Feature Article:

Tasting Wine

Why swish? While it was originally thought that certain regions on the tongue detected specific flavours, we now know this is not true.

The front and back of the tongue contain the taste buds and rather than specializing in a particular taste sensation, all taste buds are capable of detecting sweet, sour, bitter and salty flavours, although there may be some slight differences in sensitivity. So that you get the most out of your taste buds, when wine tasting, swish the wine around your mouth, which will allow all of your taste buds (and your sense of smell) to participate in the detection of the finer flavours of the wine. Read More >>

Feature Article:

The Perfect Beer Fridge

We like to joke that the difference between beer and wine drinkers is that beer drinkers don't spit when they taste. In fact -- particularly if you hold to the notion that drinkers of flavorful beer are just "regular folks" willing to spend a little more on their beer -- how beer and wine drinkers store their favorite beverage may make a stronger statement.

Beer drinkers keep their beer in a beer fridge, wine drinkers store wine in a temperature and humidity controlled "wine cellar." One costs a lot more than the other.

Have you ever seen the advertisements in wine magazines for those wine cellars? Something akin to a small refrigerator -- but with a wood case and a glass door -- that holds a modest 30 or so bottles can run you $600. If you want a cellar that stores 250 bottles then you can easily spend north of $2,000. Read More >>