Wine Accessories and Glasses

I’ve recently had to come up with holiday gift ideas for my wine-loving friends. I definitely wanted something totally different this year, and I finally found the perfect unique wine gifts. All of my friends that are into wines, vintages, varietals,  decanting, etc., are also into fun and good humor.

These “Appeteasers” t-shirts are adorable and I was able to easily find one appropriate for each person, sure to bring each one lots of laughs and comments when they wear them around town.  Many of my  wine-lover friends  are also “foodies” and into the fancy cuisine,  and there are shirts to please them all.

A decanter is more than an attractive vessel utilized to serve your wine. Pouring your wine into a decanter helps to remove sediment and can soften harsh tasting tannins found in some red wines. It seems to be the general consensus that white wines generally do not have to be decanted.

Removing the cork and allowing the bottle to sit before serving does not allow enough room for the air to enter the bottle.  However,  decanting the wine in a glass wine decanter will allow enough air to let the wine breathe. Decanting benefits wine of all ages. It separates the clear wine from the sediment and aerates the wine creating a slight oxidation.

It is a good idea, prior to decanting, to leave the bottle upright for a day for young wines - wines 15 years or older, should be left upright for a week. For wines older than 40 years, the deposits and extremely fine and it takes much longer to settle. Lay the bottle down for one month before standing it up for the week. Please handle these aged bottles gently.

A funnel with a cheesecloth filter works well to pour into a decanter, but beware, it is wise not to use coffee filters as it would add the taste of paper to your wine. Decant, decant, decant!!!!!!!!

Yes, it’s time to put on the thinking cap and decide what to buy for favorite Uncle Ben, cousin Barbara, or best friends Bob and Sue. Now is a good time to come up with something unusual, as well as useful. Have you thought about how Uncle Ben adores wine, and how busy he seems to be that he never takes time to “smell the roses”.

There are many wine picnic gifts available that would entice him to take an afternoon off, invite the love of his life, and get away from the hustle and bustle of daily life. It can be oh so satisfying to give a gift to someone you care about - one that they would never buy for themselves.

                                                  It has been discovered recently that lead in glass decanters and wine glasses have caused an unacceptable exposure to dangerous toxins. Long term storage has been known to leach lead into the stored contents, therefore, causing health hazards.

It has been considered that the historic association of gout within the upper classes of America and Europe, was, in part, caused by constant use of lead crystal decanters to store whiskey and fortified wines.

Ravenscroft crystal, which is hand blown in Europe, produces a line of stemware that is individually crafted and is absolutely lead free - it also boosts the bouquet of all wines. Ravenscrofts’ Amplified tasting collection is very similar to Reidel’s crystal Vinum Extreme collection, yet Ravenscroft  glasses and decanters are lead free.

There’s nothing better than planning an afternoon picnic in the park with your loved one. These days it’s easy to plan a picnic. Picnic baskets, gourmet food and supplies can all be easily found in the grocery store. Your sweetheart will surely enjoy the picnic you’ve prepared for her, just don’t forget these important supplies:

~A picnic basket
~Food chests to keep food hot or cold
~A tablecloth or a quilt
~Napkins
~Plates and silverware
~Coffee cups, water glasses and wine glasses
~Corkscrew
~Trash bag
~Cutting board and knife
~Condiments
~Beverages

Serving wine always adds an elegant touch to any dinner party or gathering. But what happens when the label on the wine bottle gets wet and becomes a mushy mess? Most people would be embarrassed to serve wine from a bottle like that, and many guests might not want to drink from an old, dirty-looking wine bottle.

Too often wine goes to waste because of a damaged label. But there is a solution; a wine decanter is a great way to save good wine from the sink drain. Whenever you come across a good bottle of wine with a torn or wet label simply pour it into a wine decanter and you’re set!

Buying a unique gift for a special someone in your life can more often than not,  be a perplexing decision. There are innumerable aspects to take into consideration. Your relationship to the person,  as well as your budget, can be a major determining factor. Their hobbies and interests, tastes and preferences,  all play a significant role in what would be considered a memorable token of your love and respect.

The perfect gift is not necessarily the most expensive, but rather, the most thoughtful one.

Gift shopping should not be a quick and convenient decision, but requires some time and effort towards  purchasing  something that will bring a smile and add some excitement. For example,  a wine connossieur and gourmet cook would delight at something along those lines. Many internet  stores offer a myriad of handsome wine gifts online all sure to delight the cooking, dining and entertaining experience.

Port wine sippers are unique wine glasses designed specifically so that your hand warms the spirits as you sip slowly through the stem. This method enhances the flavor of liquors and port wines. Port wine is typically heavier, sweeter, and has a higher alcohol content than most wines. Port is usually a sweet red wine, but also comes in dry, semi-dry, and a white variety.

Port is produced from grapes grown and processed in the Duoro region of Portugal. It is then fortified with brandy to stop the fermentation, leaving residual sugar in the wine to boost the alcohol content. The wine is then aged in cellars or caves before being bottled.

Port received its name in the latter half of the 17th Century from Porto, a seaport city at the mouth of the Douro River, where it was brought to market or exported to other European countries.  The Douro valley where port is produced,  is now a protected region,  and is the third oldest wine region in the world,  after Tokaji and Chianti.

Serving wine with a meal enhances the menu,  inspires conversation,  and along with using attractive crystal stemware,  adds sophistication to the dinnertime experience.

Red wines should be opened about one hour prior to serving to allow the wine to “breathe” and mix with the air to develop full flavor and aroma. White wines and champagnes should be opened just before serving. Remember to twist the bottle, not the cork.

Wine often drips when poured, but this can be prevented with care. You can place a fabric-lined ring near the top of the bottle  to catch that pesky drip. You can also purchase a non-drip wine server, or you can also try the “pour and roll” technique which takes a bit of practice. When pouring is complete, pull bottle up and away from the glass and curl bottle slightly to the right or left. This technique appears professional, but keep a napkin ready, just in case.

The temperature at which a wine is served has an immense impact on its taste. Most red wines should be slightly chilled at about 65 degrees F. Twenty minutes in the refrigerator before serving will improve the bouquet and taste as it warms. If this seems surprising to you, it’s due to the old adage - serve reds at “room temperature”. This originated in Europe many, many years ago, when room temperature was much cooler than today.

Champagne and sparkling wines should be completely chilled. Refrigerate 1 1/2 hours before serving or put in ice bucket with ice and water for 20 minutes. For your best vintage and high quality bubbly, allow bottle to warm a bit after refrigeration to bring out the character for which you are paying extra.

Refrigerator temperatures in the high 30s or low 40s,  are too cold for most white wines. Allow the wine  to warm for 20 minutes before serving, and this is an excellent opportunity to pour the wine into a wine decanter,  which will also aerate the wine properly. A temperature of 55 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit will enhance the flavor upon serving.

The perfect temperature for any wine depends on how much alcohol, fruit and tannin it contains. It is safe to say, that wine should never be stored or served above 70 degrees Fahrenheit.