Wine Rack Store Blog

Many wine consumers feel intimidated with buying wine, or even choosing from their own wine rack! This feeling often is made worse by not understanding wine labels. New world wines tend to be less complicated: wines bottled in the United States, South America and Australia are more direct in their representation of the type of wine and the name of the vineyard. In stark contrast, Old World wine labels like those from France, Italy, Spain and Germany, provide a plethora of mystifying classifications, harvest-types, town names, vineyard titles and producer idiosyncrasies. To make it worse, they are all in a foreign language! While these labels embody the delightfully classic aesthetic associated with a sophisticated wine label, they almost always cause bewilderment for the average wine buyer.

In an effort to make the process more simple and more fun, here is a list of the ten things to look for on a wine label. The first five are things you want to look for (good stuff), and the last five are things that should raise a flag of caution or perhaps don't mean what you think they should (maybe not so good stuff).

1. Cru

If there's one term you should learn when looking for a good French wine, it's Cru. The infamous wine regions of Bordeaux, Burgundy and Alsace in France will carry the term Cru somewhere on the label to indicate that the wine is from a town or producer of high quality.

2. Poor Soil / Deprived of Water

This may be described on the back of the wine label. It sounds counter-intuitive, but wine that is grown in poor soil and deprived of water irrigation is actually likely to be of better quality. When a vine is deprived of excess water and nutrients, it spends more of its energy into ripening the fruit, rather than growing bushy and vibrant leaves. The result is a higher quality, more concentrated grape.

3. Methode Traditionelle (Traditional Method)

This applies mostly to sparkling wine made in the United States and Australia. If you see Traditional Method on the label, it means that it is made in the same way as traditional Champagne, and will usually cost much less!

4. Vieilles Vignes (Old Vines)

Like to the concept of vines grown in poor soil with minimal irrigation, old vines have more intense flavors. The result is a vine that produces wines with denser, richer flavors and other more robust aspects of the grape, such as the tannin and the acidity. A reference to Old vines either on the front or the back label is a positive sign of the wine's quality.

5. Estate Bottled

On a bottle of French wine, you will see this labeled as Mis en Bouteille au Chateau, Mis en Bouteille au Domaine, or Mis en Bouteille au Propriete. An estate bottled wine is grown, produced and bottled at the same location. There is an assumption that the wine maker takes extreme pride in all aspects of the wine making process and wants everyone to know that he or she oversees every element of the wine's production. As such, it is usually an indication to higher quality wine.

6. Odd Sounding or Unfamiliar Wine Awards

This is something that should raise a red flag. Australia notoriously has troubles with wine makers placing gold, silver or bronze stickers on their wine labels that boast winning an award at an obscure wine festival. Until very recently, there was no regulation in place for what type of award was worthy of placing on a wine label. If you do see award-winning stickers, be sure that the event sounds familiar or at least sounds credible.

7. Flowery Marketing Terms

Most consumers can easily identify marketing adjectives from genuine inferences to why a product is high-quality. Be wary of terms that a marketer developed while pulling an all-nighter in the midst of a brain-storming frenzy. Anything attempting to impress by using words like extraordinary, from wine maker's personal bin, or limited release is probably trying to sell the wine based on gimmicks rather than on its quality.

8. Vague Geological References

Quality wines are generally a manifestation of the unique characteristics of the small plot of land on which the grapes were grown. Wine makers want to highlight this fact by referencing their specific region or town and the vineyard name. Be cautious of wine labels that reference a vague geographical location. South-Eastern Australia is a notorious labeling term you will find on Australian wines, which is about as specific as saying This Wine Was Made on Planet Earth. South-Eastern Australia includes the majority of the country's wine growing regions. Similarly, a wine that only says California Wine, or French Wine without specifically naming towns or more isolated regions should be avoided.

9. Grand Vin

A Grand Vin term on a French wine label simply refers to the fact that the wine is the chief one produced at that vineyard. It is often confused with Vieilles Vignes (Old Vine), which is a reflection of quality. Grand Vin is a neutral term that will give you little indication either way.

10. Superieur

This labeling term causes confusion much like the Grand Vine listed above. It sounds fancy, but all it refers to is the fact that a French or an Italian wine has a higher alcohol content than what it is traditionally known to have.

The art of understanding the wine label can seem insurmountable, but the average consumer can improve their choices by understanding some of the key items on a label. Be adventurous and continue to explore new wines! Taste them and see how the label reflects what you like (or don't like) about the wine. If it was flat and watery, were there gimmicky marketing terms that were used in the description? If it was full, balanced and complex, did it have a reference to Old Vines? The terms listed here will help equally with choosing wine off of a menu at a restaurant as buying a bottle in a store. Listen carefully to the waiter or sommelier's description. You never know what gems you’ll discover by simply being aware of these ten terms!

Labels: 222 Bottle Premium Glass Holder Wine Rack, mother of pearl wine charms, new world, old world wine, reading wine labels, tips for choosing wine, wine tips

Do you ever wonder what makes Texas bbq recipes so…well, Texan? Some believe that Texas has the best barbeque recipes, but what it is that makes them so unique?

Don’t tell George W., but I’m gonna let the cat outta the bag: Texas bbq recipes typically use some type of hot pepper such as jalapeno or hot sauce! That is the secret ingredient (aren’t you surprised it’s so simple!)

Here are delicious bbq sauce instructions that qualifiy as a Texas bbq recipe. You will need:

* 1 cup of tomato sauce,
* 1⁄2 cup of vinegar,
* 1⁄4 cup of Worcestershire sauce,
* 1 cup of brown sugar,
* 2 tablespoons of dry mustard,
* 3 tablespoons of margarine,
* 1 tablespoon of Tabasco sauce,
* 2 crushed garlic cloves,
* 1⁄4 cup of chopped onions,
* salt and pepper to taste, and
* 2 to 3 chopped and de-seeded jalapeno peppers.

1) Sauté the onions in a medium saucepan until the onions are translucent.
2) Add remaining ingredients. Continue cooking
on medium heat until the mixture is smooth.
3) Use this sauce to baste your favorite meat prior to cooking and during cooking!

More tips to a Great Texas Barbeque Sauce:

A few more simple tips to creating hot Texas bbq recipes that will spice up your meal and dazzle your charming cowboy (and cowgirl!) guests:

1) Use any of your favorite barbeque sauces and add jalapeno’s or Tabasco sauce to liven up your bbq sauce.

2) Purchase your favorite barbeque sauce from the grocery store and then add ingredients such as jalapeno peppers or hot sauce.

3) Add one teaspoon of liquid smoke to give your meat that outdoors flavor that many Texas chef’s use.

In Texas, the meat used most corralled for the bbq is beef, brisket is by far the most popular. There's something about taking a tough piece of meat like a beef brisket turned it into a tender delicious masterpiece that excites most Texans. Imagine that, like a cowboy wanting to tame the Wild West!

Now, YA’LL have a fun grillin’ and don’t forget to visit the wine rack for a finger-lickin’ good time!

Labels: 222 Bottle Premium Glass Holder Wine Rack, barbeque, cowboy wine charms, grilled rib-eye recipe, jalapeno, texas bbq, tobasco, wild west

Happy 4th of July! Here at the Wine Rack Store, we believe in safety first. That’s why we always have adult supervision when we are igniting fireworks, and that is why we always store our wine in an approved ultra safe wine rack. Every bottle of wine is as important as each finger and toe, and we want everyone to keep them all intact! So have a great weekend, enjoy food, friends, and fireworks, and remember to KEEP IT SAFE!

Labels: 222 Bottle Premium Glass Holder Wine Rack, firecrackers, fireworks, fourth of july, safety

July is official barbeque season at the Wine Rack Store. Sometimes it can be a bit intimidating to try new wines with your grilled masterpiece, and it is all too easy to revert to the fail safe beer and insert your favorite regular wine here. So today, I’d like to offer some suggestions to expand your wine repertoire:

First of all, virtually all red wines go well with hamburgers and hot dogs. If you must play it safe, both Zinfandel and Merlot are good all-around red wine-barbeque pairings. Two economical choices suggestions are 7 Deadly Zins by Michael David Winery, and 2006 Sagelands Merlot. A more daring choice would be a Cabernet Sauvignon, a Pinot Noir, or Cabernet Franc with grilled steak. Try a dry Italian Sangiovese with grilled steak, poultry, or pork. Chianti pairs well with any recipe that calls for lots of barbeque sauce!

White wines pose a bit more of a challenge. Chardonnay typically baulks at barbeque fare, but if you are a die-hard fan do what you must! Gewurztraminer and Riesling both nicely balance anything spicy. How about Airlie Gewurztraminer ? Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon play happily with grilled vegetables and seafood. Your white Pinots (Blanc and Gris) both pair well with grilled steak, poultry, and pork.

Now wait! We can’t leave out a bit of the bubbly! Champagne and Sparkling Wine are great with grilled vegetables and seafood, not to mention that they make ANY meal a special occasion! I am loving Cuvée Jean-Louis, Blanc de Blancs Brut. It is a must have in every special wine rack!

Labels: 222 Bottle Premium Glass Holder Wine Rack, barbeque, wine pairings, wine recommendations, wine suggestions

Here at the Wine Rack Store, we feel it’s our duty to help you enjoy our products to the fullest. So, with the introduction of our new 222 Bottle Premium Glass Holder Wine Rack, we will be featuring fabulous tips on holding a wine tasting party.

A wine tasting party is the perfect way to gather family and friends to learn about wine, and test new or unusual varietals. Whether you pair wines with specific cheeses, or do a vertical or horizontal tasting, you are sure to experience new joys in both red wines and white wines as a result of the focused tasting.

1. Determine your guest list and send invites at least two weeks before your tasting.

2. Design a tasting card for each guest that specifies the type of wine, the producing vineyard, the year and a brief description of the wine (usually found on the wine’s label), with room to note the wine’s distinct appearance, aroma, flavor, and cheese pairing nuances.

3. To make your party a bit more exciting, offer a “blind tasting” experience. In this case, you still provide your guests with their individual tasting cards. However, you pour each wine without identifying the label (cover bottles with foil or a brown bag and mark with a number prior to serving). This allows them to integrate all of their senses to identify the respective wines based on the labels’ descriptions. The guest that identifies the most wines correctly wins a bottle of wine.

4. Decorations for a wine tasting party can be as simple or elaborate as you’d like. Most important is to keep the party atmosphere casual and engaging.

Extra Tips:

1. Typically, you will want to work from dry to sweet with white wines and progress from light to full-bodied with red wines.
2. The general rule of thumb for pouring is: 2 ounces of wine per glass, per wine for each tasting.

3. Provide plain bread and water between wines for guests to cleanse their palate.
What You Need:

* Four to Six Wines
* Bottle opener
* Appetizers - you might consider offering some light choices before the tasting
* Loaf of bread cubed – provide plain bread for guests to cleanse palate between wines
* Wine glasses – one per guest
* Pitcher of water – for rinsing glasses and palates between wines
* Dump bucket – for discarding wine before next pouring
* Tasting cards – for describing and recording each wine tasted
* Aluminum foil or brown bags to cover wine bottles if you choose blind tasting
*Pens and Paper


Happy Tasting!

Labels: 222 Bottle Premium Glass Holder Wine Rack, blind tasting, bottle openers, horizontal wine tasting, tips, vertical wine tasting, wine rack store, wine tasting party

I love barbeque season because it involves three of my favorite things: warm weather, scrumptious food, and wonderful wine! I must admit I am a bit old school; I use a charcoal grill. It’s the Big Daddy Weber, and I can cook up an entire meal in that gargantuan griller! I enjoy the ritual of such things as preparing a meal, setting the table, and opening a bottle of wine; so, the art of getting the coals just right adds to the joy of process for me. Just before lighting the grill, I peruse my selection of choices in my 222 Bottle Premium Glass Holder Wine Rack to find the perfect compliment to my meal. While the coals are heating things up, I happily chop, skewer, salt and pepper, and rub away at the menu for the evening. Perhaps now and then I have a sip of Cocktail Wine Charmed wine, as a tribute to Julia.

So, without further ado, I’m going to share one of my favorite decadent barbeque experiences:

RIB EYE STEAK WITH BABY RED POTATOES AND ASPARAGUS

2 boneless rib eye steaks, 1 1/2 think
Kosher or Sea Salt and Fresh Cracked Pepper
6-8 small baby red potatoes
Fresh asparagus
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Aluminum Foil

Prepare grill to high heat
Lightly salt and generously pepper room temperature steaks (fresh pepper only please!).
Rub pototes with oil, salt, and pepper
Lay asparagus on foil, drizzle with oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper, fold to seal

Put potatos on the outside edge of the heat. Let cook for 10 minutes, turning every 5. Add asparagus to grill, also on outside edge. Cook 6 minutes. Add steaks to center of grill. Grill 5 minuets one side, 4 minutes on the other. DO NOT OVER COOK AND RUIN THIS BEAUTIFUL PIECE OF MEAT!! All the while be watching and turning your potatoes and asparagus. Remove meat from grill; allow steaks to rest 5 minutes before serving. While the rib-eyes rest, you may need to return to the Wine Rack to get a second bottle of wine, I usually do. Remove sides when done. Serve and enjoy!

P.S. For an extra sinful treat, sprinkle steaks with bleu cheese a few minutes before done grilling. Yum!

Labels: 222 Bottle Premium Glass Holder Wine Rack, barbeque, bleu cheese, charcoal, cocktail wine charm, grilled rib-eye recipe, weber grill