Good wines are everywhere, grocery stores, restaurants and liquor stores. That said, the whole field of wine can be confusing and frustrating. This article provides information to help you through the confusing maze of wine and its uses.
Do not buy large quantities of a wine you like. Your preferences will change quickly as you discover new wines and you might regret spending your money on a wine you will eventually come to consider as average. Purchase small quantities and keep trying new wines to expand your horizons.
Pinot Grigio is an excellent complement to any ocean fish. The flavor of this dish is enhanced by the wine. Other white wines go equally well with seafood. This pairing is sure to please even the most discriminating food critic.
Find someone else who enjoys wine. It could be an employee at a store you go to often or an online blogger or critic whose opinion you respect. This individual can help you figure out what to try next, particularly if you are stuck in the rut of simply drinking the same thing over and over again.
Do not write a certain wine off just because a wine tester does not like it. Just like with many other beverages, certain wines require an acquired taste. Even if he or she does not like it, you may find it to be to your liking. See if you can get a sample of it before buying a bottle.
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!
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.
Have an idea of how much you want to spend on your wine in mind before you enter the store. A wine store can be a very confusing space with lots of shelves filled with various varieties. By having a price point in mind before you shop, you can narrow down what you are looking for and walk out of the store without spending too much.
When it comes to the differences between red and white wine, one major element is how they wines are fermented and aged. Red grapes are pressed twice, releasing more tannins and brightening the color of the wine. This is what makes the color so beautiful and the flavor so bold.
It is best to drink white wines while they are within their first two years. Chardonnay, is a notable exception to this rule. The explanation behind this is that white wine production does not normally involve oak. Red wines are better aged, on the other hand.
Don’t be afraid to try something new. Once a particular wine catches on with the public, it is often found in mass on the market. It can be hard to find a good wine when there are so many sub-par labels on the shelves. To combat this problem, try wine from lesser known regions. You may be surprised at the quality.
Make sure that the bottle is very cold when you open it. This will yield much better wine taste, especially if you are serving a large group of people. Obviously, wine will get cold once the bottle is opened, and it is at room temperature, so ascertain that it is cold upon opening.
Wine that comes with a screw cap should not be frowned upon. A lot of the wines of quality are shifting to screw caps. They are finding out that they help keep wines much more pure. Smaller amounts of air can get in, and there is never any cork floating around. These caps are frequently used worldwide.
If you are buying wine for a large party and are not sure what to buy, let statistics be your guide. Approximately, seventy-five percent of people are known to prefer red wines. While it is always a good idea to have white wines on hand, having primarily red wines is a good idea unless you know your guests prefer otherwise.
If you are entertaining guests, you should choose the wine you serve in function of the meal you prepared. A Sauvignon, a Merlot or a white Zinfandel is an excellent choice if you are serving beef, but you should choose a Pinot or a Cava if you are having seafood.
Never hesitate to advise your sommelier of your spending limits. Many people think that this is inappropriate or embarrassing, but he or she is actually well-versed in the selection process based upon price. Allow a little leeway in the recommendation, but don’t break the bank over a non-existent social norm.
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.
Now that you have more wine knowledge, you should find it easier to locate the wine you need much easier. You can enjoy your wine more easily with your guests or on your own. You’re on your way to becoming a wine connoisseur right now!
