Wine is one of the most popular alcoholic beverages in the world. However, many people are nervous about choosing a bottle of wine. They feel as if they do not understand how to pick a great wine. It is not really that hard. The advice in this article will show you how to do it.
Wine goes extremely well with pasta dishes. To choose the perfect wine remember that red wines work best with heavy sauces such as tomato sauce. Pair white wines with white sauces and salads. For basil pestos and other meatless dishes, you should opt for a complimentary wine such as a rosé.
Have a plan prior to picking your wine. Be sure you know which wine you’re looking before to avoid getting overwhelmed by brands, varieties, and prices. Certain wines fit dinners and others better fit large parties. Knowing which wine suits your needs can help you choose a better wine than browsing and choosing something on a whim.
Look at the entire wine store. Do not just stay in one aisle. Some stores are better organized than others, and you may even find some great deals in a section that you may not normally look in. Take some time to explore it. Surveying the store can help you avoid missing anything.
A great tip if you love wine is to look into joining an online message board that caters to fellow wine lovers. There are message boards for literally all kinds of communities. This is great because you’ll be able to connect with people that share the same interests, and you’ll learn a lot.
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!
You should know how to peel the label off of a bottle of wine. A simple way to do this is to heat the bottle in an oven for a few minutes, then use an oven mitt to remove the label.
If you want to visit a winery, you should know that the wine you buy and bring home will not taste like the wine you tried at the winery. The wine offered to visitors is often never put into bottles and the wine you buy will change during your trip home.
Try to drink a white wine when it is still young. However, Chardonnay is an exception. This is due to the fact that oak isn’t usually used when making white tines. The reverse is true for the many varieties of red wines.
Use good quality and fresh stemware when you serve your wines. Use clean glasses to make sure the guests can truly appreciate the color and taste of the wine you are serving. If your stemware is starting to age or chip, investing in a new set is a great idea.
Only buy wines you enjoy. Occasionally, promotions will endorse certain company lines. Generally speaking, many of these labels are marked up drastically. Remember that the price doesn’t necessarily reflect the quality of wine. If you know what wine you enjoy, stick to that variety.
Most people enjoy pairing wine with a fancy dinner. However, it is imperative that you always choose the best tasting bottle of wine that you can afford. People often don’t realize that wine can make or break the quality of the dinner. When in doubt, it’s best if you don’t!
Pinot Noir and Merlot are both flavorful red wines that can be easily paired with many flavors. This is a particular red wine that has a medium body, which can be combined with all kinds of food. Each one is unique, but it has a medium flavor in the spectrum, making it versatile.
Joining a wine club is not always the best way to get a great price on the wine you purchase. While the prices per bottle are typically really good with a wine club membership, the shipping costs can be quite high. Check how much the wine is at your local retailer first and then compare that to the price of the wine with a club membership after adding in shipping.
If you are choosing wine to accompany a restaurant meal, you can use your food choice as a guide. Red meats usually call for red wines. Fish, chicken and salads go better with white. If you have a party with a wide variety of dinner choices, try ordering wine either by the glass, or get a bottle of red, one of white and a rose to accomodate everyone.
A good tip if you’re an avid wine lover is to consider bringing your own wine to restaurants when you plan on dining out. This can be a great idea if a particular restaurant doesn’t carry the type of wine you’re looking for. You usually only have to pay for corkage.
If you are bringing a bottle of wine as a gift, but you don’t have a lot to spend, buy a bottle from a region that is not very well known. Most people that drink wine often know the pricing associated with major regions. However, if you think outside the box, you can get a great bottle at a price that is in your budget, and you don’t have to worry about your host knowing how much you spent.
As you can see, choosing the right wine does not have to be an ordeal. Once you know a little more about wine, it is easy to find a great wine for your next meal. Just remember what you have learned from this article. Before long, you will be enjoying a wonderful vintage.
