Q) What do the Trophies mean?

The trophies are how we rate the wines. We use a scale of 1 – 5 with 1 meaning the least enjoyable and 5 being the most. Beside….Trophies are way cooler than Stars!

Q) The more expensive a wine is the better it is….right?

That is not always the case. Yes there are some very good wines that cost an arm and a leg. You can, however, find some really great tasting and enjoyable wines that are in the price range of everyday people. This is one of the reasons we created this website. One thing to always remember is that a great wine is one that tastes great to you.

Q) Do I need to always pair red wine with red meats and white wines with poultry and fish?

While that has been a traditional belief, it is not set in stone. For instance, Pinot Noir is a red wine that is very versatile and goes well with just about anything. So if you do not like white wines…..please do not attempt to choke down a glass of Chardonnay just because you are having grilled tuna.

Q) What is decanting and why should we do it?

Decanting is basically the process of letting the wine breathe…or aerate. The decanter allows a large surface area of the wine to be exposed to air. In a young wine this will mellow out some of the bite and allow the subtle flavors to come through. Although decanting will improve the taste of many young wines, it is not as important to decant them as it is to decant older wines (10 or more years old). Older wines will often develop a sediment that can be very unpleasant tasting. The process of decanting the wine will allow that sediment to be captured and prevent it from spoiling the taste of the wine.

Q) I do not have a decanter…what should I do?

GO OUT AND BUY ONE….DID YOU NOT READ THE ANSWER TO THE PREVIOUS QUESTION. In all seriousness, like we said before, most wine bought off the shelf can be enjoyed straight out of the bottle. You should let it breathe for about 15 minutes by just uncorking it and letting it stand. We suggest decanting and a good decanter does not have to cost a bundle of money. You do not need waterford crystal or anything like that. You can pick up some relatively inexpensive and cool looking decanters from places like IKEA, and Target. Besides…..if you have a date over and pull out that decanter, you are definitely going to score some major style points.

Q) The bottle of wine I just bought does not have an alcohol percentage on the label…that means it is alcohol free and my crazy, old, recovering Uncle Charlie can have a glass or two with the Christmas dinner.

Not so fast Mr. Enabler…..The last thing you want to do during the holidays is to send dear old Uncle Charlie straight back into the gutter with a lampshade on his head. The fact is that in the U.S. all wine labels are required to have and alcohol percentage listed on them….unless….the alcohol content of a bottle of wine falls below 14%. If it falls below 14% then it is not mandatory to have the percentage on the label. So, when in doubt…offer Uncle Charlie a nice glass of club soda with a twist of lemon.