Wine Blog

Facts, News and Tips for a Better Wine Tasting.

Archive for January, 2010

EYE ON THE PIE: A heavenly suggestion for economic recovery – NWI.com
Mike Hooligan made a surprise trip last week to the gates of the eternal retirement community. He was met by St. Peter, who asked in a dialect easy on Mike’s ears, “Aren’t you here early, me lad?” “Sure’n it be true,” Mike said. “I be looking at the


More Mountain Spirits: The Continuing Chronicle of Moonshine Life and Corn Whiskey, Wines, Ciders & Beers in America’s Appalachians
Customer Review: A great book that represents an interesting aspect of U.S. history and culture.
This book, and it’s predecessor “Mountain Spirits” are really wonderful reads. They are an excellent and entertaining representation of a place and period of American history that I thoroughly enjoyed learning about.

Customer Review: Excellent combination of stories,folklore and great recipes
The very best of mountain foods with excellent bibliography

Italian Countryside & Grape D?cor

Submitted By: George Meszaros

The Italian Countryside is one of the most majestic places in the world. It is no wonder that so many try to bring a bit of Italy into their homes. Luckily Italian-Tuscan d?cor is very simple and inexpensive to achieve.
Tuscan d?cor revolves around favors, wine, food and nature, so decorating your home in this theme is very simple yet classic. Rich colors most often used in Italian D?cor to represent the rich culture of Italy. Often the colors used are ones that you would find in the Italian Countryside itself.

Earthy colors, such as golden pear, terracotta, olive greens, deep brown, rich reds and burgundy, Mediterranean blues and golden yellows. Fields of lavender are common in Italy, so touches of muted purple and the fragrance of lavender are wonderful additions to bring in.

When deciding on furniture pieces look for pieces that look antique and could have been past down through generations. Look for long wooden and detailed pieces, often hand painted with rich color or grape designs.
Now that you have laid the foundation for your Tuscan themed home with color and furniture you want to express your own creativity and individuality. The most popular materials used in Italian decorating include tapestry, tile, wrought iron, ceramic, marble and hard wood. Any pieces that incorporate one or more of these materials would act as a wonderful accent piece. As far as accessories go, look for accessories that incorporate the above materials as well as brass, copper and clay.

One of the best decorating spots in your home for your Tuscan d?cor is the kitchen. The Tuscan kitchen d?cor theme celebrates food, wine, family and friends. The Italian kitchen is meant to be cozy and inviting; so don?t be afraid to add your own personal touches. Woven baskets, traditional Italian foods, such as olive oil bottles or garlic bulbs are a wonderful way to add authenticity to your kitchen. Functional, yet decorative additions to your Italian kitchen could include canister sets, shakers, glass jars, decanters for oil and spice, metal containers, copper pots, bowls or plates and all wine accessories.

Grape accessories are extremely important to any Italian d?cor theme. Grapes are a beautiful and practical way to accessorize. They also, are rich in color, representing the rich culture of Italy. You can have grape d?cor that has a delicate vintage grape design or a grape that is vibrant with color. In addition, grape d?cor is a wonderful way to include history into your Italian Countryside d?cor. Grapes often represent and celebrate community roots, which is what the Italian theme is based upon.

In conclusion bringing the Italian Countryside theme into your home will enhance the ?view? in any room. With the correct usage of color, texture, and accessories you will feel the inherent charm and Tuscan style wherever you may be in your home. The pieces purchased to complete this d?cor with be treasured and be able to be passed down through generations, bringing in the warmth of the Italian Countryside for years to come.

About the Author:

Grape Home Decor

Article Tags: dcor, italian, rich


Carrot Decorated Cake Single Layer 8″ RoundTopped with Grape and Cherry Butterfly Lollipop Our single layer cakes are baked fresh with only the finest ingredents. They are great for a birthday surprise, and you can include your own special message on a gift card.

CWG Update – Times LIVE (blog)


Times LIVE (blog)
CWG Update
Times LIVE (blog)
While he does make wine in SA, he probably wouldn't attend sufficient Guild tastings, hence breaking the rules. But surely the thing about rules in wine is

How wine helps children: Festival, David Lawrence turn focus to kids’ mental … – Naples Daily News

How wine helps children: Festival, David Lawrence turn focus to kids' mental
Naples Daily News
“We need to build upon a treatment system for children and we want to make sure children get access to care more easily,” said David Schimmel,

and more »


Oz Clarke’s Pocket Wine Guide 2008 (Oz Clarke’s Pocket Wine Guides)

Oz Clarke’s now-classic pocket wine guide has been thoroughly and meticulously revised and updated for 2008, with much-anticipated lists of favorite wines, top values, producers and regions to watch, new vintage reports, and a country-by-country index.

Customer Review: Pocket guides: Clake vs. Jhonson
Since 2006 I have been buying the Jhonson’s guide, this year (2008) I tried Clarke’s since his book on Australian wines is superb. The guide turn to be a disapointment, I didnt find a couple of top Rioja (LAN) & California (Avalon)producers, it is layed out in a wierd order so it takes long to find the wine you look for. In the front cover it says that Wine Spectator rates it above Jhonson’s for easy of use, not true. I gave it away and bought my 3rd Jhonson’s guide.