Good food and wine pairings often depend on the person that is tasting them. There are no strict rules as far as food and wine combinations. However, be aware that there would be a contradiction if the palate does not compliment the aroma of the beverage. One of the things that should be considered are the interactions of the flavors themselves. With these interactions, you will have the opportunity to detect the 4 distinct flavors sweet, sour, bitter and salty. You will also have the opportunity to experience the two thundered aromas that are depicted by the nose. When you pair food with wine, you will discover that some foods may either contradict or complement each other.

Another thing to consider is the food that is to be served. Light dishes, such as stir fry, chicken, fish and salads generally compliment white wines, while heavier meals, such as steak and potatoes or pasta dishes such as spaghetti usually compliment red wines. The acidity of the food should also be taken into consideration because the characteristics of the food’s acidity with wines that share the same acidity. Lean foods, such as turkey, will work well with drier wines such as a Gray Riesling.

Pairing food with wine is a tasty and wonderful experience that will be beneficial for you to remember. Therefore it is important that you take note on the relationship between the different foods and wines for future reference.

When you attend a wine tasting party, be sure that you do not wear strong smelling perfumes, aftershave or colognes because they will strongly affect the taste of the wine as well as overwhelm the overall smell of it. Strong perfumes and other body scents will also affect other attendees experience. It is also important that you do not smoke, consume mints or chew gum because that will affect the way you taste the wine.

While at the wine tastingevent, you may find that they serve bottled water at room temperature. This water is used to rinse the taste buds in order to prepare them for the next wine tasting. Cold water may shock the taste buds, which will effect the overall taste of the wine. Crackers and bread that are unflavored or unsalted are also served to help cleanse the palate and prepare it for the next wine tasting.

When the wine is served, be sure to hold the glass by it’s stem. The purpose of holding it by the stem is to keep it from heating from the warmth of your hand. The temperature of the wine will also affect it’s taste.

Now that we have the pre tasting tips, here comes the fun part; the actual wine tasting. During this part of the event, you will explore the color, the smell and the taste.

Wine Tasting Tips

The first thing that you will observe is the color. With a white table cloth on the table, you will notice that the white wines
may have a yellow, green or brownish color. Red wines have different shades of red to them and it is known that the lighter the color of the red wine, the older it is. The color will also indicate not only the age, but the taste as well. While observing it’s color, be sure that you slightly tilt the glass of wine and take notice of the rim color. If the rim is purplish, it is an indicator of a young wine; if it is brownish in color, it is an indicator of an older wine.

The next thing to observe when tasting wine is the smell. To get the proper smell of the wine, be sure to swirl it around in the glass to expose the wine to the air and to release it’s flavor. After you swirl the wine, position your nose and inhale through it deeply.

Last, but certainly not least, you taste the wine. It is important that you do not gulp the wine down but instead, take small sips and roll the wine around in your tongue. In the actual taste of the wine, there are three things you need to be aware of; the first impression, the taste of it and the aftertaste.

Now that you know what to expect at a wine tasting event, you can be more confident and can enjoy the whole event from start to end.

Wine is a complex substance. Open a bottle of it now, and it may taste fine. Open a bottle of the same wine several years from now, and the wine becomes something else entirely. Rough edges in the flavor will have smoothed out. Aging wine will bring out a smoother and more mellow flavor.

Why age wine? Well, as stated above, the many components of the wine will mellow out over time, and bring a harmonious balance to the flavor of the wine. The tannins, present in red wine, bring a bitter and astringent flavor. Given time, the tannins help to age the wine. In the process of aging wine, the tannins precipitate out of the wine, leaving a smoother and more mellow flavor. As the wine ages, the acids will lose a bit of their bite, allowing the fruit to come out more. As the components of the wine age, they also bring more complexity to the flavor. What you end up with after several years of proper aging is a complex and balanced wine.

What wines should be aged? There are certain guidelines as to what wines should and should not be aged, but they are simply guidelines, not hard and fast rules. Most wines from California are meant to be consumed immediately, and should not be aged. Most white wines should not be aged, as they have a lower amount of tannins than red wine. It is the tannins that are present in red wine that allow the wine to age well. There are a few white wines, however that will improve with a couple of years of aging. Most wines under $25 don’t need to be aged. Many French wines are meant to age and mature over several years. There are exceptions to these rules. Go into a wine shop, and ask what they would recommend for aging wine. They can recommend several good wines, along with some ideas of how long to age the wine.

How do I age wine? Proper storage is essential for aging wine well. Cooler temperatures slow down the aging process, allowing time for the complexity of the wine to develop. The wine should be stored at a constant temperature of 50-60 degrees F. Fluctuating temperatures will cause the wine and the cork to expand and contract, loosening the cork, and exposing the wine to oxygen. The wine should be stored on it’s side, so that the wine is in contact with the cork, preventing it from drying out. The storage area should be dark, and have plenty of moisture to keep the cork from drying, which may loosen it, and subject the wine to oxidation.

Once you have a proper storage area for your wine, go to your local wine shop, and get their recommendations on a good aging wine. Buy a case of wine, and then open up one of the bottles when you get home and taste it. Put the rest of the bottles in storage, and start opening them after a couple of years, and note how the flavors and the complexity of the wine have changed. A new bottle of wine may be good, but a aging wine is even better.

The most popular white wine grape that is found around the world is the Chardonnay grape. It is a green skinned variety of grape that is believed to originate in the Burgundy wine region of France but has since spread throughout the world. It is often seen as a rite of passsage into the international wine market when new and developing wine regions grow Chardonnay. The flavor, as well as the aroma will often depend on where the wine is made as well as the processing methods used. Chardonnay is a versatile grape and remains a major type to this day. Chardonnay grape is used to make white Burgundy along with a lesser known grape known as Aligote. White Burgundy is also another popular wine.

Chardonnay grapes are very neutral. Many of the flavors that are associated with it are influenced by oak, as well as terroir. French and American Chardonnay are among the most preferred white wines as well as the richest and most complex ones. In the United States, some very fine Chardonnay wines come from the Napa Valley in California, and the Columbia Valley in Washington.

The grapes are very malleable, reflecting the terroir, the characteristics of the climate, soil, and other factors that go into growing the grapes. Because of this, a Columbia Valley Chardonnay will be different than one from France. Even within a small viticultural area, the differences between grapes grown in one vineyard and another may be very noticeable.

The grapes ripen early, which can cause some issues. These grapes, since they develop early can be easily damaged by springtime frost. In some regions, the vines are pruned just before they flower, which delays the flowering for up to two weeks. Because of the grapes ripening early, they thrive in regions with a short growing season. Upon ripening, the chardonnay grapes will quickly lose their acidity, making harvesting time crucial.

Chardonnay grapes are a result of the extinct Croatian Blanc and Pinot grape and is aged using oak barrels. These barrels bring out the vanilla flavor that the wine is known for. Bottles can also be used to age and ferment the wine but it will not age as well as red wine under the same circumstance.

Chardonnay is best served chilled and has the potential to be served with a diverse spectrum of verious food types due to it’s wide range of syles. A Chardonnay from Washington state tend to pair well with tomato based dishes as well as dished using sweet onion due to the wine maintaining more acidity in it’s character. Earthy dishes, such as mushroom soup or aged cheese, pair very well with an older and a more mellow Chardonnay. Chardonnay is most commonly paired with chicken, turkey and other white meats.

Other than making white Burgandy, Chardonnay grapes are also used for making Champagne as well as other types of sparkling wines. Remaining as one of the most widely-planted grape varieties, Chardonnay has over 400,000 acres worldwide. Chardonnay can also be found in any wine or alcohol store and can make a great addition to any meal.

As the name implies this club tailors to the sweet wine drinker in your life. But not all sweet wines are the same and this club is designed to showcase those differences. Members may travel to Italy and try a slightly effervescent Moscato d’Asti, to Germany to sample one of their many styles of Rieslings, or stay in America and try a Washington State spicy Gewurztraminer. Many styles and choices will be featured in our newest club so hop on board we are going for a sweet ride.

Not all sweet wines are the same and this club is designed to showcase those differences.

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They say variety is the spice of life and this club is seasoned with it! This club is designed for the eclectic wine drinker, who is open to drinking any type of wine as long as it is red. Travel all over the world and learn about the different red wines each country is producing best. Or perhaps stay in your own backyard and discover a Californian gem from a tiny producer. This club has just one exclusion: “No White Wine or Roses Allowed!”

This club is designed for the eclectic wine drinker, who is open to drinking any type of wine as long as it is red.

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Travel with your taste buds across the globe and try some of the best wines from the United States and abroad with our NEW Case Club program.

Case Club members will sample a wide variety of exquisite selections from some of the premier wine regions across the globe all from the comfort of their home.

Cellars Wine Club has worked and negotiated very hard with importers and wineries to make these wines available at a tremendous discount thus members can expect savings with each shipment.

Case Club members will sample a wide variety of exquisite selections from some of the premier wine regions across the globe all from the comfort of their home.

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This wine club is designed for the more seasoned wine aficionado, and gives an all access pass to vineyards and wines not readily available to most. Tour classic regions as well as more recently discovered premium regions from around the globe. We take the guess work out of trying to find a new and exciting wine or winery. Our experts do all the work so you don’t have to. These wines are produced in limited quantities from boutique wineries & vineyards and include all the favorite varietals as well as lesser known varietals often from grapes indigenous of a particular region. Hop on board, this wine tour starts now!

These wines are produced in limited quantities from boutique wineries & vineyards and include all the favorite varietals as well as lesser known varietals often from grapes indigenous of a particular region.

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Travel all over the world and learn about a different wine or perhaps stay in your own backyard and discover a Californian gem from a tiny producer. This club is the perfect introduction to a wine of the month club with out the big commitment.

This club is the perfect introduction to a wine of the month club with out the big commitment.

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Grape quality is like real estate: it is all about location, and the West Coast reigns supreme! Sample wines from world renowned regions of California such as Napa, Sonoma and Monterey. Then head north to Oregon’s and Washington’s Willamette Valley and Columbia Valley regions. We seek out boutique wineries and limited production wines for our members. This wine club makes the perfect wine gift for any wine lover.

California, Oregon and Washington wineries showcase the best of what America has to offer.

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