01/19/09 - Italian Wines
Make Wine, Not War
Homemade wine may seem like a crazy concept, as if it came about after a bad acid trip by Betty Crocker. But, it?s really not that crazy at all. In fact, winemaking in the home is an old tradition. It was born out of necessity; prior to the 20th century the wine sold commercially was extremely expensive and those who didn't want to drink away their paycheck found another option. They began to make their own wine. This was a much cheaper way to produce a bottle, but the flavor of the wine often suffered and the alcohol content fluctuated: one batch of wine would have very little alcohol, while the next would be wine's version of Ever Clear.
Innovations in winemaking have led to a drastic improvement in homemade quality. What once appeared to be an art reserved only for accomplished viticulturists or people who could stomp on grapes with the grace of a Michael Flately is now an art that everyone can take a sip of. So roll up your leaves, grab some supplies and make wine, not war.
From a technical standpoint, you could make wine with a vat of grapes and some (hopefully clean) feet; wearing an outfit straight out of the Renaissance may also help. But, for those who aren?t likely to spend their day getting purple, you have one of two choices: purchase several supplies or a winemaking kit. If you choose the former, you will need to procure a slug of ingredients, and a lot of equipment. You will also have to follow such specified and stringent instructions that the process of winemaking may seem like a dictatorship: the grapes will have absolute power and Mussolini will demand the first sample. However, if you choose to purchase a winemaking kit, you will find the art of producing homemade wine is much easier and much more enjoyable.
Winemaking kits can be purchased in all kinds of places. Some home furnishing stores sell them but online is one of the best places to look. The online inventory is extremely diverse ? you can find winemaking kits for making red wine, winemaking kits for making white wine, winemaking kits for making fruit wine, and winemaking kits for making sherry, just to name a few. Depending on the kit, the price can vary. Some kits are under a hundred dollars while others can be quite expensive; it purely depends on what you?re looking for.
No matter the type or price of the kit, most winemaking kits come with similar equipment. The supplies include a fermenter with lid, a carboy, a large spoon, a recipe book, sanitizing products, a hydrometer, a corker, corks, an airlock, a siphon hose, a siphon, a bottle filler, a bottle brush, equipment instructions and winemaking instructions.
Some people may enjoy the challenge of making wine without a kit, but for those of you who are novice winemakers, a winemaking kit is the best bet. Spending the day making wine for yourself or your friends is a great way to get acquainted with the art of winemaking. Each time you do it, it will get easier. Even if the first batch results in less than stellar wine, wine that seems to put the ?low" in Merlot, rest assured, it just takes a little practice. Before you know it, you will be able to truly enjoy the fruits of your labor.
Jennifer Jordan is the senior editor at http://www.savoreachglass.com With a vast knowledge of wine etiquette, she writes articles on everything from how to hold a glass of wine to how to hold your hair back after too many glasses. Ultimately, she writes her articles with the intention that readers will remember wine is fun and each glass of anything fun should always be savored. |
Short Review on Italian Wines
Make Wine, Not War
Homemade wine may seem like a crazy concept, as if it came about after a bad acid trip by Betty Crocker. But, it?s really not that crazy at all. In fa...
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Featured Italian Wines Items
Stemware Cleaning Brush Set
Fine crystal and glassware often lose clarity and beauty without proper cleaning. These brushes use soft compact foam to gently clean and never chip break or scratch delicate surfaces. Useful for also cleaning vases. This set includes a decanter brush wine stem brush and champagne flute brush.
Price: 19.95 USD
Italian Wines in the news
1949: I was there and even remember it!
Mon, 19 Jan 2009 14:05:33 -0800
Such was my response as I watched Episode 2 on The House Of Windsor: A Royal Dynasty on ABC the other night. The episode dealt with George VI, with the embarrassing Edward VIII and his American wife walking on here and there from time to time. The link takes you to the gloriously eccentric Professor David Flint’s account of the series for Australians for a Constitutional Monarchy. I have even so found the series interesting and I certainly have nothing against George VI. But oh my, how patronisi
An introduction to olive oil tasting in the Wine Pleasures After Conference Wine Tourism Conference programme
Mon, 19 Jan 2009 13:53:08 -0800
We are pleased to announce that Carlos Serra of “Rutas del Aceite de Oliva” based in Jaen will be travelling to Sitges to lead a practical workshop session for Conference participants on Sunday 25 January at 20.00. As well as learning how to taste olive oil Carlos will take us through the different denominations of origen, olive varieties, olive oil making process both past and present and a little on olive oil and health. Many wine lovers visiting wine producing regions often express an
Dinner Tonight: Skirt Steak with Red Wine Sauce
Mon, 19 Jan 2009 13:44:34 -0800
From Recipes This is no time for dainty fare. With much of the past week spent below zero here in Chicago, I needed something substantial, rich, and warming. Though I didn't have time for a hefty stew, I still dreamt of a thick red wine based sauce. That's how I ended up with this recipe from Gourmet. It's a straight-forward steak with red wine sauce that tastes a little more haughty than the money I spent on it. Skirt steak can be a real steal, and so can a nice bottle of cheap Spanish red.
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Grape Wine
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Labels: Pinot Noir | Pinot Wine
