Wine is a complex beverage. You select certain types for certain meals and other types for special events. Multiple websites and books are devoted entirely to wine and can help educate you. Heed the advice and your next event is sure to be a smash.
Store your wine the right way if you want it to taste good over time. Extreme temperatures change how a wine will taste. Allow flavors time to develop by storing them around 50 or 55 degrees. You can get a wine refrigerator, or you can simply store them in your cool basement.
If you are serious about maintaining your wine, consider investing in a cellar. The more expensive the wines you own, the more important a cellar is. A wine cellar gives you the ability to store wines for a long time, even years, while maintaining the wines’ qualities.
Look for an online forum you can join. Also, you can speak with people who have a passion for wine. Before signing up for any forum, search through the boards to ensure it offers you the type of community you are looking for.
Don’t be afraid of sulfite warnings. Every wine contains sulfites, but these days American distributors must warn about them on the label. There is the occasional individual that is allergic to sulfite, but the majority of people will be just fine.
Both red and white wines should be kept in their respective glasses. White wines prefer a narrower wine glass, which prevents too much warm air from reaching the surface of the wine. Alternately, red wines are best served in wide-mouth glasses. This lets air reach the wine, awakening rich flavors that would otherwise remain dormant.
Try different wines frequently. Sampling a wine is one of the best — not to mention tastiest — ways to learn about a country or winery. Give one a shot that someone at the store recommends, test out a different region or give one a try by reading the cards that are on the wine shelves. You can never predict what you’ll find as a favorite!
Pay a visit to the areas that produce the grapes for the wines. If you thought you enjoyed your wine before, you will see that a lot of value is in the work involved in making it. Doing this provides you with a better context of the wine, allowing you to explain all the smells and tastes to your family and friends. Places they make wine are pretty; you will enjoy yourself.
If you’re an avid wine lover, you might want to consider taking a trip to your local wine country in order to see first hand how all your wines are produced. Wine country is a beautiful place to visit, and you will gain new appreciation for your favorite wine, as well as insight into its origins.
Keep a variety of wines in your collection. If you only have one type of wine in your wine rack, you won’t have a good variety to choose from. To be a great host, you should experiment with all kinds of wine including white, sparkling, sweet and red.
Try something new when you’re out to eat. If you want to impress the people you are having diner with, it is best to choose a wine they will not recognize. They will view you as a wine expert and might grow to love the new flavor.
Once you know a bit about wine, you should be able to use that knowledge to search out more advanced topics. Although there are rules to follow, you generally should just stick with what you enjoy. From pairing wine to choosing a label, you’ll be ready for any hurdle. Keep the advice you’ve read here in mind also.