Wine is something that people from everywhere enjoy. Maybe you are among those who enjoy some wine now and then. Prior to hoisting a glass, though, you do need to gain some specific knowledge. This article breaks down all there is to know about wine.
Do not spend your money on full cases of wine if you are not sure you like it. It is best to purchase an experimental bottle, or even better, taste the wine before you purchase it. You should consider buying full cases of win if you know you will easily be able to serve it when you have company.
Do not judge a wine on its year of production alone. Just because a wine was made a long time ago does not mean that it is a quality wine. Be sure to investigate the wine thoroughly so that you are not fooled into paying top dollar for a bottom shelf wine.
To choose the best wine to compliment any meal you must know what type of wine goes with the different types of meat. One of the easiest ways to remember which wine to choose is to match the color wine with the color of meat. For example, most red wines pair beautifully with red meat such as beef; while white wines work well with white meats like fish or chicken.
Particularly if you are just discovering wine, don’t buy too much of any one thing. You may want to grab several bottles of whatever you enjoy, but as you continue learning more, you are going to start to like different things. You probably won’t be interested in the wine that you enjoyed several months ago.
Buy only one bottle of each wine. If you find that you like a particular wine a great deal it can be very tempting to want to buy a lot of it at once to save money, but this is often a bad idea. Instead, buy only one to ensure that you do not fill your cellar with one type.
When buying wine as a gift, consider pairing it with food of some sort. A nice basket containing some chocolate and wine or fine cheese and wine makes a wonderful gift. It gives the recipient some meal ideas, and can provide for a wonderful atmosphere at a festive event.
If you have a cellar or even just a rack where you can store wine, do not fill the space completely with the wines that you like right now. Your tastes are bound to change over time. You don’t want to be stuck with many cases of a brand you no longer drink.
Think outside the box when you are presented the wine menu at a restaurant. Buy a wine your guests will not recognize, so as to impress them. They will enjoy the opportunity to try something new.
Take notes on any wine that you try out. You aren’t going to really know what you are doing at first. However, over time, you will start noticing specific trends in your notes and reactions. You might even see that your reaction to particular wine’s changes as you drink more of them.
If you are new to selecting wines, start off at a store that carries bottles under $20. Wine shops geared toward connoisseurs may have a lot of expensive and confusing choices. Opt for the lower priced wine until you’ve found your favorite flavor and then take it from there.
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.
The first two years is the prime time to drink whites, while they are young and new. However, Chardonnay is an exception. The explanation behind this is that white wine production does not normally involve oak. Different types and darker wines might be the opposite.
Stick to wines that you enjoy. Some bars and restaurants promote specific labels, especially if one is connected to celebrities. However, these brands are usually marked up way above their wholesale value. A high price doesn’t necessarily equate to better wine. Drink what you like.
Don’t shy away from ordering or buying a bottle of something that you can not pronounce the name of. The clerk is not going to care. If they own the business, they are happy to make the sale. If they just work there, they are watching the clock until the end of their shift and will not remember you in an hour anyway. Don’t deprive yourself of tasting new wines because you can’t speak the name.
When you are tasting wine, tilt your glass and observe the color. Swirl your glass and lean in to breathe in its aroma. Take a little in your mouth and then release it back into the glass.
If you are dining out with work colleagues and trying to impress the boss, try to arrive at the table first and order a bottle of wine to be delivered upon your guest’s arrival. This will really make it look like you know your wines. Avoiding a wait time for the bottle can also enhance the evening for everyone.
Wine is popular the world over, as was mentioned above. Perhaps you are among this number. If you want to get the very most out of your wine, this article can help. The advice in this piece has given you a great start.
