For Valentine's Day tomorrow or any day you want to make special, try pairing wine with chocolate for a delicious (and romantic) snack.  But not any ol' chocolae/wine pairing will do.   Here are some tips to get you started:

Match lighter, elegant flavored chocolates with lighter flavored wines.  By the same token, if you want a stronger chocolate, the wine should also be fuller-bodied.

White chocolate pairs well with a Sherry or Champagne -- stick to something sweet.

Milk chocolate pairs nicely with Reisling or Sauvignon Blanc (for white wines) and Merlot and Pinot Noir (for red wines).

Dark chocolate is probably best with a red, such as a Cabernet or Zinfandel.

Whatever you choose, pairing your wine and chocolate is much like your wine and cheese.  Try a little bit of everything and see what you like and what you don't.  Like wine-tasting itself, you need to experiment.   And how much fun is it to experiment with wine and chocolate??

As always, don't forget the appropriate wine glasses for a truly memorable wine/chocolate tasting experience!

CHEERS!!

Does wine really get better with age?  "Better at what?" is the question. 

If a wine is truly a "good wine" (meaning somewhat rare and pretty expensive), then YES!  It will definitely improve with age.

But if you're like most of us who consume anywhere from $10-$20 bottles of wine that we buy at the liquor store, supermarket, or corner wine bistro, chances are the shelf life is not as long as you might think.  You'll want to consume it within a year or two.

To find a well-aged white wine (if you have the money), try a German Riesling or French Sauternes; for reds, look for a French Bordeaux or vintage Port. 

Age is wine is tricky.  Sometimes a wine needs a decade or more to really flourish and present their best.  Other times the wine you've saved for that special occasion will not be savored - it may have already turned to vinegar!

Regardless of the wine's age, make sure it's always served in the appropriate glassware to bring out the best in it!

CHEERS!!

Do you think beer is the only choice of alcoholic beverage to be served at your Super Bowl party? Not so!  Take a look at these basic wine and food pairings for some ideas to add some class to your big party!

Nachos and a smooth Chardonnay
Spicy Chicken Wing and a fruity white Table Wine
Salty Chips and any Sparkling Wine
Pizza and an earthy Chianti
Burgers and Hot Dogs and a California Red (Merlot is my favorite with "beef")!

These are some easy pairings that will allow you to enjoy the wine AND the food.

Don't forget, when entertaining for ANY occasion (including the big game) have your best entertaining accessories on hand to make the party a sure fire WIN!

My favorite for the big game?  Check our our "Quarterback" cheese and cutting board.    Sure to be the talk of your party.

CHEERS!!  From AWineBoutique.com

We've all heard that a crucial component of the entire wine drinking experience is the smell of the wine.  That's why we stick our noses in the glasses and savor the aromas before we take our first drink.

What might you smell when you have your first, second, or third sniff?  With a good, complex red with a bit of age on them (think a Cabernet Sauvignon or Pinot Noir), clear your mind, close you eyes, take a sniff or two and sip, sip, sip!   Do you smell old leather? Cookies baking in the oven?  Furniture polish or even your childhood dog?  As strange as it may sound, these aromas do come up when you taste wine.  That is one of the most pleasurable parts of the experience. 

The more you taste, the more perceptions you'll come up with.  So sniff, sniff, sniff and enjoy!



CHEERS!!  AWineBoutique.com

So many people love good cheese.  And while there are so many different cheeses to select from, there are just a few good rules to follow when serving cheese at your party.

1.  Plan to have no more than five different varieties of cheese.

2.  Make sure there are a variety of different textures for your guests to choose from (hard, soft, crumbly, etc.)

3.  Select cheese from different types of milk (i.e. goat, sheep, cow, etc.).

This will keep things simple and allow your guests to really taste them and determine which they like best.

Some other important items to note for your next party:

-  Plan to have about 5 oz per person
-  Serve your cheese on a cheese platter or serving tray.
-  Nice wooden cutting boards look great and also show the cheese nicely.  Some cheese boards even have cheese markers for you to write the name of the cheese to make it easy for your guests to know what they are about to consume.
-  Serve your cheese at room temperature.   Make sure you take them out of the refrigerator about 1-2 hours before you'll be serving them.

If you want to serve the cheese alone, great!  If you want something simple to accompany them and not take away from the cheese itself, I suggest simple fruit (like grapes), nuts, chutney, fresh figs, or assorted (plain) crackers or baguettes.

Don't forget to pair your cheese with at least two wines - - a red and a white! 

For your wine and cheese shopping needs, visit us at AWineBoutique.com.

CHEERS!!

I've heard that there are about eight to ten thousand varieties of grapes grown today.  It's odd that they come in just two colors - red and white (which is actually more of a pale, yellow/green).

So how is something like a Rose' wine made?  Are there pink grapes growing somewhere we don't know about?  No.  Rose' wine is made by removing the red grape skins from the fermenting juice after a short period of time.  The "leftover" skin produces the pinkish color.  You could blend a white and red grape for the same effect, but it's really not the same.

Rose' has traditionally been a summer or warm-weather drink, but that's not the case any more!  So if you like the lighter Rose' wine - drink up!   Below is a link to an article I stumbled across on the most popular Rose' wines.  CHEERS!!

http://www.foxnews.com/leisure/2012/09/15/top-10-rose-wines/

For your Rose', red, or white wine glassware needs, check us out at AWineBoutique.com!

If you are just venturing into the world of wine, it can be very overwhelming.  No need to let it frustrate or confuse you.  There are a few simple tips to keep in mind so you can actually enjoy the experience!

Despite what you may read, the best way to serve both red AND white wine is at room temperature.  If you serve your white chilled, it can mask the wine's flows and strengthen the tannins (which can taste astringent).  Whatever the most potent flavors of the wine - vanilla, oak, grapefruit, etc., the flavors are more obvious served at room temperature.

Let your red wine breathe (using a decanter works) for two to three hours before serving.  Use an aerator to speed up the oxidation process and bring out the flavors and smells.

It is best to sniff your wine before sampling.  It primes your palate.  Then take a small sip and let it sit - hitting every part of your mouth. 

When at the liquor store, do not buy the wine from a display near the counter. Either those wines aren't selling (not a good sign) or they are aging too quickly.

Good wine does not have to expensive.  Try a California wine (many, many to choose from) if you're just starting out and your budget is under $15. 

For all of the best products to introduce you to the world of wine, check us out at AWineBoutique.com.   http://www.awineboutique.com/

CHEERS!!!