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.
To choose the best wine to compliment any meal you must know what type of wine goes with the different types of meat. One of the easiest ways to remember which wine to choose is to match the color wine with the color of meat. For example, most red wines pair beautifully with red meat such as beef; while white wines work well with white meats like fish or chicken.
You should write down a few notes after trying a new wine. Make sure you write down the name of the wine, its origin and the year as well as your impressions. It will be hard to remember what a wine tasted like, especially if you attend wine tastings and try many different wines in the same day.
If you are having red meats, stick to red wine. This is the general principle, and should rarely be veered away from. Red wine helps to bring out the flavor in the steak or meat that you choose and vice versa, giving you the best possible experience while you are eating lunch or dinner.
Buy only one bottle of each wine. If you find that you like a particular wine a great deal it can be very tempting to want to buy a lot of it at once to save money, but this is often a bad idea. Instead, buy only one to ensure that you do not fill your cellar with one type.
If you are new to the world of wine, consider attending a wine festival. Festivals are a wonderful way to meet other people with an interest in wines and try several varieties without breaking the bank. You can also get some great ideas about pairing wines with foods. The fun and festive atmosphere also provides for a great date night out.
Allow red wines to warm up. Often, red wines are stored at temperatures near 60 degrees. The best temperature for serving red wines is above 70 degrees, which allows the full body of the wine to be present. When you open a bottle of red, allow it to sit and come to room temperature before drinking.
If you go to a restaurant with a sommelier, do not hesitate to ask for help when choosing your wine. The sommelier will know everything about the wines on the menu and will even be able to make a personalized recommendation if you let them know what kind of wine you usually enjoy.
For a spring picnic, evening at the race track or other outdoor events during seasonable weather, your best bet is a sparkling wine. Take your pick of bubbly’s like a nice Asti or Champagne and complement it with mild cheese, fresh bread and fruit. Remember to bring flute glasses too, to make the experience complete.
Don’t shy away from ordering or buying a bottle of something that you can not pronounce the name of. The clerk is not going to care. If they own the business, they are happy to make the sale. If they just work there, they are watching the clock until the end of their shift and will not remember you in an hour anyway. Don’t deprive yourself of tasting new wines because you can’t speak the name.
You should try a wide variety when you are purchasing wines. Drink different wines to avoid boredom. Try one from a different place, or try a totally different type. Some wines are cheaper than others, so you might find something you like that won’t cost you as much.
Do not hesitate to use wine for drinking or to drink alone if you need to relax. Adding some red wine to steaks can really help to bring out the flavor. Seafood goes swimmingly with white wine. Just a little wine added during cooking brings out the flavors.
Before visiting your favorite restaurant and mulling over which wine to chose, check out their website. Most fine dining establishments will post their wine list on the site, leaving you plenty of time to investigate the possibilities. Consider your entree in advance and research the wine that will best complement it.
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.
Some wine tasting events are family friendly, and it may be beneficial to you to phone ahead and find out if that is the case for your next tasting. Some wineries, for example, cater exclusively toward adults, while others entertain and engage all ages.
If you are like most people who do not have a wine cellar in their house, find a dark place in your home to store the wine. Make sure the temperature is kept fairly constant and moderate. One good place to store your wine is the bottom of your closet.
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.
