ChateauOnline is the leading European online wine merchant. We offer more than 5000 outstanding wines, champagnes, all rigorously selected by our Head Sommelier, Jean-Michel Deluc and his wine tasting committee. Only 1 product in 10 makes it into the ChateauOnline selection. ChateauOnline has also recently launched its range of more than 100 of the finest spirits including whiskies, rums, vodkas, cognacs and much more. You will also find exclusive gift ideas: mixed cases, wine subscriptions, gift vouchers and gourmet hampers.Placing an order at ChateauOnline couldn’t be simpler: we guarantee 100% secure online payment, delivery to 9 different European countries, and above all complete satisfaction or your money back! With wines ranging from just £4.95 to our selected Grand Crus at as much as £2000, there is something to suit every budget. ChateauOnline has direct links with properties and domains in some of the largest wine producing regions, guaranteeing a selection of the highest quality wines at the best possible prices.
Our Philosophy
Our tasting Committee is very difficult to please: they try to shre their values, based on independent choice, respect for customers and their knowledge of the terroirs and innovation.
The taste testingOne can't just sell ones favourites. It is therefore important to all the products which we are going to offer on the site, with severity, objectivity, audacity, adventuressness, responsibility and above all independence.We search for wines in vineyards across the world, and we receive many samples from wine growers who are keen to appear on our site All can be rejected when subjected to the Tasting Committee.The variety on ChateauOnline is vast, with a variety of different wine growers and styles of wine. Some of our choices are intentionally provocative becuase we feel they deserve our attention.Others are very classic and are essential to our range.But they all have one thing in common: quality, both in the nature of the products and the respect to their terroirs, appellations, grapes and all reflect hard work. The same rigouress testing is used for all the spirits that we sell.
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Red or white
Why Red?
Why White?
When should I drink a white wine?
It's important to appreciate wine at the right time of the day and especially with the right food. Last week we talked about pinot noir and cab merlot and great foods that go with them. This week I'd like to talk about New Zealand's greatest wine-planted varietals: Chardonnay.History Chardonnay comes from the burgundy variety in France. But we know it was drunk thousands of years ago by the Romans, who discovered the grape in Croatia and then brought it to France.
Chardonnay is the second most-planted grape varietals in the world. The reason for this is that it goes so well with food.
Chardonnay has been traditionally always been aged in oak, which gives it a very distinctive flavour of wood, toast and vanilla.
New Zealand have actually taken chardonnay a step forward and adapted different areas of New Zealand and the result being a huge, different variety of chardonnays and the New Zealand palate has become a lot more sophisticated.
Great thing about New Zealand chardonnay is that it is price accessible for everyone. You can buy a bottle for $9 or $90 and it is still and they are equally as good depending on your palate, which is what makes chardonnay a good choice.
What you should also know is that chardonnay should not be served ice cold but frosty to the touch so you can taste a little more of the flavours that you're meant to.
What to choose New Zealand is famous for making chardonnays in Hawke's Bay, Gisborne, Marlborough and boutique-wise in Martinborough, Otago, and Kumeu.
Food and wine matching
Great thing about chardonnay - it goes with everything. But what is important to note is that a young chardonnay's texture will match a lighter dish such as lightly pan-fried fish or seasoned shellfish.
A creamier oakier chardonnay will cut through a heavier, more full-on sauce.
Friday, July 25, 2008
Wine Collecting For Beginners
Collecting wine can be a very fun and exciting hobby - especially when you try to find the wine. If you are looking to collect wine, you may end up spending a bit more money than you thought. Wine collecting is a great hobby, although it can be very expensive. If you are just starting out, the tips below may come in very handy to help you get started.
The first thing to do, is find a place to store your wine. You can store your wine at home, although you’ll need to have a location with the proper amount of space and cooling temperature (between 50 and 65 degrees F). You’ll also need to determine what brands and types of wine you are planning to collect. There are several options to choose from, including red and white wine. You’ll also need to find some places with good quality and refinery to buy your wine from.
You can always participate in tastings and trade shows as well. Here, you can meet other people who are into wine collecting, and get to know local traders. You should also strive to learn as much as you can about wine. You can learn a lot about wine on the Internet, or by reading magazines and newsletters dedicated to wine. By doing so, you can also learn more about storage, buying wine, and even cooling your wine.
To better prepare your wine for storage, you can try tasting different varieties. This way, you can identify which wines you need to age more. You’ll learn more about wine this way as well, such as how to distinguish tastes. You may also want to learn how to identify the flavor quality as well. As you may already know, there is a difference among rare vintage wines and wines that are instantly processed.
If you are just beginning to collect wine, you should avoid purchasing in bulk until you know for sure what types of wine you wish to collect. When you visit a wine trader, you should let him know that you are a collector. This way, he can inform you whether or not the wines you are collecting are available in his inventory. If you hope to collect wines from other areas, he may be able to give you contact information for finding the wines you are interested in.
Keep in mind that wine collecting isn’t all about fun - it’s also a great way to eventually start your own business. You can attend wine shows and tasting events to learn more about the different brands, and also find wines that will bring in higher profits. Once you have collected some rare bottles of wine - you can start selling and watch your profits soar.
The first thing to do, is find a place to store your wine. You can store your wine at home, although you’ll need to have a location with the proper amount of space and cooling temperature (between 50 and 65 degrees F). You’ll also need to determine what brands and types of wine you are planning to collect. There are several options to choose from, including red and white wine. You’ll also need to find some places with good quality and refinery to buy your wine from.
You can always participate in tastings and trade shows as well. Here, you can meet other people who are into wine collecting, and get to know local traders. You should also strive to learn as much as you can about wine. You can learn a lot about wine on the Internet, or by reading magazines and newsletters dedicated to wine. By doing so, you can also learn more about storage, buying wine, and even cooling your wine.
To better prepare your wine for storage, you can try tasting different varieties. This way, you can identify which wines you need to age more. You’ll learn more about wine this way as well, such as how to distinguish tastes. You may also want to learn how to identify the flavor quality as well. As you may already know, there is a difference among rare vintage wines and wines that are instantly processed.
If you are just beginning to collect wine, you should avoid purchasing in bulk until you know for sure what types of wine you wish to collect. When you visit a wine trader, you should let him know that you are a collector. This way, he can inform you whether or not the wines you are collecting are available in his inventory. If you hope to collect wines from other areas, he may be able to give you contact information for finding the wines you are interested in.
Keep in mind that wine collecting isn’t all about fun - it’s also a great way to eventually start your own business. You can attend wine shows and tasting events to learn more about the different brands, and also find wines that will bring in higher profits. Once you have collected some rare bottles of wine - you can start selling and watch your profits soar.
Monday, July 21, 2008
An Introduction To Chardonnay
Chardonnay grape is the most popular type of white wine, its found all over the world. Depending on where it was made and what processing methods were used the taste aroma and flavour will vary. Chardonnay has a variety of different styles and flavours, and remains a major type of grape. As a result of its popularity, this fine wine spread throughout Europe and other locations of the world such as California and Australia.
As Chardonnay was discovered by more and more wine makers, the fine wine began to grow quite well in South Africa and other areas as well. With it being a non-aroma type wine, oak seems to work very well with it. American and French Chardonnay are the richest and most complex that is also among the most preferred white wines. Even though it does suffer from fatigue, the flavour and richness of this wine will keep it loved by many for years to come.
Chardonnay originated from the Burgundy and Champagne area of France. Although white Burgundy is a popular wine that is prepared with a lesser-known grape called Aligote, the fact remains that white Burgundy can’t be made without the use of Chardonnay grape. Just goes to show, that Chardonnay grapes has more than a few uses.
In appearance, Chardonnay grapes are green in colour with thin skins. The grape is a result of the Pinot and Croatian Blanc grape, which are extinct to this day. Chardonnay on the other hand is still popular, fermented and aged using oak barrels that help to bring out the vanilla flavour the wine is well known for. It can also be aged and fermented using bottles, although it won’t age quite as much as red wine.
Almost all Chardonnay wines are considered to be chilled, making them work extremely well with dishes that contain cheeses and butter. The wines also have less acid content, which makes them work well with seafood as well. There are a lot of foods that you can pair with Chardonnay, which is what makes it so popular. A lot of fine Italian and seafood restaurants serve it as well.
The Chardonnay grape can also be used in making Champagne and other types of sparkling wines. Although Chardonnay wine is the most popular used, there are several other uses for the grape that lead to some truly fine wines. Oak is often times used with the wine as well, which provides it with some great flavours as it ages. Although it can be a bit on the expensive side, it still remains one of the most preferred types of wine. You can find it at any wine or alcohol store - making it a great addition to your wine or drink collection. paania paki
As Chardonnay was discovered by more and more wine makers, the fine wine began to grow quite well in South Africa and other areas as well. With it being a non-aroma type wine, oak seems to work very well with it. American and French Chardonnay are the richest and most complex that is also among the most preferred white wines. Even though it does suffer from fatigue, the flavour and richness of this wine will keep it loved by many for years to come.
Chardonnay originated from the Burgundy and Champagne area of France. Although white Burgundy is a popular wine that is prepared with a lesser-known grape called Aligote, the fact remains that white Burgundy can’t be made without the use of Chardonnay grape. Just goes to show, that Chardonnay grapes has more than a few uses.
In appearance, Chardonnay grapes are green in colour with thin skins. The grape is a result of the Pinot and Croatian Blanc grape, which are extinct to this day. Chardonnay on the other hand is still popular, fermented and aged using oak barrels that help to bring out the vanilla flavour the wine is well known for. It can also be aged and fermented using bottles, although it won’t age quite as much as red wine.
Almost all Chardonnay wines are considered to be chilled, making them work extremely well with dishes that contain cheeses and butter. The wines also have less acid content, which makes them work well with seafood as well. There are a lot of foods that you can pair with Chardonnay, which is what makes it so popular. A lot of fine Italian and seafood restaurants serve it as well.
The Chardonnay grape can also be used in making Champagne and other types of sparkling wines. Although Chardonnay wine is the most popular used, there are several other uses for the grape that lead to some truly fine wines. Oak is often times used with the wine as well, which provides it with some great flavours as it ages. Although it can be a bit on the expensive side, it still remains one of the most preferred types of wine. You can find it at any wine or alcohol store - making it a great addition to your wine or drink collection. paania paki
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Why You Should Use A Wine Rack
For wine to mature in the proper way, you’ll need to have the right humidity, the right temperature, light conditions, and movement. Whenever you are storing wine for any amount of time, you’ll need to ensure that the wine is in a safe place. Even though there are several ways you can store wine, none are safer or smarter than using a proper wine rack.
When you choose your wine rack, you should always remember to choose one that will store your wine properly. There are a several styles to choose from, including those that stack, wall mounts, and side mounts. You should also pay attention to size as well, as the sizes range from storing a few bottles to storing hundreds. You’ll also have a lot of varieties and designs to select from, all of which depend on your needs and your space.
Among the best types of wine racks are the horizontal racks. Contrary to what many may think, vertical racks aren’t a good choice for storing your wine. Wine that is stored on vertical racks are stored vertically, which means that the cork will dry out and eventually start to shrink, letting air into the wine and ruining it. On the other hand, vertical racks can come in handy when storing wine for short periods of time, or wine that is best consumed young.
Tilted racks are another type of rack you should avoid using, as they can dry out the corks or deposit the sediments too close to the cork. For your wine storing needs, you should always go with a horizontal rack. Horizontal racks will keep the cork moist, and keep unwanted air from making contact with the wine. The sediment will fall towards the side of the bottle, preventing spillage when you pop the cork. Horizontal racks are also very affordable and you can always add more racks to the design with little to no problem.
The materials for wine racks are normally wood or metal. You can hang them from ceilings, mount them on the wall, or simply place them on the floor. Metal racks are the strongest, although wood is more flexible. Wooden racks provide a bit more storage, for the simple fact that you can always add to them. Wood racks are also visually appealing, durable, and provide plenty of strength.
All in all, a wine rack is a fine investment for anyone who appreciates wine. There are various sizes to choose from, all of which are very affordable. The small to medium sizes work best for homes, while the large styles are best for commercial settings. No matter where you keep your wine - you can count on a wine rack to keep your wine stored for years to come.
paanai paki
When you choose your wine rack, you should always remember to choose one that will store your wine properly. There are a several styles to choose from, including those that stack, wall mounts, and side mounts. You should also pay attention to size as well, as the sizes range from storing a few bottles to storing hundreds. You’ll also have a lot of varieties and designs to select from, all of which depend on your needs and your space.
Among the best types of wine racks are the horizontal racks. Contrary to what many may think, vertical racks aren’t a good choice for storing your wine. Wine that is stored on vertical racks are stored vertically, which means that the cork will dry out and eventually start to shrink, letting air into the wine and ruining it. On the other hand, vertical racks can come in handy when storing wine for short periods of time, or wine that is best consumed young.
Tilted racks are another type of rack you should avoid using, as they can dry out the corks or deposit the sediments too close to the cork. For your wine storing needs, you should always go with a horizontal rack. Horizontal racks will keep the cork moist, and keep unwanted air from making contact with the wine. The sediment will fall towards the side of the bottle, preventing spillage when you pop the cork. Horizontal racks are also very affordable and you can always add more racks to the design with little to no problem.
The materials for wine racks are normally wood or metal. You can hang them from ceilings, mount them on the wall, or simply place them on the floor. Metal racks are the strongest, although wood is more flexible. Wooden racks provide a bit more storage, for the simple fact that you can always add to them. Wood racks are also visually appealing, durable, and provide plenty of strength.
All in all, a wine rack is a fine investment for anyone who appreciates wine. There are various sizes to choose from, all of which are very affordable. The small to medium sizes work best for homes, while the large styles are best for commercial settings. No matter where you keep your wine - you can count on a wine rack to keep your wine stored for years to come.
paanai paki
Friday, July 11, 2008
The Beauty Of Sparkling Wine
I love Sparkling wine and the way it’s tiny bubbles that race to the surface. Sparkling wine is one of the most exotic yet refreshing types of wine, providing memories and happiness once the cork is popped into the air. For many years, sparkling wine has proven to be among the most popular types of wine for celebrations and special occasions.
Sparkling wine is a complete mystery. When tasting the wine, friends and lovers choose to discuss the refreshing, nutty aroma. Even though this type of wine is very popular, it can be hard to describe the flavour. The taste and aroma can be right there, but it’s still something that is nearly impossible to find the words for.
When you first open a bottle of sparkling wine, the carbon dioxide aroma that instantly hits the air is an experience that you have to smell to believe. A true feast for all of your senses, sparkling wine can instantly put you at ease. Drinking this wine tantalises your taste buds, bringing several different flavours to rest on your tongue at the same time.
Although many don’t realize it, the crisp and delicate taste of this wine isn’t what made it what it is today. Similar to the shine and splendour of the finest diamonds, sparkling wine emits a truly elegant aura and romance that makes it easy to distinguish from other types of wine.
Dom Perignon, who was a monk in the Champagne region, who first discovered sparkling wine in France. He actually stumbled upon this fine wine while doing his duties as a cellar master in the Benedictine Abbey. Dom hid his discovery for many years, as the public didn’t really respond in the way that he had hoped.
At first Dom Perignon’s sparkling wine wasn’t that popular, it grew and became more popular over the years. Once people in France and people around the world caught wind of this amazing sparkling wine, they simply had to experience it for themselves. At this point, it didn’t take long for Dom Perignon to become a legend and one of the most important wine makers throughout the rich and cherished history of France.
The formula and techniques that Dom Perignon used to produce his sparkling wine eventually become known as the traditional way of making Champagne. The process is still used throughout the world today, producing some of the best sparkling wines. Even though sparkling wine is made in various locations, many agree that the best Champagne is from the region of France - which is where sparkling wine first began and was first introduced to the world.
These days, sparkling wine is an essential part of life, for celebrations and every occasion. Sparkling wine is simply a must have for these events. These days there are many manufacturers of the wine, although most prefer to have the original and still the best - Dom Perignon. No matter where the future of wine goes, sparkling wine will never die. It will always be the wine that sparks celebrations, and the wine that makes any event come to life. Puts the pop into any celebration. From it’s truly unique and breathtaking taste to it’s amazing look and splendid aroma - sparkling wine has the appeal and the flavour to keep people celebrating and living life for years and years to come.
paania paki
Sparkling wine is a complete mystery. When tasting the wine, friends and lovers choose to discuss the refreshing, nutty aroma. Even though this type of wine is very popular, it can be hard to describe the flavour. The taste and aroma can be right there, but it’s still something that is nearly impossible to find the words for.
When you first open a bottle of sparkling wine, the carbon dioxide aroma that instantly hits the air is an experience that you have to smell to believe. A true feast for all of your senses, sparkling wine can instantly put you at ease. Drinking this wine tantalises your taste buds, bringing several different flavours to rest on your tongue at the same time.
Although many don’t realize it, the crisp and delicate taste of this wine isn’t what made it what it is today. Similar to the shine and splendour of the finest diamonds, sparkling wine emits a truly elegant aura and romance that makes it easy to distinguish from other types of wine.
Dom Perignon, who was a monk in the Champagne region, who first discovered sparkling wine in France. He actually stumbled upon this fine wine while doing his duties as a cellar master in the Benedictine Abbey. Dom hid his discovery for many years, as the public didn’t really respond in the way that he had hoped.
At first Dom Perignon’s sparkling wine wasn’t that popular, it grew and became more popular over the years. Once people in France and people around the world caught wind of this amazing sparkling wine, they simply had to experience it for themselves. At this point, it didn’t take long for Dom Perignon to become a legend and one of the most important wine makers throughout the rich and cherished history of France.
The formula and techniques that Dom Perignon used to produce his sparkling wine eventually become known as the traditional way of making Champagne. The process is still used throughout the world today, producing some of the best sparkling wines. Even though sparkling wine is made in various locations, many agree that the best Champagne is from the region of France - which is where sparkling wine first began and was first introduced to the world.
These days, sparkling wine is an essential part of life, for celebrations and every occasion. Sparkling wine is simply a must have for these events. These days there are many manufacturers of the wine, although most prefer to have the original and still the best - Dom Perignon. No matter where the future of wine goes, sparkling wine will never die. It will always be the wine that sparks celebrations, and the wine that makes any event come to life. Puts the pop into any celebration. From it’s truly unique and breathtaking taste to it’s amazing look and splendid aroma - sparkling wine has the appeal and the flavour to keep people celebrating and living life for years and years to come.
paania paki
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
The Art Of Wine Tasting
Many people assume that wine tasting is sipping, swishing, and swallowing. You will be amazed to find that it’s actually a bit more than that. Wine tasting is an art that is used to distinguish the taste of fine wines. Wine can be tasty and refreshing if the bottle was stored correctly and aged properly.
Wine tasting begins with the swishing. The reason wine tasters swish the wine around in their mouths is to get the taste. The front and the back areas of the tongue contain taste buds, although neither one has any distinct sensation in taste. Your taste buds can detect food and liquid that is bitter, salty or sweet, without a problem. To get the proper taste from wine, the swishing allows your taste buds and sense of smell to bring out the unique, fine flavours in the wine.
When you have a cold however, the wine can taste very different. Your sense of smell has a major impact on the taste. What many fail to realize, is that over 75% of our taste is due to our sense of smell. When we have a cold, our sense of smell is affected. So when eating or tasting wine with a cold, the taste will appear different. Wine tasters all over the world will tell you that tasting wine is more about a sense of smell than the actual taste buds.
Wine tasting is indeed an art. Wine tasters follow some general guidelines and rules that judge how great a wine is. These techniques can help you bring the most out of your wine, providing you follow them to bring out the taste.
The first thing to do with wine is to look. You can tell quite a bit about wine by looking at it. Start by pouring the wine into a clear glass, then taking a few minutes to look at its colour. White wines aren’t white, but actually yellow, green, or brown. Red wines on the other hand are normally a pale red or dark brown colour. Red wine gets better with age, while white wine gets staler with age.
Next, is the smell of the wine, which you should do in two steps. Start with a brief smell to get a general idea of the wine, then take a deep, long smell. This deeper smell should allow you take in the flavour of the wine in. The more experienced wine tasters prefer to sit back a bit and think about the smell before they actually taste the wine.
Lastly, is to taste the wine. Take a sip, swish it around in your mouth, then swallow. Once you swish the wine around in your mouth, you’ll bring out the rich and bold flavours of the wine. After swallowing, you’ll be able to distinguish the after taste of the wine, and the overall flavour.
Once you have looked at the wine, smelt it, and tasted it, you’ll be able to evaluate the wine from a taster’s standpoint. This is the easiest way to determine the quality of the wine, and whether or not it has been properly stored and aged. As with all things in life the more you taste the better you will get at distinguishing the unique flavours.
paania paki
Wine tasting begins with the swishing. The reason wine tasters swish the wine around in their mouths is to get the taste. The front and the back areas of the tongue contain taste buds, although neither one has any distinct sensation in taste. Your taste buds can detect food and liquid that is bitter, salty or sweet, without a problem. To get the proper taste from wine, the swishing allows your taste buds and sense of smell to bring out the unique, fine flavours in the wine.
When you have a cold however, the wine can taste very different. Your sense of smell has a major impact on the taste. What many fail to realize, is that over 75% of our taste is due to our sense of smell. When we have a cold, our sense of smell is affected. So when eating or tasting wine with a cold, the taste will appear different. Wine tasters all over the world will tell you that tasting wine is more about a sense of smell than the actual taste buds.
Wine tasting is indeed an art. Wine tasters follow some general guidelines and rules that judge how great a wine is. These techniques can help you bring the most out of your wine, providing you follow them to bring out the taste.
The first thing to do with wine is to look. You can tell quite a bit about wine by looking at it. Start by pouring the wine into a clear glass, then taking a few minutes to look at its colour. White wines aren’t white, but actually yellow, green, or brown. Red wines on the other hand are normally a pale red or dark brown colour. Red wine gets better with age, while white wine gets staler with age.
Next, is the smell of the wine, which you should do in two steps. Start with a brief smell to get a general idea of the wine, then take a deep, long smell. This deeper smell should allow you take in the flavour of the wine in. The more experienced wine tasters prefer to sit back a bit and think about the smell before they actually taste the wine.
Lastly, is to taste the wine. Take a sip, swish it around in your mouth, then swallow. Once you swish the wine around in your mouth, you’ll bring out the rich and bold flavours of the wine. After swallowing, you’ll be able to distinguish the after taste of the wine, and the overall flavour.
Once you have looked at the wine, smelt it, and tasted it, you’ll be able to evaluate the wine from a taster’s standpoint. This is the easiest way to determine the quality of the wine, and whether or not it has been properly stored and aged. As with all things in life the more you taste the better you will get at distinguishing the unique flavours.
paania paki
Monday, July 7, 2008
Build Your Own Wine Cellar
This product presents a complete guide to setting up your own wine cellar and also comes with two other reports about solving the common problems with wine, and a list of all of the words you need to know to help you tell the difference between a 'magnu'm' and a 'Jeroboam'. Make you look like a pro, without having to look too far! If you are thinking of building a wine cellar website, it might be a great investment to have all of the information at your fingetrips so you can give the appearance of being an expert - without having to have a mega-comprehensive library.
At Last! All the information you need to BUILD A WINE CELLAR has been assembled into one book!
Inadequate storage methods, wide temperature fluctuations and low humidity from home air conditioning or heating can destroy your wine collection in a short time!
Imagine selecting a bottle of wine from your own cellar to accompany a special meal ... Imagine being able to purchase wine by the case when you visit a winery or spot a bargain, knowing that you can store it at the correct temperature until it is ready to drink ...
It is not difficult! This is a simple, straightforward guide that you can use right now to get started building your wine cellar.
At Last! All the information you need to BUILD A WINE CELLAR has been assembled into one book!
Inadequate storage methods, wide temperature fluctuations and low humidity from home air conditioning or heating can destroy your wine collection in a short time!
Imagine selecting a bottle of wine from your own cellar to accompany a special meal ... Imagine being able to purchase wine by the case when you visit a winery or spot a bargain, knowing that you can store it at the correct temperature until it is ready to drink ...
It is not difficult! This is a simple, straightforward guide that you can use right now to get started building your wine cellar.
paania paki
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