When it comes to wine, you probably know that it should simply taste good. However, are you aware of all the ways you can care for and choose the best wine? If not, this article is jam packed with great advice to help you get started with the world of wine!
Try not to exclusively drink the best wine that you can find at all times. Sometimes, you will notice that some of the best tasting wines are medium grade and not the crème of the crop. Explore all types of wine and try them with different meals to determine your favorites.
Pinot Grigio tastes great with seafood. The flavor of this dish is enhanced by the wine. There are many other white wines that you can pair with seafood as well. Seafood along with white wine are great and can make any meal a real treat.
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.
Increase the shelf life of your wine by using a wine cellar. This can be helpful if you tend to collect expensive wines that you plan on storing for a long time. A wine cellar helps you to preserve your wine over time.
Read everything you can get your hands-on with respect to wine. Not only are there books available, but the Internet is a great resource as well. Check out blogs and reviews. New ones are coming out all the time, and they can be very valuable in helping you select wine that you might enjoy.
Understand the types of fruits that are used in your wine and the ones that you like. This can go a long way in determining your favorite types of wines, as you can look at the content before you purchase. This will allow you to filter out the wines that do not have the ingredients you prefer.
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.
If you find a wine, you enjoy a lot, consider buying a case or two of it. A case of wine is almost always less expensive per bottle than buying each bottle individually. You can keep the wine for yourself and enjoy it on a regular basis, or you can have it on hand to give as gifts.
When buying wine for dinner, take into consideration the food you will be serving. As a general rule, red wines pair well with beef based dishes, while white wines work well with seafood and vegetarian dishes. If you are not sure about which wine to pair with your meal, ask at your local wine store to receive a little help.
Instead of throwing out your last bits of wine, consider saving it for a marinade for dinner the next night. Take your wine, add some seasoning and place it in a bowl. Add your favorite piece of meat to the bowl and let it sit for several hours or even overnight. This will add delicious flavor to your next night's meal!
Plan on visiting a nearby winery if you enjoy fine wine. Create a budget prior to your visit, and enlist the services of a designated driver. Make sure you know all the questions that you plan on asking, and ensure you know your preferred types of wine.
It will be a lot easier to talk about wine with other connoisseurs if you master their vocabulary. There are specific words used to describe flavors and colors. You also need to familiarize yourself with different regions and wineries. Have an expert explain these terms to you and present you with a selection of wines to illustrate different examples.
Look around your local area for good wines. Wine is produced in ALL 50 states. You may find a great vineyard that you can take a day trip to. Supporting your local wine growers is great in itself; however, there are many gems being made right here at home that often go overlooked.
Do not eschew a wine just because it has a screw cap. A lot of quality brands are switching to these kinds of caps. These tops have been known to keep the bottle purer than the average cork. Little air is able to get in or escape. Many countries now use this method of corking as the standard.
When you are hunting for that great price on a great selection, the discount bottles will be just what you are looking for. The various venues will lower the price for whatever reason and place the same, expensive bottle on the racks for a discounted price. Keep an eye open and you might spot an amazing deal on an amazing flavor.
Always know which wines are seasonal. Throughout the year, different wines may increase in popularity depending on the holiday or season. Port wines are an excellent example of this, as they tend to increase in price in the weeks leading up to Christmas. When you know wines by their seasons, you can purchase them off-season and save.
You can save money on your next restaurant bill by purchasing wine that is strictly on sale. Many restaurants offer wine that is 50% off in a given week. For example, a restaurant one week may offer a discounted price on French wine, and another week may offer 50% off of Italian wine.
As you can see, choosing, storing and serving wine is no easy task. It is a task which requires patience and plenty of knowledge before your next party, date or gathering. This article helped serve as a starting point, and make sure you apply all you've learned for optimal success!
Orignal From: Wine Made Easy: A Beginner's Guide To Wine
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