Although many occasions go better with wine, better wine doesn’t always go with any occasion. Learning which wine goes best with different dishes and how to complement a celebration takes time. The following article will teach you a few basic tips about selecting the right wine, serving it and more.
If you get wine on a beloved shirt, get some Windex. Because of the special formulation of window cleaner, it is better at getting out wine stains than water and soap. Ensure you use Windex as fast as you can, because waiting makes it harder to remove stains.
Leftover wine should not be saved for any more than four days. When wine comes in contact with oxygen, it starts to break down. This greatly effects the taste and balance. It is best to use any wine you have leftover for cooking instead of drinking it as it is.
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.
When serving wine for parties, open the Merlot and Cabernet a half hour before the party starts. This will allow the wine to make contact with the air and start “opening up.” As reds are exposed to the air, oxygen allows the tannin and flavors to activate and become more robust.
In order to fully taste the wine, you have to be able to smell it. Make sure that your nose is as clear as possible prior to doing a tasting. Once you have the glass in your hand, lean your face down toward it so that your nose is partially in the glass. Make sure you smell using both the right and the left nostril.
Lots of people like a drink after dinner; a robust dessert wine makes the best choice. A California Port, an Italian Moscato or a French Champagne makes an excellent dessert wine selection. Guests will find this a perfect cap to their meal.
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.
Carry a map or some sort of direction for your given area. Some of the best wine venues are incredibly organized and easy to navigate, while others are chaotic and will lose you in the twits-and-turns. Print off a map of your designated area, and you’ll never miss that perfect shop just around the bend.
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.
You may need a reservation to have a wine tasting. It is better to be safe than sorry. You might be turned away from the event without a reservation.
As you know, how you chill your wine can affect the taste as well as the aroma. However, wine is best served cold before a special occasion. Store the bottle of wine in a bucket filled with ice. This will chill the bottle in thirty minutes and it will be ready for serving.
Open a bottle of red wine before serving. The wine interacts with oxygen if the bottle remains opened. That brings out a strong flavor profile.
No matter, how much you enjoy a particular type of wine, do not purchase a whole case of it. As your palate becomes more educated, your taste will change enough that you prefer another variety of wine. This could leave you with a supply of wine in storage that you no longer care for.
Do not buy wine only because it is a good deal. Many people will buy wines that are on special or have a bulk discount. Have you tried this wine? Have you done any research? Most have not and will make a purchase that will end up not being drunk, or passed over by guests.
The best way to be prepared for drop-in guests is to keep a box of a variety of wines in a cool, dark place. Make sure not to put it in a place where the temperature fluxuates wildly as the bottles can go bad or even burst. A closet is a better choice than a basement for this reason.
Not every bottle needs to be the highest-costing champagnes they have to offer. If you want to enjoy a gathering with your friends or mark a special occasion, the low-priced sparkling wines offer a surprising alternative. The flavor is still excellent in many choices and the price is unbeatable on-the-spot.
Rather than settling on cheap champagne when on a tight budget, buy a nice sparkling wine. A great wine from Australia will be reasonably priced and comparable to champagne, whereas a lower-priced bottle of the real bubbly will probably not have a very good flavor. Consider switching out options rather than trading down too far.
Most celebrations are cause for opening a great bottle of wine, but which one? Hopefully this article has taught you the difference between wines and which ones are more appropriate for different meals. Remember these tips next time you go to pick up a bottle or two and be sure to enjoy.
