Food and Wine Pairing

Guide To Choosing The Best Wine Rack Kit

Different Types Of Wine Decanter

Different Types Of Wine Decanter

by: April Rounsville

Adding a wine decanter to your wine bar area will add depth and class to wine drinking. Wine decanters not only make red wines taste better, but they offer a very attractive vessel from which to serve wine to your visitors.A decanter is a type of vessel that is used for holding decantation results. Decantation is the process where liquid from another vessel is poured into the decanter in order to separate a small volume of liquid that contains sediment from a larger volume of relatively clear liquid. In the process of decantation, the sediment is left in the original vessel and the clear liquid is transferred to the decanter. Wine is a type of liquid that often must be decanted in order to remove excess sediment. All red wines, particularly young red wines, benefit from the oxygenation that takes place during the decantation process. An optimal decanting process involves trickling the wine down the walls of a decanter, which imparts fuller flavor while removing the unpleasant edge of the wine. Most wine decanters are ornate and tall containers that are made to be very attractive vessels from which to serve wine. Wine decanters may come with a stoppered lid. Additionally, some wine decanters come with a built in rod that aids the decanting process. Most wine decanters have a very upright and tall shape and are made of glass so that the process of decanting may be seen. One of the most popular materials to make glass wine decanters from is lead crystal. It should be noted, however, that lead crystal is no longer recommended for use in decanters, as the lead tends to seep into the liquid contained within the vessel. Lead crystal is created by adding lead oxide to molten glass. This lead glass is manufactured because it increases the index of refraction over that of normal glass. This means that lead crystal has a much more ’sparkly’ appearance than regular glass. Though many people still use lead crystal decanters, I long ago gave mine away and have since switched to regular glass decanters, to avoid lead poisoning. If you think about it, most people have the same liquid sitting against the lead crystal for years at a time -plenty of time to absorb more than a healthy amount of lead, in my opinion. Popular makers of lead crystal decanters are Waterford Crystal, Steuben Crystal, Baccarat Crystal and Steuben Crystal. These manufacturers of fine lead crystal decanters and other items have perfected the art of stunning lead crystal designs. If you opt to go with a traditional lead crystal decanter for your wine or liquor, I’d go with one of the tried and tested lead crystal manufacturers.

About the Author

April Rounsville used to be a bartender with over 7 years of experience. She later retired to become a freelance wine critic and a writer for a number of wine books. In these books, she specializes on finding the right glassware and utensils for your bar. Visit http://www.ebarware.com for a list of “must haves” for your bar.

Liven Up Your Kitchen With Fabulous Glassware

Liven Up Your Kitchen With Fabulous Glassware

by: April Rounsville

When it comes to glasses your choices are endless and so are the makers.  You can choose from modern or vintage glassware, and you can choose from fine makers like Anchor Hocking, Federal, Libbey, Indiana, or Jeannette.  Why not liven up your kitchen with fabulous glassware?Not only are there many popular glass makers there are a host of popular glass styles.  Tumblers, hi balls, wine glass, water glasses, goblets, flutes, Champaign glasses.  The list goes on and on.  So no matter what your serving needs there is definitely a glass style available for you. And then there is the question of design and pattern.  Oh yes and let’s not forget glass color.  Would you like cobalt or amberina?  Or perhaps you’d like some hobnail or Vaseline?  Do you like cased glass?  There are just so many wonderful choices. You can choose from pressed glass, patterned, cut, or crystal.  Crystal is a wonderful choice with a host of different cuts to choose from.  You’ll love all the options and there is nothing like the ring of a beautiful crystal glass. If you are looking for formal stemware you should invest in a set of 8 wine glasses, cordials, sherry glasses, goblets, flutes, and Champaign glasses. That way you will have every situation covered.   If you are looking or daily glassware some nice tall ice tea glasses, tumblers, and juice glasses will generally do the trick.  Choose fun and funky patterns and colors that match your dining décor.  You can add a little happiness to the table with the right glass choices. But glassware doesn’t end with glasses.  There are serving dishes, bowls of all sizes, and a host of other wonderful pieces that you can add to your kitchen décor.  Glass like Pyrex can go from the oven to the table to the freezer with no hassle.   Now let’s not forget about art glass which is hand blown glass created by a wonderful group of skilled artisans that produce fabulous pieces around the world.  Scandinavian, Swedish, United States, and Italian art glass are famous throughout the world.  And of course there are other countries that produce awesome art glass. Almost everyone has seen gorgeous art glass bowls and dishes that will take your breath away, but what about glasses?  They are going to be the envy of everyone with their vibrant colors and fantastic designs.  Why not liven it up? Every home has glassware.  Whether it’s basic or classy depends on you.  Why not consider it part of your home décor and take a little bit of time to choose pieces that you can be proud to serve in?  Wouldn’t it be great to serve in something more than a Walmart glass? With so many choices for purchasing online and such great pricing why settle for anything less than the perfect glassware?  Take a little time to checkout what retailers have to offer and you can transform your kitchen or bar in no time at all.

About the Author

April Rounsville used to be a bartender with over 7 years of experience. She later retired to become a freelance wine critic and a writer for a number of wine books. In these books, she specializes on finding the right glassware and utensils for your bar. Visit http://www.ebarware.com for a list of “must haves” for your bar.