It is hard to deny the ability wine has to enliven and improve almost any occasion. The best way to get an optimal experience from wine each and every time is to learn everything you can about the topic. By reading the information that follows below, you will be well on your way to becoming an expert.
Read up as much as you can on wine through books and magazines. In these works, you will find that some of the best wine connoisseurs in the world rate some of the most popular wines. This will help you to decide what wines you want to buy if you have yet to try them.
Keep in mind that an expensive wine is not necessarily good. Everyone has different preferences when it comes to wine and you should not force yourself to drink expensive wines to appear sophisticated. There are plenty of delicious wines you can find at an affordable price. Try different varieties until you find something you really enjoy instead of judging wines in function of their prices.
If you are having oysters or seafood, stick to white wine. White wine is lighter and has a higher acidity level, so it is best to have this when you are eating lighter foods. Seafood is a perfect combination with white wine, and will help to maximize the sensation that you get.
A great tip if you’re interested in buying wine is not to get too carried away with buying a lot of wine that you currently like. Tastes change all the time, and you might regret packing your wine cellar with a bunch of wine that you happen to like right now.
Do not write a certain wine off just because a wine tester does not like it. Just like with many other beverages, certain wines require an acquired taste. Even if he or she does not like it, you may find it to be to your liking. See if you can get a sample of it before buying a bottle.
When you are in a restaurant, do not feel too shy about ordering a wine that is not the most expensive. Sommeliers choose great wines for the restaurants they work for, which means that the more inexpensive choices should taste just as good as the ones that cost quite a bit.
If you are cooking with wine, don’t hesitate to ask the wine shop-owner/manager for advice. He or she has likely tasted most of the wines available, and can give you an educated suggestion for wines that will enhance your recipe. The shop may even have wine on hand for tasting.
You should have some clear goals in mind when shopping for wine. Establish a budget and make a list of the different occasions you will need wine for. Shopping for wine can be a lot of fun but do not get carried away by an enthusiastic seller who presents your wines you will have no use for.
Always smell your wine before you taste it. One reason is that it could be spoiled, which can be easily identified by smelling it, which could save you from getting sick. Additionally, you can also learn a lot about the wine from its aroma, and if you stick with this habit you will begin to identify how over time.
If you plan on going to a wine tasting, call ahead to make sure that you don’t need reservations. It is a common misconception that you can just show up for a wine tasting, but there is usually limited space available. Wouldn’t it be dreadful to prepare yourself for a night of wine tasting, then have your plans crushed at the door?
Go to wine tasting events. This is a great way to discover wines that you will love without purchasing a whole bottle to see how much you like it. Many times wine cellars and wineries offer wine tasting as part of their tours. Wineries are a great vacation destination, and you can bring home a souvenir bottle.
When buying wine, the year it was produced is not necessarily the most important factor. While the climate of a region can change the taste of a wine, most of the largest wine-producing regions have fairly consistent temperatures. This means that a bottle produced in California in 2005 and a bottle from 2007, for example, should taste pretty similar.
Sake is an often overlooked wine. Sake is a wine that is made from rice and is frequently associated with Japanese cuisine. You can easily serve a good sake with entrees, appetizers or desserts. Choose a robust sake and serve it alongside your favorite stir-fry for an authentic Japanese meal.
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 fairly constant and moderate. One good place to store your wine is the bottom of your closet.
When purchasing wine at a winery, use caution when buying in bulk. It is all to easy to find the perfect wine and decide to buy a case or two, to take home. If you do not have the proper storage space or facility available, be prudent in your purchase. You do not want to end up with a couple of cases of turned wine.
Wine has the power to make just about any event more sophisticated and more fun. Knowing the landscape when it comes to wine is a great way to make the experience of drinking wine better for yourself, your friends and your family alike. Refer to the information above whenever you need a refresher on the glorious subject of wine.
