A lot of people drink wine, but don’t know a lot about wine. Don’t let that be you. With just a little information, you can be a true wine connoisseur. The following tips are here for that purpose, and can help you know a bit more about the drink you enjoy.
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.
If you plan to learn about and collect wines, invest in proper storage. Wine is best when kept in a cooler, more humid environment. Many people prefer to build out a basement or cellar for storing wine. However, if your needs are smaller, there are many options for in-home storage on the market.
Take a blind taste test of a few wines. Judge them on flavor, scent and boldness. Ignore the most sought after qualities like price or the winery’s region. Tasting blindly is a great way to get your honest opinion on the wine itself, without getting tricked by the hype that sometimes goes into certain varieties.
If you are a wine newbie and you are looking for a wine to try, why not go to a wine tasting? At these events, you can taste many different wines until you find one the best suits your taste. Also, if you find one you like, you can usually purchase a bottle at the same time.
If you are going to bring wine to a tailgate event, choose a bottle with a screw top. Screw tops will allow you easy access to the wine without having to keep track of a wine opener. You can also reclose the wine with a screw top, whereas a cork may not be as secure.
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!
Listen to what wine experts say, but don’t take them too seriously. A wine expert always knows they may be wrong. Keep in mind that everyone’s wine preferences are different. Do not take their word as gospel.
If you need to find a wine for an important occasion such as a wedding, it is best to have a small wine tasting party beforehand. Invite some of the guests and have them try different wines. Give them a large selection to choose from and do not hesitate to offer different options at the actual event.
Wine country is a great place to visit. If you visit the areas where wine is produced, it takes on an entirely new relevance. Vineyards are an alternative for shorter visits. Thus, you can have fun, but also gain a great education.
Keep a journal just for wine. The easiest way to keep track of the wines that you enjoy and the ones that you do not like is to keep a list of them. You can also include the foods that you drank them with so that you can repeat the experience if you like.
There are many wonderful wines that are specifically designed to be paired with desserts. These wines are usually sweeter than most wines you might drink with your meal. Port wines, like ruby port and tawny port, have a natural sweetness to them that makes them go well with desserts like chocolate. These wines taste best when served at 55 degrees.
If you enjoy storing wines in your home, consider investing in a small wine cooler. Wine coolers are meant to keep the temperature of the bottles around fifty five degrees, which is considered the ideal temperature for wine. They are relatively small, inexpensive and can even add a decorative touch to your kitchen, dining room or living room.
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.
A great tip you should remember about wine is to store it at the right temperature. A lot of people make the mistake of keeping their white wine too cold. This makes it painful to drink because it hurts your teeth. Red wine should be kept at about room temperature.
Riesling wines are made from white grapes and offer consumers a mouth full of delicate floral wine with hints of peach, honey or apricot. This wine pairs perfectly with seafood and chicken. Or, if you prefer, you can serve this delicate wine alongside an assortment of cheeses or desserts.
Allow red wines to breathe for a while before serving them to your guests. This allows oxygen in and some of the vapors out, and it only takes a few minutes. This results in the release of flavors and aroma in the wine, ensuring a full flavored tasting experience.
No one can be a conoisseur overnight, but now that you have these tips you are that much closer to being a wine pro. Just use the tips in your everyday life to help you think of wine in a new way. You will be sure to be rewarded; enjoy!
