EXPLORING THE WORLD OF WINE – GETTING MORE OUT OF EACH GLASS

You may enjoy a good glass of wine and find that it helps you to relax after a long day at work.  However, if you aren’t able to truly look into the wine you are drinking or pull out particular flavours  then there is high chance that you are not enjoying it as much as you could be. But there some easy ways to improve your wine drinking experience.

Let your Glass of Wine Sit

When you pour a glass of wine, don’t taste it right way. Instead, you need to let it sit for anywhere between 5 and 30 minutes. I like to do this because it really opens up the flavour and aroma, which both change over time.

I do this with nearly every wine that I can because it offers a completely different experience with every bottle opened. Try it, see if you agree.

 

Wine glass being filled with red wine.

Know your Wine

 

Use the correct Glass

I would never consider drinking Oddbins champagne out of anything other than a champagne flute. For that reason, I think that it is important to make sure that you drink your wine out of the correct glass.

This is because the shape of the glass changes how the wine smells and tastes. It is well worth investing in some quality wine glasses as it will completely change your tasting experience. Some flavours will jump out over others and it will also make you feel as though you are focusing on the specific wine you have.

 

Two wine glasses with white wine

Exploring the World of Wine

 

 Write Things Down

I have to admit that I had never really thought about doing this until I started to learn more about wine, but writing things down is crucial. If you have a nice bottle of wine then although you are sure you will recall the label and the name, there is a high chance that you will have forgotten it all the moment you try to buy it again.

This is completely normal, but if you write things down then you can avoid all of this. Jot down the price of the wine, the brand, the flavours and the shop where you purchased it.

Of course, it is important to know that sometimes you won’t be able to taste the same flavours because not every bottle of wine tastes the same however this is a great way for you to see how the flavours can change and even how your own palette changes as you drink the wine.

Of course, the above tips are super fun when you try wine with friends!

 

This is a collaborative post.

MY AUTUMN BUCKET LIST

I know I usually write about more controversial topics, so I thought for a change, I’d follow my friend Sue’s suggestion at https://suefoster.info/ and write something a bit more chilled out, such as my Autumn Bucket List.

Whilst I love the Mr Blue Sky days of summer, the sun on my back and the associated need for many refreshing ice cold Gin and Tonic’s, I really look forward to the Autumn, I think as a season it’s the best one of the year.

So what do I love about Autumn, in no particular order

PACK AWAY VEST TOPS AND CHUCK AWAY FLIP FLOPS

a blue flowery flip flop

Flip Flops are the work of the summer devil.

Every year I buy far too many strappy tops, in far too many colours, but being a creature of habit, I usually only wear the black and white ones. So it’s a relief as Autumn approaches to be able to pack away the rarely worn colourful tops to free up some drawer space. But not the black and white ones, because as every girl knows, under her cosy woolly jumper lies a well washed strappy top masquerading as a vest!

And don’t get me started on flip flops. How is it that some women can rock a flip flop like it’s a comfort shoe from Hotter, whilst even though the toe post didn’t hurt in the shop, and I stupidly think that this is THE pair that are going to be the exception to the excruciating toe post pain, they never, ever are. It’s a fact, I hate flip flops.

 

IT GETS DARKER EARLIER

Street lamps on at dusk in Autumn

Dark and Moody Autumn Dusk

Yes, it’s true, unlike most people, I love it when the clocks go back in October. The nights draw in and the sky gets moody and dark much earlier.  Once we are back indoors after our dog walk, around 4.00pm, I like the ‘that’s it’ moment when we don’t have to venture out again. We can just cosy up on the sofa, for some late afternoon TV, without feeling that we ‘should be’ cremating some chicken wings on the BBQ and sitting outside in the remains of the day. (And what a great film that was)

SOUP

A bowl of soup in Autumn

Autumn Comfort Food

Autumn means that we can kiss a fond farewell to the wilting bags of forgotten salad leaves that lurk in everyone’s fridge throughout the summer. Was there every a vegetable that had such a short shelf life as watercress. You buy it one day, all perky and fresh, 24 hours later, it’s turned into liquid green slime.  Soup is my much preferred ‘replacement meal’!

Warm, filling and comforting, is there anything better than a bowl of home made soup, and it’s so easy to make.  As luck would have it, I can make a not too shabby bowl of soup out of virtually anything lurking in my fridge, as long as it’s not watercress.

DOG WALKS: COLOURFUL TREES AND CRUNCHY LEAVES

Tree lined road in Autumn

Autumn means bare trees and crunchy leaves.

Dog walks are much more enjoyable in the Autumn.  No worries about the pavements being too hot for tender paws, and mad dogs and Englishmen being out in the mid day sun.  The countryside is a riot of colour as the leaves fall off the trees and dogs have a great time crunching and sniffing their way through them.

On a blowy day it’s amusing to see even the most macho of big dogs, being surprised by a very scary leaf suddenly falling from the sky.  Walks are brisk and invigorating, putting colour in your cheeks thus saving on the blusher.

There are far more things I don’t like about Winter,…  ( can I get away with wearing black leggings and Uggs AGAIN this year? ) Spring… ( Easter seems to come a few weeks after Boxing Day) and Summer…. (I love the heat, but as older people say ‘ it’s a different kind of heat’ in the UK) , but Autumn?  Autumn is different. What’s not to like!

For more A is for Autumn Bucket Listers head over to https://www.arosetintedworld.co.uk/autumn-bucket-list/

What is your favourite season of the year?

 

IS IT TIME TO STOP TAKING THE TABLETS

I’ll admit it, I’m lucky, I’m in my mid 60’s and I haven’t taken a single prescription tablet for the last 5 years, and I’ve done all I can to avoid the Doctor. If you are currently pill popping, is it time to stop taking the tablets?

Stethescope

Avoid the Doctor!

But is it really down to luck, or more about my refusal to go to the Doctors with some of the same symptoms that might make other people my age get their surgery on speed dial for an appointment as soon as possible.

I’m not saying for one minute that I’m never ill, but if I’m in pain or feeling uncomfortable,  I just take a pain killer and wait for it to go away, and clearly for the past 5 years at least, that’s exactly what ‘it’ has done!  (more…)

MATURE MEN SHOULD JUST STOP TALKING

Yesterday, I nearly went and got myself a date…….but whilst from the outside my would be new gentleman friend was quite acceptable, once he started on his epic story, he went on and on, and it quickly became a no likey from me. That’s why mature men should just stop talking.

Stick men showing one of them talking

Mature men should just stop talking

There I was stood on a chilly September morning, flogging my crap again at the local weekly car boot sale when a mature gentleman kindly pointed out to me that one of my items was displayed the wrong way round.

He seemed a nice genuine man, silver hair, with an impressive logo on his body warmer, and if I’m not mistaken a splash of Dior Eau de Savage wafted my way. We chatted about the pro’s and con’s of bifocal’s, and how popular Onyx had been in the 70’s. Not exactly mind blowing conversation, but don’t say I didn’t try.

I’m quite a regular there as I’m trying my best to declutter my life because as lifestyle ‘gurus’ say,  minimalistic is the new way to be cosy and less stressed.  I’m not convinced.  (more…)