Most people think you have to be very sophisticated and worldly to enjoy wines. While that may be somewhat true in a few cases, people of all backgrounds can enjoy wine as long as they have the right direction. Keep reading for great tips for beginning wine connoisseurs.
Keep in mind that the color of the wine is not always the same as the color of the grapes used to make it. The color results from the process of winemaking, and it is the skin of the grape used in the process that gives an individual wine its final color.
Take a trip out to a vineyard. If one is located close to you, make it a day trip. If not, consider taking a short vacation to go out and explore. An adventure such as this may help you appreciate and love wine even more than before.
Swirling is part of tasting wine. Make the circular motion necessary from your elbow rather than your wrist. Doing so will enable you to smell the wine, enhancing its flavor. Making the motion just using the wrist is difficult and often will not have the desired effect.
Wine is a popular accompaniment for your holiday gatherings, and you must choose a suitable variety to complement your entree. Generally, white wine goes well with chicken, turkey, or seafood, and red wine is the best choice when the menu features beef or pork as the main entree.
Do not limit yourself to countries known for exporting wines, such as Spain or France. Some of the best wines on the market are from Argentina or New Zealand. It would be best if you did not form your opinion of a country after tasting only a few different wines.
Instead of throwing out your last bits of wine, consider saving it for a marinade for dinner the next night. Take your wine, add some seasoning and place it in a bowl. Add your favorite piece of meat to the bowl and let it sit for several hours or even overnight. This will add delicious flavor to your next night’s meal!
If you want to visit a winery, you should know that the wine you buy and bring home will not taste like the wine you tried at the winery. The wine offered to visitors is often never put into bottles, and the wine you buy will change during your trip home.
Make sure that the bottle is icy when you open it. This will yield a much better wine taste, primarily if you serve many people. Obviously, the wine will get cold once the bottle is opened, and it is at room temperature, so ascertain that it is cold upon opening.
When tasting wine, make sure your environment is calm and quiet. If you want to capture the authentic flavor of wine, the ambiance should be soothing. Bright lights and noise can distract you from concentrating, so only judge wine in a peaceful setting.
The body of a wine is a great way to pair it with a dish. The “body” of a wine refers to how substantial the wine is. It often correlates with the alcohol content, with fuller-bodied wine containing more alcohol than a lighter wine. Heavier dishes should be paired with a full-bodied wine, as a lighter wine runs the risk of tasting watery when paired with something like a hearty steak.
Don’t be afraid to experiment when enjoying a good wine. Sure, we all have a favorite stand-by, but that doesn’t mean something different cannot be enjoyed as well. If red is your go-to wine, investigate the possibility of a Pinot Grigio tonight, or be daring and try something you’ve never even heard of!
Sweet wines are referred to as dessert wines. They often have alcoholic additives in them to make the flavor even bolder. This creates a syrup-like wine that is great in small doses. Pairing it with a savory dessert creates the best course of the meal, so try it at your next dinner party.
When ordering a wine in a restaurant, let the type of restaurant be your guide. If you are eating in a French restaurant, it is best to order a French wine. If you are dining in a Spanish restaurant, choose a wine from Chile or other parts of South America. This will help you order the best-quality wine the restaurant has to offer and a bottle of wine that pairs well with your food.
Try not to stock up on wines. You might be tempted to fill your home with the kind of wine you love, but what happens if your tastes change? Buy a few bottles, but don’t go all out unless you are committed to limiting yourself to a particular brand or type.
Attend wine tastings to discover which wines you enjoy most. Make wine tastings a regular part of your schedule. You can learn a ton about wine at these events. If you intend to consume the wine and not just taste it, make sure that you bring a sober driver.
If you buy a wine in a supermarket, keep in mind that the wine is probably meant for immediate drinking. That is essentially what a supermarket stocks rather than aged wines. Don’t try to pick an older wine thinking it will be better. Just buy the freshest and most recent.
If you are like most people who do not have a wine cellar in their house, find a dark place in your home to store the wine. Make sure the temperature is kept relatively constant and moderate. One good place to store your wine is the bottom of your closet.
With the tips above, you can be a wine expert. While you may not be the most skilled wine drinker out there, you will be able to join the pros in wine conversations. Drinking wine is not just a pastime. It is something that should be taken seriously.
