How to open a bottle of wine

Although this might sound like a basic exercise, I know many people who are terrified of actually opening a bottle, for fear of either chipping the bottle, breaking the cork or even dropping the bottle.

The video which I found on YouTube, provides the perfect instruction when using what is known as a two step opener, and what most people know as a waiters friend or waiters corkscrew. What I really appreciate about the video is that the foil is removed on the second or lower lip, which I have witnessed many people opening on the top lip, which really defeats the object, as the lip serves to prevent dripping, as well as preventing the wine coming into contact with the foil, which can affect the taste of the wine.

A note about the two step opener, is that it is extremely helpful when opening older wine, where the cork might be dodgy, the longer screw helps getting ino the cork. Either way if you do break the cork in the wine, you could consider running the wine through a sieve and placing in a decanter. This will help the wine open up and will also get rid of the cork in the wine.



If you are interested in South African wine then the South African Wine Report makes a great source of info and reading. And if you are looking for SA wine, in Europe then you might want to check out eWine which is a South African Wine portal. Not only will you be able to buy your favourite South African wine, but you will also find interesting information about our winemakers, wines, restaurants, accommodation in the winelands and almost everything related to South African wine.

Organic Wine

A question that often arises is the validity of the organic products, their processes and certification. A few experts that I have spoken to have affirmed that in certain areas the organic concept is not really as qualified or as real as the producers and regulatory bodies claim it to be. Well one supposes that it does require an amount of transparency as well as honesty by the so called organic producers, as the question that I have is how far back in the winemaking process must all aspects contributing to the wine be organically certified?

Here are a few links that make for interesting reading in the organic wine 'arena':

• 20 Amazing Organic Wines Under $20 | EcoSalon - The Green Gathering - I won’t be having Cyprodinil in my Syrah, thanks. Besides, biodynamic is just the way to go. Wine is already a luxury, so you might as well go greener - without shelling out more green. 20 incredibly tasty organic wines under $20: ...

• Drinking well re(a)d… - Is it just me, or do really organic wines taste, um, different? By “really organic,” I mean certified organic wine with no added sulfites. A good number of wines are made with organic grapes now, but those bottles of wine can’t be ...

• Upper Green Side » Dining Out Green - Posted by Glenn July 23, 2006 at 8:31 am in News |. Share this item:. Hugg · Facebook · Technorati · del.icio.us · Digg · Reddit · NewsVine · Shadows · Wists. Â. In the hustle and bustle of everyday life in the city, many folks just ...

A great resource in selecting an organic wine:



Alternatively some hard copy literature can be obtained here, which also contributes to literacy funding programs, amongst others - the choice of all socially conscious consumers. When I was doing my wine training for a large cruise liner The Wine Bible was a super resource, which things quite easy to understand:




Whilst here is a review from Brian Dougherty, from the Rockerfeller University, whilst on holiday:

• Organic Wine Making in Carmel Valley, CA « - Organic Wine Making in Carmel Valley, CA. For the past few days, I had the privilege of spending some time along the Central Coast of California. I attended a wedding in Santa Barbara, and then headed up Highway 1 to the Carmel/Monterey ...

New Year Wine

Is the expected wine to have Champagne, or a sparkling wine - is this the traditional beverage that has been handed down over the generations?

Once again, as I always say - whatever goes! Its your wine, your money and therefore you choice. Personally I absolutely love champagne in the right atmosphere and the correct type. My personal favorite is the Taittinger Comptes de Champagne (spelling open to correction), which I had the opportunity of tasting and savoring on numerous occasions - by virtue of my position as one of the sommeliers aboard a large cruise liner. Funnily enough I still do not drink that much champagne or sparkling wine, but given the opportunity I will definitely have some of that. I have found a very interesting and helpful website to help search for your favorite wines, and based upon the 1998 vintage of the above mentioned I saw that the availability of this wine starts off at $99. For whatever you might be looking for this site might help Wine Searcher for any wine you may be battling to get hold of.

Perhaps this might be a bit dry for you, in which instance you would be suggested to go for the semi sweet (or what might be termed demi sec). And if you choose to stay with the Asti then go for it!!!

Drink what you want, when you want, just enjoy it and drink responsibly! Bring on 2009, all the best to everyone.

Questions

Please pose any questions that you may have, if I cannot answer immediately I will research the question and as qualified answer as possible...

Don't be afraid

Wine is not the reserve of the wealthy or the aristocracy.....

Wine is meant to be enjoyed by all, and one is not limited to what the experts call correct matching and food and wine pairing. The main idea is to find a wine that you enjoy and then find the food that goes well with that, or even not. The point is you are paying for the wine, so you might as well enjoy it!

Too many people are afraid of being seen as uneducated in terms of, but instead of trying they tend to shy away and never truly discover the joy of wine. Wine is meant to be enjoyed and there is a wine for any occasion and to suit any palette. You will never know unless you seek that wine and once discovered you will be able to enjoy it and share with it others.

If you are new to wine, take your time and start with something simple and progress to the more complex wines, enjoy the journey because it is a lifelong quest and there is something new to learn everyday. Most importantly is to savor each and every sip....