As crazy as this sounds and you might not believe it, but before there was wine, there were vessels to drink it from.  Yes, believe it or not, there were containers that actually held liquid before liquid gold was created.  These containers were just waiting for something to fill it that would satisfy its purpose far beyond what it could ever dream.  Enter wine.  The first wine glasses were made from many different materials from baked clay potter to gourds made of leather to goblets of silver and gold.  Animal horns were even used, especially by the Vikings.  These vessel examples were what was used when one was trying to maintain a certain level of decorum, otherwise drinking straight from larger storage container was entirely acceptable.

As far back as 50 A.D.a scientist named Pliny the Elder worked to encourage glass as a preferred container for holding wine, but this was not widely possible due to the fact that glass was as treasured a material as gold and jewels because at that time the process and ancient technology used to make glass was expensive and very difficult.  Because of this, the first version of the wine glass that consisted of a base, stem and foot dates from the 15th century.  Due to the Industrial Revolution, glass today is very easy to produce which in turn makes it affordable compared to all previous centuries.  In fact, even as late as the beginning of the 20th century glass was difficult to mass produce.  These facts make it easy to see how glass was just as precious as gold or silver a few hundred years ago.

Again, because of the Industrial Revolution, the mass production of glass suddenly made sets of wine glasses affordable to everyday blue collar working folks.  Wine glasses along with champagne flutes, tumblers and goblets were sold in sets, usually containing a dozen in each set.  Suddenly glass was the preferred material for wine vessels and this made it easy for people to covet the color and body of the wine, which is just as important as taste and indeed needed to get the full experience out of drinking wine.  With these discoveries, glass began to be shaped specifically to enhance the bouquet and body of red, white and blush wine alike.  These inventions gave a while new perspective and twist into wine drinking and enjoyment.

Shape and size of the bowl of the glass is very important to the full experience of wine enjoyment.  You should buy glasses specifically for the red and white wine and even champagne.  A lot of science has gone into the shape of each type of glass and you would greatly benefit by using the proper shape for the wine you are drinking.

Wine For The Rest People

Numerous of us love wine, however lack the handbag that allows for costly, “fine” wines. For that matter, I have discovered that if I wish to take pleasure in wine on a regular basis (which I do), I can’t also afford a bottle as that places up rapidly in the old monthly budget. However anxiety not, budget oenophiles, great wines, even great wines are offered on a footwear string. Numerous individuals have actually already found the charms of Yellowtail as well as Two-buck Chuck (Charles Taylor) wines, to the factor of these great wines being essentially common on dinner tables everywhere. Yet did you understand, or realize, that there are numerous, lots of high quality varietals offered via a host of various other vineyards. Indeed, there are lots of wines at half the cost of Yellowtail, that generate a more sophisticated flavor, and are a more congenial match with a lot of meals.

Silver Sands is a South African vineyard of singular note. I have not tried all of their varietals, yet with a meal of broiled chuck roast in a garlic sauce, and sides of asparagus as well as gingered pleasant potatoes, I discovered that the Silver Sands Shiraz was an able, also outstanding companion to the meal, easily taking on wines valued at two or 3 times it’s per bottle price. It’s smoke as well as oak timber tones contrasting fantastically with the all-natural blackberry fruitiness of the Syrah grape, where Shiraz is made. There is a first bite to this Shiraz, not unpleasant, yet attention-getting, which matures on the taste buds into waves of dark smoke, not unlike a great single-malt, then right into deeper, a lot more subtle, woody as well as natural tones, all superimposed with the fruitiness of Shiraz. This is a remarkably nuanced wine, with a positive and appealing nose as well as an abundant, full body.

Most significantly, this wine was a fascinating enhance to the meal, dancing the tongue away from the effective, salted garlic marinade of the beef as well as preparing it for the ginger and fall seasonings of the pleasant potatoes. Or as a perfect counterpoint to the buttery smoothness of the fit to be tied asparagus and a suggestion of the splendor of red meat ahead. This may be a little strong as a buddy for some pastas, yet I can see it resting proudly along with a well-prepared steak, or a deliciously rare burger with blue-cheese crumbles over the top and slices of smoked bacon. You do require some starch with this one for balance: possibly unsalted pub fries with malt vinegar, or maybe a monstrous baked potato smothered in butter, sour cream, bacon little bits, broccoli florets as well as Vermont cheddar, or like I had, gingered wonderful potatoes. However I believe you’ll discover that this wine is active sufficient to stand on its own rather well close to a host of meals.

This wine was in fact quite a shock. I am really familiar with South African reds, as well as have discovered them to be rather stratified, i.e. the affordable ones are affordable for a factor. Yet not so with Silver Sands. This is an absolutely wonderful Shiraz, mature as well as flavorful, yet not overblown or hefty. I will absolutely maintain my eye out for this South African indulge in the future, and at a bottle, I understand that it will not spend a lot if I bring it home.

Satisfied searching.