December 2008 - Port Wine
How to Host a Wine Party
Looking to have some fun with friends while sharing some wine? You should consider hosting a wine tasting party. It's a really neat way to share your wine favorites and to be introduced to a variety of new and interesting wines. You can also add some spice to your fun by using a wine theme ("All About Reds", "Blindfold Tasting", etc.).
Party Size
You dont need a lot of guests to have a great party. What I have found works best is to have about four to twelve people, and definitely include yourself as one of the registered guests. Also, I like to always have a contest during the party and give away a gift.
Theme Selection
Pick a fun theme, and remember the theme also determines what wines will be poured. You can name a theme like "The Great Italians", "The Great Whites of California", or whatever fits your mood. I would suggest being very creative, the possibilities are endless. If you tell your local wine merchant your theme, they can be a great source of help with wine and theme matching. Also, at a minimum make sure you have 4 to 6 different wine types to taste.
Food Choices
Have you heard the saying "First the wine, then your menu"? If you had a theme for your party and your wines followed that theme, you may want to carry it through with whatever food you serve. For example if you are tasting Italian Reds why not serve some Italian munchies to match.
While you do need to provide foods that complement the wines provided, the food should not the backbone of the party. Focus on the doeuvres such as: cheese, fruit, unsalted crackers, bread or other munchies you may have prepared for the evening. Don not forget to have lots of bottled room temperature water and optional spit buckets available.
When all the tasting is done, you may want to have plenty of coffee and desserts. This is also a great time to break out one of your favorite dessert wines.
To experience the full pleasure of the wine, it is important that you serve them at the correct temperature. Below are the basic temperature guidelines:
Temperature per Wine Types
37-43F White Sweet Wines
41-45F Champagne and Sparkling Wines
46-50F White Dry Young Wines
48-54F White Aged and Pink Wines
52-59F Red Young Wines
54-63F Port and Sherry
58-63F Red Full-body Wines
59-65F Red Aged Wines
Serving Considerations
There are important factors to consider when pouring the wine at a Wine Tasting Party.
- Fill the glasses only one-third full. This will prevent anyone from swirling the wine on your tablecloth or carpeting.
- Expect to serve about eight to twelve samples from each 750 ml bottle.
- As a rule, serve white wines before red wines and dry wines before sweet.
- Blush wines are served as you would serve a rose, in-between the white and the reds.
- The serving order is more common sense than etiquette.
- Sweet wines have a tendency to over power the taste buds giving a sensation of bitterness to the dry wines.
Sights
The first step in the tasting process is to examine the wine and take note of the color, clarity, and transparency of the wine. Young wines are typically very clear. Older blends may be expected to have a little sediment. There is a lot to this and it takes a bit of experience to understand which hues are right for each type.
Smell
The second step is in the pleasure of smelling the wine. Swirl the wine around in the glass which awakens its aromas or bouquets. It is important to take a good sniff of the bouquet and try to detect unique fragrances. If are new at this, dont fret, you will get better over time.
Taste
Now the fun part of actually tasting the wine. Take a sip and roll the wine over your tongue. Different parts of the tongue will register different tastes so be sure to roll the wine around in your mouth. Try to focus on the characteristics of the wine, such as body, sweetness, tartness, bitterness, and fruitiness. You should also take notice the subtleties of the wines aftertaste.
About The Author Contributor: Stuart Glasure [Designer, Fashion Artist, Creator: "Zany Wearables", Wine Enthusiast] Labels: Wine Cassis                         
8:11 AM
12/18/08 - Renault Winery
Another Great Renault Winery Article
Valentines Day Wine And Food Ideas Once again Valentines Day is here and even though it may not be official holiday it is a very important day for that special women in our life. So while we have some time lets plan ahead for the big even and make it a great day for that special someone. About the Author: A Short Renault Winery Summary Valentines Day Wine And Food Ideas Once again Valentines Day is here and even though it may not be official holiday it is a very important day for that special women in our life. So wh... Click Here to Read More About Wine ... Renault Winery Items For Viewing 2002 Estancia Los Algarrobos Syrah  Very deep ruby with purple pigments. The aromatic descriptors such as truffles, leather, cherries and plums are very well defined in this varietal; this shows us the great care taken to get the harvesting point. This Argentinian wine has balanced acidity with no sharp edge; oily on going through the mouth and at the end of it, thus making it round and pleasant to the palate while tasting it. At the back you feel it soft and clean, sensing primary aromas. This Estancia Los Algarronos Syrah is ideal to be served with dishes with meat. The serving temperature is from 61 F to 64 F. You can buy this delicious dry red wine online. 7680600014 7680600014
Price: 29.95 USD Headlines on Renault Winery Are You Interested in Home Wine Making Tue, 07 Oct 2008 06:48:28 -0700 Most homemade wine is made from a grape juice concentrate, so don’t worry about growing and harvesting your own grapes - or needing to stomp on them once you do! You can also use different fruit juices as well, for a different type of flavor. Understanding Wine and Spirits Mon, 06 Oct 2008 12:17:06 -0700 Ordering wine and mixed drinks can be so nerve-wracking that you need to pre-game just to work up the courage to get more booze! This simple guide breaks down the different types of wines and spirits in an unpretentious, accessible manner. So easy a recent grad could figure it out. The "Yesssss" Person and a Concert Review Sun, 05 Oct 2008 11:06:40 -0700 So I caught the Iron & Wine / Swell Season show at the Rialto Theatre in Tucson last night. Before I get to the show, I wanted to talk about my nearby company at said show. Last night I quickly realized I was standing in front of one of my favorite types of people at the concert: the "yessssss" person. How To Make Homemade Wine Sat, 04 Oct 2008 15:12:45 -0700 The Different Types of WineRed wines are not only different in color from white wines and rosè wines but they also have flavors that are stronger and richer. White wines typically have a more delicate flavor. Some white wines can even have a pale green color. How to Make White Russian Wed, 01 Oct 2008 09:06:33 -0700 This article will tell you how to make a white russian. A white russian is a dessert type drink and tastes good. taste beer liquer wine drinks fit fitness healthy liquor mixed vodka wake Buy Wine Online Tue, 30 Sep 2008 23:32:59 -0700 The Wine Cache is your premier online store for wines. Whether you are looking to buy Bordeaux, Cabernet, Merlot, French or other types of wines to drink or to gift someone, you can order here. Free shipping & great customer service offered! Wine Basket Champagne Bottles Wine Varietal Labels: Total Wine | Varietal Wine 
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