Tag: Sparkling Wine

Best Picnicking Wines

Picnic season is right around the corner and they are a great way to enjoy the outdoors, good food and good company. Wine is often a staple for many picnics, so choosing the right wine is important to enhance the experience. Here are some of the best picnicking wines for your next picnic:

Rosé: A light, crisp rosé is the perfect wine for a picnic. It is refreshing and easy to drink, making it a great option for a warm day. Rosés are often made from a blend of red and white grapes and are known for their fruity, floral, and slightly sweet taste.

Sparkling wine: Sparkling wine is a great choice for a picnic because it’s festive and adds a touch of elegance to the occasion. Choose a dry, crisp sparkling wine like Prosecco or Cava for a light and refreshing option.

White wine: A light, crisp white wine like a Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio is a great option for a picnic. These wines are easy to drink and pair well with light, summery foods like salads, fruits, and grilled vegetables.

Light red wine: If you prefer a red wine, opt for a light, refreshing red like a Beaujolais or Pinot Noir. These wines are lower in tannins and alcohol, making them a great option for a picnic in the sun.

Boxed wine: If you’re looking for a convenient and cost-effective option, consider taking a boxed wine. Boxed wines are easy to transport and can be as good as bottled wine.

When choosing the best picnicking wines, consider the temperature and the time of day. Wines that are too heavy or high in alcohol may be too much for a warm day, so opt for light and refreshing wines that are easy to drink. And, don’t forget to bring along a cooler to keep your wine at the proper temperature. Even though red wines are often served at a higher temperature, the direct sunlight can dramatically change the drinking experience.

In conclusion, picnics and wine go hand in hand. From rosé to sparkling wine to light reds, there are many options to choose from to make your picnic even more enjoyable. Just remember to choose a wine that is easy to drink and refreshing for a warm day in the sun. And don’t forget your bottle opener!

When you find your perfect wine and would like to bring it to your favorite restaurant, be sure to download the CorkageFee app to share your experience with other wine lovers. 

Cooking with Wine: Marinades to Reductions

Cooking with wine is a great way to add depth of flavor and complexity to your dishes. Whether you’re using it as a marinade, a braising liquid, or simply a deglazing agent, wine can take your cooking to the next level.

Wine Marinades

One popular way to use wine in cooking is as a marinade. A red wine marinade, for example, can be a great way to infuse flavor into meats such as beef, lamb, or pork. To make a simple red wine marinade, combine a cup of red wine, a quarter cup of olive oil, a few cloves of minced garlic, and some fresh herbs such as thyme or rosemary in a bowl. Mix everything together, then add your meat to the bowl and toss to coat. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least an hour, or overnight for even more flavor.

Braising with Wine

Another way to use wine in cooking is as a braising liquid. Braising is a method of cooking that involves browning meat or vegetables in oil, then simmering them in a flavorful liquid for an extended period of time. Wine makes a great braising liquid because it adds a rich, complex flavor to the dish. To braise meat in wine, simply brown the meat in a pan with some oil, then add a cup or two of wine and enough chicken or beef broth to cover the meat. Bring the liquid to a simmer, then cover the pan and place it in the oven to cook.

Deglazing with Wine

Deglazing is a quick and easy way to use wine in cooking. When you sauté meat or vegetables, they release juices and bits of food that stick to the bottom of the pan. These bits, called fond, are packed with flavor. To deglaze a pan, you simply add a liquid such as wine to the pan, and use a wooden spoon to scrape the bottom of the pan and dissolve the fond. As the liquid comes to a simmer, it will reduce, thicken and intensify the flavors. Using wine in this way will give you a deep rich sauce that can be served over the cooked meat, vegetables or even rice.

Wine Reductions 

Wine can also be used to make a reduction, a process that is similar to deglazing but with a more concentrated flavor. A wine reduction is made by simmering wine in a pan until it reduces by at least half. The result is a thick, syrupy liquid that has a concentrated wine flavor and can be used as a sauce or glaze.

Which wine to cook with? 

When cooking with wine, it’s important to remember that the flavor of the wine will be concentrated as it cooks, so it’s best to use a wine that you would enjoy drinking. Avoid using wines that are “cooking wines”, as they often have a high salt content and can be of low quality.

It’s always better to use good quality wine in cooking. One cup of wine for the dish and one glass of wine for the cook! 

In summary, cooking with wine is a delicious and easy way to add depth of flavor to your dishes. Whether you’re using it as a marinade, a braising liquid, or simply a deglazing agent, wine can help take your cooking to the next level. 

When you have your list of favorite wines to “cook” with and would like to take it with you to enjoy out at a restaurant, download the CorkageFee app to find the nearest BYOW restaurant near you. 

How to Deliciously Pair Wine with Ice Cream

Ice cream is a popular choice for dessert and is commonly served in almost all restaurants worldwide. Have you ever given up the chance to end your meal with a delicious ice cream for dessert because you thought it wouldn’t pair well with your wine? Well we’ve got good news for you – those days are over! There are a variety of wines that pair deliciously with ice cream. After reading this, you’ll see how you can eat your ice cream and have your wine too.

Vanilla Ice Cream

The savory taste of vanilla ice cream pairs delightfully with Oloroso Sherry. This rich wine has tasting notes of caramel, raisins and walnuts. Another very sweet wine that pairs deliciously with vanilla ice cream is Pedro Ximinez. This is a very sweet sherry style of wine that will most likely become your favorite, if you’ve got a sweet tooth.

Chocolate Ice Cream

The flavor of chocolate is adored worldwide, especially rich chocolate ice cream. A sweet wine such as Madiera is a perfect match, since it has tasting notes of hazelnuts, almonds and caramel. Maury and Banyuls wine from France provide a richness that pairs incredibly with the richness of chocolate ice cream. Ruby Port is another amazing wine that goes well with chocolate ice cream since it is a fruit flavored, sweet wine. It has tasting notes of cherry, cassis and licorice.

Strawberry Ice Cream

Super-sweet Black Muscat wine is an exquisite match when paired with strawberry ice cream. The notes and aromas of ripe red berries that run throughout the wine bring out an intense strawberry flavor in the ice cream. A sparkling white Zinfandel is also a great pairing, since this type of wine is often full of strawberry flavors. You can never go wrong with any sweet sparkling wine.

Wine can be paired in an infinite amount of ways. Amaze your family and friends by pairing some of these wine picks with their favorite ice cream flavors. You’ll soon become their favorite wine host!  Here’s a bonus: You can soak golden raisins in sweet wines and use them as toppings for ice cream. You can also lightly pour the wine over the ice cream and add hazelnut toppings to create an extraordinary treat. Craving something a little more creative? Try soaking red berries, cherries, prunes or plums in the wine that best pairs with each ice cream flavor and use them to add a delicious touch to your sweet treat.