Etiiquette Boss: Wine wisdom

November 28, 2014 Phillipa Morrish

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Wine: the selections are as endless as the variety of dishes we prepare during the holidays. Which wine goes with what dish? Here is a guide that may help reduce the indecision period when buying wines for the holidays:

Chardonnay – grilled chicken, salmon, shellfish, and grilled fish;
Merlot – pasta, red meat, duck, smoked or grilled foods;
Cabernet Sauvignon – red meats, barbecued steak, grilled and smoked foods;
Pinot Noir – light meats, chicken, grilled anything, salmon;
Sauvignon Blanc – white or light fish, mild cheese, fruit;
Zinfandel – tomato pasta dishes, pesto, red meats, chicken with heavy sauce.

Does the type of glass matter? The answer depends on who you ask. I will take the side of the oenophiles who say that it does matter. The aesthetic experience of drinking from a crystal glass varies considerably when compared to drinking the same wine from a plastic glass.

When drinking from a white wine glass, the narrower shape allows the wine first to touch the front and center areas of the tongue, where it is felt that sweet and acidic taste bud receptors are more concentrated, thus enhancing the experience.

The round bowl and wider mouth of the red wine glass directs the complex red wine to the back and sides of the tongue, where the complex aromas first touch the sour, salty, bitter and other complex receptors on the tongue, thus bringing out the complex flavors of the red wine.

BEAUTY TIPS: Celebrity Secrets

Model Jerry Hall says that olive oil is an important part of her beauty regimen. She never had any stretch marks because during all four pregnancies she diligently rubbed her stomach daily with extra virgin olive oil.

Kim Cattrall squeezes lemon juice over her French fries to reduce the oil absorption of the fries.

British actress Elizabeth Hurley attributes her post-pregnancy weight loss to drinking lots of watercress soup.

Marilyn Monroe ate spaghetti with a tightly cinched belt to prevent her from overeating.

Phillipa Morrish is the president of Etiquette Training International.