Have you ever had a glass of wine? If you’re like most, the answer is probably yes. However, you probably don’t know much about the wine you are drinking, other than the color. Wine has a rich history and is a vast topic that involves geography, climate and grapes. Here are some solid tips for learning more about this drink.
Develop a relationship with your local wine store. Every one is different. Wine is a wide area, so each store will specialize in a certain kind of wines. If you’re just starting to learn about wine, you probably want to stay away from expensive wine shops. Find a place where you are comfortable.
Spice up your next beef dish with some red wine sauce. Just place some butter in a saucepan with a bit of wine. Let it simmer and cook out the alcohol. Then simply pour over your beef!
Avoid over chilling white wines. Many wine drinkers will buy a bottle of their favorite white and return home to pop it in the fridge. While chilling whites is important, too much cold will diminish flavors in the wine; sometimes the most important ones. Target a temperature around 60 degrees up to 68 degrees to achieve the prime flavor.
Consider joining an online forum about wine. Lots of great forums exist, which can be excellent venues for interacting with other people who share your interest and obtaining new ideas. Before signing up for any forum, search through the boards to ensure it offers you the type of community you are looking for.
Get to as many wine tastings as you possibly can. Taste as many different kinds of wine as you can, and you learn a lot in the process. Not only will you learn about the various kinds of wine, you also learn about wine in general and how to learn good wines from bad very quickly. Just remember that you need to spit!
If you go to a restaurant with a sommelier, do not hesitate to ask for help when choosing your wine. The sommelier will know everything about the wines on the menu and will even be able to make a personalized recommendation if you let them know what kind of wine you usually enjoy.
Have a basic idea of what kind of wine you like. Even if you are not sure of what brand, winery or region you prefer, it is pretty easy to determine if you prefer a blush, red or white. By knowing just this basic fact, you can more easily determine which wines are worth trying for your next meal.
The main differences between red and white wines are the types of grapes and their colors. Purple grapes are used to make red wine and that gives it a stronger body. Green grapes, which are usually crisper and lighter, are used to make white wines. There are many subtle differences from one wine to another, but red and white is the main difference.
Take a look at how your wine is stored in the store. In a wine store, wine will be stored in the exact lighting and temperature required to keep that wine tasting its best. When you get home, try to mimic those conditions to the best of your ability until you drink the wine.
Many people think that the only wines that are worth drinking have to cost an arm and a leg. While there are a lot of great wines out there that cost an awful lot of money, there are just as many good tasting wines that are much more moderately priced.
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!
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.
A good approach in pairing food with wine is to try all types of possibilities. It’s hard to say which wine might enhance a particular dish. You may find that there is a better choice than what you first assumed.
To really get the most of your glass of wine, you will want to sniff it twice. The first time, take a long, slow whiff from right outside of the glass. The second time, take a sniff with your nose inside of the glass. You will see how much better the wine tastes when you do this.
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.
Champagne need not only be served at weddings. Most people reserve it for special events. There are many foods and dishes that you can enjoy champagne with. The subtle acidity and its bubbles will cleanse the palate. Salty snacks are great complements for champagne.
Wine is a drink that is also a complex subject. The tips in this article have hopefully helped you to learn more about it. Now you know more and can choose different wines and perhaps start cooking with it. The more you know, the more you can appreciate this fantastic beverage.
