Pop cork on New Year’s without maiming your friends

When it comes to opening a bottle of champagne, you’re probably more worried about your toast falling flat than one of your guests. Think again. Ricocheting and rocketing champagne corks are responsible for a surprising number of emergency room visits each year, according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology. And there’s no quicker way to dampen a party mood than by giving your best friend a black eye or worse, permanent eye damage. There is an art to opening a bottle of sparkling wine smoothly and safely. The primary focus is cork control, because at 72 pounds per square inch, there...

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Popping the cork on festive sipping

If there is one time of the year when I strive to save time, cut corners and get organized it is the rush of December. My goal is to eliminate the stress and enjoy the celebration. One way to achieve this is by keeping a few entertaining tips and wine recommendations handy. Getting the party started. During hors d’oeuvres is the perfect time to open a bottle of bubbly. Sparkling wine pairs with a wide range of flavors and textures and can handle anything from light and airy sweets to baked, grilled or even deep-fried appetizers. THE VALUE NV Roederer Anderson Valley Brut, California (about...

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Perfect gift picks for the wine lover

Picking the right gift for the wine enthusiast can be more complicated than just grabbing a bottle of wine. If you’re looking for ideas, here are few gifts that would make just about any wine lover smile. THE VALUES The Wine Wedge (about $10 for a set of two) If you have ever tried stacking wine bottles in your refrigerator you understand why this is a great solution. You can use one wedge to stack bottles against the wall or use two to create a sturdy pyramid of up to six bottles. govinowine Shatterproof Stemless “Glassware” (about $13 for a four-pack) I love this drinkware because...

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It’s not Christmas if there’s no port

We all have our wine traditions and for me it’s port wine at Christmas. I cannot imagine ushering in the holiday without this one-of-a kind, fortified masterpiece. It takes its name from the city of Oporto, Portugal, and possesses many unique viticulture and winemaking techniques. The growing area, Portugal’s Douro Valley, has very hot summers and cold winters, making it a rather inhospitable area for viticulture. Its isolated landscape is just as uninviting with its steep hillsides, poor, dry soils and archaic-looking planting terraces. In spite of the weather conditions and poor...

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Here’s to hostess with the mostest

With all of the forthcoming celebrations, now is the time to get organized and let the wine be the easiest part of your entertaining. The following are some common questions. Can I use the same glass for red, white, Champagne, tea and water? One glass can easily be used for all except the bubbly. For all-in-one serving, look for a glass size in between the traditional white and red. But for Champagne, the flute is the best choice. Without the rolling celebratory bubbles, this style of wine loses its luster in traditional stemware. How many servings are in a wine bottle? A standard wine bottle...

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Pinot noir’s regal in the right hands

I can’t say I’ve ever considered myself one to be frustrated with a grape. Until now. Over the past few weeks I have experienced the same combination of obsession and confusion the rest of the world seems to have with pinot noir. I set out on a journey to explore this alluring and mysterious grape by scrutinizing my past tasting notes and, of course, tasting a lot of wines in the process. Pinot noir is an incredibly finicky grape that demands ideal growing conditions and is rarely open to any coaxing in the winery. Simply said, it is one tough grape to get right. As for the splurges over...

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