you are not a huge fan of peachy flavors then this is not the wine for you. That being said. Upon opening the bottle, strong aromas of peach and spice came up. If you have ever had peach gummy rings, this is its adult self.
You have the fun bubbles of the carbonation mixed with the refreshing taste of peach with a bit of a floral finish that leaves the best possible aftertaste.
This wine must be served cold in order to fully experience it. I tried it at room temp and it was ok, but more along the lines of peach soup.

Look at the bubbles....so peachy and refreshing! 

~Cheers

Quick Poll

Now your cooking with Gas Wine

We all know you can drink wine, but did you know you could cook with it too...wha?

When cooking with wine only use one that you would drink. If you wouldn't drink it then don't cook with it. You will not like the dish. Stay far away from "Cooking Wines" as they are typically salty and have other ingredients. And cooking with a cheap wine will only bring out the worse in it.

So if you dont or wont drink it don't cook with it.

Wine can be used in many ways in the kitchen. It can be used as a flavoring, as a marinade or as stock. When cooking with wine you want it to enhance the dish not mask it. When cooking you do not need to worry about the alcohol as it burns off leaving only the tase and the sweetness and acidity. Never add wine to a dish right before serving as it will not have time to burn off the alcohol and reduce down.  Also take heed to what you are making, just because YOU love the wine doesn't mean the dish you are cooking will love it. Not every dish can be made with wine.

Here are a few links to some of my favorite wine infused dishes:

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/easy-parmesan-risotto-recipe.html

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/mussels-in-white-wine-recipe.html

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Chicken-and-Red-Wine-Sauce/Detail.aspx?evt19=1&referringHubId=1786

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Beef-Bourguignon-II/Detail.aspx?evt19=1&referringHubId=1786

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Burgundy-Pork-Tenderloin/Detail.aspx?evt19=1&referringHubId=1786

And like with all things, just have fun and experiment. And if you have wine left over well drink it :)

~Cheers