Air Dry Wine Glass Drying Rack (Architec)

New products are always coming on the market and some get a better reception than others.  Well the Architec Air Dry Wine Glass Drying Rack is really a pretty simple idea.  It’s sleek and modern looking, very well made and has a worthwhile function.

     Think about it no one wants to put their fine wine glasses in the dishwasher because they could easily get broken.  If you hand wash your glasses as I do, how do you dry them.  Standing the glasses upright will leave a water stain at the bottom of the bowl.  Standing them upside down on the counter will not work because they won’t dry properly.  A drying mat is an option since it sits off surface and allows the water to drain and also allows some air reach the bowl to help the drying process.  These are inexpensive but unattractive, my wife would prefer not seeing it on the counter. 

     The Architec Drying Rack works in much the same way as the drying rack but it’s much more attractive and it’s reasonably priced.  The wine glass bowl does not touch any surface with this rack so the water drains away more easily than the drying mat.  The wine glass bowls sit at a higher level from the surface of the table which will allow more air to naturally flow into the bowl and speed the drying time.  This is a simple product but an effective idea, which is well worth the cost.

     Visit Twisted Corkscrew for all your wine accessory needs

Hosting a wine (tasting) party

There are many different ways to approach a wine tasting party.

Expensive wine, cheap wine, red wine, white wine, rose wine, dessert wines, regional wines, local wines, homemade wines, anything goes.

Basic food you will need include:

Wine of course

Variety of cheeses

Crackers and chips

Mixed nuts

Veggie sticks

Add your own food items 

Ask your guests to bring a dish

Party Supplies 

The following are a list items you may choose to have on hand but these are not absolutely required.  You may already have some of these items, if so you’re ahead of the game.  If you intend on having regular wine parties it would be advisable to have some of these items.  Stock up on them a little at a time to make it more economical.

            Stemholder plates or vino plate clips

            Wine Glasses (see suggestion below)

                        Buy cheap glasses then paint them with blackboard paint

                        Use chalk to write names on the glasses

          Decanters

            Coasters

            Cheese Server

            Cutting board

Wine accessories

            Corkscrews

            Wine aerator and stand

            Wine Stain Remover

            Wine Tasting Kit

            The list goes on and on, it just depends on your wishes

Games

            Blind tasting (Some guest may will feel hesitant so make it fun)

            Try a non-alcoholic wine tasting

            Guess the glass with the non-alcoholic wine

            Wine Trivia game

 

Prizes

           

            Wine

            Painted wine glasses

            Crazy Wine bottle holders

            It’s up to you if you want to do this.

Things to ask yourself

            Just how serious are the guest about wine

            Casual wine drinkers

            Tailor your party to the guest and their likes

            There are no hard and fast rules, it’s  your party

Final Thoughts

            Decide when and where you will do the wine tasting

            Have the area set up and get someone to help

            Do the same for any other games

            Be flexible and have fun

Whatever your needs are for your next wine party please check Gourmet Classic Accessories at Twisted Corkscrew there maybe something we have that could make your party special.

Why spend $80 on a metal wine bottle caddy or holder?

Is an $80 metal wine caddy worth the extra money when I can get a very nice one for under $30?

I have seen some very expensive metal wine caddies (wine art) on line.  Some costing $80 or more but how much should you spend on decorative wine art, well the bottom line is it’s up to you.  There’s no right answer.  But here are some things to think about: 

            Are you going to put an $20 bottle of wine in an $80 metal wine 

            caddy?

If you buy an expensive wine caddy will you have to buy a cheaper bottle of wine?

            Who will know the difference?

What is the difference in quality of an $80 wine caddy versus a $30 caddy, is it noticeable?

            Neither wine caddy is going to become collectable art so why 

            spend more.

 

I guess you can tell by this article that I am partial to the less expensive metal wine caddy, ok that’s what we sell, but really why would you want to pay more.  Spend the rest on a nicer bottle of wine or get a second bottle.

You might have the same questions about a corkscrew, wine glass or decanter but these add items value to wine drinking.  A decorative metal wine bottle caddy or holder just displays a bottle of wine and in many instances it’s an empty bottle.  They are unique and kooky with all the different sport and professions characterized in metal displaying a bottle of wine.  These metal wine bottle caddies/holders are great gifts but first go to Twisted Corkscrew to see our large selection at great prices.

What does the wine industry owe to Cuba, Missouri?

     In 1956 small company in Cuba, Missouri started in the barrel making industry and in 1968 McGinnis Wood Products was founded.  McGinnis now turns out 500 wine and whiskey barrels every day.  McGinnis predominately uses white oak to make the barrel staves, which makes a good container to age wine or spirits.  Luckily, Missouri has an abundance of white oak, which is on of the dominant trees in Missouri‘s forest. 

     Researchers from the Scotch Whiskey Research Institute (yes, there is such an institute) in Edinburgh, Scotland (as you might expect) has done test on McGinnis staves and found that the white oak within a 50 mile radius of Cuba was among the best stave wood in the world for aging wine (take that Napa Valley).

     McGinnis keeps the higher quality wood for wine staves that will dry in the natural elements, which takes around 36 months.  The staves for the bourbon barrels are kiln dried and ready for production in 60 days.

     After the wood is dried, the staves for wine barrels are planed and cut with special saws to produce the same angle on the edge and wider middle than the edge.  After the wood is shaped the wine barrel staves are ready for shipment. The wine barrels are shipped in pieces to Coopers and barrel makers around the world for them to later assemble into barrels as needed. 

     The production of bourbon barrels continues with the barrel raiser beginning the assembly arranging the wooden staves in a circular configuration.  The barrel is next put through a steaming process, which pulls them into shape without breaking them.  A head ring is installed on each end then the staves are cut to an even length.  Next they char the inside of the barrel with a propane torch.  The metal hoops are installed using a hydraulic driver, the hoops keep the barrels shape intact.  Once the barrel is assembled a hole is drilled in one of the staves and a pressure test is done, if all goes well the barrel is ready to ship. 

      So give some thought to the people in Cuba, Missouri who support the wine and bourbon industry next time you’re enjoying a glass of Cabernet or blended Scotch.

Visit TwistedCorkscrew for all your wine accessory needs.

Information source for this article was the Feb 2011 issue of Current Times.

To watch a video on how a barrel is made visit www.ruralmissouri.coop

What is the purpose of the dimple at the bottom of some wine bottles?

     This dimple is called a punt or kick up.  In ancient times a wooden tool called a pontil stick was attached to the bottom of the bottle while it was being blown.  When this pontil stick was removed it left an indentation which actually was a good thing because it made the bottle stable when standing upright.  Making the bottom of the bottle completely flat was difficult and when attempted it was found that the bottom turn out to be convex and it would topple over. 

  

     Other reasons suggest the following:

  The punt helps collects the sediment. 

              The punt helps strengthen the bottle.

              It is a perfect spot to place your thumb when pouring wine.

     That was then but what about now.  The wine industry has always been a traditional business with specific marketing techniques and a bottle with a punt makes a great looking bottle.  Tradition may be changing with the new boxed wine or plastic bottles but the punt has been around since the ancient times.  How long will it last…….your guess is as good as mine. 

Visit Twisted Corkscrew for the latest in wine accessories.

Why do wine bottles have different shapes?

     There are many answers and all of them may be correct.  Different wine regions in different countries adopted their own bottle shape, maybe it was partially an economic reason.  It could be that the some bottles shapes were chosen over another because they stack better or possibly it was just for esthetic reasons.  In any case these different bottles shapes help us distinguish the different wine types.  So after many years it has become a tradition.  We are used to seeing German Riesling in long slender bottles or a Cabernet in a Bordeaux bottle.  

      Even the use of colored glass bottles seems to follow this tradition.  Next time your shopping for wine take note of the different colored bottles and type of wine and region they come from, does there seem to be a consistent pattern?  Also notice how boring and difficult it would be to choose a wine if they were all in the same style bottle.  

     There are no hard rules when bottling wine since the bottle shape will not affect the taste.  That’s why some winemakers create a special bottle for some of their wines.  

      Champagne is the only exception since it requires a thicker bottle to withstand the pressure created by the champagne.  So if you’re a home wine maker use whatever bottle you choose for you latest vintage and toast the tradition.   

Visit Twisted Corkscrew for top quality wine accessories.

Valentine Gifts

Valentines Day is right around the corner. It’s not always easy to choose the right gift but we have done our best at Twisted Corkscrew to give you a large selection of wine accessories to choose. We have the Lover Boy and Lover Girl metal wine caddies which will show your fun side, just add a nice bottle of wine to toast the evening. Our Celebration hand painted wine glasses are cute and funny as well as memorable. Take a look at our complete line of Ravenscroft wine glasses and decanters, these are top quality. We carry all types of corkscrew and wine openers including Laguiole Waiters Corkscrews in case you really want to impress a wine lover. Our special for January is the Artful Winemaker which is the perfect gift for those wanting to get into wine making. Whatever you choose don't wait until the last minute, express shipping could drive the price of your items out of reach. Follow Twistedcorks on Twitter.