SIP TIP: Chilling Wine

We all know that a lot of wines taste better when they are well-chilled, but which wines exactly and how long should they be chilled? The wines that need the most chilling are sparkling wines and champagnes. These wines should be served pretty frosty, because the cold helps to hold the bubbles in, just like it does in a cola. Still white wines like Chardonnay also need to be served well-chilled, but do not need to be served as cold as champagne. And then there are red wines. Red wines should be served a little colder than you might think at what used to be called "cellar temperature" which is about the temperature of an air-conditioned movie theater. I put my red wines in the refrigerator for about five minutes before serving, so they are just a little bit cooler than room temperature.

SIP TIP: Corks vs. Screw tops

The familiar sound of a cork being pulled from a bottle has been music to the ears of wine lovers for centuries, but it may soon be a thing of the past. Wineries all over the world are now using screw caps and not just any old screw cap, but the expensive, good looking kind called a "Stelvin Cap." Screw caps make opening wine a lot easier and they help preserve the freshness of the wine. Australia and New Zealand were the first countries to use screw caps, but now many wines from California and Europe are stoppered with screw caps too. I love screw caps especially for young fresh whites. Thats my sip tip for today. The next time you see a top wine with a screw cap, give it a tryor maybe I should say a twist.

Sip Tip: Aerating

Aerating is just the act of pouring wine into a decanter, pitcher or carafe. Wines that benefit most from aeration are young powerful reds like Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, Shiraz or Petite Sirah. By splashing the wine through air into a decanter, you literally "open up" the wine and make it taste softer and richer. I aerate just about every young red wine I serve, because besides making it taste better, it is kind of fun to serve wine from a decanter. Thats my sip tip for today. To make a wine taste softer, a little richer and more flavorful, pour it into a decanter before you serve it.

Sip Tip: Keep It Clean

Have you ever had a wine that tastes and smells awful? Maybe it wasnt the wine at all, maybe it was the wine glass. In fact, many of the wines that are sent back in restaurants are actually fine. What made the wine taste bad was an unclean glass. So washing your wine glasses perfectly is very important. The best way is to wash the wine glasses by hand using warm water and a minimum of soap. Then rinse them thoroughly because even a little bit of soap on a glass can make wine taste strange. When you dry glasses, use a tea towel or a special cloth that wont leave any lint behind. When you store your wine glasses, store them on their feet rather than on their rims, because a wine glass stored upside-down can often take on the smell of the shelf. Above all, never serve dairy desserts in a wine glass. While a parfait served in a glass may look pretty, its almost impossible to get a wine glass clean once it has dairy products in it. And who wants their cabernet to taste like sour milk?

Sip Tip: How To Open a Bottle of Sparkling Wine

Starting the night out with a glass of sparkling wine is perhaps the best way to begin an evening. But opening the bottle itself can seem a little tricky. Luckily, it doesnt have to be, if you follow these simple steps. To start, remove the foil on top of the wire and the cork. Next, loosen the wire cage just a few turns leave the wire cage there. Then, put a cloth or a napkin over the top of the cork and just ease the cork out. French men say that if you open a bottle of sparkling wine correctly it should make a sound no greater than that of a contented womans sigh. And thats all there is to it! Cheers.

Sip Tip: Learning Wine Speak

There are some conventional wine terms that are really important to know because they allow you to remember wine more easily and give you a vocabulary when youre talking to your local wine merchant. The top three words to know are body, acidity, and tannin. Body is the weight of the wine in your mouth. One way to remember body is to think about skim milk, whole milk, and cream. A light-bodied wine is like skim milk; a full-bodied wine feels like cream. Acidity is what makes wine lively, vivacious and refreshing. Zing is a good thing when it comes to wine, and in fact, wines that dont have enough acidity usually taste pretty boring, dull, and flat. And then theres tannin. Tannin tastes a little bitter, like an espresso, and its what gives wine its majestic structure. It also helps wine age. So remember body, acidity and tannin: three words no wine lover should be without.

Sip Tip: Vin Santo & Biscotti

Of all the great marriages of Italian wine and food, one stands out as being simple, traditional, and thoroughly delicious: Vin Santo and biscotti. It just might be one of Italys best kept secrets. Biscotti are twice baked dry Italian cookies. You can find them in just about every supermarket in America. What many people dont realize is that biscotti have a partner: Vin Santo. The way the Italians pair the two is to dip the biscotti right in the wine. Vin Santo is the traditional dessert wine of Tuscany, and its just slightly sweet, not sugary at all. Actually, its the wine that many Catholic priests drink during mass, hence the name Vin Santo or "holy wine." You can buy Vin Santo now in just about any great wine shop in America, and its not even very expensive. Best of all, Vin Santo and biscotti are a perfect way to end any good meal. So forget coffee and cake. At your next dinner party, why not try biscotti and Vin Santo?

Sip Tip: Giving Wine as a Gift

When you think about it, wine is just about the perfect gift. You dont have to worry about the size being right, you dont have to worry about it matching the dcor, and best of all, wine gives the recipient hours of pleasure. Its especially nice (and easy!) to give wine as a wedding gift. Think about special dishes the couple enjoys making and then choose a wine to match. Simply tie a little card around each bottle saying what the bottle is for. Be sure to include a special bottle of wine, like a great cabernet, that they can drink on their 10th anniversary. So there you have it. A very simple, very personal gift!

Sip Tip: Color

Most wine books advise you to look at a wines color before you taste. But what can you really tell about a wine from its color? Actually, two things. The color of a wine is a tip-off to its variety. Pinot Noir, for example, is always a light brick color, whereas Zinfandel is a dark, saturated, almost purple color. The color of a wine is also a tip-off to the wines age. All red wines get lighter as they get older and all white wines get darker. But heres one thing you can never tell about a wine from its color, and it may surprise you. The intensity of the color is no indication of the intensity of the flavor. It may be tempting to think of darker wine as richer and more flavorful than a lighter wine, but thats not necessarily the case. The lighter wine well may prove to be the more flavorful. In the end, youve got to taste a wine to tell anything about its flavor. But of course, thats the fun part anyway.

Sip Tip: To Age or Not to Age

Most of us age a wine for about as long as it takes to get it home from the supermarket. But is that a big mistake? Lets say a friend gave you a bottle of wine for your birthday. Should you open it tonight or sequester it away for a few years? The answer is: it depends. The components in wine that allow it to age are sweetness, acidity, and tannin. A wine has to have one of those in fairly significant amounts if its going to withstand the test of time and actually taste better. Sweetness is pretty easy to understand because most people have a jar of honey somewhere in their kitchen thats been there for years. Sweet desert wines, like that jar of honey, last a really long time, even decades. Wines like champagne or German Rieslings that are crisp and have a lot of acidity also last a long period of time and still manage to taste fresh and lively. And then theres tannin. Wines like a Cabernet or Bordeaux that are high in tannin also age well over time because tannin is a preservative. So if you want to put a wine away, its got to have either sweetness, acidity, or tannin. If it doesnt have one of these, you may as well just drink the wine tonight!

Sip Tip: The Punt

Bottle shapes and sizes have a whole story unto themselves. Take, for example, what is called a punt. A punt is the indentation in the bottom of the bottle. Youll notice that on bottles of Champagne, for example, the punt is very deep deep enough that many people will pour a bottle of Champagne with their thumb in the punt. However, thats not the reason why its there. Punts began as a result of what you could call a household problem. When bottles were first made, bottle makers blew the glass and ended the bottle at the bottom, leaving a point called the pontil mark. When those early bottles were put down on a table, they left a big scratch, upsetting hosts and hostesses. And so bottle makers began to turn that pontil mark inward, leaving a rounded surface so that bottles no longer scratched tables.

Sip Tip: Cooking with Wine

To some, a great cooking wine is a wine you drink when youre cooking. But, of course, there are also wines that you need to add to a dish. So what are some considerations when youre cooking with wine? First, never use a wine you wouldnt drink yourself. If the wine doesnt taste good, its certainly not going to add great flavors to the dish. Second, while you could use just white wine or red wine, try adding Port, Sherry, or Madera. All three of these wines are sensational and they pack a huge wallop of flavor. Port has a winey richness. Its fabulous in beef stew. Sherry has a complex, roasted nutty flavor that is great when youre sauting. And Madera has a soft, nutty, caramel flavor that is fabulous when youre just brazing meat or vegetables. So remember: when youre cooking with wine, make it count and make it sensational.

Sip Tip: Buying Wine

Buying a wine for dinner might not be one of lifes easier tasks. Fortunately, it doesnt have to be that way. The fact is, even a small wine store can have hundreds of bottles and a large wine store can have thousands. So how do you get comfortable in a wine store? Three easy ways. First, choose a wine store where you feel really comfortable. Forget those places that are stuffy and make you feel like a dunce. Choose a wine shop where you can browse around and ask simple questions. Second, stay in one section of the store for six months or so. Get to know the types of wines in that section really well before you move on. It doesnt matter if its Bordeaux, Zinfandel, or Australian reds. Finally, let food help you. If youre making a spicy chicken dish, take that recipe with you. Find the clerk in the store who knows the most about food and ask for recommendations. Youll be in for a really great bottle. Wine shops are truly a lot of fun. So go out there and enjoy them.

Wine Do's and Don'ts:

Don't Mess Up the Rotation!
Always taste from whites to reds. If you've already entered the red list and wanted to try a particular white again, try another day. Picking out fruit flavors in a pinot gris after the peppery zinfandels are next to impossible. If you're on the cusp on whether or not to buy it, go with your gut or come back another time to give your best attempt to taste it's intricacies.

Please, Step Away From the Wine!
Don't crowd the tasting tables. If you're at a busy tasting event, back away from the table after receiving your next tasting to give others a chance to progress in their tasting order. There's nothing worse than fighting a crowd when trying to taste.

Don't Wear Scents!
Don't wear perfume, cologne, or lotions. They WILL affect trying to pick up the aromas of the wine which will alter your perception in its taste, not to mention, ruin the experience for others.

Price Doesn't Mean Crap!
Don't be swayed by age or price. Quality and age of a wine has little to do with how it's priced - they are purely market-driven. Wineries charge outrageous prices because they know people exist that are willing to pay for it. You may find a $2 wine that knocks your socks off or find a "classic" wine that has you reaching for some water! Don't listen to snobs who look down at you for drinking something you enjoy - tell them to sod off! Drink and buy what you enjoy!

Awards. Should They Matter?
Don't pay too much attention to "award-winning" or "best-in-show" wines. Everywhere you turn, competitions are everywhere and sadly, all some wineries have to do is pay a small registration fee and Viola! - award winner. 

If You Can't Play Nice With Others...
Don't announce your disgust for the wine to the tasting room and staff. If the wine doesn't appeal to you, politely pour it out and keep your comments to yourself or at least wait until you get back to your car...

When in Rome...
Grip the glass gently between the thumb and the forefinger by the stem, swirl the wine gently in small circles. This aerates the wine, bringing out its subtle elements, or ?nose.? Place your nose above the brim of the glass and gently smell the wine?s emerging aromas. Try to identify what you smell - Be Descriptive! Next, Take a small sip. Move the wine around in the whole mouth, to warm it slightly. Now, The ?finish,? or aftertaste lingers after swallowing (or spitting out) the wine ? and whether those lingering flavors are pleasant or not. This isn't a social drinking event and you're not there to just consume wine.

To Spit or Not to Spit?
Spitting the wine into a bucket is usually the final step in tasting. Though it is not necessarily required at an informal tasting, however, you can make that decision based on whether you have any driving to do, how many wines you plan to taste during the session and, just as importantly, how much you actually like the wine in question. If you're in a position where spitting is required - relax - spit the wine into the provided canister. Don't dribble or drool but rather try to spit a streamline of wine into the canister. Avoiding missing and spraying - you will get strange looks.

Do serve wine in any glass you want.
* Although you may have heard that red wines should be served in round, deep glasses and white wines in tall, steep glasses, the glass is not the thing! Serve your Pinot Grigio in whichever glass you prefer-whether tall or short, delicate or sturdy, pretty or swanky! In Italy, for example, some wineglasses don't even have stems, meaning that many Italians are sipping Pinot Grigio from a glass resembling a small U.S. juice glass!

Do learn how to open wine confidently.
* Know your corkscrew when entertaining guests. For the grand opening, choose a trusted corkscrew that works for you rather than a new one. Also remember, it's always a good idea to have a back-up corkscrew on hand. Today there are many different types of corkscrews available-some with arms, some with legs. With all these twists and turns in design, the corkscrew can be an expression of your personal style!

Do serve Pinot Grigio in place of sparkling wines.
* Not only is chic Ecco Domani Pinot Grigio a fabulous alternative to the sparkling wines and champagnes used for toasts, but the wine is also a great complement to hors d'oeuvres and party snacks!

Do store wine in the fridge and use the leftovers.
* Opened wine can be stored for 2-3 days in the refrigerator.
* Invite your friends over the evening after the party to help finish off the leftovers!

Do taste everything.

* Nothing can replace the experience you gain from tasting.

Do Read everything.

* There's so much information out there you have to read all the time to stay on top.

Don't overlook half bottles.

* These give you the chance to try new wines without the investment of a full bottle, and you get to try a variety of different wines with your meal.

Don't be afraid of wine.

* Go to a good wine shop and have them help select a variety of wines to try. Get a mixed case (you'll usually get a case discount) and start enjoying wine with your dinner at home.

Don't forget dessert wine.

* There's an amazing range of quality dessert wines produced. Just remember that the wine must be sweeter than the dessert, otherwise the wine will taste too dry and astringent.

Don't run out of wine.

* Be sure to get a good estimate of the number of sippers to plan accordingly for wine purchases. One bottle of wine fills about 4-5 glasses and remember that glasses should be approximately 2/3 full. While many guests will gladly enjoy another glass, it is proper wine-serving etiquette to always ask their permission before refilling glasses!

Don't spill red wine on your guests or table linens.

* Have you ever wondered exactly how waiters can pour wine so cleanly and effortlessly? For a tidy serve, simply end the pour with a slight twist. Just in case of dripping, it never hurts to have a napkin within reach!

Don't get overwhelmed by food and wine pairings.

* Experiment with wine and food pairings. You may have noticed that we've suggested pairings throughout our holiday booklet. These are our personal favorites and a great place to start. However, you may find that you have different preferences, so make sure to experiment and try all the wines with all the dishes. Remember that it's all about what you like!