When it comes to wine, there are literally hundreds if not thousands of different types to choose from. Determining what wine is best suited for you can be quite difficult if you are new to this world. Luckily, the following article can serve as an excellent starting point for anyone who is serious about getting into wine.

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.

Avoid buying trendy wines. You may hear a lot of buzz about a new wine; however, this does not make it right for you. Just because a celebrity is seen drinking a wine, this does not make it noteworthy. The real truth is in researching the wine itself and knowing if it suits your palate.

If you are having red meats, stick to red wine. This is the general principle, and should rarely be veered away from. Red wine helps to bring out the flavor in the steak or meat that you choose and vice versa, giving you the best possible experience while you are eating lunch or dinner.

Try to arrange a tasting before you make a purchase, no matter how well reviewed a wine may be. Your tastes may not lie along traditional lines, and you do not want to spend all that money just for appearances. It’s a great idea to test out one bottle before making a commitment to get a case of that wine.

When storing wines, you should make sure they reach a temperature of 57 degrees. This is the best temperature to serve a wine, but you might want to chill your white wines or let your red wines warm a little by simply placing the bottle on the table half an hour before your meal.

The longer you keep the white wine in the fridge, the more the coldness will affect both its smell and taste. Therefore, it is best to only chill wine for several hours prior to serving. This will maximize the taste and enjoyment that you will receive from each bottle you drink.

You can make amazing pairings with your favorite wine. For example, you can pair a Chardonnay with either Gouda or Provolone. For stronger cheeses, such as Cheddar, opt for a Cabernet such as Cabernet Sauvignon or Cabernet Franc. Zinfandel wines go beautifully with the more delicate cheeses such as Feta and Gouda.

Attend as many wine tastings as you have time for. Wine tastings introduce your palette to many different styles of wines. And the people who attend these events may also be much more advanced than you in terms of wine knowledge. You can pick their brains to learn even more!

You should know that old bottles are often worthless. You could try selling it to another wine connoisseur, but most buyers look for large quantities. Keep in mind that serious buyers will want to know everything about the provenance of the wine you want to sell, which is not always feasible if you found a bottle in your basement.

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.

Remember that wine shops can vary as much as wines themselves. Each one has a different set of priorities, product list and pricing structure. If you are very new to wine and setting foot in a place where the cheapest bottle is $60, you should look for a lower-end store where you can discover your palate and favorite brands.

White wines are generally best when drunk within two years of being bottled. Chardonnay is an exception to this rule. This is due to the fact that oak isn’t usually used when making white tines. The opposite may hold true for darker wines and different varieties.

If you are finished with your sparkling wine, make sure that you do not store it in the refrigerator for any longer than 3 weeks. After this time period, it will lose its taste and quality, rendering it useless as a quality wine. This can help you to avoid serving poor wine to guests.

Becoming a wine expert is no easy feat, and it doesn’t happen overnight. However, if you use the advice mentioned in the article above, you are well on your way of becoming a wine connoisseur in your own right. Just remember to have fun during your wine education and be sure to drink responsibly.