Most people enjoy the taste of wine, but they don’t have the funds to enjoy it as often as they would like. Some of the best wine’s can be pretty pricy, and that’s just for a glass alone. There are ways you can have good tasting wine for an affordable price, and you will see them in this article.
Keep in mind that while some individuals are billed as experts when it comes to wine, no one knows everything. Your personal preferences are your own. You may like something that an expert really hates. Make up your own mind and have fun trying new things and experimenting. You won’t regret it!
If you are having red meats, stick to red wine. This is the general principle, and should rarely be veered away from. Red wine helps to bring out the flavor in the steak or meat that you choose and vice versa, giving you the best possible experience while you are eating lunch or dinner.
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.
If you are new to the world of wine, consider attending a wine festival. Festivals are a wonderful way to meet other people with an interest in wines and try several varieties without breaking the bank. You can also get some great ideas about pairing wines with foods. The fun and festive atmosphere also provides for a great date night out.
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.
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.
Attend as many wine tastings as you have time for. Wine tastings introduce your palette to many different styles of wines. And the people who attend these events may also be much more advanced than you in terms of wine knowledge. You can pick their brains to learn even more!
There is no way of telling when a wine will reach its peak. A lot of bottles are made to be enjoyed immediately and stored bottles will reach their peak at different times in function of storage conditions. You can sometimes get an estimate from an expert who has enjoyed bottles of the same wine.
Don’t fall for the trap that cheap wine is bad and expensive wine is good. There are exceptional inexpensive wines and wines that cost a small fortune that are difficult to drink. Experience as many different types as you can, no matter the price. WHo knows – you may find a favorite that is well within your everyday drinking budget.
Having a sniff at the cork from the wine bottle is not the best way to determine whether or not your wine is spoiled. While this may work in some cases, there are times when a cork smells musty and the wine is perfectly fine. Tasting it is the only way to know for sure.
Many grapes for wines are grown on hills as they’re typically protected from frost there. At the same time, water won’t pool on a hill and drains away, keeping grapes safe from rot or over-watering. If you plan to make your own wine, plant your grapes on a hill which faces south.
There are many wines that pair well with desserts. Dessert wines are typically sweeter than wines served with your meal. For a wine that pairs well with chocolates and desserts, consider a port like a ruby port or a tawny port. Best flavoring is found around 55 degrees.
Taste wines in an environment free of aromas. If you have food cooking, use candles or have other odors present when you are trying to taste a wine you will not get an accurate impression. Aromas will conflict with the taste and could leave you with a distaste for a wine you may have enjoyed otherwise.
The body of a wine is a great way to pair it with a dish. The “body” of a wine refers to how substantial the wine is. It often also correlates with the alcohol content, with fuller-bodied wine containing more alcohol than a lighter wine. Heavier dishes should be paired with a full-bodied wine, as a lighter wine runs the risk of tasting watery when paired with something like a hearty steak.
Before visiting your favorite restaurant and mulling over which wine to chose, check out their website. Most fine dining establishments will post their wine list on the site, leaving you plenty of time to investigate the possibilities. Consider your entree in advance and research the wine that will best complement it.
When ordering a wine in a restaurant, let the type of restaurant be your guide. If you are eating in a French restaurant, it is best to order a French wine. If you are dining in a Spanish restaurant, choose a wine from Chile or other parts of South America. This will help you to order the best-quality wine the restaurant has to offer and also a wine that pairs well with your food.
As you may have seen, wine is a good treat, but it can be expensive depending on what kind of wine you buy. You don’t have to spend every penny of your paycheck in order to have a good tasting wine. Use this article wisely and you can have a nice wine for a good price.
