The Mix Masters welcomed Brooks Firestone, from the famed "Firestone Vineyards" located in Santa Barbara, California. Brooks sat down with our co-host, Dean Wolfe to explain the fine points of his wines and what to look for when tasting any fine wine.

"Wine's a healthy, good thing. It should be enjoyed."

"What I look for is a clean, fresh, appealing flavor. Then behind it, the big overtones if you get something that's really great. Mostly I look for something that will make a dinner party. Make my guests feel happy- go with the food. And as I say, a good bargin."

"Well red wines, in particularly as they're drunk too early usually, can be opened an hour or two before a meal, even decanted will help them. It's an instant oxygen that actually expands the flavor of the wine.
White wines, that doesn't make any difference.
The older red wines, and here it gets complicated because some of them benefit by 'breathing' or being exposed to the air, some of them not at all. Some of them go down hill very quickly. Some of the wines, you'll actually see them improve in your glass as you drink them through out the evening."

Look for more wonderful wine suggestion from Brooks Firestone on our Tips page.