Have you ever gone to a fancy restaurant and been confused as to which wine you should order? If so, you’re in luck, as you no longer have to stare at the wine menu in confusion. All you need is the right advice to help you select wine, and this article features just that.
Wine should be stored in a dark, cool location. One of the best places to help your wine remain fresh if you do not have a wine cellar is in a closet in your basement. Store your bottles on their side away from any light sources to help it remain fresh.
Get to as many wine tastings as you possibly can. Taste as many different kinds of wine as you can, and you learn a lot in the process. Not only will you learn about the various kinds of wine, you also learn about wine in general and how to learn good wines from bad very quickly. Just remember that you need to spit!
Ask if you can taste a few wines before buying. Most wine stores will offer tastings to their customers on a regular basis or set schedule. By trying a few varieties in the store, you can increase your chances of walking out with a bottle you really love. This is a better way to shop than buying blindly.
Many red wines are matured in oak barrels for far longer than white wine would be. This adds tannins from the wood into the wine, creating a complex flavor. This would be too much for the subtle flavor of a white wine, so they are rarely aged in this manner.
Do not go out and buy cases of wine just because you like the taste of it. Many times people’s tastes change over time, which means that you may not like this particular wine forever. Buying it in bulk may have you stuck with a lot of wine that you no longer like.
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.
When ordering a wine in a restaurant, let the type of restaurant be your guide. If you are eating in a French restaurant, it is best to order a French wine. If you are dining in a Spanish restaurant, choose a wine from Chile or other parts of South America. This will help you to order the best-quality wine the restaurant has to offer and also a wine that pairs well with your food.
Learn how to read the label to make sure you get exactly what you want with a particular wine. More modern wines have labels that clearly describe the flavor and composition of the contents, whereas old country makers are vague and leave you guessing. Pick up a handy guide to bring with you and be guaranteed of getting a wine you’ll enjoy!
If you are going to order wine when dining out, find the one that is not as expensive. However, your server will be aware that customers do not want to look cheap by picking out the wine with the lowest price. It is common for them to offer one of the cheapest wines as an option. Go with your original choice and order the cheapest, as it is often a pretty decent choice.
Get creative when it comes to the flavors you include in your meal. If your food is spicy, think about pairing it with a sweet wine. It is a great complement to the food that you are eating and can help you mouth prepare for the next bite. Experiment a little to see what flavors you enjoy the most together.
Need a lot of wine for a big wedding, party or other event? Consider buying Cava, which comes from Spain. This affordable style of wine never disappoints with its flavor, texture or price. There are many brands available, which will impress your guests and keep your budget well balanced, too.
It will be easier to shop for wine if you keep going back to the same store. The sellers will get to know you and will offer personalized recommendations based on what you bought and enjoyed. It might be best to go shopping in a smaller store where you will be likely to run into the same sellers.
Try to gauge your individual taste preferences when buying a bottle of wine. Do you prefer an oak based flavor? Is sweet wine your thing? Are you partial to bold wines or more delicate varieties? By knowing a few details about the type of wine you enjoy, you can pick a bottle out with ease.
Store your wine in a wine cooler. Your fridge is opened often and rummaged around in. The temperature is also too cold, which means your wine will not provide you with optimal flavor.
A good tip when drinking wine in any restaurant is to try to see if the restaurant owner has a passion for wine from a certain type of region. This could lead to all kinds of great wines that a lot of other places simply don’t carry or care about.
Once you get the hang of it, selecting wine is a pretty easy process. Don’t let the different kinds of wine intimidate you into not enjoying a flavorful beverage. The wine advice from this article will come in handy in the future, so use it to your advantage and pick a nice wine for yourself.