Posts from — November 2009

I reviewed the 4207 Wine Opener in a previous post, but wanted to make sure you were aware of the Oster 4208 wine bottle opener package as well.  Nothing has changed as far as the unit itself goes, so the previous review stands, but Oster has updated the package.

If you buy the Oster 4208, you get the unit plus a wine chiller.  For the few extra dollars this package costs, it’s a pretty sweet deal, and again, make a great gift.

People, the Oster 4207 has been on the market for more than 3 years now and has stood the test of time.  Will it last forever?  No!  It’s a $20 opener.  I did read in one post on Amazon that, if used properly, and assuming you didn’t end up with a lemon, you should be able to open about 750 bottle of wine with this unit.  That’s a lot of wine!

You can find out more on the 4207 unit here, and the 4208 package here.

Be well, and drink responsibly!

I’ve had one of these for 3 or 4 years now and still use it occasionally.  The electric does need to be recharged and sometimes you forget, so having a backup is probably a good idea.  And I hate using a plain old corkscrew.

I got this as a gift, and I have to say it’s one of the most useful gifts I’ve ever received.

First, use the foil cutter and then position the opener on the wine bottle.  When you push down on the lever, it engages the gear mechanism, which drills the screw down into the cork.  When the screw is completely in the cork, you simple reverse the process by pulling up on the lever which removed the cork from the bottle.  Voila!  Let your wine breath and enjoy!

This corkscrew is in the $20 range, and as mentioned, makes a great gift.  Naturally, you can also buy one for yourself!

There are more expensive lever model corkscrews on the market, but frankly, I don’t see the need.  This is a nice mid range product that works like a charm.  By mid range I mean you can open your wine bottle with a corkscrew you picked up in the dollar store, or you can spend $60 – $70 on an expensive lever model.  They all work but personally, I go for ease of use and common sense and stick with the $20 product!

Italy, like France, is renowned for its wines and wine history. However, one of the most significant aspects of wine production in Italy is the advent of the Barolo. Over the past few decades, these wines have revolutionized the world’s wine industry and built their own successful industry niche. These are classified as IGT wines or Indicazione Geographic Tipica wines which translates as the “typical regional wine.” Being labeled as an IGT wine also means that a minimum of 85% of the grapes used in the production of the wine are indigenous to the region it came from.

An Overview of the Super Tuscans

During the 1960’s, the Denominazione di Origine Controllata or D.O.C. Laws were born out of the effort to eliminate sharecropping as well as controlling the wine appellate system currently in effect. These laws were introduced in the hopes of restricting the widespread abuse of the big names in the Italian wine industry and the damage that was causing. It has also witnessed a rise in the quality of D.O.C. wines to the extent that they meet higher standards than some of the IGT wines.

Since the Barolo were introduced, there have been numerous changes to the D.O.C. rules. This has helped to ensure the quality and protect the reputation of these wines. Additionally, with these rule changes, certain Barolo would now qualify as being D.O.C’s. However, the decision to keep the IGT designation was made by many producers of these wines even though they now could qualify as being D.O.C’s. Not only did this decision give all the wine producers more freedom of expression, it has also served to protect the international reputation of these wines.

Purchasing Barolo

Long considered to be the rebels of the wine industry in Italy, Barolo are produced in a non-conformist manner which usually does not follow the more traditional D.O.C. guidelines and rules. Aging methods and blends conducted in an unorthodox fashion is the route these vintners have chosen to take in order to produce these amazing wines. So if you’ve grown tired of the traditional Cabernet or Merlot, we recommend that you try any of the Super Tuscans.

Here are some points to consider when purchasing these wines:

First and foremost, it’s important to understand that some Barolo oftentimes result from the blending of two or even three different wines. However, there are some Super Tuscans that are 100% varietal as well. The most common variety of these combination wines is the Sangiovese and Cabernet Sauvignon blend.

The most common flavor characteristics of Barolo are the berry flavors, a softer tannic structure, and well-balanced levels of acidity. In addition to knowing these characteristics, it is also important to know the specific type of the red wine which you prefer. Remember that most of the Super Tuscans are blends although some varietals exist. If a Cabernet is your preference, then be careful to choose one of these wine blends where the Cabernet Sauvignon is the most dominant grape.