Maybe you wish to start collecting wine, or perhaps you want to know how to cook with wine. Maybe you don’t know much about wine at all. You need the right information so that you can make the right choices, so keep reading to find out more about wine and how its used.
Wine should be stored in a dark, cool location. One of the best places to help your wine remain fresh if you do not have a wine cellar is in a closet in your basement. Store your bottles on their side away from any light sources to help it remain fresh.
Keep a wine journal. Write down the names of wines that you taste and what you think of them. Over time, this will develop into a great resource for you. It is also nice to look back and see where you came from and what direction you are headed in when it comes to your wine preferences.
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.
Remember that wine shops can vary as much as wines themselves. Each one has a different set of priorities, product list and pricing structure. If you are very new to wine and setting foot in a place where the cheapest bottle is $60, you should look for a lower-end store where you can discover your palate and favorite brands.
Sign up to an online wine forum. You can learn so much from experienced sommeliers, or even someone who has only a bit more experience than you do. In fact, you might find that you can contribute to the discussion as well. You might just find that you are led to your favorite wine from a friendly suggestion made by a fellow member.
It’s recommended to consume white whines when they’re young, particularly in its first or second year. Chardonnay is an exception to this rule. This is because producing most white wines does not entail the use of oak. The opposite may hold true for darker wines and different varieties.
Ask if you can taste a few wines before buying. Most wine stores will offer tastings to their customers on a regular basis or set schedule. By trying a few varieties in the store, you can increase your chances of walking out with a bottle you really love. This is a better way to shop than buying blindly.
Do not go out and buy cases of wine just because you like the taste of it. Many times people’s tastes change over time, which means that you may not like this particular wine forever. Buying it in bulk may have you stuck with a lot of wine that you no longer like.
Try different things when you are buying wine. Drink different wines to avoid boredom. Try going for a wine that comes from a different place, or even one that’s totally different altogether such as a Chianti. You may save some money in the process.
If you are not sure of what type of wine, you like, it would be a good idea to go to a wine tasting. This will give you the opportunity to taste a large variety of wines without having to spend a lot of money on entire bottles you may not like.
Take the advice of wine critics with a grain of salt since you may have entirely different tastes than they do. Many people rely on critics to give them advice on what wines to select, but they end up disappointed. Only do this if you are sure that you and the critic have very similar palates.
Your diet can handle some wine. Many people avoid drinking wine when dieting because they are afraid of wasting calories. You do not have to completely sacrifice wine in your diet if you remember to practice moderation and portion control. Most wines come in at just under 100 calories per serving. You can easily work a glass or two into your weekly routine.
You shouldn’t neglect buying a bottle of wine just because it has a screw cap rather than a cork. Many companies are using screw caps today. The wine often tastes better in this type of bottles. With the screw top, less oxygen will enter the bottle and the wine will keep fresh. Some wineries have switched exclusively to screw-on caps.
If you are out to dinner with your friends, avoid ordering wine by the glass. Six glasses of wine are in a bottle, so share a bottle instead. By ordering a bottle of wine, you will save money and may even find a new wine you love.
No matter, how much you enjoy a particular type of wine, do not purchase a whole case of it. As your palate becomes more educated, your taste will change enough that you prefer another variety of wine. This could leave you with a supply of wine in storage that you no longer care for.
Have you ever thought you made a good selection of wine just because of the price tag? There are many factors that go into choosing a wine for different occasions, so hopefully the information you’ve read has helped you out in that direction. Use the advice so you can start using wine more effectively.
