Nonalcoholic Alternatives To Red Wine In Beef Stew
So youre not keen on the taste of red wine, or cant drink it, but youre still craving that richer flavor in your stews. Not a problem. Theres no reason why you should accept bland, inferior stews you deserve better!
There are a few alternatives to red wine thatll have your stew tasting just as good as those with vino. Try out these nifty options:
What Are The Best Wines To Age
Wines with the best structure age the most gracefully. And since structure is usually imparted by tannins, which are in turn imparted by grape skins, stems, and seeds during maceration, those tend to be red wines. You can learn more about the fermentation of different wine varietals by picking up some of the best wine books available.
Here are some of the best wines to age , followed by a wine aging chart for easy reference. Keep in mind that each producer and vintage is different, and that the vast majority of wines bottles sold are meant to be enjoyed before theyâre five years old. But of those that arenât, here are some general guidelines to get the best aged wine you can. Never age cooking wine, it’s not worth the time investment as you’ll burn it off during cooking anyway.
Arpepe Rosso Di Valtellina 2017
This wine represents everything there is to love about Nebbiolo. It grips the palate with bright acidity so high, the cherry aromas carry from the nose to the palate. Though we typically associate Nebbiolo with regions like Barolo, Barbaresco, and Langhe, this selection was grown in the high altitudes of an Alpine valley in Lombardy in steep, rocky soils â which means it worked hard to be wonderful.
Rating: 93
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Tannins: What To Look For When Cooking Beef Stew With Red Wine
So what are these tannin things weve been mentioning?
Theyre responsible for that dry sensation that you get in your mouth when you drink red wine the higher the tannin content, the dryer it tastes.
But whats this got to do with beef stew? Well, tannins react with the fat in meat. They break it down, meaning that the flavor of the meat gets released and spread throughout your delicious stew. Oh, whats that? Even more tastiness? Well take it.
Gd Vajra Langhe Nebbiolo 2017
Piedmont is the home of the Nebbiolo grape, which famously stars in the fabled wines of Barolo and Barbaresco. For much more affordable expressions of the variety, and wines that are approachable in their youth , drinkers should look to the Langhe hills and bottles such as this from G.D. Vajra. This wine serves a fruit-forward expression of Nebbiolo, with concentrated sour cherry notes that are pleasurably disrupted by a vibrant acidity on the palate. The acidity stops the wines heavy fruit character from overwhelming the palate, while a rigid but approachable tannic structure holds everything together. The beauty of this wine is its youth, and for this price, you can afford to serve it on the midweek dinner table.
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Ridgecrest Estate Grner Veltliner 2019
The Willamette Valley is so much more than a Pinot Noir region, and this Grüner Veltliner is proof of that. It has a subtle depth and lovely acidity, with aromas of citrus and pear. It has a creamy mouthfeel and just the right grip on the palate. If you love Riesling, give this bottle a try.
Rating: 93
What Wine Pairs With Salmon
Since salmon can be prepared several ways, there is no single wine pairing that suits all meals. There are multiple types of white wine and red wine types that work well, and it depends on the other flavors in the meal.
To get the most out of your salmon pairing, itâs essential to understand the four components of any wineâs taste: mouthfeel, acidity, sweetness, and tannins. Letâs briefly cover each of these wine terms.
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Cook With Wine That You Are Willing To Drink With Friends
The number one rule when selecting the wine you will use to create the broth for your French onion soup is this: If you wouldn’t drink the wine, do not cook with it. This makes a lot of sense if you think about it. If a wine tastes good enough to imbibe with friends, then its flavors will taste good in your recipes .
With this rule in mind, there does seem to be some consensus among cooking experts with regards to the type of wine you use to make your French onion soup broth. Apparently, a dry white wine tends to work best. Café Delights suggests using any from an array of whites that include Pinot Grigio/Gris, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, or Chardonnay.
According to Love to Know, Pinot Grigio, which is generally described as a “full-bodied” wine, is the second bestselling wine in the world. So, if you are on the fence about what type of wine to choose , this seems like a safe bet. Just remember, don’t be afraid to experiment. You may find that you like the flavor a Semillon or even a dry Reisling adds to your French onion soup.
Understanding Wine Makes It Taste Better
Studies have shown that more complex descriptions of red and white wine actually make those wines taste better. Intuitively, this makes sense. If you have more vocabulary to describe what you’re imbibing, your brain is better able to discern subtler flavors.
So we’ve put together a beginner’s guide to different wine types that will break down the basics of what makes different wines, well, different, and the key descriptors you need to know to get the most out of whatever wine you’re drinking.
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A Dinner That’s Heavy On The Red Meat:
“Just for value, I’d go for a general red Bordeaux,” Selecman said. “The entry versions are going to be generally merlot-based with some cab blended in. So, you’ll get the savoriness and earthiness of a cab, with some of the merlot’s softness blended in.”
This will not only make the bottle less expensive than a straight-up cab, but it’s also more versatile — and crowd-pleasing for people with different preferences.
“And for an oddball choice that still works, I love sparkling rosé with red meat,” Selecman said. “Quite frankly, it can drink like a red and a white at the same time. And the bubbles cut through the fat in the same way tannins do. If you can’t do reds for allergy reasons, or if you prefer something chilled, sparkling cava rosé is awesome with red meat.”
E Guigal 2014 La Mouline Cote
E. Guigal 2014 La Mouline Cote-Rotie Courtesy of Guigal
In a mere three generations, the Guigal family has traveled from vineyard work to producing some of the most highly acclaimed wines from almost every district in the Rhone Valley. And while the familiar E. Guigal Cotes du Rhone label shouts value the world over, it is the familys tiny productions from post-stamp vineyards in the likes of Cote-Rotie, Saint-Joseph and Hermitage that prompt collectors to sleuth out bottles on the secondary market. La Mouline, in Cote-Rotie, is the oldest of the Guigals vineyards. In fact, its considered the oldest in the AOC itself, with walls dating back some 2,400 years. Replanted in the 1890s, after the scourge of phylloxera, the vineyards current vines average about 90 years old. The E. Guigal 2014 La Mouline shows what gorgeous balance vine age can produce. Its dark berry fruit is concentrated and layered with an earthy smoked-meat character, with delicate floral aromas, and theres a subtle silky quality to the winelikely the result of a full 11 percent Viognier cofermented with the Syrah.
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Long Meadow Ranch Farmstead Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
This is as âCalifornia Cabâ as it gets. Itâs balanced, with just the right level of acidity and focused fruit. Aromas of vanilla and oak are present but not overpowering. Note that you may have to buy this wine online, as itâs not yet widely available in stores. It is more than worth the wait.
Rating: 94
What Amount Of Red Wine Is Good For You
How much red wine a day is good for you and does too much reverse all its unique health benefits?
The recommended daily serving of red wine is four to five ounces. For a visual trick, a healthy red wine pour stops when it reaches the widest part of a glass, known as its bell. Likewise, a full bottle of red wine should last a solo drinker five nights to polish off a standard 750-milliliter bottle. Following these simple allotments will effortlessly keep you in that optimal five-ounce serving range.
Men and women have different servings to take into consideration, too. Since men have more of the metabolic enzymes that break down alcohol, a healthy moderate consumption can range from five to ten ounces accompanying a meal. For women, the healthiest wine serving remains four to five ounces.
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If You Want To Bring Something To A Housewarming Party:
“Pinot noir is comfortable. People know it. Most casual wine drinkers will have experience with the grape. They see it everywhere. But, it still has some clout. So, a pinot from Oregon could be a really solid choice here,” Selecman said. You can get a really reputable producer between $30 and $40. I don’t want to call this a total failsafe, because everyone’s different, but with this in mind, you’re going to get a really nice bottle of wine.”
The Best Red Wine For Making Beef Stew
Most wine experts seem to agree that a dry red wine is best when youre whipping up a beef stew.
Three main types of wine will serve you well. But which one you choose depends on the flavors you want to go in your stew. Some people like beef stew to have a fruity tang, while others despise it. Some people like a little bit of sweetness in there, whereas others like meaty goodness all the way through.
So what are these three red wines you want to look out for? Lets get the deets on our contenders!
Pinot noir
This likely originated in Burgundy in France. Its a dry red wine that tends to be lighter than a lot of other reds, with low tannins and a medium-high acidity, and has flavor notes of cherry, raspberry, cloves, and hibiscus.
That means that its fruity and slightly sweet, with a hint of spice. If thats how you enjoy your stew, this is the one for you!
Merlot
This is another French grape , and is super dry perfect for beef stew!
Its a lot bolder than a pinot noir, with medium tannins and moderate acidity, and it has flavors of cherry, plum, and chocolate in it, meaning that youll have a much stronger, robust flavor to add to your stew. But theres also a nice, smooth note of vanilla thatll make for some seriously moreish stew.
Cabernet sauvignon
This completes our French trio its the most popular wine in the world, and for good reason.
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Long Meadow Ranch Napa Valley Merlot 2014
Long Meadow Ranch farms 90 acres of organic vineyards in the heart of Napa Valley. Though better known for its Cabernet Sauvignon wines, the estates 2014 Merlot was the bottle that really grabbed our attention. From one of the warmest and driest vintages on record, this Merlot is big, bold, and balanced with acidity and tannins for long-term aging. At present, it has pronounced cherry tree aromas and hints of vanilla and plums that continue onto its silky palate. The definition of a fine wine, this bottle promises to get better still with age.
Familia Zuccardi Aluvional Paraje Altamira 2014
When you first inhale this wines aromas, for a brief millisecond it feels like youre about to taste the type of jammy, approachable Malbec that won over American palates in the early aughts. Then, from nowhere, complex notes of herbs, flinty minerals, and dried earth take center stage. From this point onward, its overwhelmingly apparent that this is an outstanding bottle and the future of fine wine in Argentina.
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Niner Wine Estates Cabernet Sauvignon 2016
A sprawling wine region on Californias Central Coast, Paso Robles highlights the softer side of Cabernet Sauvignon. This bright and juicy red has a velvety palate thats rich in black-fruit flavors. The varietys signature tannins are present but seamlessly integrated, while refreshing acidity keeps things lively.
Jermann Pinot Grigio Venezia Giulia Igt 2017
Seldom do we think of Pinot Grigio as a variety that can offer depth and character, but Jermann proves this is absolutely the case. From Friuli-Venezia Giulia in northeastern Italy, this wine is aromatic, elegant, and texturally intriguing. It starts with aromas of flowers and citrus fruit, before stone fruit and mineral notes emerge. The wine has a broad mouthfeel thats lifted by energetic acidity and textured by chalky minerality. While its more expensive than many wines made using this variety, this is absolutely not your average Pinot Grigio.
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The 50 Best Wines Of 2019
See the Best Wines of 2020 now!
Its been another wine-filled year at the VinePair HQ, and while the months passed by in a blur, 50 bottles stood out above the rest and etched a place in our memories. To help readers enter the new year with a list of wonderful experiences to discover with a glass in hand, were sharing our top 50 wines of 2019.
As in previous years, this annual ranking tells a story in 50 bottles. These labels are not only the wines we enjoyed the most over the past 12 months theyre what we consider to represent the most important trends in wine right now.
drop!
Leading the conversation is the class and quality offered by American Chardonnay. The days of anything but Chardonnay became a distant memory when we tasted the bottles of several domestic producers, who are highlighting the wonders and nuance of the worlds most popular white variety.
As the months went on, we became increasingly excited about Spanish wines, especially those from less explored regions, grapes, and producers. Our staff, panelists, and wine director agree Spain is currently offering some of the best value for money, and most exciting drinking experiences right now.
Its also been a year of triumphant comebacks from grapes that, but for the noble work of a few producers, could have become extinct. Italy more than any other nation proved notably nostalgic in this respect.
Here are VinePairs top 50 wines of 2019, tasted and ranked.
Cantina Tramin Kellerei Stoan 2017
This aromatic white wine contains a non-traditional mix of Chardonnay, Pinot Bianco, Sauvignon Blanc, and Gewürztraminer grapes. Each variety is individually fermented in large oak barrels before the wines are blended and left to age for several months in bottles. The end result is an impeccably balanced wine with intense fruity aromas and flavors, and a lasting, creamy finish.
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Chne Bleu Abelard 2012
From the Rhône Valley, this Grenache and Syrah blend starts savory, with a whiff of black pepper. Itâs a bit tannic, but the wine is drinking well now. Aromas of cooking herbs like rosemary and oregano, as well as brambly berries, give this wine an autumnal feel, making it an ideal pairing for a holiday meal.
Rating: 94
What Kinds Of Wine Should I Serve At My Wedding
by BrideBox Wedding Albums· April 14, 2015
Regardless of what kind of bar or alcohol service you want to provide at your wedding, wine is the number one type of alcohol that you must include due to sparkling wine and champagne being an integral part of the traditional toasts and celebrations. Many brides and grooms choose to offer at least two other kinds of wine on their wedding menus: one red and one white. How do you decide what kinds of wine to serve? How do you know how many bottles will be enough? Does it really matter how expensive each bottle of wine is? We answer these questions and more to help you figure out what kinds of wine you should serve at your wedding.
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Gruet Blanc De Noirs Nv
Made using the traditional method, where secondary fermentation takes place in-bottle, this majority-Pinot-Noir Blanc de Noirs spends a minimum of 24 months aging on lees. The result is a complex, layered sparkling wine, with notes of baked apples, vanilla, and toasted brioche on both the nose and palate. The wine retails for a barely believable $16, and can be found pretty much everywhere, making it a staple on our wine shelf.
Loveblock Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2019
Winemaker Kim Crawford left the eponymous Kim Crawford Wines behind to start this new venture, Loveblock, which specializes in organic and sustainably made wines. This Sauvignon Blanc is widely available and enjoyable, with aromas of freshly cut grass, notes of green bell pepper, and balanced acidity. This wine demonstrates the qualities that have made Marlborough famous for its Sauvignon Blanc.
Rating: 88
A crowd-pleasing Austrian Blaufränkisch, this wine has good acidity and medium depth. It is juicy yet spicy, and is best enjoyed chilled. At $16, this wine will please the palate without breaking the bank.
Rating: 89
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