Have you ever cooked with wine before, or have you ever coveted that nice little wine collection you’ve seen in other homes. Would you like to know what you’re talking about when it comes to wine. Well, keep reading to find out a little more information to make things easier on you.
Take a blind taste test of a few wines. Judge them on flavor, scent and boldness. Ignore the most sought after qualities like price or the winery’s region. Tasting blindly is a great way to get your honest opinion on the wine itself, without getting tricked by the hype that sometimes goes into certain varieties.
When purchasing a wine for dinner tonight, make sure to ask in the store if the wine is ready to drink. Some wines need to age in order for their true flavor to come out. This might mean months or even years should go by before the bottle is enjoyed. By asking if the wine is ready to drink, you have a better chance of walking out with a bottle you will enjoy.
You do not have to be scared of the sulfite warnings on the bottle. American manufacturers often have warning labels concerning sulfates, but in reality all wines have them. There is the occasional individual that is allergic to sulfite, but the majority of people will be just fine.
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!
Don’t fall for the trap that cheap wine is bad and expensive wine is good. There are exceptional inexpensive wines and wines that cost a small fortune that are difficult to drink. Experience as many different types as you can, no matter the price. WHo knows – you may find a favorite that is well within your everyday drinking budget.
Be wary of what wine experts say, as you should take their advice with a pinch of salt. Good experts know that they may not always be right. And keep in mind that every wine connoisseur has their own preferences, and yours might be different from the experts you are getting your advice from. Ultimately, you can only trust your own tastes, so do not question your opinions simply because they go against those of experts.
Take notes on any wine that you try out. You aren’t going to really know what you are doing at first. However, over time, you will start noticing specific trends in your notes and reactions. You might even see that your reaction to particular wine’s changes as you drink more of them.
Many people have their opinions about which wine is best, but the only opinion that matters is yours. If there is a particular wine that you enjoy, then it’s sure to be a great selection. This should be the rule of thumb you use. You have different tastes than anyone else, so stick with the wines that you enjoy. If someone doesn’t like a wine you are drinking, wonderful! It means you won’t have to share it.
Most people cannot afford a wine cellar in their home, but that does not mean you cannot create an atmosphere that is conducive to storing a few great bottles of wine. Try to store you wine in a darker location where the temperature will remain fairly consistent. Doing this will preserve the quality of your bottles of wine until you are ready to drink them.
A good tip when trying to pair wine with food is to keep on exploring the possibilities. Different combinations can provide interesting variety. Play around and have fun with it.
You shouldn’t neglect buying a bottle of wine just because it has a screw cap rather than a cork. Many companies are using screw caps today. They are finding out that they help keep wines much more pure. Not as much air is able to get in. Some places use screw caps overall.
Let any recently uncorked wine breathe for a bit. Giving the wine time to settle helps bring out the rich flavors of the beverage. Use a decanter for this. Pour the wine into one and then let it sit for about a quarter of an hour. You’ll find the wine much more delicious after doing so.
When choosing a wine glass, select one that is large (around 20 to 22 ounces). With this size, you can swirl the wine around more freely. Furthermore, select a glass wine that is clear and thin with a long stem. Make sure the glass curves slightly inward at the top.
It just makes senses to take all advice and reviews from wine “experts” with a grain of salt. No expert in the world knows everything there is to know about wine, and the true experts will admit as much. Understand that a lot about the wine you choose will be personal preference.
Remember the importance of storage when you buy a fine wine. It’s best kept cool and within consistent temperatures to preserve taste. Also, always store your bottles away on their side so that the cork will not dry out. If this happens it can break off during removal and fall into the bottle.
Wine coolers should be used to store wine instead of just your kitchen’s refrigerator. The door is opened too frequently to keep the temperature stable. It is also too cold in the fridge for most wines.
You are definitely ready to use everything you’ve learned now right? Of course you are, and the information should definitely come in handy. You might want to serve that special red wine to your guest or use that specific white wine to cook a certain meal. It’s time to get started!