- Tasting Party Tips
- Wine Trivia Challenge
- Recipe of the Month
- Health & Fitness

December 2007

Around the World in..........12 Wines!

We recently brought in wines from different parts of the Globe which you can find under several new sections: Chile, Argentina, California. We thought it would be fun to gather representatives from 8 countries and as many styles in a single package to allow you to make a World Wine Tour on the wings of Bacchus. You have one week only to grab this exceptional assemblage at a super reduced rate: $169.99 instead of $199.99! [Reg:$230.00]
(Assemblage is the art of combining wines from different varietals, plots, age and character to produce the best possible result, a chef-d'oeuvre!)

Other than pushing more products in your direction we always like to present people and companies who are an inspiration at a spiritual as well as a practical level.

3 Days left to take advantage of our Little Gift For You!

Last month we offered you a coupon FS50 to save 50% of your shipping costs! Remember it is valid until December 15 only! Simply click on the link now or enter FS50 in the coupon box when placing your orders.

We all know that shipping heavy bottles across America is an expensive proposition! To save resources at all levels it is obviously smarter to choose reasonably sized boxes. In the wine business the ideal scenario is the full case containing 12 bottles of wine. Remember that our wines hold remarkably well if you lay them down in a cool place, if possible away from light and vibrations.
Therefore ordering a variety of wines to fill up a case makes a lot of sense: You save 10% on the wine, get the best shipping cost and create the smallest "carbon trail" possible!

The Customer is Always Right!

It's nice to be validated from time to time so do not hesitate doing like Nancy Smith from Florida who wrote to us, speaking of the Gypsy Melody: "This is the first organic wine that I've tried after years of grocery store wines. It is hands down the best wine I've ever tasted. I hope it's the rule and not the exception for organic wine!! I am beside myself with how good my head feels the next day!"

Well Nancy, don't worry! You will find plenty of delectable wines in our portfolio but it is great to see your enthusiasm for one of our latest entries! It shows you don't have to spend a fortune to enjoy a great experience at the Organic Wine Company!

I am thankful for the mess to clean after a party because it means I have been surrounded by friends.
-- Nancie J. Carmody

Tasting Party Tips

A tasting party is a great excuse for people to have fun together and learn about wine at the same time. Following are a few tips to make your party a success.

Guest List -- Send invites at least two weeks in advance, and let them know whether they should bring a bottle, or if you're supplying all the wine.

Wines -- Six to 10 wines provide a good range for a tasting; any more than that and your guests will likely lose track of which ones they’ve tried. At 2 ounces per tasting, there are about 12 tastings per bottle.

Theme -- While you could randomly choose your wine, it’s more enjoyable to make a selection around a theme -- for instance, one wine each from different regions of France -- or from several different grape varieties. It's a good idea to taste from dry to sweet with white wines first and progress from light to full-bodied with reds.

Glassware -- One glass per person will do the job. It's a good idea to provide a dump bucket to pour excess wine into so that people don’t have to drink everything in their glass (of course, they probably will). Choose nice, all-purpose glasses suitable for tasting both red and white wines.

Serving -- Serve white wines lightly chilled (about 50 degrees). An hour-and-a-half in the refrigerator or 30 minutes in ice water will suffice. Red wines should be served slightly cooler than room temperature (about 65 degrees). If it's a hot day or a warm room, it's OK to put red wine in the refrigerator for 20 to 30 minutes before serving.

Tasting Cards -- Make a tasting card listing each wine with room for comments. It’s also helpful to have some background information on each wine, including the price, where to buy it and any interesting facts about the vineyard or grape variety.

Food -- Serving a variety of hors d’oeuvres is always a good idea. Stay away from spicy dishes which would kill your taste buds. Breads and mild cheeses are good choices; consider food from the same region as the wine.

Water -- Provide bottled water so your guests can clear their palate and prepare for the next wine.

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The odds of going to the store for a loaf of bread and coming out with only a loaf of bread are three billion to one.
-- Erma Bombeck

Wine Trivia Challenge

Question 1.) True or false: There is at least one commercial winery in every US state, including Alaska and Hawaii?
a.) True
b.) False

Question 2.) True or false: The Egyptians were the first people to use corks as stoppers?
a.) True
b.) False

Question 3.) True or false: "Still" wine, also referred to as table wine, is produced in a still?
a.) True
b.) False

Question 4.) True or false: There are only three legal categories of wine?
a.) True
b.) False

Question 5.) True or false: Americans consume more wine on Valentine's Day then any other day of the year?
a.) True
b.) False

TOP | ANSWERS

Part of the secret of success in life is to eat what you like and let the food fight it out inside.
-- Mark Twain

Chicken and Basil Roulades with Dijon Mustard Sauce

Ingredients -- Serves 4 to 6

• Mustard Sauce
  • 1/2 cup plain, lowfat yogurt
  • 1 tbsp. dijon mustard
  • 2 tsp. chopped, fresh chives
• Roulades
  • 2 tbsp. melted butter
  • 2 tbsp. chopped, fresh Basil
  • 4 boneless, skinless, chicken breast halves
  • 1/2 tsp. each of salt and pepper
  • 1/3 cup plain, lowfat yogurt
  • 1 tsp. dijon mustard
  • 1 cup fine, fresh, bread crumbs
  • 1/2 cup grated, parmesan cheese

Directions

1. Prepare mustard sauce first and let sit at room temperature while baking the chicken.
2. Preheat oven to 400 degrees and lightly brush a non-stick baking sheet with some of your melted butter.
3. Pound chicken breast halves to about a 1/4 inch thickness. Sprinkle basil, salt and pepper on top of each breast. Fold in short ends of chicken and roll up from the long side.
4. Mix yogurt and dijon in a shallow bowl and mix the bread crumbs and parmesan in a shallow dish. Coat rolled breasts in the yogurt mixture then roll in the bread crumbs and parmesan.
5. Place chicken roulades on baking sheet and drizzle with remaining butter. Bake for 30 minutes or until chicken is no longer pink in the middle.
6. Serve with a dollop of dijon sauce on the side.

Wine Pairing

• Guy Chaumont Bourgogne Pinot Noir 2004

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Enjoy yourself. It's later
than you think.
-- Chinese Proverb

Healthiest Foods for Life

The food pyramid has become much more specific as to the types of food we eat. The following foods were picked by dieticians as the healthiest in a recent study.

1. Salmon is the best option for protein -- part of the "meat group." It is a good source of omega 3 fatty acids which have been shown to decrease LDL cholesterol and raise HDL cholesterol. The American Heart Association recommends eating at least 2 servings of fish a week.
2. Another good source of protein is soy, a good substitute for the fattier animal products. However, because of genetic manipulation it is responsible for a lot of allergies and its role in hormonal balance is in question. The best if not the only way to benefit from it is to eat it in sprouts, fresh or hardly cooked.
3. The "vegetable group" is lead by green vegetables, such as broccoli, asparagus, Brussels sprouts, green beans and bok choy. Vegetables are high in vitamins and fiber while low in calories.
4. Fresh berries, part of the fruits and vegetables group, top the list as some of the most powerful disease-fighting foods available. The antioxidant activity, along with their vitamin C, folate, and fiber, make berries one of the smartest additions you can make to your diet. Some of the best fruits: mangosteen, grapes.
5. When it comes to the "bread group," whole grains are the rule. They are high in vitamins, iron and fiber and contain some valuable antioxidants not found in fruits and vegetables. The newest dietary guidelines recommend that adults eat three to five servings of whole grains a day.
6. Raw whole milk is one of the best things on earth. Pasteurization and homoneigization destroy its balance and make its fat more digestible and therefore more dangerous.
7. Remember: Raw is king! Cooking creates delicious and enjoyable tastes but as far as nutrition is concerned it does away with all the live ingredients necessary for our happy functioning. Vitamins, enzymes, trace minerals and the like disappear for the most part in the heat of the oven.

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Wine Trivia Answers
#1. a.) True; #2. a.) True; #3. b.) False -- The phrase refers to a wine without bubbles; #4. a.) False -- Table, dessert, sparkling and fortified.; #5. b.) False -- Thanksgiving