The Dimensions of a Wine Bottle

If you are considering transforming your basement into a home wine cellar, you are not alone. The installation of home wine cellars is a booming business, especially in the luxury home market. When mapping out your wine cellar, you might want to know the size of a standard wine bottle. Ninety percent of your home wine collection will probably consist of standard-sized bottles.

The first dimension to consider is the height of a standard wine bottle. Some racking companies make their racks only ten inches deep, which does not protect the full 11½-inch height of a standard bottle. Be sure to accommodate the full height of a standard wine bottle, because you don’t want your precious wine bottles sticking their necks out.

The Other Dimensions of a Wine Bottle Continue reading “The Dimensions of a Wine Bottle”

Low Alcohol Wine – A Trendy Alternative?

Low alcohol wines used to be frowned at by most wine drinkers, especially wine snobs, but now, is a low alcohol wine a trendy alternative? The answer has to be yes, for several reasons. The sudden increase in interest in wines with a lower alcohol by volume (abv.) has perhaps been brought on by global warming as well as a few other factors.

I hear you say, how come? Well in the last 15 years some wines have increased by between 2% to 3% abv. which means that a red wine that may have been 13% abv. is now coming out at around 15% abv. This is a massive increase due to warmer weather enabling higher natural sugar levels. If these sugars are totally converted into alcohol to produce a bone dry wine then a blockbuster awaits – one or two glasses and you’re on the floor!

To counteract very high sugar production, vineyards are producing grapes in high altitude, cool climate vinegrowing areas such as New Zealand, Chile and Argentina. Producers in Germany are also providing popular low alcohol versions of Rieslings to enable light summer white wine drinking styles to be made. Continue reading “Low Alcohol Wine – A Trendy Alternative?”

Toasting Is Not Just For Wine and Champagne-Craft Beer Is In Style For Toasting!

“Let no man thirst for lack of Real Ale.” – Toast on a matchbook from Commonwealth Brewing, Massachusetts 1986.

Even familiar gatherings with familiar people, friends and family, a few words can be profound when offered to commemorate a person or event or a simple gathering of at least 2 people.

Having been through the Pandemic for over a year now, and the loss of contact between friends, acquaintances, family and ceremonial events, Craft Beer can heal a lot of past misery. I say let’s bring back the art of “Toasting” with a pint of craft beer and “toasting” has a long tradition that can help in the recovery. Let’s follow the tradition of Benjamin Franklin known as the best person ever to offer “commemorative” words to honor and respect” worthy to remember and honor.

Having spent time in the U.S. Navy I have attended many retirement ceremonies and gatherings where toasts were mandatory. Frankly, an appropriate toast is expected at occasions that are celebratory and of a convivial nature, and not all were serious toasts. Wine/sparkling wine are generally recognized as the beverage used for toasting (water is acceptable also). But the grandest toast beverage is the craft beer. Toasting builds honest friendships, respect, inspires and cements appreciation. Continue reading “Toasting Is Not Just For Wine and Champagne-Craft Beer Is In Style For Toasting!”

Howard Stern’s Wine

As you may or may not know, I used to work for Howard Stern. It was over ten years ago, but I’m still in contact with him once in a great while. I listen to the show every day, and I think it’s better than it’s ever been. I’m bringing this up because Howard and Robin had a conversation about wine that serves as a great marketing lesson for magicians. This story is a bit long, but bear with me, it’s worth your time.

Here’s what happened: Howard, Robin, and some other people from the show went out to dinner. Robin is learning about wine and Howard let her do the ordering. When Howard got the bill, he was shocked to see the price of the wine. How much was it? $800.00…a bottle…Robin ordered three bottles.

Of course, the next several minutes of the show were devoted to Robin’s rudeness and goofing on her pricey ordering. Howard went on to tell the story of two wine experts that purchased a $3,000.00 bottle of wine. They didn’t want to spend so much, but it was their job as big shot wine experts to report back, so they bought it. They saved this very expensive wine for a year before opening it and writing their reviews. Continue reading “Howard Stern’s Wine”

Calories in Wine – White Vs Red

When it comes to losing weight, or attempting to just keep yourself at the weight you are currently at, you will invariably receive a wide range of advice on how to do this. Keep away from sweets; don’t eat any carbs; make sure you exercise at least four times a week. The more research you do, the more you will see conflicting reports upon what you need to do.

Invariably, you will see an assortment of articles which will tell you that you should avoid wine if you are attempting to lose weight. These reports will point to the high amount of calories in wine, especially calories which these reports will say come from sugar. So the question is just how many calories in a glass of wine are there, and are these calories derived from sugar?

On average, whether you have a standard red or white glass of wine, there are 25 calories per one ounce of wine. When you think about an average glass of wine containing five ounces, this means you will consume 125 calories within any glass. Although this is not a nominal amount, it is not an exorbitant amount of calories either. Continue reading “Calories in Wine – White Vs Red”

How the Romans Made Wine

The Romans understood terroir and were very careful about where they planted vines. Before the Romans, the Etruscans lived in what is now called Italy and they made wine from wild grapes. It seems that there was an abundance of them in the Mediterranean area.

Roman wine production was heavily influenced by both the Etruscans and the ancient Greeks.

After harvesting the grapes, people would trample on them This might not have been hygienic, but it was the best way the Romans knew to press wine. After the trampling, the wine was transported to be pressed in a torculum or wine press. The grape juice was strained to get rid of the grape skins and seeds.

The next stage in the production process was to transfer the liquid to the huge jars or amphorae where it could ferment. Sometimes these vessels were buried in sand, soil, or water. Sometimes these juices were boiled prior to storing them in these vessels.

If the end result was to produce a high quality vintage wine, the wine would remain in the vessels for between 10 and 25 years. Continue reading “How the Romans Made Wine”

Mistakes to Avoid When Making Homemade Wine

Home Winemaking requires a significant input of effort, resources, and patience. So when the time comes for you enjoy your precious vintage you want to be sure that your investment pays off. You will have a much greater chance of success as a home vintner if you learn the mistakes to avoid when making homemade wine.

First Mistake

Often occurs right at the start by new winemakers failing to select and follow a reliable recipe. If you want the best possible results then you should follow the instructions of the experts. This is not the time for improvisation.

Second Mistake

Inadequate or wrong equipment is often the cause of problem homemade wine. If you are new to making homemade wine it is essential that you invest in the proper equipment. Avoid using household items and doubly avoid household items that have been used to prepare or store other foods. It is best for anyone who is serious about homemade wine to purchase specialist equipment from winemaking retailers. Continue reading “Mistakes to Avoid When Making Homemade Wine”

The Health Benefits of Drinking Red Wine

We are often being told that red wine is good for our health, but do we really know why?

In countries where red wine is consumed in larger quantities, such as Italy and France, there is less of a problem of heart disease and fatal strokes. Whereas, in countries like North America and the United Kingdom, where red wine is consumed in smaller quantities the problem is considerably higher. The reason for this is down to chemicals in the red wine which include polyphenols. Polyphenols are antioxidants, and are found in a number of different sources, including grapes/wine, as well as beer, tea, coffee, olive oil, chocolate/cocoa, peanuts, and several other fruits and vegetables.

The skin of the red grape, (and so a constituent of red wine), contains Resveratrol which is a phytoalexin or naturally occurring antibiotic. This is produced when the plant is being attacked by bacteria or fungi, and is a vital antioxidant to the cardiovascular system. These antioxidants work by helping to reduce the damage from oxygen, caused by substances called free radicals, which can lead to cell dysfunction and the onset of heart disease and diabetes. Resveratrol is known to help increase the levels of HDL or good cholesterol, while trials are on-going as to its anti-cancer properties. Continue reading “The Health Benefits of Drinking Red Wine”

Understanding Cake Baking Language

Cake baking language like beat, cream, whip and etc sounds almost the same. Actually they are slightly different. Here are some tips to help you understand this language better, hoping that it will help you bake a perfect cake all the time.

1) To Beat – Mixing rapidly with a hand held whisk or a electric whisk.

2) To Cream – Refer to butter or fat, alone or sometimes mixed with sugar until light and fluffy, and the color turn pale yellow.

3) To Fold – Combining one mixture with another, frequently refer to a light mixture such as egg whites into a heavier mixture such as butter.

4) To Stir – Mixing with a spoon in a circular motion until it is combine. Always stir the mixture in ONE direction only, either clock-wise or anti-close-wise. This little tip will help to prevent cake shrink. Continue reading “Understanding Cake Baking Language”

Can Wine Research Ever Be Believed-Pros and Cons of Alcohol

A title of an article appearing in the March 28, 2019 issue of The Spectator by Christopher Snowden, “The Campaign to Make Alcohol ‘The New Tobacco'”, seems to be more than a shot across the bow of all thing’s alcohol. Over the last decade there has been an increase in dueling research findings purporting the benefits or dangers of alcohol consumption. Now the anti-alcohol contingent seems to be increasing their proclamations through studies, which may be more defective than claims in the pro-alcohol research. Bottom-line, any research can be manipulated; the devil is in the details. There certainly seems to be flaws in all research; what are we to believed?

The wine industry should take the attack on alcohol seriously; it is gaining acceptance and credibility, no matter how contrived the research and resultant messages. Remember when research once indicted coffee was a real health issue? Today research says coffee is an anti-oxidant and is healthful; drink all you want. Just reflect for a moment about all the things once believed to be beneficial and now are considered harmful and vice versa. At one time butter was bad and margarine was better, now we are told chemicals in margarine are far worse than natural fats in butter.

Having followed wine studies, since the French Paradox (1980’s,) and the protestations on the various effects of wine on health, it now appears there are orchestrated campaigns to call out all alcohol consumption as being detrimental. “Two widely reported studies in The Lancet claimed that there is no safe level of drinking. The evidence in these studies, such as it was, didn’t actually support that claim,” says Snowden. What are we to believe? Still, it appears the media, academia and the medical establishment have globed onto most any anti-alcohol study and become an ambassador of the new “anti” cause. The anti-alcohol movement is now between doctor and patient. Every time I go to the doctor I am ask if I drink wine, beer or spirits and how often. Why and when did this start? And, yes, people have died from drinking too much water!

Relative to the article noted above, author Dr. Alex Berezow writing for “American Council on Science and Health” in 2018, seems to highlight many flaws in the same study. Before an oenophile succumbs to total confusion, simply stated, don’t rely on everything you read on negative facts about wine and health. The wine industry will also need to anticipate changes in trends concerning how wine is perceived by various demographics.

The elephant in the room today, that no one in media wants to talk about, are the effects of cannabis–smoking or ingesting. Many of those shouting about negative effects of wine seem to be oblivious to cannabis. So why aren’t media and researchers in a full-blown frontal assault on the health effects of cannabis? The general impression many accept is that cannabis is harmless physiologically, to the point that research to the contrary is discounted by people in media and government. Even some wine and beer now come infused with chemical compounds originating from cannabis.

Sam Blanchard, writing for Mail Online on April 4, 2019, comments about a study on alcohol written by Professor Kent Hutchison, at the University of Colorado Boulder who said, “While marijuana may also have some negative consequences, it definitely is nowhere near the negative consequences of alcohol.” “Problem is, the study also raises many more questions than portrayed by selective facts. One question would be: Why was alcohol studied in individuals that experienced very heavy drinking while participant marijuana users were mostly casual users?” ask Blanchard.

In the final analysis: is cannabis that is entering the wine industry setting a trap for wine? The answer probably lies in how the industry responds.

Snowden makes a further point worth considering. When comparing research concerning alcohol related cancers with those type cancers indigenous to smokers, there does not seem to be statistical or epidemiological relevance. “Epidemiological studies have shown a strong and consistent association between moderate alcohol consumption and lower mortality, mostly thanks to lower rates of cardiovascular disease. So, on the one hand, we have decades of epidemiological evidence backed up by biological experiments which show that moderate alcohol consumption reduces the risk of death from heart disease by 15-30 per cent, and, on the other hand, we have a slimmer body of epidemiological evidence which suggests that moderate alcohol consumption might have a small effect on breast cancer risk,” Snowden elaborated.

Whatever the reason, portraying any alcohol product as evil has been part of the American landscape since the late 1800’s. Prohibition came about in 1919 and lasted until 1933. It does seem every industry has an “anti” influence driving the impetus of the cause. We find these type forces in politics, religion, even medicine. Now wine is under a renewed attack; positive research is discounted and “anti” is the cause-celeb. (Anti is defined as: people opposed to a party, policy, attitude, etc.)

Here is a dated but still welcomed bit of news. “Red wine and the anti-oxidant in red wine called resveratrol may be heart healthy,” says Mayo Clinic Staff. “Various studies have shown that moderate amounts of all types of alcohol benefit your heart, not just alcohol found in red wine.”

Whatever is driving the current research and conversation about wine and alcohol, it is a fact that the conversation has moved from one promoting moderation in alcohol consumption, to one proclaiming alcohol at any level is destructive to the body. But, why would anyone now discount and even disregard positive research on benefits of wine? There are articles on the web that tout wine benefits, such as “80 Amazing Benefits of Wine”, by Tehrene Firman from an October 2017. Some of the more prominent benefits of wine relate to heart health and cognitive function. Nonetheless, contradictions in studies are obvious and prevalent and widely believed; absent sound research methods.

Conversely, I found an article highlighting 23 negative effects of wine/alcohol when consumed in excess. The key word is “excess”. The key to internalizing all negative studies about wine and alcohol is that most studies denote the issue of excessive consumption. As noted, it is also a fact that people have died of excessive water consumption.

It was interesting to see how far people will reach to brutalize wine. One negative article, pointing out the negative effects of wine, because of the types of chemicals used in vineyards. But, isn’t that true of most all food produced in soil? Strange sense of logic. Current wisdom about alcohol, especially on health, is subject to change; and probably will change.

The alcoholic beverage industry has several genres: beer, spirits, wine, and kombucha; even within these there are variations such as cider and hybrid blends. Kombucha is an interesting beverage because it is positioned as a “healthy” beverage which is fermented product of tea’s and does contain various levels of alcohol; some as high at 7%. So, is there a contradiction in kombucha being positioned as-healthful? It is consumed by people proclaiming the health benefits of this beverage; but it still contains alcohol.

Maybe any course of action or response by the wine industry could be an overreaction. Consider, maybe inaction brought on Prohibition?

Should a refreshed approach by the wine industry deemed to be appropriate, the response should be timely, educated, fact based, on-going and mindful of a changing market; “anti” causes always live-on and require responses. Also, recognize that millennial consumers of alcohol are concerned about alcohol levels and health concerns. These 2 features are relatively new to the mix.

Still, what drives people to wine as a beverage are:

Conviviality
Entertainment-Enjoyment and compliment to food.
Celebration-Wine is the oldest alcoholic drink and over the years has always been part of celebrations and commemoration.
Culture-Many cultures have elevated wine to be the premium beverage with food, family, and entertaining.

Digressing for a moment. The issue of cannabis is not brought up to confuse the issue that alcohol is purported (by some) to be total detrimental for the body under any circumstance. It is only being pointing out that most any research is occasionally weaponized to make a point based upon an “anti” cause. Research still highlights that most people believe “pot” has many negative cultural effects.

Primarily, issues with alcohol consumption seems to be most notable in the wine sector. Craft spirit consumption over the last few years has increased as has craft beers. Wine has been experiencing a slight down-turn. “Wine Intelligence”, reports a 5% drop off in millennials consuming wine and overall there has been a 35% decrease in adults drinking wine at least once per month.

In German speaking Switzerland, 2013 surveys found 39% drank wine and in 2017 the wine drinking population dropped to 27%.

“Drinks Business” reported in March 2019 that UK wine consumption declined by 2%-2016 versus 2017. They attribute the decline to: US Whiskey; demand for lower and non-alcohol drinks preferences; and moderating consumption.

No one is recommending a campaign by alcohol producers to promote consumption. That said, wine is a unique beverage with a specific profile of the consumer, as opposed to beer and spirits. The wine industry might consider a tailored message to millennials; a demographic exhibiting a decrease in wine consumption. (Research is indicating that millennials are more conscience/receptive to health messaging, costs, and consuming non-alcohol alternative beverages.) When wine starts getting into the 16% ABV maybe there is an issue.

When a business stops growing it starts dying; a quote that has been around. Nonetheless it has some degree of truth for this discussion. To ensure growth maybe the wine industry can allocate time and resources promoting and reinforcing the message that wine has the longest history of all alcohol drinks. The positive research on benefits of wine is impressive, well documented, and has a heritage across many cultures. Wine in nowhere near the heritage or contribution to society as does tobacco. I doubt the voracity in any effort to make wine the new tobacco.

Cheers!

Source by Steven Lay