Wednesday - Brandy Wine
Using Bargain Wines to Your Advantage
Using bargain wines is often preferable for occasions when it would be unwise to to invest a large amount of money in expensive wine.
Do you really want to use top-notch red wine for making sangria or for serving up at parties, when friends have already had enough to drink? No, I didn't think so!
Drinking Bargain Wines
Blended wine is usually cheaper and a reasonable bet in terms of drinkability. As a general rule, Chilean blends are the cheapest option, although it's often worth paying that little bit extra for Australian blends. In fact, a number of Australian producers market two excellent blends at the lower end of the price spectrum, one white and one red. The red is a blend of cabernet sauvignon and shiraz and the white consists of semillon and chardonnay. Keep an eye out for these grape combinations, if you're after a bargain!
Another winner at the cheaper end of the market is Spanish Rioja (both red and white). As Rioja is usually less fruity than the previously mentioned blends it is generally better for serving with food, rather than drinking on its own.
Other Uses of Bargain Wines
Sangria
If you're making sangria, you need red quaffing wine - and lots of it. As sangria is made from red wine, sugar, fruit juice and spirits, the quality of the red wine becomes largely secondary. This is where boxed wines come into their own. Buy large boxes that are relatively cheap - no one will notice! Be sure to purchase reasonable quality fruit juice and don't go for the absolute cheapest wine as you may live to regret it, the following morning!
Large Parties and Receptions
When serving wine to a large party, cost is obviously important. As a rule, boxed whites are generally more palatable than boxed reds, so if want to trim costs, anywhere, buying cheaper white wine may be a safer option.
A great way to improve boxed red wine is to add a reasonable quality bottle of red wine. Provided that you choose the correct bottle of red, this can make an impressive difference to the taste. Of course, you do need some suitable decanters or serving carafes and a little patience to pull this one off, successfully.
Finally, choose your nibbles wisely. Plain potato chips will do little to help you disguise a poor wine. Instead opt for a selection of cheeses, as they will enhance the flavor of even the cheapest of wines.
About The Author Since Neil Best first pondered the question, Who made the first wine anyway? he's been recording his findings at http://www.goodglug.com Find about your favorite wine regions, wine recipes, and speciality wines along with how it's made and how best to store it for maximum enjoyment neilbest@rocketmail.com
Labels: Wine Cork                         
6:59 AM
2008 - White Zinfandel-
A Featured White Zinfandel Article
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Price: 84.99 USD Current White Zinfandel News Americans Doing Italian Cooking Sat, 13 Sep 2008 23:45:05 PDT By Jack Sands Most of us have found some sort of Italian cuisine that has become a favorite for our families and ourselves. Unfortunately, far too many of us discount the possibility of bringing Italian cooking into our very own kitchens for fear that many of the recipes are far too difficult. The truth is that learning to cook Italian food just might make your home the favorite drop in dining spot for friends and family all over. Believe it or not, most great Italian recipes have an easier Updates Sat, 13 Sep 2008 15:15:00 PDT It's time for some updates. It's quite evident, I fail to bring my readers up to speed on past topics, so, here we go!1. Photography AssignmentDo you remember when I frantically asked for help on a photo assignment? I feel bad...I actually didn't use any of your ideas! As you may recall, I had to shoot a photo of a person doing an activity, but there was to be no human being in the shot. Overthinking is one of my favorite things to do and I strained my brain trying to come up with a stellar idea Book Review: Hip Tastes - The Fresh Guide to Wine Sat, 13 Sep 2008 12:07:33 PDT Courtney Cochran is one of these hipster gals trying to change the wine world and refocus it on a younger crowd, away from the Robert Parkers of the industry. Great, I’m all for it. Now she’s got a book out, Hip Tastes - The Fresh Guide to Wine, which is sort of an introductory text on wine for people too intimidated by that aisle at the grocery store or the wine list at their favorite restaurant. Again, I’m all for it. Hip Tastes is indeed a pretty good primer on wine, though it isn’t withou 84-Day Meal Plans Fri, 12 Sep 2008 22:20:58 PDT Adsense Code] As much as I love reading magazines like Men’s Fitness, Men’s Health, Maximum Fitness and Reps… I discovered that they might be leading you astray (unintentionally) when it comes to nutrition. This email will speak to you (bluntly) if you live by a ‘But I eat healthy,’ mentality, and I’ll share more reasons why you’ll never see your gym efforts transfer to time invested instead of time spent. Let’s see if you and I think alike and if you see t Linguine With Clams Two Ways — Beginner and Expert Fri, 12 Sep 2008 13:00:35 PDT Linguine with clams: The dish is an Italian classic for a reason — because it's a crowd pleaser. Once upon a time, I didn't enjoy eating clams, but I would make an exception for linguine con vongole. The bounciness of the clams, the briny flavors, the chewy linguine flavored with white wine all come together to make the ultimate comfort dish. Both of these dishes are relatively simple, but the second recipe calls for fresh clams, which then get a treatment on the grill. If you're unsure of your Wines Tags: Wine Products | Wine Project Labels: Sweet Wines
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