wine cellar

The Grape Leaf Inn

Explore the quieter side of Sonoma at the Grape Leaf Inn, a restored Queen Anne Victorian just a five-minute walk from downtown Healdsburg.

Three specialty cottages dot the inn’s acreage, which includes a working seven-acre vineyard.Upscale but unpretentious, the inn is welcoming from the outset. Genial hosts Richard and Kae Rosenberg enjoy showing guests the “speakeasy” – a basement wine cellar reachable via a hidden stone staircase.

Complimentary wine tastings (including some rare vintages) are only on weekends, but don’t despair if you miss it; each guestroom has a bottle of wine from the inn’s very own seven-acre vineyard – yours to keep.

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A Review Of Moet and Amp – Chandon Non Vintage Brut Imperial Champagne

No matter if you have a passion for champagne or sparkling white wine, Moet & Chandon brut imperial champagne is just perfect for that special occasion or romantic night out. One of the wine worlds best known brands, it has a seductive and rich flavor. Only grapes grown in the Champagne region of France can be turned into “champagne” wines, and this name is reserved in most countries of the world. There’s also a special way of producing champagne known as the methode champenoise.

While it is often enjoyed at big occasions such as parties, engagements and weddings, Moet & Chandon Brut Imperial Champagne can also go nicely with a nice, quiet dinner for two. Its versatility is one of the biggest reasons for its popularity, as it can make a great pairing with so many foods, including pasta, chicken, turkey, red meats, even spicy foods.

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The Wonderful World of Wine Barrels and Creative Ways to Reuse Them!

Wine Barrels have a specific purpose when created, most obviously to hold and allow wine to age. Aging in oak barrels enriches the flavor and contributes to the character of the wine. It can impart a smoother, softer, richer feeling on the palate. The science behind the barrel is actually quite fascinating, as subtle (and sometimes not so subtle) differences in each barrel can affect the end product of our vino. Wine will take on a different personality and quality depending on the type of wood/oak used, as well as the process by which the barrels are constructed, and also whether or not the oak is new or has already experienced use. A well-made vino so-to-speak will have just enough oak to give it added complexity without suppressing other flavor elements, whereas too much oak will overpower the more delicate scents and flavors, actually making the wine less complex. Each time a wine barrel is reused, the wine will extract less oak flavor, until the barrel is practically void of its oaky contribution. The life span of a wine barrel averages around 3-5 years for these primary purposes, and then the barrels may be sent on to make liquors such as brandy, sold to various artisans or dealers, or often even sold off as firewood.

In my opinion, a new type of fun begins when the wine aging process ends! Wine barrels can take on a new and exciting life after their initial purpose has been fulfilled. There are gorgeous wine racks, wine cabinets, and all kinds of furniture out there today crafted from recycled wine barrels. You could build shelves for your wine books, or how about hardwood floors-how cool! And what personality wine barrel parts would lend if incorporated into wine cellars, tasting rooms, kitchens, or perhaps unique artwork. Use them as large pots and fill with vines or flowers, or how about using the old barrels to collect or store rain water? There are so many imaginative and inventive uses at present and the scope could be endless with all of the creative minds out there. One of my favorite recent news pieces was on how the San Diego Zoo’s Wild Animal Park is using old wine barrels to successfully breed hornbills – quite a home and romantic breeding venue if you ask me (or better yet, the hornbill!)

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