With everything going on, it can be difficult to muster up the creative juices to figure out how to celebrate holidays like Valentines Day or Galentines Day… BUT, this year we need LOVE more than ever... sooooo we decided to do the heavy lifting for you this holiday!
We popped some bottles and brainstormed, social-distanced, of course, to come up with some creative, yet easy ideas how you can SAFELY celebrate your love this year. Whether you’re spending Valentine’s day with your spouse or just the girls, it turns out that you can still make date nights FUN and SAFE!
Wine & Art go together like Wine & Cheese! Book a live art class at the remarkable The Art Studio NY. You can gift it or, even better, you can DO IT TOGETHER over the Valentine’s Day weekend. They are offering online LIVE sessions for students with any level of art experience that weekend or on an ongoing basis.
And if you think you are not an artist, take a look at the drawing our founder, Jessica Bell, did just last week after just one class. Jessica hasn't taken an art class since Middle School AND would've been voted least likely to become an artist, had that been a thing, but she agreed to check out these classes with her dad as a part of the research for this blog. To her amazement, her drawing actually looks like an apple! Better yet, she said it was such a fun way to spend time with her Dad, and a great escape from this crazy, crazy world!
And don’t forget a bottle of wine! We recommend some delicious art-inspired wines to complete the theme. All of the following wines have a special focus on art, whether it is their art-inspired label or their a special art collection at their winery. Jessica has either visited these wineries or has a special connection to each one, and can assure you are the perfect pairing for an art & wine date night!
Did you know YOU can rent out a movie theatre? Many theatres are renting out their space to avid movie goers for surprisingly reasonable prices! Call your local theatre to see if this is an option for your romantic valentines day date. Most allow you to bring in your own wine. Grab a bottle of wine and your stackable wine glasses from HaloVino to make wine taste great, and escape to a time when going to the movies wasn’t such a “production”!
Where do you want to go? Was a recent trip cancelled or put on hold? Grab a couple bottles of wine from that state or country... or maybe one you've always wanted to visit! Get comfy on the couch with your wine, an ipad and your travel buddy. You can travel the world from your couch as you sip on the wines for inspiration, and make plans for future travel… real or imagined! Once you're ready to travel again, your trip will be all planned for you. We all need a little hope on the horizon, and a trip is the perfect mental escape for us during these challenging times.
We love using our shatterproof wine glasses from HaloVino when we are lounging on the couch, drinking wine. Those top heavy, glass wine glasses are such a liability. To help you plan and enjoy your wine in style, check out our Valentine's Day specials below!
If drinking wine on the couch is more your thing than planning a trip, Jessica will be leading a small group through Spanish wine country in May 2022. You can leave the planning to her! They will visit the best, and most exclusive wineries, and dine at the country’s most notable restaurants. After 2 years living there, and guiding trips there for a decade, Jessica knows how to show her guest a good time in Spain! Salud! Interested? Email jessica.bell at halovino.com
We hope the ideas above inspire some ideas of your own. Whatever you decide to do, don’t forget the wine… and your HaloVino in its reusable, washable canvas tote. Perfect for enjoying wine on-the-go in a sustainable manner!
We've pulled together a special LOVE DAY six-pack with two of of our favorite logo'd stackable wine glasses from our wedding pack: DRUNK IN LOVE and WINE IS PATIENT, WINE IS KIND (see images below). Just add the WEDDING 6-pack to your cart and enter Code: TotesinLove to get the limited edition Valentine's Day 6-pack with just the 2 logos pictured delivered to you with a FREE reusable, canvas tote ($6 value!)! OR enter code LOVEDAY20 for 20% off your entire order!
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Cellar Door Sales are often the lifeblood of a winery. And, yet, little research exists on how to increase Cellar Door Sales. What gives?
We got curious. We dug through articles and studies, and found some really interesting data... For instance, did you know that MORE descriptive tasting notes in a tasting room actually led to LOWER tasting room sales? True fact. We were equally shocked!
Our research suggested the following can increase cellar door sales...
Unfortunately, these are outcomes, not strategies. What’s more, they are vague, and quite frankly, obvious. So, we dug deeper.
You already know that strategies designed to create a pleasing, professional and welcoming tasting room and staff are fundamental to achieving these outcomes, but what does a winery do in the new era of COVID, where guests and staff naturally crave less contact, but not less information, attention nor feeling valued?
Based on our research and industry insight, we suggest wineries satisfy, immerse and sell AT the time & place of tasting, EVEN in the absence of staff contact. After all, common sense suggests guests are more likely to complete a purchase when they feel most emotionally connected to wine and/or a winery. A simple plan for increasing cellar door wine sales would be:
Immerse guests in the wine or a winery’s story by connecting them to visuals & videos
Connect guests to online Wine Club enrollment
Incentivize guests to enroll in Wine Club membership with FREE low-cost, high-value gifts.
Thank guests with custom-logoed mementos of their time at the winery.
Interestingly, all of these strategies can be achieved with a simple solution:
QR CODED winery-branded items
strategically placed at tasting tables and bars where guests can use their mobile phones to learn, connect, and/or be rewarded & thanked for their support, all while minimizing contact! Simple, affordable additions to your tasting room like Thank You Notes, Table Tents, Coasters, or Logo'd Wine Glasses WITH QR CODES can provide a greater sense of connection at a time when we all must increase isolation.
We scoured the market for low-cost, wine-relevant, custom-logo’d, & QR-coded solutions… It wasn’t easy, but we identified FOUR! The table below sorts these solutions based on price, and is followed by a more detailed overview of each option.
This strategy is far less complicated to implement in your tasting room than most believe. Click here for our team to send you a step-by-step guide on how to implement a QR coded strategy in minutes.
These shatterproof 12-oz wine glasses are designed to make wine taste and smell great, even when glass is not ideal. With state of the art customization technology, HaloVino can not only print your logo BUT ALSO take the guesswork out of printing your own unique, dynamic QR codes. With a QR code, your guests can learn about the wine, sign up for your wine club, or even order more wine AS THEY ENJOY THEIR VISIT!
HaloVino is also the least expensive of the 4 options, are lightweight & stackable, making them a great sales incentive for wine club enrollment or THANK YOU gifts at tastings and in wine club shippers. Finally, because they are stackable & dishwasher safe, HaloVino can easily be taken home and reused, increasing your brand visibility as its reused at the park, pool, and with friends. Your first case of 144 dishwasher safe HaloVinos is usually FREE ($150) and are also available without QR codes. Our team can send you a digital mock up for free! Contact us if you want a step-by-step guide on using QR codes or to learn more.
A THANK YOU NOTE is a classy, and yet affordable way to connect & immerse your guests in your story, all while making them feel valued and seen. Although this solution is single-use, they do slip easily into wine shippers, and look great alongside a tasting flight. Thank you notes do not come with QR codes automatically, so please reach out to our team to help you easily and quickly integrate QR codes into your next thank you note design. We designed the thank you note to the right and will happily send you a FREE customizable design DOWNLOAD that you can upload to different printing services or even print yourself! Email us for more information!
Coasters go together with tasting bars like wine & cheese! They look great on a bar or table and are a great way to connect with your guests in an organic way. Even better, coasters can be taken home and reused for extended branding & PR exposure for your winery. Like the thank you notes, they do not come with QR codes, but we are standing by to send you steps to DIY. And, as above, feel free to ask us for access to this design so you can quickly customize it and upload to a printing service like this one.
Canvas Wine Totes are probably too expensive to be used as a give away for ALL guests. However, canvas wine totes could be a a really great solution for INCENTIVIZING and THANKING guests AFTER a wine purchase or wine club enrollment. When a QR code is added to the canvas wine tote, a winery could link wine-specific information to a “BUY by the BOTTLE” or “PICNIC PACKAGE” on-site sale program so the guests can learn about the wine as they enjoy it outside or on-the-go. The QR-Coded Canvas Wine Tote could also act as premium wrapping for a purchase whether at the bar or in a wine shipper, and can CONNECT & IMMERSE the guest to the wine’s story and/or to purchase more!
Want to Learn More about Cellar Door Sales? Below are some links for continued reading that we liked when researching ideas for this report.
If you aren't "remembering" wines with tasting notes, it can become impossible to choose wines you love & avoid ones you don't...
The INSIDER'S SECRET is to make the SUBJECTIVE experience of trying wine OBJECTIVE with a TASTING NOTE. And don't worry, your tasting notes needn't resemble a SHAKESPEAREAN SONNET!
Actually, it's easy as 1,2,3...
It's really not that complicated...
The power of self suggestion is enormous in wine tasting! As you sip the wine, ask yourself, "Do I smell/taste FRUIT, EARTH or SPICE?". You can stop there or, if, for example, you said "FRUIT", you can ask yourself, was it CITRUS, TREE (apple/peach), TROPICAL, RED, BLACK or BLUE fruit? Again, you can stop there or dig deeper into each category. Regardless of how detailed you get, any answer will be helpful in understanding which wines you like and dislike.
This process takes all of 2 minutes once you get the hang of it... Take a sip and then use a tasting template like the one below to fill in your answers.
Below are examples of increasingly specific tasting notes of the same wine when someone continued to ask themselves questions about what they were smelling/tasting. NOTE, even the first description is a helpful one and a great starting point!
Once you have the tasting note, you have to complete the most important part... Did you LIKE the wine?
Record your note & preference in your phone's notes or an app designed to catalog your wine notes like Delectable, Vivino or Wine-Searcher.
With your tasting note, you'll be able to "recall" wine long after you tried it!
You'll also see a pattern of wine types/flavors you like/dislike, making it easier for you to be more specific & successful finding wines you LOVE when you're at the retail store or restaurant!
Writing wine tasting notes takes a little practice and setup upfront, but it more than pays for itself when every wine you choose is one you LOVE!
Cheers,
Jessica Bell
Founder & Inventor, HaloVino
]]>Mr. Lid is a dishwasher-safe food storage system with a patented attached leak-proof lid. It comes in a variety of sizes and is perfect for summer outings and everyday food storage! This post was written by the Mr.Lid Team - thank you!
As the weather gets warmer and the days get longer gatherings on the patio are a must! Whether it’s a relaxing afternoon or energetic evening party the time to relish in the joy that is summertime is finally here. We believe that summer entertaining should be stress-free and fun so we are sharing a few simple tips for an effortless patio happy hour.
Our first tip is to get the perfect patio drinkware so you don’t have to stress about broken glass or not having matching glassware for all your guests. Luckily, we found one product that checks both of those boxes and many, many more! Eco-friendly, reusable, affordable and won’t clutter your kitchen cupboards HaloVino is our go-to patio wine glass. Available in 6, 12 or 36 packs they are perfect for any size party.
You might be asking yourself what is HaloVino? Well -- it is a stemless plastic wine glass that not only makes wine taste great but is also stackable, portable, and dishwasher safe. Finally, a patio-friendly wine glass that allows your wine drinking experience to be the way wine makers intended, but without the drag of broken glass or unnecessary waste. Once you’ve tried a HaloVino wineglass you will never go back. Get a set for yourself here.
Step number two for the happiest of happy hours is to prepare an easy appetizer that you can make ahead of time. This recipe for antipasto skewers is perfect – grab the ingredients from your local supermarket and make before your guests arrive. Store your skewers in a Mr. Lid deluxe container and toss them in the fridge until party time.
Setting the mood is our final step to ensure a relaxing patio happy hour party. Keep it low stress by choosing a Pandora playlist and letting the music flow. If you are looking for something mellow but slightly peppier we recommend Hipster Cocktail Party, for a fun throwback party vibe give Yacht Rock a try and if you want to keep things light and casual Cool Jazz is the one. Check out the whole list of summer playlists here.
Summer is here and with these easy tips you’ll be ready to entertain stress-free. When your guests arrive all you need to do is grab your Mr. Lid container from the fridge, your favorite bottle of wine, HaloVino glasses and head to the patio. Cheers to summer and cheers to you!
To purchase Mr. Lid plastic containers for all your needs shop here and for HaloVino products shop here.
Customers of our MOM PACK can designate who the frontline hero is in their life OR request it be donated into our pool of care packs for our giveaway. Cards will be sent with the HaloVino care packs, naming who (YOU!) provided the generosity for their gift of gratitude.
But hurry, because we can only afford to run this offer until May 4, 2020!
These are the TOP 10 Ways to Drink Wine during Quarantine 2020... how many can you check off?
Let us know in the comments your score! Did I miss anything???
What was your score? Let us know in the comments below or on our social media channels @instagram or @facebook!
]]>You mind what you put on your body.
You probably eat all your daily servings of fruits and veggies, and buy organic food as much possible. You know you don’t need those extra pesticides, and neither does the planet!
You’re even aware of your environmental impact when it comes to reducing single use plastic. Look at you… drinking wine out of your HaloVino reusable tumbler, for goodness sake!
Is it organic?
Is it sustainable?
Is it in line with your values as a healthy, conscientious being?
Is that stuff important? It's only wine...
While we worry so much about the food we eat, and how it impacts our health and the environment, the wine we are drinking might be the very thing we should be looking at under a microscope.
Many people believe that wine grapes just grow nicely on the vines, get picked, stomped, fermented in barrels, and then magically turn into the tasty beverage we love so much.
It’s nice "in theory" to think that wineries are not intervening in the natural process of growing grapes, but given the sensitive nature of grape growing, a lot of it does require some level of intervention.
Growing wine is a tough business. Grapevines are susceptible to a wide variety of pests, infections, disease, fungus, and environmental issues. There are so many factors that contribute to the success or the failure of a vineyard, and winemakers do what they can to minimize their risks.
Vineyards, like other agriculture, is evolving in time. Many factors pose challenges for wine producers to grow wine naturally.
As the population increases, the higher the demands on the agriculture industry are to produce a consistent product in volume and quality.
Wine makers are under pressure to produce wines that taste consistent year to year.
Rather than letting nature run its course and celebrating the variation of nature, winemakers often need to use chemicals to ensure high yielding crops with a consistent outcome.
Climate change affects wine production, too. Not only are we seeing lower volumes produced in vineyards, but the plants are becoming less resistant to pests and mildew. The warm air helps grapes to grow faster, but the humidity and rain make them more prone to disease and fungal growth.
Certain varietals are less resistant to pests than others, requiring a lot more chemical pesticides to be used to grow them. These include a number of wine grapes grown in Europe, like Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Reisling.
Back in the good ole’ days, wine growers used to spend more time in the fields with their vines, seeing what they needed and when.
Now, common practice is to just spray everything prophylactically. This impacts human health and the environment. Pesticides affect our air, soil, and water quality, and impact more than just the vineyard they are being used on. Bees, birds, and other helpful critters suffer because of pesticide use.
These toxic chemicals also significantly affect the people working in the fields, tending to and harvesting the grapes used in our wines.
France saw a number of lawsuits emerging several years ago as workers were becoming ill with cancer, Parkinson’s disease, and other chronic conditions from working in the fields. Read more here.
Perhaps this was one of the factors leading France to embrace a more organic strategy.
Wine producers know that it will help their image to go green, or at least to portray the image of sustainability.
Despite its image, France is one of the most prolific users of pesticides in all of Europe. While only 3% of French agricultural land is used for growing wine grapes, this agriculture sector uses 20% of the country’s pesticides.
In 2008, France adopted an aggressive plan to decrease pesticides by 50%. But, instead of declining, national pesticide use increased by 12%, mirroring a rise in farm production. France has, in the last year, taken a new approach and is re-committing itself to becoming more sustainable and less dependent on chemicals to produce wines.
The French government is creating a rigid set of standards with the intent to have 50% of it’s wineries reach environmental certification by 2025.
California, well-known for it’s long stretching rolling hills of wine country, is a big customer to companies selling pesticides and herbicides. Thousands of tons of these chemicals are used in California every year.
Luckily, organizations such as Greenpeace and France Nature Envirronnement, along with consumers, are putting pressure on wine producers to take sustainability seriously.
Most California wine-growers are adopting environmentally-friendly operational standards, too. About 25% of the state’s vineyards are now certified sustainable, and Sonoma is committing to become the first 100% sustainable wine region in 2019.
Australia and New Zealand are following the trend, as well, leaning toward practices that honor soil and water quality, and reduce the use of chemicals.
For the topic of this conversation, we are looking at sustainable wines, which Kendall-Jackson says “aim to have a winemaking process that protects the environment, supports social responsibility, maintains economic feasibility, and produces high quality wines."
"As grapes are grown, harvested, and made into wine, a multitude of environmental factors are prioritized. This includes everything from maintaining biodiversity on vineyards to ensure soil health, to implementing recycling measures that conserve water as grapes are growing, to utilizing renewable energy technology like solar, as wine is being produced.”
When you drink a certified sustainable wine, you can relax and enjoy, knowing that your selected wine was made with care and concern for the environment. Social responsibility, economic viability, and high quality were all taken into account when creating that wine.
Some sustainability-minded winemakers are creating standards that not only reduce the amount of harmful chemicals used in growing and producing wines, but they are looking at their buildings, farming methods, and use of natural resources in addition to pesticide use.
Living building tasting rooms, dry farming, and no-till agriculture are a few measures that green minded wine producers are pursuing. Read more here.
Many sustainable wine makers are considering bottle sources, as well as using glass stoppers instead of cork, which is a limited resource. Many also consider the impact of the land in surrounding vineyards and rural areas.
A Melbourne biochemist has even worked out how to turn wine waste into biofuel. Talk about sustainability!
"It's complete cycle production, with every stage of the winemaking journey accounted for.”
What should we be drinking now?
The Zoe report suggests making friends with your local wine shop owner. They should know which wines are sustainable and good tasting.
They also recommend choosing American wines, as standards vary country to country.
The Zoe Report also suggests that you opt for wines that are labeled organic, biodynamic, or sustainable. "Those looking for more eco-friendly wine options can consider a few factors: organic, biodynamic, and (generally) sustainable."
"Organic is focused on the purity of ingredients, little synthetic materials added, biodynamic is about overall holistic agricultural health and follows the cycles of the moon, and sustainable is all about mitigating and reducing waste in winemaking," she explains. "All three practices are a step forward in social and environmentally friendly winemaking and should be supported by consumers."
According to Fast Company, these are ten best choices for sustainable wines:
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HaloVino makes drinking wine easy and convenient from Labor Day picnics to Halloween trick-or-treating with the kids.
Grab your HaloVino and enter "TOGO" at checkout and you will receive a FREE zipper top, water-resistant, dishwasher-safe HaloTote. HaloTotes are a convenient way to carry, return and wash HaloVino wine glasses.
]]>Summertime is great, isn’t it?
But, after ten weeks of quality time with the kiddos, playing event coordinator and camp counselor, we’re pretty certain we can all agree… the first day back to school is a fabulous moment every year.
It's the big reward of our undivided attention for ten long weeks, when parents can take a deep breath, get a little "me time" back into the schedule, and put routine back into daily life.
The final few weeks of summer is abuzz with buying and organizing school supplies, uniforms or school clothes and shoes, required books and equipment, and all that other stuff. Cramming in school haircuts, school check-ups, after-school schedule planning. It’s exhausting, right!?
The first day of school comes and it’s exciting, terrifying, and oh so very rewarding.
Time for a glass of midday rose to toast to YOU for getting through it all! Congrats, parents!
Once the dust has settled, and you've recovered from the whirlwind, and you've sipped your celebratory bubbly in your HaloVino shatterproof tumbler, time to bring the kids' school & lunch supplies up to your level of coolness with reusable, environmentally friendly gear.
Time to go next level with being your amazing mindful-mom self.
These days, many students take reusable, insulated water bottles to school. Beyond the obvious fact that single use plastic water bottles are wasteful and bad for the environment, insulated water bottles offer a number of benefits.
No one uses paper bags anymore or plastic zip lock bags for lunch, right? Ok. Just making sure. Reusable, insulated lunch boxes are where it's at.
Zip lock baggies get used once, perhaps for only a few hours, and go into the trash can. It requires resources to produce plastic, money to buy it, and energy to dispose of it. Plastic baggies can take hundreds of years to degrade.
How many plastic zip locks do you use daily? weekly? annually? They add up!
Make the switch to reusable, washable zip lock bags. With a small, up-front investment, you can use these bags for years, and buy little to no disposable bags throughout the year. In the long run, you will save quite a bit of cash this way!
Purchase a few sets with a variety of sizes so that you have a rotation to use today while yesterday’s dry on the dish rack.
Some recommended brands include: Square one, QOGIR, Bumkins, and Anlomi.
Watch for HaloVino zipper baggies, coming soon on our online shop. These will double as kids' lunch bags and your HaloVino tote!
Keep a variety of containers on hand for all types of foods. Leftovers and hot food goes great in thermoses, while cold food and sandwiches can be sent to school in clear, BPA free plastic containers with lids.
Sectioned containers with sealed lids are perfect for dual part snacks like hummus and veggies, chips and guacamole, or cheese and crackers.
Plastic utensils are used only once and thrown away. Like all other single use plastics, the amount of resources and energy required to produce, transport, and dispose of is massive in comparison to the amount of time they are used.
Additionally, they just are not necessary.
Purchase an inexpensive set of reusable utensils for your student, and teach them to be responsible for their equipment. Utensils are used, then go back into their cases and into their lunchbox…not in the garbage.
Try these handy sets from Pottery Barn Kids.
If your student eats food from the cafeteria, send a set of utensils each day in a case with a carabiner so that they can connect the set to their clothing before and after use.
Kids go to school about 180 days a year. Save the earth from 180 plastic forks and spoons per year by supplying a set of reusable ones.
Does your school send home a list of required school supplies to purchase each year? Or the option to purchase ready-made supply kits? How convenient!
But, what do you do with all the half-used (or completely unused) compositon books, binders, poly folders, sketch books, pens and pencils, and other supplies? They just go to waste each year when the new lists come in.
Take inventory before buying everything on that list. See what can be reused. Maybe ripping a few scribbled pages out of a notebook will make it like new. Or, wiping off a sharpie mark from a poly folder will give that folder another year.
Think twice about throwing out perfectly useful supplies just because they are not brand new. Can they be re-purposed? Perhaps they can be used in this year’s art projects? Can they be donated to the school, or to local rescue organizations?
When they are definitely not able to be used again by anyone, be sure to recycle what you can.
How many dead markers have you tossed in your kids’ lifetime? Guess what? All of those markers didn’t have to go to the landfills! Crayola ColorCycle is an amazing program devised to repurpose used markers rather than sending them to landfills.
The ColorCycle program has repurposed more than 70 tons of expended markers in the United States and Canada since 2013, and uses the most advanced plastic conversion technologies available today to make wax compounds for asphalt and roofing shingles as well as to generate electricity that can be used to heat homes, cook food, and power vehicles.
Check out how you can recycle all of your old markers here.
Don’t throw away old clothes and shoes. Textile pollution is a huge problem, though there is very little awareness about it. Read more about it here.
An obscene amount of water is required to produce cotton garments, and textile production contributes to pesticide use throughout the world. Polyester fabrics release micro plastics into our water systems.
In a world where we discard old garments the moment they become worn, and buying new garments is so easy and affordable, we tend not to think so much about the impact of our textile consumption.
Teach your kids to swap clothes, wear hand-me-downs, and repurpose clothes, shoes, and bags to be responsible fashionistas.
Enjoying wine while you are with your kids is a good idea... as long as you are drinking responsibly.
Part of drinking responsibly is modeling behaviors you are teaching them... which means drinking out of a reusable wine tumbler, never out of a single-use plastic cup. HaloVino offers you that valuable opportunity!
Who knew that sipping your wine could actually offer an opportunity to talk to your kids about reusing materials, and being a conscious steward for the environment!? Win, win!
Cheers to that!
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At HaloVino, we love our wine just as much as we love our eco-friendly, non-breakable wine glasses. Once you’ve read through our wine blog, make sure you order some reusable wine glasses for all your Labor Day celebrations!
Did you know that the first Labor Day was celebrated on Tuesday, September 5, 1882 in New York City? Since then, Labor Day provides the country an opportunity to appreciate the achievements and hard work of American workers.
So, in tribute of the state that brought us all an extra-long weekend every year, we thought we’d pay tribute to New York wine on our wine blog.
The Dr. Konstantin Frank Dry Riesling 2017 is a classic New York wine with an amazing New York history.
In 1951, Dr. Konstantin Frank immigrated to America from the Ukraine to work as a janitor for the Geneva Experiment Station at Cornell University. But he was also concerned about wine production in America, thinking that the failure of wines in New York was due to the wrong choice of vine. He believed that the Vitis vinifera vines, the same ones he knew from Europe, would work better than the American ones being used in Finger Lakes.
Eventually, Dr. Frank was able to share his idea with Charles Fournier — a French Champagne maker — when he was hired by Fournier. In just one decade, Dr. Frank was producing quality wines like:
Through his vine knowledge, Dr. Frank was able to increase the wine industry in Finger Lakes. In the 20th century, the region became known as the central area of New York’s wine industry.
If you’re looking for a dry Riesling at a great price, grab a bottle of Hermann J. Wiemer Dry Riesling 2017.
The Herman J. Wiemer Vineyard was started by Hermann Wiemer when he emigrated from Germany and settled west of Seneca Lake in New York. With him, he brought a variety of Euopean vinifera grapevines to produce his wine.
This Riesling provides a crisp and fruity taste that’s perfect for any Labor Day weekend event and works well with a wide range of food options.
If you’re hosting a BBQ or get together this Labor Day, you can never go wrong with a bottle of Rosé. We love this Wolffer Estate Rose 2018 from Long Island, New York.
This wine is made on The Wolffer Estate, nestled in the heart of the Hamptons. The combination of local soil — Bridgehampton loam — and the glacial moraine that formed Long Island are what allow the grapevines to flourish.
This wine has a unique and beautiful orange, copper hue that combines with the aromas of apples and ripe pears. Your guests will love looking at this Rosé as much as they love drinking it!
We hope that, through our wine blog, you learned a little more about the history of Labor Day and some of our favorite New York-made wines. This Labor Day weekend, make sure you grab a bottle of American made wine and celebrate with your friends and family.
But don’t break out your glass or disposable wine glasses for your Labor Day parties! Instead, go with a more sustainable option. Order our six-pack of non-breakable wine glasses from HaloVino. Each glass is reusable, recyclable, and stackable to make your Labor Day party that much better.
Make sure you follow our wine blog for more wine pairing and picks — and let us know what you think about these Labor Day wines in the comments!
]]>It's the perfect time to get outside.
Right now seems like the perfect time to take advantage of the end of summer perfection, and host an outdoor party!
Maybe you're lucky enough to live in a place where outdoor entertaining is a nearly year round activity.
Maybe you live in Florida, Georgia, or Louisiana... where the thought of outdoor entertaining sounds like a big, hot, sweaty battle with mosquitos. Y'all might need to wait till November to throw a pool party!
Who knows. Maybe you love throwing parties in the winter, getting cozy indoors and watching the snow fall outside. Pool parties and summer BBQ's aren't for everyone. Cheers to winter parties, too.
Regardless of your entertaining style, menu, or time of year for party-throwing, we want to share some key ways to stay cool and conscious, and to avoid being "trashy" at your events.
In the previously published article about summer entertaining,
we offered some alternatives to grilling. Cheese & wine is always a low-stress and well received way to feed guests at a party. Potlucks make parties interesting and interactive, and take some of the heat off the host.
But, the ultimate party pleaser is a good grill-out, with a smorgasbord of delicious charred meats, seafood, and veggies to impress everyone invited!
Do you know that your food choices actually play an important role on a global scale? The future is in your hands, Miss Hostess-with-the-Mostess and Mister Grill-Master.
Choosing pasture-raised, natural meats and grass-fed beef over standard, commodity beef actually matters.
Select free range natural or organic poultry and pork that has not been given hormones or antibiotics.
So many of the chemicals and pharmaceuticals used and produced in standard agriculture is harmful to our health, and disrupts the purity of our soil, water, and air quality.
You don't need to break the bank to buy high quality natural and organic products for your party.
Check out Costco's organic, grass-fed ground beef or organic chicken.
Grocery stores often offer natural and organic products at a variety of prices.
Check out your local farmers market or butcher, and get to know what cuts of meat are the most economical.
The future of our oceans' health and fish availability depends on every person making a commitment to choosing sustainable seafood.
It used to seem more clear cut in choosing the right seafood. Wild was considered "good" and farm raised was "bad." Unfortunately, the distinction is not so black and white.
Certain fish populations are dwindling. Others are thriving thanks to regulations, and sometimes sustainable fisheries. It all depends on the fish, where it's from, how it's raised and/or fished, and timing.
For the most up-to-date information available, refer frequently to the Monterey Bay Aquarium's Seafood Watch. This is a recognized and respected reference that is frequently updated, and can easily be accessed online.
Before your next dinner party, check to make sure that the seafood you're serving will make your mother (nature) happy, and impress your guests with your thoughtfulness and eco-consciousness.
Going vegetarian is always going to be the healthiest option for the planet. If you can, do it! If you absolutely must throw some meat on the barbie... just make sure you are selecting with deliberate care for your guests and the planet. And go heavy on the veggies. They are delicious on the grill!
Yes, we know it’s convenient to throw everything away after a party. Who wants to be a slave to the dish basin following a big party? There’s pool towels to wash, the deck to scrub, the sunset to enjoy, and half empty bottles of rose to finish.
But, in case you haven’t heard... single-use plastics are so last-century. Social responsibility is IN, as are re-usable materials and sustainable choices.
There’s a wide variety of reusable to choose from. From these basic white melamine plates at Target for $.79 each, to fancier options like these pottery barn outdoor plates, there are countless options for you to keep costs down while keeping outdoor entertaining fashionable and convenient.
You don’t need to break the bank to host sustainable parties. Actually, in the long run, buying reusable items will save you money. No need to keep buying things that go in the garbage.
More importantly, you are saving needless plastic waste from entering our landfills and oceans.
Good job, you.
If you absolutely do need to use disposable plates, go paper. Paper plates without a coating with degrade quickly. You can even compost them!
Never plastic, and ABSOLUTELY never, ever styrofoam.
You might be able to convince us on the plates if you really put up a fight, but single-use utensils are just plain silly. There is literally nothing easier to throw in a dishwasher or a bin of soapy water than utensils.
Plastic can take 500, and up to 1000, years to decompose.
Imagine that. Because you don’t want to wash a few dirty forks after a party, you throw a bunch of plastic “away” to sit in landfills for 1000 years.
Now that you know this, you are kinda obligated to change your ways and take responsibility for your utensils. How can you not?
Here are a few inexpensive options to explore.
Buy a decorative basket or silverware caddy that fits the outdoor theme, and you're suddenly such a fancy host.
Trust us.
Once you ditch the single-use disposable forks, you’ll never know how or why you ever used them for parties.
You’ll be so elevated... and the environmentally coolest!
Nope. No more. No way, Jose. These are just not appropriate for pool parties anymore.
Every year we use approximately 1.6 million barrels of oil just for producing plastic water bottles. These single-use plastic bottles can take over 450 years to decompose. As they do, they disintegrate into micro plastics that pollute our soil and water.
(Want to know more about how long it takes for things to break down? We did, too. Check out this list here.)
Pro-tip: Invest in a water dispenser like this, or this one from Home Depot (about the same cost as a few flats of water bottles) and fill it with ice water at parties. Get crazy and add some fresh fruit or citrus to really spruce up your ice water game. Put a stack of reusable cups next to it, and VOILA! You’re the hippest host around.
Earth-friendly cups
Remember those bright red solo cups you drank from at college keg parties? Yes, let’s remember them as something from college, and not something that has any place at your sophisticated, big-girl house party or backyard BBQ soiree.
I wonder how many disposable cups you have donated to the planet in your lifetime? I wonder how many are still sitting in landfills or bobbing around in oceans. Perhaps they are floating, still with your lipstick stains, amongst the other 79,000 metric tons of plastic in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch.
All the cups you ever threw away are undoubtedly still around, somewhere, since plastic takes 450 years to degrade.
Well, that idea is disturbing.
There are plenty of options when it comes to stocking your party-ready bar with pool party-approved, shatterproof tumblers. We won’t bore you with all the options, though, when we already know which is the best and coolest!
Here’s why HaloVino shatterproof wine tumblers rock the casbah at outdoor pool parties (well, all parties, actually):
Never throw a single-use-plastic cup away again. These can be used over and over... and over.
Respect your mother earth, and celebrate yourself for showing true love to her!
Whether you are throwing a party, attending one, or just enjoying your own backyard, every choice you make has an effect.
Make a commitment to yourself, your party guests, and the planet, that you will become part of the solution, not add more to the waste and pollution problem.
Every piece of plastic you throw in the garbage will be on this earth for your grandchildren's grandchildren’s grandchildren. EEK!
When you entertain, all of the garbage produced at your party is your responsibility. Be hostess-with-the-mostess when it comes to conscious action, not the host-with-the-most garbage produced.
Don't be a "trashy" host.
The power is not just in your hands at the grill... the power is truly in your hands to help make this world a better place.
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School’s still out. Fun’s so IN.
Sand. Sun. Chill. Relax.
Pool parties. Backyard BBQ’s. Labor Day weekend.
Pinot Grigio. Chardonnay. Rosé. Yes, way! All. Day.
Sun’s out, outdoor temps are running high, and grilling outdoors is definitely the way to go when hosting the summer party at your place. Keep the heat outside of the kitchen, and don’t miss a minute of the conversation… or the juiciest summer gossip.
Are you more of a hot dog and hamburger kinda BBQ’er? Or do you tend more toward steaks and seafood? Perhaps you’re more inclined to sear traditional bar-b-que chicken… or you’re more of the veggie-loving type?
Are you most interested in making the best price performing menu, keeping food costs lower so you can splurge on drinks? (No shame in that!) Or, do you aim to impress with your culinary expertise, rockin’ out amazing chimichurri churascos, garlic prawns, chicken shwarma, and the like?
Are you able to connect with your guests, and remain calm, cool, and collected? Are you able to talk with your guests, and enjoy their company?
If you find yourself rushing around, sweating the details, worrying about burning the meat and getting grumpy with your guests, you might want to re-think your menu and style.
Potlucks are still in… consider that as the way to go if you’re not diggin' the cooking + hosting combination.
Cheese and wine is always a crowd pleaser. Spruce it up with crudites and dips, a charcuterie array, maybe some fancy olives and nuts?
If you are loving the role of the host, truly grillin’ and actually chillin,’ good for you! Just make sure that someone’s watching the kids swimming in the pool, and that someone’s on duty to consistently refill your shatterproof wine tumbler.
Keep it up, grill master!
Are the drinks in the cooler well paired with the food you are serving? Summer parties call for refreshing wines, frosty local brews, and creative fruit infused cocktails and mocktails.
Looking for awesome summer wines to cool you down in the heat? Wine Enthusiast offers a great list of suggestions for wines under $20. It's always a good idea to offer a mix of wines, including some summer-friendly reds, but chances are, the white and rosé varieties will be more of a hit at afternoon and early evening summer parties. Here are five fun, summer reds from Italy that you might want to know about, especially if the fun's going on after the sun goes down.
As far as beers go, try a summer IPA, a fruited lager, sour beer or tropical-influenced saison to beat the summer sun. Check out this list from Thrillist for some fresh, inspired finds that are sure to jazz up your beer cooler at the party.
Three easy-for-entertaining summer cocktails that you can batch up and serve quick and easy are:
Huckleberry Margarita: 2 tablespoons fresh huckleberries or mulberries, muddled | 2 ounces tequila | 1 ounce grand marnier | 1 oz simple syrup | 1 ounce lime juice | a pinch of lime zest | ice | sea salt for the rim | lime wedge garnish
Mezcal Mule: 2 ounces mezcal | 1/2 ounce fresh squeezed lime juice | 4 ounces ginger beer or ginger ale | ice | mint sprig garnish
The Close Shave (from Esquire Food and Drinking): 1 ounce vodka | 1.5 ounces elderflower liquor (St Germain) | splash of proseco | fresh herb garnish
Don’t forget the kids. They get thirsty too! Consider jazzing up your lemonade with some fresh berries or watermelon, or making a refreshing tropical fruit virgin spritzer.
No need to be Debbie-downer here, but these days… we can’t for one minute take for granted the importance of being conscientious about our choices and how they impact the planet. It is possible to have fun and relax while being smart, thoughtful, eco-conscious human beings at the same time. We can have more fun, celebrating summer AND ourselves, knowing that we are doing our best to protect the future of our planet.
Offering HaloVino re-usable wine tumblers is just one way you can be eco-conscious at your parties, and everyone’s parties, for that matter! But, it's only one piece to the puzzle.
What is actually going on the grill and what your food and drink is being served on and in are as important as anything when planning and hosting your party.
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What better time to get outdoors and enjoy nature?
We humans benefit so much from experiencing our wild environment, but does our wild environment benefit from us?
Whether you’re a camper, a “glamper,” or a day-user, nothing beats a trip to one of our many national parks, forests, or monuments to enjoy the most spectacular displays of nature the US has to offer.
Can’t get away to a national park? Visiting a local state or regional park, or a nature preserve can also offer a great way to get outside, reconnect with nature, and enjoy a re-balancing retreat in the wilderness.
While we are hungry to get outdoors to use nature to balance ourselves, how we impact nature and the fragile ecological balance with our actions is often overlooked. Oftentimes, we don’t want to waste time with complex cooking or cleaning, so we unconsciously reach for the stack of disposable cups, single-use plastic utensils, and flats of water bottles in our provisioning.
If this describes you… you’re clearly not alone.
Actually, six out of ten park visitors are unaware of the waste issues facing our parks. When surveyed, 84% of visitors said they would like to be part of the change to reduce trash, but many are not sure how to help.
Over 100 million pounds of trash is disposed of annually within the national parks. That’s enough garbage to fill the statue of liberty 1,800 times EACH YEAR.
Plastic bottles, paper cups, plastic bags, food, and food wrappers are among the most common items found in trash bins throughout the parks. All of these things could be swapped for re-usable, if nature-loving guests are willing to make the change.
There are a whole lot of people still opting for disposable options over re-usable.
Remember, there is power in numbers, and it takes all of us doing our part.
See this infographic prepared by Subaru for the NCAP.
How can we continue in this way? The answer is: We can’t. This is not sustainable.
There is really no room for excuses anymore for continuing to use single-use plastic items when there are a plethora of high-quality, reasonably-priced, readily-available reusable products on the market today.
The solution is at our fingertips. It’s not difficult to adjust to using reusable products, it simply takes awareness, desire, and creating new habits that are in line with sustainability and a long-term view of natural resources.
With a bit of planning and consciousness, it’s easy to prepare for, and execute, a low impact camping or outdoors trip. And, doesn’t it make sense to pay the utmost respect to nature when you are in nature, enjoying it?
John Muir, the father of our national parks, wrote “Man must be made conscious of his origin as a child of Nature. Brought into the right relationship with the wilderness he would see that he was not a separate entity endowed with a divine right to subdue his fellow creatures and destroy the common heritage, but rather an integral part of a harmonious whole. He would see that his appropriation of earth's resources beyond his personal needs would only bring imbalance and beget ultimate loss and poverty for all.”
We are not separate from nature.
Everything we do impacts nature and its creatures.
We can either exploit nature, opting for our own needs for ease and convenience, which is unsustainable and brings imbalance and “poverty for all,” or we can use our resources wisely, seeing ourselves as part of the delicate balance of nature and acting accordingly, ensuring the health and longevity of our parks for the enjoyment of generations to come.
Remember: “We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, - we borrow it from our children.” –Ancient Proverb
Reducing your eco-impact is not complicated. It requires a small investment up front but actually saves money in the long run.
These suggestions apply to camping and outdoor adventure, as well as day-to-day actions that you can take to reduce your footprint everywhere you go.
Here are 8 items that you can replace for single-use plastic to reduce your environmental footprint in the outdoors.
A stack of reusable cups takes up very little space, and can be as easily packed as a stack of disposable cups… perhaps even less since you only need to pack one per person.
HaloVino takes this use-of-space to the next level with its two-part nesting design. Cut your space use in half when it comes to packing cups, and make it easy, convenient, and lightweight for each camper to always carry their own reusable cup in their day pack, or even a hip fanny pack.
HaloVino tumblers are shaped perfectly for wine so you can enjoy your favorite bottle around the campfire without sacrificing flavor, but it also works great for beer, juice, water, and other beverages.
When camping, multi-use everything is a must, and HaloVino tumblers save space while offering everyone what they need in a reusable cup.
Bringing travel coffee cups is also a great idea for hot chocolate, coffee, and tea since HaloVino is perfect for almost anything besides serving hot drinks.
Everyone loves a good hot drink upon waking to the cooler morning air, especially when camping, and travel mugs help keep those drinks warm while reducing waste.
By this time, everyone should really have a personal water bottle that goes everywhere with them.
Single-use plastic water bottles should be used as the exception, not the daily norm.
Insulated water bottles are key, especially when camping and exploring the great outdoors, as these will keep water chilled all day.
A few of our favorite brands include Hydro Flask, Takeya, and Klean Kanteen, though there is a wide variety to choose from.
Utensils may be the easiest of all dishes to store and clean. They take up virtually no space and require minutes to wash.
Each camper should have their own set to use at every meal. Campers can also carry this on-the-go elsewhere to reduce the need for plastic cutlery at fast food restaurants, in airports, and eating on the road.
These are a few great options to choose from:
Single serving bags of snacks might be convenient but produce more garbage to dispose of. Plus, it’s not economical. Buy large bags, value size packs, and bulk items to reduce waste.
If you use zip lock bags to pack out your snacks and lunches, label campers’ names on them and re-use them throughout your trip. Zip locks can easily be turned inside out to rinse and dry to be used the following day.
Even better, invest in reusable zip-locks that can be used for years! These are perfect for taking snacks on the go and packing lunches throughout the year.
HaloVino totes work great as re-useable zip locks, as well as leak-proof bags for your used HaloVino (COMING SOON).
Plates and bowls are easy enough to pack and wash after meals. Try something like this. They look like paper plates but are actually washable and reusable.
If you do need to pack any disposable items, paper is always preferable to plastic. Paper plates that have no coating on them can even be re-used as fire kindling for the evening’s campfire.
Styrofoam is not acceptable anywhere, especially out in nature. Don’t be swayed by the cost savings of Styrofoam.
Green-mom tells us: "Styrofoam is non-biodegradable and appears to last forever. It’s resistant to photolysis, or the breaking down of materials by photons originating from light. This, combined with the fact that Styrofoam floats, means that large amounts of polystyrene have accumulated along coastlines and waterways around the world. It is considered a major component of marine debris."
Coolers can last a lifetime if taken care of. Invest in a high-quality cooler that keeps food cold for days.
If you have used Styrofoam coolers in the past to transport your refrigerated food, consider that a thing of the past.
Repeat after me. No. More. Styrofoam.
Even Igloo has ditched the unfriendly material and turned to make biodegradable coolers. Check it out!
Did you know that you can even purchase biodegradable, earth-friendly garbage bags?
If you plan ahead for your camping trip with respect to the environment in mind, you will likely not have much garbage to throw away. Perhaps you only fill a garbage bag or two during your entire trip.
If you can take your trash out with you, rather than leaving it for the Rangers to deal with, you are really taking responsibility for your impact.
If you must leave it behind, at least you can feel good about producing the minimal amount possible.
Reducing waste by using reusable products is always the first and best step to reducing your environmental impact.
If you do need to use any recyclable plastic, aluminum, or glass (ahem, wine bottles?) be sure to keep it separate from your garbage, and put it in the appropriate receptacle… even if that means taking it out with you.
Used propane and butane canisters always need to be recycled.
HaloVino is one item that can help you and your group of campers be more green this summer. There are so many simple ways to reduce your environmental impact, all it takes is the commitment to actually do it.
Awareness is the first step. Now you know.
Next, use this checklist and go purchase items for your summer outdoors travel adventures.
Don’t even purchase those single-use plastics this year.
Lastly, use those reusable items in nature, and give yourself a pat on the back (and an extra glass of wine in your HaloVino) for truly respecting nature, and giving back to it what it gives to you!
At HaloVino, we suggest red and white wines all year long on our wine blog. But what about blue wines? While truly "blue" wines do exist, there are some “red” wines that can appear blue, or rather violet with hints of blue at the edges.
Read through some of our favorite "blue" wines on our wine blog — just don’t forget to order the right wine glasses! Our HaloVino plastic wine tumblers are reusable and recyclable, giving you the perfect set of glasses to use outside at any event or party. Order today and find the perfect glass to help share your “blue” wine with friends and family.
Nothing says Fourth of July quite like red, white, and blue. That’s why our wine blog is here to help you complete your patriotic spread with a deep "blue" wine for a complete red, white, and blue color scheme.
But how do we get "blue" wine without dying it blue?
First, we have to understand the basics behind wine science. Wine color primarily comes from the skin of grapes. Most grape varietals have both red and blue color molecules, also known as anthocyanins, but the red pigment, or malvin, is often in much greater proportion, making most red wines “red” and sometimes “purple” (red+blue= purple).
The trick to finding a “bluer” wine is to find grape varietals that have larger proportion of blue pigment to red pigment, leaving you with “red” wine that looks blue or violet.
Certain factors can influence the color of the grapes, including the type of grape, the climate and the age of the wine. For instance, an older wine will never have blueish hints and certain grapes naturally have more malvin than others. Some anthocyanins make grapes look bluer but the must, or grape juice, lose their bluish color when they are freed into the acidic environment to create wine. Factors like a low pH, typical of colder climates, enhances the red color while high pH, typical of warmer climates, enhances the purple color. The “blueness” can also increase with the number of free hydroxyl groups while redness increases with the degree of methylation. These are a lot of big fancy-sounding rules, but let me break it down for you - it’s kind of difficult to find a “blue” or violet wine, but they do exist! The trick is to find really young (i.e., later vintages) wines from certain warmer regions known for making these wines.
Most purple-blue wines are from the New World, where the climate is typically warmer, like the U.S., South America, and Australia. For example, the carmenere grapes from Chile and the malbec and cabernet grapes from Argentina can produce a purple-blue wine. The key is to tilt the wine and look at the rim of the wine, or the shallow-end, as I like to call it! Here’s where you will really be able to see some “blue hints”.
Below, we’ve included some of our favorite purple-blue wines from different parts of the world. Find your favorite and impress everyone this Fourth of July when you show up with red, white, and "blue" wine!
Garnacha is the world’s second most planted grape, particularly because they are so good at withstanding drought. These grapes actually tend to have thinner skins, except when the grapes come from old vines and/or are pruned to be lower yielding vines. Their thinner skins can make a paler wine but also inky purple wines! These wines are known for having very ripe berry flavors and higher alcohol, both of which together create a wine that can seem sweet, even if there is no sugar in the wine.
Dornfelder is a red grape from Germany that is fruity with a plum and cherry flavor. This is a fun wine because it is so uncommon, and because it breaks our rules for finding a "blue" wine - Germany is a cold region! Wine is full of exceptions, and breaking rules! In spite of its deep hues, the wine is typically quite “crisp” and on the lighter side.
We suggest grabbing a bottle of Villa Wolf Dornfelder 2017.
The malbec grape from Argentina can create a beautiful purple-"blue" wine that contains notes of raspberries and cherries.
Try either the Crios de Susana Balbo Malbec 2017 or a bottle of Finca Decero Remolinos Vineyard Malbec 2017.
Shiraz From AustraliaWines made from Shiraz grapes are known for their hints of cocoa and dark fruit, like raspberries and cherries. Their thick skins can create beautiful bluish-purple wine.
To see what we mean, pick up some Mitolo The Jester Shiraz 2017 or the Layer Cake Shiraz 2017.
We hope you’re enjoying the Fourth — or any other blue-themed event — with a glass of blue (or violet) wine. Just make sure you’re using a wine glass that’s eco-friendly and recyclable. Order a 6 pack of our plastic wine tumblers and check back for more great wine posts on our HaloVino wine blog!
]]>Wait! What?!? That suggestion might sound super unhelpful, especially if your dad is a “beer dad.” But guess what? Most dad’s covet their grown children’s time and attention. Wine inspires conversation and helps time slow down. A bottle of wine with a note saying that you want to take an hour out of your busy life to just be together is one of the most precious gifts he will receive this Father’s Day.
At HaloVino, we know that even a “beer dad” can enjoy a refreshing glass of wine, especially if it’s similar to the kind of beer he likes best. This Father’s Day, our wine blog has hand-picked wines perfect for that “beer dad” in your life.
And don’t forget about the glasses, especially if your dad isn’t a wine drinker. Drinking wine out of plastic cups or juice glasses just isn’t the same as using a wine tumbler that makes wine taste great! Give him a washable, sturdy, glass-free wine glass that he can take everywhere. Order a set of HaloVino wine glasses today!
Read through our wine blog and upstage your other family members this Father’s Day with your choice of wine.
Lagers can be pale, amber, or dark and are known for their lighter body and crisp, refreshing finish. That’s what makes a Txakoli wine from Northern Spain perfect for your beer dad.
Wine Suggestions: A Txakoli from Spain
These light white wines aren't overly fruity or aromatic. In fact, they even have a bit of spritz in them. Give this 2017 Ameztoi Getariako Txakolina a try!
The Txomin Etxaniz 2018 is another of our favorite Txacoli wines. HaloVino founder and CEO Jessica Bell has visited their winery in Getaria, Spain, and loves the quality and taste of their wines.
Pairs well with: Seafood and other fish
These wines come from the Basque region, right on the Atlantic Ocean, where there is an abundance of seafood. If your dad is a fish guy, and loves his sushi or oysters, this wine will be the perfect pairing.
Pro tip: If you pour the txakoli from above your head, you can create even more bubbles, something any beer dad is sure to love. If you want to learn more about wine culture in Spain, you can watch the entire España Foodie to learn more about Jessica Bell’s wine adventures in Spain.
IPAs often have a strong citrus flavor to them much like the grapefruit-essenced sauvignon blancs of New Zealand or lime-centered sauvignon blancs from Chile. If your dad loves an IPA, we would suggest either of these sauvignon blancs.
Wine Suggestion: A value-driven Chilean Sauvignon Blanc.
This bottle of Veramonte Sauvignon Blanc is under $10, making it both an affordable and delicious gift for your dad.
Pair with: Sea bass or a Caprese salad
Since this wine is light and fresh, it pairs well with other summer favorites, like salad or fish.
Maybe your dad prefers a malt beer, one of Jessica Bell’s favorites. These beers have some sweeter notes, often with a soft mouth-feel and mellow finish. A Chilean carmenere often follows suit with notes of coffee and latte with a similar velvety texture, making for a great malt beer alternative.
Wine Suggestion: A carmenere from Chile.
Right now, this Errazuriz Carmenere Single Vineyard is one of Jessica Bell’s favorites.
Give your dad something you know he’ll love this Father’s Day: You! Find the right wine to gift any beer dad in your life.
Just make sure your dad has something to pour his wine in! Our HaloVino wine glasses snap together tightly and are reusable and recyclable. Order a set of six to make sure you have plenty so your beer dad can share!
]]>Follow our wine blog for more wine tips and make sure you serve your wine out of our recyclable wine tumblers!
Spring and summer is a great time for fresh and juicy fruit. Whether you enjoy fruit as a complementary pairing with wine or opt for making a delicious sangria, take a look at our favorite fruit + wine pairings.
Are you a fan of fresh or dried bananas? Pick your favorite and pair them with a glass of your favorite rosé wine. You heard us right — a sweet Rosé creates a decadent combination with any type of banana!
Other wines to try:
Fresh blackberries go well with a sweet wine or wines that are complemented by a darker fruit. Pair blackberries with a sweet Riesling or, if you’re a red wine person, Cabernet Sauvignon.
Other great pairing wine:
If you’re more of a fan of dried fruit — especially since they’re available year-round — a glass of Pinot Noir with some dried fruit makes a great appetizer for any spring or summer party you’re planning.
Also try:
Gala apples are a milder fruit with a hint of cinnamon, which makes them a perfect pairing for a milder wine like a bottle of Chianti.
For other options, try:
Figs have a very delicate flavor that pairs well with a glass of Port after dinner.
If you’re looking for a red wine to serve during dinner, try:
If you’re looking for a tropical drink, mix your mangoes with coconuts and a chilled glass of Sauvignon Blanc. These sweet flavors, balanced with the meaty textures of the wine, create an amazing summer combination you can show off to all of your friends!
Other wines to try:
Are you looking for something to go with that dry bottle of Riesling you’ve been saving? With their tart and juicy flavors, slice up some pears and pair them with a dry glass of your Riesling.
If you’re looking for something else, try:
Pineapples are very sweet, so you can either pair them with another sweet dessert wine for a complementary flavor or with a dryer wine to bring out the sweetness of the pineapple.
For a dryer wine, try:
Merlot often contains hints of plum and cherry, so pairing a glass of Merlot with fresh plums works to enhance those notes.
Or have a glass of this on hand:
Do you want a classic wine to pair with the fresh, farmer’s market strawberries? Grab a bottle of Champagne. The sweetness of the strawberries will compliment the bubbly Champagne and help you celebrate any occasion this spring and summer!
Other wines that pair well:
Yes, tomatoes are a fruit even though they often pair with vegetables. Serve them as an appetizer or on a summer pizza. However you serve them, make sure to have a bottle of Pinot Noir.
Also try:
This spring and summer will bring ample opportunity for finding and serving fresh fruit. We hope this wine blog gives you some inspiration for great summer combinations. And don’t forget to order your HaloVino wine tumblers in time for the next party you’re hosting!
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Follow our wine blog for more tips on food and wine pairings and how to have great tasting wine, even when glass is not an option — like opting for recyclable, reusable, and non-breakable outdoor wine glasses at your next cookout. Stay prepared for the summer and order your HaloVino wine glasses today!
Whether you’re having a small group of friends and family over on a summer night or throwing a large cookout for the whole neighborhood, pairing the perfect wines to your grilled fare can feel a little daunting.
Fear not! On our wine blog, we have compiled a list of our favorites that are not only easy to find, but also easy on the wallet. We’ve separated our recommendations based on the grilling menu you choose. Your friends and family will appreciate you for the wine connoisseur that you are.
Great for: Memorial Day, Fourth of July, and lake house cookouts
WIne Pairing : Zinfandel
Zinfandel feels as American as Memorial Day, the Fourth and Lake House Life because it’s not grown anywhere else except for America under that name.
These soft, fruity, and ripe red wines pair well with savory meat and mellow out the occasional bitter char found crisped around the edges of a burger or hot dog. Grab your tongs and a glass of Zinfandel to make the most out of your summer cookout!
Our favorite bottles: It was too hard to pick just one! Here are some of Jessica’s favorites at various price levels so you can always have a bottle of Zinfandel on hand no matter how much you want to spend!
Under $10: Bogle Old Vine Zinfandel.
$10-$15: Seghesio Sonoma Zinfandel, an Italian wine that dates back to the late 19th century.
$20+: Ridge Three Valleys Red Sonoma Zinfandel for a great wine under $25.
Great for: Father’s Day and dinner parties
Wine Pairing: Malbec or Cabernet Sauvignon
Steaks call for a wine with a fuller body than a Zinfandel and can stand a touch more of tannin than Malbec. As such, any Cabernet Sauvignon will do, but Jessica prefers to reach for a Malbec from Argentina, a country she knows can do beef and red wine better than anyone.
Our favorite bottle: Decero Malbec. This has been Jessica’s go-to affordable, well-structured but approachable Malbec for years.
Great for: A casual Wednesday night and vegetarian friends
Wine Pairing: Pinot Noir (a classic) or Tempranillo
Jessica’s husband is vegetarian, so they often opt for a nice grilled pizza loaded with fresh summer vegetables over burgers or steaks. This Wednesday night treat calls for a more affordable red wine that is both light and goes down easy. Sure, Pinot Noir is great — but after living in Spain for 2 years and working at a Spanish winery, Jessica uses any excuse to source Spanish wines. A young Tempranillo from Spain with its tart cherry and earthy tones work well with sweet & acidic pizza sauces and the earthy notes of vegetables.
Wine Pairing: Lopez de Heredia Vina Cubillo or Marques de Caceres Rioja Crianza
While Marques de Cacacres isn’t Jessica’s favorite, she is a pragmatist and this is a solid brand that you can find almost anywhere. With Rioja reds, it’s worth it to spend an extra couple bucks to get a better wine and “splurge” on a bottle of Crianza for under $15.
Jessica also really enjoys Lopez de Heredia Vina Cubillo Crianza at just under $30 a bottle.
— an especially rare gem that is a little more pricey and not as easy to find.
Now that we’ve shared reds we pair for our cookouts, we wanted to concede we almost always include rosé wine.
Rosé wine is so versatile, making it a nice, crisp alternative — especially on a steamy summer night. So if you’re looking for variety, or are just more of a rosé person, grab a bottle of pink wine to pair with your summer cookout!
Looking for recommendations? We’ve already covered our favorite rosé wines in a previous post on our wine blog if you want to learn more about best rosé to serve for your friends and family.
No matter what you choose to cookout this summer, make sure you pair a wine that both your guests will enjoy and compliments the meal.
When you choose outdoor wine glasses from HaloVino, you get glass-free wine glasses that are perfect for any event or party.
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This Mother’s Day, treat yourself or the special woman in your life to her newest accessory, HaloTote.
At HaloVino, we empower on-the-go consumers to go zero-waste with innovative solutions, such as HaloVino and now, HaloTote.
HaloTotes promote a sustainable lifestyle by eliminating disposable plastic drinkware for good!
Simply pack your lightweight HaloVino glasses in your stylish HaloTote, and drop them into your purse, backpack or pool bag.
Later, throw those sticky, wet glasses back in your water-resistant, dishwasher-safe HaloTote, zipper shut, and carry them home to be dishwashered again... and again... and again!
All plastic is not equal - HaloVino chooses plastic that is built to be reused AND recycled like glass. We endeavor to work with our consumers and businesses to have zero landfill waste from our offerings.
In celebration of Mother's Day and the launch of the new HaloTote, we're offering FREE HaloTotes with any purchase of HaloVino glasses. Click here to load the offer automatically! Make sure to use it before May 5 for your FREE HaloTote (value $6+) with any purchase of HaloVino glasses.
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There’s an entire section of wine that’s often overlooked and contains over 50 different shades of pink: rosé wine.
At HaloVino, we love our pink wines. But first, we want to dispel the myth that rosé wine is red and white wine mixed together. That’s not true! Most rosé wines are made with crushed red grapes where the skins of those grapes are left to macerate before being strained out. The longer those grape skins are left in the wine, the darker the wine becomes.
If you’re already craving a glass of rosé wine (in a HaloVino stemless wine glass tumbler), jump down to our quiz to find which wine best fits your tastes. When it comes to your wine glass, opt for our reusable and recyclable stemless wine glass tumbler.
Fun fact: Rosé is rarely a wine that gets better with age. So if you’re grabbing a bottle of rosé for tonight, pick a newer bottle for a wine that’s fresh.
For this wine blog, we will be assuming there are three major types of rosé wine:
While all of these rosé wines will look beautiful in a stemless wine glass tumbler, it just comes down to what flavors and aromas you want from your pink wine.
Light pink wine is created with the direct press method, also called maceration. This is a more traditional process for making a rosé wine. Winemakers will grow specific grapes for their rosé wines that are then crushed and pressed until the juice becomes the desired light pink color. Some winemakers will allow the skin to sit in the juice for a few hours (maceration) before separating them out.
The result of direct pressing is a rosé wine with a lighter pink hue, an aromatic scent and a delicate flavor.
Dark pink rosé wine is created using the saignée method, which means “bleeding” in French. This process involves bleeding off a small amount of grape must before or early in the fermentation process which increases the concentration of the resulting red wine . The bled juice is then used to make rosé wine.
The result is a wine that’s usually deep pink with riper flavors, a fuller body, and perhaps a little tannin.
Sweet pink rosé wine is created when fermentation is stopped naturally or with the help of temperature or sulfites. This ensures that some of the sugars from the grapes remain in the rosé wine.
The result is a sweet and fruity rosé wine.
Now that you know the difference between pink wines, take our quiz to find the right type and brand of rosé wine FOR YOU!.
What kind of fruit do you prefer?
Of these three white wines, which one would you choose?
How do you take your coffee?
Mostly A’s – Light Pink
Some Examples:
Provence Rosé, Austrian Rosé, Languedoc Roussillon Rosé, and New York Rosé.
Popular Brands:
Whispering Angel, Mas de Gourgonnier, Wolffer Estate Rosé, Chateau Maupague Sainte-Victorie Rosé, Domaines O Chateau Romassan Bandol Rosé, and Chateau Gassier ‘Esprit Gassier’ Rosé.
Mostly B’s – Dark Pink
Some Examples:
New World Rosé, California, Australia, and Washington & Argentina Rosé.
Popular Brands:
Ehler Estate Sylviane Rosé, Bonny Doon Vineyard Vin Gris de Cigare Rosé, Crios Rosé of Malbec, and Clos Pegase.
Mostly C’s – Sweet Pink
Some Examples:
White Zinfandel and Pink Moscato.
Popular Brands:
Beringer White Zinfandel, Mateus Rosé, and Barefoot Pink Moscato.
**Popular rosé brands taken from Vine Pair’s “The 25 Best Rosé Wines of 2018.”
When it comes to rosé wine, there really are over 50 different shades to choose from. Did you find your perfect rosé? Enhance the beauty of your pink wine with a Halovino stemless wine glass tumbler.
]]>In March, we were honored to be selected to present HaloVino in the Inventor’s Corner at the International Home & Houseware Show. This show is HUGE! According to IHA, this show is “the 81-year-old voice of the housewares industry, which accounted for (US)$364.2 billion at retail worldwide in 2017.”
Some exhibitors spend thousands, maybe millions, building small temporary cities for this 5 day show. I (and our company bank account) were grateful to only have to fill and decorate a 5x10ft booth. I mean, where does one go to learn how to design a tradeshow booth???
The Inventor’s Corner, is hardly a “corner”. It consists of multiple rows of dozens of inventors debuting new products to the market. In earshot, there is a stage where topics and challenges important to inventors and startups are in constant rotation with multiple and diverse panels of industry experts, some who even started in the IHA Inventor’s Corner. The energy of innovation is palpable!
We made so many contacts and, yes, even made sales! It was the first time I fully grasped the power (and potential revenue behind Big Retail. Up until now, HaloVino has primarily focused on venues and events, but this was our first serious (and super fun!) attempt at breaking into retail. We were thrilled the response and look forward to see where it might go!
Sales are, of course, amazing, but the wisdom and contacts I garnered from my fellow inventors and startups over the 5 days was priceless… and energizing! When you realize you aren’t the only one who feels like they are constantly on a treadmill or playing a game of Whack-a-Mole, you find comfort and motivation in that. I also learned a lot of “tricks” and “shortcuts” for our next big sale or tradeshow.
We were surrounded by other talented female inventors creating everything from an egg peeler to sleep masks. The good news is that the number of female patent holders has increased fivefold from 1977 to 2016. The disappointing news is that, as of 2018, only 10% of patent holders are women. According to USA Today, “this disparity is due in part to the the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office being more likely to reject patents with women as sole applicants.” Ugh. Seriously?
And yet, women persist. HaloVino is helping improve those disappointing stats. We hold one domestic utility patent and dozens of international design patents, and we are hopeful one of our new inventions that’s bound to disrupt the landscape for casual wine drinking (again) will be patented this year.
I look forward to more trade shows where I can meet more female inventors and entrepreneurs. I also look forward to inspiring a new generation of female inventors. After all, women hold 50% of all half of doctoral degrees in science and engineering! My 8 year old daughter already says she wants to be an inventor when she grows up. Mission accomplished!
If you have a favorite retail store where you would like to see HaloVino, PLEASE let us know! Thank you for helping us get this far!
]]>Jessica Bell, founder and inventor of HaloVino, curated these three amazing wines from three regions where she has visited and worked.
Once you’ve found your new favorite sustainable wine, just make sure you use HaloVino’s recycled wine glasses!
The French wine estate where Cotes de Provence is produced, called the Commanderie de Peyrassol, comes with a rich history. The estate was founded by the Knights of Templar with the first grape harvest in 1256. While this estate has moved through many hands, Cotes de Provence wine has developed a renowned reputation among wine connoisseurs.
Along with the great taste, Provence’s wines are organic. Their entire process respects the surrounding environment by not using synthetic fertilizers or pesticides, opting for a sheep manure fertilizer instead.
Jessica was an official instructor of Provence, studying at the Provence Association of Winemakers and Viticulture. Her favorite wine is their rosé (which is under $20 for a bottle). Pair the rosé, or another Cotes de Provence, with your St. Patrick’s Day BBQ on the patio.
Jessica won a scholarship from Napa Valley Vintners and got the opportunity to spend the day at the Quintessa estate learning about their winery and different wines.
Quintessa winery in Napa Valley is renowned for its amazing wine, but at HaloVino, we also love that the winery is woman-owned and sustainable. Valeria Huneecus, architect of the Quintessa vineyard, takes a sustainable approach to preserve the Napa Valley area, respecting the surrounding landscape and soil.
A bottle of Quintessa is the perfect way to splurge that St. Patrick’s Day. When you show up with Quintessa, you also help support a sustainable winery. All you’re missing is one of our recycled wine glasses from HaloVino!
Located in Chile, Casa Lapostolle is another woman-owned winery that produces high-end 90+ point wines. Founded by Alexandra Marnier-Lapostolle, the great-granddaughter of the creator of Grand Marnier, the vineyard is 100 percent organic and biodynamic, letting the natural process of gravity replace machines and heavy lifting.
Jessica led wine tours for wine aficionados at the Casa Lapostolle winery, along with other Chilean wineries. The Casa Lapostolle Chardonnay is her favorite, perhaps the perfect wine pairing for your St. Patrick’s Day dinner. Or you can give try one of our wine + food pairings from our wine blog.
To help you celebrate this St. Patrick’s Day, give one of these green wines a try, whether or not you opt for adding the green food coloring to make a truly green wine. Follow our wine blog to learn more about wine and HaloVino’s sustainability initiative.
But before you grab that plastic cup at a St. Patty’s party this weekend, think about choosing a green wine glass. Try HaloVino’s reusable and recycled wine glasses and make sure to bring a few to share with your friends! ]]>Regardless of which food + wine pairing you choose, a HaloVino wine glass will enhance your wine experience so you can enjoy dinner knowing that you’ve made a sustainable choice with your reusable, recyclable wine glass. Order your own HaloVino tumbler set today.
These white wines are listed from sweet to dry to give you wine basics for proper wine + food pairing. Find a wine or food you love and let us at HaloVino know!
This sweet wine should be as sweet as your dessert. Try out different dessert wines to test their sweetness and pair them with something equally sweet. We suggest a slice of artisan pie or cheesecake.
If you like a sweeter Reisling, you’ll want to pick something that is also sweet to compliment the flavor of the wine. A great dish pairing is honey pork.
The extra sugar that makes Gewürztraminer sweet also helps tame more spicy dishes. We recommend a classic spicy Indian Chicken Curry.
A good Moscato pairs well with spicy Asian food. If you can handle the spice, have a glass of Moscato with made-from-scratch kung pao chicken and the sweetness of the wine will help cool your palate.
Chardonnay is a versatile wine that always pairs well with fish in a rich sauce. Try a scallop chowder for a delicious Chardonnay combination.
Sauvignon Blanc has a zesty lime flavor which makes it pair well with tart dishes. For dessert, try a kiwi or lemon curd tart to bring out the zestiness of the wine.
The dryness of a Muscadet makes it a great palate cleanser. Serve a glass of Muscadet with oysters for a sophisticated take on dinner.
If you prefer red wine, there are still plenty of food + wine combinations you can enjoy with a glass of red wine. Just don’t forget your wine basics: make sure you find a wine and dish you’ll love.
Since ice wine is so sweet, serve it with a simple desert so you can enjoy all the flavors of the wine. Try fresh fruit and cheese to bring out the sweetness of this wine.
Port is a favorite drink in England and pairs well with salty snacks. Pair some salty Stilton cheese and crackers with a Port for delicious hors d’oeuvres.
A glass of Zinfandel loves being paired with any type of meat. To compliment a spicy Zinfandel, try a smoked meat like beef brisket.
Merlot has a wide range of styles which means it pairs well with both leaner meat and lightly-spiced dark meats. For an amazing combination, try flank steak with blue cheese sauce and a glass of Merlot.
Pair Pinot Noir with earthy flavored dishes for an amazing food + wine combination. If you like truffles, serve a glass of Pinot Noir with truffle risotto and impress your guests with the taste.
Use juicy red meat to pull out the dark-berry flavor of a Cabernet Sauvignon. Pair a steak topped with Gorgonzola sauce with your favorite bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon.
A bottle of Bordeaux can be some of the most expensive wine you’ll find. So if you’re indulging in a glass (or bottle) or Bordeaux, pair this dry wine with a meat that will match its sophistication. Try a grilled rack of lamb with garlic and rosemary for a delicious combination.
At HaloVino, we hope these wine basics help you decide the best wine + food combination for dinner. If you’re packing these combinations for a picnic, make sure you bring along some HaloVino no-glass wine glasses!
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Why did you start HaloVino?
I guess you could say it was for pretty selfish reasons - I wanted my wine to taste good when glass was not an option. As a former sommelier, I knew that the SHAPE of the wide-rimmed plastic cups I got at concerts or parties was what made my wine taste and feel cheap, not the PLASTIC. My frugal side would make me feel so annoyed that I spent $10 on a glass of wine at a ball game, and it tasted like $2. I thought the solution was easy - create a plastic glass that mimicked the narrow rim and wide body of the world’s best wine glasses. Others had done that but they were expensive, flimsy, and single-use. They still didn’t make sense at the beach, on the boat or poolside. So, I set out to make a shatterproof wine glass that was stackable, durable, dishwasher safe and inexpensive. I decided to value portability, sustainability and affordability over tradition. The resulting design was different, and I worried how It would be received, but I knew its form had purpose important in our lives. And sure enough, once people try HaloVino for its intended occasions, they appreciate its ability to make wine taste better while making life to feel just a little easier and more enjoyable.
How did you come up with the idea?
I was a sommelier and in the wine business for over a decade. I had drank wine at hundreds of outdoor events using plastic cups, but it wasn’t until I was asked to speak to a large group at a tradeshow where glasses was prohibited, that the design popped into my head. They wanted me to comment on the smell and taste of wine. I just laughed because I knew you can’t smell anything from a wide-rimmed cup. The audience would think I was full of it when I asked, “Can you smell the strawberries?” I wanted a narrow-rimmed vessel that was stackable and inexpensive but it didn’t exist, so I thought “How hard can it be?” I figured it would take $5K and 6 months. Good thing I didn’t know the reality of product development. I now say, one of the greatest things an entrepreneur can know is not knowing.
I quickly realized that if HaloVino had to be narrow-rimmed for taste AND stackable for convenience then it would have to be two parts. A narrow-rimmed one piece wine glass won’t nest inside another. The first designs had no signs of a halo around the center of the glass… but, then again, those leaked. Through countless iterations, 7 3D printed prototypes, some tears and days when I thought I would never figure this out, I found a seal that allows you to easily snap it together and use it like a one-piece 12 oz stemless wine glass without worry of leaks or spills. Our patented seal is unlike anything in the market. No other produces such a strong seal at the midpoint of a glass without the use of the gasket such that you can apply strong pressure without disrupting the seal.
I started HaloVino to solve a specific problem – how do we enjoy wine when glass is absent. But about a year into sales I realized there was a MUCH bigger problem – single-use plastic waste. I realized I could either be a part of the problem or solution. I feel strongly about doing work I believe in and making products I’d want to buy. HaloVino is made in the USA with the safest resins – in fact, the same ones used for baby bottles. There was no question which way I’d go with the business.
Other comparable wine glasses at this price point are single-use. HaloVino, on the other hand, is dishwasher safe. Then we started promoting and sponsoring programs that encourage, first, reuse, and second, recycling. We launched a sustainability initiative at SOBE Wine & Food Festival this year. Most recently, we are piloting water-resistant, dishwasher-safe totes that make reuse of HaloVino convenient and easy. Our customers can throw their wet, sticky HaloVinos in their HaloTotes without getting their backpack or beach bag wet.
We have a long way to go, and have lots to learn, but we are on a mission to create a world where living life to its fullest doesn’t come at a damaging cost.
At HaloVino® we are passionate about supporting organizations that support families going through childhood cancer and illness, such as the Make A Wish Foundation, and events and initiatives that support sustainability practices like reuse and recycling, like the one we recently sponsored at South Beach Wine & Food Festival.
My son and my business, HaloVino, were “born” within months of one another. Of course, I favor my human son to my business “child” any day, but they are similar in that they both provide the most satisfying and fulfilling experiences, yet also present the most difficult and emotionally-draining challenges. When you love someone or something so deeply, you feel all the highs and lows of their journey, and your children and business are no exceptions. They both start off chaotic, include sleep deprivation, and instill the will to roll with the punches. And then you watch with pride as all those late nights, attention to detail, and small tasks start to pay off with hard-earned wins.
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CHICAGO, IL. (February 21, 2019)—HaloVino® is excited to bring shatterproof, stemless wine glasses to the Inventor’s Corner Pavilion at the 2019 International Home & Housewares Show. HaloVino® will be located at booth #N7469 in the North Building at McCormick Place in Chicago, Illinois from March 2nd-5th.
HaloVino®’s shatterproof glasses are both dishwasher-safe and recyclable. Invented by former sommelier, Jessica Bell, HaloVino®’s shape is designed for optimal wine appreciation while its portable and dishwasher-safe construction promotes ease of transport and reuse.
Attendees of the show are encouraged to stop by the booth to see how easy HaloVino can be stacked and snapped. Show attendees can also take the challenge by comparing wine in HaloVino® to other plastic cups and see how wine smells and tastes better in HaloVino®.
“We are thrilled to have been selected for IHA’s inventor’s corner,” Jessica Bell, inventor and owner of HaloVino shared. “After releasing our patented wine glass, we’ve worked hard to create bold packaging for a strong shelf presence and sustainable messaging to connect with consumers who seek an active lifestyle that doesn’t come at a damaging cost.”
The International Home & Housewares Show features over 2,200 exhibitors across McCormick Place coming from 6 continents. The Inventor’s Corner Pavilion is an area in the North Building that is reserved for 60 exhibitors that will be featuring the latest and most creative new product concepts as decided by the International Housewares Association. HaloVino® is thrilled to be part of this exciting group of exhibitors.
For further information contact, Jessica Bell at (312)972-9463.
Four years ago, Jessica Bell, sommelier and owner of HaloVino®, invented HaloVino® so she and her friends would be able to enjoy a great glass of wine, even when glass was not an option. HaloVino values taste, sustainability and affordability over tradition. That's why HaloVino's shatterproof wine glasses are recyclable, dishwasher-safe and stackable so your wine glasses can go where you go. HaloVino’s patented 2-part design makes wine taste better while reducing spills and splatters. HaloVino will continue releasing new products that create a world where living life to the fullest doesn't come at a damaging cost to our planet or wallets. Their next offering is a water-resistant, dishwasher-safe tote that facilitates portability and reuse of HaloVino® wine glasses. HaloVino is now available at major venues like American Airlines Arena in Miami, Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, and at retailers nationwide. HaloVino® is Made in the USA, Woman-Owned and BPA Free. For more information, please visit HaloVino.com.
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At Halovino, we just announced our sustainability initiative at the 2019 Food Network and Cooking Channel South Beach Wine and Food Festival. Our uniquely-designed HaloVino wine glasses are shatterproof, recyclable, and reusable.
Use our wine blog to learn more about the world of wine, order your own set of HaloVino wine glasses, and become a responsible consumer.
Things like aluminum/metal, paper, glass, plastics #1-7, and cardboard can be recycled in most cities. Even if you’re in a location that doesn’t have a readily-available recycling bin, hold on to your recyclables until you get home. If you empty your bottle of wine, recycle it! If you ever find yourself needing to dispose of your HaloVino glass, recycle that too! Every glass is 100 percent recyclable.
Plastic is not decomposable, so when it gets sent to a landfill, it sits there. To be a more sustainable consumer, bring your own reusable bags and limit the number of plastic bags and wrappings your bring home. This means that the next time you buy a bottle of wine, opt against putting it in a plastic or paper bag. Just slide your wine under your arm and avoid using another plastic product.
Find wine made with grapes grown with organic farming practices, or wine that was made by a local winery. When you buy local and organic, you support your local wine production and get a wine that tastes amazing. When you grab your next bottle of locally-made wine, you might want to fill your HaloVino to the top — just this once.
When you attend an outdoor event, like the 2019 Food Network and Cooking Channel South Beach Wine and Food Festival, it’s tempting to leave your trash wherever you can. But think about the trace you’re leaving behind, outdoor event or not. If you’re planning on drinking wine at an outdoor event, bring your HaloVino glass and take it home with you to wash and reuse!
Wine is always satisfying, whether it’s paired with cheese, pasta, or enjoyed by itself. But if you want to be more sustainable in your wine consumption, avoid disposable dishware or use products, like the popular Eco-Products brand, that are decomposable. The HaloVino glass is both recyclable and reusable, making it a great option for a wine glass.
Reduce the amount of water you use in your home. If you spend less time in the shower, that’s more time you can spend drinking a glass of wine in one of our HaloVino glasses. While you’re at it, read through our wine blog while enjoying your glass of wine.
Instead of throwing away things you don’t use anymore, donate them! For example, instead of dumping that half-bottle of wine you have left, share it with someone else or donate it to someone who will enjoy it!
The emissions created by energy use are harmful to the air and the climate. Conserving the amount of energy you consume inside your home will not only lower your monthly utility costs, but it will also make you a more sustainable consumer. Instead of sitting in front of a television all day, curl up with a book and a glass of wine — filled to the brim of one of our HaloVino wine glasses.
At Halovino, we are dedicated to promoting sustainability, something that is seen through the unique, eco-conscious design of our HaloVino wine glasses. Each glass is shatterproof, keeping shard of glass or plastic out of landfills and off the ground, and every glass is dishwasher safe and recyclable.
By having a wine glass that will not break and can be rewashed and reused, you can enjoy your wine while also being a sustainable consumer of wine. Follow our wine blog for more information about promoting sustainability, our unique Halo design, and all things wine!
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MIAMI, FL. (February 14, 2019)—HaloVino® is honored to support the 2019 Food Network & Cooking Channel South Beach Wine & Food Festival (SOBEWFF®), February 20-24, in Miami Beach, Florida. HaloVino®’s shatterproof, stemless wine glasses will be used for wine and cocktails at SOBEWFF®’s Marriott Bonvoy™ North Venue, February 20-23rd.
The objective of HaloVino®’s sustainability initiative is to reduce landfill waste. SOBEWFF® is one of the country’s premier food & wine festivals, welcoming over 60,000 guests last year. To date, the Festival has raised more than $28 million in support of its mission to EAT, DRINK, EDUCATE with the Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management at Florida International University.
HaloVino®’s shatterproof glasses are both dishwasher-safe and recyclable. Invented by former sommelier, Jessica Bell, HaloVino®’s shape is designed for optimal wine appreciation while its portable and dishwasher-safe construction promotes ease of transport and reuse.
HaloVino® will use signage and volunteers to encourage SOBEWFF® guests to reuse their HaloVino® each night with a challenge called “Live it Up with One Cup™”. Bell also formed a partnership with KW Plastics out of Troy, Alabama. When SOBEWFF® guests drop their HaloVino® in one of their recycle bins, HaloVino® will ensure the waste is transported to KW Plastics for reprocessing into new products.
“Sustainability is something that is at the forefront of everyone’s mind, and I’m thrilled that HaloVino® can be a part of the solution,” commented Bell. “Our durable construction and relatively low price-point make HaloVino® ideal for reuse at large-scale events, both at the event and at home.”
“I also refused to believe there was no way to recycle all that waste,” Bell added. “I endeavored to use contacts and creativity over complexity and cost to close the loop and, in essence, find a new life for any HaloVino® cups not reused and taken home.” Bell continued, “It could cost as little as pennies per cup for festivals to go landfill-free on their drinkware in the near future.”
“SOBEWFF® has been so innovative, sustainable-minded and forward-thinking for allowing HaloVino® to launch this small sustainability pilot with the hopes that we’ll be better informed on how to reduce landfill waste at outdoor events in the future.”
For further information contact, Jessica Bell at (312)972-9463.
About HaloVino®
Four years ago, Jessica Bell, sommelier and owner of HaloVino®, invented HaloVino® so she and her friends would be able to enjoy a great glass of wine, even when glass was not an option. HaloVino values taste, sustainability and affordability over tradition. That's why HaloVino's shatterproof wine glasses are recyclable, dishwasher-safe and stackable so your wine glasses can go where you go. HaloVino’s patented 2-part design makes wine taste better while reducing spills and splatters. HaloVino will continue releasing new products that create a world where living life to the fullest doesn't come at a damaging cost to our planet or wallets. Their next offering is a water-resistant, dishwasher-safe tote that facilitates portability and reuse of HaloVino® wine glasses. HaloVino is now available at major venues like American Airlines Arena in Miami, Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, and at retailers nationwide. HaloVino® is Made in the USA, Woman-Owned and BPA Free. For more information, please visit HaloVino.com.
About KW Plastics
KW Plastics is the international leader in polypropylene and polyethylene recycling. Headquartered in Troy, Alabama, KW Plastics processes over 500 million pounds annually. For more information about KW Plastics, please see this video and visit KWPlastics.com.
]]>It all comes down to the wine glass architecture. The two main parts of a wine glass that influence taste are the bowl and the stem. Wine glass bowls come in many different shapes and sizes, which impact how well the wine can breathe, how well you can smell the wine while drinking, and even which taste buds the wine touches first. The stem allows you to hold your cup without cupping it and heating up your wine. All of these elements change the the taste of the wine and your experience.
HaloVino’s plastic stackable wine glasses are truly one-of-a-kind wine glasses that offer a unique, patented design to optimize the taste of wine. The HaloVino wine glass design was created by wine drinker, mompreneur, and former wine school owner and sommelier, Jessica Bell. Jess realized the need for plastic wine cups that not only optimized the taste of wine, but were also portable, convenient, and eco-conscious. In turn, she used her passion for wine drinking and expert knowledge of wine to create the best plastic wine glasses on the market. See how the HaloVino unique patented wine glass design stacks up for yourself:
The bowl of the HaloVino plastic stackable wine glass features a narrow rim and wide body. This traditional wine glass design traps aromas and funnels them to your nose to optimize taste.
While the HaloVino wine glass appears to be stemless, it actually isn’t. The halo acts as the stem — allowing you to hold the wine glass without cupping the bowl and warming up your wine. Not to mention, without a traditional stem, you can more easily stack and store your wine glasses.
Taking your wine glass wherever you go has never been easier. HaloVino plastic wine glasses introduce a world designed for wine — a world where you can enjoy great tasting wine anywhere without worrying about a wine glass taking up to much space or breaking.
Short pour no more! The HaloVino wine glass features ounce lines measuring one to twelve ounces.
Not only does the halo act as a stem and keep your wine from becoming warm from cupping your wine glass, but it also keeps the wine glass afloat in the pool. Drinking wine just got more fun!
The HaloVino wine glass design offers an optimal wine drinking experience anywhere. Throw our stackable plastic wine glasses into your purse or man bag and enjoy a great glass of wine anywhere you desire. Shop the HaloVino no-glass wine glass today.
]]>Have you ever found yourself at dinner or a party being asked to assess a wine? Wine tasting isn’t like tasting soda or a cheeseburger. It involves all of your senses and takes a lot more appreciation for subtlety. And if you’re not sure what to look for, smell for and taste for when tasting wine, it can leave you feeling uncultured. Luckily, your friends at HaloVino — the makers of the best non-breakable wine glasses on the market — have put together these steps to help you taste wine like a pro:
You’ll want to pour your wine into a clear glass that’s big enough to swirl the wine with a rim that bends inward. With the clear glass, you’ll be able to take in the color of the wine. The inward rim allows you to swirl the wine without spilling it, and it helps to funnel the wine’s aromas into your nose.
Before you even take a sip of your wine, take a moment to look at it. The color can tell you more than if the wine is a red or a white. It can help you learn the age of the wine. Reds lose colors as they age, and whites gain color as they age. You should also pay attention to the clarity and the hue of the wine.
Swirling should be done before tasting the wine because it aerates it. It also helps to release the aroma, which evaporates on the sides of the glass. Be careful not to over-swirl the wine; don’t swirl it for more than five to six seconds. Swirling also helps you learn about the viscosity of the wine by looking at the streaks that drip down the sides of the glass — called legs. Wines that have more sugar and a higher alcohol content have more pronounced legs. However, you won’t learn much about the taste or quality of the wine by looking at the legs.
Smelling the wine is almost as enjoyable as tasting it, and you’ll want to put your nose directly over the glass and breathe in deeply. The best tip for beginners is to keep it simple. Ask yourself if you smell FRUIT (i.e. peaches, berries), EARTH (i.e. grass, smoke) or SPICE (cinnamon, vanilla, etc.). If you feel comfortable and able, you can get more specific and ask yourself, for instance, if you smell red fruit, black fruit, blue fruit, tree fruit or tropical fruit. This approach takes the pressure off trying to identify aromas and allows you to enjoy the wine more. It is also a fantastic way to train your brain to recognize aromas.
To really taste the wine, you don’t want to gulp it. Sip it slowly, letting it slide across every angle of your tongue, and paying attention to as many sensations and flavors as possible. Is the wine fruity? Are the elements of the wine balanced, or is one overpowering? Is it a light-, medium- or full-bodied wine?
The three broad categories that describe wine are tannin, acidity and sweetness. Tannin comes from the seeds, stems and skins of the grapes, and is what creates the lingering taste of the wine. Wines with too much tannin are often bitter. The acidity is what gives the wine a lift. Without the acidity, the wine will taste flat.
If you’re only interested in tasting the wine or you have several more wines to taste ahead of you and you want to keep your senses as sharp as possible, you can always spit out the wine instead of swallowing it. However, if you wish to taste the lingering notes of the wine, swallowing it is the way to go.
If you are tasting multiple wines, start with lightest wines first and progress to heavier, more full-bodied wines as you go. Also, taking a sip of water between wine tastings will help to preserve your palate.
And remember, the more wine you taste, the better you’ll be able to differentiate between wines and the more familiar you’ll be with the different tastes and aromas of different types of wine. Practice makes perfect, and it gives you a great excuse to go to more wine tastings!
At HaloVino, we offer non-breakable, plastic wine glasses so that you can enjoy your favorite vintages anywhere from your dining room table to romantic, candle-lit, picnic in the park. These glasses are strong, sturdy and perfect for any and every occasion when glass isn’t an option.
Shop our unbreakable wine glasses at HaloVino today!
]]>Since 2013, many individuals have actually started participating in the Dry January campaign — a 31-day break from alcohol aimed at improving overall health. Some commit to Dry January to detox from their alcohol consumption since Thanksgiving and others look at the New Year as the perfect time to make a lifestyle change and start reducing their alcohol consumption. No matter your reason for parting ways with alcohol for while, Dry January offers some great health benefits.
If you suffer from depression or anxiety, alcohol can actually make your symptoms worse.
Alcoholic beverages are filled with empty calories and can increase your appetite. When you cut the calories and don’t partake in alcohol-induced eating, you may notice your waistline begin to shrink.
Due to the fact that alcohol is an inflammatory substance, it may cause swelling in the body. Alcohol also leads to dehydration, which may also cause puffiness.
Do you ever wake up feeling groggy after a night of drinking? Alcohol negatively affects sleep quality and prevents you from REM sleep — the sleep cycle that repairs the body and mind.
Excessive alcohol consumption weakens the immune system. When you participate in Dry January, you may notice you don’t get sick as often.
Let’s face it, alcohol can be expensive. When you participate in Dry January, you can enjoy smaller dinner bills and more cash in the bank.
Do you long for that glass of wine (or two) after dinner? Is your favorite past time going to happy hour with the friends? Do you want to participate in Dry January, but you just aren’t sure you will be able to make it through the month? HaloVino is here to help.
Just because you aren’t drinking in January doesn’t mean you need to put away your HaloVino plastic wine tumblers. There are many ways that you can stay dry while also staying social and getting the satisfaction of a cold beverage after a long, stressful day. Here are some tips to help you make it through Dry January:
Everything is easier with friends by your side. If you are worried about being tempted by friends, ask them to join you! This will help you avoid tempting situations where it feels like everyone is drinking except for you, and you can lean on each other for support.
After a long day, your wine fridge and liquor cabinet can seem quite appealing. Especially after you’ve changed into pjs, thrown on your slippers, and put on your favorite Netflix show. Avoid the temptation by getting rid of your favorite alcoholic drinks. Once your favorite drinks are out of the house and you’ve changed into your comfy clothes for the evening, you aren’t going to want to go back out to make a trip to the liquor store.
Exercise can curb your alcohol cravings! If you are looking for a buzz, consider working out. A good workout triggers the release of dopamine and other feel-good chemicals so you can still get the satisfaction that you would from a few alcoholic drinks in a much healthier way.
Think of all the money you are saving by not spending $15 per alcoholic beverage at dinner or social events, or splurging on your favorite bottle of wine. Treat yourself to that one thing you’ve been saving for or go on a spontaneous shopping trip with the girls. You deserve it.
Just because you aren’t drinking alcohol doesn’t mean that you still can’t enjoy the aesthetics of drinking. There are many alternatives that still offer the comfort of drinking without the alcohol, such as non-alcoholic wine and sparkling water. Now that your liquor cabinets and wine fridges are cleared out, you will have plenty of room to the fill them with non-alcoholic options. Get comfy, take out your HaloVino plastic wine tumblers, and unwind from your day.
Sometimes there's just no substitute for alcohol. Perhaps you get a promotion, your best friend gets engaged, or you are invited to a last minute paint and sip. No matter the reason, if there are times throughout January that you would prefer to have a drink, that’s okay. Dry January is about reducing your alcohol consumption and establishing a new relationship with alcohol — not just restricting yourself from your favorite drinks.
Dry January can be great for your overall health and re-establishing your relationship with alcohol, but it doesn’t come without its challenges. Make the process easier by sipping on your favorite brands of non-alcoholic wine or beverages with HaloVino plastic wine tumblers. Enjoy a great taste and easy, on-the-go capabilities. Shop plastic wine tumblers today and reap the benefits of our unique patented wine glass design.
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Giving the gift of wine this holiday season? Who isn’t?! It’s the perfect present to bring to any party or place under the tree. We’re sharing 3 simple tricks that will make you look like a big spender – but it will be our little secret that you spent under $20!
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