Wine is one of the best-loved alcoholic drinks in all of history. What makes wine so popular? One of the reasons is surely that there are so many varieties. There are a lot of wines out there, and one is sure to catch your fancy. Here are some smart tips about wine to help you navigate those waters.
Look for a good wine by comparing ratings. Wines that have even the most modest of followings should be rated. You can easily find wines by rating online and usually in liquor stores as well. The higher the rating the better the wine should be in both quality and taste.
When you drink a bottle of wine, make sure that you do not throw it out, even if you have a small amount left. Wine can stay good for a long period of time and you never know when you may have a craving for that type of wine in the future.
Take a blind taste test of a few wines. Judge them on flavor, scent and boldness. Ignore the most sought after qualities like price or the winery’s region. Tasting blindly is a great way to get your honest opinion on the wine itself, without getting tricked by the hype that sometimes goes into certain varieties.
Find someone who can help you identify wines to try. This can be either a merchant who earns your trust through good recommendations, or a wine expert who seems to have a palate close to your own. Their ideas can keep you trying new wines without just picking bottles randomly.
Read up on wine during your free time. The more that you learn about wine, the better you will be at picking new wines to add to your collection. There is a lot to know, so spend time learning when you can if you want to become a true wine connoisseur.
Believe it or not, the glass you choose to drink your wine out of can have a major affect on your drinking experience. You want a glass whose bowl is round so that the aroma can develop. Also, the top should taper inward; this prevents its essence from getting out.
Ask questions and start discussions about wine amongst your friends. You will be surprised by how many things your friends know about wine that you were not aware of. This can help you to not only build your information base with wine but to try new brands and types of wine as well.
You can read as much as you like about wine, but ultimately, you have to decide for yourself if you like it or not. Price often doesn’t matter. You may like an inexpensive bottle of red wine much more than a costlier version. Don’t apologize for your tastes. Drink what you enjoy.
Avoid the temptation of stocking up with all your favorite wines. While it is tempting to stock up, you will probably enjoy something different in a short period of time. Therefore, you may enjoy a particular wine right now, but it is possible that you might not later. When this happens, you’ll end up with a wine you do not consume, meaning you wasted both money and time.
Spanish wines are easy to keep fresh, however, the method changes based on the variety. Rioja is a popular wine that has a shelf-life of up to seven years. Just store it in an area with a stable temperature to keep it fresh.
Eat pasta and chicken with white wine. White wine sets off these flavors best. That is because white wine tends to have a lighter taste than red wine, and won’t overpower the taste of a great fettucini alfredo or barbeque chicken. Experiment with different white wines to see which you like best.
Visit a wine tasting festival next time one is held in your area. It’s a great way to enjoy the company of a few friends and can provide you with a mini-education on wines. Try different varieties and make sure you bring a notebook to mark down which types you really enjoyed!
When stocking your wine collection at home, opt to purchase experimental bottles before buying full cases. With such a vast number of different wines out there, you want to expose yourself to as many wines as possible before committing to a case. Keep your collection full of ‘educational’ bottles.
Rather than having to buy many bottles to find a wine you love, a really fun and easy way to find new favorites is by going to a wine tasting. Go to wine tastings on a regular basis. After all, this is the best method of learning. You don’t want to overdo it and get drunk, so it’s a good idea to spit out some of the wine after the tasting.
Look for clearance wines at your local grocery and liquor stores. Wine is an ever changing business so retailers are constantly clearing their shelves to make room for new wine options. The great thing is that it can work in your favor if you are looking to try new wines, as you will save money and have a constant flow of options.
If you are going to order wine when dining out, find the one that is not as expensive. The workers in restaurants know that customers do not want to seem cheap, so they recommend an expensive wine. They will often recommend the second cheapest wine. Stick with your initial selection and get the cheapest bottle, because it is probably quite decent.
With these tips in your mind, you are going to be better equipped when you are standing looking at the shelves of wine in a store. You can make finest choices, and perhaps you can even find a wine that becomes your new favorite. Use the information here to help you.
