Bottle Variation

It’s the hope of every winemaker that all bottles in a case of the same wine taste equally good. However, this is often not so. Some bottles may be excellent, some good, others not quite up to snuff and the odd one even “off”. This is called “bottle variation” and can result from being bottled at different times, on a different bottling line, from a different batch or maybe stored in a different place at the winery. Any of these extraneous conditions can influence the wine and affect its perfection. As a rule, wines from better producers show less bottle variation. So the next time you order a case of wine and discover that not all bottles in that case taste exactly the same, you’ll have a pretty good idea why. Cheers!

Care for Your Glassware

Like wine, the care and storing of your glassware is extremely important. A dirty, smelly, hot or cold glass can ruin the best of wines. Try not to use detergent when cleaning glasses. Use only extremely hot water, perhaps utilizing rubber gloves. Don’t turn them upside down on a towel or paper to dry as this traps funky aromas within. Don’t chill or heat stemware before use as this will affect the wine poured into them. Never hang glasses upside down directly above a food prep area as cooking smells will get trapped inside. Finally, don’t store your stemware around cleaning products, chemicals or other aromatic foods. Remember, a clean, room temperature glass is a happy glass.

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The Hangover

Where there’s wine, there’s hangovers. I’m sure most of us have experienced this – the furry sandpaper tongue, endless drum solo in the head, queazy stomach, slitted light-sensitive eyes, and foggy thoughts. Not a lot of fun! As for remedies, there are no magic solutions. Everything from “hair of the dog” to downing concoctions with raw eggs and other unusual ingredients don’t work. Although eating the morning after seems impossible, food helps replace lost nutrients and speeds up metabolism, Yogurt and milk soothe the belly and water hydrates helping flush toxins from the liver and kidneys. So until science creates an anti-hangover pill, the only practical solution is to not overindulge. Sip responsibly!

Warm Weather Sipping

The BBQ is all fired up and I can smell those burgers sizzling? The key to warm weather sipping is simplicity. No need for complex, delicate or aged wines here! What you want are young, fruity, fresh, robust wines with little, if any oak. For whites, try varieties like Pinot Grigio, Pinot Blanc, Riesling, Muscadet and Sauvignon Blanc or styles like Verdicchio, Frascati and Soave. For reds, check out Gamay, Merlot, Malbec, Sangiovese, Zinfandel, Baco Noir and Zweigelt or styles like Beaujolais or Valpolicella. Even rosé makes a nice change of pace and most are made to be consumed young. Finally, serve all wine a little cooler than normal, try to avoid using plastic glasses, drink responsibly and enjoy.