The hobby of wine tasting has grown considerably as of late. No longer relegated to the rich or the snobbish, wine is a fascinating drink and a wonderful pastime. If you have an interest in wines, read the tips below to get you started on your wine journey. Both a seasoned wine drinker and a newcomer can benefit from the tips.
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.
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.
Do not let others influence your taste in wines. It is important you try different wines and decide what you love. Everyone has different taste buds and might not be looking for the same thing in a wine. Do not assume that drinking a wine recommended by an expert will make you more sophisticated.
Don’t be scared of labels containing sulfite warnings. Wines all contain sulfites, though distributors in the United States must place a warning on each bottle. While sulfites have been known to cause certain allergic reactions in rare cases, you shouldn’t worry if you haven’t noticed anything before.
The real flavor of wine comes from the smell. Smell makes up about 90% of the overall taste of wine. The key to bringing this out in the wine is oxygen. When you pour a glass of wine, swirl it in the glass. This allows the wine to mix more readily with the oxygen around it, thus enhancing the flavor fully.
Your diet can handle some wine. Many people avoid drinking wine when dieting because they are afraid of wasting calories. You do not have to completely sacrifice wine in your diet if you remember to practice moderation and portion control. Most wines come in at just under 100 calories per serving. You can easily work a glass or two into your weekly routine.
Pinot Noir and Merlot are both flavorful red wines that can be easily paired with many flavors. Pinot Noir is a red wine with a light to medium body that goes well with many different types of food. Each bottle of Pinot Noir is different; however, it has a flavor that appeals to almost everyone. Therefore, it’s one of the best choices you can make.
Go to wine tasting events. This is a great way to discover wines that you will love without purchasing a whole bottle to see how much you like it. Many times wine cellars and wineries offer wine tasting as part of their tours. Wineries are a great vacation destination, and you can bring home a souvenir bottle.
If you identify a strong aroma of caramel, smoke, nuts or even vanilla when tasting a wine, keep in mind that these aromas are there because of the oak barrels used to store the wine. These aromas will not be as strong if you drink the same wine from a bottle.
If you need to save wine for another day, cork it and stick it in your refrigerator. The coolness in your fridge will help slow down all of the chemical changes happening in your wine. It’s best if you can finish that wine off within a day, otherwise you may find it tastes quite different than when you uncorked it.
White wine is excellent for use in preparation of most seafood dishes, and it goes well with the meal. Either way, the wine will draw out the unique flavors of your meal. The seafood, in turn, can help to bring out the full taste of the white wine. White wine and seafood make an excellent pair.
Avoid seeking out only the highly rated, highest priced wines for your collection. While you may feel this will end up in the best wines, this is simply not true. There are plenty of moderately priced wines out there that are just magnificent. Make sure that your collection has as much variety as possible.
When purchasing an inexpensive bottle of wine, look at the back label to determine the importer. There are some importers that are worth getting to know because they offer high quality wines at discount prices. Once you have been buying wine for a bit, you can trust the importer information to let you know about the quality of the bottle in your hand.
When you are hunting for a magical bottle of the perfect wine, keep in mind the occasion you are serving and the food that will accompany it. There are different bottles that work well with some foods while others won’t agree. Your wine selection should be food-friendly to guarantee maximum enjoyment.
Try to gauge your individual taste preferences when buying a bottle of wine. Do you prefer an oak based flavor? Is sweet wine your thing? Are you partial to bold wines or more delicate varieties? By knowing a few details about the type of wine you enjoy, you can pick a bottle out with ease.
If you are a wine tasting novice, the tips outlined here will help you start enjoying this beverage. Wine is a great hobby for the lovers of fine cuisine, history and relaxation. In the past few years, wine has managed to shed the stereotypes as a snooty, overpriced vice. Today, it is a hip, universally beloved subject.
