Tips For Purchasing Wine Online

Sometimes you are not close to the wine store that you love, or even close to a wine store at all.  So now, you find yourself surfing the Internet for your wine. The Internet can be a great way to purchase wine. But before you click “buy”, there are some simple tips to making your online wine purchase more enjoyable.

Know Your Source

A large number of wine experts, certified organizations and critics are beginning to rate wine websites. Many wineries are also jumping on the bandwagon. These ratings help buyers feel comfortable with their purchasing decision online. These reviews used to be available only in forums or places where other wine experts met to discuss different options. Today, these ratings are being prominently displayed on websites and can also be accessed by visiting the website of the critic or vineyard, which also list reputable online distributors.

Ask Questions

If you are unsure about a certain website, click on ‘contact us’ and call the number listed. Ask the questions you need in order to feel comfortable. These questions can be anything along the lines of “Do you have a certain type of wine in stock?” or “How do you ship your wines?” and even “What should I do if my wine arrives damaged or wrong all together?”

Asking these questions up front let’s you know two things;  1) there is someone on the other side of the computer screen who cares about you and your decisions, and, 2) there are precautions in place to make sure you get exactly what you ordered.

Information

Just like with local wine shops, today’s online marketers do much more than sell wine. More often than not, the store has a blog, or at least some place to get more information. Here you can expect to find articles on selecting different types of wines for various occasions and even some sponsors by wine enthusiasts with their top picks. All of this information is there to utilize and help you make the perfect selection for you needs.

Convenience

There are benefits to ordering online such as the ability to shop at a plethora of stores within minutes instead of driving back and forth. You also can shop an unlimited stock of items and do not have to worry about a limited selection in your local wine shop.

The wine is delivered directly to your doorstep, usually packaged in some type of cooling container. This makes sure the wine stays at a proper temperature when it is being shipped.

Wine investors are also at an added advantage for online shopping because they can ensure their purchase for a future date.  Basically, they can pay now for a supply that will arrive at a later date, reserving their supply of wine.

With the convenience of buying wine online, and the wide range of varieties, shopping for wine online may be more fun than you think!

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Condom Choices for Effective Birth Control

Contraception is used to prevent pregnancy. Some methods have the additional benefit of preventing sexually-transmitted diseases such as syphilis and HIV. They are called barrier methods of birth control. One popular barrier method is the condom.

 

The idea behind the condom is that it would provide a barrier between the egg and the sperm. If the two can’t get together, then they can’t make a baby.

 

Condoms have come a long way in the last 90 to 100 years. They have been made of rubber, animal skins and plastic. Some have been thick and some really thin. Their first job is to prevent pregnancy.

 

Condoms work by fitting over the male penis or into the female vagina. Female condoms are sold, but they haven’t taken off as well as the traditional male condom. Condoms that are the right size fit snuggly but leave room at the top for ejaculated semen. Female condoms fit in the vagina using two rings to secure it.

 

Animal skin condoms aren’t used much anymore. It was usually sheepskin condoms that were sold. Just like your skin, sheepskin had tiny pores in it. These pores were large enough for certain diseases to be transmitted from one partner to the other. If you are concerned with other issues besides pregnancy (and most of us are) animal skin condoms are a definite no-no.

 

Latex condoms compose the majority of condom brands. They have no tiny pores and have a percent pregnancy prevention rate in the mid-80s. Unfortunately, some people are allergic to natural rubber latex. When you think of latex allergies, you first think of gloves being a problem, but using a latex condom causes its share of irritation and rashes down below.

 

Companies have also created a polyurethane, or plastic, condom for those with latex allergies. It is also supposed to be effective, provided you use it in the same careful way as you would any condom.

 

Pros of Condoms:

 

  • Condoms are a barrier 85 percent of the time against pregnancy. That percentage increases when using condoms that contain a spermicidal ingredient such as nonoxynol-9.
  • Condoms also protect against sexually-transmitted diseases if using latex or plastic varieties.
  • Condom manufacturers have created a line of condoms that are designed to combat the complaint of decreased sensitivity. Users can choose from extra sensitive, warming condoms, colorful condoms (including glow-in-the-dark), ribbed and even flavored condoms.
  • Condoms are cheap and can be picked up for free from most health departments.

 

Cons of Using Condoms:

 

  • Female condoms can cause vaginal irritation from the rings.
  • Condoms only work if you use them and use them properly. A poorly fitting one can malfunction, as can one that is out of date.
  • They are not always easy to put on. Poor placement can lead to possible pregnancy or STDs.

 

Condoms are a favored method of birth control because they do double duty. With the new features for condoms it is easier to work them into your sexual experiences and therefore make sure they get used each and every time. But again, they are only as effective as the way you use them, and how often.

 

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How To Find Wonderful Wines Priced Within Your Budget

Unless you’re hosting an extremely important occasion, or you are a wine connoisseur with unlimited funds, high priced wines are typically not considered when most people are shopping for wine.

Many people have the notion that the higher the price, the better the wine. This is simply not the case. Prices may be higher for certain wines simply because of a history of success. For instance, a certain wine may have had an exceedingly good year or two, which makes that vintage very high priced, especially if the vineyard has suffered since with a bad growing season. Scarcity may force the price way up.

That doesn’t mean that there are not any good deals on perfectly fine wine. Here are some easy tips to find good wine for less money.

Look for critics scores

Many wine critics rate wine before it is bottled. While these score ratings are not the be-all and end-all of wine tasting, they do give a pretty good depiction of how the wine tastes. If you compare more expensive wines with the less expensive bottles, you may find some that are scored around an 88 or 89, a very good wine, while a lower priced wine may actually receive a score in the 92 to 93 range, which is an outstanding wine. So it seems one can’t really judge a wine by its price.

Do your research

While the scores are merely a suggestion from a wine critic, it always helps to do your own research before you go to the wine store. What kind of wine are you looking for? Is it a Merlot, a Pinot Grigio, or perhaps a Riesling? Learn the regions in which the grapes were grown. What kind of climate did the region have each year? Temperature and humidity have a great effect on the quality of wine from year to year.

Once you have a general idea what type of wine you wish to buy, the scores in that category would be another tool in your research. Now, we just mentioned that scores are only suggestions, but why not try some of the higher scores in the lower price range instead of blindly tasting wine by price alone? There are numerous websites that list the scores for wines, along with their average price. Pick out a few on the list and write the names of the wines down to take along with you to your local wine shop.

Try different vintners

You may have a favorite label, one you turn to time after time, but until you step out of your comfort zone and try other vintners, you will never know if your current favorite is truly the one you enjoy most. More often than not, the less known wine makers, which may be the up and coming stars in the industry, start off with low prices and work their way up each year. Trying smaller vineyards is a great way to save money while picking up the best wines before they become superstars.

What have we learned?

Keeping an open mind is a great way to experience new, fantastic wines while keeping the budget intact. Pay attention to critics scores, but only as a suggestion based on someone’s critique, perhaps one you won’t agree with. Do your research and delve into the growing conditions of a particular vintage. Try new vintners as well as different locations and years of the same wine. Always ask your wine shop agent to suggest something new within your price range. Normally, your local wine shop will have knowledgeable people trained to help you make a decision about your wine selection and will point you in the direction of exciting new wines to explore.

Start at the bottom shelves at your wine shop and work your way up. You’ll never know what treasures you’ll uncover until you start digging!

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The Birth Control Patch Pros and Cons

Birth control is used by women of various childbearing ages. As soon as you get your first period, your body says that it is ready to make a baby. In the great unlikelihood that you are also ready at that point, a method of birth control that can help you is the birth control patch.

 

The birth control patch was introduced in the early 2000s as the Ortho Evra patch.  If you’ve ever seen the commercials, it is marketed to the younger generation. Young adults have a lot going on and it is easy to forget to take a birth control pill every day. As a solution, young women can use a birth control patch to keep from getting pregnant.

 

The patch is a small square that contains two hormones: estrogen and progestin. The hormones are released through the skin when the patch is applied. Each patch is good for one week. After that week is up you apply a new patch for the next week. The fourth week there is no patch because you will experience your period at that time.

 

Wearing the patch means no missed pills and no awkward forms of contraception like the sponge or the ring. You apply it in a certain place and don’t think about it again until it is time to change it. The birth control patch can be applied to the buttocks, the arm, the lower abdomen or the upper body, excluding the breast area.

 

The patch has the same side effects as the contraceptive pill. You may experience heavy bleeding, headaches, bloating, cramping and nausea. The patch isn’t for everyone. For instance, there has been some talk that the patch is not as effective in women who weigh over 200 pounds.

 

Pros of Using the Birth Control Patch:

 

  • The birth control patch will stay on through normal activities including bathing, swimming and sweating.
  • There is nothing to take. Just adhere the patch and let the hormones do the rest.

 

Cons of the Birth Control Patch:

 

  • The levels of estrogen in the patch put women at increased risk for side effects.
  • The patch can come off if you use oils or lotion on or near it. At that point you are unprotected and need a new patch right away.
  • The patch doesn’t protect against sexually-transmitted diseases.
  • The cost can be expensive for a month’s supply (three patches).

 

For the woman constantly on the go with work or a busy social calendar, the patch means less worry about pregnancy. You can put it on and leave it be to do the job.

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How Does A Vineyard’s Region Affect A Wine?

Great wines start with great grapes from great places. With substandard raw ingredients, there is no way to produce anything other than a substandard wine. This being the case, there are a few specific conditions, which make grape growing impeccable. Let’s take a look at these conditions and what other influences different regions have on their wines.

Conditions

Vineyards, more importantly the grapes in those vineyards, need a certain set of conditions to grow optimally. These conditions include a cool breeze off the ocean, infrequent rainfall, rocky soil for good draining, and plenty of sunshine. This is one of the reasons you will hear wine experts talking about a good vintage year due to the seasonal conditions, because ultimately, the body and taste of the wines are based on the conditions the grapes are grown in.

The combination of land, seasonal weather and soil used to produce wines, even has a French designation – terroir. Pronounced [tear-wah], this term is the origin of the word terrain. While you can have the same type of wine, Pinot Noir for example, from three different regions – New Zealand, Burgundy, and California – you can expect to have three different tastes due to the terrain in which the grapes grow.

Regional Differences

How did the community you grew up in shape and mold who you are today? Your appearance, accent, and palate were formed by your exposure to your community, or region, as it were. The same is true for grapes and wine. Each region has people with different techniques for growing grapes and producing wine, usually passed down from generation to generation.

Take, for instance, Champagne. This sparkling beverage was originally produced in Champagne, France with special grapes and innovative techniques. The only true “Champagne” is from this region in France. Any other bubbly wine is actually Sparkling Wine and must be labeled so. This is a case where a community took such pride in protecting the land and developing the traditions used in their specific form of wine making, that no other sparkling wine may be labeled Champagne.

Proud Regions

Since each region has climate differences and commitments to tradition, it’s easy to study the grapes and growing conditions for each region to make categorizations about exactly what regions can produce certain types of wine.

An example is Port from Portugal, where the growers have been producing fortified vineyards for centuries. The region Port comes from, in Douro, has extremely rocky soil with desert like conditions. Port is only made by humans stomping the grapes, which adds to the uniqueness and allows only wine from that region to be called Port.

The regional impact on wines makes a big difference in how a wine tastes and feels. Knowing the conditions the grapes were grown in, how they were processed, and the time-honored traditions of the vintners, allow the consumer to know exactly what to expect with each type of wine. Know the region and know the wine!

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Abstinence: Does it Work in Today’s Society? Part 2

Practicing abstinence doesn’t necessarily mean that the person is a virgin, although many parents would be happy with that scenario until their son or daughter turns fifty! Abstinence can come after a scary time when you thought you were pregnant or you contracted an STD. From that point on you or your child might decide to leave sex alone until they can handle the consequences, whatever they may be.

 

That is, after all, what effective birth control is really all about. It is about having choices and making smart ones. It is about avoiding bringing any child into the world that is not completely wanted. It is also about avoiding pregnancy until you are old enough to handle it physically and emotionally. Most teens are not able to do that.

 

If you are a young person or a parent, know the true meaning of this birth control option before jumping on any moral high horse, and also keep in mind that condoms do protect against many STDs.

 

Sex encompasses any form of penetration. That includes oral and anal sex. You might think that since you can’t get pregnant from these alternatives to vaginal intercourse that you are in the clear.

 

That is not true and doesn’t constitute abstinence. Contracting a sexually transmitted disease is a real possibility with both of these methods. Think about this too – certain STDs can prevent you from ever having a baby in the future as well, once you eventually did decide you wanted one.

 

For abstinence to work, it has to be understood by both people in the relationship. This avoids those sexually tense situations where it is harder to back off once things get started down the road of intimacy.

 

Abstinence is still practiced by many people. It is not necessarily staying away from sex until you are married, but until you are ready to handle the responsibility of pregnancy or other negative costs.

 

When you are truly ready, you will know. Until then, enjoy life and other parts of a relationship that so easily can become clouded by the activity of intercourse.

 

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Abstinence: Does it Work in Today’s Society? Part 1

As a parent, you are naturally concerned about your daughter getting pregnant. A daughter is concerned about that and also the risk of acquiring a sexually-transmitted disease. For some, the answer lies not in conventional birth control but abstaining from sexual activity altogether.

 

Abstinence is saying no to sex until you are ready. Over the years, there has been a debate amongst parents, their children and medical professionals as to how effective the abstinence message can be.

 

With the high incidence of teen pregnancy, condoms were available in health clinics. Some parents thought their teens were being encouraged to have sex as a result of this availability.

 

Medical professionals wanted to keep them safe from pregnancy and things that were much worse, and could not understand what all the fuss was about.

 

As a man or a woman, teen or adult, sexual activity carries with it some risks. A person with multiple partners increases their risk of pregnancy and sexually-transmitted diseases with each new contact, even with protection. There is also the reality that even if you are being faithful, your partner may not be.

 

The only foolproof method of birth control and avoiding STDs is abstinence. But, is it a choice that is still possible?

 

The answer is yes, of course. Abstinence will be a part of various stages of a person’s life and is a conscious choice.

(Continued in Part 2)

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