Perfect Pairings

November 2006 – as published in the Beacon News and Naperville Sun

By Bill Garlough

In my initial column, I outlined that I will offer two sections in each monthly column; a general wine information section entitled “Wine Speak” and one entitled “Food and Wine Pairings”. Here goes:

 Wine speak

I just returned from a 10-day west coast trip with my family, and visited several key wine regions. In Oregon, we visited the Willamette Valley (known for pinot noir and pinot gris) and in northern California we visited Anderson Valley in Mendocino and the Napa and Sonoma Valleys. As it was during the annual harvest of the grapes, nicknamed the “crush” (when grapes are picked, sorted for quality and pressed into grape juice), I was interested in the quality of this year’s crop. 

Almost every winery reported that the 2006 vintage will be above average, not only in quality but also quantity. Both the Willamette Valley and Anderson Valley reported ideal growing conditions with warm days and cool nights. However, Napa and Sonoma experienced record heat in July, which challenged the growers’ pruning skills. The leaf canopy protects the grapes. If you prune too much of the leaf canopy, you risk over exposing the grapes to the high temperatures, and they actually can get sunburned. A dense leaf canopy in a wet climate will promote mold and mildew on the grapes.

To ensure an optimal crop, what quality wineries practice is skilled cultivation throughout the growing season. This includes pruning the leaf canopy, pruning some clusters of grapes (to promote concentrated flavor in the remaining clusters), irrigation when needed and harvesting the grapes when they reach the desired sugar level. Based on this report, we can all anticipate plenty of delightful white wines in approximately nine months and delicious red wines in approximately eighteen months, from the west coast.

Food and wine pairings

To help you easily find my recommended wines, I am developing a network of local shops to act as a resource for the column. I will discuss my ideas for food and wine pairings with these neighborhood wine shop owners, and find wines they stock that accomplish the goal. The wines included will be generally available and will be priced around the $10.00 range and also the $25.00 and up range. Hopefully, this offers something for everybody.

It is November and, for many of us, that means Thanksgiving. This meal not only represents an American tradition, it is a time when the entire family gathers around the table and reconnects. This puts some stress on the meal planner and preparer, so some wine suggestions may be appreciated.

The center of the Thanksgiving dinner is, of course, turkey. Turkey as a meat tends to be neutral in flavor, which can open the door for interesting wines. However, the balance of the meal can offer complex flavors, with side dishes of savory dressing, tart cranberry relish and spicy pumpkin pie. With this in mind, I recommend:

Bill’s Picks

White wines

A more complex style of wine with good acidity and balance is my choice. A wine with good fruit and acidity can help balance this meal’s broad array of flavors. Some suggestions are:

Chateau Lamothe de Haux (a Bordeaux blend of 3 varietals), France, $11.

Chateau St. Michelle Indian Wells Riesling – Columbia Valley, Wash., $15.

Sokol Blosser’s “Evolution #9″ (a blend of 9 varietals) – Anderson Valley, Calif., $17.

Thomas Fogarty Gewí¼rztraminer, Monterey, Calif., $18.

Caymus “Conundrum” (a blend of 5 varietals) – Napa Valley, Calif., $27.

Red wines

Pinot Noir, my favorite varietal, is my choice here. This wine tends to be medium bodied, flavorful with “red” fruit notes such as raspberries and cherries and has good acidity, to tackle the various courses of this complex meal. Some suggestions are:

Mark West Pinot Noir – Sonoma Valley, Calif., $13.

Regis de Valliere Bourgogne (the area in France known for Pinot Noirs), $14.

Sanford Pinot Noir Santa Barbara – Central Coast, Calif., $25.

Van Duzer Estate Pinot Noir – Willamette Valley, Ore., $28.

Cristom – Willamette Valley, Ore., $30.

(Prices are suggested retail and may vary.)

Enjoy your time with your family this holiday season and bon appetit! 

For more from Bill Garlough’s Perfect Pairings visit My Chef.

In reality, there really is not any fixed definition for the term Boutique Winery. Most sales people claim that if a particular winery produces less than 2,000 cases of wine each year, then it is considered to be a boutique winery. By logical reasoning, any winery that produces less than 5,000 cases of wine per year will be regarded as a boutique winery. Most of the larger wineries produce a limited number of wine cases of a specific wine, which is then known as boutique wine. However, boutique wines can also be defined as a wine that is made in limited amounts, while expressing a certain amount of passion on the part of the winemaker.
In addition to the various well-known labels that have been crafting and producing different varieties of wines in Bay Area, you will find a whole host of boutique wineries that are treasured by the locals.
Here is a list of the boutique wineries in Bay Area:
. Bouchaine Vineyards: The legendary Bouchaine winery is situated in the southern part of Napa valley, close to San Francisco. Bouchaine is a family-owned business, which is wholly devoted to crafting and making the delicious Chardonnay and Pinot Noir varieties. Bouchaine wines are a heady blend of nature as well as culture, a compelling expression of grape and craft that complements the sophistication of burgundy with the liveliness of California. Established on the site of one of the oldest operating wineries in Carneros, Bouchaine is located north of San Pablo and San Francisco. The fog that surrounds the region every night largely influences the climate in this winery, and the shallow clayey loam soils that are ideal for Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.
. Catacula Lake Winery: Committed to crafting wines that reflect the truly wild and beautiful side of the Chiles Valley terroir, the Catacula Lake Winery has wine that is kept under the guidance of some of Napa Valleys finest wine consultants and experts. 1999 marked Cataculs first vintage at the new facility. Catacula is dedicated to producing wines like Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot Blend that is called Rancho Cuvee, Zinfandel, and Cabernet Sauvignon. However, Catacula is widening its portfolio by planting new varieties of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Petite Sirah.
. Graeser Winery: Located within the viticultural district of the Diamond Mountains, the Graeser Winery is acknowledged as one of the greatest regions in the world for growing fine varietals of Bordeaux. The Diamond Mountain wines can be profoundly complex, age-worthy, and generous. The Graeser Winery is prized in Napa Valley for creating wines that are full of dimension and character. These wines are detailed and lush, more elegant than overblown, approachable and balanced in its youth, while having the capacity to age well for a decade, and sometimes more.
. Regusci Winery: With Napa Valley becoming a prominent wine-cultivating region, the Regusci family was able to concentrate on cultivating a single crop, namely wine grapes. In the mid 90s, the son Angelo decided to restore a winery on this property, and a year later; both father and son crushed their first harvest of Stags Leap District wines. The Regusci Winery began operating in the late 90s, displaying its estate vintages like Merlot, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Zinfandel.
. Van Der Heyden Vineyards Wines: Family owned and housed in the panoramic and world famous Napa Valley wine region, the Van Der Heyden Vineyards is situated on the prestigious and charming Silverado Trail, which lies south of the Stags Leap District. Specializing in estate bottled Cabernet Sauvignon wines, Chardonnay wines, and late harvest dessert wines, this vineyard is a treat for all wine aficionados. Reputed for being the only winery in the world to produce a late harvest Cabernet Sauvignon, the Van Der Heyden Vineyard is one of the finest of its kind.
Amateur wine enthusiasts and tourists that visit the wineries in Bay Area will be absolutely thrilled to find a personal and charming wine tasting session at each of these wineries. Sample some of these wines and you might just become a true-blue wine devotee yourself!

Want to get married in a unique venue that almost feels like you’re stepping back in time? Consider getting married or having your wedding reception aboard a train! Trains take us back to a romantic, slower-paced era, so it’s a perfect, yet unique venue for tying the knot.

Which trains might you consider for your wedding?Skunk Train – Mendocino Coast, California

Traveling at 29 miles per hour, the Skunk Train takes you and your wedding guests on the same northern California coastal “Redwood Route” that it has traveled since 1885. Leaving from the train station at Fort Bragg or Willits, California, the train takes your wedding party to either the Camp Mendocino Dining Hall, or the Northspur outdoor reception site, a remote outdoor site set amongst the towering redwoods, for a truly unforgettable wedding adventure.

The Skunk Train staff works with many local entertainers, so you have the option of providing live entertainment for your guests while aboard the train. Local entertainment includes the Skunk Train’s famed “Trainsinger,” as well as jazz bands, big bands, and rock bands. And, for great wedding photos, nothing beats the open observation train cars. Of course, the train pulls covered cars as well.

For those unfamiliar with the Mendocino area, it is truly breathtaking, punctuated by meadows, towering redwood forests and rocky cliffs. For more information about weddings aboard the Skunk Train, call 530-666-6781. Napa Valley Wine Train – Napa Valley, California

Napa Valley, California is known as a great wine producing region of California, so it’s only natural that any wedding taking place in the Napa Valley includes wine. If you’re a wine buff, gourmet diner and train enthusiast, you may want to consider a wedding or reception aboard The Napa Valley Wine Train, a three-hour round-trip rail and gourmet dining adventure from the town of Napa to St. Helena. While on board, your guests can be treated to views of vineyards and wineries from restored train cars dating back to 1915-1947. Wineries you will pass by include such fine labels as Trefethen, Clos du Val, Cardinale, Domaine Chandon, Neibaum/Coppola and Grgich Hills.

You have your choice of three dining car experiences: the Vista Dome is a glass-domed rail car which can seat groups up to 56; the Silverado Grill is a casual dining car with sliding windows, which can seat groups up to 54; one of the Gourmet Express Pullman dining cars from 1915 – 1917. If you have a large wedding party you can charter the Gourmet Express, Vista Dome and Silverado Grill for up to 370 people. For Group information, call 707-253-0920. Roaring Camp Railroad – Felton, California

Yet one more California wedding rail adventure, the Roaring Camp Railroads operates out of Felton, California, which is just north of Santa Cruz. The Roaring Camp Railroad offers wedding events at their camp, as well as Cathedral Grove, located on Bear Mountain, which is accessible by a vintage steam train. While at the Cathedral Grove site, couples exchange their vows underneath ancient, towering redwoods. For more information regarding wedding parties, call 831-335-4484.Sugar Cane Train – Maui

We’re leaving California now and heading to Maui, a favorite wedding spot for couples around the world. Maui, of course, is famous for its beaches. But, if you’re a train buff you’re also in luck, as Maui is also home to the Sugar Cane Train which can transport your wedding party along a six-mile scenic journey between Lahaina and Kaanapali. You can call toll free at 800-499-2307 for more information.Spirit of Washington – Renton, Washington

The Spirit of Washington operates out of Renton, Washington, which is southeast of Seattle, and has the distinction of traveling over the historic Wilburton Trestle, which is the longest wooden trestle in the Northwest at 975 feet long and 102 feet high. Should you choose a wedding or reception on the Spirit of Washington, you will be treating yourself and your guests to great dining, as well as a scenic ride along Lake Washington, over the Wilburton Trestle, and into one of Washington’s best wine growing regions, with a winery stopover at Columbia Winery. Call 800-876-7245 for more information on wedding parties on the Spirit of Washington.Grand Canyon Railway – Williams, Arizona

If you haven’t been to the Grand Canyon, you absolutely must. And if you’ve already been, go again, this time by train. You embark The Grand Canyon Railway at their depot in Williams, Arizona for the 2-hour, 15-minute train trip to the Grand Canyon, all the while being entertained by cowboy characters and strolling musicians. This unique wedding venue is definitely one to consider if you have children in your wedding party.

You have the option of chartering a car on the train for your wedding party, and have the choice of five classes of train service, rim tours, entertainment and food options. Prices start at $2,000 for seating of 88 people in coach class, and $7,500 for a seating of 65 people in luxury parlor car. Call 1-800-843-8723 for information on group seating.

If you want a unique wedding venue your guests will talk about for years to come, you definitely should consider train travel. It’s romantic, relaxing, and nostalgic, and suitable for guests of all ages.

Perfect Pairings

February 14, 2008 – as published in the Beacon News and Naperville Sun

By Bill Garlough

Baby it’s cold outside! This is a great time of year to stay inside and enjoy a hearty glass of red wine. While there are many wonderful choices of bold red wine, including Ribera del Duero from Spain and the Bordeaux and Rhone wines of France, this column will focus on Napa Valley California Cabernet Sauvignon.

Grape-growing

Cabernet sauvignon is king in Napa. While (red) Zinfandel grapevine plantings have just surpassed Cabernet in numbers, it is cabernet sauvignon that has given Napa Valley international acclaim as a world-class wine region.

There are several reasons why winemakers in Napa are producing extraordinary wines. Cabernet is known for its big style, structure and long-term aging potential. Tannins are the reason behind this, and are found in the cabernet sauvignon dark purple grape skins, seeds and stems.

Over the years, Napa winemakers have become more skilled at determining when to harvest, based on the grape’s ripeness including amount of juice, sugar, acidity and tannins. Oak barrel aging from 18 to 24 months is done to soften the wine and help bring it into focus, creating a balanced, flavorful wine. Oak contributes toasty, vanilla and earthy notes. Well-produced cabernets are lush and rich, with complex flavors of black fruit (blackberry, currant and plum) and notes of cedar wood, leather and cassis.

Napa’s cabernet grapevine plantings originally occurred on the valley floor, as the soil is rich with nutrients and has good water retention. Popular American Viticultural Areas (AVAs) include Oakville and Rutherford.

Food pairings

Tannins bind together with protein, enhancing the food’s flavor and aiding in digestion. Time softens tannins. A mature wine is softer and considered more elegant. As the wine matures, the tannin molecules bind together to form larger particles. These drift to the bottom of the bottle and are referred to as sediment.

Decanting cabernets before drinking is helpful. Decanting a wine means carefully and slowly pouring the wine from the original bottle into a larger glass vessel or decanter. The sediment usually will come out last, so the person decanting the wine must watch for the sediment and stop pouring when this is visible. It is best to decant at least one to two hours before serving. Decanting also aerates the wine, mixing the wine with oxygen to help “open up” the wine. This allows you to better taste the fruit, complexity and finish of the wine.

A light and fruity style of cabernet pairs well with chicken salad, roast beef sandwiches and proscuitto. Medium weight cabernets complement beef broth-based and mushroom soups, gnocchi or pasta with marinara, pizza and seasoned, roasted chicken. Full-bodied cabernets naturally go with heartier fare such as rib roasts, barbecue, bleu cheese, aged cheddar cheese and dark chocolate desserts. Cabernet sauvignon’s quintessential pairing is with steak. Young, tannic cabernets pair well with T-bone steaks. A mature cabernet (older than 5 years) works well with beef tenderloin.

Bill’s 2004 California Cab Picks

Cabernet Sauvignon can range in price from $10 to over $500 a bottle. My value picks with suggested retails are:

Castle Rock (Napa): $12

Beaulieu Vineyards (Napa): $18

Rodney Strong (Sonoma): $25

Robert Mondavi (Napa): $27

Duckhorn Decoy (Napa): $29

Beringer (Napa): $40

Groth (Oakville): $41

Chappellet Napa Valley Signature: $46

For more from Bill Garlough’s Perfect Pairings visit My Chef.

Napa Valley is a great destination from anywhere world wide. San Francisco Airport (SFO) is just a few hours away from your holiday in wine country. Transportation can be arranged from a stretch limo, to a SUV for the adventurous.

Many travel internationally to SFO, for business southbound in Silicon Valley, the hi-tech valley with uncountable leading Hi Tech companies, so why not mix your travels, land on a Friday night, and enjoy wine country over the weekend as you catch up with the time zone change.

Why do I sound a bit thrilled with the opportunity to write this article, and share some highlights. Very simple, I grew up in California, and know these areas like the back of my hand. I work in the hi tech industry, and travel internationally to many countries quiet often.

Well, actually, I have many business associates, and true international friends, and a long time ago, I picked up a few travelers I knew very well, and did in fact what I just recommended, spent the weekend in Napa Valley, and did every highlight Im going to touch on.

Now this started back in the 1980s , but once the word got out, a jam packed weekend to be remembered, then onward to business on Monday, guess I should have changed careers, travel guide, limo driver, Spa or Resort operator, because I still to this day, have not seen it all, and enjoy every time I get the chance to visit, and show people a super adventure.

So, in a nutshell, here are some real life things to do if you ever get the chance to visit Napa Valley. Note, this is not an advertisement, but a real short cut adventure, and can save you lots of wasted time in your travels, and even save you some money.

Winery Tours
Simply there are so many, you cannot see them all in two days. I recommend, do some research online, find the ones you would enjoy visiting over the weekend, or longer if time allows. Now, caution, nowadays many do charge a fee, approx. $10 for tasting typically, so unless you are visiting smaller wineries, allow an hour plus for planning. Second caution, make it fun, but use common sense, someone needs to be a designated driver, since we are talking about wine tasting. Think this through for safety, and fun. Hire a limo, go as a group.

Ballooning The Valley
Now, I fly a lot, however I did have one Doctor friend who really wanted to do this in a bad way, and I am not really crazy about heights like many.

However, I did set it up, with very experienced people, and what a rush this adventure was. Early morning, very clear, and calm, no wind at all, so time of year for this adventure needs to be considered.

I might add, there is always a risk, but I saw everything from this adventure alone, and took the most pictures of the vineyards possible which I still have today, enlarged, and framed. So this one is a special reward different from all others.

Next to this there are flight excursions around the valley, but the Balloon, allowed a peaceful, noise free natural adventure, moving very slow, pictures were very clear. I recommend this for the real brave adventurer, you will never forget this one.

Tour Packages
I thought I would mention this again, a bit different, but to be considered. Limos, Stretch SUVs, Buses, can all be arranged in advance, whether you fly in, need a Resort to stay, and tailor your visit in any manor, can be setup in advance.

This works very well for small groups, and surprisingly wine tasting, by Limo is reasonably priced as a group. Drivers know where your destinations are. Yes, the Valley is big, you could get lost, so lots of good considerations when planning your trip.

Resorts Spas, BBs
Thought I would also touch on any overnight planning. Some of these resorts are up to 5 star, based on your budget and plans, resorts can sometimes be at a winery, with restaurants on site, which makes for a relaxing setting on a real working vineyard. Just the scent of wine, and the oak barrels alone is a great experience.

BBs are quiet common all around the valley area. Its difficult to recommend anyone specific, simply because there are so many, and I have enjoyed many different ones, so no complaints, people are very friendly and kind. I can recommend search online, pictures, package specials off season, etc. will get you started.

Travel the Valley By Train
Yes in fact they have a very old refurbished train package available. I did this once, many years ago. It all depends on your style, if you do not like driving this is an option to consider.

The train not only takes you sight seeing around the valley, but also serves gourmet meals to anyones liking. That was a treat I remember well.

I do not usually make specific recommendations, but I rated this adventure right between a 4 and 5 star level, and was really impressed how well everything went. So, in this case, go check them out, at their website address at winetrain. Great to kick back, and relax for the entire day adventure, and no traffic problems Im aware of.

Head South
Well, my home city is actually south of Napa Valley in Santa Barbara, truly a resort city on the ocean backed by mountains and island views. Santa Barbara is about a 6 hour drive from Napa Valley, but well worth it,
simply Napa Valley has its history and many vineyards, however is not the largest wine producer in California, did you know that ?

I will tell you, it is somewhere in between, which I will cover in my next article heading south to Santa Barbara.

I hope you enjoyed these highlights of Napa Valley, things to do, places to go. Sometimes there is so much information it is overwhelming, and I wanted to help sort things out for anyone planning a trip there.

Now, there are certainly many more great things and places to go, but these I have experienced, so feel free to consider my adventures in your trip, and hopefully save some time, costs, and help plan a memorable adventure.

The Valley lies in the midst of some of the world’s most creative farmers and livestock growers, surrounded by an ocean of fish and the world’s most abundant variety of fruits, nuts, vegetables, artisan meats and rare foodstocks. Hotel California Solo TabIn the restaurants and markets of the Valley, all this bounty arrives every day astonishingly fresh, often merely hours old.

Situated in the heart of all this abundance, it’s no surprise that Napa Valley has become one of America’s great culinary centers. Chefs love the area for the freshness and variety of its foods. The five million visitors who come to sample the wine country treats every year have created a bustling culinary scene.

It could be said that the better part of knowing a wine is knowing what food it goes with.

Your knowledge of wines is not that extensive? Then let the people who prepare your food make the selections from the bewildering array of wines and recommend what goes best with your food. If you’re on a culinary adventure, there’s no better way to sample the Valley’s flavors than through the recommendations of the local eateries – they’ll all have good wines.

Yountville is considered the center for fine dining. Best of the best here is surely French Laundry, top-rated again by Michelin for 2010 as one of the few three-star restaurants in America. But Napa Valley is bursting with fine eateries. If you don’t know your way around study some of the many guides and reviews. These are available everywhere: your hotel, your custom tour service, the wineries and attractions you visit.

And don’t forget the locals for advice. Uncork29 for example offers a good list of restaurants rated by locals. They rate ZuZu in Napa even more highly than French Laundry (try the Moroccan Barbecue Glazed Rack of Lamb with Mint & Red Curry Oil).

Best Hotel Finder Click here

Choose particular meals or foods you want to try and venture out to the restaurants famous for them. Of course add your special requirements into the search. If you’re looking for some quiet or romantic time, look for ratings on restaurants that include decor, view, etc. If you want some outdoors activity consider a bicycle tour of the valley, stopping at wineries and restaurants along the way.

As a visitor to Napa Valley, you can do more than just consume your dining experiences, you can create them as well. You can learn to cook, and learn to shop like a chef. You can take home newfound culinary skills to keep your Valley experience alive long after your trip.

Culinary demonstrations and schools abound in Napa Valley. The Culinary School of America in St. Helena offers recipes and samples, and teaches both food and wine skills in restaurant demonstrations of just a few hours, ranging up to week-long courses and more. The school also leads in cooking with local foods and sustainable farming practices.

Or how about Gourmet Retreats in Calistoga? Taught by a trained chef, here you can pick up culinary skills in as little as five hours or stay for five days. As with most offerings in the Valley, it’s up to you. And you don’t have to stay where you learn. Getting around Napa Valley is very easy, with trains, buses, tour companies, and rentals of every kind. You can base in one place if you choose and venture forth daily to your attractions.

Would you like to learn to shop for your food in the farmers market, and then learn how to turn the ingredients into a culinary delight? Cooking With Julie in Napa offers just this experience. You select from the season’s finest and freshest local produce, fish, meat, cheese, fruits and artisan foods. Then you turn these into a 3-course lunch with wine. Not a bad life skill for one day’s adventure.

Napa Valley is NOT going back to school. You have permission to relax, enjoy, consume. But it will be hard not to pick up tips and tricks about wine and food from your stay in the Valley. You’ll take a better way of culinary living home with you, to enjoy until your next visit here, when you come back for more.

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Napa County is a county located north of the San Francisco Bay Area in the U.S. state of California. Napa Valley is widely considered one of the top A.V.As in California, and all of the United States with a history dating back to the early nineteenth century.
It is one of the most naturally beautiful destinations in the world.
The Napa wine country was the inspiration for the fictional Tuscany Valley on the night time soap opera Falcon Crest. Grape expectations are part of daily reality at the north eastern tip of San Francisco Bay,
Spring in the Napa Valley is full of the promises of pleasures to come. The air is fresh and fragrant with wild flowers, blossoms and buds. The mornings and evenings are crisp while the days offers a pleasant temperatures and abundant sunshine. Summer offers a tapestry of green hues as the grape vines mature. During the summer months the temperatures in the Napa Valley vary greatly from those in San Francisco
The Napa Valley features more than two hundred wineries and grows many different grape varieties including Chardonnay, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel, and many more popular varietals. Napa Valley is visited by five million people each year, making it the second tourist destination in California, second only to Disneyland.
Some of the most charming shops in the Napa Valley can be found along Lincoln Avenue, Calistogas main street
The Napa Valley Opera House once again is the pride of the Napa Valley. Its restoration is the fruit of decades of effort, tens of thousands of hours of volunteer work and genuine tenacity in the face of overwhelming odds. The Napa Valley Opera House would not be here today were it not for the heroic efforts of Napa Valley citizens. From buy-a-brick programs to hard-hat concert fund raisers, Napans of all ages and walks of life have donated time, expertise and money to restore this wonderful hall to its former splendour.
Napa Valley Opera house is the jewel of the valley that show cases excellence in music and performing arts for audiences of all ages including world-class musical plays, theatre, jazz, chamber music, opera, dance and family programs.
Copia is like a wine and food museum, but has so much more. A non-profit organization, COPIA is highly interactive and entertaining something for everyone. Along with food- and wine-oriented exhibitions
Attraction of all type included Garden, Specialty museum, Educational site, Art galleries, Architectural building and a Mall.

Wine is the most sought after beverage for thousands of years, people enjoy this historic drink which was only consumed at that point of time mainly for ceremonial purposes and as a medicine, now on the other hand people use it even for religious purposes. Majority of people just love to enjoy the feel of wine with some nice food or even just for the delicious taste. Wines are of different types like red wines, white wines, sparkling wines and non-alcoholic wines. Red wines are one of the most popular wines not only because of its delicious taste but also for the kind of the health benefits it offers when consumed at moderate levels. With regard to wine consumption, the proverb: Too much of anything is good for nothing” is just appropriate. Many people wonder how do wines assume the color red, this is not because of the grapes that are used but it is because of the fact that the grapes skin are added during the fermentation process. The color of the red wines would remain crystal clear incase the skin was reaped off from the skin. There are different varieties of red wines and each variety of wine is distinct from each other because of the different types of grapes used. Usually we come across wines that are labeled based on the type of grape used like Cabernet Sauvignon wine is named because of seventy five percentage concentration of specified grape is used in it. Some of the different types of red wine have been specified here with the regions in which they are most popular. Cabernet Sauvignon made up of the Cabernet Sauvignon grapes, this wine is very popular in regions like France, Napa Valley, Chile and Italy. Merlot has flavors of plum, rose and bell pepper, popular in places like California, Argentina and France. Syrah, popular in South Africa, California and Australia has combination of flavors like black current, clove, pepper and cedar, it is one of the most unique wines. As stated earlier, red wines have remained popular not only because of their taste but also for the health benefits it offers. Red wines have proven to reduce the mortality rate; research studies reveal that moderate intake of red wine gives a protective effect. Further moderate consumption of wines is more beneficial than beer and even spirits. Results have revealed that red wines decrease the harmful effect of smoking that is caused on the endothelium layer of cells. Red wines offer a preventative measure for the coronary heart disease. It is believed that they red wines lower the production of low density cholesterol and enhance the production of high density lipoprotein cholesterol. It also produces an anti clotting action. Moderate consumers of wine have low levels of proteins fibrinogen (promotes blood clot formation). Red wine has favorable effects on hypertension, we are aware that alcohol is considered risky for hypertension but studies have shown some favorable results with regard to moderate consumption of wines for hypertensive people.

Drinking wine has been a great joy throughout much of the history of modern man. While the cavemen weren’t stomping grapes, it wasn’t long after that period that the joys of fermentation were discovered. Drinking wine today should be a joy as well, not something that is intimidating.

We’ve all experienced that moment. We are with other people who clearly take their wine consumption a bit more than perhaps they should. They prattle on and on about the aromas, strengths and weaknesses of the wine in question. This is okay at a tasting event, but can be intimidating to say the least at a dinner party or some other intimate gathering.

The first rule of drinking wine should always be to enjoy it! I was in Napa Valley with some friends about a year ago. As you might suspect, we were making our way around to the various vineyards to sample their offerings. A good friend of mine fancies himself the wine expert while the rest of us tend to fall into the “I like that”…”I don’t like that” crowd. Suspiciously, his positive reviews of the various wines seemed to fall in line with their prices. The more expensive, the better the wine! The rest of deemed a $12 bottle of wine the best of the bunch, even better than a $120 bottle.

So, who was right? Well, all of us. The point of drinking wine is to find a vintage that you enjoy and…well, enjoy it. Yes, a fine palette can be developed so that you can really learn to enjoy the finer points of a good vintage versus one that isn’t so great. If you want to get this serious about your wine drinking, I applaud you. That being said, you do not have to go to such extremes to simply enjoy a good red or white!

As the years have passed, I’ve come to realize that the more a person aggressively states something, the more they are usually full of it if you know what I mean. This is true with wine as with any part of life. Wine is meant to be enjoyed. The Greeks enjoyed it. The Romans enjoyed it. You should enjoy it and don’t be intimidated by a wine sophisticato!

Angela DeFinis is an expert in professional public speaking providing programs like Speech Coach San Francisco, Speech Coach Bay Area, Speech Coach Marin, Speech Coach Napa Valley, Speech Coach Silicon Valley and Speech Coach California. As an author, speaker, and CEO/Founder of DeFinis Communications Inc., she has spent over twenty years helping business professionals find solutions to their communication challenges and develop a broader repertoire of potent speaking skills. Her message and approach create positive, personal, and lasting change.

1. Structure Your Message

Use a clear structure with a beginning, middle, and end to keep you and your audience on track. Start with a strong opening, state your purpose, and then move to your three to five main points. Support each main point with touch points: stories, metaphors, rhetorical questions, examples, technical information, statistics, charts, and graphs. State the value point so that your audience clearly understands how your message benefits them. Close with a final thought and a clear call to action. This simple content structure will guarantee your success.

2. Tell Memorable Stories

Storytelling is the pathway to personal connection. Telling the right story at the right time creates a powerful opportunity to engage with your listeners. Create engaging characters and add details and dialogue. Develop a beginning, middle, and end; make sure there’s a twist; and bring it home with a resolution. Stories penetrate deeply into the hearts and minds of others. They will be remembered long after your last word is spoken.

3. Strengthen Physical Presence

Your physical presence is what the audience sees when they look at you. Imagine that they can’t hear a word you are saying. The only information they have is the physical information you are sending with your body language. Use sustained eye contact (three to five seconds per person), active facial expressions (raise your eyebrows and smile!), erect posture, varied gestures, and powerful movement. Stay physically active to keep your audience alive.

4. Develop Distinctive Language

Your words give people access to your message and keep your audience involved. Effective language skills include concise sentences, language that is audience focused, and words that convey power and emotion. Use the word YOU often. It is the most powerful word in the English language. Eliminate distracting words such as “really,” “like,” “basically,” “okay,” and “you know,” and drop those grating non-words such as “umm,” “ah,” “err,” and “uh.” Keep your language clear and free of word pollution. For more info visit: www.definiscommunications.com