Are you a know-it-all when it comes to wine? Of course not, and that goes to show that anyone with an interest in wine is going to learn something by reading this article. What is it you want to know? Keep on reading to learn more facts about this delicious friend.
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.
Store your wine in the right way if you wish to preserve its flavor. Very cold or very hot temperatures could ruin the taste. Let these wines develop their flavors by storing them at about 50 or so degrees. Try a wine refrigerator or just keep your wines in your basement.
Get a wine cellar when you’re trying to keep wine good and valuable when you buy it. This can really be important when you spend a lot of money on a wine and you wish to have some later on. A wine cellar will preserve and enhance the quality of your wine over extended periods.
Build a relationship with the salesperson or owner of the wine store. Don’t be afraid of getting recommendations from them. While you may get some that aren’t fantastic, you can usually find some that are passionate about wine. They can also personally recommend certain kinds. Getting familiar with these people can also help them get to know your preferences.
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.
Read up on wine during your free time. The more that you learn about wine, the better you will be at picking new wines to add to your collection. There is a lot to know, so spend time learning when you can if you want to become a true wine connoisseur.
It will be a lot easier to talk about wine with other connoisseurs if you master their vocabulary. There are specific words used to describe flavors and colors. You also need to familiarize yourself with different regions and wineries. Have an expert explain these terms to you and present you with a selection of wines to illustrate different examples.
Only drink wines that you like. Some restaurants and bars might promote certain brands of wine. These are generally 20 times the wholesale price. Therefore, just because a wine is expensive doesn’t always mean it’s better tasting. Pick a wine that you like and don’t fall for the hype.
If you are cooking with wine, don’t hesitate to ask the wine shop-owner/manager for advice. He or she has likely tasted most of the wines available, and can give you an educated suggestion for wines that will enhance your recipe. The shop may even have wine on hand for tasting.
Always check the label of the wines you buy. This is a good way to get an idea of where the wine comes from, how popular it is and sometimes you will an accurate description of its taste and aroma. You will eventually identify your favorite distributors and recognize the best wines at a glance.
Aim for wines that were produced in the 1960s and 1970s. These are generally the best types of wine, in addition to the fact that they have aged a good amount of time. If you see that you are accustomed to drinking wine from a certain period, explore other wines in that span of time.
Buy your favorite wine by the case if you can afford to. Buying by the case can save you hundreds of dollars a year if you drink a lot of one particular wine. This is only a good idea, however, if you are certain that you would buy that much wine over time anyway.
Red wine should be opened and left to breathe for a while. When you leave the bottle open, the oxygen will have an interaction with the wine. This breathing allows the wine’s flavors to mellow and blend, creating a perfect glass of wine for you to enjoy.
If you identify a strong aroma of caramel, smoke, nuts or even vanilla when tasting a wine, keep in mind that these aromas are there because of the oak barrels used to store the wine. These aromas will not be as strong if you drink the same wine from a bottle.
When you are at an upscale restaurant, you should order the cheapest wine on the menu. However, waiters usually know that customers do not wish to seem cheap by trying to buy the cheapest wine. The runner-up as far as expensive wines will usually get recommended. Don’t hesitate to request the most affordable option; an upscale restaurant is not likely to offer anything of low quality.
It is always smart to compare the prices of wine at different retailers. One particular wine can have a huge disparity in price from retailer to retailer. You will find great prices for your favorite wines if you take the time to shop around.
When you are pouring your wine, try not to fill your glass up to the top. You only want to fill your glass about a third of the way to the top. This will allow the wine to mix properly and swirl so that the flavors can develop into their full richness.
Wine makes every meal taste better and any evening more relaxing. Knowing more about wine can be extremely beneficial, and hopefully you now understand why. Use the tips you just read, and start planning your next wine-tasting.
