Are you interested in learning enough about wines that you could hold your own in conversation? Learning about wine can be a great way to impress your friends, with your new found expertise. You may be thinking of putting together a celebration meal. Whatever your reasons, read on to learn some of the things you need to know about wine.
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.
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.
Properly store your wine to keep the flavor fresh. Having too hot or too cold temperatures can damage the flavors of any wines. Allow flavors time to develop by storing them around 50 or 55 degrees. You can buy a special wine fridge or put the bottles in a cool basement.
Learn the pronunciation of all of the wines that you serve so that you sound as professional as possible when you are around your guests. This can go a long way if you are having a party or get together with friends in your house. There are common names for wine, so get acquainted with the lingo.
Visit the regions that grow the wine. To really appreciate the ways different grapes taste, you should see them harvested. This allows you to see the origins of the wine, enhancing your experience. Of course, you must also remember how inspirational and exquisite wine country can be. What more could you want?
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!
Don’t fall for the trap that cheap wine is bad and expensive wine is good. There are exceptional inexpensive wines and wines that cost a small fortune that are difficult to drink. Experience as many different types as you can, no matter the price. WHo knows – you may find a favorite that is well within your everyday drinking budget.
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.
Take notes on any wine you try. if you are really getting into wines, you’ll be tasting dozens of them over the course of the year, easily. It can be tough to keep track of what your impressions are on certain bottles, especially if they shared many similarities with only subtle differences. Making notes will help keep you on track.
If you are at a restaurant where the prices of the wine are outrageous, do not be ashamed to order beer. Sometimes, restaurants will jack up their prices knowing that the customer is coming to drink wine and will purchase it anyway. This can help save you a lot of money in the long run.
Pair spicy foods with sweet wines. Especially with the heat of Thai and Indian food, you will want to stick with dry white and red wines that are sweet. Some great pairings include Chenin Blanc, Gewurztraminer, and Riesling. If you choose Riesling, try going with a German brand since their higher acidity doesn’t make the sweetness seem as apparent. These wines act as palate cleansers to help you enjoy the spiciness of the meal.
If you are trying a lot of wines trying to decide which ones are the best for you, make sure to write down all of the ones you like and don’t like. There are online services that help you find similar wines to ones you like, so you can use them to find more wines. You can also use these sites to avoid wines that are similar to the ones you didn’t care for.
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.
A good tip if you’re offering wine at a restaurant is to make sure you know how to properly care for the wine. There’s nothing more annoying than ordering some wine by the glass, only to find out that it wasn’t properly cared for and it wasn’t very good because of it.
If you are cooking with wine, the type of dish you are making indicates whether you will need a dry or sweet wine. For savory dishes, always choose a dry wine. If you want a dry white wine, try a chardonnay. Dry red wines include merlot and pinot noir.
The more you know about an interest, the more it can be enjoyed. Now it is simply a matter of putting this information to good use. Use the information you learned from this article and show the world what you know.
