Just like a chef must study cooking, so must a would-be connoisseur learn about the selection and serving of fine wines. This article will cover basic tips about how to choose the best wine for a meal and the right way to present it. Once you’ve got it figured out, dinner will never be the same again.
Buy only one bottle of each wine. If you find that you like a particular wine a great deal it can be very tempting to want to buy a lot of it at once to save money, but this is often a bad idea. Instead, buy only one to ensure that you do not fill your cellar with one type.
Bring along your wine resources with you to the store. There is so much information on wine out there, and bringing along different source materials can help you make better choices. Items like brochures, magazines, books, and websites have great information to pick the best wine for your plans.
If you plan to purchase some wine, try a bottle of it out first. Because your wine options are endless, you may fall in love with any number of them. A bottle should always be tried before buying a case.
When you’re developing headaches after drinking wine, reduce how much you drink. Wine contains sulfites, which is an ingredient that can cause headaches in people. To help avoid wine induced headaches limit the amount of wine you drink.
If you are planning to cook with wine, examine your recipe closely. If it calls for dry white wine, this means that the recipe will not work well with a wine that is sweet. Look for a wine that states that it is dry, and you will avoid ruining a potentially fantastic dish.
Left over wine is wonderful for cooking. When you’re down to the bottom of the bottle, do not throw it out. Instead, reseal the bottle and save it for your next meal. You can use the wine to make a sauce for pasta, flavor meat or add to your special stew recipe.
If you plan to tour your local winery, take an hour or so to fully plan out the trip. You should figure out how much you can afford to spend on your visit and on wine and find a friend who can drive if you want to drink. You should write up a list of the things you would like to know before you go, and be sure to think about the type of wine you love so the winery can make suggestions.
If you are cooking with wine, don’t hesitate to ask the wine shop-owner/manager for advice. He or she has likely tasted most of the wines available, and can give you an educated suggestion for wines that will enhance your recipe. The shop may even have wine on hand for tasting.
Keep experimenting when trying to decide which wine to serve with certain foods. Although there are basic guidelines to help you choose the right wine, only you know what tastes best to your palette. Yes, it is possible to be conservative, but the wonder of being an oenophile is the benefit of trying new tastes.
Before visiting your favorite restaurant and mulling over which wine to chose, check out their website. Most fine dining establishments will post their wine list on the site, leaving you plenty of time to investigate the possibilities. Consider your entree in advance and research the wine that will best complement it.
If you find yourself in doubt, select a Pinot Noir. A red wine, Pinot Noir is light- to medium-bodied and complements many foods. Its taste falls nearly in the center of the wine taste spectrum. That makes it a safe choice if you are not sure what to serve.
Open a bottle of red wine before serving. The wine will begin oxidation when the bottle remains open. This breathing allows the wine’s flavors to mellow and blend, creating a perfect glass of wine for you to enjoy.
When purchasing wine at a winery, use caution when buying in bulk. It is all to easy to find the perfect wine and decide to buy a case or two, to take home. If you do not have the proper storage space or facility available, be prudent in your purchase. You do not want to end up with a couple of cases of turned wine.
When purchasing an inexpensive bottle of wine, look at the back label to determine the importer. There are some importers that are worth getting to know because they offer high quality wines at discount prices. Once you have been buying wine for a bit, you can trust the importer information to let you know about the quality of the bottle in your hand.
The joys of wine, once mastered can turn any meal into an occasion for celebration. Use these tips to understand how to complement a meal or party with the best wines and you will find any event more enjoyable. Like a great chef though, you’ve got to follow your own preferences too, as you learn.
