Wine has been around since early times and there are many different varieties to choose from. Sometimes buying or drinking wine can be frustrating. If you are ready to get serious about understanding wine, this is the article for you.
Trust your instincts when you purchase wine. Although you will hear all kinds of different opinions from your family, friends, and wine experts, the truth is that individual preferences always vary. If you really like an inexpensive white, go ahead and buy it! The important thing, above all else, is to indulge in a wine that you truly enjoy.
Keep your reds and whites in proper glasses. Narrow glasses are used for white wine because it helps to prevent warm air from making contact with the wine. Wide glasses are preferable when you are serving red wine. A wider glass will let more air get into the glass, awakening the flavor as it reaches the air.
Try different wines frequently. You can experience different regions by trying their wines. Try wines from all different regions, including ones you may see on the bottom shelf. Why limit yourself when there are so many opportunities to discover your next favorite wine?
When you order wine in a restaurant, be adventurous. Choose a different wine to impress your fellow dinner guests. Your guests may be intrigued by your choice.
Don’t always believe everything you are told, even if the person claims to be a wine expert. The greatest sommeliers are those who are willing to admit biases and mistakes. Plus, your tastes will differ in at least some ways from his. Do not take their word as gospel.
Champagne and sparkling wines should be served when they are very cold. Otherwise, they lose flavor and appeal. Chill your champagne inside the refrigerator up to two hours before you consume it.
Sign up as a member of an Internet wine forum. You will pick up a lot of good tips from other Internet users, and you can share your knowledge as well. Another member may suggest a wine that becomes your new favorite.
Drink white wine during the very first year or so, while the grapes are still young. The exception would be Chardonnay. Chardonnays are fermented in oak barrels, typically. This is not true of other whites. The rule may be flipped for many varieties of reds on the market.
Desserts can be easily complimented with a number of different wines. These wines are usually sweeter than most wines you might drink with your meal. Port wines are a great category to take advantage of with your dessert. Try to keep these wines around an environment that is approximately 55 degrees.
With your increased knowledge of wine, a menu or wine store should no longer intimidate you. You can buy it, serve it, store it or drink it in the bathtub, if you wish. You will be a wine expert before you know it.