How to Select Wine

If you are at the wine store and want to purchase something to put in your new wine cooler what do you do when all you have to go by is the label?

The Wall Street Journal recently wrote a wonder guide on what a wine label can tell you.

I find the follow tips to be very helpful.

Vintage: Most stores stock wine that is meant to be drunk right away. So if you see a 5 year old Pinot Grigio you should move on to the next bin.

Alcohol Content: Look for wines with an alcohol content of 14% or less. Wines with higher alcohol content tend to be unbalanced.

Cute Critters: Inexpensive wines with cute animals should also be avoided – especially if the critter has a long story. There are some exceptions to this rule such as Stag’s Leap or Iron Horse.

Estate Bottled: It’s generally a good sign when the people who made the wine also had a hand in growing the grapes on their own land.

Phone Number: A highly personal winery will print their phone number on the label with an invitation to call. Be mindful that you may have to search some very fine print to find it.

Other Details: If the winery adds extra information such as harvest date or when the wine was disgorged then you know that they are trying to communicate with the consumer.

January 18, 2009

Bosch and Siemens Dishwashers Recalled

BSH Home Appliance Corp. has recalled almost 476,500 Bosch and Siemens dishwashers due to a fire hazard.

30 fires have been reported from an electrical component overheating.

The models in the recall were sold between May 1999 and December 2006.

To find your model and serial number look on the side of the door.

If you have one of the models listed, stop using it immediately and call 1-800-856-9226 to schedule your free repair.

January 8, 2009

Electrolux Aurora Induction Cooktop

I think Australians have a different idea of low-profile design than we do here. The new Aurora Induction cooktop from Electrolux is called low-profile but it stands two inches tall. I think this makes cleaning more difficult but many people are excited about the look of the Aurora.

The Aurora cooktop stands out from other cooktops with it’s LED perimeter lighting and case of white Corian. The unit is controlled by a touch pad on the white patterned glass top.

The cooktop received an Australian Design Mark. It retails (in Australia only) for $10,000 AUD or approximately $7,050 USD.

Many descriptions I have read describe the Aurora as an appliance that is ideal for open design plans. Even though the unit has a child safety lock, the installation shown is not considered safe for people walking past the rear of the island. They could potentially be burned by steam or grease.

Another thing to consider before splurging on this cooktop is that Corian is not heat resistant.

While induction cooktops are known for not putting out heat; you should be aware that after the food gets hot it will radiate heat to the pot. If the pot is warm enough and comes in contact with the Corian base, you could scorch it.

December 15, 2008

Electrolux Icon Kitchen Contest Winner Named

Electrolux named Marcello Zuffo as the Grand Prize Winner with his futuristic kitchen entry. The conceptual kitchen has movable components that can be reconfigured to adapt to the task at hand and is a sculptural component to a typically rectangular space.

“As a city dweller myself, I congratulate Marcello for addressing lack of space with a completely unique concept,” said Cindy Allen, judge and editor-in-chief of Interior Design Magazine. “The jury especially loved the ‘knuckle,’ which swivels, and allows the kitchen to serve utilitarian and sculptural purposes simultaneously.”

In its second year, the design competition, challenged members of the architect and design community to present innovative, thoughtful concepts for a kitchen that meets the changing needs of today’s modern family.

Marcello is a Senior Designer at Motorola’s Consumer Experience Design Group (CXD)

Congrats Marcello!