For centuries, wine has been enjoyed by countless individuals. To get the most enjoyment out of the act of drinking wine, a bit of knowledge is essential. Spend some time reviewing the advice below, and you can soon become a true connoisseur and relish each and every drop of wine you drink.
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.
Never cook with a wine that you do not enjoy the flavor of. When wine cooks down during the cooking process, it concentrates. Any flavors that you do not like will be more prevalent, which means you will not like the taste of the food you have worked so hard to prepare.
A great tip if you’re interested in buying wine is not to get too carried away with buying a lot of wine that you currently like. Tastes change all the time, and you might regret packing your wine cellar with a bunch of wine that you happen to like right now.
Find someone else who enjoys wine. It could be an employee at a store you go to often or an online blogger or critic whose opinion you respect. This individual can help you figure out what to try next, particularly if you are stuck in the rut of simply drinking the same thing over and over again.
Consider joining a wine lover’s discussion forum. There are some great ones out there, and they are a wonderful place to interact with others and get ideas on which wines are worth exploring. Investigate the boards with diligence before signing up.
Do not be a wine snob when it comes to new wines. You may turn up your nose to white wine when it is offered to you, only because you had one or two bad glasses the first time around. Not all wines are created equal. You will find wines to suit your taste throughout the wine rainbow.
Join a wine of the month club with your friends. This can be a great way of learning about the developments in the wine industry and some of the new wines that are on the market. Also, you can get samples of different wines, which can be purchased by the bottle if you enjoy it.
Sangrias have become popular recently. To make the perfect sangria combine your favorite red wine along with lemon and orange slices. Then, stir in 2 tablespoons of fine sugar and a shot of brandy. Pour the mixture into a wine glass and add in a small amount of lemon-lime soda, ginger ale or club soda.
A decanter can be a useful product to have. If you have not been able to get one, or if you do not like them because of the time involved in using them, think about getting an aerator instead. They fulfill similar functions, and they are often easier to use.
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.
When cooking with wine, let your recipe help guide your choice. If you are simply using wine to de-glaze a pan, a splash of just about anything will do. However, if wine is a main ingredient, such as in Coq au Vin, you may want to splurge a little to do the dish justice.
Serve your wine in beautiful, elegant stemware that fits the type of wine and the occasion. Your stemware must be clean and look sharp; if it does not, even a quality wine will seem cheap. If your stemware is outdated or chipped, it’s time to get newer pieces.
If your recipe calls for cooking wine, think twice before purchasing this product, which is found next to the vinegar at your local grocers. Cooking wine contains little or no alcohol, and often contains extra salt and additives that can wreak havoc with a potentially tasty dish. Instead, opt for a wine that does not have “cooking” in its description!
You should have some clear goals in mind when shopping for wine. Establish a budget and make a list of the different occasions you will need wine for. Shopping for wine can be a lot of fun but do not get carried away by an enthusiastic seller who presents your wines you will have no use for.
Here is a little bit of wine history for you: wine has been around for as long as 7,000 years! Egyptians are the first civilization we know of to have records of drinking wine, and those date back to 2,500 B.C. They created wines much like we do today, including bottling the beverage and storing it.
Don’t just order by the glass if you are at a restaurant with a group. Keep in mind that one bottle is about six glasses. Try to share it. This will make your purchase much more reasonable so you can take the opportunity to try something new.
Wine has long been a staple to cultures and civilizations the world over. However, to really optimize the wine drinking experience, it is important to familiarize yourself with everything you can pertaining to wine. By keeping the above information close at hand, you will be able to do just that and enter a world of sheer pleasure.
