Choosing the Wine

You have two choices:

1. The same type of wine from different regions.

  2.  Different types of wine from the same region.

Also, choose seasonally-appropriate wine – light in the spring and summer, heavier in the fall and winter. Once you’ve chosen your bottles, do your research. Find out where the wines are from, their flavor notes and any other information you can snag from the label or a quick Internet search – your guests will be thoroughly impressed.

Setting Up

•   Look for free, printable tasting grids online. Sections to fill out should include aroma, body, color, finish and flavor.

  •    Make sure you have two corkscrews. That way, if one breaks, you don’t have to scrap the entire tasting. If you’ve never had a lot of success opening wine, ask someone else to do it during the party. If you screw up, you could get the cork stuck or get cork bits in the wine, which will affect the taste.

  •    Set each table with a white tablecloth, the best color for viewing wine.

  •    You just need to give each guest one or two glasses. In between tastes, have them remove residue by rinsing their glass with water. Place a water pitcher and a fancy discard bucket on the table.

  •    Use stemless glasses so that the heat from your guests’ hands don’t warm up the wine, which can change its taste.

  •    Do not set the atmosphere with fresh flowers or scented candles – the aroma will interfere with the tasting.

Ready, Set, Taste!

Whatever type of wine you’re tasting, serve it in this way:

• White to red
• Dry to sweet
•   Light to heavy

Red wine can be pre-poured, but don’t pour white until it’s time to taste. Red is usually best at room temperature, but white usually has to be chilled at approximately 45 degrees. Pour two to three ounces of wine per guest per wine to taste.

Don’t know how to taste like a pro? It’s pretty easy, actually. Follow these steps and teach your guests how to methodically enjoy their wine:

   Examine the wine’s color and intensity by holding the glass at a 45 degree angle.

•        Place the glass on the table and swirl the wine. This will release the aroma and also let you see the tannins.
•        Put the glass to your nose and inhale the wine.
•       Take a small sip and swirl it around in your mouth. During this step, take note of the flavors, body, texture and acidity.
•        Swallow the wine for the finish and the aftertaste.

A Note About Blind Tastings

In theory, blind tastings sound like a lot of fun. In reality, they can be annoying and clumsy, especially when you have a room full of non-experts. Trying to figure out what you’re drinking can actually detract from the overall experience.

Rhonda Tillman is a professional blogger whose focus is on food and restaurant industry. She writes for My National Grocers, a leader in the food service supply industry.

The post How to Throw a Wine Tasting Party appeared first on Weekly Living.

Most people have heard or read articles about the possibility of delicious treats like red wine and even chocolate having health benefits. However, it is important to remember that you shouldn’t always believe everything you hear. While there are certainly some surprising health benefits to consuming both chocolate and red wine, don’t indulge in a free for all every night before bed. Read on for some of the many health benefits of red wine and chocolate as well as the drawbacks and caveats of both.

Health Benefits of Red Wine

Red wine contains both flavonoids and resveratrol, two substances that can do wonders for the human body. Flavonoids are antioxidants that work in the body to reduce the LDL, or the bad cholesterol, while simultaneously increasing the body’s stores of HDL, or healthy cholesterol. In addition, flavonoids have been shown in some studies to be beneficial to the heart, circulation system and in some cases even to prevent cancer. Red wine also contains resveratrol, another antioxidant that can help to increase nerve growth within the human body.

Drawbacks of Red Wine

Although red wine certainly has many benefits, there are some caveats to keep in mind. Sipping a glass of Merlot or Cabernet Sauvignon each night with dinner can have these incredible health benefits, but sipping white wine has few, if any, noticeable health advantages. In addition, it is important to keep in mind that these studies do not show the disadvantages of drinking too much of any alcohol. Consuming a bottle of red wine on a regular basis, for example, can lead to chronic dehydration, migraines, kidney and liver problems and even alcohol addiction. Limit your red wine consumption to just one glass each day in order to reap the health benefits without any of the drawbacks.

Health Benefits of Chocolate

Just like red wine, dark chocolate contains resveratrol and flavonoids that can have incredible health benefits for the human body. In addition, chocolate with a cocoa percentage higher than 70 can help to reduce blood sugar, stabilizing the mood of the consumer and helping to prevent diabetes. Surprisingly, you don’t have to stick to a square of the delicious brown confection if you don’t want to. Enjoy hot chocolate made with dark cocoa or even a dark chocolate soufflé for something tasty that can benefit your body as well.

Drawbacks of Chocolate

Unfortunately, there are several caveats to keep in mind when it comes to the health benefits of chocolate. First, not all chocolates contain these miracle ingredients. White chocolate, for example, has no cocoa at all, even milk chocolate has very few antioxidants, and only dark chocolates with a cocoa percentage higher than 70 will have health benefits upon consumption. In addition, eating large quantities of dark chocolate can lead to weight gain, which brings with it a host of negative health connotations.

Since tasty treats like red wine and dark chocolate contain key ingredients that can help the body, enjoy both in your daily life. However, remember to limit consumption and practice moderation with these foods for optimum benefits.

Carol Weber, who writes for health and food blogs, suggests checking out http://www.accessrx.com to find answers to questions about your health, safety and is it safe to buy from Canadian online pharmacies?

The post Could Treats Like Red Wine and Chocolate Really Be Good for Your Health appeared first on Weekly Living.

Summer is officially far behind us and Halloween is rapidly approaching. The urge for a comforting glass of wine seems to increase in direct proportion to the decrease in temperature and summer’s chilled chardonnay doesn’t satisfy the way it did just two months ago. It’s time to update the wine rack for the cold nights ahead.

Cotes du Rhone

If you are looking for a full, rich, peppery wine look no further than a bottle of Cotes du Rhone. Produced in France’s Rhone valley, not far from the Mediterranean Sea these wines tend to get heavier in body the further north you head. Rhone wines pair well with roasted meats and game animals but are just as good all by themselves. With a large selection to choose from it is easy to find a great bottle from under $20 at most wine stores. The Domaine Pelaquie Cotes du Rhone makes a great introduction to the region. With hints of black cherry, plum, spice and lavender and a 90 point rating the $15 price tag makes this bottle a bargain.

Chateauneuf du Pape

Also from the Rhone valley in the south of France, Chateauneuf du Pape is as rich in history as it is in taste. Originally considered too rustic for mass appeal the wines of Chateauneuf have experienced a renaissance, and major price increase, in recent years. Try the Clos des Papes Chateauneuf du Pape, this bend of Grenache and Syrah grapes is lush with black fruits and berries and complimented with deep earthy and olive flavors. It pairs best with pasta dishes, spicy curries and game.

Pinot Noir

One could argue that any season is a good season for a glass of pinot noir. Made from black grapes, pinot noirs are produced all over the world but the grape itself is chiefly grown in the Burgundy region of France. Pinot Noirs tend to have a light to medium body with lots of berry and fruit flavors. Perfect for a fall cocktail party, try the Domaine Carneros Pinot Noir. Made from organic grapes grown in the Napa valley of California this wine stands well on its own or pairs well with casual weeknight meals.

The post The best wines for a cool autumn evening appeared first on Weekly Living.