Tag: Wine

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Adulting Wine

What Are the Benefits of Wine and Painting Parties?

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Art is one of the oldest types of human communication and is a popular way to unwind. Wine and painting parties offer a great chance to learn how to express yourself artistically while enjoying a glass or two of wine.

In addition to having fun at wine painting Denver parties, there also are the following benefits:

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Boosts Your Emotional Health

Many noted experts have talked about the many benefits of art therapy to help with stress, depression, and anxiety. Paining classes provide you a safe and non-judgemental place where you can put your energy into your artwork and release tensions. Many people also find that they can effectively express their emotions through painting, which is highly therapeutic.

Makes People Appreciate Art More

People who have wine and painting classes or parties can make enjoying art and its history a lot of fun. If you are at an event with a knowledgeable person, they may talk about the type of artwork they are doing, as well as the artists that inspire their work. You can be encouraged to take part in more art-related activities. This provides a lot of personal enrichment.

Increases Self-Confidence

Many people may feel self-conscious about their artistic ability and may feel they do not have the ability to create something memorable. Wine and painting disprove this idea by being for everyone and intended to be enjoyed by people with many levels of skill in art. You will feel a sense of self-confidence and pride as you finish your piece.

Improves Your Fine Motor Skills

Learning to hold and use a paintbrush properly helps to regulate wrist and hand movements. It also helps with the connection between your brain and muscles. This is helpful for older adults as well as people who have health problems that affect fine motor skills.

Helps Socialization

Painting as you enjoy wine helps you to relax and talk to other people at the event. Those who go to these parties or classes alone often find it a breeze to make new friends. Those who go with friends find doing wine and painting classes and parties as a way to improve their current friendships.

Improves Your Mood

Creating art has many benefits, including on your happiness. Painting has been shown to make people live happier lives. Those who get involved in art are more likely to feel good about themselves. Also, think about the sense of pride that will flow through you when you finish an artwork!

In our face-paced world where there never seems to be enough time to get everything done, it is helpful to have a fun activity that gives you the chance to finish something memorable.

Helps with Concentration and Healing

People who work on paintings tend to enter a purer space where, in a strong state of concentration, they can make time pass without being aware of it. Physical pain often fades; many say it is almost like entering another dimension without leaving the body.

This is a concentration state that is called Alpha. One part of your brain is conscious while the other part is bringing the unconscious out. There is a higher level of creating because energy is being put into what is created. It is possible to spend hours on a piece and not get tired. Drinking wine while you paint can make you even more creative.

There are many benefits to wine and painting parties and classes that millions of people have come to enjoy in the last few years. Give it a try and you will see just how fun and beneficial wine and painting can be!

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Adulting Guest Post How To Life Wine

Alternative Methods of Opening Wine Without a Corkscrew

how to open wine with a corkscrew, how to open wine if you don't have a corkscrew, wine without a corkscrew

You are so excited to attend your best friend’s party! You arrived early to help prepare and set up. However, while doing an inventory of needed party materials, you realized something: your friend doesn’t have a corkscrew! And the party will start soon! What should you do?

In times like these, creativity is your greatest asset. You must find a solution – not drinking the wine is not an option. We will tackle some methods of opening wine without a corkscrew to prepare for similar problems in the future.

Before we start, let us first review how a typical corkscrew works.

Steps in Opening a Wine Bottle Using a Corkscrew

Typically, opening wine only requires two materials: a bottle of wine and a corkscrew. The most popular type of corkscrew is called a waiter’s key. To open the wine, you need to:

  • First, remove the foil or the covering. Place the knife part of the corkscrew underneath the bottle’s lip. Turn the bottle to slice the foil and then remove the cover foil.
  • Push the corkscrew through the middle of the cork and turn clockwise. Stop when most of the corkscrew has penetrated the cork.
  • Pull the handle until half of the cork is out of the bottle.
  • Repeat if necessary.
  • Pull the cork until only a small part remains in the bottle.
  • Using your hand, pull the cork out.

The instructions above are quite easy to follow. But what if you don’t have a corkscrew? What can you do?

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Other Ways to Open a Wine Bottle

Opening wine without a corkscrew will require different materials. Take note of them in the list below:

  • Use a screw, screwdriver, and hammer
  • Get a long screw and using a screwdriver, screw it to the cork. Stop pushing when you only have around one inch of the screw visible. Pull out the cork using the claw (the backside) of the hammer. This method requires a little strength, so you better prepare.
  • Use a wooden spoon
  • You can use the handle of a spoon to push the cork until it goes inside the bottle. You’ll need to hold the bottle steady, as it can easily slip using this method.
  • Open it with a bike pump
  • Punch the needle through the cork until it reaches beyond the cork. Then pump air and watch the cork move out from the bottle.
  • Use a serrated knife or keys
  • Opening wine without a corkscrew is also possible if you have keys or a serrated knife. Push the knife or keys into the cork at an angle (around 45 degrees). Then move the item in a circular motion, slowly removing the cork. After a few rounds, the cork will come out.
  • Use a towel and the wall
  • Wrap the bottom of the bottle with a towel and then hit it repeatedly against a wall. Use just enough strength to move the cork but be careful with the glass bottle. Continue until the cork slides out of the bottle, and you can pull it free. Practice caution when using this method. You don’t want to break the bottle, so make sure you form an adequate cushion with the towel before hitting the wall.
  • Use a shoe
  • If you’re afraid of using the wall, you can use a shoe to slap the wine’s bottom. However, before doing this, you must wrap the wine bottle with a towel and then place it upside down between your legs. Continue slapping until you notice the cork sliding out of the bottle.

Now, you know some techniques used to open wine bottles without a corkscrew. If ever you find yourself missing a corkscrew, then you can utilize one of the above techniques.

This guest post was written by Bill Marcia at Stags’ Leap Winery.

You can follow Stags’ Leap Winery on social media at:
https://twitter.com/stagsleapwines https://www.facebook.com/stagsleapwinery https://www.instagram.com/stagsleapwinery/ https://www.youtube.com/user/StagsLeapWinery

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Wine Wine Wednesday

Wine Wednesday: Beach Cottage Red

It’s my favorite day of the week… WINE WEDNESDAY!!!

So the wine I am reviewing for this Wine Wednesday is seriously my new favorite. I’m not even exaggerating, I want a case of it.

Beach Cottage Red is made and sold at 12 Corners in Michigan. The winemaking is done in Benton Harbor but there are 12 Corners tasting rooms in several places in Michigan, including South Haven (read about my visit here). I usually only write about wine that you can buy at a grocery store but if you are dying to try it (and you should be!), 12 Corners ships! The cost of this wine is only $12.99 which is AMAZING for the quality.

Beach Cottage Red is a semi-sweet red table wine and will remind you of being at a… BEACH COTTAGE. 😉 For real, though. It is so refreshing, goes down smooth, and the nose is one that you can only get on the Lake Michigan shore. You really don’t want to miss out on this wine!

Wine Wednesday - 12 Corners Winery

This wine is very fruity, which is my favorite kind of wine, and it is full bodied. It was hard to tell what exactly I was tasting because the flavors mix together so well, but I’m pretty certain I got a nice taste (and smell) of a Concord grape. This is the kind of wine that I can thoroughly enjoy and drink anytime.

Have you tried wine from 12 Corners? If not, would you ever order wine online and have it shipped to you? Let me know in the comments!

 

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Wine Wine Wednesday

Wine Wednesday

I am SO excited about this one!!

I recently wrote a guest post for Elle Goes Global called Wines of the World and in the post I talked about wine from France, Argentina, South Africa, and the United States. Well, the wine I’m writing about today is from Mendoza, Argentina, where the best Argentinan wine comes from.

This Alamos Malbec is amazing. I’ll just start there. I may have accidentally drunk the whole bottle. I take that back, Chris’ brother drank a little, too. 😉

It can be purchased for around $10 at grocery stores. This mama doesn’t have time to go anywhere special to buy her wine. 😉

The first thing I noticed was the dark, intense red color of the wine. The next thing I noticed was that this Malbec is VERY aromatic. I could smell cherry, peppers, and a little blackberry.

The taste was very cherry forward with hints of cocoa, and a soft spice on the finish. That is honestly all I could come up with when I was drinking it because the cherry is VERY powerful.

I think it would pair really well with barbequed foods.

Overall, it was a well balanced, medium-bodied wine with strong tannins. I’d rate it a 4.5 out 5, so for the price, it is a MUST TRY.

Have you tried this wine or a different Malbec before? What did you think? Let me know in the comments! 🙂

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Guest Post Wine

Wines of the World

I wrote a guest post about wines of the world for Elle’s blog Elle Goes Global.

Wines of the World
When you are drinking wine at the end of a long day, do you ever think about where it was made? I do! Every single time, I want to know where the wine came from. Every country is different and that means their wine is going to be different, as well.

If you love wine as much as I do and plan on traveling anytime in the future, wine tasting will be on your itinerary no matter where you plan on traveling to. Wine is produced all over the world and every country has unique wine. The differing climates have a huge impact on how the wine will taste, offering a wide range when it comes to the taste and the smell of wine.

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To read the rest of the post and learn about wines from South Africa, France, Argentina, and the United States check out the post Wines of The World on Elle’s blog! It was so much fun to write so be sure to check it out!

winesoftheworld

 

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Wine Wednesday

Wine Wednesday

Heeellloo everyone! It’s Wine Wednesday, my favorite day of the week!!

Today I am going to talk about Fetzer Gewürztraminer, which you can pick up for about $8 a bottle at your local grocery store. The regular price where I shop is $10 but it goes on sale often so I never pay full price. I like yummy, inexpensive wine that I can buy at the same time as my groceries because I rarely have time to go anywhere special just for wine and I’m on a budget. You know, mom life and all that.

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So – this wine is one of my favorites. I usually feature wines that I haven’t tried before on here but I realized I had never done this one and it is definitely worth talking about.

Fetzer Gewürztraminer is made in California and has won several awards. For its price range, I would rate this wine a 5 out of 5 stars. If I were to compare it to other, more expensive wines, I would rate it a 4 out of 5.

There is definitely honey, peach, and apricot on the nose. Just the smell makes my mouth water. It is so good.

After taking a sip, you’ll notice the peach, apricot, and even a little tangerine. I also notice a few spices in this Gewürztraminer… clove and cinnamon I believe. It’s refreshing and goes down nice and smooth, with a subtle peach aftertaste.

This wine is labeled as a medium sweet wine. It kind of has an off-dry palate. I think that (since everyone’s palate is different) it just depends on who is tasting it. For some, more of the sweetness is going to come forward and for others, it’s going to seem a little dry. When I taste it, I think it’s a little sweet. Not too sweet, it’s kind of just right for me.

If you like a Riesling, you’ll probably like this one. It is also similar to Traminnette, both containing the same grape.

I drank this wine while sitting on the deck watching my littles play in their inflatable pool at my in-law’s house. I didn’t pair it with anything, but if I did pair it with something it would definitely be something a little spicy. Or maybe fruit. Those two options are completely different but I think it would be good with either one.

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Wine Wednesday

Wine Wednesday

I love Wine Wednesday. Gives me an actual *reason* to indulge in wine, know what I mean? 😉

This week I’m going to talk about Flipside, which is a dry red blend.

The cherry in this blend is very overwhelming, both when smelling and tasting. I also smelled hints of cocoa and pepper. Again, the taste has an overwhelming dark cherry flavor and I also noticed flavors of pepper and vanilla.

The tastes did blend together very well, but I would definitely pair it with a bolder food, probably something spicy. My husband (who thinks everything tastes like Mad Dog 20/20) actually said it’s not too bad!! I didn’t mind it but it wasn’t one of my favorites. I’d give it a 3 out of 5.

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Wine Wednesday

Wine Wednesday

Hey guys! I’m going to start doing a bi-weekly wine review on Wednesdays. I love wine and I love to talk about wine, so why not post about it here? I’m so excited for this! Please feel free to recommend your favorite wine so I can try it! I’m open to any kind – sweet or dry, red or white!

I’ll focus on inexpensive wines because every mom knows on a night when you just reaaallly need wine, you’re going to head to your local store to pick some up, probably not looking to spend a fortune, and head back home. I do love vineyards and wineries, I actually used to work at one, but that’s typically a special treat for myself.

I’m also not going to get into all the wine technical terms. I know most of us just want to know how it tastes and feels and smells, but if you want to get a little more in depth, I’d love to talk about the body and the tannins and any other aspect you’re interested in! Just leave me a comment and I’d love to chat about it!

So for the first Wine Wednesday, I am going to tell you about Richebois 2014 Red Blend.

This one came from Sam’s Club for only $11 and it is one of the best inexpensive red blends I’ve tried. I’ve had it a couple of times and it always hits the spot.

It’s refreshing and the smell reminds me of the beach. I’m not kidding. When I take a sip, I always envision an ocean or a lake, sitting with my toes in the sand.

It went down smooth and the fruit blend was well balanced, making it the perfect wine for sipping. It paired well with dinner but was perfect for sipping afterward. It isn’t too sweet and isn’t too dry so for me, that middle area is the best.

Drop a comment below and tell me if you’ve had it or if you decide to try it!! Also, drop a comment if you want to tell me your favorite wine or talk about this wine a little more.