Fine Wine

Roland Jefferson asked:


nothing more pleasurable and luxurious for a book lover than a summer afternoon at the lake or a winter evening around the fire with a good book and a food and wine gift basket. Begin by choosing an author or authors. It is often easier to match the book rather than wine to the recipient. An English food and wine gift basket is an excellent and eclectic choice for fans of Jane Austen, Charles Dickens, Thomas Hardy, Charlotte Bronte and the like.

English Wines

Fine English wine, is there such a thing? There is indeed. Wine has a deep history in Britain; some scholars believe that wine was brought in by the Romans at the time of Julius Cesar. What is known for sure, is that the English vineyards and wines, were well established by the time of the Norman Conquest in 1066.

The most exquisite of the English wines are: Huxelrebe, Madeleine Angevine 7672, Muller-Thurgau (Rivaner), Reichensteiner, Schonburger, and Seyval Blanc. One or two bottles of any of these fine wines makes an excellent start for an English themed food and wine gift basket.

The Cheese

Grand English cheeses are no surprise. Britons have long been known for their excellent cheeses. With so many sumptuous varieties it will be hard to limit them. Here are a few that no English food and wine gift basket should be without: Dorset Blue Vinney cheese, Cheshire cheese, Dunlop cheese from Scotland. Huntsman cheese (an absolutely divine blend of Stilton and Double Gloucester), Sage Derby cheese,and Kidderton Ash

The Bread

Wine, cheese, and bread are often thought of as the holy trinity of food and wine gift baskets. Add some light rye and sturdy crackers and your basket will have all the essentials of an epicurean delight. Surely any guests that you have will be equally delighted with this basket.

Finishing Touches

Now is the time to add the finishing touches to make the experience bubble through an afternoon or evening. Be sure to include a novel or two, Jane Austen’s Persuasion, Charles Dicken’s Great Expectations or Thomas Hardy’s Silas Marner. Add some Walkers shortbreads Earl Grey tea, and a small British Union Jack flag and you are good to go.

For a lighter by similarly decadent basket for your ardent short story reader you can quickly put together an English wine and chocolate gift basket and a collection of Charles Dickens’ short stories and essays. You simply can’t go wrong.

Caldwell

dakvince asked:


Hi
I have 5 year old unopened bottle of COOK’s BRUT – California Champagne – Sparkling WINE. Is it safe to drink 5 year old Champagne (Sparkling WINE). It is sitting in my refrigerator for long, but several time it gone through ice cold to room temperate transformation. Is it safe to drink it? OR is it aged and become more valuable and fine wine? I vaguely remember Champagne or Sparkling WINE should be consumed soon and not allow it to age. AM I right? I know many will say why drink it? I am looking for more scientific reasons and educational information.

Thanks

Herbert

Pickle asked:


I’m talking more about Nashville and sorounding cities, but they sell cheap beer and hard liqueur; but not fancy, good stuff? Why?

Sebastian

Fiona Muller asked:


 

The sale of fine wines has grown substantially in Britain over the last few decades. As people become more knowledgeable about wine and have a higher disposable income, fine wines have become a popular choice to invest in. Fine wines are more expensive than any other food and drink category. At the highest end of the market, they sell for thousands of pounds per bottle. These wines are seen as a good investment because not only does the product improve over time, but also the demand for the wine increases rather than decrease as its price rises.

 

The most commonly collected wines are usually those from Bordeaux, some distinguished wine brands from California, Champagne and of course vintage port. Disregarding the fortified wines (port, sherry, madeira and others) and sticking to those that are regular wines, there are several characteristics which are taken into account: the wine needs to have a proven track record of keeping well over a period of time; it must start with an exceptionally good grape harvest and a carefully executed blend of additives; it needs to have a long maturity period – so that no matter how long it is kept for, the wine still tastes great; and there needs to be a consensus amongst experts that the wine is of fantastic quality and therefore worth investing in.

 

There is a word of warning to take note of though – when buying fine wine, watch out for criminals and fraudsters. As investment in fine wines has grown, so have the scams associated with it. Such schemes include charging excessively high prices for off-vintage or lower status wines from famous wine regions or counterfeiting of labels. This is something to look out for at auctions, where it is easier to get away with such practices.

 

So how do you spot a fine wine? Well, one clue is to look at its vintage. The vintage is the year in which the wine was grown. A good quality red wine matures well, and can improve its flavour through aging, so this is where a fine wine starts. After it has been kept and aged by wine enthusiasts and buyers, it can turn into a fine wine. Remember, as the product improves and the price rises, so does the demand for the wine.

 

Most independent online wine retailers provide a fine wine service. Here you will find a selection of fine wines from all of the world’s greatest estates. Many of these services employ experts who can give you helpful advice on what to buy, when to open, how to serve the wine or any other aspects of fine wines.



Farrell

lisa s asked:


or drinking as much as you like of cheap tacky stuff, which would you choose? assume the price of both is the same.

Kelsey

BEATS asked:


Fine wine-wot keeps you young?
old boot-wots the culprit

Basil

Best Coffee Maker asked:


Illy Coffee

Illy coffee was founded in 1933 by Francesco Illy. Today, Illy markets a single blend of remarkable coffee made of 100% Arabica beans from nine different growing regions in Africa, India, South America and Central America. It is this blend of beans from different growing conditions that gives Illy its unique taste.

Illy thinks of coffee rather like a fine wine… they describe the tasting experience as something that not only affects the palate, but the entire person through all the senses. They strive to create a consistent coffee with every cup, offering richness, a mixture of flavors including fruity and flowery, with hints of caramel, chocolate, almond and honey blending together to create an unforgettable cup of coffee.

Illy coffee is best experienced as espresso. Illy believes that espresso is the quintessential method for true coffee lovers to enjoy coffee. The Illy espresso blend features notes of caramel and chocolate, toast and honey. It is velvety and sweet, setting the stage for the pleasant bitter tingle that is soon to follow. An authentic Italian coffee, Illy’s espresso awakens the spirit, caresses the senses, and opens the doors of the mind. Their espresso is available in a fine grind, a medium grind, as whole bean, or in moka, if you use a moka pot for preparation. They also make ESE (easy serving espresso) in pods, to use in any ESE-compatible coffee maker. Illy’s newest coffee innovation is the Hyper Espresso Capsules, to be used in the Francis Francis Hyper Espresso Machine. Any of these can be used to make creamy cappuccinos as well.

For perfectly brewed coffee every time, Illy recommends its medium grind for use in automatic drip coffee machines. Illy makes their medium grind available in a medium roast for those who prefer a smooth flavor with notes of caramel and chocolate; for those who prefer a more robust flavor, they offer a dark roast with deep notes of cocoa and hints of creamy caramel.

For those who like using moka pots, Illy offers a special coarse grind. For those who don’t know what a moka pot is, think of a better designed percolator. It is used on the stove top, cold water is put in the bottom, coffee is put in a filter, the lid is put on, and as the water heats, and it rises through the filter. When the coffee begins to sputter, it is done.

Illy coffee can also be brewed using a flip pot, a French press, or in the thick Turkish style.

Illy coffee makers are state of the art, too. They offer the Francis Francis X1 Espresso Machine, the Hyper Espresso System for the Hyper Espresso Capsules, and the Francis Francis Trio, which work with the ESEs. All are true works of art, designed by architect Luca Trazzi.

And finally, to finish off the perfect coffee experience, Illy began commissioning cups from Italian designer Matteo Thun in 1990.The first edition was available to the public in 1992. Illy offers these cups in signed limited editions, treating the cup as canvas. Each edition is decorated by a different artist.



Cyril

City Boy asked:


I am a student of fine wine. A taste I just aquired.

Aedan

Bill Wilson asked:


Want to give a gift that keeps on giving month after month? A wine of the month gift club membership will do just that. This wine gift will impress your special friends, family, or business acquaintances, for as long as the club membership lasts. Because this gift extends over a period of months, it will send a little “reminder” each month of how much you care as a new bottle of wine is delivered to the lucky recipient.

The gift of sending wine every month is not a new concept – fruit of the month clubs have been very popular for decades. However, the latest trend has been towards a gift that sends a little different message – the monthly wine gift. Many individuals have discovered the wonderful taste of wines; whether they are red, white or rose. A delightful wine experience, combined with the well published health benefits of red wines, has created today’s popular trend toward drinking fine wines.

Benefits of a Wine of the Month Gift Club

Purchasing a wine of the month gift club membership really enhances a gift of fine wine by making it a year-round event. Each month, a new and exciting wine is delivered to the gift recipient’s front door, reminding them of your thoughtfulness.

Receiving a different wine each month is infinitely more exciting than getting a case of the same vintage and brand as a one-time gift. Most wine of the month clubs provide 12 unique vintages, each one carefully chosen to represent the season in which it is sent.

One of the major benefits of giving a wine of the month gift is that you need not worry about buying the bottle yourself, having it wrapped, and presenting it to the lucky recipient. Sending someone a membership, or subscription, to a wine of the month club means that the excitement of receiving a gift is not a once a year event, but a monthly celebration as a new, unknown vintage is delivered right to their home.

A Wine Gift Membership is Elegant – And Easy!

The beauty of giving this kind of wine gift is that all you need to do is make the initial choice, based on the wine costs and delivery charges, and leave the rest up to the wine specialists at the membership club. The difficult task of selecting the right wines is in the hands of the membership experts. If you choose a monthly subscription from a reputable club, you can be certain that their wine specialists will choose an appropriate wine within your selected price range. It really doesn’t get much easier!

Most wine of the month gift memberships are paid for up-front and cover the length of the subscription period. You may also be able to specify the recipient’s wine preferences and they will do their best to accommodate their specific wine tastes. No need for you to become a wine “expert” to ensure that the selections will be appreciated.

And don’t forget – a monthly gift of wine is a nice reminder of how much you care about the person receiving the wine. They will know that you thought enough of them to provide them with a special gift every month of the year, not just a gift quickly forgotten once opened.



Morgan

Kathleen Sullivan asked:


What do Virginia wine and England have in common? Answer: history and today’s interest in pursuing quality wine. This year is the 400th Anniversary of the founding of Jamestown by the English settlers. Several events have been planned to commemorate the founding of Jamestown in 1607. One of the events planned will be the tasting of Virginia wines at Vinopolis in London. The theme is “Virginia, First in Wine.” “First in Wine” refers to the quality of Virginia wines and to the established fact that Virginia was the first place in the new world for the English to attempt the cultivation of grapes and winemaking. In February, a number of Virginia wines were judged at White Hall Vineyards in a wine tasting event. The purpose was to choose wines to go to England for a tasting. On April 30, Virginia will present wines at a VIP invitation only tasting at Hampden House (a historical house) in the middle of Chiltern, England. On May 2, the Virginia wines will be tasted at Vinopolis, a world wine center in London. Will the Mother Country be impressed?

Will Thomas Jefferson’s dream of producing fine wines in Virginia be met? After all, an attempt was made to grow grapevines very early in the 1600’s. When the first settlers arrived in Jamestown, native grapes grew in abundance. Wine produced with these native grapes in 1608 was unlike wine in Europe. Wine from Virginia was bitter and did not travel well. England was hoping the colonies could provide wine for the Mother Country. Laws requiring the growing of grapes were passed. Failure to grow grapes would result in severe penalties. By 1619 the House of Burgesses required each adult male to plant grapevines. However, at this time vineyards and vine growing requirements were not well understood. By the late 1700’s, Thomas Jefferson had visited grape growing areas of France and fully believed that Virginia could grow grapes and produce wine as good as any other country. Jefferson said, “We could, in the United States, make as great a variety of wines as are made in Europe, not exactly the same kinds, but doubtless as good.” Jefferson tried growing his own vineyards and participated in a venture with a vineyard planting next to Monticello. The vineyards did not survive. Despite Jefferson’s firm belief that Virginia could grow grapes and produce fine wine, he was unable to make a single bottle of wine before he died. George Washington also tried growing grapes but the vineyards were not productive and he replaced the vineyards with orchards.

During the 1800’s, Americans attempted to grow wine grapes throughout the country. Again, due to lack of knowledge about vineyard diseases, success was elusive. As time went on, an accidental hybrid began to grow successfully and after the Civil War, vineyards were beginning to flourish. Then came a manmade disaster in 1919. Congress approved the 18th Amendment and by 1920 the amendment was ratified. This decimated many of the existing vineyards and in combination with the Depression in later years most vineyards could not survive. By 1933 when the 21st Amendment repealed Prohibition, much damage had occurred to the wine industry.

Today, after Prohibition, Virginia is making much progress towards becoming a well-known area for growing grapes and producing fine wine. To prove this point, 65 wines from 28 Virginia wineries were chosen to provide wine for the wine tasting at Vinopolis in London. Vinopolis is a wine museum, tasting facility and restaurant all rolled into one building. Wines from all around the world are available for tasting at Vinopolis. However, until now only wines from California have been represented of wines produced in the United States. If you have the opportunity to visit London on May 2, stop by Vinopolis and check out the Virginia wines.

How will Virginia wines fare at Vinopolis? On our recent visit to Vinopolis we shared a bottle of Pearmund Cellars Ameritage with Tom Forrest, the Tour Development Manager. He shared the bottle with other tasters and had the following comment, “I retasted the Pearmund Ameritage last night. It seemed to have really developed after opening. It was full of rich fruit cake aromas and flavours. Still smooth and soft, the spicyness of the Malbec element shone through the red and black forest fruit flavours. It impressed the members of the tasting team. So I look forward to tasting the wines in May.” Anyone who has visited wineries in Virginia and talked to the winemakers knows that Virginia wineries are intent upon making fine wine from the best grapes available. England, we hope you like Virginia wine.



Gregory