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Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Cellar Temperature--Not Room Temp--Never the MicrowaveRed wines were always meant to be served at cool cellar temperature 55o
F., which is the average temp digitally displayed on wine vaults. It's a myth, a mistake,
that the public thought red wines should be room temperature.
Blame it on old wine books written long
before global warming and the availability of good reds in hot climate countries such as India. Because of our need to
save energy and reduce power costs, we've been forced to forsake air conditioning, and as a result room temps in
summer can be too hot to enjoy red wines.
And it isn't just old wine books either--I picked
up a "wine 101" book the other day that actually--oh, horrors!--recommended putting everyday red wines in the
microwave to bring them up to room temperature. Never, ever put wine in a microwave--for
the same reason putting wine in the freezer is a no, no--the bottle may explode.
Heat
makes red wines taste harsh by accentuating the alchohol. Many people think they don't like the taste of red wines
because they've been drinking them too warm. Trust me, try them slightly chilled. And read my other blog
about drinking red wines--in moderation--for your health.
Collectors know to keep their red wines in temperature
and humidity-controlled wine cellars--they last longer and are always at perfect serving temperature. Better wines are
also stored and shipped by importers and distributors in temperature-controlled warehouses, trucks and
containers. They can't afford to have the wines go bad from exposure to heat--or extremes of cold either.
If you want a daily 5 oz. glass of red wine with your evening meal for health benefits--even if you don't
have a wine cellar--you hereby have my permission to chill your reds! How? Five minutes in ice & water, or 30 minutes in the refrigerator. Easy.
I wouldn't permanently store my red wines in the fridge, but when you have wine left in the bottle, put a regular beverage
stopper in it (not the cork) and keep it refrigerated. Studies show this preserves wines longer.
Hot Climate--Cool Reds. That's our motto, and the reason our name is Cool Rouge. (Rouge is what the
French call red wine. I could have translated "cool" into the French word "frais", but that
would be too ooh, la, la.) I drink all the world's good red wines--and I encourage you to be adventurous and
do the same. Whether it's classic French, global Italian, Argentina Malbec--see my Recommendations on this
website--or new reds from India wineries if you live in India--drink your cool reds!)
Help us
spread the word by joining Cool Rouge and sponsoring or attending events in your area. A
Toast To Your Health, Wealth & Happiness! Many thanks, ALL
1:37 pm est
Fountain of Youth in Red WineCBS News--January 25, 2009--60 Minutes television program presented an update of the "French
Paradox" they first examined 17 years ago when researchers agreed there was something in red wine that offered protection
against heart disease even for the French who consumed a high fat diet.
Now scientists in Cambridge, MA acclaim
the substance in red wine called resveratrol might do more than just protect the heart, it could significantly
extend life by preventing a number of age-related illnesses--including possibly cancer and Alzheimers disease.
In the ultra-pure, very concentrated pill form of resveratrol they studied, this natural compound found in red wines
seems to switch on the survival genes, keeping internal organs young, and providing energy to exercise--even without low-calorie
dieting. Oh, those lucky lab mice!
The results of this resveratrol research--done by Dr. Christoph Westphal
and his partner Dr. Sinclair--was so valuable that GlaxoSmithKline just paid $750 million for the rights to it.
Meanwhile, we have the pleasure of sipping red wines in a real toast to our health!
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