Wines's Blog

Wineries like California’s Kendall-Jackson have adopted low-cost, eco-friendly virtual tastings via the Internet. The online version saves on costs as well as on the wear and tear often suffered by in-demand expert wine tasters. Kendall-Jackson uses the technology to facilitate video-conferencing between winemaker and critic.

Twitter Taste Live, a Web forum that “is about connecting consumers around the world directly with the folks that drive the trends for wine, beer, cigars and just about anything related to ‘tasting,’” recently carried a Wilson Daniels tasting that included a live video feed of the event.

To watch a live tasting all you need to is create a profile on Twitter, then receive notifications of upcoming events via the social network. The wine tastings also are promoted on the retailer’s web site and through social networking site Facebook. When the wine tastings are happening, you can log into Twitter to view the broadcast of a panel discussing selected wines. Viewers can ask questions or offer comments online during the live broadcasts. The tastings are promoted ... (social-media-optimization)

The product is environmentally friendly, but it might take a few weeks become truly “green”. I’m talking about cheese sculptures. These time-sensitive art productions can change colour, and maybe even grow hair, depending on how long they are kept.

Having never attempted this activity myself, I can’t compare cheese to porcelain or clay as an art medium; but one benefit of cheese is that it is more suitable for children, as it is more economical and can be safely consumed, by the non-lactose-intolerant. A cheese sculpture is also more conducive to being enjoyed in the comfort of one’s kitchen, rather than in a rented pottery studio.

The images featured in the gallery are works by Sarah “The Cheese Lady” Kaufmann.

World-class wines are no longer found only in Napa or Southern Europe; Thailand is becoming a home to top quality wines at a sensible price point.

Monsoon Valley, a brand launched in 2003 by Bangkok-based Siam Winery, was the award winner at the International Wine & Spirits Competition (UK) and Syrah du Monde (France) last year.

According to Japan’s leading online wine dealer Ikemitsu Enterprises, Moonsoon Valley’s white wine has mixed notes of melon, sea minerals and lemongrass. It’s a combination that bodes well for pairing with seafood and spicy food. And, perhaps most importantly, it only costs around $11.60 USD per bottle.

Thai wines are referred to as “New Latitude” wines, as the country is beyond the 30th and 50th degree latitude north and south—where most wines come from. Other well-received bottles include the GranMonte Chenin Blanc and the Khao Yai Reserve Shiraz 2000.

I adore Carmen Zambrano’s ‘Fairy Tale’ line of stemware. Its design is based on the idea that fairies feast on flower nectar, but I’m also reminded of ambrosia, the sweet nectar that was the drink of choice for the gods in ancient Greek mythology. Either Zambrano’s ‘Fairy Tale’ stemware would be a perfect vessel to drink any liquid.

The bowl of the wine glass is covered by silver petals. Carmen Zambrano’s ‘Fairy Tale’ stemware was a finalist in Designboom’s Beyond Silver competition.