For the last few years, I have been writing about the best champagne and how to best enjoy it. I am not a sommelier, nor will I ever be. I just like to try new things, and in my travels, I have found that champagne is something that many people enjoy as much as me.
Trying out new things is always risky though. What if you don’t like what you try? Well, then you know that you weren’t going to like it anyway. But if you do like something, then you are off to the races.
For example, I was warned by people that if I didn’t like French wine (which I have tried before), then I would not like champagne either. But after trying a few different kinds of champagne with some friends one time… well let’s just say it has become my favorite drink now! And here is the thing: after knowing from others that French wine is different from other wines… well why would anyone buy a bottle of French wine? Why take the risk when there are so many delicious options out there? The only reason I did… was because someone told me not to.
Anyone can find a wine they like. The real test is finding wines you love, and discovering new ones that are even better.
Wine is the most rewarding of all alcoholic drinks. Not only does it have more flavor and complexity than beer or liquor, but it is also a way to connect with other people. You can grow your own grapes, make your own wine, or visit the vineyards and wineries of the world.
Wine is so rewarding because it not only has taste and aroma but history as well. Wine’s origins in religious rituals still show in today’s winemaking and consumption. The best wines are unforgettable experiences that capture a place and time.
This blog will help you find the best champagne for you by showing you how to discover wines that you love even more than the hype suggests. I’ll also look at the best wine-related products; this includes books, movies, music, outdoor toys and anything else that will help you enjoy life with friends while drinking champagne.
The information on this site is intended for entertainment use only; all content is original material written by me, unless otherwise noted.”
You may have heard of Grand Cru Champagne, but you may not know exactly what it is. This is especially true if you are interested in or are involved with the wine and champagne industry. The term “Grand Cru” is a designation used by the French government to indicate that a particular type of champagne comes from a specific region and is made from only the best grapes. The exact rules for using this term vary depending on the type of champagne being produced.
Troy Patterson of Wine Spectator magazine has written extensively about Grand Cru champagnes, including how they are produced, their quality and general characteristics. He also covers the history of this style of champagne as well as many other topics related to wine and champagne in his blog articles.
For the most part, it is a basic no-frills drink. “I am perfectly willing to taste my wine after I cook with it,” Reynolds says. “But I’m not going to sit down and have a glass of wine.”
There are some exceptions to this, especially for more expensive wines. For example, if you use a wine with a high price tag, the time spent drinking it should be reserved for special occasions that allow you to savor the experience. This is where having friends over to share a meal can be useful. Or, if you feel like treating yourself, you could always open a bottle of Grand Cru Champagne and serve it with fresh oysters or caviar on crackers.
Grilling is also an excellent time to break out the fancier bottles of reds and whites because the heat from grilling enhances the flavor of wine and creates bolder tasting notes.
When using cooking wines, remember that these are made for cooking and not necessarily for drinking. Balsamic vinegar is another favorite for those who like their food flavorful but who don’t want too much alcohol in their diet.**
Champagne is a French wine that, as the name suggests, originates from the Champagne region of France. It is produced by fermenting grapes in a way that prevents them from bursting. The fermentation process produces bubbles and thus champagne has the nickname of “the bubbly”.
According to the European Union, “Champagne” can only be produced in the Champagne region in France and it must be made from at least 3 varieties of grapes. To be called “Champagne”, the wine must be produced in the Champagne region, a maximum of 15% still wine and/or grape must be added to the final product, it must have a minimum alcohol content of 11% and a maximum sweetness level of 5%.
It’s even better with a twist of lemon, but I don’t always have one. It’s also awesome over roasted sweet potatoes.
I first tried this on a whim. I was using up some taco seasoning in the fridge and it just seemed like a perfect match—the sweetness with the acidity of the vinegar, the saltiness to balance out the sugar and vinegar. Simple, quick and delicious!
I’ve made this recipe so many times now that it’s lost all sense of glamour for me. But every time I make it for someone else, they just love it. So I guess there’s something to be said for keeping things simple sometimes.
Sherry is an alcoholic beverage produced in the Jerez region of southern Spain. In English, the word “sherry” refers to the fortified wine produced in this region, especially that exported from there, rather than the Spanish word for the region’s unfortified wines, or “country wine”, which are commonly called vino de la tierra (“wine of the land”). But when British merchants began exporting sherry to England in the 17th century, they needed a term for it in English, so they used a word from their native district of Xeres; hence “sherry” became the common name for fortified Jerez wines.
The name Sherry is most likely derived from Jerez, which was once an Arab stronghold (the origin of its name is attributed to either the Arabic words sharish or xeriz, both meaning “dry”). However, whereas the pronunciation of Jerez remains more or less unchanged in Spanish – unlike Río de la Plata whose original name was Spanishized into “River Plate” – Jerez has been Anglicized into “Sherris” and even further into “Sherry”.
Jerez (Xeres) was also famous for its production of decorated leather items such as shoes and handbags. A local
