You probably have a friend who always has a great selection of wine in their cellar. Do you want to have that same knowledge at your fingertips? Reading this article can help you learn all about the fundamentals of wine. Keep reading to gather more facts about wine in order to achieve a learned reputation.
When buying wine, do not make the mistake of believing a wine has to be expensive to be tasty. There are many wines out there that taste great and are reasonably priced. If you are not sure you like a particular variety of wine, it is a good idea to try an inexpensive bottle.
If you are looking for a good deal on wine, try to purchase it from the rack at a liquor store. Generally, you will find that these are the items that are on sale or the dealer wants to get rid of the fastest. The quality of these wines has not dissipated though, so you can score a great deal this way.
If you are new to the world of wine, consider attending a wine festival. Festivals are a wonderful way to meet other people with an interest in wines and try several varieties without breaking the bank. You can also get some great ideas about pairing wines with foods. The fun and festive atmosphere also provides for a great date night out.
When purchasing a wine for dinner tonight, make sure to ask in the store if the wine is ready to drink. Some wines need to age in order for their true flavor to come out. This might mean months or even years should go by before the bottle is enjoyed. By asking if the wine is ready to drink, you have a better chance of walking out with a bottle you will enjoy.
If you tend to get headaches right after drinking wine, you should try a different kind of wine. For instance, some people only get headaches from red wines. If the headaches persist, you should go to your doctor to make sure it is safe for you to keep drinking wine.
Attend as many wine tastings as you have time for. Wine tastings introduce your palette to many different styles of wines. And the people who attend these events may also be much more advanced than you in terms of wine knowledge. You can pick their brains to learn even more!
Learn the pronunciation of all of the wines that you serve so that you sound as professional as possible when you are around your guests. This can go a long way if you are having a party or get together with friends in your house. There are common names for wine, so get acquainted with the lingo.
The rule that white wine is better chilly doesn’t always apply. White wines do differ in texture, and therefore may benefit from a variety of temperatures. Some wines like sauvignon blanc taste good cold, but chardonnay and pinot gris should be served warm.
You can easily make a mulled wine with only a few ingredients. You will need a bottle of red wine such as Merlot, Zinfandel or Cabernet Sauvignon, a peeled and sliced orange, a quality brandy, honey or sugar and a few spices including whole cloves, cinnamon and ginger. Combine your ingredients into a slow cooker. Then, heat for 30 minutes and enjoy!
Removing the label from a bottle is simple. The best way to do this is to put the bottle in a hot oven and, using oven mitts, peel the label off after the bottle has warmed up for several minutes.
Sparkling wines and champagne need to be served very cold. The full flavor will not be imparted if these wines are served at room temperature. Chill your champagne for a few hours in the fridge before drinking it.
Take notes on any wine you try. if you are really getting into wines, you’ll be tasting dozens of them over the course of the year, easily. It can be tough to keep track of what your impressions are on certain bottles, especially if they shared many similarities with only subtle differences. Making notes will help keep you on track.
Many red wines are matured in oak barrels for far longer than white wine would be. This adds tannins from the wood into the wine, creating a complex flavor. This would be too much for the subtle flavor of a white wine, so they are rarely aged in this manner.
If you find yourself buying the same wine over and over, try to force yourself to try something new. Try not to buy the same wine each time, in order to stave off boredom. Get wines from different regions or even different varieties. You may save some money as a result.
Take a good look at your wine before you taste it. You can tell a lot about a wine by its appearance. If you practice this, you will soon learn a lot from a wine by its color. Look at the wine from many angles so that you can see all of the colors it has to offer.
Don’t be afraid to experiment when it comes to 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 really daring and try something you’ve never even heard of!
Break out of the pairings mythology. It’s not the case that reds only taste good with meats and whites only with fish. There are wines on both sides that pair up well with these dishes. Open up your mind to experimenting with these variations. Otherwise you may be limiting your creativity with wine!
If you wish to make a good impression, you now have the knowledge that can help you achieve that. Select the correct wine, cook with it and speak to other people about the best wines. All you need is to become educated to start.
