Which Colour Wine Gives Worst Hangover

Hangovers are no fun. Did you ever wonder which colour of wine (white, red, rosé) gives you the worst? Of course, overindulgence with any colour will do you in and one’s tolerance to alcohol is a factor. However, it’s appears to be red that will do the most damage. This is because of the “congeners” (toxic byproduct of the fermenting process) that gives red wine it's dark colour and those that are darker in colour contain more. While our bodies break them down, toxins are released causing us to feel unwell, and that dreaded wine headache is a result of tannins that make wine dry and how effective our body is in metabolizing alcohol. What about bubbly? Personally, I’ve had some real doosies from sipping fizz.

Where Wine Costs the Most

Ever wonder what city in the world is the most expensive to buy wine in? Surprisingly, there are some significant differences in bottle prices from place to place. Whether the retailer is private, a national chain or a monopoly, pricing is quite variable for various reasons. Government regulations, taxes and cost of living in that particular region all play a huge part. Ranking number one as the most expensive city to buy wine in is Singapore. It’s held this position for the third year in a row. Second place is held by two cities: Zurich and Hong Kong. London, New York and Los Angeles are also in the top ten and Sydney, Melbourne and Oslo are not far behind. So if you’re a wine drinker and not in one of the above cities, don’t complain about the price of that bottle.

Chardonnay With a Difference

If you like Chardonnay and aromatic, white grape varieties like Gewurztraminer and Muscat, then you’ll probably like this varietal clone that embodies both. Behold “Chardonnay Musqué”. This genetically mutated version of Chardonnay has all the characteristics of the famous white grape plus additional notes of musk, tropical fruit, honeysuckle, spice and orange blossom. Best unoaked, it tends to excel in cool climates like Ontario’s Niagara region, British Columbia and New York’s Finger Lakes where its aromatic character is maintained and intensified. It makes a great aperitif and works wonders with nuts and cheese. It’s also delightful with exotic cuisine such as Indian, Mexican, Thai and Oriental. Give it a go. You’ll be pleasantly surprised.

Wine Frappuccino

Imagine sitting at an outdoor café in the summer and sipping on a frappuccino made with wine. Sound good? Well it’s happening. Starbucks in Japan has come up with a version called “Wine Fragginos” that it served at the opening of one of its “Evening Stores”. More like a slushie (made with crushed ice) than a frappuccino (utilizing cream), the coffee was replaced with blueberry wine and costs about $8. Folks who’ve tried it say it’s “refreshing and delicious”. Many other fruit wines would work, as well as versions made with red wine grapes and especially aromatic whites like Riesling and Gewurztraminer. Perfect for the oenophile! Can’t wait 'til this intoxicating delight is available in North America

Caberlot

Ever hear of a wine grape called “Caberlot”? It’s a rare, black grape believed to be a natural crossing of Cabernet Franc and Merlot. Exclusively grown at Podere Il Carnasciale in Tuscany, it was first identified in an abandoned vineyard in the late 1960’s in the Veneto region of northeastern Italy. Only about 3,000 bottles of the wine, wearing the IGT denomination, are produced yearly. In some vintages, the Cabernet character seems to shine, while in others, the Merlot dominates. Occasionally, it is Rhone-like. Usually an intensely coloured wine, it smacks of dark fruit, pepper, tobacco, coffee, earth and roasted notes and can age decently. Apparently, it’s a very sought after wine and available in 27 countries worldwide.

New Kind of Cask

There’s a new kind of wine cask on the market. Concrete has long been used for fermenting wine (especially in Europe), much of which is then aged in oak barrels for many months after. Now some producers like Classified Growth Pontet-Canet in Pauillac, Bordeaux and others have starting using “Dolias”, a made-to-measure, concrete barrel in the shape of a Roman amphora, for aging, along with traditional oak versions. After aging, wine from both oak barrels and concrete versions are blended together. The affect on the wine is quite different. Producers who are using Dolias claim that the concrete is softer for the wine and provides more depth and purity in the finished, blended wine.

Trump Wine

The next potential president of the US, Donald Trump, makes his own wine, among other things. He has a 1,300-acre estate and winery in Charlottesville, Virginia near Thomas Jefferson's estate at Monticello. Producing sparkling, red, white, and rosé styles, it’s the largest in the state that has more than 250 wineries. He’s supposedly serving it at press conferences, and if elected, will probably stock the White House cellar with it for state dinners. Don’t be surprised…it’s a “Donald” utopia. His own brand of water, steaks, etc! What’s next…a clothing line, workout routine, line of hairpieces, a book on how to make friends, etc.? Regardless of how you feel about the man, you have to admire his business savvy and “chutzpah”.