BeyondWonderful.com: Barbara Adams, Beyond Wonderful Baking, Cheese, Produce, and Wine Culinary Experts


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	Italian and Spanish sparklers often provide the most refreshing, least expensive alternative to traditional choices. Columns to Savor Michael De Loach Sweet Relief, Another Wine Myth Bites the Dust, and The Basic Types of wine Shoppers Reading Wine Labels, The Real Meaning of "Sideways", Picnic Essentials for Harvest The Truth about Sulfites and Headaches, The Mystery of the Disappearing Sommelier, and Wine Cocktails Proliferation of Brands, Picking for a Party, Pink Prejudice, and Follow your Bliss The Home Wine Tasting Myth, and Why Most Wine Rating Systems are Basically Worthless Wine Tasting Season Survival, Standards, Darlings and Trendy Wines, and A Quick Planning Guide to Visiting the Wine Country

Wine Expert
Michael De Loach

Champagne and Sparkling Wine:
Stuck in an
Expensive Rut?

Well, well. Once again we find ourselves in that time of year when we’re all supposed to drink “bubbly.” Of course the very notion of a bubbly “season” is puritanical nonsense; there’s no reason we can’t enjoy this delightful beverage all year round. But first, let me clue you in: if you’re buying wine with bubbles, you’re probably doing it all wrong.

	The REAL Reason Americans Have Switched to Wine: Starbucks It’s borne out by the statistics and by many recent polls: wine has become America’s mealtime beverage of choice, finally beating out beer and coffee after years of languishing in the, er, cellar. Now this doesn’t mean that we drink more wine than beer by volume. It means that we prefer it as a choice with meals, and spend more money on it. It also means that wine as a category is growing while beer is declining in sales. Who gets the credit (or blame) for this trend? Starbucks Coffee.

Direct from
Santa “Clos”:
The Annual Holiday Wine Gift Hot List

Does someone you know (perhaps even you?) decorate a grapevine with lights this time of year? If so, here are my recommendations for everything from stocking stuffers to big items that will make the Wine Geek in you life really push his or her cork.

The biggest mistake people make is trying to buy an actual bottle of wine for this person. They mosey into a retail wine store and inform the shopkeep how much they want to spend—and then both people simply guess at a gift. Do not take this approach. We can do better.

Read about Michael DeLoach



	MISTIQUE OR MISTAKE? Avoid fancy brands and get a more exclusive, less expensive, and even tastier Champagne in the end.



	OPINION LEADER: Starbucks guided hurried, harried Americans to a more relaxed European outlook on beverage consumption.



	MOVE OVER "SIDEWAYS": The controversial documentary that created tremors in the wine industry at all levels.



	FULL-BODIED READING: One of the most entertaining books covering an historic cultural shift; this one centers on wine.

Barbara Adams Beyond Wonderful features large recipe collections of full-proof quick and easy recipes, classic family favorites, global cuisine, and party ideas. Get illustrated cooking tips and techniques,cooking for beginners, food features, and expert advice on baking, cheese, produce, and wine.

Barbara Adams, Recipe Collections, Quick and Easy Recipes, Party Ideas, Global Cuisine, How To
Cooking Tips and Techniques.