| Rosé Wine
- The Chic Summer Wine For those of you who are not familiar with rosé wine, please allow me to offer a brief synopsis of how these wines are made. For starters, I would like to squash any misconceptions that rosé wine is a blending of red and white wines. In fact, red grapes are crushed and only brief contact is allowed between the skins (which contain colored pigments and tannins) and the juice (which comes from the colorless flesh of the grape). It is the amount of contact between the skins and the juice that determines the final color of the wine. Therefore, rosé wine lacks both the deep flavor and the tannic structure of red wine. But what it does leave us with is a beautifully crisp wine that pairs exceedingly well with all of your summer foods. Some qualities to look for in a good rosé are crispness, freshness, fruitiness and good balance. Since these wines are not meant for ageing, you should look for some of the most recent vintages. So whether you are entertaining guests on your back porch this summer or enjoying the midnight breeze after a long night at work, uncork come chilled rosé and enjoy this chic summer wine. |
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 Choosing
the Right CigarChoosing the right cigar can be a tough decision. It is much like investigating a fine wine for the first time. Here are a few tips to help the first-time smoker select the right cigar for the right occasion. Generally speaking, the darker the wrapper - the sweeter and stronger the flavor will be. The next thing to consider is the wide range of sizes and shapes available with cigars. As a basic rule of thumb, thicker gauged cigars tend to be fuller in flavor, smoke more smoothly, burn more evenly and slower. A longer, thicker cigar will also have a smoother, easier draw. Finally, consider how and when you will be enjoying your cigar. For example, after dinner you may want a nice, full flavored Macanudo Rothchild, where as before a meal, a milder, smoother Partagas #4 will help preserve your taste buds allowing you to fully enjoy your meal. The same applies if you are just having cocktails. Stronger drinks such as straight single malts and martinis require a fuller bodied, deeper flavored cigar whereas milder, softer cigars are perfect with mixed drinks and softer wines. Always keep in mind that the only way to decide what you like is to to be willing to try new things. |
