10 Great Wine Reads

It’s National Library Month, the perfect time to check out a variety of wine books and indulge your interest in all things vino. Here are just a few suggestions for the oenophile and the budding wine lover, alike.

Wine Lover’s Wine Books

1) American Wine: The Ultimate Companion to the Wines and Wineries of the United States by Jancis Robinson and Linda Murphy (2012)

Enjoy an in-depth look into America’s wine culture with over 7,000 wine producers. The book features some of the country’s best wines, wineries and winemakers and includes 54 detailed maps of local wine regions, along with more than 200 photos highlighting just what makes this country a wine-rich nation.

2) Exploring Wine: Completely Revised 3rd Edition by Steve Kolpan, Brian H. Smith, Michael A. Weiss, The Culinary Institute of America (2010)

This is a wine reference book for food and wine lovers, professionals and oenophiles. Written to demystify wine and the winemaking process, it covers major wine regions around the world, explaining which wines and foods pair well together. Tasting notes are offered along with easy-to-use guides.

3) Eyewitness Companions: Wines of the World: Your Essential Handbook

by DK Publishing (2004)

Still a great source about each of the 35 major wine-producing regions in the world. Loaded with history, maps and photos, you’ll get enough of a wine education to forgive references to some producers who are no longer in business. A portable guide that could assist you in mapping out your next international wine jaunt.

The History of Wine

1) Judgment of Paris: California vs. France and the Historic 1976 Paris Tasting That Revolutionized Wine by George Taber (2005)

The factual version of the Paris Tasting of 1976 by the only reporter who covered it. Taber’s Time Magazine article stunned the wine world and transformed it when he reported how a blind-tasting panel of top French wine experts chose two unknown California wineries on which to bestow top honors. It’s the perfect “David and Goliath” story set in the world of wine.

2) Wine and War: The French, the Nazis, and the Battle for France’s Greatest Treasure by Donald Kladstrup and Petie Kladstrup (2002)

In 1940, when France fell to the Nazis, the Germans began looting French wine. While Adolph Hitler did not imbibe, Nazi troops had no such aversion.  This book tells of the extraordinary measures that French winemakers and producers went to in order to save their vineyards and their vino from the Germans.

3) Passions: The Wines and Travels of Thomas Jefferson by Thomas Gabler (1995)

This is a biography about Thomas Jefferson that focuses mainly on his travels throughout France and Europe. Jefferson was well known for his love of good food and good wine: especially French wine. Follow along with Jefferson as he describes his perceptions of the food and wines he sampled along the way. Known as America’s first wine connoisseur, Jefferson’s passion for wine shines through.

Wine Adventures

1) The Curious World of Wine: Facts, Legends, and Lore About the Drink We Love So Much by Richard Vine, PhD (2012)

Vine’s book is full of little known facts, interesting lore, and quirky regional tidbits, all revolving around our love of wine through the ages. Discover some juicy details concerning wine’s founders and fathers along with the movers and shakers of the New World, and how wine has always played a part in love.

2) In Search of Bacchus: Wanderings in the Wonderful World of Wine Tourism

by George Taber  (2009)

Taber chronicles his journey to twelve of the most beautiful wine regions in the world. From Napa, the home of wine tourism, to a thousand-year-old monastery in Tuscany, to traveling the wine routes in Stellenbosch, South Africa, Taber shares his thoughts and recommendations with the reader. Consider this a vicarious chance to travel around the world to a dozen of the most interesting wine hot spots.

3) Adventures on the Wine Route by Kermit Lynch  (1990)

If you love French wines, or are planning a trip to the French wine regions then Lynch’s book will get you in the mood to explore. Follow his adventures as he shares wonderful discoveries during his twenty years of making annual wine-buying trips to the wine regions of France. While it may have been published 25 years ago, it can still entertain and enlighten.

Bonus Book

Why You Like The Wines You Like: Changing the Way the World Thinks About Wine by Tim Hanni (2013)

Hanni has been called “the Wine Anti-Snob” by the Wall Street Journal with good reason, he believes, and applies science to show, that the wine drinker has been right all along: personal preference rules when pairing wine with food. This concept empowers the wine drinker and makes all those “You Should Be Drinking …” wine guides look rather passé.

Now that you have some ideas, grab a few books from your local library and curl up for a nice read. After all, what’s better than a rainy spring evening spent reading with a glass of wine?

~ Joy

March 26 Is “Make Up Your Own Holiday” Day

Finally! A day to celebrate all those apparently forgotten wines.

Yes, there are plenty of wine designated holidays: National Wine Day, National Drink Wine Day, Chardonnay Day, Pinot Noir Day, Sauvignon Blanc Day, Champagne Day, Muscato Day…. (You get the idea.)

But if your favorite drew the short straw in the list of wine holidays then tomorrow is your chance to rectify the situation. March 26 is “Make Up Your Own Holiday” Day.

While you may not want to take the time to jump through all of the bureaucratic hoops to designate an “official” day, you can proclaim it to be whatever day you’d like tomorrow on social media.

I believe we should have a special day for my favorite dark, brooding wine, so for me tomorrow will be National Merlot Day.

Now, it's your turn. Take a moment, select your favorite (yet often ignored) wine and tell the world that you'll be celebrating tomorrow with a glass of _____________.

 

It’s time every wine had it's day!

Cheers!

~ Joy

4 Spring Meats Matched With Wines

Spring brings an influx of holidays: Good Friday, Easter, Passover and the Spring Equinox. Holiday and festive meals are usually prepared for these events, but choosing a wine to pair with spring meats can be daunting. Here’s a handy meat-matching guide to make the wine selection process easier.

~ Joy

5 Tips For Cooking with Wine

I’m sure you’ve heard the old line: “I love cooking with wine, sometimes I even put it in the food.” And it's true! There are numerous dishes that are amazingly better with the addition of a bit of wine, beer or liqueur. Alcohol also makes a wonderful tenderizer and marinade. But just what percentage of alcohol remains in the food when you’re done?

Let's take a look at five tips for cooking with wine and how much of it remains in the final dish.

1) What wine to use? 

It's your choice. There are numerous cooking wines available, but you can also use what’s left from the bottle you opened last night, as long as it pairs well with the dish.

2) Wine is not a main flavor ingredient. 

Wine and other liqueurs are used as an ingredient to bring out the dish's flavor. And sometime, for the WOW factor of a visual presentation.

3) Wine is best cooked at a lower temperature.

Wine is usually added to a sauce then simmered slowly in order to concentrate those sublime flavors while it is also reducing the alcohol content.

4) Always simmer the wine first. 

Then if called for, you can add any cream, broths or stock to the recipe and not cover up the heightened flavors provided by the wine.

5) Pay attention to the time. 

Cook the wine on too high of heat for too long and the flavors can become acidic and burnt. Cooking with wine is more of a slow, simmering process.

The US Department of Agriculture has calculated the percentage of alcohol remaining in a dish based on the heat temperature used and the amount of time it took to cook the dish.

• Alcohol added to boiling liquid and removed from heat retains 85%

• Alcohol that is flamed (Flambé) retains 75%

• Alcohol added without heat and food is stored in overnight (marinade) retains 70%

• Alcohol that is stirred into a mixture and baked retains as follows:

Time in Hours               % of Alcohol Retained

15 minutes                            40%

30 minutes                            35%

1 hour                                   25%

1.5 hours                              20%

2 hours                                 10%

2.5 hours                              5%

Cooking with wine will add extra moisture to a dish and help reduce the need for oils and fats. Usually white wine goes best with more delicate dishes: fish and chicken with veggies, while red wines are hardier and can give highly seasoned meats and side dishes an interesting depth. Don’t be afraid to experiment – and enjoy the results.

~ Joy

Celebrate National Mulled Wine Day

I’ll make this short and sweet. Tuesday, March 3^rd is National Mulled Wine Day. Sipping a glass of mulled wine is the perfect way to bid winter a final farewell before spring rushes in with warmer temperatures and those wonderful crisp, white wines.

Mulled or warmed wines were first served in Rome during the 2^nd century. As the Romans traveled the continent, they shared the mulled wine recipe with other communities including what is now England, Germany, the Netherlands and Austria.

Mulled wine goes by many names including glögg (Sweden), gløgg (Norwegian), gluhwein (German), vin chaud (French), and vin brulé (Italian). It is usually served during the holiday season as a festive drink at parties or around a bonfire.

Mulled wine recipes abound. Most call for using red wine, usually claret or port, and adding various mulling spices which can include ginger, cloves, cinnamon and anise. Fruit may also be added; the most popular being orange slices, raisins or cranberries. The drink is then served piping hot or warm.

Here is a standard crockpot recipe for mulled wine that will keep you warm all evening as you celebrate the end of winter and anticipate the coming spring.

Mulled Wine Recipe

1 bottle of red wine (your choice)

Up to ½ cup sugar (according to taste)

Slice of ginger root

6 cloves

½ teaspoon aniseed

½ teaspoon allspice

2 cinnamon sticks + one for each mug

1 orange (peeled and sliced)

½ cup raisins or cranberries

¼ to ½ cup brandy (optional)

Pour wine into crockpot, add sugar and stir in spices. Turn dial to medium and let wine begin to simmer (20 minutes). Turn down to low and add fruit to crockpot, along with brandy, if using.  Stir well. Wait 10 minutes, pour wine in mugs (leave spices in crockpot), and enjoy by a roaring fire.

~ Joy

5 Reasons For Celebrating National Drink Wine Day

Today is February 18 and that means it is National Drink Wine Day in the U.S. This annual celebration is a way to tout the health benefits of wine, pay tribute to the ways wine enhances food and lifestyle, and it's just a great reason to enjoy a glass.

1) Wine Is Popular

Archaeological sites that relate to wine date back more than 6,000 years. Today there are over 20-million acres dedicated to grapes across the globe. That’s literally thousands of wines being crafted around the world every day. Bliss!

 

2) Wine Provides Health Benefits

A glass of wine a day has been proven to increase heart health, help in weight reduction, boost immunity, lessen blood clots and reduce forgetfulness. Ideal!

3) You Already Have a Bottle

This is one holiday where you don’t have to buy anything, cause if you’re a true oenophile, you’ll already have some wine stashed away at home ready for celebrating with. Cheers!

4) Wine is a Social Event

Go out with friends to your favorite wine bar or restaurant and celebrate with a glass of red or white, sweet or dry. Maybe a trip to a local winery is in order or a visit to your favorite wine shop. Enjoy!

 

5) Stay In Touch Through Wine

Share the day with friends by sending a “Drink Wine Day” e-card. After all, if you didn't know about it, they might not either. Share!

 Several events are planned across the country, mainly in larger cities. Check out Local Wine Events to see what’s planned for today in your region. You can also keep up with events on the Drink Wine Day FaceBook site.

If, for some reason you can’t partake today, no worries. There are actually over a dozen holidays designated for "adult beverage drinks" including National Scotch Day on July 27, National Moscato Day on May 9, National Martini Day on June 19, and National Wine Day on May 25. (Yes, it is different from today’s celebration, which is National DRINK Wine Day ;)

So pour a glass (or two, it is a celebration) and ponder those esoteric thoughts that wine always brings about ...

Here’s to wine,

Our favorite drink!

A refreshing beverage

That helps you think.

The more you think,

The wittier you feel,

So I want wine at every meal!

(Obviously, I need a glass of wine, right now!)

Cheers!

~ Joy