When it comes to purchasing wine, things can get pretty tough if you don’t know what you’re doing. With such a vast selection of types, and prices, it can be difficult finding the right wine for you. Luckily, the following article can help serve as a starting point when trying to make your next wine selection.
The best way to enjoy wine is responsibly. Know your limits and ensure that you don’t overdo it, especially when with guests. While some wine with lunch or dinner is always in good taste, becoming sloppy afterwards due to drunkenness is not. Enjoyed in moderation, wine will be your friend for life.
Do not spend your money on full cases of wine if you are not sure you like it. It is best to purchase an experimental bottle, or even better, taste the wine before you purchase it. You should consider buying full cases of win if you know you will easily be able to serve it when you have company.
Do you need a wine all your guests will enjoy? Instead of choosing a rare wine people might not appreciate, choose a Beaujolais, a Chilean, a Sauvignon or a Cava from Spain. These wines are easy to find and offer enough diversity to remain interesting for connoisseurs without making novices feel like they are sophisticated enough to enjoy the wine.
When buying wine as a gift, consider pairing it with food of some sort. A nice basket containing some chocolate and wine or fine cheese and wine makes a wonderful gift. It gives the recipient some meal ideas, and can provide for a wonderful atmosphere at a festive event.
If you are a wine newbie and you are looking for a wine to try, why not go to a wine tasting? At these events, you can taste many different wines until you find one the best suits your taste. Also, if you find one you like, you can usually purchase a bottle at the same time.
Learn the pronunciation of all of the wines that you serve so that you sound as professional as possible when you are around your guests. This can go a long way if you are having a party or get together with friends in your house. There are common names for wine, so get acquainted with the lingo.
If a tailgate party is on the horizon, and you plan to bring wine, consider a screw top bottle. They’re simple to open without a corkscrew. If you want to bring the wine to another location, re-seal the bottle with the screw top.
If you often find yourself stumped when you visit the wine store, consider purchasing an app for your smart phone. These apps are generally inexpensive, and they can provide valuable information such as reviews of various wines or pairing ideas for certain dishes. They are very user friendly, and you will always have the information you need on hand once you purchase your app.
Try having some merlot with your steak. The fat and umami flavors found in steak, especially medium-rare or rarer, need acidity to cut through their flavor profile. Red wine is already a popular pairing for meat. The heavier acidity and fruit of merlot can really liven up your steak dish.
The right glasses make for a perfect wine experience. This helps you to look professional, as you will want to serve with the best. If you aren’t comfortable with the way yours looks, think about purchasing a new set.
Take the advice of wine critics with a grain of salt since you may have entirely different tastes than they do. Many people rely on critics to give them advice on what wines to select, but they end up disappointed. Only do this if you are sure that you and the critic have very similar palates.
A great tip you should remember about wine is to store it at the right temperature. A lot of people make the mistake of keeping their white wine too cold. This makes it painful to drink because it hurts your teeth. Red wine should be kept at about room temperature.
Sweet wines are referred to as dessert wine. They often have alcoholic additives in them to make the flavor even bolder. This creates a syrup-like wine which is great in small doses. Pairing it with a savory dessert creates the best course of the meal, so try it at your next dinner party.
As was mentioned earlier in this article, determining what wine to purchase can be quite the ordeal if you aren’t armed with the right information. Luckily, if you use the information mentioned in this article you are well on your way towards making a choice you and your family can enjoy. Just remember to be responsible while drinking!
