For many of us, there comes a point in our lives when we grow from random liquor or beer drinkers to wine drinking trainees. There are a few basics for beginning wine drinkers, and I assure you, choosing and drinking wine is most definitely easier than it looks.

With countless options in wine consumption, it is almost impossible to pick a wine you're sure to love. Many of us try our first glass of wine, turn our nose up at it, and ask someone to pass the brewed stuff. The fact of the matter is there are too many wines to choose from to base your opinion on the first you encounter. Do not be afraid to try many wines, and waste a few bottles in your search. Surely I'm not the only one who has opened a bottle of wine, and thrown the entire thing out only lacking four ounces or so. Many people prefer to begin their wine consumption journey with a chardonnay or white zinfandel, as these are lighter, more palatable options. Deeper, darker wines, such as cabernets or merlots are typically "worked up to", but are often appreciated by the assimilated palette. If it's red you're after, begin with a nice pinot noir, as this is one of the lighter choices in red wines.

Believe it or not, choosing the proper wine glass is important. As disappointing as it may be, enjoying your favorite Shiraz just isn't the same from Mom's old Tupperware cups. Choosing a glass that is not only completely clear, but also true crystal will actually enhance the flavor the wine you pick. Not only will it magnify the experience, but you'll appear so much more believable. No one will ever know that you didn't know zinfandel is red.

Your Grandmother may keep that "good cooking wine" in her fridge for decades, but please do not do this. Essentially, Granny is creating vinegar in that old ice box of hers, and this is not what you're aiming for. Depending on the age of the wine, your bottle should be kept from 24 hours to one week, tops, and in the refrigerator at all times. Wine is not only perishable, but the flavor is also greatly affected by oxygen exposure. Corking your wine as soon as you're done pouring will help, but if the wine is over five years old, chances are the flavor will lose some luster after 24 hours. All the more reason to share with your roommate, significant other, or even dear old Grandma.

Have fun, be experimental, and above all, don't take your new hobby as a wine connoisseur too seriously. Wine consumption is all about leisure and relaxation. Take it for what it's worth, and don't be afraid to fake it 'till you make it.

About the Author

? Cookgroup Marketing LLC - All Rights Reserved. This article brought to you by http://Your-Wine-Portal.com/wines/ . You may freely reprint this article on your website or in your newsletter provided this courtesy notice, author name, and URL remain intact.

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News about Aging Wine for November 2007

GRAPE NEWS FOR DIABETICS (New York Post)

Thu, 29 Nov 2007 09:32:50 GMT
New compounds that mimic an anti-aging chemical found in red wine may offer new ways to fight Type-2 diabetes and other age-related diseases, researchers said yesterday. "We're talking about real drugs," said David Sinclair, of Sirtris...

Klang Valley Streets: The portal to good wine (The New Straits Times--All the News that Matter)

Thu, 29 Nov 2007 02:01:09 GMT
WOOING MALAYSIANS: Euan Mackay discussing differences between Tawny and Ruby Port. JAMES HIPKISS introduces you to the pleasures of port wine.

Sirtris unveils promising, novel SIRT1 activators for treating diseases of aging (EurekAlert!)

Wed, 28 Nov 2007 18:03:25 GMT
Cambridge, MA, November 28, 2007 - Sirtris Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: SIRT), a biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering and developing small molecule drugs to treat diseases of aging, announced today that findings in the journal Nature demonstrate that Sirtris has developed novel drug candidates that offer a promising, new approach to treating diseases of aging, including Type 2 ...

Wine Education

Labels: Housewarming Wine?

Umbria lies smack dab in the middle of Italy. The countryside is unspoiled and dotted with medieval churches. Its fairly gentle terrain is composed of hills, valleys, and small mountains. Umbria is the only region of Italy with neither a seacoast nor a foreign border. But it has lakes, rivers, and even a waterfall. It is known as the green valley of Italy. In spite of this name, until a few decades ago Umbria kept losing population to the more highly industrial north. Its total population is about 830 thousand.

Umbria was settled by the Umbri, perhaps the first inhabitants of Italy. They were forced into the mountains by the Etruscans, who were conquered by the Romans and then the Lombards. The poet Dante considered it the most violent part of Italy.

Umbria is particularly known for pork, dried pasta, and both black and white truffles. It also produces specialty breads and a wide variety of vegetables and meats. Fish and eels from the Tiber River and Lake Trasimeno abound. Cheeses include Pecorino Toscano, reviewed below.

Umbria's capital is Perugia, a beautiful medieval city with a population of 150 thousand. Among other things Perugia is known for chocolates and Italian as a second language classes. Another famous Umbrian city is Assisi, the home of St. Francis of Assisi.
Umbria devotes about 41 thousand acres to grapevines, it ranks 15th among the 20 Italian regions. Its total annual wine production is about 19.5 million gallons, giving it a 16th place. About 58% of the wine production is white, leaving 42% for red. The region produces 11 DOC wines. DOC stands for Denominazione di Origine Controllata, which may be translated as Denomination of Controlled Origin, presumably a high-quality wine, and 2 DOCG red wines, Montefalco Sagrantino and Torgiano Rosso. The G in DOCG stands for Garantita, but there is in fact no guarantee that such wines are truly superior.
About 30% of Umbrian wine carries the DOC or DOCG designation. Umbria is home to about thirty major and secondary grape varieties, about two thirds white.

Widely grown international white grape varieties include Chardonnay and Trebbiano. The best known strictly Italian white variety is Grechetto, used in the its flagship Orvieto DOC wines.

Widely grown international red grape varieties include Cabernet Sauvignon, Gamay, and Merlot. The best known Italian red variety is Sangiovese, now grown elsewhere such as in California.

Before we review the Umbrian wine and cheese that we were lucky enough to purchase at a local wine store and a local Italian food store, here are a few suggestions of what to eat with indigenous wines when touring this beautiful region.
Start with Zuppa di Lenticchie di Castelluccio, Castelluccio Lentil Soup, which with local bread can be a meal in itself.
Later try Porchetta alla Perugina, Roasted Suckling Pig with Wild Fennel, Rosemary, and Garlic.
For dessert indulge yourself with Serpentone delle Monache di Perugia, Nut and Fruit "Snake" of the Capucin Nuns.

OUR WINE REVIEW POLICY While we have communicated with well over a thousand Italian wine producers and merchants to help prepare these articles, our policy is clear. All wines that we taste and review are purchased at the full retail price.

Wine Reviewed
Lungaraotti Pinot Grigio 2004 12% about $12

I haven't always been happy with Italian Pinot Grigio, or for that matter with non-Italian Pinot Gris. These wines often are weak. However, I thought that this particular Pinot Grigio was a fine wine for its price when it accompanied the right food. The sales literature suggested that this light-bodied, vivid, and balanced wine would be a great match for antipasti. My mistake was pairing it with non-imported antipasti, really more of a mediocre relish, which overpowered the wine. I later tried this wine with cold barbecued chicken in a moderately spicy Thai sauce and was quite pleased. Its citrus flavors really shone. I could taste this wine's subtle complexity.

Pecorino Toscano is a sheep's milk cheese that has been made in Tuscany and neighboring Umbria for thousands of years. Soft Pecorino Toscano is white with a tinge of yellow, while semi-hard Pecorino Toscano is pale yellow. It is moderately strong smelling and has a complex nutty flavor. I thought that it blended very nicely into the wine.

About the Author

Levi Reiss has authored or co-authored ten books on computers and the Internet, but to be honest, he would rather just drink fine Italian or other wine, accompanied by the right foods. He teaches classes in computers at an Ontario French-language community college. His wine website is www.theworldwidewine.com . You can reach him at ital@mail.theworldwidewine.com.

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News about Aging Wine on Cheap Wines, Wine Sauce,Napa Valley,Wine Rating,Calories Foods for November 2007

Sirtris unveils promising, novel SIRT1 activators for treating diseases of aging (PhysOrg)

Wed, 28 Nov 2007 18:28:43 GMT
Sirtris Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering and developing small molecule drugs to treat diseases of aging, announced today that findings in the journal Nature demonstrate that Sirtris has developed novel drug candidates that offer a promising, new approach to treating diseases of aging, including Type 2 Diabetes, by targeting SIRT1, a gene that controls the ...

Wine Guy’s Pick: 2001 Melini Chianti Classico Riserva (Juice)

Wed, 28 Nov 2007 10:11:09 GMT
Cost: $21 Find it: JT’s Fine Wine and Spirits, 5010 E.P. True Parkway, West Des Moines


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Labels: Southern Wine, Spanish Wine