Do you wish that you knew more about wine? There is so much to know that you can always learn more. There are many different perceptions about the best wine, so it’s important to get a good grounding in what you’re taking a look at. Keep reading to find out more.
Your gut will tell you which wine to buy. There is no reason to please someone else’s wish for you to try a wine if you feel that you probably will not like it. The result will be that you spend money on an item you were aware you might dislike to begin with.
If you want to keep wine for long periods of time, you should consider investing in a wine refrigerator. Even if you have a dry and cool basement you can use, temperature will still vary slightly from one season to the next. The wine you store will keep its flavors if it remains at the exact same temperature.
If you buy boxed wine, you can filter this into a nice glass decanter to improve the way that it looks. This is a great trick that you can use if you have to serve friends at a party or dinner. This will allow you to save money while giving off an elegant image.
Increase the shelf life of your wine by using a wine cellar. The more expensive the wines you own, the more important a cellar is. The cost of the cellar will more than pay for itself when it keeps your expensive wines from going bad.
If you have a cellar or even just a rack where you can store wine, do not fill the space completely with the wines that you like right now. Your tastes are bound to change over time. You don’t want to be stuck with many cases of a brand you no longer drink.
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!
If you need to find a wine for an important occasion such as a wedding, it is best to have a small wine tasting party beforehand. Invite some of the guests and have them try different wines. Give them a large selection to choose from and do not hesitate to offer different options at the actual event.
When cooking with wine, let your recipe help guide your choice. If you are simply using wine to de-glaze a pan, a splash of just about anything will do. However, if wine is a main ingredient, such as in Coq au Vin, you may want to splurge a little to do the dish justice.
Don’t be afraid to play with the temperature of your wine. Some wine is best chilled, while others taste wonderful at room temperature. Experiment a little and see what works best for you and your palate. Be careful, though, with white wine. You don’t want it to be too cold when you drink it.
If you enjoy storing wines in your home, consider investing in a small wine cooler. Wine coolers are meant to keep the temperature of the bottles around fifty five degrees, which is considered the ideal temperature for wine. They are relatively small, inexpensive and can even add a decorative touch to your kitchen, dining room or living room.
When cooking with wine, remember that the alcohol will evaporate during the cooking process, leaving behind the true taste of the wine itself. For this reason, it is wise to choose a wine that you enjoy the flavor of. If you are cooking with a wine that tastes bad to you, you wouldn’t want to flavor your recipe with it, right?
Become familiar with the people you purchase wine from. Getting to know the people behind the counter can often lead to a great savings down the road or a warning in advance for a great sale that you might have missed otherwise.
Pair spicy foods with sweet wines. Especially with the heat of Thai and Indian food, you will want to stick with dry white and red wines that are sweet. Some great pairings include Chenin Blanc, Gewurztraminer, and Riesling. If you choose Riesling, try going with a German brand since their higher acidity doesn’t make the sweetness seem as apparent. These wines act as palate cleansers to help you enjoy the spiciness of the meal.
Perhaps you’re now ready to start that huge wine collection you’ve always dreamed of, or maybe you’re ready to embark upon your wine tasting adventure. Perhaps you’re cooking a nice dish or trying to impress a date. Use what you’ve read here to take care of the reason you came to read this article.