Happy New Year from your friends at AWineBoutique.com.  http://www.awineboutique.com/.

Celebrate safely tonight and any night when there is alcohol involved.  But this blog is not about the usual "make sure you have a designated driver" speech... This is about protecting your eyes from serious injury when you pop your champagne.

According to Dr. Monica of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the number of eye injuries on New Year's Eve is on the increase - because of accidents with the champagne cork!  A flying cork can reach speeds of up to 50mph, which is strong enough to shatter glass (imagine what it could do to your fragile eyes!).

For your safety, follow these steps published from the Academy of Ophthalmology:

Chill champagne to 45 degrees Fahrenheit or colder before opening. The cork of a warm bottle is more likely to pop unexpectedly.

Don't shake the bottle!  Shaking increases the speed that the cork will fly from the bottle!

Be sure to point the bottle at a 45-degree angle away from yourself and any bystanders and hold down the cork with the palm of your hand while removing the wire hood on the bottle.

Place a towel over the entire top of the bottle and grasp the cork.

Twist the bottle while holding the cork at a 45-degree angle to break the seal.

The "body" of a wine is sometimes called its "heft".  It really means the weight you feel in your mouth when you drink it.

For the novice wine-drinker, some of the terms you could use to describe the body are:
Big, chewy, fat, fleshy, full, light, soft, syrupy, thick, velvety, watery or weighty.

To find just the right wine takes some sampling (which is the fun part).  Sounding like you know what you are talking about takes even longer.  But, the more you sample, the more experienced you will become.  Find your own terms and follow your heart.  You can't really be "wrong" when you give your opinion about the "body" of a wine you are sampling.

Be sure to have the appropriate glassware to enhance your wine-drinking experience.  Check out all of our glassware and carafes at AWineBoutique.com.  Many items are NOW ON SALE!

CHEERS!

Wine clubs are becoming very popular since many of us don't have a lot of extra time to browse for wine. Plus, with the internet becoming the main form of shopping for so many people, it's nice to shop from the comfort of your own home.  And of course that includes shopping for the wine accessories and glassware that go along with that wine purchase! 

If you want to receive newsletters on wine, get member discounts, and occasionally receive free samples, then a wine club may be right for you.

The downside of course is that you don't get to sample the wine first.  And since online retailers want to make sales, the "easiest" way to do that is to sell wine that is pretty "mainstream". 

If you have any interest, there is A LOT of info on the internet, in wine magazines, and in wine stores.  Do some research and decide for yourself!

Happy browsing and don't forget http://www.awineboutique.com/ for your glassware, corkscrews, decanters and more! 

CHEERS!!

If you are considering buying a wine refrigerator in the near future, good for you!  Today there are a large variety of wine refrigerators and wine coolers to choose from at all sizes and price points.  Here are a couple tips to help you out:

• If you have or plan to have a large, expensive collection of wine that you want to keep for years to come, a wine cellar may be a better option for you.  A wine refrigerator is usually best for wines under maybe $20 in price range - and those that will be consumed within a year or two.  Keeping your wine in a good wine refrigerator until opened will preserve the quality of your wine.
• If space is a consideration, opt for a wine refrigerator that can be stored on top of your counter or under your counter.  Many fridges today are made for small kitchens, bar areas, etc. 
• If you don't actually have a "collection" of wine, maybe a wine cooler/chiller is right for you!  They work well for smaller events or dinner parties; plus they make a great decoration on your dinner table.

Remember:

•  Keep the bottles on their sides until opened.  The cork needs to stay moist.
•  Try to find a room in your home that is vibration-free - - no jostling of the wine bottles!
•  If possible, place your wine refrigerator in a room that is relatively consistent in temperature, such as your basement.

For a large selection of wine refrigerators, coolers or chillers, visit AWineBoutique.com
FREE SHIPPING ON ALL ORDERS OVER $150.00.

Happy Shopping!

CHEERS!!!

If the supermarket isn't quite the place you would choose to buy your wine, the independent wine store is what you want.  If you want something a bit more "special" and want the service that goes with it, then look for a wine store that specializes in, well... wine!

The staff at these types of establishments are well versed in what makes a good wine.  They can recommend not only a vintage, but also the "right" glass to serve it in. 

Most of these stores let you sample the wine before you buy - something your local supermarket does only with big sales.  They also usually deliver for free (depending on where you live) and may lend you glassware and accessories for your big party. 

Check with them in advance... And it's always a good idea to build a relationship with your local, independent wine store.  With the amount of competition in today's market, they will value your loyalty as much as you value their expertise.

For all your wine party entertaining accessories and glassware needs, check us out at http://www.awineboutique.com/

CHEERS!!!

When we think of purchasing a bottle of wine, what is most important?  Many of you would say "flavor".  It's the grape that tells you the most about what kind of flavor the wine will have.  With hundreds of grape varieties out there, how is it possible to learn everything about grapes?

There are really about 8-10 "main" grapes that provide the flavor. The "main" whites are:  Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, Semillon, and Chenin Blanc.  Check out AWineBoutique.coms selection of "white wine glasses" to get just what you need to taste these great grapes!  http://awineboutique.com/category_11/White-Wine-Glasses-All-Purpose-Glassware.htm

The "main" reds are:  Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir, and Syrah/Shiraz. For a great "red wine glass", view our variety here:  http://awineboutique.com/category_9/Red-Wine-Glasses.htm

 The more you taste, the more you'll learn. So drink up and CHEERS from AWineBoutique.com.

We all know pretty much any food tastes better when you're sipping wine, but what about cooking with wine?
I ran across this fantastic recipe from About.com (Southern Food) and had to share. it was fabulous!  http://southernfood.about.com/od/chickenbreastrecipes/r/bl50831a.htm

At AWineBoutique.com we have a large assortment of items available for entertaining.  One of our most unique items is our Wine Chicken Cooker.  http://awineboutique.com/item_27/Wine-Chicken-Cooker.htm

When you cook with wine, it's usually as a marinade, as part of a sauce, or just to enhance the flavor.  So many different types of wine work when you're cooking, so feel free to experiment!  My personal favorites is a dry white, like a Sauvignon Blanc (as called for in the recipe above from Southern Food).

So plan your next chicken dish around your favorite wine and see what happens.  And don't forget to put some to the side for sipping while you cook!  Bon appetit - and CHEERS from AWineBoutique.com!!!

http://awineboutique.com/index.htm

If you have wine-loving friends and family, giving a gift of wine is a sure thing.  When you gift someone with wine, they have an opportunity to try something new that they might not have purchased for themselves before.  This is a great time of year to experiment with different blends, regions, and price points.

Or... because it IS the holidays, why don't we celebrate every day!?!?

Most people drink "still" wine (no carbonation) and save the sparkling wine (such as champagne) for special occasions.

But why?  There is no right or wrong when it comes to gifting someone with wine - - every day is a special occasion.  So give the wine-lover in your life a special bottle of the bubbly!?  And don't forget to buy some great champagne flutes to go with it!  http://awineboutique.com/item_194/Personalized-Champagne-Flute-Set-Of-4-Glasses.htm  Giving someone special a nice bottle of champagne - and encouraging them NOT to save it for New Year's - shows they are important to you.  CHEERS!

http://awineboutique.com/index.htm 

We've all heard it before - drinking wine (especially red) can be healthy for you.  The key here is moderation.  What is an "average" serving size?  About two glasses for men, one for women (sorry ladies).  And that one glass means about 5 oz. 

Red wine contains chemical substances that fight oxidants with antioxidants.  The skin of the red grapes are packed with resveratrol - a disease fighting component.  If you drink a glass every day with your meal, it is believed (although many dispute) you will live a longer, healthier life.

With the holidays upon us, we want to be healthy, right?  So now is the time to stock up on your favorite wine (again, red is best if you are truly drinking it for the health benefits), pour some into your holiday glass and CHEERS!

AWineBoutique.com is proud to have our beautiful, hand-painted Christmas glassware now on sale.  Choose from the 8oz size,   http://awineboutique.com/item_111/Christmas-Trees-Design--Hand-Painted--Wine-Glass--8-oz..htm  our "grande" 16oz size,  http://awineboutique.com/item_131/Christmas-Trees-Design--Hand-Painted--Grande-Wine-Glass-16-oz..htm  and pair with the matching bottle stopper!  http://awineboutique.com/item_150/Christmas-Trees-Design--Hand-Painted--Wine-Bottle-Stopper.htm