How to Get Red Wine Out of Carpet

Spilling any one of our red wines on the carpet can be a frustrating experience. Fortunately, though, it’s not the end of the carpeting. Instead, learning how to get red wine out of carpet means knowing a few simple tips that will help save your flooring. 

How to Remove Red Wine Stains Immediately

There are a number of steps you can take the moment the red wine hits the carpet to help you deal with the stain. Initially, you’ll want to use a clean cloth or dry paper towels to blot the red wine spill up as much as possible. This step will help keep the stain from setting. Keep in mind that you should only be blotting at this point. You don’t want to scrub at it. If you do, you’ll simply rub the wine further into the fibers of the carpet. 

If you need to know how to get red wine out of carpet after blotting, there’s one secret to the job - start immediately! Carpet cleaning options come into play as soon as the liquid is removed from the stain. You can start by using an off-the-shelf carpet cleaner you already have in your home. You simply apply it directly to the stain, give it a couple of minutes to soak in, then blot with a clean towel. 

If you don’t have carpet cleaner, club soda may be able to help. You can use it the same way you might a traditional carpet cleaner. Once you’ve blotted the liquid out of the stain initially, you just pour some club soda on, wait a few moments, then begin to blot again. Repeat the process as needed until the stain is removed. 

Milk is another alternative. Milk is more basic than acidic, so it absorbs the stain itself. Blot the initial stain completely dry, then pour milk onto it. Let it sit for about a minute, then blot it up. Repeat until the stain is removed. 

Many people swear by the use of hydrogen peroxide and dish soap, but if you choose this method, be sure to test on a small, inconspicuous part of your carpet first. After you’ve blotted the initial stain, mix two parts hydrogen peroxide with one part dish soap. Apply it to the stain, then blot. Repeat until the stain is gone. 

After the Stain has Set

If you don’t notice the red wine stain until after a party is over, there are still options. Each of the previously listed methods - carpet cleaners, club soda, and milk - will also work with dried stains, though it may take longer to see results. Just remember that you should blot at the stain instead of scrub, as scrubbing pushes the stain further down. 

Knowing how to get red wine out of carpet is simple, but the task isn’t easy. It is possible, though! Keeping a few of these items on hand for your next party could be the key to stain removal.

Sep 6, 2022 at 8:55 AM Permalink

How Long Does Red Wine Last After Opening?

Just opened a delicious bottle of one of our wines? Even if it’s the best wine you’ve had, you still may not be able to finish the entire bottle with a single meal. Just how long does red wine last after opening? The answer depends on a number of different factors. 

The Higher the Tannin Level, the Longer It Lasts

Red wines tend to last far longer than white wines thanks to additional tannic acid. Tannin is a compound you might find in grape seeds, stems, and skins. It helps to stop oxygenation, which, in turn, helps to increase age-ability. Red wines like Cabernet Sauvignon have naturally high tannin levels. Pinot Noir has a lower tannin level. White wines have an incredibly low tannin level. Those varieties with a fairly high tannin level can last up to five days. Those with lower levels typically last about two days after you open them. 

How Long Does Red Wine Last After Opening If It’s Recorked Immediately?

Recorking your wine almost immediately is a good way to help it last as long as possible. You want to prevent the wine from being exposed to an excessive amount of air, and a bottle that has been opened and recorked almost immediately has quite a bit less air than a bottle that is left open for several hours. 

How Long Does Red Wine Last After Opening on the Counter?

Where you store an open bottle of red wine has a significant impact on how long it might last, too. Oxidation accelerates in the heat. The lower the temperature, the slower the rate of oxidation. As a result, storing your red wine bottle in the refrigerator after it’s been opened is a great way to make it last longer. If you’re worried about it getting too cold, just let it sit at room temperature for a few minutes before you drink it. 

Is My Wine Bad?

How do you tell if your bottle isn’t still as good as you thought it would be after storing it for a few days? There are a few signs that your bottle of red wine suddenly isn’t what it should be. If it’s murky, cloudy, and has a film, you shouldn’t drink it. You may also notice tiny bubbles around the edges. Those are the direct result of secondary fermentation. It may also smell sour, like vinegar maybe. While you likely won’t get ill from drinking red wine that has sat a little too long, it certainly won’t be a pleasant tasting experience. 

So, how long does red wine last? The bottom line is that it’s good until you see any of those problems arise. But, use your judgment and if anything tastes off to you, then ask someone else to try it, and if you’re in agreement, then it’s better to be on the safe side.

Sep 2, 2022 at 8:44 AM Permalink

What is the Most Refreshing Wine?

Most people look forward to the warmth of summer because it’s the perfect time to relax and spend time outside. It’s also the ideal time for an outdoor party complete with a refreshing wine choice. What is the most refreshing wine for those long hot days, though? 

Red or White? 

Both red and white wines are the perfect choice for summer. The key is to choose something light with mild to moderate acidity. Full-bodied options aren’t your best choice for the warmth of summer. So, if you’re wondering what is the most refreshing wine, then go with a glass of light red wine for the summer. Some of the choices include Grenache, Pinot Noir, and Barbera. These wines usually have less than 12.5% alcohol content. They have fewer tannins, are easy to drink, and pair well with a number of foods. Food pairings that go great with light red wines include cheese, beef, chocolate, pasta, pork, pizza, and all types of curries.

If you go with white wine, you’ll want to stick to something that contains somewhere around 12.5% alcohol or less. Great white wines that fit in this category include sweet Riesling. Pinot Grigio and Sauvignon Blanc. These light-bodied wines pair well with a wide range of foods including sushi, fish, Mexican, and seafood. Most unoaked wines make good summer beverages as they retain their fruity flavors and are very easy to pair with many foods.

If you are confused about whether to get a red or white wine for your summer, maybe try an ice wine or a bubbly. A great bubbly will provide the right chill for the summer heat. 

Some of our best wines for hot days include our 2018 Rainstorm Pinot Noir Rosé, 2018 Silver Totem Cabernet Sauvignon, and 2018 Vin de Glacière Riesling.

No Matter What You Choose . . .

What is the most refreshing wine? Whether you select the perfect red or white, remember that during the hot summer days, it is important to chill the wine and use an ice bucket. Place the wine bottle in an ice bucket filled with ice and some water for about 10-15 minutes. Make certain you don’t excessively cool the wine, though, or you will lose the flavor and aroma. Keep the temperature around 60F for the best experience.

If you are having a summer wine party, without fail, some of the wine glasses will fall on the floor and break. To avoid such hassles, consider insulated tumblers that won’t break or spill. These tumblers can preserve the wine flavors and aroma for many hours. It may save you a bit of money, too, as you won’t need to replace any wine bottles. 

Mucking around with the cork on a wine bottle can be a hassle when you just want to relax and entertain your guests. Try to uncork in advance and transfer the wine into a vacuum-sealed growler that will preserve the taste and flavor

Hopefully you have a satisfying answer to ‘what is the most refreshing wine?’ but more than anything, the key to enjoying wine during summer is to remain hydrated. The high summer temperatures can easily cause dehydration especially when alcoholic beverages are consumed, so try and drink water in between your wine sips.

Aug 30, 2022 at 8:54 AM Permalink

Sweet Kind of Summer: What Sweet Wines Go With

Summer is the time for sweet wines, and as you begin to explore this option, you may wonder what sweet wines go with so you can put together the perfect menu. Fortunately, sweet wine pairings are easier than you think. 

Wait, What is Sweet Wine? 

Essentially a sweet wine is any wine that keeps higher levels of sugar as the process moves forward. Since the grapes themselves have natural sugars, the actual process of making the wine helps to decide just how sweet it will be. But there is a marked variation in the degree of sweetness of wines- some are bone dry and others are obviously sweet. In the past, many wine drinkers preferred less sweet wines, but today, there is a large demographic of wine drinkers who prefer something much sweeter. Fortunately, there are many wine sweetness charts for consumers to browse to help them make a decision. The easiest way to decide how sweet a wine might be, though, is to read the label on the wine bottle. If the label indicates 10g/L of residual sugar, the wine is dry. Noticeable sweet wines start at around 35g/L of residual sugar and go up.

Sweet Wine Pairings - A Few Rules

Not sure how to pair sweet wines and food? There are a few rules to consider when deciding what sweet wines go with. The general rule is that, while sweet wines go with sweet foods, the wine should be sweeter than the food. You’ll want to work to create balance no matter what pairing you decide to create. The level of acidity matters as you work to create the perfect pairing of what sweet wines go with. Great sweet wines go with tart foods since the wines will have just the right amount of acidity, which can help stand up to tart foods or cut the rich nature of some foods. 

Keep in mind that the sugar in sweet wines can increase the intensity of flavors, so only select foods that are highly flavorful and well seasoned or your wine selection will numb the taste of the food.

So, what do sweet wines go with? Here are a few options. 

• Sweet wines and salty foods pair well together. Salty foods include potato chips, french fries, pretzels, pizza, sausages, nuts, etc; these salty foods taste a lot better with sweet wines. 
• For light summer snacks or meals, go with light to medium intensity white/red wines. A cheese platter with salted crackers and smoked meat would be a wonderful pairing with almost any sweet red wine.
• Spicy and curried foods work well with chilled sweet white/red wines that have low alcohol content. Spicy Thai noodles are a great choice. 
• Sour foods like citrus fruits and vinegar-based sauces pair well with sweet white/red wines with high acidity. Riesling is excellent at countering the sourness in kimchi.
• Sweet red wines complement a wide range of food including roast chicken, meat, pork, rich seafood dishes, and vegetable soups.
• The sweetest fortified wines like Madeira and Port pair well with desserts like cheesecakes, puddings pies, and chocolate torte.

Finally, make sure to choose a sweet wine with a light body and low alcohol. Thes wines can cool down the spicy and hot curries while at the same time ensuring that you can taste the sweetness in the desserts.

The one way to know if you have the right food pairing with wine is to take a small bite of the food and then sip a little wine; if the beverage generates a complementary flavor and makes the taste better, you have a good pairing.

Aug 23, 2022 at 8:28 AM Permalink

Summer Wine Tasting Party Ideas

One of the best parts of summer is the weather. It’s perfect for a barbeque, outdoor party, or any other social event you can imagine. One great option? A summer wine tasting party. What should you consider before you host one? It all starts with your theme. 

Why Theme Your Party? Why Summer Wine Tasting?

Why should you theme your wine party? It’s the perfect way to get creative with your party and help set the tone for everyone who attends. Summer party ideas that come with a theme make it simple to engage, and more than anything, it certainly adds to the fun. Here are just a few themes you might consider. 

• Beach Party is perfect for Summer Wine Tasting: Have your guests bring their beachiest outfits complete with hats and sunglasses, then set up a playlist with the songs that make the beach fun. Be sure to take in some sun during your wine tasting and add your favorite beach foods to the mix!
• Mexican Fiesta: Is there anything more fun than a fiesta? Consider blending your wines with ice to make a wine margarita. Be sure to include lots of food options like chips and salsa, fried ice cream, and spicy tacos. Mariachi music would make a nice touch. 
• Tropical Fun: The tropics make a great theme for your party. Consider decorations like inflatable palm trees and bright colors. A Caribbean-inspired menu will help too whether you choose jerk chicken or some appetizers like fruit kabobs. 
• The Fruits of Summer: Summer is the season of fresh fruit, and it makes the perfect theme for your wine party. Go with pastel colors, and be sure to build great fruit trays to help build out your theme. 
• Creamy Dreamy Ice Cream: Is anything more fun than an old-fashioned ice cream social? Choose lots of different flavors, and have everyone bring their favorite topping. 
• Tea Party: Ready for a garden tea party? Add some bite-sized sandwiches, desserts, and your best party attire to make this one a success. Be sure to add plenty of fresh flowers to the table. 
• Bonfire Night: An evening of summer wine tasting around the bonfire makes the perfect conclusion to a summer day. Choose traditional bonfire foods like s’mores dip, campfire packets, and hot dogs to pair with your wine selections. 

Choose Your Wine

Once you decide on a theme, you next need to select your wine(s). To make the party fun, it is important to select the right wines for the occasion. Many people select four to six wines for their party, as this will allow the guests to taste several different wines and note the subtle differences and similarities between them. 

Select the Right Foods

Once you’ve chosen your theme and the wine for your optimal summer wine tasting, you’ll need to select foods that not only match your theme but your wine as well. For example, if you are having a barbecue, select some type of red wine. The reason is the high fat and umami in the meat will be balanced by the tannins in red wine. Steaks work well with Syrah and Malbec while burgers pair perfectly with Cabernet Sauvignon. Sausages might pair perfectly with a Pinot Noir, and pork chops will work with a Riesling. If you choose other barbeque meats, Chardonnay and Riesling are both versatile enough to work well with almost any meat. 

Not going with a heavy meal? Hoping for something lighter? A charcuterie board is a perfect accompaniment with wines. Charcuterie boards are easy to create; besides a variety of cheese, crackers, and fruit, you can have a wide range of meat. Both light red and white wines pair well with charcuterie boards. 

Hoping for dessert instead? You’ll want to select a wine with a low tannin content. It may also help to remember that rich wines work well with dark chocolates. Rieslings tend to pair well with apple and pear desserts. 

The Perfect Wine Tasting Party

The key to a summer wine party is to keep things simple. There is no rule that you must have a specific wine and food to enjoy a summer party. Check out our selection of great white and red wines that will liven up your summer party.

Aug 18, 2022 at 8:45 AM Permalink