A good wine can make an ordinary meal into something spectacular. And for some foods, they simply wouldn’t be complete without the perfect complementary wine. You don’t have to be a huge connoisseur to appreciate how wine enhances all kinds of food. And of course when it comes to red wine, it’s a great chance to highlight bold flavors associated with meat.
Just remember that no two personal tastes are ever the same. A general recommendation might have to be adapted in order to get the best results. There are some general guidelines that will help you to pair the perfect food with a great wine, but you need to experiment to find out your favorites. Here are a few solid suggestions to get you started, and all of these dishes can be easily prepared in your own kitchen.
Roast Lamb – this is the type of meat that goes perfectly with a California Chardonnay. Or if you have something simple like a traditional Merlot, that will work as well. Lamb has an incredible texture and a flavor all its own. And when it comes to roasting it, you can incorporate a wide range of herbs and special seasonings. Slow cooked lamb is incredibly tender, and it will melt in your mouth. If you happen to have a great red wine alongside it, you’ll be in heaven!
Homecooked Stew – who says you have to prepare anything fancy when you’re having wine? Sometimes it’s nice to get back to the basics with a traditional dish cooked in a single pot. If you’re pressed for time, you can also use an electric pressure cooker that will help to get tender results more efficiently. This is a great way to experience authentic food without having to get too elaborate.
Pasta – the rich flavor of a tomato-based sauce goes perfectly with red wine. In this case, Bordeaux is probably the best choice in order to keep things balanced. If you have a more flavorful pasta with sauce that’s loaded with meat, then you can amp up to something bolder. The acidity of the wine helps to complement the sauce in addition to cutting through the richness of the cheese commonly found on pasta.
BBQ Food – if you’re having a backyard barbecue, then you better have some wine on hand. It’s a good idea to have all kinds of beverages like beer and soft drinks as well. When it comes to heavy foods like barbecue ribs or steaks, they pair perfectly with a nice wine. If you happen to be serving seafood, make sure to have some white wine on hand as well. Nothing goes better with grilled salmon then a nice light white Bordeaux.
These are just a few selections to get you started, and the real fun is when you experiment for yourself. If you’re wondering how much money to spend on a good wine, trust your instincts. You don’t necessarily have to spend hundreds of dollars on a single bottle. There are lots of great local wines that are reasonably priced and will work well with your home-cooked meals. Whether you’re cooking something in the oven or using traditional slow cooking techniques, there’s a line out there that will enhance your food to a whole new level.
Posted by: Guy Tillson on: February 19 2012 • Categorized in: Wines
If you love wine and you are suddenly diagnosed as gluten intolerant, do not panic. Despite what many people online seem to suggest, wine is almost always gluten-free. So why are there claims that wine can contain gluten? Let us first define why this would be of concern to so many people and then let us investigate the theories and debunk them.
Despite the myths, gluten isn’t a protein and it isn’t a grain. It is a protein composite, which means it is a substance made of several different protein families, and it occurs in certain grains, particularly wheat, rye and barley.
The problem with gluten is that a surprisingly large number of people cannot eat gluten without that gluten triggering their bodies to attack themselves. This is called an autoimmune response. People with gluten intolerance or celiac disease cannot consume even a trace of gluten or it will adversely affect their health in a serious manner. They must strictly stick to a gluten-free diet for the rest of their lives. This is why they care about whether or not there is gluten in their wine.
So the first theory that implies that there is gluten in wine is that a wheat paste is used to seal the interior of oak barrels. There are two problems with this theory. First of all, wheat paste was only used in oak barrels in Europe about a century ago and earlier. It is very, very unlikely that you would find a wine that was aged in one of these old barrels. Second of all, the fermentation process used in these barrels will have killed off all proteins a long time ago.
The next theory is that gluten is used in wine fining. This just isn’t true. I have researched this and discussed this with many different wineries and they often have no idea where this rumor even began. My theory is that it is because yeast is used to ferment wine and many people associate yeast with bread. However, all yeasts used in any modern or traditional winery is grown and produced without relation to any grains.
Of course, this will still not satisfy some people, so if you are still concerned, I suggest you contact the winery to make sure a wine is gluten-free. But in a vast majority of cases, you have nothing to worry about. Please note that gluten may be present in wine-derived products like wine coolers, so this argument and article about gluten in wine only applies to pure and natural wine.
Despite economic challenges experienced across the U.S. in 2011, California wine shipments totaled nearly 210 million cases for the year, representing about a five percent increase over 2010. Credited with around 90 percent of total U.S. wine production, this California agribusiness offshoot also benefits the state’s vibrant tourism economy. Tourism is considered one of the most important “export-oriented” industries in California, bringing visitors to the state who spend money for lodging, food, recreation, transportation and retail purchases.
While there are 107 AVAs (American Viticultural Areas) in California, the Napa Valley AVA is probably the best known and is actually comprised of 16 sub-AVAs. As you might imagine, Napa vacation getaways are also quite popular. That California wine area alone attracts about 4.5 million visitors each year!
While some people visit wineries mainly to kick back, relax and imbibe, there are others who take wine very seriously. These folks have typically set aside areas of their home for special wine shelves to store and catalog their carefully collected selections. Most people probably fall somewhere in the middle of those two extremes, however, and an initial trip to Wine Country opens their eyes to just how much there is to learn about grape growing, winemaking and different ways one can maximize his/her enjoyment of wine.
If you’d like to start learning now, you can watch the video below for an introduction to the Napa Valley’s natural beauty and the cornucopia of information presented during a private tasting at Darioush Winery:
It’s time for you to be mulling over some spring break ideas. Have you ever considered wine tours as spring break trips? California wine country is beautiful, and it produces a nice selection of excellent vintages. Wine tours are extremely popular now, and wine producers offer many interesting aspects for their visitors. Depending on the individual winery, you might get to visit the vineyards to see the actual grapes and grape vines. You might also get to see how the wines are made. Almost all wine tours include wine tastings, too. Some wineries include short seminars about how to pair wines with different foods, and a few even provide special gourmet dinners as part of the wine tour experience.
California’s Napa Valley is a premier wine-growing area, on the same level as France and Italy. The area is blessed with beautiful rolling hills and is flanked to the north by the Mayacamas Mountains. The region has many lodging choices, including charming bed-and-breakfast, quaint inns, resorts, and hotels. Restaurants are numerous and varied. Unique spring break ideas include touring the area’s wineries via a three-hour train ride, or seeing it from a hot air balloon. Day trips to San Francisco are also great ideas while you’re in the Napa Valley.
If there’s one thing barbecue is synonymous with – it’s alcohol. There’s nothing better than being able to break into a cooler and grab an ice cold beer to go with your BBQ burger. But the great thing about grilling in your own backyard is it can be as sophisticated or simple as you want. Some menus go great with beer while others call for a fine wine. When you’re having food that is loaded with such bold flavors and dramatic taste, it’s nice to have the perfect wine to accompany it. Unlike a simple beer, wine brings a different type of ambience to your meal, and some would argue it’s on a whole different level. If you consider yourself a master of the grill, you can complement your next meal with the perfect selection of white and red wines. Here are some suggestions and what makes them work so well.
Cabernet Sauvignon – bold bold bold! If you’re going all-out with a meat feast, then this is going to be your primary selection. It offsets big meaty flavors perfectly so that your high cholesterol meal doesn’t get totally out of control. Charbroiled steaks or homemade burgers that are 2-3 inches thick will benefit the most from this particular selection. And remember, bold flavors aren’t just limited to meats because you can use elements like cheese or a heavier sauce as well.
Shiraz/Syrah – if you’re going to be doing some slow cooking with a larger roast or brisket, this is a wonderful option to flavor your choice of meat. There is a natural smoky flavor that goes along with this wine that will impart even more to your favorite barbecue sauce recipe. And best of all, a good selection can be enjoyed if you happen to have any leftovers. Remember the cardinal rule, never cook with a line unless you’re also willing to drink it!
Zinfandels – this is a good all-purpose choice for any type of meat you’re throwing on your grill. Just make sure that your selection isn’t too spicy otherwise the flavors will compete with each other. Otherwise it makes a nice light alternative for a barbecue meal with more healthy items on the menu.
Merlot – if you can’t stay away from the spice, then this is the wine of your choosing. It’s got a perfect way of balancing spicy flavors especially if you’re going to go the all-natural route. A spicy bottled barbecue sauce is one thing, but this wine is really for the people who enjoy using peppers and chilies to their maximum potential.
Chardonnay – we can’t forget about white wines and everyone already knows they work perfectly with fish and chicken cooked on your gas grills. A sweeter flavor also work surprisingly well with pork, almost like a complement such as apple sauce. If you’ve got a barbecue menu heavy on the seafood, then Chardonnay is going to be just as important as a touch of lemon. It also works perfectly in the summer since it’s so refreshing and cool.
There are not a lot of kinds of gifts that are as adaptable as gift baskets. They can be a perfect gift for men or women. The fun part is that you can either make personalized gift baskets adding specific favorite beverages or foods, or you can purchase them online or at stores locally.
When most people think about gift baskets for men they think of sports themed baskets or beer baskets, but men who enjoy wine will also love a nice wine basket. Ladies aren’t the ones who will enjoy this kind of present. Instead of using a traditional wicker basket they can be made using a wine bucket as the basket to provide a less feminine look. Or if you are giving a gift mixed with a variety of nice wine and spirits you can use an attractive cooler as the basket.
There are a lot of fun gift baskets for women of all ages, but if you are looking for a nice romantic gift basket for an anniversary or a basket with more class a wine basket is a good choice. You can also add some nice gourmet treats to go with the specific wines chosen for the basket. If you are putting together a romantic basket for your wife you can use a picnic basket and fill it with a nice bottle of wine and other ingredients necessary for a romantic picnic for two.
A wine or gourmet basket is even a good idea for someone with special dietary needs because you can reveal to you have an understanding of their need and share them a basket to prove it. For example you can choose a gluten-free wine basket for someone with celiac disease.
Gift baskets can be a good gift idea for almost anyone and they work for practically any occasion from a holiday or a birthday to a thank you gift.
Wine is often thought of as a sophisticated drink, something above beer and other spirits. It’s drank at fine dining restaurants and with fancy meals at home, but did you know it also has some wonderful health benefits associated with it as well?
Yup, it turns out that drinking a half a glass of red wine each day can pro-long your life expectancy by upto an additional 5 years. The exact benefit isn’t known, but primarily it reduces the chances of cardiovascular disease. Beyond just heart health benefits there are secondary benefits to drinking wine.
It turns out that the tanins and antioxidants contained in wine are also great for your skin and other organs as well. Free radicals which most of us have floating around in us cause cellular damage to most tissue in the body including the skin. So drinking a glass of red wine each day help you out on that front as well.
Now I’m not suggesting you should put the jar of wrinkle cream away just yet as wine isn’t an anti aging miracle. However there are worse lifestyle changes you could integrate into your daily routine then enjoying a half a glass of red wine with dinner each night. Check out this video below for more information on how red wine is great for your heart and body.
Are you a great cook? Do your friends and family constantly compliment you on your cooking? Do you have recipes that destroy the ones used at restaurants? Are you looking for ways of making money from home? If so, there’s some good news. You can use your cooking knowledge to make some side income. There are a couple of different ways that you can go about doing this.
The first is to create a recipe book and sell it. Many people already do this so there’s definitely money in doing this. You can either sell your book on Amazon or sell them directly through your website. These days, books can be created without you having to shell out money. Amazon will do the binding and shipping for you although they do take a big percentage but it takes a lot of the work out.
Another thing thing you can do is to have your own cooking show. This is easier than it sounds. No, you won’t need some cooking network to contact you. All you need is a Youtube account. You can show people how to cook delicious foods and from there, you can sell your cookbooks and recipe books. You can also make money from Youtube’s partnership program as well.
I love it when things that we like are also good for our health. Too often they are not. I like slobbing around on the sofa in front of the TV and I love soft drinks – neither of which do me any good. So as soon as I started to read about the health improvements that have been linked to drinking wine I was strongly motivated to get in the know about the subject. After all drinking a fine red wine is something I love to do.
In the article below I’ve set out a series of bullet points indicating the beneficial health impacts of red wine. The chemical doing all the good things is thought to be resveratrol which is found in the skin and seeds of the grape. But of course the list is not an excuse to drink heavily. Good things will only come to moderate drinkers and yes I’m still going to have to get off the sofa and do some exercise…
But if you’re like me, you’ll find some good news in the list below:
The anticoagulant properties of resveratrol may help reduce the risk of blood clots and heart disease.
Red wine may assist in the management of bad cholesterol levels.
The anti-inflammatory properties have been linked to improved artery function.
Resveratrol is a known anti-oxidant which may help reduce the risk of certain forms of cancer.
Wine may help control certain digestive upsets due to its anti-bacterial properties a bit like the effect of a quality acidophilus probiotic supplement.
