Raise Your Glass to the Perfect Heart Healthy Wine!

The month of February is dedicated to matters of the heart. Saratoga Wine and Spirits owners Lisa Canfield and Gerard Moser are ready to assist! They are excited to share their love and knowledge of wine, food and hospitality with their neighbors and valued customers. The Heart Foundation suggests that small amounts of regular alcohol consumption (1/2 to 1 drink per day for women and 1-2 drinks per day for men) can reduce the risk of heart disease. Research shows that in addition to antioxidants in red wine, it may also raise levels of HDL (“good”) cholesterol. Saratoga Wine and Spirits can help you raise your glass to the perfect heart healthy wine! The shop has boutique flair, and in the era of big box anonymity, the store offers consistent, personable and personalized attention. The selection of wines and spirits, such as scotch, bourbon and gins, are appraised with care before being offered to their customers. We are proud to say that “We offer good wines at all price points.” We enjoy guiding both novice and seasoned wine drinkers to join customer and wine with occasion. As former store manager, Lisa brings deep knowledge of trends and perennial favorites. Gerard brings 30 years in the restaurant, hotel and hospitality business, and a solid sense of how wine and food best complement. Let us not forget that Valentine’s Day is around the corner. Everyone knows that the perfect gifts for the day are a bouquet of flowers, a box of chocolates, and a fantastically paired bottle of wine. But how do you pair wine with chocolate? Let us share a few tips, helped along by the webzine, “The Nibble:” *The chocolate should never be sweeter than the wine you are pairing it with. The wine will taste bitter. *The darker the chocolate, the darker the wine. The red wine you choose should have soft, roundedtannins. This is important when pairing with the creamy, smoothness of chocolate. (Always use quality chocolate when pairing with wines.) For example: * WHITE CHOCOLATE: Try a Moscato d’Asti, Sherry or a fruity Chardonnay. These wines will pick up the buttery, fatty tones of the white chocolate. * MILK CHOCOLATE: Try a beautiful dessert wine, Merlot, Pinot Noir or Riesling. Champagne is also a natural match for milk chocolate. The crisp, dry flavor of the bubbly contrasts perfectly with the creaminess of a simple milk chocolate. * DARK CHOCOLATE: (50% to 70%): Pair this with more robust wines, such as a Port, Zinfandel or a Cabernet Sauvignon. *BITTERSWEET CHOCOLATE: (70% to 100%): This chocolate is bitter with a deep intensity. Good choices include Bordeaux, Shiraz, Port, Malbec and Zinfandel. * Try champagne or sparkling wine with all chocolate types. It is a variety that compliments many flavors. Many fortified dessert wines work well across the chocolate spectrum as well. Stop in for more ideas, to browse the inventory, and say hello. You will see that Saratoga Wine and Spirits cultivates and values ongoing relationships with their loyal customers. As a graduate of the Culinary Institute in Hyde Park, Gerard is happy to discuss food and wine pairings with customers for an upcoming event or dinner party, and Lisa is ready to share a recipe for a fun mixed drink or suggest a new wine. It is all part of the fun of sharing their expertise with their neighbors. As one customer commented on YELP, walking into Saratoga Wine and Spirits is like walking into “Cheers” - “Everybody knows your name.” SARATOGA WINE and SPIRITS offers attractive, custom made wine and spirit baskets upon request. Free local delivery service is also available. Saratoga Wine and Spirits, 556 Maple Ave. (Rt.9), Wilton, NY, 518-871-1302