wine has a rich history dating back to around 6000 BC and is thought to have originated in areas now within the borders of Georgia and Iran. In spite of its age wine does still holds a certain sense of mystery . Choosing a wine can seem almost over whelming to someone unique to the wine world. Should I decide red or white, sweet or semi-sweet? What food goes with what wine?

Here is a simple wine primer. You’ll find a short description of some common wines and some food pairing suggestions. A type of grape is know as a variety and the wine made from that type of grape is know as a varietal. The varietal is listed on the bottle for example a Riesling or Pinot Noir. There are two major types of wine, white and red. White Wines: are made from black or white grapes. White wines can range from the very dry to golden sweet. Let’s get started with the whites…

Riesling
The Riesling is a classic German grape. Germany’s Rieslings are typically sweet while Rieslings from the United States are usually not as sweet. Riesling grapes produce a wine that is much lighter then Chardonnay. Riesling wines pair well with fish, chicken and pork.

Chardonnay
Chardonnay grapes grow will in most viticultural areas of the world. Chardonnay grapes are planted in more wine regions worldwide then any other grape. Chardonnay grapes can be made into either a tranquil or sparkling wine. Chardonnay wines are dry wines. Depending on the station the identifying tastes or notes can differ. You will experience hints of citrus furits like lemon and grapefruit. If the wine is fermented in new oak barrels you will pick up hints of vanilla, coconut or even toffee. Chardonnay’s pair well with fish and chicken.

Sauvignon Blanc
Like Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blancs are grown in many of the world’s wine regions. Sauvignon Blanc grapes are known for producing a dry and refreshing white wine. The Sauvigon Blancs are lighter then Chardonnay. Sauvignon blanc normally will have an aroma of bell peppers of freshly cut grass. The wines can taste can range from sour green fruits of apple, pear and gooseberry through to tropical fruits of melon, mango and blackcurrant. Sauvignon Blancs pair well with seafood, poultry and salads.

Muscat
Muscat grapes are grown all over the world. The muscat grape is used for wine, raisins and table grapes. The muscat is know for its sweet flavor and in Italy it is used for sparking wines like Asti. Muscat is often used to make sweet dessert wines. The muscat wines will have a sweet and and fruity taste with hints of grapefruit. Muscat’s because of the sweetness of the wine do not tend to pair well with food.
aroma. Muscat wines are instantly recognizable to anyone who has tasted a Muscat table grape.

Red wines are fermented with the skin and seeds from black grapes. Red wine styles can range from light and refreshing to heavier fortified sweet wines. Let’s look at some popular red wines:

Zinfandel
Zinfandel grapes are grown only in California. It is used to make everything from blush wines to heavy rich reds. Zinfandel wines can taste like raspberries, blackberries and pepper. The taste of the wine will depend on the ripeness of the grape when it is harvested and the climate of the area where the grapes were grown. Zinfandel’s pair will with foods with a tomato-sauce like pasta and pizza. It will also pair very well with barbecued meats.

Shiraz/Syrah
In Modern World wines the grapes and wine made from them are know as shiraz. They are plump for a deep, rich, full-bodied red. In Europe winemakers and grape growers only use the name syrah. The syrah/shiraz grapes gain very powerful red wines. They will have aromas of black-fruit like blackcurrant. The wines will have a taste of dim pepper and spice. They pair will meat based foods like steak beef, wild game and stews.
Shiraz or syrah are two names for the same variety. Europe vine growers and winemakers only use the name syrah.

Merlot
Merlot grapes are grown in the Bordeaux region of France, the west coast of the United States and Australia. The wine from the merlot grapes will have a black-cherry and herbal flavor. The merlot is known as being easy to drink and serves as a good wine to introduce people to red wine. Merlot will pair well with any food.

Cabernet Sauvignon
The Cabernet Sauvignon is produced in every major wine producing country. Cabernet sauvignon is often blended with merlot. Favors found in cabernet sauvignon have been described as cherry, black cherry, black currant, raspberry and bell pepper. Tobacco is often used to describe older wines. Cabernet Sauvignon is best paired with red meats.

Pinot Noir
Pinot Noir grapes are grown in France, Austria, California, Oregon and Unusual Zealand. A younger pinot noir wine will have flavors like cherry plums, strawberries and raspberry. Fruity characteristics of cherries, plums, raspberries, and strawberries. Older wines will have flavors like chocolate, figs, prunes, truffles and violets. Pinot Noir pairs well with grilled salmon, chicken, and lamb.

An Introduction to Wine is a post from: Vino Joy

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• These fine French restaurants have a formal environment.
• French food is sophisticated.
• Tasting menus offer exquisite cuisine.

The Best Romantic French Restaurants in San Francisco is a post from: Vino Joy

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You’ve finally planned the perfect dinner. You picked the best recipe and the best ingredients. Now however you are faced with the most difficult of all of your decisions: What wine should you serve with you food?

Picking the right wine is easy to accomplish if you go into the experience having some idea of what you are looking for. Ultimately, you want to pick a wine that is going to complement what you are serving. The perfect wine will not only taste huge, but also enhance the flavor of the food that you are serving along with it.

In order to do that you need to take a close look at what you plan of serving for your meal, and what types of flavors are going to be present already at your table before you introduce your wine. Purchasing a bottle of wine for dinner like inviting another guest over for your dinner party, you want to make sure that they are going to get along with everyone who has already been invited.

A good rule of thumb if for lighter dishes, such as fish or poultry choose a white wine. For heavier dishes like steak select a heavier red wine. The heavier your wine is, the better its ability to combat the other tastes in your meal.

Heavy foods will often overpower the taste of a good light white wine, objective as a heavy red will often overpower a lighter food choice. You want to bewitch a wine to go with your meal that is going to help bring out the best in your wine, and your food. Not a wine that overpowers your food, or has to live in the shadow of the bold flavors from your dish.

You can often get away with more wine choices when preparing lighter dishes. With a lighter food such as seafood or poultry you can pair fantastic white wines, or be adventurous and select a red. As long as you don’t select a truly intrepid wine the wine will often go along well with your food. Heavier, bolder flavored meals such as a steak in rich sauces however command a much bolder wine. Lighter white wines will get lost in your meals flavor, and as a result will seem to have no identity of their hold within your meal.

Once you start buying wines and tasting wines regularly you’ll start to accept your own favorites, and pairing them with great dishes will be a breeze. When picking wine, there is no “honest” or “wrong” answer, ultimately the choice is up to you. If a wine tastes sizable to you with your meal, then you have made the perfect wine selection, regardless of whether or not it was recommended by the experts.

In that vein, you should always select a wine to go with you food that you feel you would enjoy, even if the food wasn’t there. If you know you hate drinking merlot, you don’t want to select a bottle of merlot to drink along side your dinner. Always select a wine for your meal that complements your personal tastes, and that you feel you would enjoy.

Here are few popular menu items, and some good wines to start off trying with each of them. Remember that every bottle of wine is different. You may cherish a Merlot by one producer and hate a similar bottle by another. Experiment with different wines, different producers, and different vintages. Once you begin to understand what you like in wine you will be better able to pick out the perfect bottle for your meal every time.

Steak

For your traditional steak, prepared without a heavy sauce a simple merlot can be a great choice, for a little more spice in your dinner try a red zinfandel. Both choices will hold up to a good steak, the merlot will add a little fruit to your meal, the Zin a little spice.

Turkey

Pinot Noir: Pinot Noir is always a trustworthy choice when you’re looking for a wine to please the masses for thanksgiving dinner. Pinots are typically easy to drink and complement your entire meal.

Zinfandel: A red Zinfandel can add a little spice to your turkey dinner. Only determine a Zin if you don’t have any other bold flavors in your meal. 

Chardonnay: Always a approved, a good chardonnay can complement any turkey dinner beautifully.

Lobster & Shrimp

Seafood will typically pair well with a worthy Chardonnay. For the more adventurous wine drinker, try a Viognier along with your seafood.

Barbeque Chicken

For barbeque chicken try a Chenin Blanc or a Chardonnay, both will complement the taste of the chicken. A Chenin Blanc is slightly sweeter, making it first-rate to offset the spice in spicier barbeque. A dry Chardonnay can be good for sweeter sauces.

Fried Chicken

For fried chicken meals try a Sauvignon Blanc in the summer and a red zinfandel in the winter. Both are great choices any time of year and can help offset the taste of your chicken.

Chinese Food

The unique flavor of Chinese food is always paired well a Riesling. For sweet dishes like sesame and orange chicken try a drier Riesling. For spicier entrees, go with a sweeter Riesling to offset the spice in your food.

Caesar Salad

For your Caesar try a Chardonnay as a white or a Sangiovese for a red. Both will stand up to the flavors and oils and the salad and make for a terrific combination.

Hamburgers

For hamburgers, try a Merlot or Beaujolais. Both have fruit notes that will go well with the best off your grill.

Pizza

Pizza is one of the most versatile foods you can eat wine wise. In summer months try a Chardonnay or Pinot Grigio, during the winter try pairing your favorite pie with a Syrah or Chianti.

Chips

Regular: Try a Pinot Grigio, the crispness of the wine will offset the saltiness of the chips
Barbeque: A red Zinfandel is a great match for barbeque flavored chips
Sour Cream and Onion: A merlot can nicely offset the onion and sour cream

Picking the Right Wine to Complement Your Dinner is a post from: Vino Joy

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• Extranomical Tours offers small, guided tours through California’s wine country and Muir Woods.
• Tour participants get to see different types of Sonoma Valley wineries.
• Included in the $69 tour fee are: transportation, commentary and wine tastings.

Hugging Trees and Sipping Wine with San Francisco’s Extranomical Tours is a post from: Vino Joy

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Not long ago, I started throwing wine-tasting parties for my friends. They raved about them so much that I turned it into a small business. Last year, I launched www.wine-tasting party.com, which offers my consultation services for people who wish to have a professionally run wine-tasting party for their friends, family and colleagues or to conduct a fund-raiser. I bring the wine, the glasses, the tasting notes and a fun, educational intention to learn about wine.

But, anyone can throw a wine-tasting party in his or her own home inexpensively.

First pick

First, decide how many wines you want to taste. I recommend a total of six wines — three whites and three reds. Now, for those of you that don’t know much about wine and are asking yourself how you’re going to pick out six wines for a party, don’t panic.

Pick up a copy of a reputable wine magazine such as Wine Spectator or Wine Enthusiast and peek what wines they have rated for the month. Try some of the wines that they have rated more than 80 points. Be adventurous and try wines from countries other than our bear. You also can ask your wine merchant to help suggest some wines for you.

Budget bests

Set a budget. You’ll be surprised to find that there are good, quality wines for less than $20. Many of the wines in these magazines can be found in this price range, and there are a lot of stores you can buy from that will give you an additional discount on a mixed case of wine.

Tasting totals

So, how many bottles do you need? One bottle of wine from a standard 750ml bottle will provide enough wine for 15 people. Remember these are tasting sizes (about one or two shots worth), not full or half glasses filled with wine. But, of course, once the “tasting” share is over, you want to have some wine left over for your guests to go serve to their favorites.

For a party of 15 to 20 people, you will need three to four bottles of each wine. If your guests are not heavy drinkers like my friends are, go for three. Two of each wine will suffice for the tasting portion. You can mix up the extra bottles however you like.

Paired off

Wine is meant to be drunk with food. My husband loves to cook, so we generally do an all-out food pairing. But, that can be a lot of work, and he tends to exercise all of his party time in the kitchen away from the guests. I wouldn’t recommend that unless you’re really into cooking. However, you can provide your guests some simple eats to pair with the wine and will give you time to enjoy your own party. If you have a bigger budget, hire a caterer.

Simple samples

The wines should be served white first and then red. Start with the lightest white wines and finish with the fullest-bodied red wines.

Try these six wines and their simple food pairings:

Champagne

Start off the evening with a Champagne or sparkling wine. This type of wine is a palate cleanser and gets your guests revved up for the festivities. I recommend Zardetto Brut Prosecco ($9) from Italy and Raventos I Blanc Cava Brut ($11) from Spain.
Potato chips are the perfect wine food, and they won’t put a dent in your budget. Anything else salty also will suffice here. If you are catering, try some Asian fare.
White

Next, I usually go for the German or Austrian whites like a Riesling or Gewürztraminer. These wines pair well with enchanting food. I recommend Dr. Loosen Riesling ($8) and Joh. Jos. Prüm Riesling Kabinett ($16) from Germany and Hiedler Gruner Veltliner Loss ($12) from Austria. Try a jalapeno dip, hot pepper cheese or spicy chips. If you are catering, try Thai or Indian cuisine.

Chardonnay

The third wine should be the fullest white wine, and probably the most familiar to your guests — Chardonnay. Argentina and Australia are making great strides with this grape. I recommend Wolf Blass Gold Label ($16) and Jacob’s Creek ($7) from Australia as well as Alamos ($8) from Argentina. Bring out a creamy cheese like Brie. If you are catering, try a creamy chicken dish or something with buttery sauce.

Pinot Noir

Now, for the reds. Again, you want to start with the lightest wines to the fullest wines. The first red wine should be a Pinot Noir, the lightest and most exquisite of all red wines. Oregon is making superb Pinot’s and, of course, most Burgundy wines are made with this grape. Pinots are now all the rage thanks to the movie Sideways. I recommend Joseph Drouhin Laforet ($11) from France and Rosemount ($9) from Australia. Pinots are perfect with mushrooms, especially stuffed mushrooms. You might have to use the microwave on this one, but it is definitely worth it. Have the caterer make the stuffed mushrooms.

Chianti

For the next red wine, I either bring out a Spanish red, like a Tempranillo or a Chianti from Italy. Both are well-rounded medium to full-bodied wines. I recommend Borgo Scopeto ($16) from Italy and Castell del Remei Gotim Bru ($9) from Spain. You can start breaking out the desserts; since chocolate and red wine are scrumptious together or you can bring on the great cheeses — goat cheese and blue cheese. If you are catering, try game or a hearty meat dish.

Merlot or Cabernet Sauvignon

Finally, to end the evening, go with a big, bold wine. If you don’t like a tannic wine (that drying sensation in the mouth that most people equate to being a wine that is too dry), you could go with a Merlot from Chile such as Santa Ema ($12), but I prefer the biggest wine of them all — Cabernet Sauvignon. Try X Winery ($15) from California, Montes ($12) from Chile or Tíntara ($16) from Australia. Bring out the brownies and chocolate cake. Have the caterer prepare pastries.

As an added bonus for your friends, supply them with paper and pens, so they can take their own tasting notes to compare with each other and bag those food pairings that are really going to make that home run.

In the destroy, it’s all about having fun and enjoying wines with food that you like and sharing those wines with your closest friends. Now, open the remaining bottles and let the real party begin.

Salute!

A Professional’s Advice for Hosting a Wine-Tasting Party is a post from: Vino Joy

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I bet that you have had a few times when you’ve been lost when writing. If you gain stuck try out one of these writing ideas.

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How to Break Through Writers’ Block with 52 Content Ideas is a post from: Vino Joy

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• Cinc Sentits offers a unique dining experience in Barcelona.
• Reservations are a must!
• The food is freshly and innovatively prepared.

Cinc Sentits in Barcelona, Spain is a post from: Vino Joy

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• These fine French restaurants have a formal environment.
• French food is sophisticated.
• Tasting menus offer exquisite cuisine.

The Best Romantic French Restaurants in San Francisco is a post from: Vino Joy

Technorati Tags: wine cheese pairing menu, wine pairing diet, wine pairing guide, Wine Pairing Menus, wine pairings with food

I love trying different flavors, types and brands of mustard. I recently purchased both Grey Poupon Dijon Mustard With White Wine and Publix DeliStyle Mustard With Horseradish at my local Publix Super Market. I decided to compare both of these products to see which one I liked best. Here is what I discovered.

Publix DeliStyle Mustard With Horseradish costs around two dollars and is a very good bargain mustard. For a deli style mustard, that is a good deal. I got a large bottle, twelve ounces of mustard, for that great price. I was pleased with the amount of mustard that I got for my money. That is a good point about Publix DeliStyle Mustard With Horseradish. The plastic bottle that this mustard comes in is easy to open, close and use. I really liked the taste of this mustard. It has kick and bite! The horseradish in this product really makes a sandwich taste great. I liked the flavor of Publix DeliStyle Mustard With Horseradish on many different kinds of sandwiches and found that this product was very popular with my family. This mustard gives an extra flavor to hamburgers and hot dogs that I just don’t get with French’s brand mustard or with Grey Poupon Dijon Mustard With White wine. To like this product, you need to really be a horseradish fan. If you are, then this mustard is fantastic!

Publix DeliStyle Mustard With Horseradish contains vinegar, water, mustard seed, salt, horseradish powder and red pepper. One serving of Publix DeliStyle Mustard With Horseradish contains five calories and zero of those calories are from fat. One serving is equal to one teaspoon.This mustard has zero grams of total fat, sixty mgs of sodium, zero total grams of carbs, zero grams of sugars and zero grams of protein. Publix DeliStyle Mustard With Horseradish is distributed by Publix Super Markets, INC. located in Lakeland, Florida. This item has a satisfaction or your money back guarantee. I rate Publix DeliStyle Mustard With Horseradish four stars out of five stars. I really liked the flavor of this mustard and thought that it’s taste was new and special. I was very pleased with this product and recommend it. I will be buying it again.

Grey Poupon Dijon Mustard With White Wine is a bit higher in cost than Publix DeliStyle Mustard With Horseradish. Grey Poupon Dijon Mustard With White Wine costs around three dollars for a ten ounce bottle. I did not get as noteworthy mustard for my money, with Grey Poupon Dijon Mustard With White Wine.Grey Poupon Dijon Mustard With White Wine has many seals on the front of their product. One is an award from The Napa Valley twelfth annual gold mustard festival. There is a seal on this mustard letting me know that it is South Beach Diet recommended. Upon comparing this information with Publix DeliStyle Mustard With Horseradish, the criteria was the same, in both mustards. Both brands have zero carbs, zero paunchy and only five calories per serving. That was interesting to me.

I loved the taste of Grey Poupon Dijon Mustard With White Wine. It is very flavorful, interesting and has a slightly smooth bite to it. The white wine adds a advantageous taste. The bad point, to me, about this product is that I do not like it on certain things. I do not like the taste of this mustard on hamburgers or hot dogs. On sandwiches, and only certain ones, it is fabulous. So, I am slight to what foods I can use this type mustard on. I find myself using Publix DeliStyle Mustard With Horseradish on many more things than Grey Poupon Dijon Mustard With White Wine. My family felt the same way. They only use this mustard on certain types of meats and sandwiches. Publix DeliStyle Mustard With Horseradish was the most common mustard out of these two brands, in my house.

Grey Poupon Dijon Mustard With White Wine is in a plastic, easy to open, close and use bottle. This mustard contains water, vinegar, mustard seed, salt, white wine, fruit pectin, citric acid, tartaric acid, sugar and spice. This is a product of Kraft Foods North America in Glenview, IL. Grey Poupon Dijon Mustard With White Wine contains five calories per serving and zero of these calories are from fat. One serving equals one teaspoon. This mustard has zero grams of fat, one hundred and twenty mgs of sodium, zero grams of total carbs and zero grams of protein. Comparing the sodium scream of Grey Poupon Dijon Mustard With White Wine to Publix DeliStyle Mustard With Horseradish, Publix DeliStyle Mustard With Horseradish has the lowest, with only sixty mgs.

I rate Grey Poupon Dijon Mustard With White Wine four stars out of five stars. I love the flavor of this mustard and think that this is a fantastic product. I will be buying this product again and do recommend it. In comparing these two brands of mustard, I use Publix DeliStyle Mustard With Horseradish much more than Grey Poupon Dijon Mustard With White Wine. Still, I would miss not having Grey Poupon Dijon Mustard With White on certain foods and sandwiches. I enjoy both of these products and mediate that they are both quality mustards. Publix DeliStyle Mustard With Horseradish is the best bargain of the two, in my opinion.

Publix DeliStyle Mustard with Horseradish VS Grey Poupon Dijon Mustard with White Wine is a post from: Vino Joy

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Around the holidays, everyone is either hosting a party, attending a holiday party, or just having family gatherings, and is looking for the perfect food and beverage match to aid. Finding delicious food and wine pairings – or food and beer pairings – for holiday festivities is not difficult with a little concept of what aspects of the drinks best complement the food.

Excellent Wine Pairings

Take advantage of the yearly Beaujolis Nouveau release on the third Thursday of the month for holiday wine pours. Beaujolis Nouveau is an easy to drink, slightly fruity red wine that is made through a fast fermentation process of just three weeks. Beaujolis Nouveau complements traditional holiday foods like turkey, grilled meats, and even pumpkin pie. Because of its light body, most drinkers will enjoy Beaujolis Nouveau and hosts will like the price which is typically around $10/bottle.

Serve Pinot Noir with dinner. This varietal gained fame after the 2004 film Sideways, and for good reason. Sophisticated wine drinkers like to say they drink Pinot Noir, but in reality it is a versatile wine for a sizable audience and a delicious wine pairing for holiday meals.

Pinot Noir is a food-friendly red wine because of its low tannin levels and higher acidity that serves as a counterbalance for multiple flavors and seasonings. The wine pairs well with stuffing, turkey, herbs and spices, and even pork. However, Pinot Noir is a varietal worth spending a itsy-bitsy more per bottle to avoid a highly grapey flavor and $20/bottle such as for Laetitia is a worthy splurge.

White wine drinkers can also find perfect wine and food pairings during the holidays with a Riesling or Gewurztraminer. Both varietals are slightly sweet, and perfectly complement typical holiday foods like turkey, ham, stuffing, and even pumpkin pie. Consumed alone these wines may taste too sweet, with food they are divine. When looking at Riesling or Gewurztraminer, look or ask for a “dry” wine, such as from the Alsace region or with the label “Trocken.” Both are light with food-friendly acidity to bring out the dishes’ flavors. Many excellent Riesling and Gewurztraminers are available for approximately $10/bottle.

Ideal Beer Matches

The seasonal beers are perfect pours for holiday parties as in many cases the flavors match the foods that would be served. The Sierra Nevada Harvest Ale is a delicious beer ideal for holiday party food pairings. Its spicy-sweet overtones, and hop flavors perfectly fit the cooler fall weather and its accompanying foods. Try it with roasted chicken or turkey, sweet potatoes, or even a hearty stew.

Similarly, Samuel Adams Beer is so serious about food and beer pairings, the company’s Web site has an entire section devoted to it, complete with choices to sort by beer style or food. Sam Adams calls its Old Fettiwig beer “the Christmas cookie of our beer” because of its malt, caramel, and chocolate overtones. The smoky sweet flavors pair deliciously with holiday favorites like ham, scallops and bacon, and apple pie.

Old stand-by beers like Guiness and Harp also pair well with holiday meals, though at different ends of the food spectrum. As a heavy spacious, Guiness tastes wonderful with pot roasts and potato dishes, while Harp better suites turkey and fish dishes. The key to successful food and beer pairings is to contemplate the heaviness of both the drink and the food.

In reality, the perfect food and drink pairing is whatever you prefer. While certain drinks will enhance the food flavors more than others, most important is personal preference. Whether the holiday party is in celebration of Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas, New Year’s Eve, or any other festive event, try a new wine or beer food pairing this season.

How to Find the Ideal Food and Beverage Pairing for Holiday Parties is a post from: Vino Joy

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