Sunday, July 30, 2006

What is Micro Brew?: Understanding Beer

Khieng 'Ken' Chho - Micro Brew For related articles and other resources, vsit Ken's website: http://microbrew.1w3b.net Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Khieng_Chho, http://barworks.blogspot.com


Micro brewed beer is often used to refer to beer that is brewed in the comforts of one's home or in small pubs. The term started in the 70s in the UK to describe single units that make their own beer or traditional cask ale.

Before, the term micro brew was only used to characterize output volume and brewery size. In the US, it used to refer to breweries that produces less than 15,000 beer barrels in a year. But, now, it is fast becoming known as a next generation approach to beer brewing and experimentation, as well as customized service.

Beer aficionados will tell you that some of the world's best brews are the ones done in microbreweries. Because makers of micro brew beer have the liberty to create their own concoctions and make experiments with flavor, a number of microbreweries gave starting banking on this popularity and sprouting all over the world.

If you ask micro brew fans what makes this kind of beer so great, they will most definitely tell you it's the distinct flavor. You see, microbrewed beer usually tastes richer and darker than its commercially and mass-produced counterparts. And because each pub or home microbrewery is likely to have its own distinct twist to beer making, you can be assured of a variety of flavors you are bound to taste.

Micro brew is not just for pubs, as said earlier. Some people prefer to brew their own beer at home, for personal pleasure. Home brews are perfect for private parties. In fact, some beer makers even use a home microbrewery as an excuse to invite people over.

However, it is important to note that not all states have legalized microbrewing. To know more information about this, as well as how to start your own micro brew setup at home, you might want to check out the American Homebrewers Association. They have a list of restrictions and how-tos on their Web site, which can help you get started or keep you in control.

You can also join a local micro brew club if there is on in your area. If you're a bit antisocial, this might be the best place to start with because you deal with a fewer number of people. You can exchange notes and compare micro brew flavors with them, and even do joint projects on new tastes. To find out if there's one in your vicinity, check the local directory.

Making your own beer or tasting one that's customized makes a whole lot of difference to the beer drinking experience. If you previously thought the beers you buy from the supermarket are all there is, then you missed so much.

However, it's not too late to start introducing yourself to the wonder that is micro brew. Who knows, you might actually learn to love it more than the commercial fare -- just like any other person who has made the switch before you. Enjoy!

FUN SITES: (Click on any highlighted link)

Beer of the Month Club

http://microbrew.1w3b.net

Micro Brew

Until Next Time!

Jasmine

http://barworks.blogspot.com

Friday, July 21, 2006

Beer Tasting Parties

Let me start out by saying that nobody should host a beer tasting party unless all the participants are over age and there is a designated driver for each person. That way you are assured of nobody getting arrested for underage drinking or driving under the influence. Having said that, what exactly is a beer tasting party and how do they work?


A beer tasting party is just that. You bring a number of people over to your place and have them sample a variety of beers. At the end of the evening the beers are ranked from best to worst. There are many variations you can do on this such as having friendly wagers on what beer you think will come in first. Of course, gambling for money is illegal so the wagers would have to be for something other than.

It's best, when having a beer tasting party, to have a small group. The reason for this is simple. With a small group, the tasting party is just that, a tasting party. With a larger group, it tends to become a party, period. And parties with large groups can become quite rowdy. So if you want a serious tasting party, keep it small.


The next thing is the selection of the beers themselves. How do you go about doing this? A good tasting party will have about eight to ten different kinds of beers, all very distinct in taste. You should probably select a beer by its brewing style rather than by its country of origin. You should mix up your beers between beers that are expensive and beers that are cheap. You don't want to have two beers that are very similar. This way you are sure to get a more accurate ranking of the beers. If all goes as it should, the cheap beers should end up at the bottom with the premium beers coming in first.


Because this is a tasting party, you don't need a lot of beer. Probably a six pack of each beer will be more than enough and you'll still have plenty left over after you're done. If you're on a tight budget and don't want to buy whole six packs, then figure one bottle of beer for every three people at the party. This way you can pull off your party without going broke.


Because you don't want your guests to get rip roaring drunk, it is a good idea to have food at this party. What kind of food? You want foods that will go well with the beers, like cheese and bread. These things won't interfere with the tasting process itself. And if you want, you can even turn this into a combination cheese and beer tasting party. They make great fund raisers.

Finally, there should be a certain order to the tasting itself. You want to taste your beers from the lightest beers to the heaviest, making sure that you take a bite of cheese or bread in between each beer so that the taste of the previous beer is gone.

Your guests should rank each beer on a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being the highest. All scores for each beer should be added together and then divided by the number of tasters. This will give you an average score for each beer.

By following these simple steps, your beer tasting party should go off without a hitch.

If you would like to learn more about the different types of beers, you might want to check out a book called "Ultimate Beer" (Click Here!)

Until Next Time!

Arianna

http://barworks.blogspot.com

Your Beer Guide *by Michael Russell* Visit us for more information.


Beer Pros & Cons....Did you know?



Beer is an alcoholic drink, but that alone doesn't make it a danger to your health. Only excessive consumption leads to headaches, hangovers and eventually more severe health problems. A moderate consumption of beer has no negative impact on your health.

With that in mind, let's see some of the aspects favoring beer consumption and their counterpoints:

Beer Contains no Fat, but It Does Cause the "Beer Belly"

You've heard that beer makes people fat - the "beer belly" is a famous expression all around the world. Well, actually, beer itself contains no fat and there are plenty of beer diets you can try to get thin (beer diets are not based on calorie counting). So what exactly causes the beer belly? Excessive consumption of beer means excessive consumption of alcohol. Alcohol can lessen the body's ability to burn fat. And you've heard people saying that drinking a glass of beer equals eating a slice of bread. The "liquid bread", they say. That's true: because beer contains alcohol and alcohol contains calories. Depending on the brand, beer contains about 7-8 calories per gram, sometimes even more.

Beer Is Low in Sugar, but Can Cause Your Sugar Levels to Drop

The low levels of sugar in beer are a positive aspect. But beer contains alcohol and alcohol will cause the natural sugar levels in your blood to drop, leading to fatigue and a low energy level. Too much beer and you can go straight to bed. On the other hand, alcohol lowers insulin levels. That makes beer perfect for non-diabetics, as it reduces the chances of developing arteriosclerosis.

Beer May Help to Reduce the Risk of Heart Disease

Because it contains no cholesterol and it contains polyphenols with antioxidant qualities that will reduce the "bad cholesterol", also known as LDL cholesterol oxidation, beer may reduce the risk of heart disease. Besides, beer is a source of fiber derived from the malted barley which can also help. Consumption of beer may even help to reduce stress. That's good news. But again: moderate consumption! Not more than one beer per day for women and two for men and definitely not every day! Alcohol is also a blood thinner, thus not only is your heart protected, but the risk of stroke is also diminished. Some studies even consider moderate alcohol consumption (seven drinks a week) to be helpful in improving memory.

Beer Is Very Nutritious, but It Can Destroy Vitamin C

So far we know that beer is a great source of fiber. It also contains substantial amounts of minerals - magnesium, potassium, phosphorus and plenty of B vitamins: B1 (thiamine), B2 (riboflavin), B3 (niacin), B5 (pantothenic acid), B6 (pyridoxin) and B9 (folate) and B12 inotisol. Yet, alcohol destroys vitamin C.

Beer is 98% Water, but Still a Diuretic

Although 98% water, beer is a diuretic because it contains alcohol. That means you should not drink too much and never replace water with beer. To avoid headaches and hangovers caused by dehydration you should always have a glass of water between each glass of alcohol you drink.

LIVE LIFE WITH PASSION AND HANG ON FOR THE RIDE!

Until Next Time!

Jasmine

http://barworks.blogspot.com Michael Russell Your Independent guide to Beer Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Russell

Saturday, July 15, 2006

Alcohol-free Beer – Just Give It A Chance!


Alcohol-free beer is as healthy as its traditional counterpart, as rich in vitamins and minerals, fat free and yes, the perfect substitute for beer when you need to drive. But is that alcohol-free beer real beer or something else tasting similar?

They state alcohol-free beer is alcohol free. This sentence sounds as strange as the following: alcohol-free beer is not really alcohol free. To call beer with a highly reduced percentage of alcohol "alcohol-free" is pretty misleading. Let's make it clear: alcohol-free beer has an alcohol concentration of 0.05%. This is certainly not enough to make us drunk (juices contain the same amount of alcohol) and makes the so-called alcohol-free beer safe for pregnant women and drivers.

If you are a beer enthusiast you'll wonder, "why bother?" But when you need to take medicine that interacts with alcohol, you'll find "fake" beer not so bad. Besides, people actually like the taste of beer and not necessarily the alcohol in it. Beer goes great with steaks and sausages, French fries and other dishes. And finally: Muslims can also have a taste of beer. For these reasons and the ones mentioned below, alcohol-free beer is a great discovery.

So far it is clear: alcohol-free beer is not alcohol-free, but is a safe drink. Now let's take a look at the other benefits.

We should first state that alcohol-free beer is real beer, although many occasional consumers and beer enthusiasts will argue that. While some alcohol-free beers are made without fermentation and get their taste from natural flavorings, non-alcoholic beer is usually produced in the same way as traditional beer: mixing water, barley malt, hops and yeast. The alcohol is taken out only after the beer is fully brewed. The process, called vacuum evaporation, influences partially the taste of the beer, making it slightly bland. If it's something you miss when you drink non-alcoholic beer, that's the alcohol itself. Alcohol-free beer contains the same ingredients as traditional beer, minus 99.95% of the alcohol. And that's the good part about this drink: it keeps the nutritional values of a normal beer (fiber, iron, magnesium, potassium, phosphorus and plenty of B vitamins) and consuming it, even excessively, doesn't influence our health negatively.

On the contrary: recent studies show that alcohol-free beer may ward off cancer, contributes to the decrease of thrombin and has the same cardiovascular benefits as traditional beer. Drinking non-alcoholic beer helps decrease the components which form blood clots at about the same rate as the moderate consumption of regular beer.

Non-alcoholic beer, as you already found out, contains the same amount of alcohol found naturally in fruit juices and has half the proteins regular beer does. So you don't need to be afraid about that "beer belly" any longer, just cut out the snacks and you're done.

And let's end this "pro alcohol-free beer" debate with the most important benefits: you can drink and drive. You can go in a bar, have nearly the taste of the real stuff, look as if you're really drinking plain beer and be sociable without getting the effects of alcohol on your brain.

Click Here to join the Beer-of-the-Month Club with FREE SHIPPING!

LIVE LIFE WITH PASSION AND HANG ON FOR THE RIDE!


Until Next Time!

Jasmine

****************************************************

Michael Russell* Your Beer Guide* Visit us for more information. Bar Works

Tuesday, July 11, 2006

Great Frozen Drinks For Summer

Why not spice up your summer fun with some of these frozen drinks:

  • Blizzard
    1 oz Brandy
    1 oz Irish Cream
    1 oz Coffee Liqueur
    1 oz Light Rum
    2 scoop Vanilla Ice Cream
    1 oz Light Cream
    Blend until smooth and creamy. Dust the top with nutmeg or cinnamon.
  • Banana Chill
    1 1/2 oz Dark Rum
    1/2 oz Banana Liqueur
    2 scoop Vanilla Ice Cream
    1 Medium Banana
    Blend until smooth

  • Fruit Splash
    1 pint Vanilla Ice Cream
    1/3 cup Cherry-flavored Brandy
    1/3 cup Creme de Banane
  • Blend well. Makes 4-6 servings.

  • Beach Comber
    1 1/4 oz Irish Cream
    1/4 oz Banana Liqueur
    1 1/2 oz Pina Colada
    Mix 3/4 oz Light Rum
    1/2 Banana
    2 scoops Vanilla Ice Cream
    1/8 cup Cream
    Blend Until Smooth.

  • Raspberry Cheesecake
    1 tbsp Cream Cheese, Softened
    1 oz White Creme de Cacao
    1 oz Black Raspberry Liqueur
    2 scoops Vanilla Ice Cream
    1/2 cup Ice
    Blend until smooth.

  • Frozen Mint Daiquiri
    2 oz Light Rum
    1 tbsp Lime Juice
    1 1/2 oz Peppermint Schnapps
    1 tsp Sugar
    1 cup Ice
    Blend until smooth.

  • Peppermint Dream
    1/2 oz Green Creme de Menthe
    1 oz Chocolate Mint Liqueur
    3 Oreo Chocolate Cookies
    3 oz Light Cream
    1 cup ice
    Blend until ice is crushed.

  • Banana Daiquiri
    1 1/2 oz Light Rum
    1/2 oz Triple Sec
    1 1/2 oz Lime Juice
    1 tsp Powdered Sugar
    1 Medium Banana, pealed
    1 Cup ice
    Blend until smooth

A great book you might want to check out is called The Ultimate Little Frozen Drinks Book You can probably find this book at your local book store or purchase online at Amazon.com

Remember to always live Your Life with Passion!

Until Next Time

Jasmine :)

Source: http://barworks.blogspot.com

Sunday, July 09, 2006

GUIDE TO HOME WINE RACKS


Home Wine Racks icon make storing wine a breeze. With a home wine rack, you can conveniently store several bottles or tens of bottles right in your pantry, on the wall, on a kitchen table or countertop, or in the basement or wine cellar if you have one. In short, they are versatile and accomodating.

They are generally made out of either hardy woods, like cedar, fir or pine. Some of the best home wine racks are made out of metal. Wine bottles require proper care. To preserve the wine itself, bottles should be stored in a sturdy, elevated unit, which is placed in a dry environment, like a pantry or cellar. If you don't plan to store the wine for years and consume it soon after you buy it, then storing it right in the kitchen is perfectly fine.

Today’s economical home winerack is often made with conserving space in mind. You no longer need to worry about having ample cellar space; you can create an instant cellar right in your pantry. Therefore, if you are looking for a durable, safe, storage unit for your wine collection, a home wine rack is ideally suited for you.

Home wine racks come in an array of sizes. A wooden wine rack is stackable, so it can grow along with your collection. You can create an instant cellar in a matter of minutes with easy to construct units. Moreover, a wood home winerack is suitable for staining or painting, so you can customize it to match your existing home décor. Every wine rack comes with complete easy to understand instructions, necessary hardware and the promise that it will make your wine storage more convenient, while taking up less space.

Metal wine racks can add an artistic element to displaying your wine selection. Presentation is an important element in any entertaining event. Create a greater sense of class by displaying bottled wine in a spiraling wine tree or sculpture instead of just lined up on the bar. It is sure to make for added conversation.

iconHome Wine Racks are easy to assemble, and many are priced with your budget in mind. Regardless if you are looking for an elegant display or proper storage for your wines, a home winerack is the answer, for both the serious wine connoisseur and beginner.

Click here for a good source for Wine Racks!

Until Next Time!

Jasmine :)

View the best home wine racks we've discovered and review at http://www.wine-racks-selection-guide.com. http://barworks.blogspot.com
Article Source:
http://EzineArticles.com/?,expert=Ellen_Pedersen


icon

Saturday, July 08, 2006

5 Easy Tips To Prevent a Hangover!


Remember after the last party waking up with the feeling of cotton in your mouth? With it came a swirling headache that turned into jungle drums. On top of it all, your stomach kept playing at acrobatics for hours. It kind of felt like your body was having a carnival, without you, right?

That’s the effect a hangover can have if you drink too much, mix liquors, or if you’re not used to drinking much at all. Alcohol poisoning is no fun, although events leading up to it may be. Before heading out with your friends to the next party or celebration, keep the following tips in mind so you won’t have to deal with the leftover sick feeling late at night or the next day.

1. Eat before you go. Munch on a few crackers, a sandwich, or even a salad to get something in your stomach before drinking alcoholic beverages. Drinking on an empty stomach is a sure-fire way to get drunk fast and pollute your bodily systems. While at your place of imbibing, remember to nibble on something to eat from time to time to keep your stomach from getting empty. This will help your digestive tract to process the alcohol more effectively.

2. Take it easy. Don’t chug your liquor. Sip on it, nice and slow. This will help you enjoy its effects rather than be rushed into inebriation. Take in all the party enjoyments, such as music, companionship, food, and more. Liquor should accent rather than dominate your party experience. Keep an eye on the clock and pace your drinking so you don’t lose track of how many you have.

3. Stop in good time. Don’t guzzle all night long. Know your limit, and stop when you reach it. Don’t let anyone talk you into drinking more than you should. Never be drawn into competition with other drinkers, or you could end up in deep trouble if they drink long and hard.

4. Don’t mix liquors. Starting with beer and moving to mixed drinks, and from there, to whiskey, is a bad idea. With varying alcohol levels and uneven textures, your stomach could really get upset. Stay with one or maybe two types at most, the lower strength, the better. You can always try another kind the next time you go out.

5. Stay away from bootleg. You never really know what you’re getting in terms of strength, quality, or potency. If you’re with people you don’t know very well and black out, you could face serious problems. Even among friends, though, bootleg can vary from one batch to another, so it’s best to stay away from it altogether.

Plan to get at least eight hours of sleep after the celebration. This will give your body time to metabolize the liquor, and you may be able to sleep off most of its effects. Drink a little bit at a time, eat sensibly while you’re at it, and go home in plenty of time to get some rest.

Until Next Time!

Jasmine :)

http://barworks.blogspot.com


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?For more information on how to prevent that next hangover, Visit The Hangover Directory . expert=Charles_Kassotis

Sunday, July 02, 2006

Choosing Wine to Match Your Food


Creating the perfect mix between wine and food can be a challenge if you are not entirely sure what you are doing. With such an array of wine and food available there are always many options to consider.

When planning a dinner, choose combinations that are popular with a wide range of people. You should always ensure that the wine does not overpower the dish, and you also need to avoid flavor transferring. This occurs when a flavor is passed from the wine to a meal, as it can result in an unpleasant taste.


White Wine:

  • When creating a wine and food combination, Chardonnay is best complimented with Veal, Salmon, grilled cheese and white sauce. You should avoid spicy foods with this drink.
  • Gewurztraminer is ideal when matched with Pork, Chinese foods and Swiss cheese but must be avoided with light foods.
  • Pinot Grigio is not an ideal option for Tomatoes and spicy food as this combination may create a rather unpleasant taste.
  • Riesling is a very dry wine and perfect when teamed with Veal, Shrimp, cream sauces and Turkey.

Sweet food should be avoided with Riesling and Sancerre however.

Red Wine:

In a perfect world a food recommendation would be included on the back of a wine bottle. Fortunately I can give you the insiders tips to getting a wine and food combination just right.

  • Barberra red wine is perfect with Pizza, pasta, lasagne and lemon chicken.
  • When eating fish or tomatoes, Cabernet Sauvignon should be avoided. This wine is better suited with chocolate, roast lamb, steak and duck.
  • Merlot is perfectly matched with grilled meats such as barbecue meat and chicken. Avoid sweet food with this wine.
  • Pinot Noir is not well matched with spicy foods such as Indian, instead it is ideal with Salmon, tuna, lamb and duck.
  • Shiraz is great with a meal of barbecue, peppered red meats and sausage but should be avoided with fish.

In general, wine is best served at a chilled temperature, as it is able to breathe and create the perfect mix of aromas that will delight the senses and impress your guests.

Each type of wine has a glass that coordinates with it. If you do not have a cupboard full of every wineglass imaginable though, use the next closest looking glass.

The reason that there are so many types of wineglasses available, is that each one is designed to emphasize the full aromas and tastes within a given type of wine. If the wine is not served in quite the right glass, all these aromas and flavors may not be fully realized.

How much to serve:

Wine should be opened and served carefully, especially red wine as this may create a nasty mess if spilt on white clothing or dinner wear.

Do not overfill glasses. It is best to serve a small amount of wine at first, as this will allow the remainder of the wine in the bottle to breathe.

White wine should have an average serving of three ounces, spirits one ounce and red wine four or five ounces. Serving smaller servings will help the wine last longer and will allow guests to savor it over a greater length of time.


Temperature Guidelines: Normally a bottle of wine may take up to three hours before it is appropriately chilled in the refrigerator. Serving the wine at the correct temperature could make or break a charming dinner experience for you and your guests.

A great way to chill your wine to perfection fast and easily is to place your bottle into a Wine bucket
filled with ice and a sprinkling of salt. Push the wine into the depths of the ice to quickly chill the bottle. The more expensive the wine the warmer it can be served.

White wines especially the dry sorts are best served at lower temperatures however. And, lastly heavy wines are best served at the room temperature.

Click here for Wine & Food 101

ENJOY LIFE!
Until Next Time!

Jasmine :)

Claire Calkin operates several websites offering advice to people on decorating and enhancing their homes. Choosing Wine to Match Food claire@floyds-wine.com http://www.floyds-wine.com/ http://barworks.blogspot.com

An Idiot's Guide To Wine Tasting


Have you ever seen those stiff upper-lipped types doing a spot of the old wine tasting malarkey? You know the form – sip, swill, spit. Yuck! Well this information has been written to help you understand the form should you ever find yourself in a situation where you need to know what to do.

And don't go thinking "I'll never have to do any wine-tasting" because you just don't know that for sure and the last thing you want is to be caught unaware.

So, on with the tasting...

Study The Wine
Pick up your glass as elegantly as possible. There are two ways this can be done.

a) For chilled wines – hold the glass by the stem and don't even touch the bowl.

b) For wine served at room temperature – pick up the glass by the bowl and hold it cupped in your palm, the stem between your middle two fingers.

Now that you have the glass comfortably in your hand, hold it at a slight angle against something white. If your hostess is worth her salt, she'll have covered the table in white linen specifically for this purpose (although it does look nice, too).

Be careful not to tip the glass too far – unless you're willing to replace an expensive linen tablecloth, that is. You may also need to adjust the distance from your eyes that the glass is held at. Most find that holding it at almost arm's length is a good starting point although the very short sighted who are also absent minded enough to have left their eye glasses at home may find themselves having to hold the glass almost in front of their noses.

Once you've found the correct position, study the color and clarity of the wine. Now you may well believe that wine's either red, pink, or white but I'm afraid, if that's the case, you're very much mistaken. Wines can be green, yellow, gold, pink, purple, or even black. Evidently, the color of the wine will indicate the type of grape it was made from – like me, you, and Jack on the street are likely to know that!

Clarity indicates age. Young wines are more see through and cloudiness can mean there's something wrong. If that's the case, I'd suggest putting it back on the table and giving your hostess one of those 'down your nose' type looks.

The reason why you're studying the color and clarity has absolutely no bearing on how the wine will taste but a proper connoisseur enjoys the beauty of wine as well as its taste and ...

The Bouquet
No, we're not talking about the bunch of flowers a bride carries with her down the aisle, we're talking the smell of wine.

Sometimes, if the people at the wine tasting are really posh, they might call it 'The Nose'.

Still holding your glass in the correct manner, lower your hand somewhat while bringing your glass to a level position and rotate your wrist so that the wine swirls gently within the bowl.

You might want to leave these instructions at this point to go to the kitchen and practice this step with a wineglass half filled with water. After all, it's just as well to know for sure that you aren't going to spill expensive red wine over your hostess's spanking new carpet.

To swill wine properly, very little wrist movement is actually needed. Just very slight circular movements combined with a right-left movement should do the trick.

The idea behind all this swilling is to bring the wine's aroma out of the wine itself and into the empty part of the bowl thus allowing it to be smelled and savored. This is why wine glasses are bulbous. The wide bowl has ample room for swilling while the narrow edge 'captures' the bouquet. Clever, eh?

Move your glass to your nose as elegantly as you're able and bring it in slightly beneath the tip. Inhale deeply. Savor for a few moments and then inhale again. It's a good idea to exhale between those two inhalations or you might find yourself going dizzy. Do it too often and you'll faint.

You may now move your glass away from your nose.

At this point, it's appropriate to make some kind of comment. Don't imagine you'll fool anybody into believing you're an expert but at least you can make it sound as if you've actually drank a glass of decent wine before. Why should the other guests need to know that most of your wine costs $5.99 at Walmart?

Something like "mmmm, rich and fruity" or "oooh, lovely and light" will probably do the trick. When talking about red wine, 'rich' is usually a good word to use - if the wine's white, go for 'light'.

The Actual Tasting
You've probably been looking forward to this bit but whatever you do, remember that wine tasting is about taking small sips and not guzzle it down like there's no tomorrow.

This bit's actually trickier than you'd expect so you might want to do some more practicing.

Bring your glass to your lips, open them slightly and take a small sip. Now close your mouth and roll the wine around on your tongue for a few seconds before allowing it to slide slowly down your throat AND AT THE SAME TIME EXHALE!

The trouble with exhaling while swallowing is that some of the liquid might come shooting through your nostrils. Not a pretty sight!

If you fancy, you can always take a second sip at this point but never a third. No matter how good that one particular wine is, it's time to move on to the next.

Other Stuff Worth Knowing
Apart from bottles and glasses, the table will probably hold plates of cheese or, occasionally, sherbet. They're not there to snack on; they're used between wines to clean out the taste of the last wine you tasted. Just a little at a time is all that's needed. Do like a mouse and nibble!

Wear something comfortable and preferably something that doesn't carry a designer label. After all, if you spill red wine down the front of your best outfit, you're not going to be happy, are you?

That's it. You're now clued in enough to pop along to your very first wine tasting party without making a complete idiot of yourself. Enjoy!

Click here for more information on Wine for Dummies

Until Next Time
Jasmine :)


Sharon Jacobsen is a freelance writing living in South Cheshire, England. To contact Sharon, please visit her website at
http://www.sharon-jacobsen.co.uk/, http://barworks.blogspot.com