There are a great many people who consider themselves as something of a wine connoisseur these days. You cannot blame them for being hooked by some of the wonderful wines out there, and lots of people find they develop it as a hobby without really realizing it. They’ve invested in a vintage collection of wine wines, they’ve converted their spare room into a storage cellar, bought a selection of different wine glasses so that they can get the maximum enjoyment of each wine variety, and have all the required tableware gadgets for opening and pouring their wine.

The one thing that very few wine buffs have however is a wine map, which can show you more about wine regions that most books can. There have been some big leaps forward in wine map production in recent years and they are now meticulously researched.  The California wine map for example is updated every year due to the complicated layout of the area, especially after Napa Valley was officially recognized as an American Viticultural Area in 1981. In total then there are 108 AVA’s in this region alone, with myriad terrains, varieties of grape and production methods.

You could of course just rely on the information on each bottle or the recommendations of friends when buying a bottle, but the true wine expert should know exactly where the grapes came from and why they taste the way they do. It is even more important if you decide to visit and area of wine production to have a wine map with you as things can get a little confusing if you don’t. It is not always clear to see where one vineyard or region ends and the next begins, and that’s without evening considering which varieties of grape and growing conditions each is known for. A wine map will allow you to not only understand the wines better but also identify where the tastes and aromas coming from your wine glasses came from

Wine is one of those drinks that it universal. It is drunk in nearly every country in the world and invariably it is from a glass. What we should be asking ourselves however is, how come glass? Why not from a mug, plastic cup or wooden goblet? Sadly, there is no definitive answer for this. Wine is actually drunk from a number of non-glass containers in different countries. For example in Japan, wine is drunk from a ceramic vase-shaped container and in Thailand, wooden cups are often used. However, the overriding choice of tableware drinking vessel, wherever you go, is glass. It’s really more a result of other methods not being appropriate than glass being that special in any way. Lets examine what else is on offer.

Wood. Wine is indeed drunk from wooden vessels as highlighted previously, although it doesn’t come without some big downsides. Stains are the first major issue, which more often than not occur as a result of red wine drinking. Even the less porous harder woods fall victim to this fate before long. Further to this, wood has a habit of rotting when its remains wet for any great length of time. So you would have to spend time making sure it was bone dry after using each time.

Metal. If you’ve ever used a metal vessel to consume wine from, you’ll understand how the flavour is not quite right. something called ‘displacement’ takes place with lots of wines as a result of the high ion count in most metals. This essentially means that often a number of the metal’s ions displace into the wine and this causes an alteration in the flavour. This is why you often pick up metallic notes when drink from this type of cup. Also, because of its very heat-conductive qualities, almost any other material would keep the wine cooler when you’re holding it

Ceramic.  Like glass, ceramic is non porous, does not release any of its qualities into the wine, and can be easily cleaned with a glass cloth. This is why lots of people do use ceramic, although there will never be as many people as use glass because, very simply, you cannot see what is in the vessel. Part of the joy of drinking a nice wine is swirling it around the glass examining its colours and textures. It is a very primitive desire and it has stuck with us ever since glass was invented.

The market for wine in a strange one. It is essentially a luxury product and yet millions of bottles are produced each year.  A wine might be worth than one 10 years older than it and the price can come down how one person thinks it taste. One thing is true though, there are a lot of people making a lot of money in the wine game and now is a pretty good time to get involved.

The prices of fine wines has been on the increase for the last couple of decades. As better storage facilities and more advanced manufacturing methods produce higher quality wines, so too does the price people are willing to pay for them go up.Jamie Richie, Sotherby’s resident fine wine expert stated that “Prices had risen to nearly unsustainable levels last spring”.  However, now that the recession is upon us, the prices of these exclusive wines are coming within reaching distance. 2009’s March figures showed a decrease in prices of close to 1.2% according to Liv-Ex 100, the tracking index for the top 100 collectable wines.  This is trend that experts expect to continue for while and can in fact be seen throught the wine sector, from wine production to the sales of standard wine glasses.

A bottle of Montrachet Domaine Romanee-Conti (1978) very recently got picked up at a Chicago auction for $3,500. That same bottle went up for sale at Sotheby’s a couple of year back for $23,929. This sharp decline means that if you’ve ever wanted to start your own wine collection, either for your own consumption or as an investment, it will soon be the right time.  Experts think that the market will be at its lowest point by the end of the year, after which it will start to pick up again slowly.

Wine investment expert, Joss Fowler has some words of wisdom for doing well. He recommends that a very good bet is, and always has been, a Red Bordeaux as they age beautifully. Additionally, if you want your money to be safe, go for the highest quality wine you can afford and from the best vintage possible. Stay true to this rule and you’ll be filling up your pretty champagne flutes sooner than you think.

If we always got what we wanted we would all wish for a lovely air-conditioned and air-circulated wine cellar. This would allow you to leave them well alone and yet know that they were in the best conditions for aging just right. This is very rarely a reality however and the majority of us just try to make the best out of what we have. Here is some top advice for storing your wine collection properly.

Location. Your bottles, both white and red wine also, are best placed in a cool room, away from the light and with moderate humidity levels. The most efficient temperature for storage of your bottles should be between 10° and 16° C (50° to 61° F).Anything higher than this will lead to a decrease in wine quality but anything higher than 25° C will seriously damage the wine’s flavors and body. leaving the bottle in direct sunlight can not only discolor it but also affect the air temperature inside the bottle. The level of humidity in the room can cause the cork in the bottle to expand or contract. This can sometimes have the effect of letting air into the bottle and causing something called oxidation, an annoying situation that happens when the liquid is in contact with oxygen for extensive time.

Positioning. You should position the wines on their side or at a slight angle when storing them. This is down to the fact that if there is no liquid in contact with the body of the cork for a sustained period of time it will dry out and contract. Oxidation (see previous explanation) can again result from this.

Display. Keep your wines hidden away in a dark place is not always practical. occasionally you have an urge to bring them out and show them off. A good choice is often wooden wine cabinets as these tend to maintain a steady temperature and always go for one that lets you store your wines on their side.  Don’t use one that has a glass covering as this can lead to the greenhouse effect and warm the wines up.

The Californian wine makers E&J Gallo think they have spotted a gap in the market and have made a wine range aimed at men.Wine has classically had the image of being a drink for the ladies but E&J Gallo think they can change this will good branding. The new range launch comes soon after the statement that Gallo made about cutting down the volume of wine they are going to make in 2009 by talking part in less discount offers run by retailers. Their new technque is to instead produce “reliable” wines that can be trusted and purchased buy people who want to know exactly what they are getting.

The ‘Redwood Creek’ range is aimed at 35-65 year old men who have an enthusiasm for the great outdoors.It will look to go after the type of people they class as ‘active in nature’ rather than the heavily active or extreme sports sectors.Outdoor pursuits that Gallo has said their new wines are inspired by include fishing, camping, hunting and hiking. They have already created links with the woodland trust, the Tourist Board of California,Riedel Glass plus the clothing label ‘Regatta’. The method of partnering with other strong companies is a tactic that has worked well in the States and they hope this will carry over the UK.

The newest wine range is said to include a Cabernet Sauvignon, a Merlot and one white, a nice Chardonnay.  Iain Newell marketing director for Europe has said that the new wine charms the soul, with a rugged quality and a rich taste. “They will be everything you associate with nature and activity” states Newell, “freshness, passion and full flavours” are all qualities that this wine holds.  A great deal of research was put into investigating the market and developing the products and early feedback from the US suggests they could be on to something.