While looking for images of sommelier tools, I came upon some interesting specimens; some that look particularly sinister (above) which reminded me of the first horror movie I ever saw, Edgar Allan Poe’s The Pit and the Pendulum, starring Vincent Price. So I started thinking; who invented the corkscrew or waiter’s tool, and when?
Continue readingMore TagCategory: Education
Another Wine Byte 13: To Sur with Lie
Coincidentally, to pair with our cod and julienne vegetables, Joe chose a Muscadet from Chateau La Tarciere, that has on the label, and in raised letters on the bottle “Sur Lie.” If you haven’t studied wine making you probably have no idea what the aroma of “lees” or sur lie means. I know before Joe began his studies with ISG, neither of us knew either.
Continue readingMore TagAnother Wine Byte 12: Wrap It Up, I’ll Take It
When it comes to wine, it’s not just the “thought” that counts. In fact, if you don’t know that much about wine, perhaps a wine-related gift, rather than a bottle of wine, would be a much better choice. But there are other considerations when giving wine. Should you take a bottle of wine when invited to dinner? Should a host or hostess be expected to open the wine? And what about “re-gifting” wine?
Continue readingMore Tag10 of the Most Architecturally Progressive Wineries in the World
Be a Home Superstar Chef (Part 7 – Pork Chops)
Unconventional Wine Regions
Drinking well in tough times
Another Wine Byte 11: Wines with a Tan
I would also assume that back in my grandmother’s day, the winery owner’s wife had pale skin and the people that harvested the grapes were tan. And the depth of one’s tan indicated one’s station in life. The same might be said of wine. While tannins pucker your mouth, and make it feel like all the moisture is being sucked out, they are considered beneficial in wine. Natural tannins like those found in Cabernet Sauvignon indicate potential longevity and ageability.
Continue readingMore TagCan Red Wine Reduce Swine Flu Risk?
The current frenzy over “swine flu” is really getting on my last nerve – especially with the reporting of half-truths and tabloid-like speculation by the media. So imagine my delight when I found an article from last Fall entitled, “Red Wine Chemical Cuts Flu Risk.”
Continue readingMore Tag