Tips from Andre: Fruit Wines and Fruit Winemaking ?Part 1 of 2
Once again we have advent of the summer season in Western New York and Ontario and while some home winemakers limit their endeavors to the grape, others, including myself, anxiously await the arrival of the fresh fruit. Once dismissed out of hand by some as inferior and often quaintly referred to as "country" wines, fruit wines are enjoying a surge in popularity never seen before, embraced by amateur and professional vintners alike.
And why shouldn't they? Our region has the good fortune to possess a burgeoning agribusiness in fruit other than grapes and, as many fruit farmers have discovered (as indicated by the surge in farm winery licenses), wine returns a much more appealing margin than fruit alone. For those who are still on the fence about the virtues of fruit wine, may I suggest that you take a day to tour some of the local wine trails and try them.
For me, a family outing to the local fruit farms, especially a "U-Pick," was always gleefully anticipated as a summertime ritual. The delicious baked goods and the jellies and jams made from the fruit could be enjoyed into the cold winter months. That is, of course, if they lasted that long.
We still make and love all these things, but taking the extra time and expense to produce wine from the strawberries, cherries, raspberries, blueberries, peaches, and other fruits adds another dimension that will challenge and hone your skills.
This is because, unlike grapes (especially those varieties which one may regularly vint year after year), fruits, berries, and other feedstock used to make these wines have less predictable characteristics in their pH, acid, and sugar. Therefore, careful testing and attention to making the proper adjustments is important to producing a good fruit wine.
There is an abundance of websites that have good basic fruit wine recipes, and even recipes to make wine from vegetables and herbs. Simply plug ?fruit wine recipes' into a search engine.
Now for another reason why home winemakers should have a second look at fruit wines. Today, people are more health-conscious than ever. Almost every day for the past decade, starting with "The French Paradox," we've been bombarded with one clinical study after another that touts the health benefits of drinking red wine in moderation.
Well, surprise! The same health-promoting compounds found in Pinot Noir are found abundantly in fruits and berries.
The polyphenol pigments that impart color to the fruit are known collectively as anthocyanins, a family of powerful antioxidants. The compound found in Pinot Noir called resveratrol is produced in greater amounts in this varietal as an antifungal because the skin of the grape is thin and susceptible to splitting. Resveratrol has been studied for its ability to block cell inflammation and oxidative stress related to arthritis and other degenerative diseases, as well as cancer treatment and prevention. *
Blackberries, mulberries, and especially blueberries are rich in powerful antioxidants like resveratrol. Blueberries also contain phytosterol and pterostilbene, which have recently been shown to be useful in lowering bad (LDL) cholesterol, preventing heart disease, and protecting the body against certain cancers.
None of these beneficial compounds are lost in the winemaking process, so why not raise a glass of fruit wine and drink to your health?
*Joseph, J.A., Shukitt-Hale B., Denisova, N.A.
Bielinski D., Martin, A., McEwen, J.J., and Bickford, P.C. "Reversal of Age-Related Declines in the Neuronal Signal Transduction, Cognitive, and Motor Behavioral Deficits with Blueberry, Spinach, or Strawberry Dietary Supplementation," Journal of Neuroscience, September 15, 1999, Vol. 19, No. 18. pp.
8114-8121.]
Winemaking Tips from Ande Pazik of www.bubbleflo.com
E-mail Contact: dkceo@bubbleflo.com
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Ho-Ho-Holiday Gift Baskets
With Christmas gift baskets, there is no need to brave the mall at the last minute. They are sure to stand out under the tree, and to be a unique and memorable gift. When we think of gift giving, Christmas is probably the holiday that comes to mind first for most people. Thanks to the Internet, it.s possible to do most (or even all) your shopping online. Not only can you shop in your pajamas from the comfort of your living room, but you don.t need to brave the weather or try to find a parking spot within walking distance of a mall.Christmas gift baskets come in a variety of sizes and shapes and with a variety of contents.
Often, instead of a regular basket, Christmas baskets are in the shape of a sleigh, a stocking, a Christmas tree, or other seasonal icons. Some have themes such as .The Twelve Days of Christmas,. and contain twelve varieties of chocolates or coffees. Others have seasonal contents like gingerbread or peppermint candies.In addition to a variety of contents, Christmas...
Ho-Ho-Holiday Gift Baskets
Fruit baskets > Ho-Ho-Holiday Gift Baskets
Where to Buy Wholesale Picnic Baskets
Perhaps you are a vendor who would like to begin offering picnic baskets at your deli, grocery store, hardware store, gift shop, or other retail outlet. You might be wondering where you can get wholesale picnic baskets.
Or perhaps you are a person who absolutely adores giving picnic baskets as thank-you gifts, anniversary or graduation presents, and for just about every other occasion. You can save money by buying many baskets at once.
No matter your reason for wanting to buy a number of picnic baskets all at once, you can find a manufacturer, outlet, distributor, retailer, third party, or someone else who will be willing to sell you more than one basket. For your massive business, they will reward you by giving you discounts up to 50-percent or even more -- sometimes 60- or 70-percent off!
Whether you are looking to buy wicker or rattan picnic baskets, open baskets or closeable baskets, baskets with dinnerware or baskets with food or baskets...
Fruit baskets > Where to Buy Wholesale Picnic Baskets
A Look at Edible Fruit Baskets
By their very nature, all fruit baskets, especially the original ones, qualify as edible fruit baskets. After all, when a fruit basket was filled with nothing but fruit, by definition everything in them was edible and therefore qualified as an edible fruit basket. But with today's more competitive marketplace, fruit baskets have grown to include much more than food items. In an attempt to differentiate them from fruit baskets that contain non-food items, the term edible fruit baskets was born ? again nobody knows exactly where, or when, or who first used it ? to signify a fruit basket containing only items that could only be eaten. Nothing drinkable; no wines, no organic juices were included, nor were any jams or jellies or spreads.
Essentially, edible fruit baskets don't contain anything that should be left over after a short-lived, sumptuous feast of its contents.
Some people get confused by the term "edible fruit basket." They think that the basket itself is...
Fruit baskets > A Look at Edible Fruit Baskets