From the soil to the glass, there is a lot of work which goes into a bottle of wine. Knowing all you can about wine means enjoying it more than ever. This article has a ton of tips and tricks to make your own wine drinking a much more enjoyable pastime.
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.
Keep a wine journal. Write down the names of wines that you taste and what you think of them. Over time, this will develop into a great resource for you. It is also nice to look back and see where you came from and what direction you are headed in when it comes to your wine preferences.
There are many good, inexpensive wines. If you want a nice wine with a nice price, look at wines from Chile. Many wines from the region are excellent values. Their Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc are excellent choices. Argentina, New Zealand and South Africa also offer great prices on great wines.
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.
Find someone who can help you identify wines to try. This can be either a merchant who earns your trust through good recommendations, or a wine expert who seems to have a palate close to your own. Their ideas can keep you trying new wines without just picking bottles randomly.
A trip to a winery requires advance planning. Set a budget and make sure someone else will drive you home. Draft some questions in advance and be prepared to articulate your preferences in wine.
Keep a journal just for wine. The easiest way to keep track of the wines that you enjoy and the ones that you do not like is to keep a list of them. You can also include the foods that you drank them with so that you can repeat the experience if you like.
Have an idea of how much you want to spend on your wine in mind before you enter the store. A wine store can be a very confusing space with lots of shelves filled with various varieties. By having a price point in mind before you shop, you can narrow down what you are looking for and walk out of the store without spending too much.
The wine's vintage is the year the grapes were harvested. Grapes that were harvested in 1988 would be made into a 1988 wine. The grapes are then fermented in barrels, aging until it's time to bottle the wine for sale. They won't show up in stores for a year or two after that.
Most people enjoy pairing wine with a fancy dinner. However, it is imperative that you always choose the best tasting bottle of wine that you can afford. People often don't realize that wine can make or break the quality of the dinner. When in doubt, it's best if you don't!
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.
If you are dining out with work colleagues and trying to impress the boss, try to arrive at the table first and order a bottle of wine to be delivered upon your guest's arrival. This will really make it look like you know your wines. Avoiding a wait time for the bottle can also enhance the evening for everyone.
Buying wine online can be rewarding. Traveling can become expensive, which means visiting local vineyards and wineries in other states is not possible. By researching online, you can find not only great wineries, but also great deals as well. Buying online also gives you the ability to buy in bulk at better savings.
Buy your favorite wine by the case if you can afford to. Buying by the case can save you hundreds of dollars a year if you drink a lot of one particular wine. This is only a good idea, however, if you are certain that you would buy that much wine over time anyway.
If there is a nearby winery or wine bar, add yourself to their email list or newsletter. Wineries tend to offer events that provide discounts and tasting opportunities. Learn in advance when these special events take place by joining the mailing list.
Keep in mind that the largest wineries do not necessarily have the best wines. It is often best to visit the smaller wineries in your area if you want affordable prices. You will also get the occasion to taste wine with a small group and have a guide who has time to answer your questions.
A good tip that will help you save money on wine when eating out is to not be afraid of ordering the cheapest wine on the menu. A lot of people will avoid getting the cheapest wine to avoid looking bad, but restaurants know this and will exploit you for it.
Do not buy wine only because it is a good deal. Many people will buy wines that are on special or have a bulk discount. Have you tried this wine? Have you done any research? Most have not and will make a purchase that will end up not being drunk, or passed over by guests.
These simple ideas about wine will be sure to guide you on your way to a better glass. When you enjoy wine more, you'll find you want to seek out more advice, too. In the end, wine will become a great friend who is always true to you when you need them.
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