3:06 PM

Tuesday - Conundrum Wine

Today's Conundrum Wine Article

Wine Appreciation - Fake it 'till you Make It

For many of us, there comes a point in our lives when we grow from random liquor or beer drinkers to wine drinking trainees. There are a few basics for beginning wine drinkers, and I assure you, choosing and drinking wine is most definitely easier than it looks.

With countless options in wine consumption, it is almost impossible to pick a wine you're sure to love. Many of us try our first glass of wine, turn our nose up at it, and ask someone to pass the brewed stuff. The fact of the matter is there are too many wines to choose from to base your opinion on the first you encounter. Do not be afraid to try many wines, and waste a few bottles in your search. Surely I'm not the only one who has opened a bottle of wine, and thrown the entire thing out only lacking four ounces or so. Many people prefer to begin their wine consumption journey with a chardonnay or white zinfandel, as these are lighter, more palatable options. Deeper, darker wines, such as cabernets or merlots are typically "worked up to", but are often appreciated by the assimilated palette. If it's red you're after, begin with a nice pinot noir, as this is one of the lighter choices in red wines.

Believe it or not, choosing the proper wine glass is important. As disappointing as it may be, enjoying your favorite Shiraz just isn't the same from Mom's old Tupperware cups. Choosing a glass that is not only completely clear, but also true crystal will actually enhance the flavor the wine you pick. Not only will it magnify the experience, but you'll appear so much more believable. No one will ever know that you didn't know zinfandel is red.

Your Grandmother may keep that "good cooking wine" in her fridge for decades, but please do not do this. Essentially, Granny is creating vinegar in that old ice box of hers, and this is not what you're aiming for. Depending on the age of the wine, your bottle should be kept from 24 hours to one week, tops, and in the refrigerator at all times. Wine is not only perishable, but the flavor is also greatly affected by oxygen exposure. Corking your wine as soon as you're done pouring will help, but if the wine is over five years old, chances are the flavor will lose some luster after 24 hours. All the more reason to share with your roommate, significant other, or even dear old Grandma.

Have fun, be experimental, and above all, don't take your new hobby as a wine connoisseur too seriously. Wine consumption is all about leisure and relaxation. Take it for what it's worth, and don't be afraid to fake it 'till you make it.

About the Author

? Cookgroup Marketing LLC - All Rights Reserved. This article brought to you by http://Your-Wine-Portal.com/wines/ . You may freely reprint this article on your website or in your newsletter provided this courtesy notice, author name, and URL remain intact.

A synopsis on Conundrum Wine.

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10:31 AM

April 22, 2008 - Wine Merchants

Another Great Wine Merchants Article

Nuts, Wine, Chocolate and Intuitive Eating

I must be dreaming (but please don't wake me up!) Nuts, red wine and dark chocolate-oh my; now these are three foods I could live on. The very idea brings to mind the game my family and I use to play as kids on long car trips: if you were on an island and could only have three foods, what would you choose to bring?

Recent research has conclusively proved that in moderation, nuts, red wine, and dark chocolate are all good elements of a healthy diet which can help prevent various ailments. While this flies in the face of all we have ever been told; it raises the issue of, how we know what is truly healthy for us and how do we make good food choices in the midst of continually changing information. We are continually bombarded with so much information about diet, nutrition, exercise, and health, and so much of it is confusing and often contradictory; that too often, too many of us have been left wondering: what information can we truly use to make accurate and educated choices?

In my experience, there is an intuitive component to the integration of all the dietary information we continually digest (no pun intended). Intuition is defined as the sense of knowing something in a visceral way, without necessarily having an intellectual or rational explanation for that knowledge. I believe that to find an intuitive answer to the question, "what foods do I eat?" we have to slow down and listen...better-trusting our bodies to tell us what we need. I suggest that intuitive eating, as I call it, is the healthiest way to eat but by far the more difficult approach to master. Such intuitive eating means listening to our body systems rather than simply following ad nauseam the latest "do's and don'ts" craze. Making intuitive eating a component of a healthy lifestyle means tuning in to how we feel after we eat; it means looking at our choices in regards to portion and type, and it means thinking about what foods gave us the most benefit. It means hearing our bodies and nurturing our desires in an attempt to master our own habits and urges. Intuitive eating is tailored specifically to each one of us---for we are each unique with different needs and goals! Every regimen should in some way involve listening to what the body is trying to convey. In a way, it's letting the body do what it does best...self regulation. Such body mechanisms are an evolutionary necessity, and a clue to how we should lead our lives in regard to healthy consumption. We just need to listen.

Nuts, dark chocolate and wine anyone?

About the Author

Sara Thompson is the owner of The Original Nutcracker, a website which sells a bold, unique kitchen gadget that's tongue-in-cheek fun!

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