237565 369 Food & Drink Wine Choosing a Wine true Wed, 04 Nov 2009 12:03:30 -0800 /system/videos/3/35/74/25/257435.flv choosing,picking,champagne,bottle,best,bubbly,purchasing,buying,new,year's,eve How To Choose a Bottle Of Champagne http://www.howcast.com/videos/237565-How-To-Choose-a-Bottle-Of-Champagne http://www.howcast.com/videos/237565-How-To-Choose-a-Bottle-Of-Champagne/edit approved 132 640 360 <object width="425" height="273" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" id="howcastplayer"><param name="movie" value="http://www.howcast.com/flash/howcast_player.swf?file=237565"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.howcast.com/flash/howcast_player.swf?file=237565" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="273" allowFullScreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" ></embed></object> 3 Dynamic http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/237565/Dynamic_HT_Champagne_hdstill10_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.jpg 201 false false false 94435 0 14 Step http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/237565/14.jpg Know the definition of champagne Know the definition of champagne: only sparkling wines made in the Champagne region of France can be labeled champagne.

]]> 94436 1 21 Tip Less expensive alternatives include California sparkling wine, Spanish Cava, Italian prosecco, and Alsatian Cremant.

]]> 94437 2 31 Step http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/237565/31.jpg Set a budget Decide how much you want to spend. Non-vintage champagnes, a blend of grapes from several different years, are the least expensive. Vintage champagnes cost more because they’re made from grapes of the same year, and only in a year when the crop was exceptional. Prestige cuvees, the proprietary blend of a particular producer, are the priciest.

]]> 94438 3 51 Step http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/237565/51.jpg Check the label Check the label. Grand cru indicates the champagne is from a village noted for its superior vineyards. The label will also tell you whether the champagne is brut, meaning dry, or sec, which indicates a sweeter champagne. If there’s no year on the label, it’s a non-vintage champagne.

]]> 94439 4 67 Tip Look for champagnes labeled “RM” in very small letters, which indicates they were produced by the grape grower. It generally signals high quality at a lower price because it doesn’t come with the advertising costs of the big champagne houses, which are mostly labeled “NM.”

]]> 94440 5 83 Step http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/237565/83.jpg Don’t limit your champagne to the brut used for special-occasion toasts: Rose champagne makes a nice aperitif; blanc de blancs, made from chardonnay grapes, goes well with light foods, like seafood; blanc de noirs, made from red grapes, complements heartier fare; and demi-sec, which is sweet, can be served with dessert.

]]> 94441 6 103 Step http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/237565/103.jpg Store properly Store champagne in a cool, dark place where the temperature stays steady. Chill it to about 40 degrees in an ice bucket filled half with ice and half with water for 20 to 30 minutes, or by putting it in the refrigerator for a few hours. Cheers!

]]> 94442 7 118 Fact Dom Perignon was a 17th-century French monk so renowned for his champagne-making skills, legend has it he could tell exactly where a grape had been grown just by tasting it.

]]> 369 164487 How To Read a Wine Label HowcastGuide 1537 Sat, 09 May 2009 04:04:16 -0700 15 Dynamic ]]> 135 http://media.howcast.com/system/videos/1/87/44/16/164487.flv tasting, ordering, buying, trying, drink, drinking, alcohol, guide, restaurant, deciding Food & Drink Wine Choosing a Wine 2 http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/164487/Dynamic_HT_Read_A_Wine_Label_hdstill02_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.jpg http://www.howcast.com/videos/164487-How-To-Read-a-Wine-Label 369 180077 How To Order and Evaluate Wine HowcastGuide 1512 Thu, 07 May 2009 04:04:04 -0700 15 Dynamic ]]> 158 http://media.howcast.com/system/videos/2/77/00/18/180077.flv tasting, ordering, buying, trying, drink, drinking, alcohol, guide, restaurant, deciding Food & Drink Wine Choosing a Wine 0 http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/180077/Dynamic_HT_Order_And_Evaluate_Wine_hdstill04_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.jpg http://www.howcast.com/videos/180077-How-To-Order-and-Evaluate-Wine 368 92 How To Store an Unopened Bottle Of Wine HowcastGuide 935 Mon, 03 Dec 2007 22:20:20 -0800 7 jenfrank ]]> 92 http://media.howcast.com/system/videos/1/92/92.flv DIY, Instructional, tutorial, Do It Yourself, Tips, Essential Skills, Learn to, wine, alcohol, beverage, store, unopened, new, sealed, bottle Food & Drink Wine Wine - General 3 http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/92/Food.How_to_Store_an_Unopened_Bottle_of_Wine_SD_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.jpg http://www.howcast.com/videos/92-How-To-Store-an-Unopened-Bottle-Of-Wine 368 134 How To Decant a Bottle Of Wine HowcastGuide 1225 Mon, 03 Dec 2007 22:25:49 -0800 12 jenfrank ]]> 102 http://media.howcast.com/system/videos/1/34/01/134.flv DIY, Instructional, tutorial, Do It Yourself, Tips, Essential Skills, Learn to, wine, decant, pour, alcohol, beverage, container, remove, sediment, breathe Food & Drink Wine Wine - General 5 http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/134/Food.How_to_Decant_a_Bottle_of_Wine_SD_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.jpg http://www.howcast.com/videos/134-How-To-Decant-a-Bottle-Of-Wine 368 380 How To Pour a Bottle Of Wine HowcastGuide 1880 Mon, 10 Dec 2007 21:46:51 -0800 10 jenfrank ]]> 107 http://media.howcast.com/system/videos/2/80/03/380.flv DIY, Instructional, tutorial, Do It Yourself, Tips, Essential Skills, Learn to, wine, alcohol, beverage, pour, waiter, waitress, restaurant Food & Drink Wine Wine - General 1 http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/380/Food.How_to_Pour_a_Bottle_of_Wine_SD_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.jpg http://www.howcast.com/videos/380-How-To-Pour-a-Bottle-Of-Wine 368 398 How To Make Traditional Sangria HowcastGuide 2088 Mon, 10 Dec 2007 21:52:56 -0800 6 Tamara ]]> 123 http://media.howcast.com/system/videos/6/98/03/398.flv DIY, Instructional, tutorial, Do It Yourself, Tips, Essential Skills, Learn to, traditional, sangria, alcohol, liquor, mixed, drink, cocktail Food & Drink Wine Wine - General 1 http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/398/Food.How_to_Make_Traditional_Sangria_SD_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.jpg http://www.howcast.com/videos/398-How-To-Make-Traditional-Sangria 368 1913 How To Open a Bottle Of Wine HowcastGuide 2900 Fri, 22 Feb 2008 12:50:51 -0800 12 lodgerfilms ]]> 115 http://media.howcast.com/system/videos/2/13/19/1913.flv alcohol, beverage, cork, DIY, Do It Yourself, Essential Skills, Instructional, Learn to, open, remove, serve, take out, Tips, tutorial, uncork, wine Food & Drink Wine Wine - General 1 http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/1913/ppn_lodger_open_wine_bottle_sd_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.jpg http://www.howcast.com/videos/1913-How-To-Open-a-Bottle-Of-Wine 368 79046 How To Open a Bottle Of Champagne HowcastGuide 3072 Sun, 28 Dec 2008 06:03:48 -0800 13 chadkali ]]> 98 http://media.howcast.com/system/videos/2/46/90/07/79046.flv DIY, Instructional, tutorial, Do It Yourself, Tips, Essential Skills, Learn to, drink, drinking, beverage Food & Drink Wine Wine - General 5 http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/79046/open_champagne_hd_4_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.jpg http://www.howcast.com/videos/79046-How-To-Open-a-Bottle-Of-Champagne 368 160138 How To Use Leftover Wine HowcastGuide 1390 Thu, 12 Mar 2009 04:06:33 -0700 6 jlamont ]]> 119 http://media.howcast.com/system/videos/6/38/01/16/160138.flv drinking, storing, using, wine, left-over, extra, wasting, cooking, making Food & Drink Wine Wine - General 0 http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/160138/use_leftover_wine_640x360_nobug_h264_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.jpg http://www.howcast.com/videos/160138-How-To-Use-Leftover-Wine 370 236744 How Do You How-To With Gary Vaynerchuk: Taste Wine HowcastGuide 1600 Wed, 09 Sep 2009 07:03:19 -0700 1 Howcast ]]> 121 http://media.howcast.com/system/videos/0/57/55/23/235557.flv Food & Drink Wine Wine Guides 1 http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/236744/taste_wine_hd_1_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.jpg http://www.howcast.com/videos/236744-How-Do-You-HowTo-With-Gary-Vaynerchuk-Taste-Wine 370 236752 How Do You How-To With Gary Vaynerchuk: Store Wine HowcastGuide 419 Wed, 09 Sep 2009 07:03:19 -0700 2 Howcast ]]> 62 http://media.howcast.com/system/videos/0/64/55/23/235564.flv Food & Drink Wine Wine Guides 0 http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/236752/store_wine_hd_1_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.jpg http://www.howcast.com/videos/236752-How-Do-You-HowTo-With-Gary-Vaynerchuk-Store-Wine 370 236753 How Do You How-To With Gary Vaynerchuk: Open a Wine Bottle HowcastGuide 1234 Wed, 09 Sep 2009 07:03:19 -0700 6 Howcast ]]> 85 http://media.howcast.com/system/videos/1/65/55/23/235565.flv Food & Drink Wine Wine Guides 4 http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/236753/open_wine_bottle_hd_1_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.jpg http://www.howcast.com/videos/236753-How-Do-You-HowTo-With-Gary-Vaynerchuk-Open-a-Wine-Bottle 370 236766 How Do You How-To With Gary Vaynerchuk: Choose Wine As a Gift HowcastGuide 418 Wed, 09 Sep 2009 07:03:19 -0700 1 Howcast ]]> 52 http://media.howcast.com/system/videos/5/69/55/23/235569.flv Food & Drink Wine Wine Guides 0 http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/236766/choose_wine_as_a_gift_hd_1_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.jpg http://www.howcast.com/videos/236766-How-Do-You-HowTo-With-Gary-Vaynerchuk-Choose-Wine-As-a-Gift 370 236785 How Do You How-To With Gary Vaynerchuk: Find Good, Cheap Wine HowcastGuide 406 Wed, 09 Sep 2009 07:03:19 -0700 1 Howcast ]]> 73 http://media.howcast.com/system/videos/1/00/56/23/235600.flv Food & Drink Wine Wine Guides 0 http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/236785/find_good_cheap_wines_hd_1_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.jpg http://www.howcast.com/videos/236785-How-Do-You-HowTo-With-Gary-Vaynerchuk-Find-Good-Cheap-Wine 357 148706 How To Make Your Own Soda HowcastGuide 17681 Wed, 18 Feb 2009 04:47:06 -0800 14 Seaworthy ]]> 134 http://media.howcast.com/system/videos/5/06/87/14/148706.flv making, coke, pop, carbonated, pepsi, beverages, Coca-Cola, coca, cola, homemade Food & Drink Coffee, Tea and Other Drinks General Beverages 8 http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/148706/make_soda_hd2_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.jpg http://www.howcast.com/videos/148706-How-To-Make-Your-Own-Soda