Introduction to Wines

Wine, as most people know, is the oldest alcoholic beverage and dates back to more than 5,000 years. Wines vary greatly in quality, and although the price is an indication of quality, there are some inexpensive wines that are quite good.

Wines are named after grapes which are used. For example Chardonnay wine is made from chardonnay grapes.

There are essentially three types of house wines (also called “table” wines sometimes):

1. White Wine – made from a blend of up to eight different grape varieties. The skins are removed from the grapes immediately upon harvesting. High quality wines will be ages in wood casks, which tends to make them more expensive.

   White wines are normally considered “fruity”, and are often well balanced between dry and sweet. White wines are light in body and usually have a slight yellowish color. White wines are usually served chilled.

   Some of the more popular white wines are Chablis and Chardonnay. Riesling is another popular white wine known for it’s sweet taste.
    

2. Red Wine – also made by blending various grapes. The color ranges from red to dark purple and comes from leaving the grape skins in during the wine making process. As with other types of high quality wines, good red wines are aged in wooden casks.

   Red wines are usually oakir in flavor, and most full in body than others. Red wins is ually server at room temperature.

   Two of the more popular wines are Burgandy and Cabernet Sauvignon.
    

3. Rosé Wine – somestimes called “blush” wine. Rosé is similar in most respects to white wine. The two exceptions are first, rosé is slightly pink in color. This is obtained by leaving the leaving the grape skins in for a short period of time prior to the wine-making process. Second, rosé wines tend to be a little sweeter than white wines.

   As with white wines, rosé are usually served chilled.

   The most popular rosé wine is the White Zinfandel. 

Wine Pricing: Bar and restaurant owners usually price their wine glasses such that the first glass pays for the entire bottle. Since the quality of wine continually reduces after the bottle is opened, this pricing method ensures them that they don’t bear a loss on any bottle. Even if they sold just one glass of wine from the bottle, they would at least be even.

Footnote: Champagnes, basically are white wines that have been bottled with a special type of yeast. The yeast produces bubbles that are dissolved in the wine.

Bartending 101: Common Bar Terms

With all the excitement of my first brewed beer slowly subsiding, its time I hit the blog with some notes about Bartending. I want to start by defining some common terms used at the bar. Some of these are still pretty popular, while others are slowly fading in this new commercial generation. Use these and show-off the next time you’re at a bar, and you might end up with a new drink that you like.

On the Rocks: A drink served over cubed ice

Neat: Drink served at room temperature without ice

Straight Up: The ingredients of the drink are chilled before they are poured into the serving glass. No ice!

Virgin (or Unleaded): A drink without any alcohol in it

Back (or Chaser): A mix served in a seperate glass
Example: “Dewar’s on the rocks with a soda back” means Dewar’s served in a glass over ice, and a seperate glass of soda. “Neat whiskey with a beer chaser” means whiskey served as is and also a glass of beer.

Bruised: A “straight up” Martini that is shaken, instead of stirred

Ditch: A drink with a water mix
Example: “Give me a Johnny Ditch” means the person wants a Johnny Walker Black Label with water.

Double: A drink with double the amount of liquor
Example: “Double Rum n Coke” means double the amount of Rum but the same amount of Coke that would have been used for a “single”.

Mexican Style: A drink with Tequilla poured on top
Example: “A Slow Screw Mexican Style” means the drink prepared as usual, but topped off with (extra) Tequilla.

Electric: A drink with Tequilla mixed in
Example: “An Electric Slow Screw” means the drink prepared as usual, but contains (extra) Tequilla.

Screaming: A drink with Vodka poured on top
Example: “A Screaming L.I.T.” means a Long Island Iced Tea finished with some additional Vodka on the top .

Frappé (or Mist): A drink poured over crushed ice

Topless: A Margarita without the salted rim on the glass

(With a) Squeeze: A lime “squeezed” on top of the drink and dropped into it

(With a) Twist: A lemon “twisted” on top of the drink and dropped into it

Wet: More of the mix
Example: “A Wet Scotch and Soda” means more of the Soda and less of the Scotch than usual.

Stone: Any drink that has the word “stone” in it, contains Oranje Juice

Dirty / Brave / Black: Any drink whose name has any of these three words in it, contain Kahlua
Example: Black Russian, Dirty Mother and Brave Bull – all three drinks contain Kahlua.
Exception: Dirty Martini, off course!

Multiple: A drink with Frangelico poured on top
Example: “A Multiple Black Russian” means the drink prepared as usual, but topped off with Frangelico Liqueur.

Against the Wall: A drink with Galliano poured on top
Example: “A Vodka and Soda Against the Wall” means the drink prepare as usual, but topped off with Galliano Liqueur.

How it all Started

Beer and Cocktails have always excited me. As I turned 21, I had a definite preference for cocktails over Beer. I guess, it had a lot to do with the excitement of shooters and their “cool” sounding names like Flaming Dr. Pepper, Sex with an Alligator, Red Headed Slut, Irish Car Bomb … and the list goes on. But as I grew older (and wiser) the excitement started subsiding. Like they say… “I graduated to Beer”. I Started trying new beers and liked the fact that a beer can have so many flavors and styles – from the lager to the light, to the ales and the stouts – and every one of these have their own distinct qualities. I got curious about the brewing process and the spark to brew my own got ignited when I took a tour of the Miller brewery in Milwaukee Wisconsin.

After discussing with a co-worker and an acquaintant who had brewed beer at home I realized it’s possible to do it at home. They told me about a local brewster who hooked me up with the entire kit and all the ingredients. I discussed this with my Roommate, Chintan, and he sounded excited about it. Chintan was so excited that he ended up joining a brew club at his work place. He started announcing our brewing plans on a large scale 🙂 and amongst those who heard him, was a common friend, Dhaval. DD (as we call him) was also enthuzed and showed up the first night with a camera. It was his idea to document everything with pictures. The three of us helped each other with the entire brewing process and their presence made it an even more enjoyable experience. I would not have been able to do it by myself and for that reason, I wanted to dedicate a post to them.

DD & Chintan: you guys are awesome and here’s one for you! Cheers!