Wine does not need to be reserved for fancy dinner parties or impressing your coworkers. Even if you’re not a big drinker, knowing more about wine has its many uses. It helps with cooking, gives you knowledge to astound loved ones and provides many other rewards.
Storage is key to keeping wine fresh. Temperatures that are extremely hot or extremely cold can damage the taste of any wine. The flavor can develop much better when storage temperatures range between 50 and 55 degrees. Either purchase a wine cooler or store them in your basement for best results.
White wines do not always need to be chilled before serving. Since each type is different, each will taste better served a different way. Sauvignon blanc tastes best cold, but chardonnay and pinot gris are best served a little warmer.
Not all wines age well; make plans for this when you put wine up for long periods of time. Find out what sort of longevity it has under the conditions you have to offer. Bordeaux ages great, but not all wines fall into this category.
The most important differences between red and white wines are the types of grapes that are used and their colors. Purple grapes make up your red wines. The green grapes make up your white wines, usually much lighter and crisper. There are countless differences between both types, but this is the most fundamental discrepancy.
Drink just the wines you truly enjoy. Certain establishments push certain brands, particularly if they are linked to a celebrity. These are generally priced much higher then they should be. More expensive wines do not necessarily taste better. Pick a wine that you like and don’t fall for the hype.
Do not purchase a huge amount of wine that has currently caught your fancy. Even though you might think that it’s best to keep a good supply of your favorite bottles, for the most part your preference for wine will change on a daily basis. So although you might like something in particular at the moment, there is a good chance your tastes will change very quickly. When this happens, you’ll end up with a wine you do not consume, meaning you wasted both money and time.
Dessert Wines
Lots of wines go wonderfully with dessert. Typically, dessert wines have a sweeter taste than the wines served during the meal. Dessert wines that include the ruby port and tawny port varieties will complement chocolate desserts. For the best flavor, they should be served at around 55 degrees.
When you are in a social setting and having wine, a toast may be in order. This can result in a lot of clinking glasses. It may sound hard to believe, but this might actually cause your glasses to shatter violently. Angle your glass slightly with the rim pointed toward you to help avoid breaks.
White and red wines should not be served at the same temperature. Typically, reds should be a little warmer than whites, by about ten or fifteen degrees. One of the best methods is to chill your wine in the refrigerator first and then let it sit out at room temperature for a few minutes. Red wine should be around 60 degrees Fahrenheit, while white wine should be about 45 degrees.
There are many reasons to learn everything you can about wine. It’s not only about enjoying wine or drinking it. It involves much more. Use what you’ve learned and reap the benefits.
