Manhattan Renters Insurance

1. I don't need renters insurance because my landlord/building owner is covered. The fact is that the landlords policy will cover only the landlord's structural damage to the building (or house) itself, not the personal items of the tenants. The tenant is responsible for his/her own insurance if they want coverage.

2. It is out of my price range. Is $10 or $20 per month too much? In most cases in New York City you can get coverage for your possessions for as little as $120 for the entire year. Additionally, most policies will also come with coverage for liability in the event you are sued if someone slips and falls in your apartment, which could be a huge financial burden without the proper coverage in place.

3. My stuff really isn't worth much. You might be surprised at how quickly all those books, CDs, and kitchen appliances add up. According to a well known insurance company, most people own more than $20,000 worth of property. Additionally, although your personal items may be older, many policies will cover you for replacement cost of your items-meaning that the insurance company will replace your covered items at today's prices, not the depreciated value of the items. This is a very valuable part of the coverage and should not be overlooked.

4. I'm in a great building and I'm not worried about security or being robbed. Many policies will extend beyond on premises theft and hazards. For example, if a suitcase or camera is stolen while vacationing, you will likely be covered. The same is true with regard to items stolen out of your car. Additionally, you are covered for "loss of use" if your apartment becomes uninhabitable due to a covered loss, such as a fire in another apartment.

To find out how much you should be saving on Renters Insurance in NYC, get a free NYC renters insurance quote today.

Premier Insurance Services of New York City is a New York Insurance Company located in downtown Manhattan.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Diane_Frost

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Wine And Oak Barrels

Since Roman times when oak barrels were originally used to transport wine, oak has been used in the wine making process. It enhances the taste and texture of wine in a manner similar to the way the use of spices enhances the flavor of foods. And, like all condiments, should be used sparingly.

Why is oak preferable? Some other woods, chestnut for example, are high in undesirable resins and oils. Some, like pine, are too porous. Oak is not only low in porosity, it can be bent into rounded shapes easily. Oak brings various aromatic qualities to the wine. Those aromas include vanilla, coconut, toast, coffee, cloves, smoke, cedar and tobacco. These aromas bring a distinctive, sweet, creamy nuance to the wine. In addition, the tannin content and mild aromatic compounds harmonize with the wine. In excess of 99.9 percent of wine barrels are made of oak.

Even though oak is less porous than other woods, it still does not provide an air-tight environment for the wine. Microscopic amounts of oxygen can enter the barrel and soften the contents. Water and alcohol can also evaporate through the wood causing the flavor to become more concentrated. This maturation process within the oak barrels is essential for red wines made from more intense grapes such as Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz. With white wines, it is better for enhancing neutral grapes such as Chardonnay rather than the more aromatic ones like Riesling.

There are several factors that vintners must consider when selecting oak barrels for aging. One is the size of the barrel since a smaller barrel presents a greater ratio of wood surface to wine allowing for the wine to extract more aromatic compounds from the oak. Another is the age of the oak since older oak has less aromatic influence. And not all oaks are alike, therefore, certain species are more desirable. American Oak, for example, is fast growing and wide grained compared with European brown oaks which grow more slowly and have a tighter grain and add more tannin to the wine.

A final consideration is the method by which the barrel itself is made. American oak is often kiln dried while French oak is split along the grain and seasoned outdoors thus creating very different tastes. Since wine is made from only one raw material, grapes, it is generally only the oak that provides a foreign seasoning. None of these various factors necessarily make a wine superior or inferior. For most of us, it is personal preference that counts.

For wine storage and accessories, please visit http://www.wineracksemporium.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Molly_Jewett

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Winemaking: Oak Barrels and Wine

Many of us know that most quality wines are matured in oak barrels. But the question is why? What are the benefits and disadvantages?

Aging wine in barrels has been used by wine makers for many years now. After the alcoholic fermentation is finished, the wine is getting rack to remove the heavier lees, the young wine is usually harsh, raw and "green" and needs time to settle. The aging process is usually done in neutral containers such as stainless steel, cement vats, old large casks, etc. or in new or used wood barrels which are not neutral, but will help developing wine.

The wine barrels are mainly used to store wine, others for fermentation the wines as well. Each different wine barrel company uses a different kind of wood and techniques to make the barrels. Aging the wine in the oak barrels has two main purposes:

1st is slowly maturating and micro-oxidation of the wine, which will help some of phenol compounds in wine to partly polymerize and later precipitate. This very gradual oxidation resulting decreased astringent and increased color and stability especially in red wines

2nd is to add some oak flavors and phenol's into the wine, which will make the wine more complex and give some mouthful to the finished wine. One of the main indicators for red and some of the white wine's quality is the balance between grape variety aromas and oak flavors.

Wooden wine barrels is not easy to keep in good condition, because it's really hard to keep them sanitized, especially without any storage solution, later this can cause leaks.

The oak tree used to build the wooden barrels is generally European (mainly French and Hungarian) and American oak. American oak has a heavier oak aroma and harsh phenol's compare to the European especially the French oak, which has more sweet and vanilla tones due to the American oak.. The experienced wine taster can easily make the differences between wines, which are aged in American or French oak barrels.

The chemistry of the oak barrel can give differing portions and characteristics of flavor and texture based upon the barrel producing techniques and different type of oak used. American oak (Quercus Alba) vs. French oak (Quercus Robur), sawn vs. hand-split, air-drying vs. kiln drying of the wood staves, and the use of steam, boiling water, natural gas, or wood fire to bend the staves are usually being among the most significant variables in the making process. As you know, the barrel makers along with wine producers across the world carry widely varying opinions about the greatest way to create a wine barrel!

Petar Kirilov is a founder of VinoEnology, website that offers unique Winemaking Calculators, Business Directory, Wine News, Videos and a B2B Marketplace where wine professionals can promote and market their company, wine barrels, wines, real estates, wine jobs, and services for Free.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Petar_Kirilov

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Enjoying The Taste Of Chianti Classico Wine

by Valeria Zavadnikova

Wine is one of those alcoholic drinks which can add subtle glamour to any party or occasion. With numerous varieties available in the market, it is easy to get confused about the best blend and aroma. Depending on the type of grape used, region of production, alcohol content, etc. Wine can be classified into various types.

Each region has its own criteria for categorizing their wine. The taste of the wine is influenced by factors such as the terroir, grape type and quality, method of production, age of wine and so on. Wine can also be made using other fruits such as apples and elderberries.

Chianti Classico wine
One of the popular types of wine is the Chianti wine which originates in the Chianti region, in Tuscany. This wine offers a high degree of flexibility in its blending and composition, thus resulting in a wide range of Chianti wines. A premium quality Chianti wine is the Chianti Classico wine.

Chianti Classico wine is medium-bodied with a tendency to have firm to medium tannins. The wine can have high to medium-high acidity content. The characteristic aromas of this wine include slight nutty, cherry and floral notes. As regards the flavour of the wine, it varies according to the region of produce and the age of the wine.

Taste depending on the region:
- The wine produced in the Castellina region has a extremely subtle flavour and aroma.
-If produced in Castelnuovo Berardegna, the wine has the ripest and most savoury taste as compared to the wine produced in other areas.
- The wine produced in Gaiole can be distinguished by their firm tannins and structure.
- The highly concentrated flavour is the distinguishing feature of the wine produced in the Greve region.

Taste depending on the age:
- If the wine is young, it has a predominantly spicy cinnamon and floral bouquet.
- If the wine is matured, the taste reveals a hint of leather and tobacco notes, as well.

Nowadays, it is exceedingly easy to purchase a bottle of Chianti Classico wine. One can place an online order with the many websites that deal in wines. As most of these sites offer home delivery of the product, the customer is assured of speedy and safe delivery of their purchase. You can check out some of the most authentic websites having information regarding their product, to let you get an idea about it before you actually make the purchase.

About the Author

Valeria Zavadnikova is the owner of Montemaggio services. She has years of experience in dealing with this kind of services. The Montemaggio Estate is located in the Commune of Radda in Chianti in the heart of the Chianti Classico region. It is situated where once a 14th century tower stood above the old Roman road between Siena and Florence. Montemaggio also features on a map, dating back to 1560, of the “Captains of the Guelph Party” that is housed in the Podestria DI Radda. The name Montemaggio derives from “Monte maggiore” (Big Mountain) which indicates its elevated location.

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Factors to Look for in Quality Wines

by Stephen John

Wine is known to be an acquired taste. It's an art and a skill to connoisseurs, an investment for collectors, a delicacy for wine drinkers, but a mystery to newbies. With so many makers, brands, and types of it nowadays, how can consumers know which would fare better than other? How would you differentiate from quality ones from substandard bottles? For experienced wine drinkers and connoisseurs, this is already familiar territory. For new explorers, here are some good tips to consider when looking for good quality wines in the market.

Quality with Age
The thing to understand when choosing wines is that some are better with age while some bottles are meant to be enjoyed once you have purchased them. And not all of them are great with age. You'll know if wine is good to drink by reading the label. On the label you can find the recommended bottling period so you'll know when is the best time to drink it, when it has matured and developed the ideal taste.

But of course, proper wine storage must be taken into consideration. If you store wine in unsuitable environment, taste and quality might be altered. If you're going to buy wine and let it age, make sure you know the proper environmental conditions for wine storage. In this way, you can retain the quality and value of wine.

Wine Region
Wines can differ in taste and quality if you factor in the climate and environmental conditions of the region where the grape was cultivated. For example, a Shiraz wine produced in the Northern wine regions of Australia differ from the Shiraz produced in the South of Australia. Wines from cooler regions have slightly different characteristics from wines from warmer regions. But popularity of the wine region can also be a factor in quality. For example, the Bordeaux region in France is a popular wine region because of their delicious and impressive wine production.

The difference between buying wine and buying any other commodity is that you have to take into consideration several aspects including price. You can easily buy beer based on brand or the advertisement you saw on television. But with wine, you will have to be informed about it more before buying. What differentiates experienced wine drinkers from inexperienced ones is the knowledge of the wine they're buying. Inexperienced consumers just buy based on familiarity of the brand while the more knowledgeable drinkers look closer at the labels to assess the value of the product.

Price
In every kind of product, quality comes with a higher price. Wine can be really expensive if you consider the high-quality brands. But there are good ones that are priced reasonably if you want to enjoy good quality wines at more affordable prices. You can perhaps set aside the more expensive wines for special occasions.
Knowing where to get bargain prices for quality wines will help you enjoy spending less for good value. Buying online will also be a good idea, what with cheaper prices made available by suppliers and retailers. You'll probably have the chance to buy the best Australian rose wine, for example, at a cheaper price online than in local stores. In this way, you'll enjoy wine drinking more, knowing you got it for less.

About the Author

Stephen John is a food and wine enthusiast. He blogs about food, wine, and culture and writes wine reviews for a living. He loves to travel and try exotic cuisines of different countries. He recommends www.winemarket.com.au for quality wines at bargain prices.

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