Classic Wines

Host Brian Freedman is here to help you this holiday season. If you've got wine lovers in your life (And we hope you do), you'll want to investigate wine gifts. What could be more convenient than combining the ease of online shopping with the thoughtfulness of a nice wine gift? Brian explains what kinds of gifts to search for, and gives you a good example (WineGiftsOnline.com) of where you can go to do your shopping.

Brian Freedman continues his investigation of good cellaring techniques. In this episode, Brian discusses the time element in storing wine. The tricky thing about storing wine for periods of time is that every bottle behaves differently. Depending on the level of tannins and their dominance in the wine itself, every bottle should get different treatment. As if that weren't enough, personal taste plays a role in cellaring time, depending on how tannic you prefer your wine. Time management can seem a little overwhelming, but is actually one of the most fun aspects of wine collecting. Used in today's episode is the Domaine Jamet 2001 Cote-Rotie.

Classic Wines TV continues to explore wine collecting in this latest video about wine cellar management. Host Brian Freedman uses a bottle from his very own collection to demonstrate the two main concepts of managing your cellar - bottle value, and personal affection. Certain bottles can be stored simply for financial accruement or because the bottle will age well. This is a very cerebral approach to wine cellar management. But the bottle can also be stored if it has a personal connection to you. Perhaps you visited the vineyard and had a wonderful experience. Perhaps the bottle was made on a child's birthday. Whatever the case may be, appeal may be another factor to consider when storing bottles. The bottle examined today is the Dierberg 2005 Pinot Noir "Steven".

If you're a wine lover, I bet you've heard of Rioja. But it seems that only true wine geeks have heard of Jumilla, a developing wine region of Spain. This up-and-coming wine is one for you to look into if you want to diversify your palate. Watch as Brian Freedman pits two Spanish Jumilla against each other in a Classic Wines Showdown. The wines tasted today are the Juan Gil 2005 Jumilla, and the Altos De Luzon 2005 Jumilla.

Brian Freedman gets down to wine tasting basics. If you have ever wondered about the proper method for tasting a wine, this video is for you. From decanting, to sniffing, to swirling, to tasting, watch as Brian teaches you to do it like a pro.

They may be adorable, but what kind of quality will these wines bring? As one of the rising stars of the wine world, Australia has become a key player in the realm of Shiraz. Utilizing large production techniques and attractive labels, Australia hopes to continue dominating their niche of the market. But the big question has always been - does the wine inside stack up when it comes to quality? Today, host Brian Freedman tries two very obtainable Australian Shiraz. Wines sampled in this episode of Classic Wines TV include the Boolaroo 2005 Shiraz and The Little Penguin 2006 Shiraz.

When it comes to wine in California, Cabernet Sauvignon is the equivalent of the 2007 New England Patriots (nevermind that one loss.) California Cab enjoys a global reputation for excellence, and in today's episode, Brian Freedman puts them to the taste. Placed in a food and wine pairing context, two Cabs compete for the prize of showdown champion. Which will come out on top? Wines tasted today are the Joel Gott 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon, and the Annabella 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon Special Selection.

Host Brian Freedman meets with Classic Wines Columnist Romany Reagan to discuss wines on the dating scene. Ordering wine on a date can be tricky business, especially as you try to make a good first impression. Certain bottles can lead to success, while others can lead to abysmal failure. Watch as Brian and Romany analyze the positive and negative attributes of potential date wines. Sampled today are Old Fart's Wife, Luna di Luna Premium Pink Merlot, Il Bastardo, and Marques de Riscal Rioja.