English wine - always a pleasure

There are, of course, a great many of us in the UK who appreciate good wine. Whether it's characterful new World Red to accompany the Sunday roast, a refreshing Mâcon to go with a delicious fresh fish dish, or a rosé paired with anything from pizza to seafood, we're a nation that appreciates (and imports) some superb quality wines.
You only have to look at the popularity of wine tasting sessions, the extensive wine lists in restaurants and the well-informed and engaging wine review columns in the UK broadsheets to see that when it comes to wine, we're a mature and sophisticated market - and one that's a major supporter of many inernational producers.

But when it comes to English wine, many people might be surprised to know just how credible the wines produced in the southern parts of the UK have become - and the extent of UK production which, rather than being a cottage industry, actually runs to a great many bottles per year, certainly well over a million.

One of the types of UK wine that has consistently been praised is the sparkling form of the drink. Have a look at sites such as rose-wine.com for some inspiring choices here. Sparkling wines are getting positive notice from the critics, and in this the wine producers are helped by the southern English climate - since the French types of this wine are from the northern parts there's a similarity in terms of the amount of sunshine and temperature between the regions.

Other English wines that are of great quality and taste great include a number of whites and reds from various producers and are worth checking out if you're interested in seeing what's being done these days in terms of UK wine production. If you've ever taken the train from London Victoria down through Kent to Canterbury or further along to the coastal towns, you can actually see vineyards from the train, and it's a beautiful sight.

Award Winning Chateau Routas, Wild Boar Rosé

A well done to Chateau Routas for winning the prestigious five star, best in show, international trophy at the 2012 Decanter World Wine Awards for their Wild Boar Rose. The award was for the category ‘Rosé under £10’

It is a well-deserved award for winemaker Jean Louis Bavay who strives to “Coax the best wine the earth wants to give me”. He certainly does that with the Wild Boar Rose, which is a great example of how you can produce a top quality rose wine yet still be very affordable.

Here is what they said about the wine at the Decanter World Wine Awards

“Appetising, moreish style singing of Mediterranean France. Clean, fresh herbal aromas with invigorating aniseed over a ripe peach and tropical fruit palate with pretty, floral notes, plum skins and stony, mineral acidity.”

We certainly agree with the award and if you haven’t already tried the wine, then where have you been? Only joking! But if you love rose wine then definitely give this one a try. You won’t be disappointed!

Tips for a Non-Expert to order Wine at a Wine Restaurant

Whether it is a holiday or a special event, it may be an evening that requires going to a fancy restaurant. Typically when taking a date to an upscale restaurant, wine is the drink of choice. The tough part is deciding on a bottle when you know nothing about wine. It is assumed that women prefer wine, therefore it would be advantageous to suggest having a bottle with the meal.

Although it may not matter who orders the bottle of wine, a person may try to impress their date by showing they know their way around wine even though they may not. There are some women that may prefer their date to order the wine similar to having their chair pushed in or the door opened for them. No matter the reason for ordering wine, there are a few strategies for getting the job done.

Read Up
By taking a few minutes to look at a book or magazine, it is easy to understand the basics of wine and which bottles will taste good with each meal. The internet will have several resources and it is easier to find exactly what you want to know. After reading up on some information, it is time to hit the restaurant.

Switch it Up
When the waiter comes to the table they will usually ask you want something to drink such as a glass of wine. Rather than ordering a bottle right away, ask your date if she would drink a glass of Champagne with you. If you date is agrees you can ask for two glasses of sparkling wine. This will give you time to look over the menu and be able to pair the wine and the meal together.

Get a bottle
Rather than ordering a few glasses of wine, purchase a bottle. A bottle will be more romantic for your date. Typically at a wine restaurant, it is cheaper to order a bottle of wine than four glasses of wine. It may look like money does not matter, when in fact you are saving money.

Take Time and Order
Look over the wine list slowly. It will show that you actually care about the right bottle rather than getting the best deal. It will also give your date the impression that you know a lot about wine. It may even be a good idea to stay away from bottles costing less than $25. Ask your date if she prefers red or white wine. There are two types that are very flexible with any food. If she says white, order a Riesling. If she says red, order a Pinot Noir.



Memorial Wine Cellar is continually eveling their collection based upon the palates of guests. This is a great wine restaurant to take your date for that special occation. Memorial Wine Cellar has curbside service for picking up wine and they always offer a high level of customer service.

Free Wine Class: How To Choose The Correct Wine Glass

Today I'd like to offer you some quality advice on the best way to choose wine glasses. It may not sound like that big of a deal but will come in handy the next time you are hosting a dinner or a cocktail party. Just imagine for a second that you are just about ready to serve your wine; but just before you set the table, fear starts to set in. Just what glasses should you put on the table? There is a method to the madness of different wine glass shapes. Let me tell you step by step which wine is preferred to go in which glass so you’ll have no fear whatsoever the next time you set your table for a great dinner with a food and wine pairing.

White Wines:
Now if you’re looking for white wines, you need a glass with a little bit more narrow opening. So this is a traditional wine glass. This would be good for white wines and red wines but it will be good for white wines in that the narrower the opening, the better because white wines don’t need as much aeration as red wine does but they have more delicate flavour. You can definitely smell a red wine from six inches away; you know the smells are coming out of that wine. I can smell these red wines now and I haven’t even put my nose in the glass. But white wines, particularly the lighter ones, you are getting into a sense of apricots, and lemons, light-citrus. You want to get every single piece of that flavour from the wine into your nose so when you’re drinking it, you’ll look for a narrower opening so when you smell it, all those aromas are trapped inside the glass by the narrow opening and they are not allowed to dissipate into the surrounding table area as they would be if there was a wide opening.

Red Wines:

Let’s just stop and think for a second. Take red wines for example. Typically Red wines are bigger, they have more tannins, they open up slower and sometimes they have to age for years in the bottle before they resemble anything remotely drinkable. They also have big flavours, they need a lot of air put in to them, (usually achieved by swirling), they need to be decanted, and finally; they usually require a lot more air than your typical white wine. Red wines need a big surface area so more air gets to them and they need a big bowl like this so when you swirl them, more wine can get contact with air. So if you’re serving a red wine, look for a glass that has a big bottom on it. This glass is also another good glass for good red wine but it does have not so much a big bottom as this traditional glass, but it does have a lot of volume in the glass so you can definitely aerate the wine better.

Sparkling wines:
In the first part of the last century; people liked their sparkling wines were sweeter than anything by today's standards. So there a wasn't a need to seek out soft, delicate flavours that would be in a small opening to a wine glass. So if you’re looking for sparkling wines, there are two kinds. There is dry which would go in a tall champagne slue and a sweeter sparkling wine can go either in a champagne slue or it can go in one of those bowl sized traditional champagne glasses.

So now that we have gone through the set of wine glasses and what wines they would traditionally be served in each glass, let’s ask ourselves some questions to kind of test what we know.

Would you consider owning more than one type of wine glass?

This would be your typical entry level wine glass that will be good for all wines. Are you going to consider owning certain types of different wine glasses based on the types of wine you would want to serve and which types of wine glasses do you think should be in your kitchen?

Would you invest in a top of the line Riedel glass or would you invest in maybe more glasses for the same price in different shapes at a lower price point?

And last, would you buy the more expensive glasses or instead would you want to invest in stronger, more economical glasses?

To find out more about red or white wine, or to just dive in an order a case; please visit us at www.bordeaux-undiscovered.co.uk

Image credit: Martin Cathrae

Upcoming Wine Trends

Wines come in different varieties and flavor that strictly confine to the wine and food rules. These trends are categorized in various classes. Wines are classified according to class, time of consumption and where it should be consumed. People with great knowledge on wine are more concerned with specialty in terms of place and labels. Each type of wine has a close relationship with the geographical environment where it is found.



For instance Terroir is a French name for wine, coffee or tea and may have to bear the meaning of a sense of place. For those who understand what they can achieve by taking wine, don’t just go for names but are concerned very much on with the origin of the brand. Chardonnay is a French term but ordering by that name is not enough since the same type from Chablis contain minerals flavor of the sea which are unique because the grapes used grow on fossils soils and decomposed sea creatures. Another Chardonnay type from California is characterized by citric fruits which defines their origin.

Local wines
Turning to local wines is one thing that can make you enjoy your staff without having to change the taste and flavor. When you stick to one taste you are likely to gain good experience and this is important when choosing what you need to take. Something you are used to it becomes more delicious even when you are visiting new places. The notion that locally processed wine is not as good as that from abroad is misplaced and you should realize how someone from somewhere else may love to order it at the expense of those imported from their countries of origin. It is easy to choose the local brand because you are well conversant with the flavor and chances of falling prey to unscrupulous dealers do not arise.

Break the rules
Choosing the type of food and wine that combines with it is immaterial therefore breaking this rule may not have any impact on your appetite. As long as you have picked on a balanced diet, a well balanced wine is goods for your health. If the food is good and you pick on a wine that has good flavor then you are ok since it leaves you satisfied. Color in this case does not matter. Always settle for what you like in terms of food and wine and combine the two to your enjoyment.
Steer clear of adulterated wine
You should be aware of wines that contain foreign additives. Go for pristine wines which have natural flavors and nothing more. The original taste should be retained all through. Exaggerating the taste with too much sugar is uncalled for as this robs it of its natural sweetness and the original alcoholic content which needs to remain the same throughout.

Affordable wines
When placing orders for wine; pick on less expensive ones. The wide range of wine processing firms guarantee a pocket friendly quality but you should be careful on what you place your money on. There is no difference in these wines since they contain the same alcoholic values. Cheaper wines may be better than the expensive ones since high prices do not necessarily mean good quality. You can still enjoy your day with cheaper wine and still save some money for other uses.

Article provided by http://www.johnjenkinsdirect.co.uk 

Top 5 Wine Regions in the USA

The American wine industry is as old as the nation itself and few wine lovers realize that over 5,500 wineries are located throughout the United States. Statistically, the United States yields over 660 million gallons of wine each year and ranks fourth in worldwide wine production. Additionally, the wine industry creates numerous jobs in agriculture, production, and tourism. While vineyards and wineries exist in all 50 states, most are clustered in five geographical regions.

California
The top wine-producing region in the United States is the West Coast. According to the National Association of American Wineries, California alone yields 90% of all American wines and provides 95% of all wine exported from the United States. Napa and Sonoma counties are the most popular wine tasting areas of the state and boast of many fine wines and wineries. Additionally, the beauty of the foothills of the Sierra Mountain Range draws many tourists to the local wine tours. Up the coast, Washington and Oregon have hundreds of wineries and thousands of acres of vineyard as well.

New York
In the northeast, New York and its surrounding states make up the second top wine-producing region in the United States. Growing dramatically in last thirty years, New York ranks third in terms of U.S. production. Popular vineyards and wineries lie around Lake Erie, Long Island, the Hudson River, and the Finger Lakes area. Most are small family-run businesses. In Virginia, wine growing dates back to the 1600s. Thomas Jefferson was one of the most famous vine growers in this area, boasting an extensive wine collection. Other wine-producing states in the area include Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Maryland.

South
Texas and New Mexico make up the third top wine-producing area of the United States. Texas alone ranks fifth in production. The earliest vineyards are traced to the Spanish missionaries of the 1700s. The Texas High Plains and the upper elevations of New Mexico yield the best grapes in the area.

Lakes Region
The Great Lakes region, including Michigan, Ohio, and northern New York, ranks fourth in wine production. Michigan is the fourth largest grape growing state, but only a tenth of that is turned into table wine. Ohio’s wine industry is enjoying resurgence in recent years.

Midwest
Finally, the Midwestern region, consisting of Missouri, Illinois, and Kentucky, is one of the fastest growing wine-producing regions in the country. In Illinois, the number of wineries doubled in the years since the 1990s. Missouri is rebuilding its wine industry as well. Settled largely by German immigrants, Missouri’s wineries retain a strong German influence in its family owned operations.


Article by ezCater.com. The easiest, most reliable way to find and order Charleston catering.

The Best Tasting Wine For Your Dinner

Whether you are hosting an important dinner party for work or you are planning a romantic dinner for two, there may come a time when you need to choose which wines to serve with your dinner. Although you may be inclined to stress over your decision, choosing wines for dinner can be a fairly simple task. With a basic understanding of a few simple concepts, you can be confident in impressing your guests with a tasteful and quality wine.

Consider Your Cuisine
As you plan for your event, you will want to prepare in advance for the type of food you will be serving. While you might not know every detail of side dishes and other entrees, it can be very helpful to have a good idea of the main course and the overall genre of your menu. Knowing the type of meat you will be serving can make a large difference in helping you choose which wines to serve. White meats such as fish and turkey, for example, often pair better with different wines than you might consider with steak.
If you don’t have a particular dinner menu in mind, you have the option of planning your meal around your favorite choice in wine. Starting with your wines and working backwards with the dinner menu is a similar process. In either case, the goal is to have the wines and the dinner menu complement one another, providing the best experience for everyone.

Common Sense Advice
If you are new to serving or drinking wines, there are a few simple things to keep in mind to create the best combinations. Just as you would plan various components of your dinner menu to work well together, you will want to make sure that your wines complement the meal. Years of experience with wines may provide you with some added insights, but in the beginning, you can follow some simple advice.
*Lighter dishes often work better with lighter wines.
*Heavier foods tend to mesh more with heavier and darker wines.
*When serving white meats, choose white wines.
*For red meats, use red wines.
No matter what you are serving, your goal should be to create a balance. Your foods and wines should work together to enhance the entire dining experience.

Popular Combinations
If you are feeling hesitant or unsure about making a selection, you can always stick with popular combinations that have already been proved to work well. Here are a few popular combinations to consider.
*Chicken and grilled fish are often paired with Chardonnay.
*Merlot is often used in combination with a hearty dish of pasta or a heavier, red meat.
*Dishes of steak and beef are often paired with Cabernet Sauvignon.
*Pinot Noir can be a great choice with pork or red sauce.
*Lighter dishes that include chicken or other white meats tend to work well with Sauvignon Blanc.

Experiment
As with anything else, experimenting and practice is likely going to be the best way to gain confidence and expertise in choosing wines for dinner. Often times, wines are chosen simply as a matter of preference, so it might take some time to figure out exactly what you like best.

When you have given some thought to your menu and taken some simple advice on selecting wines, you can be sure to give your guests a pleasant dining experience.