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An Exciting Wine: Chateau Musar

WineNews — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 12:15:20 +0000

Established in 1930 in the basement of an ancient 17th century fortress, Château Musar is just as much the project of a family members as the living testimony of all the civilisations which may have tread its land.

After having a prolonged stay in France, Gaston Hochar returned to Lebanon and then created Château Musar in the cellars in the ancient ‘Mzar’ castle in Ghazir, looking over the med coast.

What started out as being a leisure activity quickly started to be a passion; a passion influenced by an initial encounter with well-known wine maker Ronald Barton when he was stationed in Lebanon during ww2.

The particular wineries associated with Château Musar can be found from an height well over 3,000 feet (1,000 meters) inside Bekaa Valley in which the vines are sheltered because of the surrounding mountains running parallel on the Mediterranean and beyond shore. They include one hundred and eighty hectares and produce a limited yield around 35 hl/ha.

The actual Bekaa Valley is almost ice together with ailment free, with extended gentle summers, wet winters with an annual rain fall of 500mm, and an average temperature of twenty five degrees Celsius .

The actual red wine are made from a blend of different grape varieties, mainly: Cabernet Sauvignon, Cinsault and also Carignan. The particular vines are usually grown using a gravely ground with a limestone base. The make up may differ from one yr to the next, offering Château Musar a different personality as well as identity each and every year.

The white wines are made of a fuse of Obeideh and also Merwah, that happen to be indigenous to the Bekaa Valley and also Mount Lebanon. Based on the story, Obeideh and Merwah were taken back to European countries aided by the Crusaders and are the likely forefathers of Chardonnay and Semillon respectively.

Château Musar creates just about every effort at creating totally natural wines, permitting each one acquire its persona. Château Musar firstly attained global recognition in the Bristol Wine Fair in Great britain in nineteen seventy nine, where the wine media as well as prominent critics including Michael Broadbent declared it “the discovery of the fair”.

No doubt Serge Hochar’s strong individuality as well as dedication in his values have given much inspiration for the countless enthusiastic followers of Château Musar across the world.

In recent years, Musar has been a part of events such as the “Dîner des 30″ organised through Champagne Louis Roederer in honour of the thirty very best bottles of wine of the world.

Invited to the New York Wine Experience, Musar annually attends the London Wine Fair and Vinexpo just about every 24 months.

The way paved by the wine from the land of “milk and honey” consequently allowed Lebanon to stick to the actual OIV – the “Organisation Internationale de la Vigne et du Vin”- in 1995 while using collaboration of other Lebanese wine producers.

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Do Alcohol, Beer and Wine Contain Gluten? â€“ A Guide of Dos and Donâ€™ts

WineNews — Sun, 29 Aug 2010 20:26:45 +0000

Once one has been identified with gluten intolerance, they tend to stress about how their alocohol consumption is going to be impacted. All of us loves to relax with a fine beverage each and every once and awhile, but fear of gluten content may have you turning your head at an alcoholic beverage. Any distilled alcoholic products are gluten free, however one can find others out there too. You can just check the ingredients on the drink to determine if it contains gluten or not, however for a fast guide, the refreshments on the next paragraphs have been tested to contain absolutely no gluten at all.

Furthermore there is great news! There are 2 classics in the shot world that have proven to be entirely fine to consume. Vodka and Tequila. When you plan on chasing them by using some other sort of alcohol, make certain that it too is gluten free. Rum is undoubtedly yet another gluten free classic, as well as selected forms of whiskey. If you’re a enthusiast of gin, you should really be just ok with making it your cocktail of choice. Mead can be a beverage produced from honey through a distillation operation, and it too is absolutely good for a gluten free life.

Two other favorites on the acceptable list are champagne and sherry for those of us that are fanciers. Thankfully, a favorite for nautical aficionados, brandy also makes the list and appears on the safe list. All wine beverages are absolutely good to consume as well, and even wine coolers like Boones can be acceptable to consume. While using coolers, nonetheless, you really have to make sure that you don’t drink any malt drinks because those do comprise gluten. Check over the container attentively. You may also drink cider, grappa, and kahlua for those who desire to.Wood Chuck happens to be an apple cider favorite of mine that is naturally gluten free.

For blended cocktail lovers, a martini might possibly be all right if it’s made with the proper ingredients. Other popular cocktails that make the trusted list include extra dry martinis and club vodka martinis. Should you can’t get enough of your margaritas, Jose Cuervo and Mr. & Ms. T have both been approved for ingestion. Numerous food preparation alcohols do the job as well, but you do want to verify the ingredients to be certain. Ouzo and kirshwasser are also great for a gluten free diet program, together with cognac and Armagnac. In short, you are able to drink alcohol for people with a sensitivity to gluten. You just need to be cautious about just what kind of alcohol it is. Gluten Free Beer is a struggle to come by, especially in restaurants. Alcohol and wine should offer you a lot more options.

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The Importance of Yeast within Wine Making

WineNews — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 05:28:51 +0000

Man has been drinking homemade wine for many thousands of years. Ever wondered exactly how wine is made? Do you realize that wines could be made at house? Actually, wine utilized to become made at home till somebody came up with the wonderful concept of mass generating wine and selling it to others to enable them to appreciate great wine with minimal hassle.

We all know wine is created from fruit. Exactly how then is it various from grape juice? Is wine just glorified grape juice? Definitely not! The presence of alcohol in wine makes it totally different from grape juice.

Where does the actual alcohol come from? Is it added towards the wine? When we talk about alcohol, we aren’t referring to whisky or ale. We’re talking about the chemical spirit alcohol. Grape juice gets its alcohol content material from fermentation.

Fermentation is the procedure of interaction of yeast, which is really a single celled living organism, with the sugar in the grape juice. Alcohol and co2 are the by-products of this reaction. This reaction continues until the alcohol content material becomes so higher that the yeast dies off because of the alcohol it created. The yeast sinks towards the bottom and is removed. What began as grape juice and yeast has now become wine. This wine should be filtered and stored before it can be consumed.

Had man not recognized what yeast was and what it could do, we would happen to be sipping grape juice instead of refreshing wine!

Yeast is also discovered naturally. In this form, it is called wild yeast. The wild yeast that sticks towards the skin of the grapes gets mixed with grape juice to initiate fermentation. Hence, wine could be made even without manual addition of yeast. However, there is no certainty that the wine would be to your liking. Adding processed yeast particularly made for making wine helps you control the taste of wine. Relying on wild yeast is really a bit of a gamble.

The manual addition of yeast is not a basic process. You can’t buy just any yeast and add it towards the grapes. Numerous people who make wine at house choose the yeast that’s utilized in making bread as this yeast will lead to fermentation and alcohol production. However, utilizing yeast strains that happen to be created specifically for wine is preferable as it offers the following benefits:

- You know how the yeast will behave. That’s, you know how much alcohol it produces, how lengthy it should be stored and also the taste it creates. This is possible because the yeast is manufactured after repeated testing and experimentation.

- Should you want wine with a high alcohol content, you are able to opt for those strains which are resistant to alcohol. Since yeast dies during the wine producing process, a greater resistance will allow the yeast to survive for a long period of time. This will result in wine with a high alcohol content.

- If you don’t intend to store the wine for a long period and should you wish to consume it quickly, you are able to opt for yeast that reacts with sugar. This yeast will create lots of alcohol fast.

home wine making is really a fruitful exercise should you follow the right procedure and have the right tools and materials. You are able to then proudly share your home made wine with friends and family.

There is a great deal of sell satisfaction when you produce your own homemade wine and people really appreciate drinking it with you

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On the Trail of France’s Best Wines

WineNews — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 01:57:00 +0000

The Alsace wine road travels between Marlenheim near Strasbourg and Thann near Mulhouse and is a popular and attractive way to discover this eastern region of France whilst learning and enjoying the food and wine produced here. The route covers over 100 miles from north to south and runs between the eastern edge of the Vosges Mountains and the River Rhine. Driving through distinctive and unspoilt villages, this is one of France’s smaller wine producing regions but it has some splendid scenery and of course produces some very fine wines. The route is well signposted and at each place of particular interest there are waymarked paths which take you through the vineyards to discover the cellars and diverse landscapes of each winery. Rent a bike or travel on foot into the countryside with a picnic, or stop stop for lunch at one of the inns or wineries followed by a tasting session, these are days to relax and genuinely enjoy the slow pace of life and the beautiful French countryside.

Travelling through 27 very beautiful and important villages gives you the chance to stop on your journey to try over 50 of the local wines classified as ‘grand cru’ from the Riesling, Pinot Gris, Sylvaner, Muscat and Gewürztraminer grape varieties. On top of the attraction of wine and vineyards the route passes picturesque villages with ancient black and white houses,floral balconies and medieval castles. A typical example of these traditional communities is the epicentre of the wine making region, the village of Eguisheim.

Eguisheim dates back to the Middle Ages which is evident from the winding narrow streets, its black and white buildings and the remains of the once fortified castle. As far back as the 4^th century the area became well known for its wine which was found on the tables of royalty in both England and Holland. Eguisheim is also popular because all varities of Alsatian grapes are grown here so if you are short on time or you would rather not travel the whole route, you can experience all the regions wines in one location.

Eguisheim Hotels

If you would like to stay here, the hotels in eguisheim come in a great many shapes and sizes in a mixture of French and German styles. Two hotels which are considered to be good value for visitors on the wine route are the Hostellerie Des Comtes Eguisheim and the Hotel Saint Hubert Eguisheim.

Hostellerie Des Comtes Eguisheim prides itself on its intimate atmosphere and gastronomic delights. The 14 non smoking guest rooms are clean and bright and feature TV, telephone, hairdryer and net access for visitors who like to keep in touch.

Hotel Saint Hubert Eguisheim is a modern hotel set amongst the vineyards with striking views of the Black Forest. With just 15 en suite guest rooms the hotel offers is guest’s personal service and facilities such as TV, telephone and mini bar heated indoor swimming pool and sauna.

The Alsace wine route is a very picturesque way of discovering the beauties of the border region with Germany, and a totally different experience to the other wine producing areas of France.

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Holiday in the Alsace region of France

WineNews — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 14:05:51 +0000

A vast tract of land that once controlled by the Roman Empire during the reign of Julius Caesar and then wrenched by the then powerful German Empire after the Franco-Prussian War, Alsace, France has come a long way from being a disputed dominion that has spawned a number of important conflicts between feuding Germanic tribes and Frank ethnic groups, between Germany and Allied France.

Though Alsace is a district of France, many people their still speak in German. Today, Alsace has developed from a battlefield to a famous vacation destination. With its close proximity to the Rhine River , hopeless romantics and newlywed couples are just among those who drive all the way up to the Alsace and experience the serenity and the romantic element that river creates. Aside from the romantic trips down the river , Alsace is also where you can locate the city that makes amazing wines , Eguisheim.

Eguisheim itself is profoundly entrenched in history, With houses, roads, and bridges that still preserve their Middle Age elements, it is so hard to not to wish spending a relaxing holiday here. With a long list of very warm and accommodating Eguisheim hotels, you are surely going to have the time of your life in Eguisheim.

If you so opt to spend a couple of holidays in the city of Alsace, be sure to look up online tour guides and make a quick check on a hotel price comparison site if you want to get the best out for your stay. There are lots of hotels in Eguisheim, all of which provides you more than just a warm, comfortable bed at night.

Eguisheim has long been considered as the main city of the European wine road . That said, it is near impossible not to check out the winemaking facilities of the city and visit the vineyards that embrace the whole area. Famous winemaking clans come from this part of Alsace and a number of of their winemaking establishments remain intact. Definitely worth a visit.

For trivia lovers and religious individuals, they will be more than happy to know that Pope Leo IX was born in this calm town.

Once you get your load of Eguisheim wine, you can also go about the city and marvel at its centuries-old houses and walkways. If you can’t get enough of that, you can go and see for yourself castle ruins and fortresses that are scattered throughout Egusheim’s hill terrain.

One particular site, the Three Castles if Haut-Eguisheim, offers visitors a glance of how Medieval knights and nobles watched out to the horizon for welcomed allies and hated invaders . With a panoramic view from a grassy hilltop, one can see why Eguisheim flourished from its foundation up to this day.

Alsace offers tourists more than just a place where they spend their holidays , but a haven where they take a break from it all and just enjoy life as simple as it gets.

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Review of Kalorik 18 Bottle Wine Cooler

WineNews — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 14:35:08 +0000

The Kalorik 18 bottle wine cooler is the ideal choice for wine lovers whose need do not require a larger cooler. It still has many of the same features larger coolers offer, but in a smaller, compact size. With this wine cooler, you can find a dual cooling zone which enables you to keep different kinds of wine at their separate ideal temperatures. Exterior light which can be harmful to wine by breaking it down is filtered out by the tinted, tempered, double-pane glass door.

The controls are fully digital and easy to use. The temperature zones are completely insulated so that you can store several different types of drinks. The Kalorik 18-bottle wine cooler has chrome shelves that are scalloped, to display and keep you wine cradled. Vibrations that can harm your wines are kept to a minimum with the use of thermoelectric cooling while maintaining an ideal temperature. If you want to go green, you can trust that thermoelectric cooling is also very energy efficient. You do not have to worry about hot spots, due to the fan circulation system that runs inside. The LED light inside the cooler will not make it hotter, while still displaying your wine collection. At times when you are not displaying your wince collection the light can easily be switched off.

You can find a digital display on the door, as well as recessed handle and a silver door trim on the Kalorik 18 bottle wine cooler. The entire unit is only 26″x13.5″x19.3″ and will cost less than $300. It also comes with a one year limited warranty for additional peace of mind. You should also consider added expenses might include shipping and applicable taxes.

People who have tried this cooler consistently give it high marks in their reviews. This may just be the ideal unit to meet your needs for a nice cooler that would complement your dining area.

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Premium wine clubs, Gold medal wine clubs, and Red wine clubs

WineNews — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 10:45:04 +0000

Having been a wine connoisseur and drinker for more than 20 years, I would like to consider my wine knowledge as being good, but even so I still search for ways to expand my wine intelligence.

Every year there is a new vintage with new wines coming onto the market from every corner of the world which creates a significant for wine enthusiasts such as myself. The obvious answer to this problem is of course that you can’t keep up with every wine as there are just so many wines being produced.

There is a way however through an elimination process to minimize the number of wines worth considering – essentially growing your palate by tasting appropriate wines exclusively.

Given that a significant percentage of wines produced every vintage are not that good or are of only average quality, these quaffing wines should be removed from your wine tasting schedule completely thus minimizing the field down to the top 10-15% of wines for consideration. That still leaves a very high number of wines that would be deemed high-quality premium wines, which leads us to question what the next step is in making the number of wines to taste a more manageable number?

How about exclusively tasting wines that have been recommended by prominent wine experts such as Robert Parker?

I recently came across what can only be described as premium wine clubs that only distributes wines that have achieved 90 points or greater when examined by Masters of Wines. This means they are all Gold medal wines. The wines are judges by the likes of Robert Parker, Stephen Tanzar, and Wine Enthusiast magazine – I mean these guys all have huge reputations in the wine world. What better way to assure yourself regarding the premium nature of the wines you are tasting?

Have you thought about expanding your wine knowledge and palate by trying international red wines this year?. New world wines such as South African Pinotage, New Zealand Pinot noir, and Australian Shiraz have made a resounding impact on the palates of wine connoisseurs with their qualities. Add in old world wines such as Tempranillo and Montepulciano and you have the building blocks for rapidly growing your wine knowledge.The WSJ Wine red wine club is excellent for introducing you to premium international red wines in small quantities. Once again, the selection process is carried out by leading wine masters and you can decide when and how often you wish to receive deliveries.

Should time for wine tasting be minimal for you personally over the next 12 months, one suggestion would be to gain membership to a Gold medal wine club that only has the very best ultra premium wines available in small quantities – very exclusive for a limited membership. This wine club has only the best wines – yes that also equates to being more expensive – but when selected for you by Masters of Wine, there is no guesswork regarding the wine quality. You will receive the very best wines exclusively so you are achieving fantastic value for your money with the wine you buy and consume.

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Here’s A Wonderful Food And Wine Experience

WineNews — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 00:29:26 +0000

Nicely, it’s official and it’s a lot of enjoyable. The Santa Margherita Fantastic Taste Concern is on and we want your finest recipes matched with your greatest wines!

Here is a food and wine experience you will not soon forget!

Below is really a good foods and wine function if actually there was a single! Here is a wonderful way for you personally to show off your passion for that matching of good foods and also higher wines. For a lot of it is a pure passion. Is that you simply?

Entering the contest is less difficult than ever – just go for the contest page, and then stick to the measures to upload your entry. All you require to begin is one of one’s delicious recipes that pairs perfectly with Santa Margherita Prosecco, Pinot Grigio, or Chianti Classico.

By recording a easy video about yourself and how you came up using the pairing is all which is required!
So what’s at stake here within the Excellent Taste Challenge? Just bragging rights? Not a opportunity. There are tremendous prixes awaiting the winners.

The three finalists will win a 2-day journey to Chicago to compete in the Fantastic Flavor Problem Finale at the Chicago Gourmet Festival on September 25th. The Wonderful Tastes Concern Winner will probably be awarded an exciting 3-day trip for two to Los Angeles, and dinner with Top Chef Fan Favorite Fabio Viviani!

The contest has just begun, so be sure to enter for your opportunity to win!
In the event you love wine and meals and if the thought of entering a great foods and wine function is anything that you really feel compelled to accomplish, that is a great occasion in your case!

Here is a wonderful food and win experience…and a way for you to show off your prowess in the kitchen…GO FOR IT!

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The 14 Best Wine Tasting Experiences in Santa Barbara

WineNews — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 14:18:52 +0000

Santa Barbara California, situated more or less 90 miles up the Ventura Freeway from L.A. , is said to be one of the most scenic cities on the coast . Besides gorgeous panaramas of the Pacific Ocean and Santa Ynez Mountains, Santa Barbara offers wine fans access to the outstanding wineries located in the adjacent Santa Ynez Valley, in the southern most part of the Central Coast viticultural region.

Central Coast wines, especially those produced in the Santa Barbara vicinity , have more and more won recognition and accolades for their constantly improving quality . But it is not only the quality of the wine that has been improved , there has also been enormous growth in the number of wineries in the area . Santa Barbara County now boasts over 200 wineries, in four distinct appellations : Santa Ynez Valley, Sta. Rita Hills, Happy Canyon of Santa Barbara, and Santa Maria Valley. The vast number of wine makers presents a tough question for the traveler : Of all the many wineries to select from, which ones are the best to visit?

To narrow things down a bit, Santa Ynez Valley is the best of the four appellations for a wine tasting tour because it has the highest density of wineries and is located the closest to the city of Santa Barbara–definitely the most comfortable place to stay in the region .

For more than a few , the 2004 movie Sideways put the Santa Ynez Valley on the map. There is even an actual “Sideways map,” available online or from the local tourist information office, which guides you to all of the wineries, bars, and restaurants that Miles and Jack made on their crazy road trip of wine tasting and midlife angst. But, even though the Sideways locations made for entertaining theater and cinematography, it doesn’t follow that they are the most favorable places to drink bang-up wines.

So, If you are eager to wet your whistle with the great wines the region has to offer , who should you ask for tips on which wineries produce the most palatable vino ? The best individual, undoubtedly , would be a well-informed inhabitant of the local area . By happenstance , I happen to be familiar with exactly such a person . It just so happens that my father–for quite a few years the president of the Santa Barbara Wine Society–has been visiting Santa Barbara County wineries to have a taste or two of their wares for the past 45 years, during which time the local wine industry grew from practicaly nonexistent to being the major producer it is at present. His recommendations follow :

“The very best winery in Santa Barbara city is Jaffurs Wine Cellars, on Montecito Street near Milpas. It is kind of funky, but they make truly outstanding syrah and you will often be able to talk to the winemakers. The rest are over in Santa Ynez Valley, and for ambiance and good wine I would recommend Gainey Vineyards (both reds and whites), Sunstone Winery (reds), Blackjack Ranch Vineyards (reds), and Rideau Vineyard (reds and whites). These wineries are all located within reasonable proximity of each other. The best places for wine and a picnic are Beckman Vineyards (reds) and Rideau. I would recommend Kalyra (reds and whites) in the valley (it’s near Sunstone) to the younger set because it’s fun, but a bit noisy. For someone who wants to drive farther out, I would recommend Brander Vineyard (whites), Curtis Winery (whites), Fess Parker Winery (reds and whites), and Zaca Mesa (reds).”

For more free and impartial information about Beautiful Santa Barbara California, its wineries, attractions, restaurants, hotels and wine country tours, click on the link.

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One of the Best and Well Known Edible Wedding Favors

WineNews — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 08:28:29 +0000

Regardless of the numerous options for wedding favor ideas that are offered to the soon to be husbands and wives, in the end, the majority of these couples still choose to give away edible wedding favors. The clear reason for this is that they think that their guests would better enjoy a giveaway that they can consume. You have to admit that in the many weddings you’ve joined, you most likely have thrown away all the wedding favors you’ve received after a few months. Now this is the purpose why couples feel that it would be better to just give away food or something to drink.

One of the most famous and in demand wedding giveaways right now are coffee and tea favors. You can decide if you want to give away both coffee and tea in a set or you can have them individually. Presenting them with an option to pick out the one that they want might be more recommended since not all your guests drink coffee and tea. This giveaway is so popular because of the sole purpose that it’s plainly elegant. Selecting the ideal container for this is what will make the difference. Even if the coffee and tea are not that costly, your wedding favor would look several dollars more expensive if you just choose the perfect casing.

Other popular edible wedding favors are red and white wine. This is often classified as among the classiest and trusted gift ideas because almost everyone enjoys receiving a nice bottle of wine every now and then. The only problem with this is that usually, wine is a bit expensive. Unless you have enough budget to buy your guests some nice alcohol, do not bother giving this away. Remember, anything is better than giving your guests cheap alcohol on your wedding day.

Giving away cookies or cake as edible wedding favors is also a good idea. If you know a great baker, then this would just be quick for you. If you do not know one, you can ask around for great bakeries that can personalize your goodies for your wedding. Have them style cookies and cakes with the exact colors as your wedding theme. You can even have the bride and groom’s names scribbled across the tasty cookies.

Yet another great edible wedding favor is a box of chocolates. Some choose to give away dark chocolates instead of the milk or white ones, since dark chocolates are more classy and sophisticated. If you have adequate budget, pick chocolates with alcohol filling in order to delight your guests.