Wine 101 : Be A Wine Expert In Less Than 5 Minutes.

Health Benefits: Anti-aging effects in red grape skins (Harvard Medical School in Boston, 2004), Improved lung function from antioxidants in white wine (American Thoracic Society, 2002), Coronary heart disease reduced (University of California, Davis, 1995), Ulcer-causing bacteria reduced (American Journal of Gastroenterology, 2003), Cancer cells killed by protein in red grape skins (University of Virginia Health System, 2004), Lower risk of heart attack for men with high blood pressure (Worcester Medical Center in Massachusetts, 2004), Decreased ovarian cancer risk (The Queensland Institute of Medical Research in Australia, 2004)

Selecting the Wine: Trust your palate. Never choose a wine to give or pour for a dinner party unleast you have tasted the wine first. Make sure to diversify your wine selection, meaning not all white or all reds, mix it up! When selecting for a dinner party/date select a mid priced wine. Usually these wines are a good price and good quality. Now on the other hand if you are trying to impress a wine connoisseur find out if they prefer white over red, vice versa and try to get the best in your budget.

The Use of a Decanter: A decanter is a vessel that is used to hold the decantation of a liquid (such as wine) which may contain sediment. Decanters are normally used as serving vessels for wine. Decanters vary in shape and design. They are usually made of an inert material (such as glass) and will hold at least one standard bottle of wine (0.75 litre).

My Top Four:

• Pinot Grigio (My Favorite): Light and dry. Formed by a mutation of Pinot Noir. Originated in Alto-Adige, Italy. Round fruit flavors. Served best with seafood, lightly sauteed food, avoid mixing with tomatoes or citrus foods.

• Chardonnay: America’s top-selling white wine. Originated in the region of Burgundy in France. Made from Chardonnay grapes. Hints of butter, apple, pears, oak and citrus. Served best with poultry, seafood and heavy creamed dishes.

• Cabernet Sauvignon: Most popular red wine. Originated in Bordeaux, France, in the 17th century. Its a mix of the Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc grapes, aged (at least 10 to 15 years) with hints of coffee, chocolate, leather, and tobacco. Served best with red meat and dark chocolate dishes. Younger Cabernets (aged 3 to 7 years) have a lighter, fruitier smell and taste with aromas of cranberry, raspberry and plum swirling in the bowl of your glass. Served best with: poultry, pork and pasta.

• Shiraz: A Syrah (grape) full bodied red wine which originated in France. Served best with red meat and full bodied cheeses. Shiraz goes best with steak.