When: March 17, 2012 (Saturday, 10:30am — 1:30pm)

Price: $50 per member (Includes take home bottle of your very own Luckystone Red blend and small foods)

**Reserve by February 27**

For more information, visit them at SheldrakePoint.com.

Check out more wine tasting and events in MissouriWineFest.com.

Heat

Wine experts estimate that raising the storage temperature of wine can increase the aging rate from anywhere between two and eight times. As any wine lover will know, this is not a good thing as compounds within the wine need time to mature naturally. Unnatural aging can cause wine to acquire an unpleasant, harsh flavour.

A classic example of this unwanted effect is wine being left in a hot car. When left in this environment, wine over matures in a matter of hours. The ideal temperature for wine is between 4�C and 18�C. This consistency of temperature can only really be achieved in a specialist wine cooler or cellar.

Light

Too much exposure to light can dramatically affect the taste of wine. UV rays from the sun can cause some compounds in the wine to break down, which can produce some undesirable odours and a strange ‘off’ taste. Sunlight, and to some degree, fluorescent lighting, are light sources which are most problematic.

Regular light bulbs found in the home, which give out incandescent light, are not as much of a problem, but should still be limited whenever possible. Complete darkness is always the best environment for wine.

Humidity

The humidity of an area is another key factor to consider for wine storage. Low humidity can cause the cork to dry out and shrink, which can lead to wine leaking from the bottle. In addition, any air that enters the bottle could oxidise the wine, resulting in loss of colour, taste and aroma.

In contrast, too much humidity can also create unwanted effects. High humidity can allow mould to grow on the cork and label but this is more of a cosmetic issue rather than a threat to the wine itself. The key is to choose an environment that will maintain a steady, moderate humidity.

Vibration

Finally, vibration or regular movement of a bottle of wine can cause sedimentation from the bottom of the bottle to circulate, reacting with the wine to produce unpleasant flavours and texture.

Although vibration is the least problematic of the four factors, it should still be minimised whenever possible. Cheap wine coolers will typically have electric motors which cause minute vibrations. Over time, these slight movements can affect the flavour of wine. Wines most at risk from vibration are the more delicate varieties, such as a Pinot Grigio.

In summary, it’s best to store your precious wine in a cool, dark, moderately humid place, where it won’t be subject to movement. Traditional methods of wine storage, such as cellars, are seldom available in modern homes but thankfully modern wine coolers allow collectors to protect their prized wines in virtually any space. Wine preservation is an art, so whether you’re storing it for your own enjoyment or as an investment for the future, it pays to take care of it.

Article submitted by Juliette Raine, Marketing Manager at Westye – the European home of Sub-Zero & Wolf. Sub-Zero’s range of wine storage is the ultimate in wine preservation. Find out more at http://www.westye.co.uk.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Juliette_Raine

http://EzineArticles.com/?The-Four-Enemies-of-Wine&id=6807189

Photo credits: Etsy.com

Chalkboard Wine Charms

Photo credits: Etsy.com

 Fencing Sword Wine Charms

Photo credits: Etsy.com

 Honey Badger Wine Charms with Gemstone Beads

 Wine Charms – Upcycled Puzzle Pieces

Photo credits: Etsy.com

Number Tags Wine Charms

Check out more at MissouriWineFest.com.

Whenever you taste wine, remember to follow the “Four F’s” of wine tasting (from WineSpectator.com):

1. See

2. Sniff

3. Sip

4. Summarize

To further learn more about these four F’s, here’s a quick video on how to taste your red wine.

Check out more at MissouriWineFest.com.

Photo credits: BaltimoreBend.com

The vineyard produces high quality grapes because it is situated in the southern boundary of glacial fields during the Ice Age. As the ice retreated, blowing winds deposited deep, fertile, silt loam soil that is excellent for growing grapes. They grow various kinds of grapes which include:

• Cabernet Franc (Cab-er-nay Fronk) - is considered to be one of the hardiest of the viniferous grapes yet it still struggles to survive in Missouri’s climate. Planted in 2001 as an experiment, 2004 was our first harvest. We hope to offer a complex full bodied varietal wine while also using Cabernet Franc to blend with our Cynthiana and Chambourcin.
• Chambourcin (Sham-bor-san) - is a French-hybrid Grape (Joannes-Seyve 262050) well adapted to growing in Missouri. Chambourcin typically produces a medium-bodied wine that boasts a mild spice aroma and flavor mingled with cherry and earth tones.
• Chardonel (Shar-doe-nel) - crosses the best of the Chardonnay and Seyval Grape providing the characteristics of the viniferia with the hardiness needed to survive in Missouri. This grape provides the wine maker the opportunity to develop a variety of wines from a rich, full-bodied, dry white wine with a complex buttery finish to a light, sweet wine with a fruity finish.
• Cynthiana/Norton (Sin-thee-ana) - is an American Grape (vitus aestivalis) that grows well in the complex and frequently changing weather of Missouri. Recently named the “State Grape of Missouri” it offers the wine maker an opportunity to produce a full-bodied, deep colored wine that carries complex earth tones along with rich berry and spice flavors.
• Seyval blanc -A French-American hybrid grape that makes a dry to semi-dry, clean, crisp medium-bodied wine with an herbal, fresh flavor. The barrel fermented Seyval takes on an oak complexity indicative of Chardonel. Baltimore Bend Vineyard currently has about an acre of Seyval blanc.
• Vignoles (veen-yole) - One of Missouri’s most versatile white grapes, Vignoles produces wines with luscious floral aroma and fruity flavors of pineapple and apricot. Baltimore Bend Vineyard planted ½ acre in 2006 and another 1/2 acre in 2010. We have completed our third harvest of this grape and are currently selling the 2010 vintage.

For more information about their wines, you can email them at baltimorebend@yahoo.com or visit their website.

Explore more wineries in MissouriWineFest.com.

Finding the right combination of wine and food can bring about a more satisfying and tasteful way to enjoy a meal. But understanding what combination of wine and food, as well as knowing the type of wine and when to serve it can be somewhat daunting given the wide variety of possibilities present. What follows are simple examples of how to incorporate wine tasting, the time of the meal and which combination works best when you have a guest over or just want to create the perfect evening for two.

Wine tasting is a wonderful way to start the evening, bringing about sophistication to the following meal without being heavy or interrupting the main course. You should have a few selections of wine available for your wine tasting today and also have plenty of water to allow the participants to cleanse their pallets between each serving of wine.

You can also provide a few snacks or appetizers when conducting the wine tasting, which can be good for those who may have sensitive stomachs before a meal. Yogurt is an excellent snack as it can coat the stomach, protecting it from any sour feeling the wine may offer while also being good for the health. Plus, yogurt is very light and will not spoil the meal which is to follow. You can be the wine tasting hero by making sure that your guests are well provided for when it comes to supplementing their taste buds with the healthy combination of wine and appetizers.

Now that you have finished the wine tasting, you can focus on which type of meal is best for the wine you are going to serve. The following examples are a few popular wine choices and the general types of meals that they are best served for the combination of taste and enjoyment.

Bordeaux, especially Red Bordeaux wine can be wonderfully served with meals featuring red meats, particularly game and lamb with a strong cheese as a side dish. This is especially true of Red Bordeaux that is part of the “West Bank” varieties of wine. For the “East Bank” types, which generally have more Merlot mixed in, then milder red meats and particularly stews are good choices.

Chardonnay is another wonderful win that goes exceptionally well in the fall or early spring with seafood, particularly lobster and shrimp or sea bass. White meats such as chicken, turkey or pork also go well with Chardonnay, especially if you add flavorful butter, cream or garlic sauces into the mix.

Merlot can go with stronger combinations of meat such as beef, duck and squab. You’ll find that for side dishes mushrooms and wild rice offset the Merlot taste quite well. Add a little mild cow or goat cheese of course to bring out the full flavor of the meal.

Finally, for special occasions when only Champagne will do, you can combine this particular wine with caviar, lobster or oysters if you have seafood in mind. Chicken with a light butter glaze works wonders as well.

All in all, leading off the evening with wine tasting followed by a good meal is a great way to spend the evening with friends and family.

To find out more about Wine Tasting, the many elements involved in wine tasting, and what is happening in the world of wine tasting please refer to http://www.WineTastingToday.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sophia_Harris

http://EzineArticles.com/?Tips-for-Pairing-Food-With-Wine&id=6812347

Photo credits: MensHealth.com

Two Princes Riesling 2008

Get this Two Princes Riesling 2008 for just $14!

This wine which originated from Nahe, Germany is made solely from Riesling Grape. Its subtle sweetness and fruitiness is balanced with vibrant acidity and pleasant minerality that has a hint of peach and nectarine.

This Two Princes Riesling 2008 is can go well with a wide range of meals but it is best paired with seafood and Asian food.

Check out more wine and wine products in MissouriWineFest.com.

Rather than pouring out leftover wine, pour it into an ice cube tray, then place the wine cubes in a labeled bag in the freezer. You can add these cubes to sauces, roasts, soups and other dishes for extra flavor, and wine that you don’t drink fast enough doesn’t go to waste.

Pan roast your chicken pieces. Chicken breasts benefit from pan roasting. Heat oil in an oven-safe saute pan until it is very hot. Place the chicken in, skin side down, and immediately shake the pan when you hear the chicken start to crackle. When it is golden brown on one side, brown the other. Place the entire pan in a 375 degree oven, and cook uncovered for 15 minutes or until the internal temperature is 165 degrees. Remove the chicken from the pan, and place it back on the stove top. Add chopped shallots to the pan juices, and fry until golden. Deglaze the pan with red wine. Stir in 1 tablespoon of butter, and cook for a minute or two. Pour over the chicken and enjoy!

There is no longer a need to hold onto any fear of the kitchen. By following these ideas from MissouriWineFest.com and learning the basics of cooking, you will be rewarded. With a little time and practice you will be whipping up gourmet meals to impress your friends in no time at all.

“Life has taught us that love does not consist in gazing at each other but in looking outward together in the same direction.” -Saint-Exupery

When: February 14, 2012 (6:30 PM)

Where:

Price: $125.00 Public, $99.00 Wine Club Members (+tax+gratuity)

**Reservations Required**

For more information about this event, email them at events@stfranciswinery.com or visit their website here.

Check out more wine tasting and events in MissouriWineFest.com.

I have to admit, when it comes to wine glasses, I am partial to the Riedel brand. Being a lover of wine, and being in a business that predominately focuses on high-end wine glasses is kind of like being a parent. Say you have four kids. You love them all out of duty and kinship, but let’s be honest–most of the time, there’s one that gets favored more. Maybe because you get along better, you have common interests, they have the same sense of humor as you, whatever the case. It’s human nature. So, Riedel is my favored kid of glasses. To take it a step further, the Riedel Vitis line of glasses is my favored Riedel kid. I love them because they are varietal-specific, they are designed–as are all Riedel wine glasses–taking the characteristics of each type of wine into consideration before they are produced, and they are, quite simply, the most gorgeous glasses out there (in my humble opinion). I sincerely hope my kids don’t need therapy after reading this article…

Varietal Specific Wine Glasses

Over 50 years ago, Claus Riedel pioneered the concept of creating wine glasses that delivered the most accurate representation of each type (varietal) of wine. Until then, a wine glass was a wine glass. They were all-purpose and generic. Riedel recognized that the size, shape, bowl, and height were all factors that needed to be considered on a by-grape basis when crafting a crystal wine glass. Take a lofty Cabernet Sauvignon for example. A Cab needs more surface area to breathe, open up the nose, evaporate alcohol and balance the interaction of the acids, tannins, fruits and minerals of the wine. The requirements of a young Riesling, for instance, are dramatically different. All of these factors are meticulously studied by Riedel when crafting a new line of their glassware, and when they launched the Vitis glasses in 2006, it was no different.

Vitis Glasses – The Twist is the Pull

Vitis glasses are striking in appearance. They are not ornate, but rather clean and angular in design. What sets them apart is that they feature a pulled stem, which creates an indent in the bottom of the bowl. This indent reflects light, which makes the wine dazzle with an added dimension. It also creates fluidity about the glass–the glass and the stem seem to flow into each other. Not just a cosmetic feature of a wine glass, a pulled stem tends to be a little more durable than a stem that is attached to a bowl. That’s one of the more vulnerable points of a non-pulled stem…where the stem meets the bowl.

So, now you know this author’s preferred “wine child.” Seriously, whatever Riedel glass you go with you’re making a fantastic choice. It’s all a matter of your taste. The company simply doesn’t make a single inferior glass–they are all designed to ensure you get the absolute best performance for your wine drinking experience.

Cheers!

Louis Cooper is a 37 year veteran of the retail trade. An avid wine connoisseur, in 2007 he started OnWineTime to offer the wine enthusiast the finest wine glasses, decanters and wine accessories from around the world. Located in Ft Lauderdale, Florida, OnWineTime carries over 300 different wine and beer glasses and over 100 wine and spirit decanters from the top glass producers in the world, including Riedel, Schott Zwiesel, Wateford, Eisch, Spiegelau, Peugeot, Ravenscroft and Nachtmann. The real wine and beer glass superstore.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Louis_Cooper

http://EzineArticles.com/?Riedel-Vitis—Virtual-Perfection&id=6830739