Another Great Wine Holder Article

Wine Clubs - A Convenient Way to Know Wine


Wine clubs have been sprouting up in recent years as a result of an increased

interest in wine and greater wine consumption. In fact, according to figures

from the Wine Institute, sales of wine in the United States went up four percent

in 2004. Exports of wine by other countries to the U.S. remain steady since

foreign wineries have found the United States to be a lucrative place to do

business. For wine lovers and would-be wine drinkers, joining a wine club would

bring numerous benefits.



Many wine clubs count expert vintners or sommeliers among their members. But

you don't need to be a wine aficionado to be able to join a wine club. A great

many clubs welcome both newbies and experts. They offer much information not

only about various wines out in the market, but also about many wine-related

topics; for instance, which type of wine should be served with a certain entr?e;

or news about the latest goings-on in the wine industry.



Wine clubs offer varying membership programs. For the fee you pay, you will

receive wine selections from vineyards whose offerings meet the club's

standards. Clubs can send you their handpicked selections, or give you the

opportunity to make your own selections. Most clubs usually send two bottles of

wine to each member per month; they can be two bottles of red or two of white,

or one of each. Along with the wine, you will also receive pertinent information

about them, such as the winery where they came from, any awards, publicity or

accolades that have been accorded to the vintner, and a description of the

conditions under which the grapes used in the wine were grown.



Wine club membership offers several other perks. For instance, premium

members are offered the ability to buy wines at discounted prices. If they have

a Wine of the Month program, you can be sure that you'll realize significant

savings from being a member than if you just bought the featured wine at regular

prices. Joining a wine club would be a good investment if you are a regular wine

drinker -- which many people are becoming because of much publicized news about

how regular wine consumption has numerous health benefits. Also, most of the

wine clubs today offer gift membership program, which you can give to people who

would enjoy wine either by itself or with a meal.



Many wine stores or retailers have their own wine clubs, which you can join

for a fee. Some clubs offer open-ended programs, meaning you can cancel your

membership anytime. You should base your wine club choice on several factors.

Are the services they offer worth the rate they are charging? What are their

expert credentials -- do they have wine experts who can give sound wine

recommendations? Do they have additional activities for members, such as wine

tastings or perhaps visits to vineyards? You should evaluate these factors and

more before you select a club to join. There are hundreds of wine club web sites

online, and they provide detailed information on what you get for your

money.



People enjoy the benefit of receiving their wine at their doorstep -- no more

need to zip around to a wine seller's physical location for a bottle of vino.

However, you should remember that most U.S. states have strict laws regarding

the shipping of wine from state to state. Perhaps you might consider choosing a

club that has a branch in your particular state because in such cases the law is

not as strict. This is another factor that you should look at when you are

evaluating which club to join.



You can choose to join a wine club that has international coverage -- one

that features wine produced in the world's most popular winery regions, and

whose membership runs in the thousands -- or you could opt for a smaller, more

specialized wine club, which focuses on only one or two specific wine-producing

regions. Then there are clubs that concentrate on providing only a certain type

of wine, such as red, white, or champagne.



As you can see, there are many factors to consider when choosing a wine club

to join. But then, as you can also probably see, there are numerous benefits you

can experience if you choose the right wine club.




Another short Wine Holder review

Wine Clubs - A Convenient Way to Know Wine


Wine clubs have been sprouting up in recent years as a result of an increased
interest in wine and greater wine consumption. In fact, according to f...


Click Here to Read More About Wine ...

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Wine Holder in the news

20 Virginia Wine Getaways Celebrates 20 Years Of Wine

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 08:11:08 PDT
This October 2008 marks the 20th anniversary of Virginia Wine. Visit more than 130 wineries and more than 60 special wine-related events and festivals taking place throughout the month: Wine under the Stars, Fall Jazz & Wine Festival, Hot Air Balloon and Wine tours and more!

Exotour

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 04:26:55 PDT
Cultural, historical, adventure, pilgrim, wine tours, hiking, jeep tours, biking tours, rafting, horseback ridding, skiing, hunting, fishing, birdwatching, rest, health treatment facilities - all kind of traveling in Georgia

Hangzhou-Shaoxing One Day Tour

Fri, 22 Aug 2008 02:41:04 PDT
In the morning, we will take one-hour car from Hangzhou to Shaoxing. Shaoxing is a well-known Watertown near Hangzhou, where it is the hometown of the famous Shaoxing Rice Wine and the Chinese Yue Opera.

Day one of the Okanagan Wine Tour

Tue, 19 Aug 2008 13:24:51 PDT
All weekend long, I did my best impression of myself as a snooty wine connoisseur. I wasn’t convincing anyone but I enjoyed it. I learnt a lot about wine, wine tasting, the wine making process, and tried wines I had never even heard of. Hello Gewürztraminer, my new favourite wine with lip-smacking lychee flavour.


Glass Bottles
Wine Shops
Barefoot Wine

Labels: Wine Labels

Posted by Larry Smithson | 0 comments

Another Great Wine Bars Article

The Wine of Israel and Wine in Biblical Times

Israel is a nation possessing a rich past. The turning pages of history find it at the center of the Bible, while present day finds it at the center of conflict. A country known for many things, wine is not necessarily one of them. Going into a liquor store and requesting the finest bottle of Israeli wine isn?t something many people do.

The reason for this is because wine, until recently, wasn?t something Israel brought to the table, proudly placing a bottle between the rolls and potatoes. Instead, Israeli wine was filled with a reputation for being a type of drink someone should put a cork in. This, however, wasn?t for lack of trying.

Wine production on Israeli lands began thousands of years ago, perhaps even prior to the Biblical era. However, the wines that were made during this time often tasted so bad that bottles shipped to Egypt were garnished with anything that would add flavor. Stopping just short of adding RediWhip, people tossed in everything from honey to berries, from pepper to salt. The bottles sent to Rome, though not lacking flavor, were so thick and so sweet that anyone who didn?t have a sweet tooth, or a spoon, wasn?t able to consume them.

The wine was of such poor quality that when Arab tribes took over Israel in the Moslem Conquest of 636, putting a stop to local wine production for 1,200 years, disappointment didn?t exactly ferment.

In the late 1800?s, wine production began again in Israel. Determined to let Israeli grapes have their day in the sun, a Jewish activist and philanthropist name Baron Edmond de Rothschild began helping Jews flee oppressors, eventually helping them adapt to their Palestine settlements. He then began to help them plant vineyards. Because of this, he is known as a founder of Israel?s wine industry.

But, the kindness and intentions of even the most good-hearted of men wasn?t enough to save Israeli wine from its past reputation. Because the lands of Israel and the climate were not ideal for vine growing, the wine produced was often of poor quality. Too coarse and too sweet to be consumed, Israeli wine was looked on unfavorably until just a few decades ago.

With the adoption of modern equipment, the import of good vine stock, the encouragement given to viticulturists, and the planting of vineyards in mountain ranges, near lakes, and in flat areas, Israel wine has recently become much more appreciated, for its taste and its variety. Replacing the sweet red wines with lighter, dryer red wines and producing more champagne, the wines of Israel have finally begun to climb up the vine in terms of greatness.

The wines presently produced in Israel are done so in one of five regions: Galilee, Shomron, Samson, Negev, and Judean Hills. The Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc are viewed as particularly good, although Israel also produces several Merlots and other common varieties.

Kosher Wine

While not all the wine produced in Israel is Kosher, a good portion of it is. This has led many wine drinkers to have the wrong impression about Israeli wine, an impression that is based on a misconception of what the word "Kosher" truly means.

Some people possess the assumption that when food and drinks are Kosher the taste of the product drastically changes, similar to the way making a hamburger "vegetarian" forever alters its flavor. However, when something is Kosher it simply means that it was made in a way that adheres to the dietary laws of Judaism.

There are two types of Kosher wine: Mevushal and non-Mevushal. For wine to be non-Mevushal, which is the basic form of Kosher, the preparation of it must follow a regime of specific rules. To begin, the equipment used to make wine must be Kosher, and only used for the production of Kosher products. As the wine goes from grape to bottle, it may only be handled, or opened, by Sabbath-observant Jews. During the wine's processing, only other Kosher products may be used: artificial preservatives and colors, and animal products may not be added.

Wines that are Mevushal are subject to an additional step on the Kosher agenda. Going through flash pasteurization, the wine becomes heated, making it unfit for idolatrous worship. This, in turn, removes some of the restrictions, keeping the wine Kosher no matter who handles it.

Jesus and Wine

The history of Israeli wine is unique in that it also involves the history of Christ. Whether or not Jesus advocated drinking wine, and whether or not the wine he drank was alcoholic, has become a cornerstone in many historical and religious debates. While some people insist that Jesus drank wine, others insist that he didn?t, and, of course, a few Bill Clinton fans insist that he drank, but didn?t inhale.

There are hardly any people arguing on the premise that Jesus consumed large amounts of wine. Instead, people argue whether or not the Bible condemns all use of alcohol or whether it condones its use in moderation. Depending on which side a person prefers to linger, innumerous references from the Bible can go in both directions. Some people assert that the ?wine? referenced in the Bible was nothing more than nonalcoholic grape juice. But, those who take an opposing stance state that there are too many Biblical references warning against excessive use of ?wine.? If it was just grape juice, or a wine with virtually no alcohol content, there would be no need for precautions.

Though there are several examples of passages in the Bible that involve Jesus drinking wine, with the most famous one likely being The Last Supper, the Bible also includes innumerable references to wine in general, wine drinking that does not necessarily involve Christ.

There are approximately 256 references to wine written in the contents of the Good Book. From these references, readers learn that wine was made from grapes, figs, dates and pomegranates. It was often consumed as part of the every day diet, during times of celebrations, during weddings, as gifts and offerings, and as a symbol of blessing. In some passages, it was even used for medicinal purposes.

Wine Strength During this Era

Another question that often arises in regards to wine in the Bible and Christ?s consumption is its alcoholic strength. If the wine was in fact wine and not grape juice, then it obviously had some sort of alcohol content. However, the wine of the Biblical era was much weaker than the wine we know today. While one reason for this was the addition of water, another reason was naturally fermented wine (wine that does not have additives) was the only wine available during this time. Because sugar and yeast were not yet added to wine, its alcohol content remained lower than modern day spirits.

Whether or not Jesus drank wine, and whether or not it was condoned or condemned, is based on a great deal of speculation. Like many items of debate, people often use passages in the Bible to move an argument in their direction, even when their chosen reference is laden with ambiguity. Some people may swear that he drank, while others may insist that he didn?t. However, in truth, we will probably never know and, along these lines, we really shouldn?t need to: when it comes down to it, a person?s faith is based on much bigger things than their opinion of alcohol.

Thoughts about Wine Bars

The Wine of Israel and Wine in Biblical Times


Israel is a nation possessing a rich past. The turning pages of history find it at the center of the Bible, while present day finds it at the center o...


Click Here to Read More About Wine ...

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News about Wine Bars

Welcome, Guest (Vail Daily)

Tue, 19 Aug 2008 11:05:19 PDT
Search for homes by MLS, classified listings, rentals, and much more! EAGLE COUNTY, Colorado — Check out a video of Vail Daily Staffers at work on a Plum TV promo.

Asian wine market worth €1bn by 2017 (Decanter.com)

Tue, 19 Aug 2008 02:58:34 PDT
Hong Kong officials have predicted that the value of wine imports into Asia will top €1bn by 2017.

Just Green: A Gala Benefitting Search for the Cause

Mon, 18 Aug 2008 23:41:26 PDT
SEPTEMBER 13, 2008, 7:00-11:00pmMill Valley Community CenterRaise a glass of organic wine and toast to the simple, yet rich elegance of our evening of Just GREEN. Featuring fine organic, locally grown cuisine presented by esteemed Bay Area chefs, exquisite organic wines from local vineyards and delectable organic desserts to further

Restaurants Guide (critics' picks are listed first) Reset Search (LA Weekly)

Mon, 18 Aug 2008 13:18:41 PDT
913 1/2 S. Vermont Ave.

Bordeaux: Pessac harvest halved (Decanter.com)

Mon, 18 Aug 2008 06:43:28 PDT
Wine producers in the Pessac-Leognan area of Bordeaux say they may have lost up to half of their crop this year, due to the April frost.

Kwiry service lets users text to recall tidbits (San Francisco Chronicle)

Mon, 18 Aug 2008 00:37:47 PDT
It happens to everyone: A friend recommends a good book or movie, but by the time you get around to doing a Google search - assuming you get that far - you can't remember what it's called. A San Francisco startup called Kwiry (pronounced "query") aims to...


Elderberry Wine
Merlot Wine | Michigan Wine

Labels: Wine Labels

Posted by Larry Smithson | 0 comments