Tag: Wine

South African Wine

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Since the 1990s the production and popularity of South African Wine started to grown, this is due mainly to the end of the apartheid. From this many winemakers begin to indulge into their wine making exploring new ideas and technologies that they had never tried before, to rapidly speed up their developments of wine production. They also began to exchange ideas with other wine makers from around the world as before this time they had only exchanged through post, and now other winemakers from around the world where being flown into South Africa to share their knowledge on viticulture and winemaking. All these factors have helped the South African Wine industry bloom in the last 20 years.


The South African wine regions are mainly situated around the coast exposed to the Atlantic and Indian Ocean at the South tip of Africa. Because of this exposure to the sea the major wine regions have a Mediterranean climate, which mean that the vineyards are exposed to hot sunlight during the day, with a cooler temperature in the evening created by the cool sea breezes. Also the main ocean current brings cool breezes from the Antarctica, to help cool South Africa’s hot days.


South Africa’s most popular red wines are Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Pinotage, and South Africa’s most popular whites are Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, and Chardonnay.


South African Wine has many wine growing regions, some of the most popular are


Constantia was the first place where vineyards in South Africa where planted. Because of this regions shape it is exposed to the sea on both sides, experiencing cool breezes, which cool down its days and nights, to create a slow and ripening period for the vineyards. Sauvignon Blanc is famous here.


Stellenbosch is a popular tourist destination for wine lovers, with many wine trails and vineyards with included accommodation for a tourist to visit. Here the second vineyards were planted in South Africa. This area is exposed to the nearby coast which brings in a cool sea breeze, keeping the summer temperature steady. Here African red wines are grown in the east and white wines in the west, where they are nearer to the cool breeze from the coast.


Paarl can be hot, meaning that the best vineyards are grown on the higher altitudes. Two popular areas here are The Franschhoek Valley and Wellington. Paarl is mainly linked to white wine, but with the hot summers and steep slopes, red wines popularity is rising.


Robertson is known for its Chardonnay and Shiraz, along with other South African Whites. Robertson is a hot region located in the Valley, where the river gives life to the area.


Walker Bay is known for its cool climate as it is close to the coast and constantly exposed to the ocean breeze. Chardonnay and Pinot Noire are famous here.


Elgin is up and coming in wine production. It’s a great fruit growing place, and its climate is ideal for cool climate growing wines.

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Red Wine Health Benefits

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“French Paradox” may be the reason which might have sparked the interest of numerous people in red wine, considering its health benefits. This is the reason of which we may normally find a lower rate of heart related diseases in France. As such the diet of the French people is highly rich in fats, but then this seems to be against their good health, doesn’t it! Also the French people are highly found of eating more of cheese, butter, and beef as compared to their neighbors in Europe.

But now one general question which may arise in your mind is that in spite of taking a food so high in fats, how they can keep themselves away from the heart troubles. Answer is simple. According to many researchers, their food along with a lot of fats also consisted of a reasonable amount of red wine intake as compared to the rest of Europeans, and for that matter, even Westerners. Thus, this opened many windows for the researchers to study regarding the health benefits of consuming red wine, which was the answer to the above mentioned puzzle. So after conducting several thorough research, they found out that a temperate intake of red wine (one glass in case of women, and may be two in case of men) indeed helped one to protect himself/herself against diseases related to heart, cancer, and hypertension. Also it has a constructive effect over cholesterol levels.

But again, the key to this game is “moderation”. This isn’t really a case where one is good, two better, and ten best! But then, every coin always has two faces. Hence, the medical society is very vigilant to suggest red wine routines, and for some obvious reasons. Various studies have shown that in case of women who consumed alcohol daily were prone to be the potential victims of breast cancers.

As per a report in 2004 by the American Society of Cancer, the increase in the death rate due to breast cancer was 30% high in case of women who consumed alcohol daily. But if the consumption is only at the most two drinks every day, then the risk of diseases related to heart lowers from 30% to 50%. And since heart disease is the major slayer annually in case of women, these facts and figures happen to be important. Hence, if taken in a limit, wine has an overall positive impact on the female death ratio.

Scientists have pinpointed the beneficial element in red wine which is called resveratrol. Recent studies have dubbed resveratrol as an anti-aging miracle supplement.

Wine Cellars and Wine Coolers

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People often get confused about wine cellars and wine coolers. You might be doing and not even realizing that you are and also not be aware of the difference. Well, now be informed that the disparity between the wine cooler and the wine cellar is huge although to make sure, they’ve got something to do with storing wine. Since they are both used to store wine, people forget thet they’re two different things.

WIne cellars are like rooms where people keep their wines. Wine cellars are frequently in basements where wines are stored at the right temperatures. You can think of these wine cellars as being a kind of library that’s stuffed with wine rather than books; also a library that as a controlled temperature and beautifully made. Guests might be invited inside the wine cellar if the owner wants to discuss his wine collection. These wine cellars are popular with wine enthusiasts because they’ve got lots of room to build a great wine collection.

Next you will discover the wine coolers which can be used to store wine like wine cellars are. Wine coolers are akin to miniature wine cellars. A wine cooler may fit into a wine cellar since they are small. If you have a wine collection and yet you do not have a wine cellar, then obtain a wine cooler. By keeping the wines at the proper temperature, it is possible to enjoy them more. Depending on how big your wine cooler is, you might even put it on top of your counter. There is one trusted brand that creates good wine cellars that are very affordable and great at storing wines. You will find that there are many makers of wine coolers each having a marketing strategy all their own. You may be easily swayed but consider how your wines will wind up if you choose a product that makes promises it has no intentions of delivering?

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The Local Wine Merchant Could Improve Your Home Dining Experience

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We’ve all been told that a good wine can enhance the flavour of a meal, yet a lot of us don’t know which type of wine goes well with which meal. Your local wine merchant can help you select different wines for different meals, but for now this is a quick and easy guide that lets you distinguish between when you need a white Chardonnay and when a red Merlot is required.

Different types of wine will have different levels of tannins; this is a compound that, in wine, usually comes from the skin or the seed of the grapes. It’s particularly potent in red wines as the skins and seeds are soaked and sometimes fermented along with the flesh of the grape in order to give the wine its colour. These tannins play a part in deciding which wines go best with which food as they can clash with other flavours in the meal.

If you remember nothing else in this article, remember this; the general rule of thumb is that white wine goes with white meats and red wines go best with red meats. Although, certain ways that food is prepared can alter the wine you should have. If you’re eating Chinese food, a slightly sweet or off-dry pink wine, but you should remember to not overdo the plum and hoi sin sauces as too much of these can kill the flavour of the wine and make it tasteless.

In the summer time, it seems that it’s almost law for everybody to have at least one barbeque; whether you just stick with the traditional burgers and sausages or go a bit more extravagant with grilled king prawns, it’s recommended that you have wines that are fruity and rich, so something like a white Zinfandel would work well, or possibly a Sauvignon Blanc if you’ll be having seafood.

Indian foods and curries require wines with more body to really allow you to pick up on all the different spices and flavours; a red Merlot will work particularly well here. Other Middle Eastern dishes such as Vietnamese should be eaten with very cold and fruity pink wines such as Gewurtztraminer. Although, the suitable wine may alter depending on how spicy your meal is.

South western food, such as Mexican dishes, should typically be eaten with a fruity wine like a Riesling or Sauvignon Blanc or possibly a slightly spicy Zinfandel. If it’s south western sea food then sparkling wines work well. Bear in mind though that eating a lot of chillies will clash with a high tannin wine so you should avoid Merlots and Cabernets.

This is not a definitive list of the type of wine you should drink with your meals, and your local wine merchant will be able to let you try the wines to see which one you would prefer to go with your meal. Remember, that while wine is a pleasant drink to have with a meal, it is also alcoholic and you should always drink responsibly.

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Great Tips Culinary Landscape Wine Country Throughout the year Exploring the City from Glaciers to

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Buenos Aires Cheap Flights and the Wine Roads of Argentina

Its natural beauty, history and culture make Argentina a country worth exploring, more than these, it is especially worth visiting because of its wines. The fifth leading producer of wine in the world, Argentina has eight grape-growing regions producing some of the most prestigious Malbec and Torrontes. Most of the wine production is found in the far western area of Argentina to the Andes foothills. Some of the best wine tours take you through the finest wine cellars in the province of Mendoza. Make time for Mendoza’s casinos, discos, theaters, museums, cinemas, wine bars, pubs, festivals, international cuisine and regional specialties. Two-thirds of the country’s yearly production comes from Mendoza, while the rest are produced in San Juan and La Rioja regions to the north. Catamarca, Jujuy and Salta are home to some of the world’s highest planted vineyards. Pinot noir and Chardonnay are produced in Patagonia’s southern region, covering the Río Negro and Neuquén provinces. Look for “Wine Roads” tours that include these provinces in the itinerary or time your Buenos Aires cheap flights with the National Vintage Festival, held every year on the first Saturday of March to experience the unique flavors or Argentinean wines.

Getting Around the City and Buenos Aires Cheap Flights

Buenos Aires is Argentina’s largest city. Often called “The Pearl” of South America, it showcases the intense cultural life of Argentina, dominated by tango, long coffee klatches and football. You’ll be pleased to know that there are many modes of transport available. These taxis serve the city streets 24 hours a day and you can either flag them on the streets or call for a pick up. You can either flag them on the streets or call for a pick up, the base rate is set at $ 4. 60. Flag-down rates are set at $ 4. 60, every 200 meters, 0. 46 cents is added to the base fare. These buses or colectivos have a minimum fare of $ 0. 80. Buenos Aires also has Remises or private car services with flat rates and per trip, safe and cheaper alternatives to taxis as they will always take the fastest route. Buenos Aires’ subway system is highly reliable and takes you through the city center to its outskirts. Four train terminals (Retiro, Constitución, Once and Federico Lacroze) connect the Capital Federal with the suburbs and the rest of the country. If you want to stop by Uruguay, there’s a ferry system connecting the port of Buenos Aires with the main cities of this nearby country. The city can also be discovered at your own pace aboard a bicycle, with bicycle rental operators offering tours to the Southern and Northern Circuits, as well as tours for literature, history, culture, history and ecology.

Buenos Aires Neighborhoods and Buenos Aires Cheap Flights

There are 48 barrios or neighborhoods in the city of Buenos Aires, Argentina. Several of these have gained fame by being the home of important cultural and heritage sites, being finance centers, serving as the hot spot for the arts, or by just having wealthy residents. Make time for these neighborhoods as they are homes to important cultural and heritage sites, finance centers, and arts hot spots. Palermo, a trendy residential neighborhood with restaurants, bars and boutiques; Microcentro, home to main historical spots; San Telmo, with its colonial-style houses, cobblestone lanes, and underground nightlife; Boedo, a main Tango and historical spot that offers a variety of cafes, Tango houses, libraries, and theaters; Retiro, home of Buenos Aires’s main train station and some of the most luxurious restaurants and shopping centers. If you’re looking for a quiet stroll, head out to Belgrano. This is a peaceful neighborhood that features small shops, restaurants, architectural relics and open spaces perfect for just taking in the sights and sounds of the city.

Buenos Aires Pub Crawls and Buenos Aires Cheap Flights

Pub crawls are a great way to tour a city that you’re visiting. These involve a group of people travelling around a particular city district by foot, they visit most famous or notable pubs, bars, and watering holes while sampling the best each establishment has to offer. Fast becoming popular around the world, pub crawls present travelers an opportunity to learn about a place through local drinks and spirits. So, if you’re ever headed to Argentina, this is a good way to learn more about the country and its people, while having fun while doing it. Go on pub crawls with Buenos Aires cheap flights and get to know more about the “Paris of South America” as you meet city locals while you experience its world-famous nightlife. For approximately 20 USD, you’ll get to join fellow travelers from around the world and sample the best of Buenos Aires by night. Some pub crawl packages include free pizza, complimentary shooters at each bar you visit, drink discounts, an open bar (during registration), and free admission to a club. Take a pub crawl on your birthday and you get the tour for free.

cheap flights are widely available from April to August. Get your cheap tickets and have your fill of some of the best golfing destinations in South America. Catch some