When it comes to choosing wine for yourself or for loved ones, it can be a but difficult, especially if you don’t know much about wine to begin with. Luckily, the following article will serve as a great guideline about selecting the right wine. Read on and learn everything you need to about choosing the perfect bottle of wine.
Make sure that you drink at least one glass of wine a day with one of the meals that you have. Wine is great in helping with your heart, especially red wine. Do not drink too much though, as excess wine can cause you to feel groggy and can hurt your health.
Do not judge a wine on its year of production alone. Just because a wine was made a long time ago does not mean that it is a quality wine. Be sure to investigate the wine thoroughly so that you are not fooled into paying top dollar for a bottom shelf wine.
If you are new to wine tasting, you should know that true connoisseurs actually spit the wine after tasting it. Spitting the wine is the best way to avoid overpowering your taste buds so you can keep tasting other wines. Take a small sip of wine, wait a few seconds to feel all its different flavors and spit it.
If you drink wine for its health benefits you should stick with red wines. Red wines are full of antioxidants and are believed to promote optimal heart health when you drink it in moderation, ideally one glass a day. Other wines may have the same benefit in varying degrees, but red wine is definitely the best choice.
If you are having oysters or seafood, stick to white wine. White wine is lighter and has a higher acidity level, so it is best to have this when you are eating lighter foods. Seafood is a perfect combination with white wine, and will help to maximize the sensation that you get.
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.
When serving wine at a dinner party, try to have at least one variety of red wine and one variety of white wine on hand. While many individuals are not particular to a specific region or winery, most will prefer a red or white. By having both on hand you are sure to please all of your guests with ease.
Keep reds and whites in the right glasses. For example, if you are drinking white wine, use a narrower glass, which will keep a lot of warm air away from the surface area of the wine. Red wines need wider glasses with large mouths. You will get more air in the wine this way and it will warm up.
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.
The most obvious differences between red and white wines are the grapes they are made from and their colors. Purple grapes are used to make red wine and that gives it a stronger body. Light colored and flavored wines are generally created using green grapes. There are many subtle differences from one wine to another, but red and white is the main difference.
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.
Don’t bother to get expensive wine if you are cooking with it. Most of the wine’s alcohol content cooks off as you make your dish, and the other ingredients will add taste to whatever wine you choose. Save the expensive stuff to drink separately when you sit down to your meal.
Price is not synonymous with quality when it comes to wine. Many wines have increased prices due to outside investment sources and start-up costs. They’re not always priced based on reputation or quality. Be sure to use your resources when shopping for a wine to give you a better idea of pricing and what to look for.
Before consuming any wine, you must allow the wine a period to breathe. Breathing allows the wine to release its aromas and soften. This will result in a better tasting wine. Wine should be allowed to breathe a minimum of 30 minutes prior to serving. With younger red wines, you may need to allow the wine to breathe for up to one hour to fully release its aroma.
When you are pouring your wine, try not to fill your glass up to the top. You only want to fill your glass about a third of the way to the top. This will allow the wine to mix properly and swirl so that the flavors can develop into their full richness.
It will be easier to shop for wine if you keep going back to the same store. The sellers will get to know you and will offer personalized recommendations based on what you bought and enjoyed. It might be best to go shopping in a smaller store where you will be likely to run into the same sellers.
As was mentioned in the beginning of this article, selecting a nice bottle of wine can be daunting if you are new to the wold of wine. Make sure to implement the information you’ve just read before your next trip to the grocery store so that you make the best decision possible. And always remember to drink responsibly!
