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 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.
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 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.
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 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.
The Right Temperature For Storing Wine
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 easiest 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.
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 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.
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 easiest 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.
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 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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