When you know exactly what to look for in a bottle of wine, you can make pairing decisions that are sure to wow your fellow sippers. However, it is important that you learn to select, store and serve the bottle of wine the right way. Keep reading for some useful tips you need to know about if you enjoy wine.
A trip to a winery requires advance planning. You should figure out how much you can afford to spend on your visit and on wine and find a friend who can drive if you want to drink. Write questions ahead of time to maximize your learning and prepare a few notes, so that you can discuss your favorite wines and their attributes with the winery experts and other guests.
TIP! Breathe in the aroma and sip a wine when you drink it for the first time. Slurping it is perfectly acceptable and encouraged.
Consider joining an online wine forum. Many of these sites have a plethora of great expertise available. Read through the forum a bit before jumping in to make sure it's a place you want to spend time in.
If you purchase wines from a liquor store, make sure you find one that chills wines properly. Liquor stores sometimes have open doors in the summer or let too much heat in and that's not good. This heat can turn a wine very quickly and dry out corks. Buy from higher quality stores to be on the safe side.
TIP! Don't let the opinions of others determine what wine you prefer. If you enjoy it, it is good.
Know a lot about wine but stuck when it comes to pronunciation? You can easily find audio files online to guide you. Don't give out wine at a party or order it without knowing the right way to say it. You need to look up more information about them.
Try visiting wine country if you enjoy wine. Wine takes on a new life when you see where its grapes are grown. Touring a vineyard can teach you a great deal about wine. This will be a fun and educational trip.
TIP! White and red wines should be served at two totally different temperatures. Usually, red wine needs to be served about 10 to 15 degrees warmer than white wine.
Buy one bottle of wine when you want to sample it. You might want to try many different types first, as there are a bunch to choose from. Once you find a wine that you love, you can invest in purchasing a case.
Listening to the critics can cause confusion. Frequently, wine critics will share their own ideas about the best wines; however, your mouth may not agree. Their advice can be a jumping off point, though you must be willing to explore on your own as well.
TIP! A wine's vintage is determined by the year the grapes were picked. If a label states "2010" on the label, that can mean the grapes were harvested in the fall of that year.
Give wine tastings a try. Wine tastings are fun to go to and can teach you a lot about wine. It is a great social gathering. Take along friends that enjoy wine as well. You might be able to gain a better friendship and drink the wine as well.
Know your way around your wine store. That's because each shop is different. From layout to pricing, everything could potentially differ from location to location. If you are just getting started in drinking wine, going to a store with a bunch of expensive bottles may not be for you. Shop around until you find a place that carries the selection that interests you most.
TIP! Pinot Noir makes a great hostess gift if you're going to a party. Pinot noir is extremely flexible and can go with all kinds of different foods and occasions.
Let your instincts guide you when you're trying out wines. For instance, if a friend loves a certain wine but you don't like it so much, don't buy some just to look good. This will only result in you wasting money on something you knew you might not like ahead of time.
If you want your wine to taste the best, make sure the temperature is right. Red wines are best when they are served at about 60 degrees. Start at 58 degrees so warming can occur.
White wine is best served at a temperature of 47 degrees. Serving a white wine too warm can result in a dull taste.
TIP! A useful tip in the wine realm is knowing how to get the label off of your wine bottle. Ii is easy--just heat the bottle and then peel the label.
Coordinate your dish with your wine; a wine with sweet overtones is best served alongside dessert. An acidic one nicely complements an equally acidic meal. Sauvignon Blanc goes well with salads that have a vinaigrette dressing. If you pick a wine that isn't that acidic, the wine will taste similar to turned wine.
You should now understand that there are a number of things that come into play when it comes to wine storage, selection and taste. If you don't use the information you have learned, you may well end up frustrated at the next event where you serve wine. Increase your enjoyment and the enjoyment of your guests by serving the most appropriate wine.