If you've ever been to a Wine Tasting event, you may have noticed some odd behavior. People furiously swirling their wine goblets, sticking their noses deep into the glass, swishing the wine around in their mouths, possibly spitting out perfectly drinkable wine, and describing their impressions with terms that you may have never associated with wine such as "grassy", "leathery", "tight", "chewy", and "hints of tobacco". Maybe you've wondered whether the odd-looking Tasting behavior you observed was part of a pretentious ritual or actually served a useful purpose

There is a method to the madness. Wine tasting offers an opportunity to focus your senses on the wine. If you care to try it, there are a few simple steps that will help you evaluate the qualities of the wine you are drinking and perhaps gain new insights into your wine preferences.
1. Gently SWIRL the wine in your glass, allowing it to breathe and open up, which heightens the aroma, or "nose", of the wine.
2. Then, you should observe, SEE, the wine by tilting your glass backward. In reds, you look for clarity, particularly in Merlots, Syrahs, and Pinot Noirs, and a deep ruby to purple hue for Zinfandels and Cabernet Sauvignons. In whites, the color ranges from near-clear with a slight golden tinge all the way to deep amber. You can observe the body of the wine, is it light, opaque, or heavy, full-bodied.
3. Now it's time to SNIFF, ascertain the "nose", or aroma, of the wine which helps to determine its character. There is a wide array of scents in a wine. Some to look for in whites are fruit, floral, grass and earth scents. In reds you find aromas of berries, spices, cassis, earth and leather, to name a few.
4. Finally, it's time for the fun part! SIP the wine, drinking a small mouthful, perhaps swirling it slightly in the mouth to cover the taste buds.
5. Next, SAVOUR the wine which garners the overall impression%u2026do you like it? Perhaps tasting some of the flavors of the aromas you detected%u2026such as berry, fruit, and floral. And, does the flavor linger after swallowed? This is called the finish. A long finish lasts longer on the palate.
6. You may want to share your thoughts and impressions with your friends, SUMMARIZE, or even jot them down in a wine journal for tracking.

You may want to follow these steps, or you may just want to create your own unique wine tasting ritual. Whatever you do, just remember that the goal of wine tasting is to ENJOY the wine and the experience. Decide for yourself your likes and dislikes. The art of wine tasting is to introduce yourself to a wine and focus on its unique qualities without distraction. And, remember, there is no right and wrong. Everyone's impression of a wine is unique and personal. So Sip, Swirl, Sniff and ENJOY!!! You can also visit our corporate Web site at http://www.thegrapemerchant.com

Holiday gift giving always poses a special challenge to us during this most busy time of year. Whether it's for personal or business, it's always hard to decide what to give to those many people who we want to thank or acknowledge for their business and friendship throughout the year.

A wine gift will always be appreciated. Even if you are not sure of the person's taste or preferences, everyone entertains and likes to have extra supplies on hand to offer. A gift basket with treats like camembert cheese, lobster pate, caviar, and focaccia crisp crackers, or sweet desserts like macadamia nut cookies, rum cakes, and orange crème chocolates will be appreciated during the holidays for all those entertaining needs.

Another terrific gift idea is an on-going gift throughout the year. Anyone who you may want to remember throughout the year, whether a business colleague, client, friend or family member, can be sent a wonderful gift every month. A Wine-of-the-Month Club membership is a fun way to explore different wines each month whether someone is simply learning a little about wines, or even if they are a connoisseur, these packages can offer numerous ways to explore new wines. It's a convenient way to have wine sent to their door step every month and a good way to communicate with your gift recipient on an on-going basis.

Then there are those who prefer the keep it simple approach to gift giving from a simple bottle wrapped in a nice package, or gift box, to a special bottle of rum, tequila, or scotch, this can be the perfect way to give.

Whatever your gift needs are, the staff at The Grape Merchant is ready to help with ideas and suggestions to fit any occasion or budget. We can custom make your baskets to suit your budget, and to customize your gift packaging with your corporate logo or any other custom gift needs you have.

We wish to extend our very warm wishes for the Holiday Season!!!