GoGoKitty’s Wine Secrets

David Artsmith  -  Champagne is a celebration, it’s a toast, and it’s the way to bring in the New Year with good cheer. This form of sparkling wine is the beverage of choice for our most joyous occasions, and our most formal ceremonies. So, how did this bubbly brew get to have such a place of honor and dignity in human society?

Part of the reason for champagne’s upscale reputation is that the nature of the liquid itself is festive. Store under high pressure, the bottle opens up slowly, with someone teasing the cork from the head of the bottle slowly. Even as they do anticipation rises in the room as everyone waits with bated breath for that one, loud, POP, that burst of sound that signals that the party is ready to begin. This is often followed by a spray of foam as it escapes eagerly from the body of the bottle

Then, when you put the champagne to your lips, it’s like the liquid is actually dancing on your tongue. A thousand tiny explosions of flavor pop in your mouth, until it almost feels alive inside of you; alive and ready to party.

Champaign is often coupled with wine coasters, or upscale drinks coasters in order to enhance the effect of the bottle through presentation.

There is another reason that Champagne is associated so heavily with celebrations. Its relatively expensive. The only liquid that can actually be legally labeled as “champagne” has to be made in the Champagne region of France. All other forms of champagne are technically sparkling wine. Because of the limited amount of the beverage which can be produced in this one region, it is priced higher. The higher price makes it a “special occasion” beverage.

This perception of being “special” and “celebratory” is one which champagne makers do their best to preserve. That is why the law exists determining who can and cannot name their product using that specific label. It is also why millions of dollars are spent each year to hold contests to see who makes the absolute best champagne in the world.

Champagne is a festive beverage that naturally excites all five of the senses. This combined with a perception as being special, have combined to make this one of our most beloved celebratory drinks.

There are a few points you should know to enhance your judgment as to what makes a good wine and its taste. One factor is that the wine is made from fermented grape juice. You also should know the grape varieties wines are made from and the process of wine making itself.

There are many different kinds of wines, and the more commonly known ones - red, white, rose and champagne - are only a few of many. Wines are usually classified according to the grape varieties used to make them. One grape variety, the Barbera, is often used for red wine. Grown mainly in Piedmont, Italy, this variety is quite adaptable to other regions, and is also grown on a limited scale in the United States. Barbera grapes have a high natural acidity and produce wines with a full-bodied fruity taste.

Wine Varieties

There is a vast selection when choosing one of the many varieties of wine. Wine enthusiasts know about one variety that is widely grown in many parts of the world: Cabernet Sauvignon. Grown primarily in Medoc, France, this grape variety has found its way to California, Australia and other wine-making countries. Cabernet Sauvignon wines are considered by wine enthusiasts as among the best red wines in the world. These wines have a distinct aromatic flavor, and have hints of the taste of berries, olives, coffee, mint and herbs all blended together. Among the white varieties, the Chardonnay is easily the most popular, producing some of the world’s finest white wines. The varieties and types are overwhelming at times, but you don’t take long to become familiar with all the wine values.

A basic understanding of the wine-making process is important to a wine enthusiast, especially if he is interested in going into wine production himself if only for personal consumption. Wine making is an age-old technology and is really simple. One does not need very sophisticated equipment in order to make wines.

To start you have to know what type of grapes to use and where they are grown, the right age for picking, and things like acidity and sugar levels. If you are after a particular aromatic flavor, there are grapes that will produce that kind of flavor and you should be able to tell which ones. After the  picking comes the pressing to extract the juices, then fermentation.

The fermentation process is quite delicate. To stimulate the fermentation process, yeast is added to the juice. Basically, fermentation is the conversion of the sugar in the juice into alcohol. The success of your grape juice turning into good wine, is the kind of yeast used and the absence of any contaminants getting into the mixture during the entire process.

There is so much more to knowing the difference between a Chardonnay and a Cabernet Sauvignon, but the knowledge to the types of wine available is just the beginning for a wine enthusiast.

Wine is one of the most popular drinks in the world, with tens of millions of bottles being sold every year. The popularity of wine led to a large number of different methods of opening a bottle to be developed. Although the demand for these bottle opening devices had dropped recently due to the increase in screw top bottles, there are still a good number of corks out there that need removing and various different ways to do it.

Traditional Corkscrews – These have been around for a long time now and are still as effective as they ever were. Most people have some form of corkscrew in their home as part of their tableware sets, and if you know how to use one you can get a bottle of wine open in no time. You might struggle however if you lack elementary hand strength or finger control though.

Modern device – Advancements in technology have thrown up a number of different devices for making bottle opening a great deal easier. Some of these rely on advanced mechanics, like the winemaster corkscrew, that turn a straight forwards movement into a twisting one. Others are electrically powered and you just pop the device on top of the bottle and it takes care of everything. whilst this is very convenient, its does ruin the fun

Saber - If you are the adventurous kind or a bit of a show off then you can saber a bottle of wine open. During the Napoleonic era, victories were often celebrated with a champagne saberage. This is the process of removing the head of the bottle with a saber and leaving the rest of the bottle in tact. After removing the wire and foil from the head, the cork is soaked in water and then the neck is struck at an angle with the saber, away from the holder and as cleanly as possible. Simple

A soldier in Iraq is looking forward to coming home soon and to being with his fiancee.  He asks, “What is the best wine for a romantic evening?”  He thinks his fiancee is partial to Zinfandel, but isn’t sure.

“I really just want a nice, romantic evening, just the two of us.  After a good dinner and perhaps a little time in a hot tub, I’m looking forward to us simply sitting by the fireplace, sipping wine, and hopefully getting busy, if you know what I mean.”

Yes, we’re pretty sure we know what you mean!  But we’ll leave that part aside, and answer your question about the best wine for the occasion.

If you love is indeed enamored of Zinfandel (the real, red kind), then the answer is easy: buy a zin, of course (”zin” is the hip people’s way to refer to this popular varietal). One additional suggestion, though.  Look for a Zinfandel that is labeled as “old vine.”  Old vine zinfandel is generally considered to be a cut above regular zin in the taste department.  You will pay a bit more for it, usually, but it is worth it.

Another excellent choice would be just about any red wine from Argentina or Chile. Try either a Cabernet Sauvignon or a Malbec.

Or you could go in a different direction altogether and buy some champagne.  Good ol’ bubbly is associated with fun, frivolity, gaiety, and, yes, romance.  Brands? Pommery, Mumm, Veuve Clicqot, Hennessy, Taittinger — the possibilities are wide open. Or, for such a special occasion, you could go all out and get a bottle of Dom Perignon or La Grande Dame champagne.  Be forewarned, these last two will set you back around $140 to $150.  But what an adventure! Tickling her nose, and yours, with a great champagne can be the perfect prelude to getting busy, if you know what we mean.