Take these scenarios…

The guests that are invited are aware that you’re a bit of a wine buff and are therefore, understandably a little confused or worried as to what to bring as a wine gift.

If they bring a bottle which is relatively expensive then they would obviously wish to enjoy this with the meal. However, if the host does indeed know there stuff, then they would already have selected a wine to match the food and would probably have decanted it a few hours beforehand. This therefore leaves the guests gift either surplus to requirements or to be drunk, without the decanting it deserved, meaning that it would not be as enjoyable as it probably should have been.

If your guests were to bring along a wine that is cheap or just doesn’t go with the food there will be a sense of embarrassment for them in knowing that ‘their’ wine would probably be put to one side to be used in the next family Spaghetti Bolognese! There will also probably be a small sense of guilt from them knowing that they are drinking some very nice wine offered by you whereas the wine they brought along was not really good enough to drink alongside it.

If your guests know a lot about wine and you don’t, then the roles are entirely reversed with the awkward decisions and situations again arising.

From the hosts point of view the easiest solution to the ‘what to serve’ problem really depends on how well he knows who is coming to dinner. If they are great friends and regular dinner partners then there really isn’t a question to answer as he would already know their tastes in wine and the level of quality that would be expected or acceptable. Similarly the guests would also know what type and quality of wines would be welcomed so everything is far easier with no awkward moments.

I can fully understand that the host does not want to open one of his prize wines if he knows that his guests are either not going to appreciate how good it is (so why waste it) or totally do realise how good it is but have reciprocated with a bottle of poor quality (and have probably done so before!!).

The easy way out if you feel that guests are going to unduly worry about which wines to bring is to say, don’t bother, leave the wine to me and if you wish to bring a dinner gift then some chocolates or a plant or anything else you fancy would be very well received, thank you!!

This familiar situation is known to everyone – you’re having good friends round to dinner and you have to attempt to figure out a starter, a main course and a dessert that you know will suit everyone and that they’ll all appreciate. If they are good friends you’ll already know which foods they like, the ones they don’t or even the ones that they aren’t able to eat for whatever reason. Familiarity is good and the food selections, purchases and preparations normally go smoothly and without any hassles simply because everything is orderly and done in the correct fashion in that nothing is left to chance or to the last minute.

When it comes to the various wines that are to be served with the dinner these should also be given considerable care and attention and should also not be left to the last minute.

My routine with regards to the wine is simply to think about it with a few hours to spare. Try and match the wines with what you know your guests have enjoyed in the past and select those that should go with the food to be offered. The main course is normally the most important for obvious reasons but this should not be at the expense of the wine to be served with the starters or dessert.

Whether the wine for the main course is of a fairly recent vintage or is even getting on a bit in years, I can guarantee that in most cases it is definitely worth decanting the wine at least a couple of hours before the dinner is to be served. If an older wine is to be poured then it may be necessary to use a strainer of some sort to filter out any sediment which has built up over its lifetime in the bottle but with the wines from more recent years, simply just pouring the wine into a decanter or similar receptacle really enhances the aromas and the flavour.

You often hear about ‘letting the wine breathe’ but is this strictly correct? What you are doing is allowing the air to get at the surface of the wine and by agitating or swirling the wine whilst in the decanter this simply allows the wine to oxidise slightly and within the hour or two before dinner to warm up a little which again, I think, enhances the flavour. It has become a little fashionable recently to drink red wines more chilled than of old but too cold and I personally don’t think that they offer the same flavours or enjoyment as when they are a little warmer. I’ve even heard of wines being taken from a cellar at the last moments before guests arrive and to warm them up a little they have either been placed on a radiator or even immersed in a bucket of hot water! It’s all in the planning!

The wines to be served with the dessert or cheese (or both), normally sweet or ‘sticky’ wines, really benefit from  a period in the fridge prior to the meal, not too long so they aren’t too cold but just enough so they complement the normally sweeter or savoury final course.

Get yourself into a pre-dinner wine routine. You, your guests and your wines will greatly appreciate it!!

One of the nicest problems in being involved in the retail of wine related accessories, of which one of the largest areas of interest being glassware is that, because of the vast range we offer, is that I’m totally spoilt for choice when it comes to choosing glassware to use at home.

I’m not going to be pushed into saying whether I prefer a particular glass manufacturer over another but the shape and size of the glass and the wine it is to be used for, to me, are the most important aspects when choosing any glassware.

Most quality glasses that are listed as being suitable for general red and white wines are just that and will definitely do the job, however, if you are into a particular type of wine, like I’m into Argentinian Malbec at the moment, then you’d need to look a little further and try a fairly large Bordeaux shaped glass and this will definitely bring out the aromas and taste even better than a general red wine glass. The increased enjoyment of the wine is definitely worth the additional expense of a nicer shaped glass which is better suited for that style of wine.

My consensus is that good glassware will definitely improve the taste of your wines and you should continue to experiment until you find the glasses that go with your wines (and your pocket). There are many manufactured glasses that suitably ‘do the job’ and once you find what suits you then I hope you reap the benefits by truly enjoying your wine!!

Many people consider this but not many take the plunge just because they have the impression it would be a difficult event to organise. The guests are the most important thing and if it’s a tasting in your home then all friends could be made welcome as you know what they’re like and how serious to make things. Always consider a theme such as Italian Reds or Spanish Whites or even more precisely such as Argentinian 2008 Malbec’s or Australian 2006 Shiraz’s.

The equipment needed is fairly basic in that you’d require a spittoon to spit your unwanted mouthfuls into plus around 2 to 6 wine tasting glasses per person. To make a tasting worthwhile, it’s usually best to concentrate on at least 4 to 6 different wines and in this way, the variety of different flavours should encourage some discussion. Once a theme for the event has been set then the quality of the wines should be decided upon and unless you are being extremely generous, a cost per person, in order to cover the expenditure on the various wines can be set and this is usually very reasonable unless very expensive wines are to be tasted.

The standard 21.5cl ISO wine tasting glass is the normal glass used for such tastings and seems to be the favoured choice of all the wine organisations, wine companies and wine clubs the world over. This simple little glass is usually found in clear glass but can also be obtained in black, to be utilised for ‘blind’ tastings where the taster has therefore no idea at all of what is within the glass and has to rely solely on his or her senses to decide on the identification of the wine.  If you consider that there are around 6 good glasses of wine per bottle then this going to be way too much for general tastings. Each bottle can be used for up to 12 to 18 fairly generous ‘pours’ which is all you’ll need for tasting purposes.

A jug of water should be made available with a water glass for each taster simply for cleansing and refreshing the palate after each wine and the water can also be used for rinsing out the tasting glass should glasses be in short supply. This is also where the spittoon comes in handy for depositing the dregs! Another way of freshening the mouth between wines is to have a plate of crackers or wafers at hand and this steadies your taste buds in readiness for the next wine.

If you’re serious about your wine tastings then some sort of score card or notepad would be useful but in many home tasting sessions just the wine related discussion on each taste and aroma is sufficient and the more wines you taste the livelier these tend to become, especially if the spittoon is not being used!!

What do you need for a Wine Tasting?

Friends

Wines

Corkscrew

ISO style glasses (21.5cl) – ideally between two to six per person

Wine Spittoons / Ice Buckets

Have fun, enjoy and taste responsibly!!

Start your own terracotta army… of wine racks

Terracotta has been used extensively for thousands of years in sculpture and pottery, as well as in the buildings of past civilisations. Of course it is best known for the terracotta warriors, discovered in 1972 in China. What you didn’t know is that the natural properties in terracotta make for a great wine rack. We know this material is built to last, but the actually properties that make up terracotta mean it’s the perfect temperature for storing wine. Even when it comes to cooling wine, an individual hexogen can be soaked in water, and the terracotta’s natural cooling properties will keep it cool.

Our terracotta wine rack is the perfect choice for a kitchen wine rack, made up of individual hexagons that can be put together in a range of different ways to fit in your kitchen. And as your wine collection grows you can easily add more hexagons and relocate the rack to a cellar or wine room.

Modern wine racks make great gifts

With Christmas just around the corner you might be looking for a great alternative to the usual presents. A modern wine rack is a welcomed addition to the home, particularly because smaller models can do the job of holding your wine, as well as adding to the décor.

So if you often have bottles of wine lying around, or notice your friends or family do, you might wish to look at our range of modern wine racks. Stylish and very affordable, these display racks come in a variety of designs from cork-screw shaped, to mirrored design, to standard metal wine racks that just do the job.

Which wall mounted wine rack?

When deciding on a wine rack you need to consider which type will best suit your home. When it comes to a wall mounted wine rack here is some of the situations where they are the best option:

• In a kitchen, small flat or bungalow
• If you have a small collection of wine
• If you have a smaller budget for a wine rack

I considered adding “If you have your own home bar” to the list, which is also true. However, you may have room for other types of wine rack too, such as the terracotta’s. The wall mounted wine rack is the ultimate space-saver and adds elegance to your room. The main decision you have to make is whether to focus on something that may hold more bottles but might not look as good or sacrifice a little bit of practicality for some ‘Va Va Voom!’

Metal Wine Rack vs. Wooden Wine Rack

Deciding whether you want or metal wine rack or a wooden one comes down to a few factors – taste being one of the main ones, but others to consider include budget, space available, style of the room in which the wine rack will be placed and of course, wine collection size.

Typically, you can buy a metal wine rack that holds up to 72 bottles here at Wineware. However, if you want a larger collection, wooden wine racks can hold up to 144 in our Modularack range, and our made to measure solid oak wineracks can hold even more.

To hold over 48 bottles, wooden wine racks tend to cost less than the metal ones. However, on smaller racks the prices are comparable, depending on model. When it comes to style you need to consider the room, décor and other furniture. A metal wine rack may sit better in a modern kitchen and an oak or stained wood wine rack may look better in a room more traditionally decorated.

We hope you found this short guide useful, feel free to browse the various wine racks we have on offer on our site, including the racks focussed on in this post.

Here are some of the VacuVin Products on offer:

VacuVin Wine Essentials

VacuVin Vacuum Wine Saver Gift Set - Stainless Steel

VacuVin Red Wine White Wine and Champagne Flute Twin Pack

VacuVin Rapid Ice Champagne Cooler

Although the idea of quickly loading your glass ware into your stylish integrated dishwasher might be appealing in an “out of sight, out of mind” kind of way, it is important to note that dishwashers are the main culprit when it comes to etching. Bad dishwasher detergent choices, high temperatures, inadequate rinsing and friction dissolve glass and are the typical culprits of the damage.

The best option is to avoid kitchen appliances altogether for cleaning glasses – particularly in regards to your finest glass ware – and instead, people should use their kitchen sinks to wash them gently by hand. If you are going to use your dishwasher to clean non-antique or crystal glass ware however, there are a few steps you can take to ensure maximum longevity of glass quality.

Firstly, you should only ever place dirty glasses in a dishwasher. The detergent will simply act to deteriorate the glass if there is no dirt for it to combat, accelerating the etching process. Neither should you over stock your dishwasher as this will allow for better rinsing and will also help to prevent damage caused by friction between your glass pieces.

Since hot water also speeds up the etching process, the temperature of your dishwasher should be set to no more than 140 degrees Fahrenheit (60 degrees centigrade). You should also check the hardness of your water since dishwasher detergents act to soften water. Further softening already soft water can cause soft water erosion, which is also detrimental to glass surfaces.  Typically, 1 tsp per each level of water hardness is required. You can buy detergent specifically for glasses to help prevent etching and citrus detergents should also be avoided because of their acidic properties.

Finally, you should dry glass ware with microfiber cloths since this will help to ensure the removal any remaining detergent residue from the glass.

Therefore, the choice is now yours to begin using PayPal on the Wineware site to purchase all your wine glasses, corkscrews and anything else wine related if you wish. We firmly believe this to be a great addition to our available payment options and if early sales since PayPal went ‘live’are to be considered then some customers also think this way already!

Click here for more information on how PayPal works.

South Africa being the hosts of the tournament means that they have automatic qualification for the tournament and they will hope that they’re not the first host nation to be knocked out in the group stages. South Africa are a fairly good team amongst the African Nations and indeed won the African cup of Nations in 1996. Although despite this they have never progressed beyond the group stages of the World Cup tournament. A South African wine that we would recommend is Millberg Cellars Sauvignon Blanc.

Whilst Australia is a small country in terms of population it has always been known for its sporting achievements. When it comes to football Australia will be seen as one of the underdogs but in the world of wine they are anything but underdogs. For those looking for a quality Australian wine there is the Larry Cherubino The Yard Shiraz.

No doubt the Spanish and Germans will have a strong showing at the World Cup and they produce equally impressive wines. But when it comes to the European country that does wind the best it has to be France. France will also be hoping that they can win the World Cup this summer in South Africa. The World Cup was held in France in 1998 and they went on to beat Brazil in the final thanks to their talisman Zinedine Zidane. There are so many famous French wines to choose from but one of particular note is Les Dames De Ricardelle Viognier Vin De Pays D’oc.

New Zealand has only previously qualified for the World Cup once where they managed to lose all three matches they played in. New Zealand are winners of the Oceania Football Cup an impressive four times and are likely to improve on that statistic now that Australia has been moved to the Asian division. Whilst they may have an impressive team in the Oceania area not many people will fancy them to do well at this year’s World Cup. It’s a surprise how few people have tried wines from New Zealand but The Frost Pocket Sauvignon Blanc is particularly good.

Chile are one team hoping to recapture some of their past glories in the World Cup. This is Chile’s eighth appearance and their best ever result was when they came third in 1962. Whilst not amongst the favourites Chileare ranked a fairly substantial 17th in the world by FIFA. For a Chilean wine try Ignacio Recabarren Ventolera Sauvignon Blanc.

Finally we come to England’s first opponent of the tournament the USA. The USA national team shone in the 2009 confederations cup, which was also held in South Africa, where they only lost out to Brazil in the final and beat Spain along the way. The USA will be no easy game for England and the team is currently ranked at 14th in the world by FIFA. If you feel like sampling an American wine this summer try the J.Lohr Seven Oaks Cabernet Sauvignon.

It would seem that the last place anyone would think of trying a wine from is here in the UK. Well believe it or not we have quite a few vineyards that produce some fantastic tasting wine.  Why are people not trying these wines?

As previously stated an English wine is just not heard of which is why many people will just not go near it. This does not mean that the wine is not of a good quality and it is remarkable on just how tasteful an English wine from a very small vineyard can actually be.

So where could you go to taste Britain’s attempt on producing wine?

Devon

The countryside of course and it would seem that when it comes to producing fine English wines, Devon is the place to go.

So what is the best approach to take when it comes to wine tasting in Devon? Well firstly I would say it is best to go there for 4-5 days as the vineyards are spread out across the area. This will not only give you time to enjoy each vineyard but allow you to have a relaxing time knowing that you do not need to rush.

It would also seem that somewhere like Torquay is a great place to stay during the period of time you are in Devon. Not only is it a very relaxing, it is also nearest to the centre of all of the vineyards that you should think about visiting.

The Trip

So let’s say for example you are planning on staying in Devon for around 4 days and you are interested in visiting various vineyard’s in the area. Where should you be going on what day and why?

Day 1

Travelling to Devon for many people is a fairly long journey and you are going to be pretty tired when you arrive at your destination. However there is a vineyard very close to Torquay and is known as the Old Walls Vineyard. One of the really nice things about starting here is that it isn’t a long drive from the area and they can offer you a tour of the place for a very small amount of money. They also offer out wine tasting events.

For such a small vineyard they make quite a lot of wine and they vary from Rosé to Father John Country Wine which is  fruity in flavour with a warming Elderberry taste. You will have to take into consideration that if the weather is not great you may have to settle with wine tasting over the tour itself.

Finish the evening off by buying one of their bottles, heading back to the hotel and enjoying a glass of wine over dinner.

Day 2

After the journey the day before and the trip to the vineyard you will certainly need a bit of a lie in and this is why day 2 will only involve another small journey to the second vineyard on the list.

This time it is to Yearlstone Vineyard, they have featured on the BBC for their award winning wines and the Countryfile team loved it there. The vineyard is actually the oldest in Devon and you cannot just tour and taste the wines here but sit down to a fantastic lunch overlooking the Exe Valley.

Yearlstone specialize in dry white wines but make a variety of others too.

Day 3

You should have recovered from the initial trip over by now which is why Day 3 involves two stops to two more of the best vineyards in Devon. First on the list is Eastcott vineyard which is located just off the A386. One of the great things about this vineyard is that if you really like it there you can stay in one of the cottages on site. This is something you could think about for a return visit.

The next portion of the day should be spent at the Down St Mary Vineyard. You can have a brilliant tour of the facility as well as try the wines that they have on offer too.  The one thing this place seems to have over some of the others is great disabled access so take this into consideration.

Final Day

The last vineyard is known as the Oatley Vineyard and is last on the list because it is really on the way out of  Devon.

This is certainly not a vineyard you want to miss out on if you like white wines because this is what they do best. Their first vintage came in 1989 and they have been going strong since.

Important Note

Many of these vineyards do not operate often in the Winter so it would be wise to book your trip in the Summer if possible. On top of this weather conditions often get in the way in the Winter and tours have to be cancelled.

Future Of English Wine?

Sales of English wine are on the increase and with many retailers such as Waitrose starting to sell them they can only grow more popular in the coming years. It looks like 2010 is going to be another great year for English wine!

For places to stay in Torquay look out for:

TLH- self catering torquay

Devon-Online -  B&B torquay

Torquay – Information, hotels torquay