The Basics in White Wine
February 28, 2011
White wine is produced from processing white grapes. There are different Types of White Wines and there are different factors that affect their flavor such as climate, soil conditions, storing methods, blending methods, and to some cases, other wines are blended in to give a unique flavor to it. White wine can either be sweet or dry and there are also white wines that can be bubbly or still. If you’re looking for ways to understand the basics of the common variations of white wine, then all you have to do is to learn a bit about them.
The Common Types of White Wine
As mentioned, there are different kinds of white wine and depending on what you’ll use them for or what occasion you’re going to serve them for, you’d best understand the basics first. Once you’ve understood the basics of white wine, you won’t have a problem in choosing the right type to go with your special occasion.
Chardonnay
This is perhaps one of the most sophisticated, if not already the most sophisticated type of White Wine around. White wine made from processed chardonnay give off a very complex flavor to it. You’ll find traces of butter or vanilla to its flavor and you also should note that this particular type of white wine has low to medium acidity to it. This is one of the popular white wines to be used when cooking food since it has a dry personality to it.
Riesling
White wine made out of Riesling is very much compatible with lighter foods such as salads, pasta or vegetarian food. You won’t find any other type of white wine that would go better with these sorts of food. The wine has a unique semi sweetness to it that complements the lightness of certain cuisines. You’ll be able to recognize the white wine due to the higher than average acidity and its fruity aroma.
Sauvignon Blanc
Sauvignon Blanc processed white wines are also great to go with your light dishes. Like the Riesling white wine, Sauvignon Blanc, also known as Fumé Blanc has a light and fruity flavor to it. You’ll also notice that the white wine has a crisp taste to it as well.
Semillon
If you’re looking for the best white wine that would go to most desserts, then Semillon would be your best bet. Semillon is a sweet white wine that has a distinct sweetness to it. The wine is usually blended with Sauvignon Blanc and the end product is a very exquisite dessert wine.
Gewurztraminer
Gewurztraminer like Riesling is a white wine that is produced from the grapes in Germany. Gewurztraminer wines however are grown from the cooler regions of Germany. If you are looking for a white wine that has a very bold flavor and a bit of spicy taste to it, then there is no doubt that you should go for Gewurztraminer.
Aside from these very common varieties of white wines, you’ll also discover several other variations as well depending different factors such as aroma, flavor, texture, and so on. Knowing your white wine will surely be a must if ever you’re looking forward to celebrating certain occasions in the right manner.
Simple Recipes for White Wine Sauces
February 21, 2011
White wine can be used in a variety of ways and one very interesting way of using white wine is making your own sauce with it. When in terms of cooking, white wine has proven to be a very useful addition in anyone’s kitchen and making sauces with it is just a small part of its usefulness.
Tomato Sauce with White Wine
One really easy way to make a white wine sauce is to add it to tomato sauce. First off, fry garlic and onion over a low flame until they’re tender to touch. Then, add th tomato sauce and let it heat up a bit for a couple of minutes. Then you’ll want to add a bit of White Wine to the mix and let it simmer for 10-15 minutes or so. Don’t forget to stir it occasionally so that it’s evenly heated. Then you can add some more ingredients to it like basil and there you have it. There are many ways to use this sauce since tomato sauce is pretty versatile. You can use it on most pasta, canned fish, or meat.
Butter and White Wine
Another particularly easy white wine sauce to make would be the simple white sauce. First off, you’ll need to melt a tablespoon of butter on to a pan. Once melted, you add 100 ml of water and another 100 ml of white wine. Let it heat up on a low to medium flame and once done, you can add flour to the mix bit by bit and whisk it around as you add flour. If you’re already satisfied with the consistency of the mix, you can again add a bit of herbs or other spices to it.
White Butter Sauce
If you loved the easy to make white sauce, you can even take things a step further. Again, this recipe uses both white wine and butter but with a very different result. First, you need to boil 60 ml of vinegar and another 60 ml of your favorite white wine. Then add in a small onion, chopped. Once boiled for a minute or so, you can add butter to the sauce although you might want to add it bit by bit. Around 450 grams of butter will do the trick and remember to stir the sauce continuously as you add the butter. Also, note that you should let the butter melt first before adding some more. This sauce has a strong butter taste to it, and it’s simply superb.
Creamy White Wine Sauce
Another easy yet exemplary white wine sauce to make is the creamy white wine sauce. The idea is simple and so is the process. All you’ll need are a cup of whipping cream, ¾ cup of white wine, a couple of tablespoons of all purpose flour, a teaspoon of salt, and another teaspoon of dried parsley. First, make sure that the pan is on medium heat. Then all you have to do is to combine the ingredients on the pan and stir it constantly. As the sauce starts to thicken, set the flame to low and stir it some more. If you’re satisfied with the consistency, there you have it.
There are tons of other recipes that you’ll discover as your fondness of white wine sauce grows. Once you’ve gotten a taste of a good white wine sauce, you’ll most likely to keep a bottle of white wine in your kitchen.
Simple Recipes for a White Wine Spritzer
February 14, 2011
In case you are wondering what a white wine spritzer is, it is just a simple alcoholic drink made by combining a couple of basic ingredients. Depending on what taste you’re going for, you could even add several ingredients more to make things interesting and thru this, you’ll be able to get that specific taste. You add different things, so the possibilities are pretty much endless.
Things You’ll Need
The basic things you’ll need to make your own white wine spritzer though are the white wine of course and club soda, or other types of carbonated liquids for that matter. These are the two basic components when making your white wine spritzer. You could even prepare something to garnish your drink with such as a lemon wedge or other fruits shaped as cubes or balls. Of course, the garnish is pretty much optional, but it will however give it a boost in its flavor.
Preparing Your White Wine Spritzer
Making your own white wine spritzer isn’t at all a very difficult task to accomplish. The process doesn’t involve any complex mixing and such. First off, all you have to do is to pour in the white wine on a wine glass or a highball glass. Any type of white wine will do the trick; however you could go for the Riesling or Pinot Gris if ever you’re aiming for better outcome. You could even add several ice cubes or crushed ice in if you want to go for a more chilled drink. After which, you’ll have to add in the carbonated drink you’re using. And there you have it. It’s actually as simple as that. You could even add something that would further make the flavor unique such as lime wedges and the like. You could even use watermelon or cantaloupe balls or cubes for garnish if you wish so.
Depending on your tastes, you can use the same amount of carbonated liquid with the white wine (1:1 ratio) or you could try out different ratios as well. Also, you should note that there are several factors that would affect the overall outcome such as the type of white wine you used, the flavor of the carbonated liquid, the ratio, and obviously, the added ingredients as well.
The one thing you must remember when serving white wine spritzer is to make sure to serve it immediately right after mixing it. The purpose of which is to make sure that the taster will get the full benefits of the carbonated substance in the mix.
Preparing your own White Wine spritzer during gatherings and special occasions is always a good idea. Take note that you can even customize your drink in a variety of ways and there are so many things you can do to make it even more interesting. If you don’t have club soda, mineral water or Sierra Mist will definitely be great substitutes as well. Make your own flavor of white wine spritzers and have fun with the end product.
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