And America seems to get inspired by this day:

The most surprising fact is that you can find even 5 places nationwide called “America.” The biggest one in American Fork, Utah has 21,941 residents.

Eleven places adopted “independence” and made it part of their name. In Independence – again Missouri – the most populous one has 113,288 habitants.

You can find 30 places in the entire nation that have “liberty” in their name. Iowa consists of the most places with this name than any other states. The four ones are Libertyville, New Liberty, North Liberty and West Liberty. Liberty, Missouri is the place with the largest population, it counts 26,232 citizens.

There are 5 places that contain the name “freedom.” The largest population has Freedom, California with 6,000 residents.

Since 1776 freedom and independence is celebrated every year by families together with friends and barbeques, picnics and a night of parades and fireworks.

The typical picnic or barbeque includes steaks, grilled chicken, potato salad, baked beans and of course apple pie. No matter if fried chicken, turkey or a big cake with the colours and shapes of the American flag the food is plenty and picnic ideas are fun for everybody.

Any recommendation for drinks needed? On this special day, wine or sparkling off course! And which wine would fit better than a domestic one?

California offers amazing wine regions such as the popular Napa Valley, located not even an hour drive east from San Francisco or Sonoma County that produces excellent chardonnays and pinot noirs. Santa Barbara County produces some of California’s finest wines, especially chardonnay, pinot noir, and syrah. It is also one of the state’s most beautiful wine regions, with vineyards surrounded by sloping coastal hills and untouched valleys, only dotted with small family wineries.

Leave California and you can get great wines from Washington a young wine region (emerged in the mid-1970) but the second largest wine-producing region in the US. It is celebrated for its red wines syrah, merlot and cabernet sauvignon.

Have a look at wineries in the east of the country, for example in New York where wine lovers will find two of the finest winegrowing regions: the Finger Lakes with a range of different wineries and Long Island where the state’s best wines are produced. Especially merlot is features by most local wineries as their signature variety – a grape that is widely panned on the island.

Virginia wines has become more and more popular during the past decade and won numerous awards at national and international wine competitions. The 6th largest wine producing state in the US offers a wide range of quality grape varieties.

In the country’ south in Texas, especially from the area around Dallas in the northeast to the western plains and the Hill Country of the south, growers and vintners are dedicated to the cultivation and production of high-quality grapes and wines.

So it shouldn’t be a problem to find the one that fits best. Having this said: Happy Independence Day ! And don’t forget to browse our WinesMadeEasy.ie for great US wines! Cheers!

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… about Hong Kong’s retail wine scene? The Hong Kong wine scene is as good as it gets anywhere in the world and still one of the most bustling wine countries at present. Read more about the Hong Kong wine market here.

… what wine goes well with seafood? One of the great things about seafood is its endless variety, and its preparation can be equally diverse and fun to experiment with. Find out which wine pairs best with seafood here.

… September is California Wine Month. Wine lovers, unite. For anyone with a sweet compassion for the best Merlot, Chardonnay and perfectly crisp grapes, Napa Valley is the place to devour the most passionately flavoured wines. Read about the wine month celebration in Napa Valley here.

… that Austrian wines becomes hip in America. The country’s signature wine, gruner veltliner, is so popular with young U.S. sophisticates who love it but can’t pronounce it that one company has put out a brand simply called “Grooner.” Read more about Austrian wine in America here.

… it’s 2^nd Annual Champagne Day on 28^th October 2011? Still one month to go but then it’s time for champagne enthusiasts all over the world to gather in ‘virtual appreciation’ of champagne and celebrate the 2nd Global Champagne Day. Find out more about Champagne Day here.

… about the World’s Biggest Wine Festival? The first Big Wine Festival next June could attract 120,000 people over four days with purpose-built marquees covering 30,000sq ft of the riverside park in Reading, 60Km outside of London. Get more information about this wine festival here.

… that economy and weather put the squeeze on wine grape supply in California?  Cooler weather — including a very damaging freeze in the Central Coast — have compounded the problem by significantly reducing this year’s wine grape yield in California. Read more here.

… about these lovely Champagne cocktails? Great recipes for Grapefruit Mimosa, White Sangria, Zipang Bellini or Lychee Raspberry Bellini here.

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This week: 5 lovely white wines

Simonsig Chenin Blanc Stellenbosch 2010

This wine from South Africa got 86 points from WineSpectator.com. Sommelier James Molesworth called this wine “fresh, with green plum, green almond and pear skin notes followed by a flash of herb on the medium-weight finish. Drink now.” For approximately 10€ it is a good-value wine fitting every occasion.

Nautilus Sauvignon Blanc

Wine Spectator gave this white wine from New Zealand 90 points. “This refreshing white offers a breezy mouthful of lime-accented green apple and herb flavors, veering toward lime peel as the finish races on and on. Drink now.” For a price of 20€ you will get an excellent white wine.

2009 Delhommeau Muscadet Harmonie

Josh Raynold from the International Wine Cellar gave this French wine 91 points and described it with “silver-straw colour. Offers the same high-pitched, mineral-driven citrus profile of the St. Vincent but with added elements of yellow plum and pungent herbs. Lively but deeply concentrated orange and orchard fruit flavours show weightier nectarine and mango qualities in the mid-palate, with a dusty mineral element adding focus. The herbal quality repeats on the tangy finish. For the price, this is a steal.” You can get it for 10€ a bottle.

Killerby Vineyards Chardonnay, Margaret River (2009)

This Chardonnay from South Australia got the maximum assessment of 5 starts from Decanter.com. The Decanter rating described the wine as “Wow! Aromas of exotic fig, melon, nuts, beeswax, honey, peach and vanilla-scented toasty oak. Good mouthfeel and texture with gorgeous flavours of cream and apricot fruit. Long and lingering, multilayered wine.” Buy this WOW-wine for around 20€.

Àlvaro Castro Dão Quinta de Saes Reserva

The International Wine Review rated this white wine from Portugal with 91 Points.

“The 2009 Reserva (white) is a blend of Encruzado and Cercial. It displays a bright light yellow color and aromas of jasmine, lemon and a note of pine pitch on the nose. It has a lovely full-flavored attack with layered fruit and is quite rich, creamy and concentrated, yet subtle. The wine is beautifully balanced with crisp acidity on the finish. An exceptional wine.” For exactable 11€ you can’t go wrong with this wine.

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@Ronan_Sayburn Ronan Sayburn MS

The impact China could have on wine production. Here is an interesting video. bit.ly/notiqd #wine

@thedailysip The Daily Sip

Today’s Sip: Which state drinks the most wine tinyurl.com/42bqbm

@GlassOfBubbly Christopher & Eve

Moët & Chandon has been known as the #champagne of success & glamour since the House was founded in 1743. fb.me/18jxt3lYs

SmartMoney SmartMoney

92% of millenials say they plan to buy as much or more wine this year than they did last year bit.ly/oiBfxj A better way to buy wine

@RuggerWine Jim

4 Wine Rules That Are Rubbish j.mp/oXPTUM #fb #wine /via @alawine

@BubbleBrothers Bubble Brothers

New post: ‘By The Glass’ food-and-wine-matching online game! bit.ly/pIpIek

@VickyWine Miss Vicky Wine

#CabernetDay 11 View from Paris bit.ly/pupUP2 cc @RickBakas @JSeillier @Triptiq @vins2loire @BRANE_CANTENAC @dupetitthouars #thanks

@JaredLevanIFWT Jared JM Levan

Does #champagne really go straight to your head?? Check in with #thefoodscientist to find out! http://jaredlevan.com/infoodwetrust/2011/09/12/the-food-scientist-champagne/ @JaredLevanIFWT

@DriverInItaly Driver in Italy

Cin-Cin! white peach puree + prosecco = Bellini cocktail

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… that this harvest season, more wineries are discovering social media and online shopping sites? Read more about the better way to buy wine.

… that investing in wine lacks liquidity. Find out more here.

… that you better not be a wine spectator. Read more about how to appreciate wine the right way.

… the three different ways used to make rosé wine? Find out more about the traditional wine making method, bleeding and blending.

… about the Metro Wine Map of France, designed by David Gissen. David Gissen, usually known as an architectural theorist assumed a new identity: Gissen the wine nerd. Have a look at his innovative Wine Map.

… about these 40 exquisite custom wine labels that’ll delight you?

… that women who drink one glass of wine a day will have a better chance of “aging successfully” than non-drinkers. Find out more about “successful aging.”

… that Chinese wine wins top honour at Decanter World Wine Awards? Winery He Lan Qing Xue’s Jia Bei Lan 2009 Cabernet blend has won the Red Bordeaux Varietal Over £10 International Trophy. Read more about the Decanter World Wine Awards.

… that Washington wine executive Glenn Coogan passed away. The long-time executive in the Washington wine industry and vice president of Northwest Operations for Ascentia, passed away Sunday, reportedly of a heart attack. Read more.

The post Did you know… ? appeared first on Wines Made Easy - Wine Blog.

If you like a wine and want to write about it, if you have visited a nice restaurant with an amazing wine list, tell us about it. If you have visited a winery or a nice wine region why not tell your story.

No matter how experienced a wine drinker you are, your experience and your views and opinions will be respected here, so why not share them with us.

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Over the coming months the blog roll will become a wealth of information and knowledge which you can dip in and out of.

Broken down into relevant categories, our blogroll is a source of information for you all to enjoy.

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PDF DOWNLOAD VERSION

Wines Made Easy for Everyone to Enjoy

WinesMadeEasy.ie (www.winesmadeeasy.ie) is Ireland’s newest wine website. Brought to you from the lovely people at Flowers Made Easy, Wines Made Easy is the most interactive and socially active wine website this side of your modem. With over 800 wines to choose from on the site, they provide some of the biggest choice in the Irish market.

The concept is Easy. Make wine easy for people to enjoy. With wine available to order online with delivery to your door or someone else’s as a gift, what better way to find the perfect wine than from the comfort of your home or office.

So how do you know which wines you will like? Easy – With their socially integrated website, they have all the bases covered. You can read reviews, watch video reviews and even see who liked a wine on Facebook or +1’d it on Google. “We want people to get involved in our site, we want our customers to be the experts,” says Eamonn Grant, director at Wines Made Easy. “We hope to open up a place for people to share experiences and give opinions about wine allowing other users to get more ‘Real Life’ opinions about what a wine tastes like without having a degree in Wine. The concept is based on social inclusion. Everyone can like wine and hundreds of thousands of people drink wine but lots of those people still feel isolated or intimidated when it comes to choosing what wine to buy. We hope to remove that and open up the floor to everyone who wants to drink wine,” says Grant.

Speaking about the focus on video content, Grant said “We hope our site will become a video glossary for wine with customers providing video reviews of wines they have tasted in the past or present. The aim is that our site will become a great source of content and information about wine. By allowing our customers to get involved it will allow us to focus on finding the very best wines in every corner of the globe for them to taste and enjoy. Opinions will therefore range from people with no experience with wine to expert opinions.”

The interaction with customers at www.WinesMadeEasy.ie goes beyond the online world with plans for wine tasting events with a comical twist, social wine nights, a welcoming wine club soon to be launched and monthly competitions to allow their customers to get involved face to face.
The product range includes more than 800 red, white and rosé wines as well as sparkling wines and Champagnes. Visitors of the website will find high quality Australian wines, such as d’Arenberg, Barossa and Eden Valley wines or lovely Chateau Camplazens or Georges Duboeuf French wine. The choice is great with the decision made easy by getting involved.

As an opening offer www.WinesMadeEasy.ie are offering 10% Off for 10 reviews. Simply create an account on the site, submit 10 reviews of wines you’ve liked and they will email you with a 10% discount code for you to enjoy.

-       ENDS   -

For more information contact

Eamonn Grant

Wines Made Easy

P: 01 2176100

E: info@winesmadeeasy.ie

The post Press Release – Wines Made Easy for Everyone to Enjoy appeared first on Wines Made Easy - Wine Blog.

Question Time with Eamonn Grant, owner of Wines Made Easy…

On Thursday September 1st, 2011, Wines Made Easy was launched. To find our more about the business and what it’s all about we asked Eamonn to answer a few questions.

What’s this all about? Well we thought we would launch a wines website.

Why? Wine Not! ho ho ho

What do you do? We sell wine for delivery anywhere in Ireland, in mixed cases and also as gifts

What makes you different? Our easy to us

e website, our approach to wine, our socially inclusive community of wine drinkers and our online videos & reviews.

Why should I buy wine from you? Because we are competitive in the marketplace and our products are the ones your want and you will enjoy.

How can I get involved? Easy – Just start writing reviews of the wines on our websites. 10 Reviews will give you a 10% discount off your first order.

What’s in it for me? Some great wines, lots of information, super people and an opportunity to learn something new every day, as well as discounts, invites to our ridiculously good wine nights, social evenings and tasting events.

What else are you going to do? We have lots of suprises up our sleeves. We will be doing things differently to anything you will have seen before. Stay tuned.

What about the Recession? What about it.

What’s your favourite wine? There are too many, but some that are special to me include Peter Lehmans, Faustino No 1. I aslo like Sparkling from Domain Chandon, and Reds from Rochford winery. A lot of wines I like are associated with amazing times or great events.

What is your passion? My passion is learning and doing new and exciting things. I can’t sit idle, except when Entourage is on, but aside from that I need to be thinking of something different to do or something new to work on. Today for example, something clicked with us in the office and we have decdided  that we going to launch one of the best wine events in the country in the next 3-4 months. Stay tuned! It will be really really special and super fun.

Why Wine? Wine is incredibably interesting. It’s a fascinating industry that is bigger than most people can comprehend. Behind the industry at the grass roots are real people with a real passion for something which is steeped in tradition, culture and geography. Those 3 things make us who we are and without tradition, culture, your location geography we would all be very boring individuals.

Did you say you don’t drink wine? Up until now, I haven’t drunk much wine, I tend to go for beer but that is because of my lack of knowledge and my lack of confidence when it comes wine – What wine should I drink? which ones will I like? The safe option for me has always been beer. That is another major reason for launching this business. I am extremely passionate about wine so I will be learning as I go with the assistance of some super expert people I hope to become much more comfortable around wine and I hope to share my experiences with you on this journey. I hope you enjoy the site

The post So what’s this all about? appeared first on Wines Made Easy - Wine Blog.

orcalwine Fred Swan
September is California Wine Month. How Big is the California Wine Industry? bit.ly/njHD1N #california #wine

wineparadise Ian Blackford
Other studies show, and experts said, that underage consumers looking for alcohol probably aren’t going to buy w… bit.ly/n3tagq

alawine Ken
How wine is made: an illustrated guide http://j.mp/nMwPoN #fb #wine

seattlewinegal Barbara Evans
My niece is hilarious! Remember dental “headgear”? twitpic.com/6cx5ir <– Barbie in Moet Chandon headgear. #wine

MarcusCooks Marcus Samuelsson
I guess we’re getting lazy these days.. RT @foodrepub: When it’s wine time, let tech do the work w/ el #wine openers: bit.ly/pbS43q

Flipbooks Blair Semenoff
Another 10 Bizarre #Wine Brand Names (oddee) http://is.gd/5WMta

wineblogorg Jo Diaz
My latest post: Putting the “Joy” into Sparkling Wines ~ Iron Horse Vineyards ~ Part 1: What a joy Joy has been … bit.ly/mQcMhC

WiNews Wine News
Throwing parties – German-style – Malaysia Star bit.ly/oTAF8E #Wine #Germany

TweetAWine TweetAWine.com
RT @winesworld: Chocolate and Wine. — Winesworld’s Magazine http://bit.ly/nVWdRK #chocolate #wine

Bloganize Jim
Article: How Younger Adults React to Brands on Social Networks Do millennials really interact most with brands on social goo.gl/1YOJt

lonelyplanet Lonely Planet
Mexico’s most blissful beaches bit.ly/p6EW17 #lp

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