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29 | O akville B eaver | T hursday,D ecem ber 27,2018 insidehalton.com OFFICE: 905-335-4102 info@roccasisters.ca www.roccasisters.ca BURLOAK REAL ESTATE SERVICES INDEPENDENTLY OWNED & OPERATED BROKERAGE RoccaSistersTV.ca LIFETIME MEMBER 2018 A heartfelt Thank you to all of you for your support & referrals in 2018. We look forward to continuing to serve you & your family in 2019. Happy New Year!From our family to yours,WISHING YOU ALL THE BEST IN 2019 As the minutes tick down to midnight, the anticipation rises. The coming of the New Year brings with it promises of fresh starts and new begin- nings -- a clean slate as the calendar turns over. Around the world, people will be popping the bubbly in celebration of the year gone by. Breaking out the spar-the year gone by. Breaking out the spar-the year gone by. Breaking out the spar kling wine is ingrained in the New Year's celebration, so you may as well do it the right way. "Sparkling wine is not quite like other wines," says Gillian Minaker, Estate Som- melier at Lakeview Wine Co."From the way it is handled to how it is served, it requires some unique special attention and care." The first step is understanding that sparkling wine is so much more than a celebratory drink. Gillian offers the follow-celebratory drink. Gillian offers the follow-celebratory drink. Gillian offers the follow ing tips for ensuring you and your guests get the most out of your bubbles. Storage Stored properly, a sparkling wine can keep and age nicely for 15 years or more. Chances are, your storage of the wine will be more short term, but it is still important to store it properly. You want to keep spar-to store it properly. You want to keep spar-to store it properly. You want to keep spar kling wine in a cool, dark place where the temperature will be consistent. If you are just holding on to it for a couple of days, it is OK to leave the bottle standing up, but longer term is should be laid down on its side. Temperature Sparkling wine is at its best when served cold. Properly chilled for approxi- mately four hours, the ideal service tem- perature should be between six and 10 degrees Celsius. In a pinch, you can keep it in the freezer for an hour or so before serving or pop it outside for a quick chill, but be warned, if you open your bubbly be- fore it has chilled enough the "pop" will be quite loud! Our advice is to keep your spar-quite loud! Our advice is to keep your spar-quite loud! Our advice is to keep your spar kling in an ice bucket and once the cork is popped to ensure the most enjoyment. Opening It may be fun to literally "pop" the cork and let it fly, but it is also quite dangerous. It could put a hole in your ceiling, break a light or, at worst, seriously injure your-a light or, at worst, seriously injure your-a light or, at worst, seriously injure your self or one of your guests. The best way to open a bottle of bubbly is to remove the foil and wire cage and drape a clean towel over the top of the bottle. Grasp the cork in one hand and the bottom of the bottle in the other, and slowly twist the bottle with your lower hand. You should feel the cork start to give, and you can slowly twist them apart. A distinctive "pop" will let you know the cork is free. Glassware The vessel you use to enjoy your wine will greatly influence the experience. Sparkling wine is no different. Quite of-Sparkling wine is no different. Quite of-Sparkling wine is no different. Quite of ten, you will see sparkling wine served in a skinny flute, -- great for preserving the bubbles -- or a wide, shallow coupe releasing the aromas. However, neither is ideal to fully enjoy both the bubbles and the aromas of the wine. A classic tulip glass has a narrow base for funneling the bubbles, a wide bowl for collecting the aromas and a mouth just big enough to allow you to enjoy both. Pouring There is an art to pouring the perfect glass of sparkling wine. It is actually a two- step process. Start by pouring about an inch of wine into the glass, and wait for the bubbles to subside before topping it up. The glassware should remain upright and the wine should be poured in a steady, even flow so it does not bubble over the sides. Pairings Sparkling wine is not just for celebratory toasts. It is also an exceptional wine for food pairings, so plan your menu accord- ingly. A sparkling white wine is quite nice with buttery and salty flavours. Think clas- sic popcorn as a snack, or cream cheese on crackers topped with a mango chutney. Think also salami, stuffed mushrooms, smoked salmon, caviar or shrimp. On the sweet side, try it with shortbread. A spar-sweet side, try it with shortbread. A spar-sweet side, try it with shortbread. A spar kling rose is fantastic with a brie and pro- sciutto combo, salmon or fresh berries. It is also a great pair with potato chips and, for dessert, chocolate or strawberry cheesecake. However you may enjoy your sparkling wine on New Year's, perhaps the most im- portant thing to remember is to not drink and drive. Please make accommodations or arrangements for your guests, or if you are the one out visiting make you sure plan ahead accordingly to ensure all can have a safe and Happy New Year. For more information, visit lakeviewwineco.com. Advertorial The right way to crack out the bubbly on New Years Eve It seems like every year the colder months are bringing increasing unpre- dictability. From your morning com- mute to local power lines, we know that sudden cold snaps, hail and ice storms can do some serious damage. With this checklist, you'll know how to best ready your home for the coming months. Foundation It's easy to overlook this area, but it's key to start from the bottom up. In times of milder weather, you may not have noticed slight marks in your foun- dation, but now is the time to do a thor- ough check. The warming and cooling over the summer and fall months may have caused the concrete in your foun- dation to expand, contract and poten- tially crack. With a cold winter on its way, it's important to get these cracks fixed so there's no space for snow and ice to get in, potentially creating larger cracks later on. Roof Take a quick look around your attic or crawl space to ensure you have the right amount of insulation between your living space and roof. When your heat is on, you don't want to be trap- ping condensation that may eventually freeze. Pipes Another item on your checklist should be your pipes. Those located on or near exterior walls can freeze and burst throughout the winter, caus- ing havoc to your home. Make sure you consult a professional to confirm your household pipes are in good shape, so you can take on the unexpected with this important behind-the-scenes part of your home's system. Home insurance When inspecting your home, be mindful to prepare for the things you can't guarantee won't happen, like an ice storm that could cause serious damage. Make sure you're covered for the unexpected. With PC Home Insur- ance, you can determine the best plan for your family. (NC) How to prepare your home for the cold