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Napa Valley Wine Tours

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You just can’t go to California without going on a Napa Valley wine tour. You just can’t!! I tried and it didn’t work out, I was miserable. Depending on your accommodation, expenses and time, there is a tour for you. Whether you take a bus from San Francisco, limousines’ guided tours or tour individual wineries on your own, taking in a few wineries each day, there is still a tour for you. They have it all!!

The Napa Valley and area is in a time right out of the past with sun drenched vineyards and wineries steeped in history and charm with beautiful old and new spacious chateaus. Some of these vineyards and chateaus have been in the same family for decades. There is also a new generation of winemakers with many innovative modern techniques. The warm hospitality of the many vineyards will give you a chance to know the inner workings from the vine to the bottle, sort of a “behind-the-scenes” look. And believe me you won’t be disappointed, if you enjoy sipping the good stuff!

Your knowledgeable local Napa Valley Wine Tour guides can take you to many of the finest wineries, with a tour through the workings of the winery and cellars. Tours include picnic lunch, wine pairing, gifts and merchandise rooms in which their wines can be tasted and purchased. Some of the wineries even have complimentary tastings. Napa Valley wineries are only too pleased to share a sampling of the passion of their trade. On scheduled wine tours you will meet other fellow wine enthusiasts from around the world and possibly become friends.

Of course there are many individual Napa Valley Wine Tours where you are individually taken around for a private tour, or maybe just your own group. These are just as eventful as they offer options for special occasions and if they can accommodate any custom tour for you, just ask.

Of course a perfect place to see the rolling hills and lush vineyards of the Premiere California Wine Country would be by Hot Air Balloon at sunrise. Tours are from 3 to 4 hours.

Whether your tour is by jeep or limousine, or if you’re picked up at a local Napa Valley Hotel, your sightseeing excursion is well worthwhile. Some of the tours may take you to up to 12 wineries so you will want to leave the driving to the guides; as well they are full of information and can answer any questions you may have.

You just have to “Drink it in” so “For the love of grape” a Napa Valley Wine Tour is a must.

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Wine Tasting

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If you’ve been invited to a wine tasting party or traveled through any of the wine areas of the world it can be a fun and a challenge to distinguish one nectar of the grape from another.  For a wine tasting beginner it certainly would be a benefit to know some of the rituals involved, taking the mystery away so you can enjoy these pleasurable times. A few timely tips can help!

When the red wines or white wines are served to you it will be in a clear glass so you can examine the rich color and clarity.   Also, when you are offered the wine it should be picked up by the stem to avoid heating the wine from your hand.  The label on the wine bottles or the bottle itself should not be your wine guide when you buy wine, as only in tasting can know your preference.

You will see some of the more experienced wine tasters swirl their wine around their clear glass. This action will actually release the flavor in the wine as it has been bottled up for a long period of time.

Wine-Tasting-Like-a-Pro-cropAfter swirling the wine to release the flavor, and seeing the rich color, smell the wine. Now you can smell the wine as it plays such an important part of enjoying the experience.  Our sense of smell is so much more sensitive than our sense of taste.  The scent of the wine will start our imagination going, “is that a fruity smell” or “I think I smell citrus”.  You will have to learn to think with your nose.

Take a sip, breath in a little air through the mouth and slowly swallow.  You will get an air of the aroma of the wine, and a lingering blend of taste and smell to complete your wine experience. Your tongue has taste buds at the front and back which will detect those flavors as you swallow.  Wine has many flavors and by enjoying the tasting of wines from all around the world you will soon know which your favorites are.

In between, the wine tasting samplings you may be offered crackers and cheese or water to clean your month getting you ready for the next wine being served.  By attending wine tastings you soon will have favorites and be able to taste and smell the flavors and blends and have a better understanding of the process. Wine shops have so many wines from all around the world, with so many to taste and enjoy, so raise a glass.

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Red Wines

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Red Wine 2The world of red wines is an exciting and magnificent world filled with everything from the delicacy of a gentle South African Merlot to the richness of Sangre de Toro, “Blood of the Bull” from Spain. In general, many of the “rules” of wine tasting have been put aside in today’s world, making it available to every person, and with increasing demand supply has followed, allowing for inexpensive and delectable wines available for all.

Yet, there are thousands who feel that the world of wine appreciation is not yet available to them. With so many red wines to choose from, where do you start? How do you appropriately enjoy a red or white wine and with what meals would they go with?

Let’s look at some fundamental tips to getting the most out of your adventure in wines.

You don’t need to spend a bundle of money on a bottle of wine. Set that aside that for later, once you’ve begun to look beyond the brands and varieties that you enjoy. There are so many amazing and tasty wines that are available for less than $12.00 a bottle, that you really should not need to spend more than that for a bottle of wine…at least not yet.

Unless you live in the Napa valley, or another region that is well-known for its wine-making, stick with a wine that is either nationally or internationally distributed.

LeonettiMerlotIn the beginning pick a wine that is mainly made from a single type of grape, i.e. a Shiraz, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay etc., Although they can be quite delicious, in the beginning try to avoid blended wines. By discovering the flavors of the various grapes, you’ll better appreciate what it is about the blended wine that you like.

Start with a nice Merlot from USA, Canada, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand or Chile. These vineyards are usually able to balance cost and quality. My reason for recommending Merlot is that of all the red wines, it is probably the gentlest, and complements a broad menu of meals.

Red wine likes to breathe. After opening the bottle, let the wine sit for ten or more minutes. This will allow oxygen to get at the wine and causing it to mature faster. Incidently, pouring the wine into the glasses and letting it sit for ten to twenty minutes also speeds up this process. By taking this approach, you’ll find the flavor will be improved..

Serve red wine at room temperature and white wine chilled. This rule does not always apply but is a good guide, nevertheless. Chilling a red wine will remove many of the intricacies of flavor for which is why you bought the wine in  first place and reduces the wine’s ability to mature with exposure to oxygen.

As I mentioned earlier, many of the “rules” of wine lovers have been put aside, such as the expression “red wine with red meat or pasta and white wine with fish or poultry”. While these are not bad rules, they really are not carved in stone and nowadays waiters and even the seasoned connoisseur will not turn up his/her nose at the guest who requests red wine with fish or enjoys a nice, tart Chardonnay with a hamburger.

While a Merlot can be an ideal accompaniment for a spaghetti dinner, it can just easily sit beside a pork chop or fried chicken dinner. A Merlot is a lovely, down to earth start to your voyage and should open the door nicely to a journey of wine loving.

RedWine-2-main_FullTry several diverse brands of Merlot from rival vineyards. Make note of the variations in style and clarity. Once you’ve tasted a number of Merlots and are familiar with the differences, move on to a Cabernet Sauvignon and restart your journey. Move on to the Shiraz, Syrah, Petite Syrah or Beaujolais wines once you have a basic appreciation of Merlots and Cabernets, and when you do you will experience  the heavy, aromatic, peppery joy of these stronger red wines. Once you feel like you can recognize the differences of the red wine made from a single grape, start exploring the blends and the other excellent wines that are available. Good luck and enjoy!

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Pairing Food and Wine

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wine-pairing1-cheese-wines600x600Many people give dinner parties and start to fret as soon as they decide to have one. “What wine shall I serve”. They want the exact wine pairing with the food they serve and they want it all to compliment each other. Really, that tasty decision isn’t worth fretting about.

Humans have been pairing  food  and wine for more than 5,000 years so it’s nothing new or tough in the buying of red wine and white wine.. .. Actually, most fine wines pair quite nicely with most foods and that old adage “red wine with red meat “white wine with white meat isn’t quite true. If you’re in doubt though, it works quite well with just a few exceptions you may try.

If chicken is served you might try a tasty fruity red wine. You can include tuna or salmon in this category as well. Of course another consideration is the rule of complement. Does the wine pairing complement the food? A sweet white wine will complement sweet seafood such as lobsters, as well as white Bordeaux can do wonders to a bluefish.

A few suggestions to keep in mind and a few suggestions to avoid depending what is being served, can make for a huge dinner party success. Just a few suggestions for the wine your going to serve.

Since most salad dressing contain vinegar, a wine should not be served, as wine and vinegar to not get along. The ingredients in any appetizer will help you to choose the right wine for the wine and food pairing. If a cheese try is served try pairing dry red wine with cheddar cheese such as Merlots or Cabernet Sauvignon and a Swiss cheese with Pinot Noir. Chardonnay’s rich flavor goes well with ripe Brie and cream cheeses while a Rose’ wine pairs beautifully with a quiche. If a fried appetizer is being served a crisp fruity white or red wine will cut the oily flavor.

For the red meats of beef and lamb, remember the old adage” red wine with red meat” You can go wrong with the rule when choosing a dry red wine like a Cabernet Sauvignon or Pinot Noir or Syrah. Serve a Medoc (Bordeaux) with tenderloin. Or Italians red wines like Chianti or Barolo. A Zinfandel will even compliment a hamburger. For a slow cooked brisket of Corned Beef a Beaujolais for a red wine or Pinot Gris for a white wine.

Joe_seafoodstewFor seafood as a rule serve a crisp fresh white wine to be safe. If the white fish served is of a delicate and mild flavored variety serve a crisp white wine for sure. On a special occasion a Pinot Noir red wine could be served with salmon. With oysters a Muscadet will hit the spot and for shellfish, Sauvignon Blanc for shrimp and Riesling with crab. Of course, a good Chardonnay or Champagne with lobster.

For Poultry, Veal, Pork it’s wise to follow the “white meat, white wine rule”. Again, a Pinot Grigio or Chardonnay white wine can be served or a fuller white wine for pork chops, or roasts or any medium bodies red wines like Chianti or Merlot. A crisp white wine Riesling is a great combination for fried chicken. For Veal, good Italian white or lighter red or white Bordeaux with full flavored veal dishes is excellent. For Ham fruity flavors go well with sliced or fried ham, possibly a Gewurztraminer or Riesling for a roast of ham.

turkeyTurkey resonates back to Thanksgiving and cranberries, so rich fruity and tart red wine like Beaujolais or Zinfandel would be in order for the table and turkey sandwiches. As there is both white and dark meat you may try an off-dry white wine like Riesling or Gewurztraminer for the roast turkey.

Duck/Goose will certainly go far with Italian red wine or Pinot Noir, Bordeaux (Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot.

With spicy foods its best to serve sparkling wine. Look for a fruity wine and make sure it is very well chilled. A Riesling or any inexpensive sparkling wine served icy cold is perfect.

Venison & Game go well with Pinot Noir or Chardonnay with quail. Possibly serve a St.Emilion with squab and for special occasions Barolo or red Rhone wines with venison.

Vegetarians can enjoy Pinot Gris or Sauvignon Blanc with salads and green vegetables. For meals based on beans, legumes and cheese a full fruity red wine would be in order such as Chianti or Zinfandel red wines.

Egg dishes will rise to the occasion with a crisp fresh Rose’ or for an omelet in bed try Champagne.

Liver dishes as in that special foie gras, open your very best Burgundy, either white wine or red wine, or indulge your sweet tooth and serve Sauternes. For less special fare serve a hearty Pinot Noir or Rhone.

Desert is what your guests wait for. A special desert wine can make the occasion. You might even want to skip desert and serve the sweet wines which you find in wine shops in small wine bottles. A Sauternes, Beerenauslese or Cammandaria are a good choice or possibly a Port. A late harvest Riesling would go well with baked apple desserts.

Your all set now, don’t be snobby about the red wine and white wine your serving. Your guests will take their cue from you so just act like you’ve been wine pairing forever. There are just a few basic rules to keep in mind and even then wine choices can be changed to your preference. Enjoy!!

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Health Benefits in Wine

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health-wineWine has been with us throughout history.  In the last decade scientist are now telling us what mankind has known for centuries, there are health benefits in wine.  A glass of wine has  its health benefits, but taken in large quantities these health benefits are compromised.

Saying all that, one would conclude the more wine the better.  Not so!!  As with any food or drink it’s all in proportion. Too much of a “good thing” can be harmful to one’s health.  But some wines are better than others just like some foods we consume have higher vitamins content and are better for us. Just because a food or drink is good for us doesn’t give us the green light to “pig out” or get “intoxicated”.  Taken in moderation is certainly is beneficial to your health.

It is the red wines, rich in flavonoids that are best for our health.  Red wines also contain antioxidants and together help the body resist viruses, carcinogens, cancer, cardiovascular disease and many maladies such as allergens.

It is the dry red wines such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Syrah and Pinot Noir that contain the highest antioxidants and flavonoids.  White wines carry health benefits as well but not as many as the red wines, though the dry Merlot and dry red Zinfandel varieties do carry more than most white wine.

109874-main_FullIt is noted that the longevity of the peoples in France is due to the consumption of their wine in “proportion”.   A high procyanidin (antioxidant) content in French wines led to much research to the many health benefits of wine in our health.  Many health providers promote a one or two four ounce glass of wine per day for men and one four ounce glass for woman. I do know many women who would dispute that discrepancy for women.

It is fascinating phenomena, this nectar from the grape and can be a bit intimidating as so many countries in the world are now in the wine making business and doing an excellent job.  So many different grapes and blends of grapes grown in many different soil types and weather conditions.

So much to choose from and enjoy.  Its not a fountain of youth, but its worth a “toast” to start trying some of them.  “To your health”

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Blends of Wine Around the World

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vineyardWhere to start!!  You’ve heard the expression, “It was a very good year”, well that would be an understatement.  So many variable characteristics go into wine making such as climate, variety of grape, soil, vineyard cultivation and blends either from grapes grown from one region or a combination of grapes grown from many regions. Navigating through it all is not easy, but can be done.  And it can be so much fun navigating!

You hear the many ways wines are described by wine judges or wine critics supposedly by educated wine connoisseurs and wonder, “What? I can’t taste the cherries”.  I sometimes think it’s an acquired taste, and then I find a wine that is truly “nectar of the Gods” and see what they mean.

A whole new language seems to envelope the tasting of wine and once learned can be quite beneficial to describe certain wines between growers and purchaser alike.  The characteristics such as crispness, body, nutty, floral even spicy take a while to distinguish but those wines with the most desirable characteristics come from the best locations in the world.

Castellina_in_ChiantiThe Tuscany wine region of Italy is one of the best locations where they are renowned for producing excellent wines.  The combination of soil and sun and the ancient culture all make for a quality of excellence.  It’s not hard to navigate here.

France is another consistently excellent producer of wine in the regions of Bordeaux, Burgundy, Champagne and Provence.  It’s not hard to navigate here either.

Many countries like Canada, USA, Australia, Argentina, and Chile are now producing many award winning wines. Each has a winning characteristic and quality as countries are investing much time and study in all areas of wine making from the growing of grapes to bottling, corking and storage.

So many vineyards around the world offer excellent wine tasting facilities and tours, and it’s imperative that you should take advantage of them and start to “navigate”. It is interesting to match various wine characteristics to the many samples.  The personnel in these vineyards are only to happy answer questions you may have as they are on the front line and know the in’s and out’s of their profession.

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