Serving Bubbly

No doubt there will be many a bottle of bubbly uncorked for New Year celebrations. Here are a couple of tips on serving it. It is best served slightly chilled at around 10º C. Ideally that means about 15 – 20 minutes in an ice bucket, half filled with water and ice. Romantic too! Alternately, down below in your fridge for about 30 – 40 minutes will do. Never serve too cold or chill it in the freezer. Use only flutes, the elongated narrow glasses with a smaller surface area opening. These maintain the bubbles the longest. And never, ever chill your stemware. This will kill the bubbles instantly upon pouring. Following these simple rules will provide best results. Remember to sip responsibly and Happy New Year.

Holiday Cheer

Happy holidays to one and all! This is the time of year to get together with loved ones and friends and sip a little something special to celebrate the season. It’s a great opportunity to pull out those rare bottles that you’ve been hanging on to for just such an occasion. Something meaningful or really different should suffice. Utilize your best glassware too. Make the experience one that will live in your memory forever. Be sure to provide some food alongside to temper the alcohol and never drive or let someone else drive if they have been drinking. It’s a magical time of year and it’s easy to get carried away, so just remember to party responsibly. Enjoy yourself and play safe. 

Bitters

With the holiday season in full swing and overindulgence a given, here’s a more sophisticated way to ease that stuffed feeling rather than loosening your clothing. Try some “bitters”. They’re traditionally a liquid concoction made from alcohol and water, usually flavoured with botanicals like aromatic herbs, roots, bark, flowers and even fruit. You may know them better as cocktail flavouring agents, but for centuries, people have utilized bitters for medicinal purposes, at the end of a meal to ease the tummy. Available from all over the world and sold at liquor stores and occasionally grocery stores, they’re just the things to have around at this time of year. When you feel too full, they could come in very handy.

Healthier Wine

Ever wonder if some wines are healthier for you than others? One might suspect those with lower alcohol and less sugar would be, especially since these contain more calories. As much as that may be the case, science has shown that red wines with the darkest colour are. They contain more anthocyanins (plant-based antioxidants like resveratrol) which reduce risks of heart disease and stroke. Dark coloured reds usually come from warmer, sunnier climates because the grapes are exposed to more ultraviolet light with higher heat units and more intense sunlight. So if you’re looking for a healthier wine to serve to guests this holiday season, try choosing those from a warmer climate, perhaps closer to the equator. 

Bottle Shapes

Wine generally comes packaged in several, different shaped bottles. The Bordelaise (straight sides, distinctive shoulders) is used for Bordeaux blends or its individual varietals (Cabernet, Merlot, etc.). The Burgundy (sturdy, heavier, gently sloping shoulders) is mostly used for Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. The “flute” or “hock” (long, narrow) used primarily in Alsace and Germany, tends to house Riesling and Gewürztraminer everywhere. Finally, the Rhone (similar to the Burgundy, but slimmer with less girth) is utilized for Rhone-type grapes like Syrah, Grenache, Mourvedre, Cinsault, Viognier and their blends. Bottle shape plays no role other than to distinguish one wine/varietal/style from another