10 Tips On Buying An Anniversary Wine

10 Tips On Buying An Anniversary Wine

By Karen Orlandiand Bob Orlandi

Wine can be a special extravagance when celebrating a special occasion. Not only can you indulge in a higher quality wine, but you can also buy a bottle with the same vintage as the anniversary you are observing.

The wine vintage marks the year the grapes were harvested and the process of turning them into wine began. It can be fun to think about where the grapes are from and who might have harvested them. Were they family of the wine producer or perhaps hired vineyard workers? What might the world have been like for them during that harvest? And what was the world like for you during that commemorative year?

But before you get wrapped up in focusing only on the vintage, it is important to consider the following tips for buying anniversary wines.

1. Buy a bottle that is within its maturity date. This is the most important guideline. Not all wine is created equal and many wines will not hold up over time. Approximately 80% of wine is consumed within 48 hours of purchase, so most wineries gear their wines toward immediate consumption. But some wines are specifically made to be drunk decades after bottling. Here are some rules of thumb by anniversary year that will help guide you in finding a bottle with its appropriate maturity. Note that these are generalities and that some vintages are better than others.

• If your anniversary is 5 years or less, choose a New World wine, perhaps something from California, Chile or New Zealand. • If your anniversary is 6-15 years, choose a good quality (aka higher-priced) New World cabernet or perhaps a super premium pinot, or a second or third growth Bordeaux. • If your anniversary is 16-25 years, choose a first, second or third growth Bordeaux, vintage Port or a Blue Chip cabernet from the New World. • If your anniversary is 26-50 years, choose a first growth Bordeaux, Sauternes or vintage Port. • If your anniversary is more than 50 years, your best bet is a vintage Port or Sauternes.

2. Expect to pay big bucks for wines more than 10 years old. If you can't find something within your price range, consider searching for a more recent vintage that represents another fond memory.

3. Stay open to the type and origination of the bottle and you will be much happier with the result. This may mean that your favorite pinot is not an appropriate choice or that a sweet wine may be your best option. You can find a lot of older wines for sale, but it doesn't mean they still taste good after all these years.

4. The flavor profile on an older bottle is very different from a more recent vintage. Think Fig Newtons more than fresh berries. Be sure your audience for this special bottle will be happy with its unique taste.

5. Ask about the fill level of older bottles. A certain amount of loss is generally acceptable, but too much loss could be a sign of poor storage or leakage.

6. If you are having the special bottle shipped to you, let it rest. The vibrations and pressure changes during transport unsettle the sediment and jostle the otherwise peacefully resting fine wine. Opinions vary on exactly how long the rest period should be, but ideally you want to procure the bottle several weeks before you plan to serve it. Don't forget to store it at a constant 55-59 degrees.

7. Use a two-prong cork puller to open an older vintage, rather than a corkscrew. Aged corks are fragile and can crumble if you aren't delicate.

8. Be prepared to find sediment in the bottle. It is common to use a fine mesh wire filter when pouring the wine into the decanter to separate the sediment out.

9. Decanting can sometimes help "open up" older bottles. Aficionados differ in their opinions on if and how much you should decant, so let your taste buds guide you.

10. Beware of the gamble you are making. It is possible you may end up unhappy with your bottle, as perfectly cellared old bottles can still become corked or have aging issues unbeknownst to the seller or buyer. Wine is still food and is continuously evolving in the bottle - that is what makes it such a neat experience, as it is never the same as it was the day before.

Have fun and delight in trying a special, older vintage bottle with a history as long as the one you are celebrating.

Aabalat Fine & Rare Wines, based in Petaluma, California, has a large selection of rare and fine wines from Bordeaux, Burgundy, Italy, Portugal, and the US that is sure to impress even the most seasoned connoisseur. We strive to find the best wines, aged and stored properly for your drinking pleasure and investment potential. Visit http://www.aabalat.com/ for more information about our products and services.

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How to Choose the Right Wine for Dinner

How to Choose the Right Wine for Dinner

By Steve B Boston

While most wine connoisseurs agree when offering basic advice on choosing a wine at dinner, that a nice white wine complements white meats such as chicken and fish, and darker meats are best suited for red wines, wine selection also comes down to individual preference as different palates suit different tastes. However, wines do have distinct characteristics that determines which wine best complements various entrées.

Check out some of the following tips on wine selection and hopefully you will enhance your wine tasting experience.

Chicken and Seafood A Chardonnay's sweet to sour flavor is best paired with chicken, fish, oysters, and other seafood. Chenin Blanc is an appealing wine that also complements chicken and fish. The crisp acidic flavor of wines that pair nicely with fish often adds a hint of citrus to the entrée. Sauvignon Blanc, also known as Fume Blanc, also goes well with fish and pasta chicken dishes.

A savory smoked salmon entrée is best shared with a bottle of sparkling wine.

Meats Darker meats go best with darker wines in general. Holidays are usually special occasions when families break out a nice bottle of Chablis, a white-burgundy complementary wine that is best served with turkey.

For dishes including sausages and ham, consider serving the popular German wine, Gewurztraminer. A bottle of a medium-bodied Red Zinfandel pairs perfectly with red meats served at dinner, while a darker Pinot Noir wine pairs nicely with steak and fowl entrées.

If you're looking for a wine that's more versatile for a variety of meats, Shiraz or Syrah wine offer a nice balance for pork, duck, beef, ribs, tenderloin as well as chicken.

Pasta and Entrées If you're planning a pasta entrée for dinner, then consider complementing the meal with Merlot or Pinot Grigio.

White Zinfandel, an increasing popular wine, complements pasta dishes smothered in light sauces as well as other lighter dishes.

Oriental Entrées As a general rule, oriental dishes as well as white meats pair nicely with a bottle of Riesling. The fruity flavor of Gewurztraminer also complements oriental dishes, especially Asian prepared dishes. Mexican-themed meals as well as other exotic and spicy foods blend well with a bottle of Rose or Shiraz. The same can be said of grilled vegetables and fish dishes.

If you're a fan of fast food-themed entrées such as hamburgers or pizza (and other red sauce spicy foods) a bottle of Red Zinfandel will go down nicely here.

Desserts You can't go wrong pairing any dessert dish with a Port wine, Madeira, or Rieslings, and of course, Merlot is the perfect wine to drink with chocolate.

Writing as the head wine selector at GraysOnline, my role is to source & test the wines on offer. We've done our best to help you find the right bottle of wine, whether you're into champagne, red wine or white wine, we'll have something to suit your budget.

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Wine Tips - Some helpful and valuable ways to enjoy Fine Wine - Drinks

Author: KurttNillsen

You have to have in no way imagined within your wildest dreams that drinking wine can enhance your well being? Wine is made from the fermentation of grapes and has been utilized for ages as an accompaniment to food and even as a cooking ingredient in several recipes.

People today in several parts of the world use wine as a compulsory drink along with lunch and dinner. Numerous researches on wine were going on for years and many remarkable medicinal properties of wine have been discovered. That is why wine is considered a medium to beneficial health along with a terrific approach to enjoy life.

You are able to now purchase wines at various on the internet wine stores for instance grandwinecellar.com etc that give a few of the most exquisite wines from all over the world. Various attractive provides on discount wines are also available and you are able to get a wine of your option at quite affordable rates. Wine is also a part of most occasions and celebrations with the choice of employing red wine or white wine to match the various food items. It can be also an incredibly well-liked gift item that could be given on special occasions to honor an individual special.

The well being benefits of wine are innumerable. Those with poor digestion can enhance their digestive problem by consuming moderate amounts of wine every day. Apart from sugar wine contains several necessary minerals and vitamins that are important to maintain the body in very good shape. Wine supplies calories therefore you'll be able to feel energetic immediately after drinking a glass of wine.

Red wine has a lot of noteworthy positive aspects like it reduces the risk of heart attacks, and even prevents blood from clotting. It is an identified truth by now that red wine contains anti-oxidants that assist the body to fight off free-radicals which harm the body cell. Anti-oxidants also avoid cancer and heart attacks. Red wine may also fight off herpes and lessen coughs and colds. White wine is equally beneficial and lowers cholesterol levels and also keeps the body healthy and warm. Specially folks staying in cold countries benefit immensely from drinking wine.

These days as a result of a variety of on the internet gift sites you are able to purchase renowned brands such as Dom Perignon, Brut Imperial etc. Moreover you are able to acquire wine by the case and avail appealing case deal provides which will provide you with the fantastic chance of finding a 50% discount on selected case deals. On the web wine shops have stock of distinct flavors of wines, champagnes etc that may leave you speechless. So drink your method to very good wellness and take pleasure in a glass of wine everyday.

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Want more tips on making homemade wine? Know more information on how to store wine properly before you buy wine gifts.

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