Wine Word of the Week: Decanting

We've all been at a fancy restaurant and seen a waiter or Sommelier trot past us with an elaborate, glass contraption that looks like it belongs in a museum. Most likely they’re en route to decant an expensive bottle of wine for a patron. But is the process of decanting all show? And if not, when should a wine be decanted and what exactly does it DO to enhance our enjoyment of wine?

The process of decanting dates back to ancient Rome when wine was fermented in large containers called amphorae. Decanters were used to siphon wine out of amphorae to bring to the table for serving. Since an amphora generally contained a fair amount of sediment at the bottom, the decanting vessel also served to separate the wine from the sediment which, although it poses no health risk, is not very desirable to drink.

Over the years, decanters have been made of various materials including silver, bronze, gold and terra cotta earthenware. During the Renaissance, the Venetians introduced the style of decanter we are most familiar with today. It is typically made of glass and features a thin neck which expands into a broader base which maximizes the wine's oxygen exposure.

Today, a decanter serves two primary purposes: (1) to separate older wines, usually red wines or Port, from any sediment at the bottom of a bottle which occurs naturally as wines age, and (2) to aerate younger wines, both white and red, which tames their tannin and helps them "open up," and become more expressive and approachable.

While most tannic, young red wines such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Syrah, Nebbiolo, Sangiovese, Malbec, and Merlot will benefit from decanting, older wines can be more fragile. In fact, it's a good idea to taste an older wine (10-15+ years old) before making the decision to decant. If you like the way it tastes right out of the bottle, you may want to avoid the decanting process altogether. If the wine is very "closed" or unexpressive and/or contains a significant amount of sediment, then you will probably want to proceed with decanting it.

The process of decanting is quite easy to perform and you don't need a fancy decanter to do it - a big glass vase or water pitcher will work just fine! Also, if you only plan on enjoying a glass or two, the Vinturi Wine Aerator is also great choice at a great price. If you would like to go ahead and decant a bottle yourself, just follow the steps below but be sure to take note, decanting a young bottle is different from decanting an older bottle:

1. If the wine(s) you want to decant are stored on their side in a cellar or wine fridge, be sure to stand the bottle(s) upright for 24-48 hours prior to decanting. This allows the sediment suspended in the liquid to settle to the bottle of the bottle.

2. Select the decanter (or glass vase or pitcher!) you'd like to use and make sure it is properly cleaned and dried. If you're thinking of investing in a decanter, we really like the ones from Riedel. We've had ours for over 12 years and it does a fabulous job and is easy to clean too.

3. Remove the capsule and cork from the bottle of wine and wipe any dust or schmutz from the neck and top of the bottle.

4. If you're decanting a young bottle of wine (under 5 yrs), invert the opened bottle of wine over the decanting vessel and let it flow freely into the decanter. The more "sloshy" this process is, the better (without spilling the wine of course). Young wines really benefit from that infusion of oxygen! As for timing, you can decant young tannic wines up to 2-3 hours before serving, however, if you'd like to experience more of the wine's natural evolution in the glass (as I like to do) you can decant it just before serving.

5. If you're decanting an older bottle of wine (10+ yrs), place a candle or the light from your iPhone under the neck of the bottle as you slowly and steadily pour the wine in one continuous stream from the bottle into the decanter. Once you begin to see sediment approach or enter the neck of the bottle - slow your flow or stop pouring altogether depending on how much there is. You don't want any sediment getting into your freshly decanted wine!

6. Once you've poured the wine into the decanter, discard the bottle and any dredges at the bottom and enjoy your decanted wine!

Other twists on decanting:

• For especially youthful, tannic red wines you can "double-decant" them by pouring the wine into a decanter and then right back into the bottle - double the decanting, double the fun!

• If you're feeling adventurous, you can also "hyperdecant" your wine (young red wines ONLY!) utilizing a technique introduced in the revolutionary Modernist Cuisine cookbooks (see video below!). Simply empty the bottle of the wine into a blender and blitz for 30-60 seconds. Wait a minute or two for the foam to subside and enjoy!

• In order to expedite decanting, you can combine a Vinturi Wine Aerator with a decanter and pour the wine through the device into the glass decanter in order to speed things up.

I hope you enjoyed our latest Wine Word of the Week and if you have any “wine words” you’d like to learn more about, please feel free to share them in the Comments section below. To see previous installments of this segment, please click here and, as always, thanks for reading!

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5 Fabulous New Year's Wine Resolutions!

With your New Year's Eve hangover in the rear view mirror, along with some of your more stringent resolutions (buh-bye #DryJanuary), it’s time to start planning for the future! To help with the vinous portion of your plan, I’ve got 5 Fabulous New Year’s Wine Resolutions to guide you into the New Year:

1. MIX IT UP: Because the world of wine can be confusing it's often easier to just stick with the same wine day in and day out - but how boring is that?!? To break out of your rut, why not vow here and now to sample a different wine every week or at least every month? We make it easy at Highlands Wine Shoppe where you can stop by and sample any of the wines on our tasting machines. We always have 16 selections available by the glass (or taste!) and our amazing staff can help guide you towards your new favorite for 2023.

2. START A WINE COLLECTION: If you've been drinking wine long enough to have a favorite wine region and/or producer it might be time to sock a few bottles away for a later date. Aged wine can be such an enjoyable experience but collecting wine does NOT mean you have to have a custom built, 5,000 bottle cellar. In fact, far from it! From an 18 bottle, under the counter wine fridge to a 150+ bottle, free-standing unit roll with whatever suits YOUR needs. This piece of equipment is VERY important since varying temperatures, mechanical vibration and light exposure are arch-enemies of wine. And stay tuned for more information on our upcoming Collector’s Series of wine tastings that can guide you towards some great selections!

3. HONE YOUR TASTING SKILLS: Whether you’re a budding wine enthusiast or an aspiring Somm to really learn about wine you need to use a consistent tasting approach that utilizes ALL five senses. This sensory information provides valuable insight into a wine's place of origin, grape variety and "terroir” which are all critical factors when learning about and understanding wine. So if becoming a better taster is something you’re interested in achieving this year, please click here to be notified of our upcoming events and classes - or - we’d be happy to schedule a private class for you and your friends.

4. DRINK MORE SPARKLING WINES: The focus on sparkling wine/Champagne consumption around special occasions like New Year's Eve leaves the majority of the year unbearably bubbly-free. While Champagne's price tag may limit it to more of a special occasion wine, there are many sparklers from around the globe that are priced for everyday consumption. Wines like Prosecco, Cava and Crémant are perfect for enjoying on a Tuesday night or sipping over lunch with a friend. As an added bonus, sparkling wines also have less calories and alcohol than a glass of Chardonnay or Cabernet Sauvignon - affordable, delicious AND figure-friendly - what's not to love about that?

5. FOOD + WINE INSPIRED TRAVEL: Our post-pandemic world, in between variants at least, is the perfect time to visit that wine region you’ve been dreaming about. Whether it’s an overnight trip that’s closer to home or a long haul flight to an Old World wine region, put your planning hat on, do your research + get ready to explore. For some food and wine-inspired travel inspo from our travels to wine regions near and far, please check out my post 5 Glamorous Getaways for Food and Wine Lovers.

I hope these suggestions inspire you to further embrace the world of wine in 2023! If you have any other wine-related resolutions I'd love to hear about them, please let me know in the Comment section below.

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Top 10 Valentine's Day Gifts for Food + Wine Lovers

“There is no sincerer love than the love of food.”

Valentine's Day is the perfect opportunity to treat your sweetheart to something special and show them how much you care. If they happen to have a passion for food and wine (in addition to you!), you're in luck because in this post I'm sharing my top 10 favorite Valentine's Day gifts for food and wine lovers!

All of these items are near and dear to my heart and I'm very excited to share them with you. Please scroll down to browse the descriptions and simply click the name of an item to view purchasing information. Just FYI, some of the links are affiliate links which result in NO extra cost to you, and a small commission for me if you purchase something.

If you have any questions about any of these items, please feel free to reach out using the comments section below. Also, please scroll down for info on when I'll be revealing my 2021 Valentine's Day wine recommendations:

I hope you find these Valentine's Day gifts for food and wine lovers helpful and if you’re looking for some delicious wine recommendations, please check out my recent appearance on WPTV Newschannel 5 featuring Romantic Red Wines for Valentine’s Day.

In the meantime, for even more Valentine's Day resources, check out my favorite recipes, desserts and playlists that are guaranteed to set the mood for l'amour. Wishing you and your loved one a deliciously Happy Valentine's Day! xo

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6 Wonderful Winter Red Wines

Your favorite cashmere sweater. A cozy fleece blanket. A succulent bowl of savory Boeuf Bourguignon. These are definitely a few of my favorite Winter things and you know what makes them ALL even BETTER? Enjoying them with a nice, big glass of RED WINE!

In my opinion Red Wine is the PERFECT Winter accessory and this post features some of my absolute favorites that are guaranteed to warm you up from the inside out. They are intensely colored, full-bodied, mouthfilling wines with oodles of ripe fruit and copious amounts of tannin. If you crave this style of wine or are in the mood for further exploration these Somm selections will inspire you to race to your local wine store OR your favorite online purveyor. And in order to accommodate your vinous whims, I’ve chosen wines at a variety of price points featuring both steals AND splurges ~ Enjoy!!!

6 Wonderful Winter Red Wines

1.) CLINE ANCIENT VINES MOURVEDRE, CENTRAL COAST, CALIFORNIA ($18): Crafted from the concentrated fruit of 80-120 year old vines, this full-bodied beauty delights with mouth-filling notes of luscious plum, blackberry, chocolate + eucalyptus accompanied by supple tannins + a lengthy finish.

2.) ALTA VISTA ESTATE MALBEC, MENDOZA, ARGENTINA ($24): Hailing from the mountains of Mendoza, this 100% Malbec seduces with a dense, inky purple color + fragrant aromas + flavors of blackberry compote, plum, violets + spice with firm tannins + a peppery finish.

3.) ROBERT OATLEY SIGNATURE SERIES CABERNET SAUVIGNON, MARGARET RIVER, AUSTRALIA ($22): This fresh, juicy red delights with a bright garnet color + aromas + flavors of black currant, raspberry, cassis + dried herbs with grippy, gravelly tannins + a lengthy finish.

4.) GAJA CA’MARCANDA PROMIS, TUSCANY, ITALY ($50): This savory blend of Merlot, Syrah + Sangiovese is a stunner with heady floral aromas of rose, violet + earthy red + black fruit. On the palate, mouth-filling flavors of wild strawberry, black cherry + plum are accentuated by rosemary, fennel + smoke + supple tannins which culminate in a long, lingering finish.

5.) LA JOTA MERLOT HOWELL MOUNTAIN, NAPA VALLEY, CALIFORNIA ($85): This beautifully structured blend of predominantly Merlot with dollops of Tannat + Petit Verdot crafted from coveted mountain fruit entices with heady aromas of ripe black fruit, earthy truffles + spice. Opulent layers of blackberry, roasted plum, cassis + espresso delight on the palate + are accompanied by affable tannins + a mineral-tinged finish.

6.) CHATEAU DE BEAUCASTEL CHATEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE, RHONE, FRANCE ($90): This Southern Rhone classic, a blend of Grenache, Mourvèdre, Syrah + Counoise, delights with aromas + flavors of black currant, black cherry + plum as well as savory notes of smoked meat, tapenade + garrigue + chewy tannins. It all culminates in a lengthy, richly textured, mouthwatering finish.

For purchasing information for any of these Winter Red Wines, simply click on the wine’s name above. And, just in case you can't find a particular wine or it's not available in your area, please don't give up! Ask a clerk at your local retail store to recommend a wine that’s similar to the one you're looking for. Better to enjoy something similar than nothing at all!

Also, if you're interested in learning more about wine this year, I have the perfect place to start: my White Wine 101 and Red Wine 101 blog posts. I hope you enjoy them and please feel free to share this post with your wine loving friends!

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6 Wonderful Winter White Wines

This month I am craving white wine. Not the bright, citrusy Sancerres and Pinot Grigios of Summer, no, this week I'm craving WINTER white wines! The vinous equivalent of a lush, luxurious cashmere sweater.

But what exactly does that mean?

Winter white wines have a little somethin' extra - a little vinous booty if you will. Winter white wines are rich, creamy and delicious and capable of keeping you warm on a chilly night. They should even be served about 5 degrees warmer than lighter-bodied Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc (50-55 degrees is ideal). This allows the complexity of their aromas and flavors to really shine.

Luckily, I've had the chance to sample some of these beauties recently. From a luscious Viognier from France's Rhone Valley to a Marilyn Monroe-esque Chardonnay from California's Napa Valley, I've got some steals and splurges that I think you are really going to enjoy!

6 Wonderful Winter White Wines

1.) YALUMBA Y SERIES VIOGNIER, BAROSSA VALLEY, AUSTRALIA ($12): This alluring, medium-bodied winter white displays floral-imbued notes of honeyed citrus, peach and spiced pear with a delightful palate-hugging viscosity.

2.) CROSSBARN SONOMA COAST CHARDONNAY, SONOMA, CALIFORNIA ($28): A medium-bodied wine with delightfully creamy notes of spiced apple, peach, apricot, fig and vanilla which culminate in a long, lovely, lingering finish.⠀

3.) ZIND-HUMBRECHT GEWURZTRAMINER, ALSACE, FRANCE ($27): Fragrant aromatics of lychee, rose and ginger emanate from this completely delicious, spicy Gewürz that should be dubbed "the official Wine of Winter!"

4.) HARTFORD COURT FOUR HEARTS VINEYARD RRV CHARDONNAY, SONOMA, CALIFORNIA ($42): Floral and fabulous this Chardonnay entices with glorious aromatics of honeysuckle and orange blossom. On the palate, alluring notes of Meyer lemon, red apple, candied ginger, peach and spice are followed by a mineral-tinged finish.

5.) CLIFF LEDE NAPA VALLEY SAUVIGNON BLANC, NAPA, CALIFORNIA ($24): This medium-bodied white wine envelops the palate in rich, elegant notes of mandarin orange, white flowers and peach balanced by a delightfully crisp, lively minerality.⠀

6.) CHATEAU DE SAINT COSME CONDRIEU, RHONE, FRANCE ($78): This perfumey and richly textured white wine, made from 100% Viognier, delights with enticing notes of honeysuckle, lemon verbena, star fruit and apricot which you can readily savor on its luxuriously lingering, spice-tinged finish.

For purchasing information for any of these Winter White Wines, simply click on the wine’s name above. And, just in case you can't find a particular wine or it's not available in your area, please don't give up! Ask a clerk at your local retail store to recommend a wine that’s similar to the one you're looking for. Better to enjoy something similar than no wine at all!

Also, if you're interested in learning more about wine this year, I have the perfect place to start: my White Wine 101 and Red Wine 101 blog posts. I hope you enjoy them and please feel free to share this post with your wine loving friends ~ Cheers!

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The New Year's Waistline-Friendly Wine Guide

Egg nog. Christmas cookies. Peppermint-stick ice cream. If you're like me, you indulged in everything you could get your well-manicured hands on this holiday season…and after 2020 who could really blame you? And while it’s fun to enjoy your favorite foods during this festive time of year, this decadent tradition unfortunately usually relegates January to a month of restraint and, let's face it,...self-imposed misery.

That sure doesn't sound like a Happy New Year, does it?

But what if you didn't have to forego that glass of vino every night? What if there was a handy Waistline-Friendly Wine Guide that featured delicious wines that didn't sabotage your New Year's-inspired weight loss plans?

Fellow winelovers, I'm happy to tell you these wines DO exist and, in moderation, you can still indulge your vinous cravings without consuming oodles of pesky calories. But since a glass of wine can range between 100-300 calories, how do you know which wines have the least amount of calories? Here are 3 tips to consider when making your selections:

1. Go for Low Alcohol: While that juicy glass of Australian Shiraz might hit your palate’s sweet spot, it probably clocks in at around 16% alcohol. And since alcohol has almost twice the calories as sugar (yes, you heard right!), you've got a double whammy in that glass just waiting to haunt your midsection through bathing suit season. For optimal results, pick wines that are 14% ABV or less which, by law, must be clearly listed on a wine's label.

2. Dry over Sweet: Say buh-bye to wines with high levels of residual sugar ("RS" in wine lingo), including Port, Sauternes and late-harvest wines. The low-calorie wines you want to choose right now are bone-dry, crisp and refreshing. In general, if a wine you're drinking tastes overly fruity or sweet (even a supposed "dry" wine like White Zinfandel), banish it from your fridge until you've reached your desired goal!

3. Cool Climate is Key: The wine regions of Europe (aka the Old World) have much cooler climates than the rest of the world (aka New World) and grapes grown in cooler climates don't achieve the lush ripeness that those grown in warmer climates do. And since it's grape sugars that are converted into alcohol by the yeast during fermentation, cooler climate grapes produce wines that are lower in alcohol and, therefore, calories. So if one of your New Year's Resolutions is to explore a different wine region, this is the perfect time to explore the delightful wines of countries such as France, Italy, Germany and/or Spain!

The GG Waistline-Friendly Wine Guide

SPARKLING WINES: Whether its Champagne, Cava or Prosecco, sparkling wines range from approximately 100-125 calories per 5 ounce glass and should generally be your FIRST waistline-friendly choice. Since they are usually served in a flute, there's also less variation in the size of the pour which provides reliable consistency. Look for the terms "Brut,""Brut Nature" or "Brut Zero" on the label to ensure there isn't excessive sugar added. So if you have any sparklers left over from the holidays - lucky you!

WHITE WINES: These wines should be your second choice when selecting a waistline-friendly bottle. You want to opt for lighter-bodied, unoaked white wines which are crisp, refreshing and bone-dry since they generally contain about 115-145 calories per 5 ounce glass. Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc, dry Riesling and Albariño are great choices in this category, beware of big, full-bodied white wines such as Chardonnay and Viognier which can contain higher alcohol and therefore, more calories.

RED WINES: If you're a bona fide red wine lover, no worries! While red wines generally contain the most calories due to riper fruit and higher alcohol levels, there are lighter versions to be found that contain around 130-170 calories per glass. Opt for wines made from the Pinot Noir, Barbera and Tempranillo grapes from cooler climate regions in France, Italy and Spain respectively. In order to keep calories at a minimum, steer clear of ripe, fuller-bodied wines such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec or Shiraz from warmer climates until you've reached your desired goals.

I recently had the opportunity to share some of my favorite Waistline-Friendly Wine recommendations with the fabulous John Favole of WPTV NewsChannel 5, our local NBC affiliate here in sunny South Florida. Please check out the video above for all the deets and I hope you enjoy our Waistline-Friendly Wine Guide and best of luck with your New Year's resolutions. If you've made any food and/or wine-related resolutions, I'd LOVE to hear about them. Please let me know in the Comments section below!

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5 Fabulous New Year's Wine Resolutions!

With your New Year's Eve hangover in the rear view mirror, not to mention a disastrous pandemic-ridden 2020, it’s time to start planning for the future with a proverbial clean slate. To help with the vinous portion of your plans, here are 5 Fabulous New Year’s Wine Resolutions to guide your exploration in the New Year.

From becoming a better taster to planning a trip to your favorite wine region, here are some great ideas that will truly enhance your enjoyment of and proficiency in wine:

1. MIX IT UP: Because the world of wine can be confusing it's often easier to just stick with the same wine day in and day out - but how boring is that? To break out of your rut, why not vow here and now to sample a different wine every week or at very least every month. Come on by the wine shop where we always have 16 wines available on the machines to sample by the glass. Not in the area? I’ll also have plenty of great recommendations here on the blog and in our weekly newsletter so please stay tuned.

2. START A WINE COLLECTION: If you've been drinking wine long enough to have a favorite wine region and/or producer it might be time to sock a few bottles away for a later date. Aged wine can be such a truly enjoyable experience but collecting wine does NOT mean you need to have a custom built, 1,000 bottle cellar, in fact, far from it! From an 18 bottle, under the counter wine fridge to 150+ bottle, free-standing unit go with whatever suits YOUR needs. Having a temperature-controlled place to stash your bottles is VERY important since varying temperatures and humidity levels as well as mechanical vibration and light exposure are arch-enemies of wine. If your budget allows, purchase a unit with a little room to grow, wine lovers have a habit of outgrowing them faster then they think!

3. HONE YOUR TASTING SKILLS: Whether you’re a budding wine enthusiast or an aspiring Somm to really learn about wine you need to taste it in a particular way, utilizing ALL of your senses. This sensory information provides valuable insight into a wine's place of origin, grape variety and "terroir” which are all critical factors when learning about and understanding wine. So if becoming a better taster is something you’re interested in achieving this year, please click here to be notified of our upcoming wine tastings.

4. DRINK MORE SPARKLING WINES: The focus on sparkling wine/Champagne consumption around special occasions like New Year's Eve leaves the majority of the year unbearably bubbly-free. While Champagne's price tag may limit it to more of a special occasion wine, there are many sparklers from around the globe that are priced for everyday consumption. Wines like Prosecco, Cava and Crémant are perfect for enjoying on a Tuesday night or sipping over lunch with a friend. As an added bonus, sparkling wines also have less calories and alcohol than a glass of Chardonnay or Cabernet Sauvignon - affordable, delicious AND figure-friendly - what's not to love about that?

5. FOOD + WINE TRAVEL: Take advantage of our post-pandemic global status + book that trip you dreamed about during lockdown! Whether it’s an overnight trip to enjoy a favorite restaurant or a long haul flight to an Old World wine region, start planning now and as soon as we get the green light to travel - you’ll be ready to go! For some food and wine-inspired travel inspo check out my post 5 Glamorous Getaways for Food and Wine Lovers.

I hope these suggestions inspire you to further embrace the world of wine in 2023! If you have any other wine-related resolutions I'd love to hear about them, please let me know in the Comments section below.

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