Can I have allergic reactions to wine?   Pawan Shrestha   Baluwatar, Kathmandu       Some develop headaches from drinking wine. One of the reasons is that sulfites added by the producer, or that are naturally present in lesser amounts, cause an allergic reaction. Furthermore, it has been suggested that cheaper wines, available in rmarket, are likely to have more... 

                    Does the age of the vine affect the quality of the wine? Sumnima Basyal Sohrakhutte, Kathmandu   You will sometimes see on French wine labels the term Vieilles Vignes (old vines). In California, there are many Zinfandels made from vines more than 75 years old. In Europe, South America, Australia, and South Africa, there... 

What is the difference between Vin de Pays and Appellation Controlée?   Swikriti Lamichhane Shifal, Kathmandu   These are two French systems for classifying and controlling wine production. Traditionally Appellation Controlée (AC) was for the best quality wines of specified regions, and wine would only qualify if following strict rules imposed by the AC authorities. Many winemakers... 

How does a wine producer makes his wine sweet? Sunita Kayastha Thamel, Kathmandu There are a variety of methods for making sweet wines. These vary from cheap and easy (stopping fermentation with some sugar remaining and topping up with sweet grape juice), to some of the most labor intensive and expensive processes in the wine making world. At the other end of the scale, Botrytis cinerea, or... 

How much wine constitutes a ‘unit’ of alcohol? Bigyan Sapkota New Baneshwor, Kathmandu It’s a common misconception that one glass of wine equals one ‘unit’. The unit in which alcohol is measured for those advocating healthy consumption is actually 10 ml of pure alcohol. So to work out how many units are in a glass requires you to know how much alcohol is in the... 

Wine FAQs How can we give more life to organic wines? How sunken Titanic is related with cellar? Bikesh K.C. Bhairahawa,Nepal It is true that no sulfites wine are difficult to preserve than those with sulfites. Like many other organic materials, wine can also be preserved in the refrigerator. Chemical reactions are slowed down significantly at lower temperatures. Oxidation slows down to a... 

Does the glass shape really matter? Ramesh Karki Nayabazaar, Kathmandu A different-shaped glass exists for just about every varietal. The rationale is that the shape of the glass emphasizes the specific characteristics of a given type of wine. But except for the most sophisticated wine connoisseur, the stemware’s effect on a wine’s flavor is so subtle it’s hardly noticeable. A good rule... 

What does “buttery” means when we are talking about wine? Shreya Karki Battisputali, Kathmandu A buttery wine is one with the taste or aroma of butter or butterscotch.  It is usually used to describe white wines and often results from the wine’s time in contact with yeast during barrel fermentation. Why are some wines so expensive, and does price equal quality? Pasang Sherpa Chipledhunga,... 

What is the ideal temperature to serve white wine? Mahendra Bomjan New Baneshwor, Kathmandu Serving white wine around 50-55 degrees F is refreshing, and allows the wine to express itself. However, most of us don’t keep a thermometer around, so here’s an easy trick. Take your wine out of the fridge about twenty minutes before you plan to serve it. Once you open it, keep it on... 

What’s that crystal looking stuff attached to the bottom of my cork? Santosh Pandey Lazimpat, Kathmandu Tartaric acid, or tartrates, is sometimes found on the bottom of a bottle of wine or the cork. Tartaric acid is a harmless crystalline deposit that looks like glass or rock candy. In red wines, the crystals take on a rusty, reddish-brown color. How should I store wine at home? Ramita... 

What is the difference between a sweet wine and a fruity wine? Sarita Sapkota Babarmahal, Kathmandu Fruity wines have concentrated flavors that represent the fruit in the wine and are sometimes perceived as sweet. Sweet wines are wines that display and contain a higher level of residual sugar [sugars that did not ferment to dry] and have a sweet to very sweet finish. What foods go with sparkling... 

How can I chill the wine without using refrigerator at the time of load shedding? Smita Shrestha Bafal, Kathmandu Chilling a bottle of wine is actually a pretty simple process. You just need to rush to a departmental store to get a packet of ice cubes. Grab a bucket and plant your bottle in the center, add a layer of ice around the base of the bottle and cover the ice with a few tablespoons...