YumSugar

Off to Market Recap: Wine Opener

partysugar — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 02:58:22 -0700

Last week when I was opening a bottle of wine, my corkscrew broke! It was a cheap wine opener, but nonetheless, I was disappointed. Before I can enjoy another bottle of wine, I'll need a way to pop the cork. So I asked you to help me find a new wine opener.

You looked for any type - simple, complex, or gadget-like - of corkscrew. You bookmarked your discoveries in the Yum Market on TeamSugar with the keyword tag, wine opener.

I've heard good things about the Rabbit Wine Opener ($50) bookmarked by Jspeed, and the price isn't bad for something so lovely. Check out the rest of the selections below.

Interested in bookmarking? Read GeekSugar's explanation of this feature to learn how to participate.

Off to Market: Wine Opener

partysugar — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 03:00:41 -0700

Last night when I was opening a bottle of wine, my corkscrew broke! It was a cheap wine opener, but nonetheless, I was disappointed. Before I can enjoy another bottle of wine, I have to get a new wine opener. Can you help me find one? Look for any type - simple, complex, or gadget-like - of functional corkscrew. Bookmark your discoveries in the Yum Market on TeamSugar with the keyword tag Wine Opener. Thanks for your assistance!

Interested in bookmarking? Read geeksugar's explanation of this feature to learn how to participate.

Find out where I like to shop online for food and entertaining accessories when you read more.

Bed Bath & Beyond
CB2
Cooking.com
Crate & Barrel
Ikea
Linens 'n Things
NapaStyle
Pier 1
Plum Party
Pottery Barn
Sur La Table
Target
Restoration Hardware
Williams-Sonoma
Wishing Fish
World Market

What Are You Waiting For? Open That Wine!

partysugar — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 13:27:31 -0800

Are you holding on to a certain bottle of wine? Perhaps it's a bottle that has a place in your heart, or maybe it's one you are saving for a special occasion. Well, it's time to quit waiting and start drinking. Open That Bottle Night - a celebration in which wine lovers all over the world uncork a cherished bottle and enjoy the contents - is Saturday, Feb. 23. Created in 2000 by two wine writers from the Wall Street Journal -Dorothy J. Gaiter and John Brecher - Open That Bottle Night gives wine drinkers a reason to finally drink that coveted bottle. The writers argue:

These dear bottles have a special way of retrieving warm and often-forgotten memories, but you have to pop the cork to release them. That's why we invented Open That Bottle Night. So very many of us have that special bottle - from a departed loved one, from a visit to a winery, from a vacation - that we're always going to open for just the right moment, but, of course, that moment never comes.

Until now! Mark your calendars and get your corkscrews ready. I will be popping a bottle of Moet Chandon that I've been saving since 2005. How about you? Will you open one of your most precious bottles?

Source

Five Enticing Appetizers to Pair With Wine

YumSugar — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 05:50:22 -0800

Tomorrow is Open That Bottle Night, and I hope you're busting out a bottle of really extraordinary wine and drinking it with people you love. Because you're opening a special bottle of vino, it only makes sense that you'd want to find the perfect bite to enjoy alongside your glass. Not sure what vittles to pair with your vintage? Here are five fabulous ideas.

View Slideshow ›

Off to Market: Corkscrew

partysugar — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 12:13:31 -0800

I am in desperate need of a new corkscrew. Every time I go to drink a bottle of wine, it's a battle to get the cork out! I live alone so, sometimes I struggle with the opener and the bottle for more than ten minutes. Can you help me by looking for a new corkscrew? Search for an opener that is efficient, reliable, and attractive. I would love one that works well on both regular and rubber corks. Bookmark your openers in the Yum Market on TeamSugar with the keyword tag Corkscrew. Your assistance will make my life a lot less stressful!

For more info on how to bookmark, check out geeksugar's guide.

Not sure where to start looking? Be inspired by some of my favorite online stores when you read more

Bed Bath & Beyond
CB2
Cooking.com
Crate & Barrel
Ikea
Linens and Things
NapaStyle
Pier 1
Plum Party
Pottery Barn
Sur La Table
Target
Restoration Hardware
Williams-Sonoma
Wishing Fish
World Market

This Saturday, Uncork That Cherished Wine

YumSugar — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 03:30:37 -0800

Chances are you've got at least one bottle you've been saving for a special day, but what if you don't know what that significant occasion will be? That's the idea behind Open That Bottle Night, a dedicated evening when wine aficionados proclaim there's no time like the present to open a meaningful bottle of wine.

2009's event takes place this Saturday, Feb. 28, marking the 10th anniversary of the celebration created by Wall Street Journal Tastings columnists Dorothy J. Gaiter and John Brecher. As the two wine writers have put it: "You should worry less about what is the perfect moment for the wine than what is the perfect moment for you."

I've been celebrating OTBN for years, because I couldn't agree more with the message. It's important to enjoy life in the present. Isn't it time to take a moment to relax, pull the cork, and enjoy life by the sip? I'm looking forward to opening a bottle of 2006 Bella Vineyards Late Harvest Zinfandel that I've been holding onto. It's not about the monetary worth of the wine, but rather its sentimental value: I have nostalgic thoughts about years past when I drink it.

This weekend, what wine do you look forward to opening and why?

After It's Opened: Wine Taste Test

partysugar — Wed, 28 Feb 2007 09:55:41 -0800

A few weeks ago I received a "Dear Party" from DearSugar! Apparently one of her readers, a certain Wino Wendy had written to her inquiring about the shelf life of an opened bottle of wine. Here's what I told her: first consider the type of wine. White wines you store in lower temperature (max of 13c.), whereas red ones you should keep in room temperature (max 18c.). However once opened, all wine begins to change. The oxygen in the air starts this process of change that can only be slowed down if the wine is chilled (it is advised to put even a bottle of opened red wine in the fridge). When you want to drink it, take it out about a half an hour before to allow the wine to come to room temperature. Red will stay drinkable for up to 3 days and white will for another day or so. Whichever wine it is, you need to make sure you seal the bottle tightly, leaving no air inside. There are special corks for it, which should be available at your local wine shop. How long they last will depend on who tastes them - the longer you keep a wine open, the stronger the alcoholic flavor. My best tip - once you've opened a bottle of wine - is to simply drink it all, that way you don't have to worry about leaving it open. To check out my at home science experiment, in which I sample one super old bottle of white wine compared to a just uncorked one, read more

When I last spent the weekend at the vacation house, I was making cassoulet in which white wine was one of the ingredients. I asked my dad to open the bottle of Sauvignon Blanc I had purchased and he pointed out that there were several bottles of opened white wine in the fridge. Now I had not been to the vacation house since November, and neither my mother nor father drink white wine. It could have been leftover from my sister, but the last time she was there was in January. My dad didn't believe that one could notice a serious difference between the tastes of an old and new bottle, so I set up an impromptu blind taste test. In the end, we all could taste a huge difference between the wines, my dad included. The old had a very stale, overly sweet flavor while the new was light and crisp.

Have you ever experimented with variously aged bottles of wine? Please share your stories below!

View 5 Photos ›

YumSugar Gift Guide: Wow the Wine Snobs

partysugar — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 10:13:38 -0800

Everyone knows someone who is totally wacko about wine. They refuse to drink two buck chuck and know the difference between Barossas and Barolos. Wondering what to get in-the-know winos for the holidays? Don't give them wine - it'll be too difficult to pick something out for them - but instead give them a wine tool or accessory.

Wine coasters make excellent stocking stuffers and will protect the snob's counter surfaces from Sangiovese stains. To really impress, indulge her with a professional wine essences kit. Learning the subtle aroma of each wine will elevate her snobbery to the next level!

Browse below for more ideas.

Wine Coaster ($4.99)	Epicurean Wine & Champagne Saver ($9.95)
Wine Spectator Magazine Subscription ($49.95)	Professional Wine Tool Kit ($69.95)
Alto Wine Table Crate and Barrel ($159.00)	Professional Wine Essences Kit - NapaStyle ( $198.00 )

All the News That's Fit to Eat - Mar. 4, 2009

YumSugar — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 12:50:43 -0800

With their meaty texture, mild brine and vivid hue, Castelvetranos have become this year's olive of choice. - San Francisco Chronicle
If you think organic food is safer, think again. - New York Times
Make an authentic Roman spaghetti alla carbonara at home. - Boston Globe
Kitchen twine is one tool no home cook should be without. - Los Angeles Times
Find out what the creators of Open That Bottle Night enjoyed on its 10th anniversary. - Wall Street Journal
5 unusual recipes that call for nine items or fewer. - Washington Post
Top Chef 4 winner Stephanie Izard has a weekly video podcast. - Chicago Tribune

Yummy Links: From Fall Desserts to Taco Bell's Cupcakes

partysugar — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 06:50:32 -0700

21 desserts that celebrate Fall. - Bon Appétit
Why are doctors selling out to Coke?- The Atlantic
Learn how to paint your kitchen. - The Amateur Gourmet
Scenes from the 2009 Los Angeles Chocolate Salon. - Daily Dish
Andrew Carmellini was crowned the Meatball King at the New York Wine and Food Festival. - Grub Street NY
Scary or practical? Coasters that detect if a drink is spiked with date-rape drugs. - Eat Me Daily
Ferran Adria is rumored to be opening a restaurant outside of Spain. - Eater
Taco Bell is currently testing cupcakes and smoothies.- OC Register