Debunking the Wine Snob, a.k.a. the Wine Terrorist

Who doesn’t know one?

I’ll never forget the woman, drenched in god-only-knows-what-brand of perfume, who came into the Belvedere tasting room years ago, when I was pouring Belvedere wines. She looked at me from over her eye glasses. You know the look… head down just a bit, eyes now having to look up over the rim. Her shoulders were curved in a bit (body language, high self esteem built on insecurity). Her extra long, very well manicured index finger nail was tapping the wine list on one particular item. Tap, tap, tap, tap, tap…

She said in her best holier-than-thou voice… I’ll have the Cab Sauuv… dragging it out.

I was thinking to myself, “Yeah, right, lady… whatever… If you really knew what you were doing, you wouldn’t have had a Chanel No. 5 bath this morning…” while I pleasantly smiled at her.

This brings me to why I wanted to write this brief one. While in Maine, and talking with cousins, I was told about one wine Nazi that one a cousin had come across in her life. The Wine Terrorist was an older guy… older than my cousin (hence, his feeling of complete authority over her). He was terrorizing her, thinking he was teaching her about wine. Instead, he made himself into someone who made wine anything but fun, completely uninteresting; in fact, it made her doubt herself. Having only been loved in one’s life, a first encounter with abuse always leaves one speechless, and wondering what he or she has done wrong. I’ve seen this more than once in my life, and the reaction is always the same… self doubt.

So, my cousin spent a bit of time doubting herself, instead of finding wine interesting and fun. Believe me, when things aren’t fun something is wrong.

I explained to her that the more one knows about wine – like the kazillion winemakers that I know – the more humble they become, for the most part.

Knowing about wine is a process similar to a lotus unfolding. Once the first layer is peeled back, you realized that that’s just the beginning of one’s ever-unfolding journey… And, the journey’s really wonderful, not one built on fear and intimidation.

Everyone who ever intimidates anyone else about wine should be taken out to the woodshed and whipped within an inch of their lives, and I’m not into corporal punishment.

So, a word to the wise should be sufficient. If you come across someone who’s a wine snob, you can measure what that person really knows by watching the movement of an inch worm, and just take everything with a grain of salt, as far as that person goes.

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A Winery in New Hampshire? Eh-yah, it’s true… Fulchino Vineyard

[Images are borrowed from Fulchino Vineyard's Website. They show the beauty that exists in New Hampshire, under the guidance of Al Fulchino.]

My deep roots in New England keep certain people close to me.

I’ve not been to this winery, nor have I tasted the wine… One of my New England contacts just asked me to consider championing this small producer.

“Why not,” I thought. Considering will mean learning, and I know nothing about anyone producing wine in New Hampshire.

Would all the wines coming from this producer be vitis vinifer?
That would be impossible, giving their frigid, winter climate.
Unless, of course, they’re doing what I know others to be doing…
Buying fruit from California, and having it shipped to them,
like the growers in Suisun Valley are doing.
Suisun Valley vit people have found a market for their grapes outside of our state.

So, I decided to find out what is going on in New Hampshire…

Fulchino Vineyard & Nursery serves landscapers, garden centers, and homeowners. In New Hampshire ~ the “Live Free or Die” state ~ as in most other New England states ~ it’s very easy to be connected to the earth… There’s just so much of it available. Growing things for anyone is almost second nature.

For Al Fulchino, it has always been a passion, and it’s in his DNA. He’s had a professional green thumb since 1977, having also attended Essex Agricultural Institute to enhance his understanding.

The lineage in the Fulchino family being winemakers/viticulturists dates back to Al’s great grandfather. Here’s the line:

Angelo Fulchini ~ Great Great Grandfather Salvatore Fulchini, Great Grandfather Andrew & Raphaella Fulchini/o, Grandparents

The original family home is located Gesualdo, Italy (about 6o miles to the east of Napoli, headed inland). Today’s Fulchini family and its vineyard land is at the lowest point in Hollis’ Pine Hill Valley. (Sounds pretty…)

“Our level vineyard is a quiet place, yet active with contradictions. It is peaceful yet full of natures tugs and pulls. The terroir says to this next generation ‘come visit with me..come .Work with me…come harvest me, together we can yield for you wine as a drink…wine as a food…and wine as a medicine in this most unexpected of places’. The teroir says to us that ‘things will not be easy but with hard work I will yield to you if you respect what I have to offer.’”

It seems that there’s also a poet in them thar hills… at least a romanticist.

What my source said to me, that convinced me to mention Fulchino Vineyard on wine-blog, is the following:

I know that you often side with the little guys. Check out the link for Al’s winery. Any mention or talk on the small guys, he would be thrilled to get noticed.

Even with all the cards stacked in the deck of the “super” producers, mega juice buyers, and power brokers……..the small wineries built on passion, winemaker sweat, and love are selling out their vintages.

Al Fulchino is a dedicated man, who isn’t a stranger to the windmill fights.

The marketing budget is minimal if at all… hand selling the juice to a few local on premise hot spots, small white sandwich boards out front simply stating “Wine Tasting.”

He learned the craft from basement crushing in an immigrant factory town in Massachusetts, and stays true to the passion of the craft. Check out this recent article in the NH magazine

Anyway, Jo, I know you have 1000’s of topics and such, but I’d really like to see more of the little guys who actually look after their wines, as they would a child, succeed.

And this, my friends, is from a large wholesaler, not one of the smaller guys hand selling each bottle.

So, here’s to all you little guys. I know how hard you work. I see it every day as I champion my small growers and producers in Suisun Valley, and the clients we serve with my company. It gives me great pleasure to champion your cause.

Tags: Viticulture, Winemaking, Winery

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How to Host a Wine Tasting Party

Having a wine tasting party is a lot of fun. Although, this might seem to be for only the sophisticated crowd, anyone can learn about wine and hold a wine tasting. This is a great way to get together and experiment with new varietals. You can use any method of a wine tasting when you have a party.

The first thing you need to do is determine the type of wine tasting you want to have with your friends. The best 'first' wine tasting method is the Big 8 because this gives everyone a good idea the differences of varietals right up front. You can choose from the horizontal, vertical, pairings with cheese or chocolate, or other methods. It is up to you as it is your wine tasting party.

You will next need to determine who you are going to invite to the party. Be sure there is enough room for all of the guests you want to invite before you send out any invitations. You want enough chairs for people to sit comfortably. You also don't want to have too many people as it could be a bad situation if people feel rushed.

When you think about the amount of people you have at your wine tasting party will help you know how much wine you need to buy. Be sure to have enough so all of the guests are able to taste the same wines.

Thinking about the 'who' in who you are going to invite is important also. You might not want to invite friends who think they are experts on wine or they might get a little annoying. They also might take over the entire learning process of the different wines. This is supposed to be fun so be sure to invite fun people and people who are open minded.

You should design a card for each wine being tasted. This will be filled out by each guest as they taste each wine. They will be able to record the aroma they smell from each wine, the flavor, what it tastes like with a specific cheese, etc. You can also have them score the different wines on the back of each card also.

The best way to do a wine tasting with your friends is by holding a blind wine tasting party. You will need black or dark colored glasses so the guests cannot see the colors of the different wines. This way their perceptions will be more honest and accurate.

You also do not ever want to tell your guests what the prices of a specific wine was because they will immediately pass judgment on whether or not it is a good wine. Some people immediately assume wine is no good if it is less than $100. Never tell the price to your guests, especially if you have many different wines varying greatly in price. It is okay to tell prices after the wine tasting is over.

It is important not to have labels on the bottles or anywhere they can be found. If you leave a label on the counter then you may have a cheating guest. Allow the guests to incorporate their senses properly without any help or hints.

You don't have to go all out when you decorate for a wine tasting party. It is important to have a white table cloth so the wine color can be properly assessed. Many people like to decorate with candles, paintings, and flowers. It is entirely up to you how you want to decorate at your party.

Be sure you have plenty of light at your wine tasting party. This is important or you will have difficulty with proper assessments of the color of the wine. You might serve a very cloudy wine but if the room is dim and candle light is shining it may look brilliant.

When you serve wines at a wine tasting party be sure that they are served from dry to sweet. Start with the light white wines first and work your way slowly to the dark and heavy red wines. You should also start with younger wines to the older wines. If you are doing a vertical test based on years then you will be sure to start with the newest wines first.

When you pour wine at a wine tasting be sure you pour enough in the glass to taste the wine and not too much. Two ounces is usually a perfect amount to pour for your guests to get the right amount for a proper tasting of the wine.

Be sure to provide snacks like unflavored, unsalted crackers and bread to your guests. You don't want your guests to be hungry. This will also cleanse their palate so they are ready for the next wine to try on your list.

The most important thing to consider at a wine tasting party is driving. If your wine tasting party consists of people drinking the wine and not just tasting then they will need to find a ride home. Be sure rides have been arranged so all of your guests are safe when the party is over.

Scott Wells writes for http://DrugAbuseFocus.com/53/ - where you can read alcohol and drug abuse stories for the purpose of inspiration, motivation or to provide hope to you or someone you love. Drug and alcohol abuse is serious. Read the stories of others or anonymously publish true stories about drug and alcohol abuse.

Wine Tasting for the Average Joe

Going to a wine tasting can be a very fun and enjoyable experience. However, many people do not attend for fear of not knowing exactly how to act or what to do. There no great mystery to wine tastings, just a few things you should remember.

As far as etiquette, usually the ladies are served before the gentlemen. Some wine tastings offer you bottled water. Use this to rinse out your mouth between tastings so your palate is clean for the next wine. There is often unsalted and unflavored crackers and bread to help palate cleansing as well. You should always handle the wine glass by the stem. This helps avoid heating the wine with the warmth of your hands, thus altering the taste. Avoid wearing strong perfumes and colognes to a wine tasting. That may take away from not only your smell, but also that of the other guests. Also, avoid smoking, gum, and mints before and during a wine tasting to be able to enjoy the full flavor of the wine.

You can tell a lot about a wine just by looking at its color. When you attend a wine tasting, the glasses should always be clear so you can get a good look at the wine. The tables may also be covered with white tablecloths to help you see the wine's color clearly. Do not let the wine name full you. For example, white wines are not white in color. They may range from yellow to green to brown. Red wines range in color from pale red to a deep brownish red and often become lighter with age. Sometimes the color of a wine may indicate age or flavor. You may be able to tell the age of a red wine by doing a rim test. Tilt the glass slightly towards the rim of the wine glass and look at the wine. If the color of the red wine is more of a purple, it is usually a younger wine. If the color of the red wine is brown, it is an older wine.

Another thing you may have seen people do before they taste wine is swirl it slightly in the glass. This is to help open up the wine's flavor. Remember that the wine may have been in a bottle anywhere from six months to many, many years. When someone swirls a wine, it helps release the flavors. Just like when you're cooking at home and stir the food to help blend the flavors.

The color of the wine is just one aspect you will want to look at when you attend a wine tasting. You will also want to smell the wine. After swirling, this is the next step in the tasting process. You have probably seen people smell wine before and wondered why they did it. Smell plays a very important part in what we taste. Researchers have determined that perhaps as much as 75% of what we taste is actually based on what we smell first. You can smell your wine one of two ways: taking a small whiff to get an idea of how the wine smells, then a deeper whiff or take one deep whiff. After smelling the wine, take a minute to think about the smell. You do not want to immediately taste it after smelling but give yourself time to explore exactly what you smelled.

Finally, you will need to know is how to taste the wine properly. Your tongue has taste buds in both the front and back. These taste buds can detect bitter, salty, sweet, and sour flavors, but some are more sensitive than others are. There are three steps in tasting a wine: the first impression, the taste, and the aftertaste. The first impression happens when you take your first drink and the wine actually hits your taste buds. It should awaken your sense to the wine. After taking the first drink, you should swish the wine around your mouth for a few seconds to let all your taste buds discover the full flavor of the wine. Think about what the wine tastes like. Is it light or heavy? Is the smooth or harsh? The aftertaste is the sensation that remains in your mouth after swallowing the wine. How long did it last and was it pleasant?

Before attending a wine tasting, it may help you feel more confident to read about the different types of wines. This will give you a better idea of what to look for as far as flavor and taste. Next time you are invited to a wine tasting; do not be afraid to go. You may be missing a great experience!

Jason Connors is a wine lover providing valuable tips and advice on wine cellar design, wine making, and wine basics. Read his recent report on "What To Look For in a Wine Cooling System".

Six Fun Wine Tasting Party Themes

So you want to host a wine tasting? Make it fun! Wine tasting doesn't have to be a stuffy affair. After all, wine is first and foremost about pleasure. So even if you are trying to organize an education tasting, you should keep it enjoyable. One of the best ways to keep your guests interested and focused on the wine while having a great time is to plan a fun wine tasting theme. A cohesive theme helps keep the tasting focused and helps to get guests involved, drawing them out to comment on and discuss the wines. After all, the discussion is what is really the most fun and educational, not just tasting the wines. Otherwise you could just have wine tastings all alone at home!

Some of the themes listed below are not mutually exclusive. Mix it up, make it interesting in any way that seems entertaining to you and your guests. You can even throw in some wine tasting party games to really turn up the excitement.

Blind Wine Tastings:

A blind wine tasting is a fun way to get everyone involved and keep your guests guessing. In a blind tasting, the tasters are blinded to the wines. Generally, the bottles are covered with a brown bag to hide their identity and then numbered with a marker. That way your guests are not biased based on the label, producer, price or anything else. You can share your unbiased thoughts and impressions about the wines. You can have random wines or they can all have some theme, such as a vertical or horizontal tasting (see below). It can even be fun to incorporate a game such as scoring each wine to see which wine gets the most votes. Or you can award prizes for the person who guesses the the most wines correctly (vintage, producer, region, grape varieties, etc.). At the end you reveal the wine and can discuss further once you know what the wines were. It is a good idea to reveal the wines while everyone still has a bit of each wine left to taste so they can go back and reassess their impressions after finding out what they were drinking.

Vertical Wine Tasting:

A vertical tasting is an assortment of the same wine, from the same producer and vineyard, across several vintages. It is a great way to begin to understand both the style and specific characteristics of a producer or vineyard as well as the subtle differences that result from the different growing conditions of different vintages. While this can be difficult to arrange for someone new to wine, who only has access to the newest wines that are on the current market, if you have friends who collect wine and can help source the bottles this type of tasting can be very educational.

Horizontal Wine Tasting:

A horizontal wine tasting theme is much easier to put together. It is a tasting of various wines from the same vintage. Ideally, wines from the same region and general style are tasted from one vintage to compare the different producers and vineyards. This helps to learn about the characteristics of the vintage as well as the differences between the various producers or vineyards the wines come from. This type of tasting is much easier to put together than a vertical tasting because the wines all come from the same vintage. If you stick to a current vintage then you will have many options you can find in the marketplace. While it is generally best to stick to one region or style of wine, if you really want to challenge your guests you can include several wines from the same vintage but from different regions, grapes or countries to help learn about the, sometimes dramatic, differences between them.

Wine Region Theme:

A great way to learn a lot about a particular wine region is to host a tasting where the theme is just one wine producing area. Choose several wines produced in that region, from different producers, vineyards and sub-regions within the area. As you and your guests taste through them, pay attention to the similarities as well as the differences. Can you identify any characteristics that unify the wines? What sets them apart? Ask these questions to your guests. If you draw people out to talk, discuss and argue, your tasting will be more fun and educational.

Wine Scoring Party:

Another fun way to get your guests all personally involved is to ask everyone to score each wine. While most tasters find it easy to say if they like or don't like a wine, it requires much more attention to the details of the wine to give it a specific score. There are different ways to do this. One of the best is to supply your guests with a wine tasting score sheet which serves as a template to score wines. You can have sections with room for notes on the wine name, color and appearance, aroma, flavor and mouthfeel and overall impressions and conclusions. For the standard 100 point score they can give up to 5, 15, 20, and 10 points each for the color/appearance, aromas, flavors and overall impression/finish, respectively. The scores for each are added and added to 50 to create the final score between 50 and 100. You can then compare scores across guests and figure out how the wines ranked.

Wine and Food Pairing Dinner Party Theme:

Traditionally, wine is not meant to be enjoyed alone. Throughout history wine has accompanied food and many people believe that alongside food is where you should enjoy and judge wine. While tastings of wine alone is a lot of fun, a full dinner can really make the food and wine shine, bringing out nuances of each that were missing before. If you or your friends love to cook, pairing wine with each dish or course is a great way to both learn about the wines but also to learn about what types of wines work with specific foods. You can serve several wines alone with a given course and vote on which paired the best with the food. A fun way to do this is to choose a country or region and pair that area's cuisine with the wines produced there. For example, you can pair traditional Spanish cuisine with Spanish wines. The cuisine and wine of these old cultures grew up alongside each other over centuries and therefore they often create some of the most profound food and wine pairings. There are so many other options, from the general (like French wine with French food) to the specific (like Provençal cuisine with Bandol wine or Southwestern French cuisine with Bordeaux). If you are really enthusiastic you can even decorate the room and table in the style of that region to get everyone in the mood. Get creative and make it fun!

Josh Dusick is the editor of the Wine Tastings Guide at http://www.wine-tastings-guide.com where you can get information about how to host a wine tasting party, how to serve and taste wine and even about pairing wine and food.

Wine Tasting - What You Should Know About Wine Tasting

Wine Tasting Etiquette

As wine tasting is considered to be a very sophisticated practice there is a specific etiquette you have to follow. This etiquette should remain the same whether you are at a vineyard, a wine tasting private party, or in a restaurant.

When you have a wine tasting party you should only invite the amount of people that you can fit comfortably in the room you want to have your party. A crowd may be intimidating. You do not want any of your guests to feel like they are being rushed when they are pouring a glass or tasting the wine.

Always be sure to have bottled water on hand when you are having a wine tasting. This allows your guests to rinse their mouths out between tasting different wines. If you have just tasted a very heavy wine you must have water ready for the guests. If you do not then their next tasting may be tainted due to the heaviness lingering in their mouths. In addition, water is good because guests will get thirsty and they need to drink something other than the wine.

When you have a wine tasting it is important to provide foods for your guests. However, you also want to be sure to have food on hand that will not change the way the wine tastes in any way. The best snacks to have on hand include unflavored things like bread or unsalted crackers.

Decanting

Some people practice decanting before they serve wine at a wine tasting. This is very controversial to many different wine enthusiasts. Decanting is the process of letting wine breathe before you serve it.

Some people let their wine breathe for a few hours before they serve it. However, decanting is not just letting your wine breathe but it is when you pour your wine into a completely different container to allow the breathing. Some people even apply a special filter when decanting to remove bitter sediments that might have formed in the wine.

Younger bottles of wine benefit more to an aeration process than the older bottles. However, the sediment is more common with the older bottles. Many people say that airing out the bottle can relax the flavor of the wine, making them taste smoother. The wine might have better integration. However, all wines do not benefit from this method. Some wines are meant to drink immediately after popping the cork from the bottle.

The best way to tell if you need to let a bottle of wine air out or be decanted is to taste it first. As soon as you pull the cork off of the wine bottle you can tell by tasting if it needs to air out a little.

Blind Tasting

The best way to hold a wine tasting is by blindly serving the wine to your guests. This means that you do not want the guests to know what you are serving to them. You might want to serve the wine in a black wine glass. However, the guests should also not see the shape of the bottle of wine nor should they ever see the label on the bottle.

You never want a wine taster's judgment to be altered because they know specific details of a certain wine. Certain considerations that can alter a taster's judgment about wine include the price, reputation, color, and the geographic region the wine came from.

People have expectations about wine when they know these considerations. If a wine is very expensive or comes from a certain geographical region some people tend to have expectations of the different varietals. Eliminating expectations of the tasters allows a wine tasting to go smoother and the scores of the wines will be more accurate.

Vertical Tasting

When you have a vertical wine tasting you will have one varietal of wine from the same vintage. This means you might have the same wine from different years; 1999, 2000, 2001, etc. The most common purpose of tasting wines like this is to get a good idea of a certain wineries style and composition. You can also get an understanding how the different weather patterns affect grapes during certain years.

Horizontal Tasting

When a horizontal tasting occurs you will use the same wine from many different producers. This type of tasting will allow you to determine which wineries you think produce the better wine. This wine will be from the same year and the same type of wine but from different wineries.

Tasting Flights

When you hold a tasting flight you will have many glasses of wine out for the tasters to test. Next to each glass of wine you will have a card including the specifics of the wine; winery, geographical demographics, type, and more. Some flights include up to 50 glasses of wine to be tasted.

This gives a taster an idea what types of wines come from certain parts of the world and more. You can also get a good idea of the different tastes of the different types of wines when you taste wine through a flight.

Old World versus New World Tasting

Many people enjoy this type of wine tasting. The Old World according to wine enthusiasts is considered to be countries like France, Italy, Austria, Spain, etc. The New World is North America, South America, South Africa, New Zealand, and Australia.

The reason these countries are considered to be the New World is because they are new to the wine producing industry and late starters. However, these countries are significant in producing wines.

Many people like to feature the same types of wines from the old and new worlds to determine which they like better. Some people like to do a horizontal or vertical method with this also. There are many ways to mix it up so you can make your wine tasting successful.

Wine and Cheese Tasting

There are many different palate influences that cheese has when you drink a particular wine. When you taste specific wine combinations properly you will understand how well cheese and wine really do go together.

The best way to serve a Cabernet sauvignon is with blue cheese. All you need is just a little. You might serve the blue cheese with an unflavored French bread also. The blue cheese acts by coating the mouth and laying a foundation which will soften the wine and make it taste very good.

The best way to test this is by taking a taste of the wine first. Wait a minute. Then take a bite of the cheese and take another drink. You will see a big difference.

Wine and Chocolate Tasting

Chocolate and wine can go together if you do it right. Some people completely disagree but this is because they do not know how to pair up the two together. When you drink wine with chocolate it is important to be sure the wine is as sweet as the chocolate you are serving. If you have a wine that is not as sweet as the chocolate it will cause the wine to taste very sour.

If you want to serve lighter wines at a wine tasting with chocolate it is best to stick with chocolates that are lighter also. For instance, the white chocolates are the best with the lighter wines. A white zinfandel will go very well when you pair it with a chocolate that is bittersweet.

Priceless Tasting

Priceless wine tasting is not telling the guests how much the bottle of wine costs. If you have several bottles of wine you don't want to let anyone know the price of the wine. When guests know what the price of the wine is their judgment is tainted. Never reveal the price of the wine.

If you feel you must tell the guests the price of the wine, be sure you tell them after the tasting is over. This is because it is a natural perception that an expensive wine is superior to a wine that costs a low dollar amount of money. This may be true in some circumstances but it isn't always the case. You don't want assumptions to be made before the wine has been tasted or it will ruin the wine tasting.

Price point Tasting

The price point tasting method is very similar to the priceless tasting. However, you will use wines that are in the same price range when you serve the wines. The important factor is to establish a baseline for the dollar amount and stick to it.

Big 8 Tasting

A Big 8 tasting includes a wine tasting of the different varietals of the Big 8 wines in a tasting flight. The big 8 wines include red and white wines. The red wines included in the Big 8 are Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Shiraz, and Merlot. The white wines included in the Big 8 are the Chardonnay, Riesling, Pinot, and the Sauvignon Blanc.

This is a great way to have a wine tasting if your guests don't know the differences with the different varietals. They can work their way through the wines and find out for themselves what each of the wines taste like and the differences.

This is a fun way to learn about the wines. When you have newer wine tasters this might be the first type of wine tasting you want to have at home. This way, the next wine tasting you have your friends will know what to expect with the different blends of wine.

Scott Wells writes for http://MakeChristmasCrafts.com where you can learn to Make Christmas Crafts just in time for the holiday season.

Wine Tasting Kits and Caboodles

Wine tasting may seem like something that is on special reserve, geared only for those who are expert wine drinkers. Intent on discovering fruits of a winery's labor, these connoisseurs set out to serve as judges and juries of the bottled world, as if deciding the fate of a wine that stands trial, accused of being bad. But, however expert-like wine tasting may seem, it's not just for those who are experts, connoisseurs, or even seasoned drinkers; wine tasting is also for beginners. Even for those of you who view wine as a stranger, too intimidated to approach it in a bar, wine tasting is a necessary and helpful practice.

Wine tasting serves many purposes. First of all, it gives you the ability to find out what kind of wine you truly enjoy, helping you decide what wine you should order at restaurants and store in the cellar. Wine tasting also exposes you to a variety of types, educating you on how to detect differences. Without it, you may have no chance at ever determining one wine from another, ultimately forcing yourself to order the entire wine list instead of just a specific glass or bottle.

While many cities have wine tasting events, with some cities even offering classes on how to properly taste wine, some people, particularly the wine novice, may prefer to lose their wine tasting virginity in a more private venue, such as their own home. For those of you with which this preference fits, a wine tasting kit is a suitable purchase.

Wine Tasting Kits

Wine tasting kits bring the concept of a large wine tasting venue to the comfort of your home, allowing you to enjoy each sip in your favorite chair, perhaps watching Golden Girls in between vintages, nodding in appreciation to both your wine and Sophia's witty rapport. Because it removes the presence of wine vendors and wine experts from the equation, wine tasting kits provide the ability to taste wine without the fear of doing it incorrectly.

Wine tasting kits can greatly range in price and in what they include. While some come with everything you could possibly need, stopping just short of packaging a vineyard in bubble wrap, others don't include everything, with some not including the wine. Wine tasting kits that may be geared towards teaching people to learn the differences in smell may include aroma strips, where as those geared towards party games may include a wine trivia book. Similarly, some wine tasting kits are geared for a solo taster, while other wine tasting kits come with six or eight glasses, aimed at those who want to share the wine tasting experience with a few close friends.

Wine tasting kits may also not be exactly what they sound like. Some books that discuss wine tasting call themselves wine tasting kits and course outlines, that provide a lesson plan on tasting, also call themselves wine tasting kits. While these can be just as helpful as the actual wine tasting kit itself, be sure you are purchasing exactly what you seek.

Blind Wine Tasting Kits

Whether it's romance you're sharing with another person, or romance you're sharing with a bottle of wine, love is always blind, with no preconceived notions or stereotypes affecting affection. This idea applies to all sorts of categories of wine, particularly the tasting of it.

Blind wine tasting, while it may sound like a game where you wear a blindfold and pin a wine opener on a bottle of Pinot Noir, is the concept of tasting wine without knowing anything about it: without knowing where it's from, what year it was made, or what it does for fun. Because people often have previously established judgments, knowing certain things about wine can alter opinions. Blind tasting, however, requires the taster to be as objective as possible, making them as honest as possible in the process. This gives you the greatest chance of finding wine that you truly like.

Blind wine tasting kits are essentially the same as wine tasting kits, only you don't know what type of wine you are tasting. These kits typically come with bottles encased in cloth, blocking you from viewing the wine's information. Only after the wine has been tasted and rated, should its identity be revealed.

Virtual Wine Tasting Kits

The virtual world has transcended the categories of virtually every product in existence including wine tasting kits. Virtual wine tasting kits are similar to video lessons or books on tape, only they involve a DVD player or a computer. They are relatively easy to follow. Many come with a few bottles of wine as well as a CD Rom or a DVD where your very own wine connoisseur guides you through the world of wine. The CD Rom or DVD will instruct you how to assess the quality of the wine, determine if it needs to be aged or if it is presently suitable for drinking, and detect certain odors and flavors of the wine.

Wine tasting kits can be both fun and beneficial for any wine drinker. Most are extremely simple to use and easily encourage the culture and art of determining one wine from another: they provide an invaluable wine education. However, because wine tasting does involve alcohol, it's important not to make portions too big (or use a spittoon). Drinking too much wine can make you drunk, leaving you to have both an affinity for all types of wine and an unyielding desire for bacon.

Jennifer Jordan is the senior editor at http://www.savoreachglass.com. With a vast knowledge of wine etiquette, she writes articles on everything from how to hold a glass of wine to how to hold your hair back after too many glasses. Ultimately, she writes her articles with the intention that readers will remember wine is fun and each glass of anything fun should always be savored.

A Guide on How to Do Wine Tasting the Right Way

Going to a wine tasting party can be a fun and enjoyable experience for everyone. However, most people don't attend because they have fear about not knowing how to act in such parties and afraid that they will offend someone or be embarrassed by not knowing how to taste wine.

Basically, the basics of wine tasting are actually quite simple. You don't need to have formal training and everyone can do it. By the time you finish reading this article, you will be well on your way in becoming a wine taster and you will be ready enough to attend wine tasting parties or even go on a wine tasting vacation in some of the most prominent vineyards and wineries in the world.

As far as etiquette is concerned, the ladies are usually served before the gentlemen. In most wine tasting parties, you can expect to be served with room temperature bottled water. The water is to rinse your mouth between tastings in order for your palate to be clean for the next wine. Cold water is not served as cold water will shock your taste buds which can overall affect the taste of the wine.

Also, some wine tasting parties serve unsalted and unflavored bread or crackers. This also helps in palate cleansing, which will also get your palate ready for the next wine tasting.

When tasting wine, it is important that you should always hold the wine glass by the stem and not cup the bowl in your palm. The purpose of this is that it helps in preventing you to heat the wine with the warmth of your hands. You have to remember that this will also affect the overall taste of the wine.

It is also very important that when you attend wine tasting parties, you shouldn't wear strong smelling perfumes or colognes and even after shave. The scent of the perfume will overwhelm the bouquet or the smell of the wine, thus, affecting the taste of the wine. You will not be the only one affected by this, but also other tasters. So, be polite and don't wear strong smelling perfume or other scents.

It is also important that you shouldn't smoke, chew gum, and mints before and during the wine tasting event. This can have an effect on your taste buds and you will not be able to fully enjoy the real flavor of the wine.

Tasting the wine doesn't just involve putting the wine in your mouth and roll it around your tongue a couple of times before spitting or swallowing. You have to remember that wine tasting is all about the wine. It is about the color of the wine, the smell or the bouquet, and of course, the taste.

The first step in tasting wine is by taking a look at its color. The glasses served should always be clean and clear in order for you take a good look at the wine. The tables should be covered with white linen table cloth in order for you to see the wine's color more clearly. You have to remember that white wines aren't always white. It may have a yellow, green and even brown color. For red wines, you will observe that it also has different shades of red. The lighter the color of the red wine is, the older it is.

The color of the wine will also indicate the age or the flavor. Try doing a rim test to look at the color of the wine. Just tilt the glass and look at the wine. If it is purplish in color, it indicates that the wine is young. If it is brownish, it means that it is an older wine.

The next step is to smell the wine. Swirl the wine around the glass to expose the wine to the air, position the glass close to your nose and inhale deeply. Swirling also releases the flavor of the wine. You have to remember that the wine may have been in the bottle for six months to many, many years. By swirling the wine, you will release the flavors. It's like cooking at home where you stir the food in order for you to blend the flavor.

Finally, you now need to taste the wine properly. Don't gulp the wine down. Just take small sips and roll the wine around your tongue. You have tor remember that there are three steps in actual tasting, which is the first impression, the taste and the aftertaste.

These are the steps in tasting wine. So, the next time you are invited to attend a wine tasting party, you will be able to feel more confident as you will know what to do.

Thomas Sherwood is a former Sgt in the United States Marine Corps & owner of Sherwood Locksmithing of La Vergne TN.

Discover all you want and need to know about wine at, please visit The Absolute Beginners Guide To Wine [http://www.theabsolutebeginnersguidetowine.com]

Fool-Proof Wine Values.

Author
“ Fool-Proof Wine Values”

Ed Gandia is a freelance writer and marketing consultant based in Marietta, Georgia. A self-proclaimed wine geek, Ed has been passionately researching, studying and enjoying wine for more than 14 years.

Ed’s fool-proof system for picking value wines took him 10 years to develop. It has saved him thousands of dollars, turned his wife from a wine-hater to a wine fanatic and made Ed the “go to” guy among friends and family when it comes to advice on wine bargains.

Ed’s wine-related articles have appeared in publications such as LocalWineEvents.com, OneStop Wine, Food Pantry Tips and Ezinearticles.com.

“I can't tell you how often I'm in a wine store and notice someone wandering the wine aisles, trying to make heads or tails out of an overwhelming number of wine selections. This book helps solve this problem. The education is imparted with confidence and grace. It definitely makes you feel equipped, not stupid. And Ed's choices are very solid. Bravo!”
--Tom Ahern
Food Columnist, Rhode Island Monthly

“What a great resource! For those of us who just want to buy wine with confidence and without overspending, this eBook is the perfect reference. All the recommendations I’ve tried have been outstanding and surprisingly easy to find.”
--Jose Camps
Deltona, FL

“I'm always looking for that $10 bottle of wine. Yet every time I walk into the market, I'm intimidated by how many wines there are. This book removes the guesswork and awkwardness from the wine shopping experience by teaching a ‘wine shopping system’ anyone can easily follow.”
--Dianna Huff
Plaistow, NH

“Comprehensive and fascinating, 'Fool-Proof Wine Values' is a work of art for its usefulness, simplicity, and enlightenment. As a veteran Chardonnay lover, Ed Gandia's treatment of the subject of wines has me thinking about stepping out of my comfort zone to sample the pleasures of other varietals. With his unique pricing guide, I no longer feel intimidated by the store wine racks...I can select quickly and with confidence. And I can now select appropriate wines for gifts and holidays. Ed, thank you for creating a book I'll use often!”
--Chris Marlow
Palm Desert, CA

“Now I realize how much money I wasted over the years buying overpriced junk. Wish I would have had this information 5 years ago.”
--Brian Garrety
Charlotte, NC

“It’s so annoying to read a wine review in a major magazine or newspaper and not be able to find that wine anywhere in town. I need suggestions that I can easily find, not a bunch of obscure, limited-production wines. That’s why I love your book!”
--Diana Smith
Hiram, GA

Dear wine-loving friend:

You’re having friends over for dinner. You want to pour a wine they’ll enjoy. Something different and memorable. But you also don’t want to spend a fortune. That’s where the dilemma begins. If you stray from what you know…how do you know you’ll pick something good?

You could also go with the wine clerk’s recommendation. But how does HE know what you like and don’t like? What if he’s trying to push a wine that he desperately needs to get rid of?

Shopping for wine can be hassle. With so many labels and so many choices…how do you pick? What if you get it wrong?

And can you really find excellent quality for $10 or less these days?

Well, there is an answer to this dilemma. In fact, you’ll be happy to know there are currently 44 producers from around the world making lots of excellent wine every single year.

Best part? These wines will only set you back $6 to $10.

These are wines that, frankly, are under-priced when you consider their quality. And because of their high production volume, they are also very easy to find — regardless of where you live in the U.S.

When you know who these producers are (and which of their wines you should seek), you’ll not only save a bundle…you’ll also shop with confidence.

No longer will you feel intimidated by rack after rack of confusing wine selections. And you’ll never again struggle to find an affordable wine to serve at your next dinner party, birthday bash, family gathering or wedding reception.

You can learn all about these 44 producers (and the 147 fabulous wines they make) — in my new eBook, “Fool-Proof Wine Values: 147 Timeless Bargains to Impress Your Friends and Take the Hassle Out of Buying Wine.”

I’ll give you all the details in a moment.  But first, let me introduce myself.

My name is Ed Gandia. I’m not a wine critic. I’m not a sommelier. I’m not a wine snob. Heck, I don’t even work in the wine trade!

I’m just a regular guy who loves wine. But I’m not your average wine lover. I’ve also been researching, studying and enjoying this magical beverage for more than 14 years.

Yes…I’m a wine geek. But I’m also the guy my friends call when they’re having guests for dinner and need a really good (yet inexpensive) bottle of red to serve with gilled pork tenderloin.

The guy that friends and family call when they’re hosting a holiday party and need wine recommendations. Wines that will impress the guests without breaking the bank.  

And I’m the guy you would call if you enjoy a glass of wine with dinner every night but are tired of the same old “standards” you’ve been buying for months!

“What a great resource! For those of us who just want to buy wine with confidence and without overspending, this eBook is the perfect reference. All the recommendations I’ve tried have been outstanding and surprisingly easy to find.”

--Jose Camps
Deltona, FL

Coming from a Hispanic family with European roots, wine has always been part of my life. My dad often served wine at the dinner table. And once I reached my mid-teens, he would pour me a small glass on occasion.  

After college, I started to buy wine every week. I was intrigued by the differences and nuances in each wine. So, to learn more, I started buying and reading every wine book I could get my hands on.  

I would also regularly consult with my dad and other wine professionals. I’d go to wine tastings every week. Explore different wines from different regions. Make notes of what I liked and what I didn’t like (and why). And eventually, I developed a very reliable palate.

Eventually, my wife and I began drinking wine with dinner every evening. Yet as much as we enjoy wine, we can’t afford to spend too much. We certainly like drinking high-quality wines. We just don’t want to mortgage the house to get it!  

So, about ten years ago I found a very reliable way to “cheat the system” (so to speak). I began to discover several bargain producers that were making high quality wines year after year but were keeping their prices at $10 or under.   Specifically, I was looking for wines that:

Tasted like wines priced in the $20 to $50 rangeCost $10 or lessDelivered consistent quality year after yearAnd were readily available at most wine shops in the U.S.Over the years, I’ve compiled a comprehensive list of 44 select producers and the 147 wines they make which meet this strict criteria.
And that’s exactly what I’ll be sharing with you in “Fool-Proof Wine Values.”

“I'm always looking for that $10 bottle of wine. Yet every time I walk into the market, I'm intimidated by how many wines there are. This book removes the guesswork and awkwardness from the wine shopping experience by teaching a ‘wine shopping system’ anyone can easily follow.”

--Dianna Huff
Plaistow, NH

The first thing that makes “Fool-Proof Wine Values” different is that it doesn’t focus on wine ratings. It also doesn’t focus on specific wines from specific vintages. Wine publications already do a good job of that.   Wine critics, wine reviews, wine scores: they’re all great. But in my experience, most of these wine-picking methods lack one very important element: I mean, who can remember the hundreds of wine ratings in just one issue of a major wine magazine? Most folks just want to know an easy and reliable way to find great, affordable wines.

And when you know whom the high-quality, consistent bargain producers are (and what they’re good at making), you don’t have to worry about ratings.

Better yet, when you then narrow this list to only those producers that make their affordable wines in large quantities (so you don’t have to search every store in town)…the wine experience can start becoming a heck of a lot more fun.

Check out my 60-day, unconditional, money-back guarantee

“Comprehensive and fascinating, 'Fool-Proof Wine Values' is a work of art for its usefulness, simplicity, and enlightenment. As a veteran Chardonnay lover, Ed Gandia's treatment of the subject of wines has me thinking about stepping out of my comfort zone to sample the pleasures of other varietals. With his unique pricing guide, I no longer feel intimidated by the store wine racks...I can select quickly and with confidence. And I can now select appropriate wines for gifts and holidays. Ed, thank you for creating a book I'll use often!”
--Chris Marlow
Palm Desert, CA

Besides a comprehensive list of the top producers (and their best wines in the $10-and-under category), I’ll share with you dozens of priceless tips, ideas and insights. Information that will help you save a bundle every time you buy wine…without sacrificing quality. For example, you’ll discover…
How to properly taste and enjoy wine. What to look for when tasting and how to judge quality. All in plain English, and without all the snobbery that usually comes with the subject (See pages 17 - 20)Can you really find good Pinot Noir for $10 or under? Yes you can. I’ll give you 3 good recommendations you’ll be able to easily find in most U.S. wine shop.Which types of wines will pair exceptionally well with your BBQ or your favorite pizza?  (Recommendations on pages 28 and 30.)  What kind of wine should you try with shellfish?  (See pages 23 and 25.)How to save 10% - 17% on your wine purchases by making this simple change to your wine-buying pattern (See page 69)5 important qualities to look for in a wine retailer (see pages 70 & 71)Retailers you should avoid…and those you should patronize in order to save even more and to get better-quality wine (explained on pg. 70)What’s the best way to store your wine?  What’s the appropriate serving temperature for reds? For whites? Find out on pages 73 and 74.Spoiled wine? Don’t throw it down the drain! Here are 2 great ideas on
how to put to it to good use (Pages 77 & 78).How long will your wine “age?” You’ll find the surprising answer is on pg. 73.The absolute best way to save opened wine (hint: don’t use a vacuum pump!). See page 77 for some fail-safe recommendations.Stemware: What kind of wine glasses should you have on-hand? Will different glasses enhance the wine? You’ll discover the absolute best wine glasses you can buy…and where to get them. And you’ll read about a set of beautiful, everyday wine glasses that will surely impress your guests…but will only cost you a few bucks. (All on pages 74 – 76).Should you decant your wine? If so…which types of wines benefit from decanting?  The answer (on page 74) may surprise you.And much, much more!

Just imagine how much time, money and frustration this information will save you. And how much more confident you'll feel next time you're browsing the isles at the wine store!

And if you’re just now getting into wine, or if you consider yourself a beginner, think about how quickly your knowledge will increase. Without having to endure a boring lecture. Without having to read a dozen books. Or without having to invest years in acquiring that knowledge on your own.

The information contained in this eBook took me 14 years to research and compile.  

And because research involved tasting thousands of wines over the course of 14 years, I literally spent thousands of dollars on wine — both good and bad.  

Not only that, but to also learn the “extra” information I’ve also thrown in this book (practical information on wine tasting, storing and serving wine, where to shop, price categories and so on) would require you to buy and read over a dozen books, attend dozens of tastings and spend months and years tasting and experimenting. That’s an expensive way to learn about wine.

But you don’t have to go through any of this. You can get “Fool-Proof Wine Values” for only $19.

That’s less than the cost of two good bottles of wine…less than taking out a friend to lunch…and an investment that will pay for itself many times over through smarter wine purchases.

“Now I realize how much money I wasted over the years buying overpriced junk. Wish I would have had this information 5 years ago.”

--Brian Garrety
Charlotte, NC

Within seconds of downloading “Fool-Proof Wine Values” you’ll be reading about the best wine bargains in the country. And the pre-sorted lists of recommendations included in the book will make it easy to find what you’re looking for. That means you can download the book and be at your local wine shop right away making smart purchases. Best of all, you’ll be able to shop with confidence and enjoy wines that could easily command 2, 3 or even 5 times their price.

But let’s face it. If you put this off, the chances of you remembering to come back to this website are very slim. You’re probably busy and have lots on your mind. So, as an incentive to respond immediately, I’m willing to sweeten the pot. Act now and I’ll throw in 3 exciting, limited-time bonuses:

“Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Buying and Enjoying Wine in Restaurants…But Were Afraid to Ask!” (a $12 Value).

In this report, you’ll learn how to avoid restaurant wine rip-offs…how to pick the right wine when you dine out…what to do when the wine is presented to you (how to look good, and how to avoid complete embarrassment!)…when to send your wine back…what to do with the cork…vintages to look for…when you should order wine by the glass (and when you shouldn’t)…a little-known “tradition” that allows you to bring in your own wine to most restaurants…and much more.

“7 Fun and Unique Ways to Share Wine With Friends and Loved Ones” (a $12 value). You’ll learn how to organize a fun and memorable wine tasting, wine party, wine dinner (how to put one together…what to do…wines to serve…how many guests are too many or too few)…and how to make wine events stimulating, yet fun.   All in all, 7 unique ideas that will turn a regular party into an event your guests will be talking about for months! “The Bargain Hunter’s Wine Shopping Cheat Sheet” (a $7 value). Once you’re ready to shop, you’ll want to have the information in “Fool-Proof Wine Values” as a reference while you’re out shopping. But let’s face it: It’s not practical to bring a whole printed eBook into a wine store.

You won’t have to go through that hassle.  This free bonus lists all 44 “Hall of Fame” producers — along with their best 147 bargain wines — in an easy to reference format. Simply print these 2 pages, fold them in half and stick them in your pocket for easy reference while shopping.

Here’s the best part:  I’m so confident that you’re going to love the information in “Fool-Proof Wine Values” that I’m willing to back it up with my 100%, money-back guarantee. Here’s my promise, plain and simple…

If for any reason you aren't thrilled with your purchase, just contact me within 60 days and I’ll refund 100% of your purchase price.  

That means you can download “Fool-Proof Wine Values” today...take a full 60 days to read through it…and try some of the wines profiled.  

If you don’t agree that these recommendations are terrific bargains. If you can’t find these wines at your local retailers. If you don’t think these wines deliver excellent quality for $10 or less. If you don’t think the tips and ideas in this book will help you save money, time and frustration every time you buy wine…

Then I don’t want your money. And I’ll give you a prompt refund.

You really have nothing to lose (and a lot of great and valuable information to gain!) because no matter what you decide, the FREE bonuses are yours to keep just for giving “Fool-Proof Wine Values” a try.

To recap, you get: “Fool-Proof Wine Values: 147 Timeless Bargains to Impress Your Friends and Take the Hassle Out of Buying Wine”Plus…

Bonus Report: “Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Buying and Enjoying Wine in Restaurants…But Were Afraid to Ask!” (a $12 Value)Bonus Report: “7 Fun and Unique Ways to Share Wine With Friends and Loved Ones” (a $12 value)Bonus Resource: “The Bargain Hunter’s Wine Shopping Cheat Sheet” (a $7 value)A 100% 60-day, no-questions-asked, money-back guaranteeAll this, for the ridiculously low price of $19.

Click on the button above to get your instant download of “Fool-Proof Wine Values: 147 Timeless Bargains to Impress Your Friends and Take the Hassle Out of Buying Wine.

Once your credit card is approved, you will be taken to a special page where you will be able download the eBook (delivered in Adobe PDF format), along with your FREE bonuses.

(Downloads are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year)

Cheers,

Ed Gandia
Author,
“Fool-Proof Wine Values”

P.S. – Within seconds of downloading “Fool-Proof Wine Values” you’ll be reading about the best wine bargains in the country. And the pre-sorted lists of recommendations included in the book will make it easy to find what you’re looking for. That means you can download the book and be at your local wine shop right away making smart purchases. Wines that cost only $6 to $10…yet could easily command 2, 3 or even 5 times more.

P.P.S. – Remember…you have nothing to lose.  If for whatever reason you aren't absolutely thrilled with your purchase, just contact me within 60 days and I’ll refund 100% of your purchase price. So don’t decide now if this book is just right for you. Try it out and decide within the next 60 days without risk. You simply can't lose.

View the original article here

Wine Tasting Kits Bring The Venue To Your Home

Wine tasting kits are a great way to experiment with a variety of types of wines, giving you the opportunity to find a vintage that appeases all your senses.

Made For Everyone

Wine tasting kits are usually made for the ordinary person to learn about different wines that are available. In my opinion it is one of the best ways to experience wine. Wine tasting is not just for those who are experts, connoisseurs, or even seasoned drinkers. Wine tasting is also for beginners.

A Wide Variety

Wine tasting kits are available in different types and kinds, and can greatly range in price and in what they include. Depending on the wines you are going to taste, there are corresponding tasting kits for it. Red wine tasting kits are different from kits used in white wine. Most of these kits can be both fun and beneficial for any wine drinker, regardless of their expertise. Basically, wine tasting kits are used by wine tasters to determine and analyze the wine's quality, taste, aroma, color and flavor. Wine tasting kits can be a fun way towards teaching people to learn the differences in the wines.

Some wine tasting kits are geared for a solo taster, while other wine tasting kits come with six or eight glasses, aimed at those who want to share the wine tasting experience with a few close friends. Most people think that wine tasting kits are a great way to taste wine with friends, especially in your own home, in an informal atmosphere.

Home Entertaining

Wineries attract wine lovers like magnets because they offer the option of tasting new wines and vintages and exposing their sense of smell and taste to another variation of their existing collection. Kits are able to bring a very similar experience to your home.

Because it removes the presence of wine vendors and wine experts from the equation, wine tasting kits provide the ability to taste wine without the fear of doing it incorrectly. Sometimes people enjoy wine tasting kits in a "blind format". When you taste wines in a blind format, it becomes even more fun because your subjective taste has been removed and replaced with an objective adventure.

Wine tasting kits bring the concept of a large wine tasting venue to the comfort of your home, allowing you to enjoy each sip in your favorite chair. Kits also vary in numbers of bottles and strips, accessories and materials. Having the right sets of wine tasting kits, along with tasting knowledge, will help you know if you are buying authentic and quality standard wines.

David Hall is recognized as a leading expert on wine, wine making and wine tasting and is author of 'The Wine Connoisseur' ebook and audio book. Discover even more about wine making recipes! Get instant access to his Special Report entitled "Discovering Wine" with your free subscription to his mini-course at www.Wine-Handbook.com

2BASnobs Wine Tasting Kit.

Have you ever been to a wine tasting party where the whole experience was fun, but left you somewhat unsatisfied?

That was my experience with the first few parties I attended while I was learning about wine.

Even though the hosts had tasting sheets and were fairly organized, it still left me wanting more.

I had high hopes for the parties because I was interested in learning more about wine and discovering what I did and didn't like. And what better way to learn than in a fun atmosphere among friends.

While the social aspect of the parties was great, I don't think my wine knowledge or appreciation benefited.

In setting out to determine what would have made the tastings more beneficial I discovered the key mistake that most hosts do that make it almost impossible to really benefit your wine skills.

No doubt about it, do what I recommend and it will skyrocket your learning curve. You will gain a feel for even the most subtle differences among the varietals.

They say that practice makes perfect, but that is not necessarily true. Perfect practice makes perfect. In other words, if you want to really learn about wine, then make sure your practice is designed to give you the most benefit.

Click Here To Get Started

"My son loved it! I purchased 5 bottles of wine, a unique 5 bottle wine holder, and the wine tasting kit with everything you sent me. It was so perfect... your service was unique, fit what I needed, and my budget too. This would also be a great idea for someone that's just moved into a new home, a wedding gift, birthday gift, or just a neighborhood get-together. I'm glad I found you online. You saved the day!"

- Kathy Harrigan

Some Key Features of the Wine Tasting Kit:

My method for the fastest way to learn the characteristics of the different types of wine.Step by step instructions from start to finishTasting sheets with quick tips for wine beginnersContest instructions and printable forms for creating excitement and participationMultiple theme suggestions for a variety of objectives and wine skill levelsInvitation wording to copy and paste and save time preparing for the eventA method to encourage others to hold tastings as wellIt is offered as an immediate download in Adobe PDF format. The file is around 375KB in size so even dial up users will have no problem downloading.

Below are sample screenshots of a few pages:

I truly believe that if you follow the instructions in the kit, you can host a wine tasting party that will not only increase your and your guests' wine knowledge, but also host a party that will be remembered and talked about for years to come.

In Addition:

Order the kit and get our Snob's Wine Basics eBook as a FREE bonus. It is an 11-page introduction to wine boiled down to just give you the basics without going into too much detail. You can:

Print this and include it in the kit to be given to your guests (if you like)Burn it to a CD and include it in the kit instead of printingEmail a copy to a friend or simply keep it for yourselfThe price for the kit is a mere $13.95(USD), less than the cost of well... most bottles of wine. It is offered through the secure services of ClickBank and they accept PayPal and most major credit cards.

You get an Unconditional 60 Day Money Back Guarantee.

Download the kit, have the party and if you're not completely satisfied within 60 days, I'll give you your money back, no questions asked, and you get to keep the tasting kit AND the FREE bonus.

You literally have nothing to lose!

Click On The Button Below To Order!

Secure Ordering Provided by ClickBank

Additional VAT may be added inside the European Union, and where else applicable. 

If you have any problems downloading your tasting kit, you can reach us at customer.support@2basnob.com.

Back to Top of Downloadable Wine Tasting Kit

View the original article here

Fool-Proof Wine Values.

Author
“ Fool-Proof Wine Values”

Ed Gandia is a freelance writer and marketing consultant based in Marietta, Georgia. A self-proclaimed wine geek, Ed has been passionately researching, studying and enjoying wine for more than 14 years.

Ed’s fool-proof system for picking value wines took him 10 years to develop. It has saved him thousands of dollars, turned his wife from a wine-hater to a wine fanatic and made Ed the “go to” guy among friends and family when it comes to advice on wine bargains.

Ed’s wine-related articles have appeared in publications such as LocalWineEvents.com, OneStop Wine, Food Pantry Tips and Ezinearticles.com.

“I can't tell you how often I'm in a wine store and notice someone wandering the wine aisles, trying to make heads or tails out of an overwhelming number of wine selections. This book helps solve this problem. The education is imparted with confidence and grace. It definitely makes you feel equipped, not stupid. And Ed's choices are very solid. Bravo!”
--Tom Ahern
Food Columnist, Rhode Island Monthly

“What a great resource! For those of us who just want to buy wine with confidence and without overspending, this eBook is the perfect reference. All the recommendations I’ve tried have been outstanding and surprisingly easy to find.”
--Jose Camps
Deltona, FL

“I'm always looking for that $10 bottle of wine. Yet every time I walk into the market, I'm intimidated by how many wines there are. This book removes the guesswork and awkwardness from the wine shopping experience by teaching a ‘wine shopping system’ anyone can easily follow.”
--Dianna Huff
Plaistow, NH

“Comprehensive and fascinating, 'Fool-Proof Wine Values' is a work of art for its usefulness, simplicity, and enlightenment. As a veteran Chardonnay lover, Ed Gandia's treatment of the subject of wines has me thinking about stepping out of my comfort zone to sample the pleasures of other varietals. With his unique pricing guide, I no longer feel intimidated by the store wine racks...I can select quickly and with confidence. And I can now select appropriate wines for gifts and holidays. Ed, thank you for creating a book I'll use often!”
--Chris Marlow
Palm Desert, CA

“Now I realize how much money I wasted over the years buying overpriced junk. Wish I would have had this information 5 years ago.”
--Brian Garrety
Charlotte, NC

“It’s so annoying to read a wine review in a major magazine or newspaper and not be able to find that wine anywhere in town. I need suggestions that I can easily find, not a bunch of obscure, limited-production wines. That’s why I love your book!”
--Diana Smith
Hiram, GA

Dear wine-loving friend:

You’re having friends over for dinner. You want to pour a wine they’ll enjoy. Something different and memorable. But you also don’t want to spend a fortune. That’s where the dilemma begins. If you stray from what you know…how do you know you’ll pick something good?

You could also go with the wine clerk’s recommendation. But how does HE know what you like and don’t like? What if he’s trying to push a wine that he desperately needs to get rid of?

Shopping for wine can be hassle. With so many labels and so many choices…how do you pick? What if you get it wrong?

And can you really find excellent quality for $10 or less these days?

Well, there is an answer to this dilemma. In fact, you’ll be happy to know there are currently 44 producers from around the world making lots of excellent wine every single year.

Best part? These wines will only set you back $6 to $10.

These are wines that, frankly, are under-priced when you consider their quality. And because of their high production volume, they are also very easy to find — regardless of where you live in the U.S.

When you know who these producers are (and which of their wines you should seek), you’ll not only save a bundle…you’ll also shop with confidence.

No longer will you feel intimidated by rack after rack of confusing wine selections. And you’ll never again struggle to find an affordable wine to serve at your next dinner party, birthday bash, family gathering or wedding reception.

You can learn all about these 44 producers (and the 147 fabulous wines they make) — in my new eBook, “Fool-Proof Wine Values: 147 Timeless Bargains to Impress Your Friends and Take the Hassle Out of Buying Wine.”

I’ll give you all the details in a moment.  But first, let me introduce myself.

My name is Ed Gandia. I’m not a wine critic. I’m not a sommelier. I’m not a wine snob. Heck, I don’t even work in the wine trade!

I’m just a regular guy who loves wine. But I’m not your average wine lover. I’ve also been researching, studying and enjoying this magical beverage for more than 14 years.

Yes…I’m a wine geek. But I’m also the guy my friends call when they’re having guests for dinner and need a really good (yet inexpensive) bottle of red to serve with gilled pork tenderloin.

The guy that friends and family call when they’re hosting a holiday party and need wine recommendations. Wines that will impress the guests without breaking the bank.  

And I’m the guy you would call if you enjoy a glass of wine with dinner every night but are tired of the same old “standards” you’ve been buying for months!

“What a great resource! For those of us who just want to buy wine with confidence and without overspending, this eBook is the perfect reference. All the recommendations I’ve tried have been outstanding and surprisingly easy to find.”

--Jose Camps
Deltona, FL

Coming from a Hispanic family with European roots, wine has always been part of my life. My dad often served wine at the dinner table. And once I reached my mid-teens, he would pour me a small glass on occasion.  

After college, I started to buy wine every week. I was intrigued by the differences and nuances in each wine. So, to learn more, I started buying and reading every wine book I could get my hands on.  

I would also regularly consult with my dad and other wine professionals. I’d go to wine tastings every week. Explore different wines from different regions. Make notes of what I liked and what I didn’t like (and why). And eventually, I developed a very reliable palate.

Eventually, my wife and I began drinking wine with dinner every evening. Yet as much as we enjoy wine, we can’t afford to spend too much. We certainly like drinking high-quality wines. We just don’t want to mortgage the house to get it!  

So, about ten years ago I found a very reliable way to “cheat the system” (so to speak). I began to discover several bargain producers that were making high quality wines year after year but were keeping their prices at $10 or under.   Specifically, I was looking for wines that:

Tasted like wines priced in the $20 to $50 rangeCost $10 or lessDelivered consistent quality year after yearAnd were readily available at most wine shops in the U.S.Over the years, I’ve compiled a comprehensive list of 44 select producers and the 147 wines they make which meet this strict criteria.
And that’s exactly what I’ll be sharing with you in “Fool-Proof Wine Values.”

“I'm always looking for that $10 bottle of wine. Yet every time I walk into the market, I'm intimidated by how many wines there are. This book removes the guesswork and awkwardness from the wine shopping experience by teaching a ‘wine shopping system’ anyone can easily follow.”

--Dianna Huff
Plaistow, NH

The first thing that makes “Fool-Proof Wine Values” different is that it doesn’t focus on wine ratings. It also doesn’t focus on specific wines from specific vintages. Wine publications already do a good job of that.   Wine critics, wine reviews, wine scores: they’re all great. But in my experience, most of these wine-picking methods lack one very important element: I mean, who can remember the hundreds of wine ratings in just one issue of a major wine magazine? Most folks just want to know an easy and reliable way to find great, affordable wines.

And when you know whom the high-quality, consistent bargain producers are (and what they’re good at making), you don’t have to worry about ratings.

Better yet, when you then narrow this list to only those producers that make their affordable wines in large quantities (so you don’t have to search every store in town)…the wine experience can start becoming a heck of a lot more fun.

Check out my 60-day, unconditional, money-back guarantee

“Comprehensive and fascinating, 'Fool-Proof Wine Values' is a work of art for its usefulness, simplicity, and enlightenment. As a veteran Chardonnay lover, Ed Gandia's treatment of the subject of wines has me thinking about stepping out of my comfort zone to sample the pleasures of other varietals. With his unique pricing guide, I no longer feel intimidated by the store wine racks...I can select quickly and with confidence. And I can now select appropriate wines for gifts and holidays. Ed, thank you for creating a book I'll use often!”
--Chris Marlow
Palm Desert, CA

Besides a comprehensive list of the top producers (and their best wines in the $10-and-under category), I’ll share with you dozens of priceless tips, ideas and insights. Information that will help you save a bundle every time you buy wine…without sacrificing quality. For example, you’ll discover…
How to properly taste and enjoy wine. What to look for when tasting and how to judge quality. All in plain English, and without all the snobbery that usually comes with the subject (See pages 17 - 20)Can you really find good Pinot Noir for $10 or under? Yes you can. I’ll give you 3 good recommendations you’ll be able to easily find in most U.S. wine shop.Which types of wines will pair exceptionally well with your BBQ or your favorite pizza?  (Recommendations on pages 28 and 30.)  What kind of wine should you try with shellfish?  (See pages 23 and 25.)How to save 10% - 17% on your wine purchases by making this simple change to your wine-buying pattern (See page 69)5 important qualities to look for in a wine retailer (see pages 70 & 71)Retailers you should avoid…and those you should patronize in order to save even more and to get better-quality wine (explained on pg. 70)What’s the best way to store your wine?  What’s the appropriate serving temperature for reds? For whites? Find out on pages 73 and 74.Spoiled wine? Don’t throw it down the drain! Here are 2 great ideas on
how to put to it to good use (Pages 77 & 78).How long will your wine “age?” You’ll find the surprising answer is on pg. 73.The absolute best way to save opened wine (hint: don’t use a vacuum pump!). See page 77 for some fail-safe recommendations.Stemware: What kind of wine glasses should you have on-hand? Will different glasses enhance the wine? You’ll discover the absolute best wine glasses you can buy…and where to get them. And you’ll read about a set of beautiful, everyday wine glasses that will surely impress your guests…but will only cost you a few bucks. (All on pages 74 – 76).Should you decant your wine? If so…which types of wines benefit from decanting?  The answer (on page 74) may surprise you.And much, much more!

Just imagine how much time, money and frustration this information will save you. And how much more confident you'll feel next time you're browsing the isles at the wine store!

And if you’re just now getting into wine, or if you consider yourself a beginner, think about how quickly your knowledge will increase. Without having to endure a boring lecture. Without having to read a dozen books. Or without having to invest years in acquiring that knowledge on your own.

The information contained in this eBook took me 14 years to research and compile.  

And because research involved tasting thousands of wines over the course of 14 years, I literally spent thousands of dollars on wine — both good and bad.  

Not only that, but to also learn the “extra” information I’ve also thrown in this book (practical information on wine tasting, storing and serving wine, where to shop, price categories and so on) would require you to buy and read over a dozen books, attend dozens of tastings and spend months and years tasting and experimenting. That’s an expensive way to learn about wine.

But you don’t have to go through any of this. You can get “Fool-Proof Wine Values” for only $19.

That’s less than the cost of two good bottles of wine…less than taking out a friend to lunch…and an investment that will pay for itself many times over through smarter wine purchases.

“Now I realize how much money I wasted over the years buying overpriced junk. Wish I would have had this information 5 years ago.”

--Brian Garrety
Charlotte, NC

Within seconds of downloading “Fool-Proof Wine Values” you’ll be reading about the best wine bargains in the country. And the pre-sorted lists of recommendations included in the book will make it easy to find what you’re looking for. That means you can download the book and be at your local wine shop right away making smart purchases. Best of all, you’ll be able to shop with confidence and enjoy wines that could easily command 2, 3 or even 5 times their price.

But let’s face it. If you put this off, the chances of you remembering to come back to this website are very slim. You’re probably busy and have lots on your mind. So, as an incentive to respond immediately, I’m willing to sweeten the pot. Act now and I’ll throw in 3 exciting, limited-time bonuses:

“Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Buying and Enjoying Wine in Restaurants…But Were Afraid to Ask!” (a $12 Value).

In this report, you’ll learn how to avoid restaurant wine rip-offs…how to pick the right wine when you dine out…what to do when the wine is presented to you (how to look good, and how to avoid complete embarrassment!)…when to send your wine back…what to do with the cork…vintages to look for…when you should order wine by the glass (and when you shouldn’t)…a little-known “tradition” that allows you to bring in your own wine to most restaurants…and much more.

“7 Fun and Unique Ways to Share Wine With Friends and Loved Ones” (a $12 value). You’ll learn how to organize a fun and memorable wine tasting, wine party, wine dinner (how to put one together…what to do…wines to serve…how many guests are too many or too few)…and how to make wine events stimulating, yet fun.   All in all, 7 unique ideas that will turn a regular party into an event your guests will be talking about for months! “The Bargain Hunter’s Wine Shopping Cheat Sheet” (a $7 value). Once you’re ready to shop, you’ll want to have the information in “Fool-Proof Wine Values” as a reference while you’re out shopping. But let’s face it: It’s not practical to bring a whole printed eBook into a wine store.

You won’t have to go through that hassle.  This free bonus lists all 44 “Hall of Fame” producers — along with their best 147 bargain wines — in an easy to reference format. Simply print these 2 pages, fold them in half and stick them in your pocket for easy reference while shopping.

Here’s the best part:  I’m so confident that you’re going to love the information in “Fool-Proof Wine Values” that I’m willing to back it up with my 100%, money-back guarantee. Here’s my promise, plain and simple…

If for any reason you aren't thrilled with your purchase, just contact me within 60 days and I’ll refund 100% of your purchase price.  

That means you can download “Fool-Proof Wine Values” today...take a full 60 days to read through it…and try some of the wines profiled.  

If you don’t agree that these recommendations are terrific bargains. If you can’t find these wines at your local retailers. If you don’t think these wines deliver excellent quality for $10 or less. If you don’t think the tips and ideas in this book will help you save money, time and frustration every time you buy wine…

Then I don’t want your money. And I’ll give you a prompt refund.

You really have nothing to lose (and a lot of great and valuable information to gain!) because no matter what you decide, the FREE bonuses are yours to keep just for giving “Fool-Proof Wine Values” a try.

To recap, you get: “Fool-Proof Wine Values: 147 Timeless Bargains to Impress Your Friends and Take the Hassle Out of Buying Wine”Plus…

Bonus Report: “Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Buying and Enjoying Wine in Restaurants…But Were Afraid to Ask!” (a $12 Value)Bonus Report: “7 Fun and Unique Ways to Share Wine With Friends and Loved Ones” (a $12 value)Bonus Resource: “The Bargain Hunter’s Wine Shopping Cheat Sheet” (a $7 value)A 100% 60-day, no-questions-asked, money-back guaranteeAll this, for the ridiculously low price of $19.

Click on the button above to get your instant download of “Fool-Proof Wine Values: 147 Timeless Bargains to Impress Your Friends and Take the Hassle Out of Buying Wine.

Once your credit card is approved, you will be taken to a special page where you will be able download the eBook (delivered in Adobe PDF format), along with your FREE bonuses.

(Downloads are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year)

Cheers,

Ed Gandia
Author,
“Fool-Proof Wine Values”

P.S. – Within seconds of downloading “Fool-Proof Wine Values” you’ll be reading about the best wine bargains in the country. And the pre-sorted lists of recommendations included in the book will make it easy to find what you’re looking for. That means you can download the book and be at your local wine shop right away making smart purchases. Wines that cost only $6 to $10…yet could easily command 2, 3 or even 5 times more.

P.P.S. – Remember…you have nothing to lose.  If for whatever reason you aren't absolutely thrilled with your purchase, just contact me within 60 days and I’ll refund 100% of your purchase price. So don’t decide now if this book is just right for you. Try it out and decide within the next 60 days without risk. You simply can't lose.

View the original article here

The Winner For “The Vintner’s Luck” Movie Give-Away

Wine

Should I pour it, who’s Email name is ~ Best Beer ~

Randomly chosen… I listed all people who commented, gave each a number, and asked Jose to pick the number.He chose Best Beer’s number of “7.”

I’ll be contacting you today for a shipping address.

Congratulations!

View the original article here

Wine Tasting Fun...

Hey Wine Enthusiasts!

We're getting ready to launch a new ebook and video for folks intersted in wine, wine tasting, hosting a wine tasting party, and more, but we're interested in learning from wine enthusiasts like you about what YOU want to know.

If you give us just a few minutes by answering the questions below it will help us create the best product for wine lovers. For taking up your time we're prepared to send the first 50 participants in our survey the final copy of our ebook product, no charge. We have a launch date set for October 19, 2010.

Just enter the questions below, send us your email address, and we'll be in touch real soon!



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Natalie




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