Wine is one of the oldest beverages around, and its not hard to see why as it tastes wonderful. If you believe that wine isn’t your thing, the problem might be that you just have not found the right one yet. Keep reading this article to find out more about wine basics for the next time you’re making your selection.

Attend as many wine tastings that you can during the course of the year. This can be very beneficial for you as it allows you to get an idea of some of the newer wines that are on the market. This will help you to gain a better appreciation for all wine has to offer.

Simply because a bottle of wine is more expensive than another does not mean that it is necessarily better. You don’t have to buy the most expensive bottles of wine that you find. Try wine at all different price levels. You may like something better that is less expensive than what you usually buy.

Leftover wine should not be saved for any more than four days. When wine comes in contact with oxygen, it starts to break down. This greatly effects the taste and balance. It is best to use any wine you have leftover for cooking instead of drinking it as it is.

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.

If you have an increase in headaches following meals, do not drink so much wine. Wine contains sulfites, and sulfates encourage headaches. Drink less and enjoy it more.

Certain wines age poorly, and this is something you ought to know before storing any given variety. Research your wine and find out if it will age well. One type of wine that improves with age is Bordeaux.

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!

For a spring picnic, evening at the race track or other outdoor events during seasonable weather, your best bet is a sparkling wine. Take your pick of bubbly’s like a nice Asti or Champagne and complement it with mild cheese, fresh bread and fruit. Remember to bring flute glasses too, to make the experience complete.

Keep a journal just for wine. The easiest way to keep track of the wines that you enjoy and the ones that you do not like is to keep a list of them. You can also include the foods that you drank them with so that you can repeat the experience if you like.

If you are out on a date or with someone you want to impress, do not order a wine that you have not had before. Try to order wine that you are familiar with, or know that you like. Be adventurous in your own time, when you are not out in public.

When you are opening wine, make sure that you do not open it too fast. The sound that you want to get when you open it is not a pop, but a sigh. This will maximize the safety in the room when you are opening your bottle of wine for the evening.

If you are cooking with wine, the type of dish you are making indicates whether you will need a dry or sweet wine. For savory dishes, always choose a dry wine. If you want a dry white wine, try a chardonnay. Dry red wines include merlot and pinot noir.

Don’t reserve champagne for only weddings. Most people reserve it for special events. The fact is, champagne complements a wide range of foods. Champagne’s bubbles will help cleanse your palate. Salty foods and snacks pair quite well with champagne.

Search for online information about different wines. Look for a wine discussion forum and read the comments until you feel confident enough to add your own ideas. If you are unfamiliar with international wines, this is a great place to find information. You can gain enough information to try a few wines you would not otherwise have considered.

As mentioned before, people have loved wine for centuries. While it may seem tough to find the perfect wine at first, it’s easy enough to do with a little knowledge about wine. Remember what you have learned here next time you buy a bottle of wine.