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Wine by Vending Machine

admin — Sun, 08 Aug 2010 14:46:59 +0000

Pennsylvania shoppers just got lucky. They can buy wine through vending machines. Some connoisseurs may shun something like this, but if they are selling good quality wine, then the convenience can’t be beat.

Pennsylvania is one of nine state governments involved in retail alcohol sales, and this is one way to allow the sale of wine in grocery stores.The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PLCB) is testing these wine vending machines. An ID is required, and you even have to submit to a breath test by blowing into a tube at the machine before it will dispense the wine.

Pennsylvania is the first state in the nation to try out these wine kiosks. Go Pennsylvania!

All transactions are captured on a surveillance camera, and monitored by state employees who approve the sales remotely.

The wine vending machines hold more than 700 bottles at one time. They were introduced in grocery stores in Harrisburg and Mechanicsburg, and if successful, there are plans to add approximately 98 additional kiosks statewide.

“These kiosks fill a void and serve consumers at the supermarket without having to go to another store,” said Patrick Stapleton, chairman of the PLCB.

Let’s hope this experiment goes well. Wine lovers need more options to purchase wine without a hassle. Anything that moves toward removing complications around the sale of the wine is a good thing.

Cheers!

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Fabulous Wine Gifts for Food and Wine Lovers

admin — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 00:22:59 +0000

If you’re a wine lover looking for great gifts, Wine.com has an assortment of gifts that are perfect as a thank you gift, for birthdays, anniversaries, or any special occasion. This week they are highlighting some fantastic gifts for the food and wine lover! Viva Italia! One of their best selling gift sets, this wine gift basket combines six Italian bottles of wine, representing the best of the wine growing regions and varieties of Italy, plus the Saveur Cooks Authentic Italian—a 320-page book filled with over 120 Italian recipes from one of the most respected food lover magazines, Saveur.

Viva Italia! – Wine Collection Gift

Spanish Paella & Wine Gift Set

Next is the Spanish Paella and Wine Gift Set which gives a perfect taste of Spain with a bottle of Campo Viejo Rioja Reserva and just about everything they need to create delicious paella tapas. From the steel paella pan to the beautiful tapas plates, surprise them with the wonderful flavors of Spain.

Spanish Paella & Wine Gift Set – Wine Collection Gift

Avec Eric Perfect Pairings Wine Club And here’s a special treat from the Avec Eric Perfect Pairing Wine Club. Celebrity chef of NYC’s famed Le Bernardin Restaurant and Top Chef Guest Judge, Eric Ripert explores the intrinsic relationship between food and wine. With world renowned sommelier Aldo Sohm selecting the two premium wines each month, members will enjoy Eric’s recipes exactly how they were meant to be served-from the comfort of home.

Avec Eric Perfect Pairings Wine Club

These are just two great selections from Wine.com. They are going all out with their wine gift baskets designs. You can’t get these kinds of wine gifts at your local wine and spirits store, that’s why I love to buy wine online. The Spanish Paella set is especially fabulous. They are also offering extra discounts when you use the promotional code MARCHCLUB10 at check out. Start looking now, because these offerings are only offered for a limited time. The sale prices will not go past March. Cheers!

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On Line Wine Sale

admin — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 00:24:59 +0000

For those of you who are real wine lovers, it’s time to stock up. Wine.Com is running a “1 cent shipping” sale on all orders over $99. You can’t beat a shipping sale. In some cases you save more on low-cost shipping deals than on the actual sale of the wine itself. 1 cent shipping is a great incentive to stock up.

There’s not a lot time left on this sale. The offer ends on Friday 2/19. Make sure to use the code “1CENT99” in your shopping cart at checkout in order to take advantage of this promotion.

Enjoy 1 cent shipping on $99 or more. Enter code 1CENT99 in your shopping cart at checkout. Hurry, offer ends 2.19.10.

You can also save an additional 15% when you buy 12 or more on select bottles. This promotion runs from 2/22/10 – 2/26/10.

When companies promote sales like this, you should treat yourself to their list of “Wines for the Connoisseur.” Why not get a bottle of Caymus 2007 Special Selection Cabernet Sauvignon Red Wine? For those who know, this is a very special Cabernet Sauvignon. It’s time to give yourself a treat.

If you would prefer a very special bottle of bubbly, why not go for a bottle of Dom Perignon 2000. When was the last time you brought yourself or someone else a bottle of Dom? It’s time to go for it and save.

With the one cent sale, why not go for this “By Appointment Only Wine Collection Gift.” This is great for gift giving, but even better to keep for yourself to share when you host your next wine gathering.

You’ll find many more deals than just the specials listed here, when you browse the Wine.Com site. February is a sale month for wine, so don’t miss out.

Cheers!

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Fine Wine 1 Cent Shipping

admin — Sat, 09 May 2009 01:37:59 +0000

1 Cent shipping is the most recent promotion for Wine.com. Shipping can have a lot to do with your motivation to buy wine. 1 cent shipping can increase your motivation a great deal, and they obviously realize that. The current 1 cent shipping promotion applies to several great wine selections.

Silver Oak 2004 Napa Valley

Caymus Vineyards 2004 Nappa Valley Caberet Savingnon

Cloudy Bay 2008 Sauvignon Blanc

Dockhorn 2006 Napa Merlot

This promotion also includes a selection of their fine wine collectibles and boutique finds, but it will expire on Friday, May 15, so take advantage of it now. You must use the following code to receive 1 cent shipping –

Cheers!

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Host a Wine Tasting

admin — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 02:46:59 +0000

Gather your friends for a wine tasting. Unofficial wine tastings use to be very popular. Is the decrease due to the economy? Probably, but it is time to pop your corks again. Have everyone bring a bottle of wine, make it a red night or a white wine night, and keep the bottles covered so you are not influenced by label or price. It’s a good way to come across new and exciting tastes that you may have once over looked.

Cheers!

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It’s a Very Good Time to Buy Wine

admin — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 01:50:59 +0000

If you have some extra cash, then you may want to start shopping for investment grade wines, and browsing your favorites from the top-of-line producers.

The wine market is going the way of the Dow Jones Industrial Average right now. Things are tough in the world of wine, and the more expensive the wine, the tougher it is. Champagne sales have already dropped by 25% in September, and according to some retailers, holiday sales are expect to be half of last year.

In short, it’s a buyer’s market in real estate and in wine. With heavy discounting going on across the board, it’s a very good time to buy wine. Apart from the sales, the cost of most imports has fallen considerably from the average highs of just 6 months ago. Direct imports are discounted in some areas as much as 30%.

So if you are a wine lover, now is the time to scoop up the top Burgundies, Bordeaux, Barolos, and Cabernets. If you had your eye on a bottle of your favorite wine that was once out of your reach, it’s time to go for it. You may not get this kind of opportunity again anytime soon.

Cheers!

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What type of wine is most popular with wine lovers lately?

admin — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 02:05:59 +0000

Just, in general. I need a gift and I’m stumped! Merlot? Chardonnay? Help!
Depends on where you are from; In Italy Chianti is king as Rioja is in Spain and Malbec in Argentina. Here in the States I would think Pinot Noir, Cabernet and Merlot are the most popular reds. Those who prefer dry whites will be drinking Chardonnay and those who like the sweeter whites, white Zinfandel is tops with Riesling a close second. If buying as a gift and you are not sure of the recipients preference then buy something you like and believe is a great wine.

Cheers!

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Cheap Wine to Vintage Taste?

admin — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 01:56:59 +0000

“New Invention is said to transforms cheap wine into vintage wine.”

It’s called the Quantum Wine Ager. I’m thrown by the word “Quantum,” but ok. This device claims to artificially age wine by years in just a matter of minutes. It also claims to improve the taste wine and purify the alcohol content. It has just been released for sale in the UK.

The Ultrasonic Wine Ager was invented by Casey Jones. It’s a bucket-shaped device that uses ultrasonic rays to recreate the effects of decades of aging in just 30 minutes. The ultrasonic waves are said to agitate the alcohol molecules in the wine to transform a cheap bottle of wine into a vintage-tasting wine.

“It works on any alcohol that tastes better aged, even a bottle of paint-stripper whisky can taste like an 8-year-aged single malt. The look and bouquet of the drink is improved and because of the chemical changes, the alcohol is easier to absorb by the kidneys and therefore, hangovers are virtually eliminated,” says Jones.

Nothing is added to your drink, and your bottle remains unopened while using the machine. The device is so new that it’s offered on a Web site that showcases inventions. So you could be the first in your circle of wine lovers to give this new invention a try.

Cheers!

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Want to Bottle Your Own Wine?

admin — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 02:32:59 +0000

You don’t need to have the knowledge, the equipment or even the winery. And no, it’s not done in your kitchen. Well, how is it done? Entrepreneurs and full-fledged businesses are using Custom Crush Facilities, and they are popping up across the West Coast. Custom Crush Facilities handle everything from crushing, to bottling, to producing the finished product. They are not new to the world of wine, but what is new is these facilities are branching out and bringing the production process all under one roof while offering these services to clientele interested in producing their own label.

Custom crushing, or custom processing means many different things. It can range from simple juicing to complete “grape-to-grave” service packages. The facility ferments, masters and then bottles your wine.

Custom Crush Wineries come in all shapes and sizes. There are large, custom-only facilities in California’s major wine making regions; Napa Wine Company,Oakville, Sonoma Wine Company,Graton,

Monterey Wine Company,King City, and Central Coast Wine Services,Paso Robles, and Santa Maria. All of these wineries almost exclusively process for others. There are also traditional branded wineries that make their own labels, but also allow custom clients access to their cellars. Castoro Cellars in Paso Robles, and Laird Family Estate in Napa both process, store and bottle for others.

And if you are interested in more than just your own personal label, another custom processing option offers clients a greater level of hands-on control through shared premise arrangements. While sharing space and equipment with an established winery or grower, a small company or even just a group of friends can literally rent the privilege of making their own wine in someone else’s facility.

Entrepreneurs are using this opening into the wine industry, and are coming up with some truly “custom” contracts. So much so that some Custom Crush Facilities are offering clients “custom” services like adjusting the alcohol content, or filtering out unwanted sulfides. The facilities provide these extra services to let interested parties understand that the idea is not a cookie-cutter operation, and one size does not fit all. You can literally tailor your agreement with a winery to fit you needs, desires and taste.

Given the high price of fuel, the demand for new grape-to-bottle custom crush facilities will probably continue to increase in grape-growing regions. So if you’re a wine lover with a little cash, bottling your own wine is literally in reach.

Custom Crush Facilities

August Cellars Newberg, OR 503-554-6766 www.augustcellars.com
Castoro Winery San Miguel, CA 805-467-2002 www.castorocellars.com
Central Coast Wine Services Santa Maria, CA 805-928-9210 www.centralcoastwineservices.com
Courtside Cellars San Miguel, CA 805-782-0300 www.courtsidecellars.com
Golden State Vintners Soledad, CA 707-254-4900 na
Laird Family Estate Napa, CA 877-297-4902 www.lairdfamilyestate.com
Lange Twins Woodbridge, CA 209-339-4055 www.langetwins.com
McManis Faily Vineyards Ripon, CA 209-599-1186 www.mcmanisfamilyvineyards.com
Milano Winery Hopland, CA 707-744-1396 www.milanowinery.com
Monterey Wine Company King City, CA 831-386-1100 www.montereywinecompany.com
Napa Wine Company Oakville, CA 800-848-9630 www.napawineco.com
Paso Robles Wine Services Paso Robles, CA 805-226-7458 www.pasorobleswineservices.com
Premium Wine Group Mattituck, NY 631-298-1900 www.customcrush.com
Sonoma Wine Company Graton, CA 707-829-6104 www.sonoma-wineco.com
Scheid Vineyards Greenfield, CA 707-688-3628 www.scheidvineyards.com
Wente Livermore, CA 925-456-2300 www.wentevineyards.com

Cheers!

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Amazon Will Market Wine

admin — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 02:34:59 +0000

Amazon.com Inc. plans to start selling wine from Napa Valley and other U.S. regions on its Web site later this year. The Seattle Company will begin selling wine in the beginning of October from about 26 states.

Amazon already offers wine reviews and wine accessories, but has been working on selling wine through its Web site for quite some time. Communications Director of Napa Valley Vintners, Terry Hall said, “The world’s largest online retailer is saying that wine is important — that’s very exciting for American consumers.”

Amazon, which started as an online bookseller in July 1995, is trying to become a one-stop online shop of all sorts of products. However, distribution could be complicated by regulations governing the shipment of wine. The regulations are very restrictive and vary from state-to-state.

Once Amazon cuts through the regulations limiting state to state distribution of alcoholic beverages, this could open up a new world of choice and convenience for wine lovers across the country. Stayed tuned, getting your favorite wines just got easier.

Cheers!

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