Celebrate Labor Day With the Perfect Wine!

Labor Day is one week away and with it comes barbecues, pool parties, and other fun celebrations! A celebration isn't really a celebration without wine though, is it? So, make sure you know the perfect wine to bring or serve next weekend at your holiday party.

Most Labor Day celebrations include delicious foods on the grill. Chicken, burgers, and steaks are always better when cooked on the grill and they deserve to have the perfect companion.

Here are some amazing pairings:

Chicken, seafood, and veggies - pair with a Pinot Noir Rose which is flavorful and refreshing.

Steaks and burgers - pair with a Classic Cabernet Sauvignon.

Sausage - pair with a Riesling to compliment the intense flavors.

Another wonderful part of Labor Day weekend is swimming! If your celebration is poolside then a Sauvignon Blanc is a great choice. If you're a red wine drinker, you should go with a Pinot Nior while dipping your toes in the water.

Sparkling wines are also a great choice for poolside fun. They are refreshing, bright, and delicious. They pair well with fruit and cheese, or a simple sandwich.

AWineryReview.com

The History of Napa Valley

According to The Wine Cellar Insider, "The first vines were planted in California as far back as the late 1700′s." The wine produced from these grapes were intended for religious purposes, as they were planted by Father Junipero Serra and his missionaries. Not long afterwards, in the mid 1800s, the commercial start to the wine industry took place. Abraham Lincoln was president when a small group of European Immigrants initiated it!

In the 1850s, a man named Joseph Osborne planted vines on "Oak Knoll" which was an 1,800 acre tract of land. That land has since been split over and over throughout time and has created some of the best bench land vineyards in Napa Valley. However, in Northern California in the 1930s, George Calvert Yount planted vineyards on land that the Mexican Government had granted him (California was still part of Mexico since it had not yet been awarded statehood at this time). Yountville is named after him and many credit him with the birth of Napa Valley. Not long afterwards, Calistoga was founded by Samuel Brannan who planted over 100 acres of vines and called it Agua Caliete Ranch.

But the real credit for creating vineyards in Napa Valley goes to John Patchett who, in the 1950s received the first official review of his wine, which is the first official review of any California wine. The positive review was published in the “California Farmer Magazine," and was composed by Robert Parker. Since wine country was so young at this point, most used an old cider press since they didn't even have grape presses yet.

For a full history of Napa Valley, visit The Wine Cellar Insider's article "Complete Napa Valley California Wine History from Early 1800s to Today"

AWineryReview.com

Napa Valley Weddings

Napa Valley is a beautiful place for vacations. It has amazing views, an array of activities, and an abundance of wineries. These qualities make it the perfect location for the most important day of your life... Your wedding!

Your wedding day is one day you will remember forever so why not celebrate in one of the most beautiful places on earth? Napa Valley offers a setting with rolling vineyards that are sure to make the most amazing backdrops for your photos. You can then celebrate the wonderful day in a grand ballroom! Stay and enjoy a relaxing honeymoon after you say "I do!"

Wedding Venues

Charles Krug Winery

"Elegance meets history in the heart of Napa Valley. Your wedding will be simply breathtaking on our legendary estate, dating back to 1861. One of only five Napa wineries that can host weddings, our wedding package includes use of our historic Carriage House, with its renovated ballroom and dining room, soaring cathedral ceiling, stunning period chandeliers, and arched doorways overlooking our Great Lawn."

Villagio Inn & Spa

"For memories that last a lifetime, distinguish your perfect day and set the stage for the wedding event of your dreams at the Vintage Estate which includes both the Villagio Inn & Spa and the Vintage Inn, Northern California's preferred, Four Diamond luxury destination. From ceremony through reception and on into the evening, the lush gardens of the Inn and the adjacent Vintage Estate create a dramatic Wine Country-inspired backdrop for rehearsal dinners, ceremonies and wedding receptions of up to 1,000 guests."

Napa Valley Wine Train

"From simple elopements to vow renewals, the Napa Valley Wine Train is one of the most distinctive Wine Country wedding destinations available. Not only are we an incredibly unique venue, but we hold the customers experience as one of our highest priorities, understanding that this is a day that can never be repeated."

Churchhill Manor

"Churchill Manor's owners, Joanna and Brian, have been carrying on the inn's 90 year old tradition of hosting weddings and receptions. Since purchasing the inn 12 years ago, they have hosted over 700 events and take great pride in developing a reputation of exceptional excellence."

Markham Vineyards

"Our on-site event coordinator loves creating unique events for our guests and handling all of the details so that you can relax with friends and family. Choose from all-inclusive packaged themes such as dessert & wine pairings, lobster feasts, and wedding brunches or let us customize the rehearsal dinner of your dreams! Our corporate entertaining packages make your job easier by letting us do all of the work. Your friends & colleagues will be amazed with your party-planning skills! Our combination of indoor and outdoor event spaces can accommodate up to 250 guests – or choose one our smaller spaces for more intimate gatherings."

Wedding Planners

A Savvy Event

"Life is a series of stories. Some make us laugh. Some give us pause. And others, the truly special ones, deserve to be celebrated. At A Savvy Event, we live for those milestone moments. Whatever your story may be, a wedding, an anniversary, a corporate affair, or even a shoot that needs styling, our goal is always the same: to seamlessly execute (and beautifully style) a fabulous soirée."

Napa Valley Custom Events

"Your wedding is the most memorable day of your life. There are many details that go into it, beginning with the proposal to the first dance as man and wife. Napa Valley Custom Events offers services based on your needs. That may be full assistance or coordination the day of the wedding. Let the memories of detailing your special day also be joyful and stress-free."

Photographers

Kopol Bonick Art & Photography

"Kopol Bonick Photography offers professional photographic services for weddings, events, commercial assignments and portraits. We are located in the Napa Valley and photograph throughout wine country and the Bay Area. We also are available for destination weddings and national commercial opportunities."

L&D Photography, LLC

"We are Laura and Donna, proud owners of L&D Photography. Let us use our artistic talent and sound photography skills to tell your story. We would be honored to design a personal, customized photography experience to fit your personality and your needs."

Meg Russell Photography

"When you wake up on your wedding day, your only thoughts should be about celebrating your marriage with your friends, family, and love of your life."

For more information on weddings in Napa Valley click here

AWineryReview.com

How Long an Opened Bottle of Wine Stays Good

A very common question people have is "Does wine go bad?" but the answer is not as simple as the question. It is dependent on what kind of wine it is and how it is stored. Fortified wines have about a months lifespan once open, whereas table wines last only about 3-5 days. On a positive note, an old wine doesn't harm you, it just doesn't taste as good.

Why does wine go bad? In short, acetic acid bacteria starts to consume the wine's alcohol then metabolizes which causes a vinegar like smell. Also, the alcohol can oxidize, which takes away the wine's freshness and gives it a nutty taste. Both of these chemical reactions can be slowed down by keeping the wine at a lower temperature.

Sparkling wine, like soda, loses it's carbonation quiet fast once opened. A wine stopper will help, but only prolongs the quality of the wine for 1-3 days when in the fridge. Because they have more bubbles, traditional sparkling wines such as Champagne, will last a little longer.

Sweet white and rose wines will get about 5-7 days in the fridge with a cork. The longer it's opened the less vibrant the fruit flavor and character of the wine will be. If the white wine is full-bodied, like a Chardonnay, it's life drops to about 3-5 days because they tend to oxidize faster due to being exposed to more oxygen during the aging process before bottling.

If a red wine is higher in tannin and acidity, it tends to last longer after opening than a red wine that has little tannin like a Pinot Noir. Reds should be stored in a dark, cool location like a chiller once opened, but if that's not available to you the refrigerator is the next best place. Red wines will last about 3-5 days with a cork.

Port, Sherry, and Marsala, along with other fortified wines, will last about a month with a cork if kept in a cool, dark place. The addition of Brandy to these wines gives them a longer life. A good fact to keep in mind is the sweeter the dessert wine, the longer life it has.

If you like to keep a box of wine the fridge you can count on it's life to be about 2-3 weeks for either red or white. This is because the bag inside of the box is an airless environment which keeps the wine longer. However, make sure to check the expiration date on the box because there are regulations on foods that are stored in plastic.

AWineryReview.com