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Showing posts with label France. Show all posts
Showing posts with label France. Show all posts

Difference between Champagne and Sparkling Wine

Sparkling Wine and Champagne seems like similar types of wonderful wine, however, they are certainly different on a technical aspect.

There are only few technicalities which makes these two classy wines apart from each other. Another difference in these two excellent beverages is the fact that they are produced in different regions.

We can say that sparkling wine is a superset of a particular kind of wine, while champagne is just a subset of that superset. In easier words, while a bottle of champagne is always a sparkling wine, but a bottle of sparkling wine is not necessarily a champagne bottle. A sparkling wine will be termed as a champagne only if it has been produced in a particular region of France, which is well known for producing Champagne.

The most famous and popular sparkling wine is the original champagne which is produced in France. Sparkling wines on the other hand are produced at many other regions of the world and as a matter of fact, they are becoming more popular. The reason for higher popularity of sparkling wine is simple.

While the taste of sparkling wine and champagne is very closely similar, the cost of a bottle of champagne is very much when compared with the cost of a bottle of sparkling wine.

Technical Production Differences between Champagne and Sparkling Wine
 
Exactly similar procedure is employed to produce both sparkling wine and champagne. Yet, there is a definite difference. The grapes used to produce champagne are certainly different than those grapes which are used to produce sparkling wine. Only those grapes which are actually cultivated in French vineyards are used to produce champagne, while grapes from any vineyard from different parts of the world other than France can be used to produce Sparkling Wine.

The grapes are first harvested and then producers collect juice from them. The juice is first blended to create the mixture which is then left to settle down and ferment.

This is the initiating step for producing any kind of wine. After this, the process of producing champagne or sparkling wine drastically changes from the process of producing other types of wines.

After a certain period of time when the juice is settled, it is filled in bottles and an appropriate quantity of yeasts and sugar is added in those bottles. The wine is then settled in the bottle to get fermented for another period of time.

In order to avoid any significant loss of carbon dioxide which is produced as a result of fermentation, each bottle is capped with an air tight cap. Since carbon dioxide is not allowed to escape, it remains in the bottle and on opening a champagne or sparkling wine, you enjoy bubbles.

After a period of time, the second fermentation is completed and a residue remains left behind in the bottle which is removed after aging the wine. Aging of wine is performed through the process of riddling.

Riddling is a simple process which includes shaking of sparkling wine or champagne bottles on racks. Due to this shaking, the residue comes up to the brim of the bottle.

The air tight cap of the bottles is not removed even now. However, in order to remove the residue, the bottles are deep frozen. When everything including the gas is frozen in the bottle, it is opened up and the residue is removed. The bottles are again filled with a particular dosage to add taste and sweetness and after that the bottle of champagne or sparkling wine is again corked and labeled.

Almost all sparkling wines are produced in similar manner. However, some cheap sparkling wines may be produced by fermenting the wine not in the bottles themselves but in a big vessel.

So, it is clear that there is not much difference between sparkling wine or champagne and their making is also very similar. Because of this reason, whenever you will taste sparkling wine and champagne simultaneously, you will find very little or no difference.

However, when you will go to buy a bottle of sparkling wine and a bottle of champagne, you will definitely observe the big difference in price.

Maria Sharapova Takes a Leap towards Her Career Grand Slam

Russian hot tennis star Maria Sharapova stormed in Paris to enter into French Open 2011 last 16.

She won against Taiwan’s Chan Yung-Jan during their women’s third round match in the French Open in Paris with ease.

Former world number one Maria Sharapova cruised like a firestorm in the fourth round of the French Open 2011 with an explicit show of hard-hitting as she won direct sets with 6-2 6-3 to earn victory over Taiwan’s Chan Yung-Jan on Saturday.

Known for her graceful hot girl looks, Sharapova was once voted as the most fashionable tennis player on and off the court.

On Saturday, she was wearing a chic chick yellow dress on court Philippe Chartrier at Paris in France.

Currently, Maria Sharapova is seventh seeded and she is one of the strongest contenders for the French Open this year.

She has never won a French Open title, however, this year, she is feeling very comfortable while playing on the typical clay courts of France.

Right from the start of the game, Maria Sharapova maintained her power strokes to take a 4-0 lead and from there, nothing was able to stop her.

In an another match, Polish tennis star Agnieszka Radwanska, who is 12th seeded, won against Belgian Yanina Wickmayer 6-4 6-4.

Sharapova will take on Agnieszka Radwanska to progress towards the title French Open 2011 to complete a career grand slam.

Recently in an interview, she said that Belgian Kim Clijsters will be a strong opponent in any condition.

Maria Sharapova and Kim Klijsters are the French Open 2011 Favorite

A clash of Titan women is certain at the French Open 2011 tournament.

After gaining easy victory in Rome last week, Maria Sharapova has proved that this time, she is a seriously planning to make her way towards the French Open title. Maria Sharapova is one of the finest tennis players of our times with 23 WTA singles titles in her kitty. She has won 3 Grand Slam singles titles including Wimbledon 2004, US Open 2006, and Australian Open 2008. However, French Open remained beyond her reach till now.

But this time, she is set to make the history as her power strokes game is improving specifically on the unique surfaces of France. After winning some great matches against even greater players this year, she has definitely got boost for her confidence.

However, the only hurdle she sees after making her way towards the quarterfinals by defeating Roland Garros after Friday match, is the Belgian super mom Kim Clijsters.

In current times and with current form, it seems that there is nothing that can beat Kim Clijsters. However, she missed the action for a long period after hurting her ankle at her cousins wedding where she stumbled to get injured. The injury is two months old and now she has recovered and is expected to make a blistering comeback again.

Analysts suggest that it would be difficult for Kim Clijsters to get her form back after two months of inaction. This gives a positive chance for Sharapova to gain her fourth Grand Slam. However, Maria Sharapova feels that it won’t be that easy as it seems.

She believes that Kim Clijsters is always a strong opponent in any condition.

The 24 years old sexy tennis star praised Kim Clijsters and said, "It's always difficult to not play for a few weeks and come back at a Grand Slam being your first tournament, "but, you know, she has a tremendous amount of experience behind her. I don't think this is the first time that she's come back after having a long lay-off.”

There are strong probabilities that Maria Sharapova will have to fight against Kim Clijsters on the unique French clay courts.

Sharapova further praised Clijsters and said, “She's been able to do really well when she's taken time off, so you can never count her out.”It might take her a few matches to get into form. That's normal when you haven't played for a while. But she's a great champion, she's won the last couple of grand slams, is number two in the world. “

History proves that Sharapova never gained at Parisian clay courts. In 2007, she reached semifinals and that was the end of her strives. However this time, she has played much better. After winning against, Smantha Stosur in Rome last week, she said, "I was really happy with the way last week turned out."

Before playing her next game, she said, "I played great tennis. I had some great matches and wins over good players, especially on clay. So it's definitely a confidence booster. Just hoping to take this form and bring it over to Roland Garros."

And she successfully carried her winning streak to win against Roland Garros; however, the next fight may not be that easy. If Sharapova is the titan of tennis game, Clijsters is also a titan goddess of the same game.

So, tennis players can expect a great draw between the two great and beautiful tennis players in coming days.

Teenage Pregnancy and Issues related with Teen Moms

Teen pregnancy is one such issue which is common to both the developing world and the developed industrialized countries. However, the reason for teen pregnancy is different in different cases. In developing countries of Asia and specially in Indian sub-continental countries (India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Nepal et all) teen pregnancies often occurs within married relationships as these countries still suffer social problems such as child marriages.

On the other hand, in industrialized countries such as the USA, UK, France, Italy or Switzerland, the main reason for teen pregnancy is high sexual involvements of teens in unmarried relationships.

The United States suffers with the highest rate of teen pregnancy in the developed world. Recently, at the occasion of the United States National Day for Prayers, MTV renewed its fourth season of Teen Mom, which is an initiative to spread awareness about the issues and problems related with teen moms in general.

According to the Center for Disease Control in the United States, one-third or 33% of American girls get pregnant before the age of 20.

The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy maintains a website teenpregnancy.org to provide relevant information about the issues and according to the site, the United States faces "750,000 teen pregnancies annually. Eight in ten of these pregnancies are unintended and 81 percent are to unmarried teens."

Teen moms often suffer social stigmata and that increases the risk for babies born to teenage mothers. They faces major long lasting problems in many areas such as schooling failure, mental and physical illness and poverty.

Teen moms also suffer similar risks. Proper studies on teen moms reveal certain facts about teen pregnancy:
  • Teen mothers often drop out of high school
  • They often are and remain single parents
  • Teen moms score lower in math, science and reading into adolescence
Teen pregnancy is often considered as a huge crisis for the pregnant girl along with her family. She often suffers anger, guilt, and denial. If the father of such child is also a teen, he also suffers similar reactions in his family.


However, in most of the cases, teen mothers are found to be engaged with elder men of age at least 6 or more years more than their own ages.


Adolescent moms often fail to attain proper medical care during pregnancy period and that increases the risks for medical complications. It is necessary to provide special understanding, education, and medical care along with information about nutrition, substance abuse, infections, and complications of pregnancy and delivery.

Teen moms should be taught about dangers of using tobacco, alcohol, and other drugs as this may damage the foetus in their womb. All pregnant teens should also be provided with medical care beginning right from their early pregnancy.

Often teen moms remain uncertain about their role and responsibilities for their child, as a result, babies of teenage mothers often suffer risk of neglect and abuse.

Teenage mothers often get frustrated because of the regular demand of caretaking for their child. Their frustration further increases because mostly they remain single parents.

Teen girls should be educated about contraception and their proper usage because education about contraceptives leads them to use contraception while having sex.


However, sex education and information about contraceptives doesn’t cause any negative effect by lowering the age at their first sexual activities.

How to Prevent Teen Pregnancies

Many teen girls remain excited about their sexual life and how to start it. If you are about to involve in a sexual relation, the best way is to attain all possible information about different types of contraceptives as the usage of proper contraceptive will reduce chances of unwanted pregnancy.

According to the Public Health Agency of Canada, 25 percent of young teens who have intercourse without a proper contraceptive are likely to become pregnant within a month.

Parents are required to get involved with their teen children and to discuss about sex and contraceptives.
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