Wine conjures up images of all the best things life has to offer. Even if you don’t especially like wine, being knowledgeable about wine has perks. For example, you can use wine in cooking, hosting a dinner party or even enjoying a glass at the end of a stressful day.A Pinot Grigio is something that pairs very well with a seafood dinner. This wine can truly enhance the taste of the dish. White wine in general is also a good choice to pair with seafood. Seafood and a nice white wine is one of life’s greatest treats.If you drink wine with your meal and you get frequent headaches, you may want to reduce the amount you drink. The sulfates contained in wine can cause frequent headaches. Drink only in moderation to avoid headaches.Use the right glass for your wine. White wines are best served in a narrow wine glass, which keeps air away from the wine with its smaller opening. Red wines need wider glasses with large mouths. This lets air reach the wine, awakening rich flavors that would otherwise remain dormant.In order to reuse a bottle, or for easier recycling, be sure you know how to remover the label from an empty bottle. A simple way is to put your bottle in an oven, allow it to heat up, grab it with a pair of mitts, and begin peeling from the corner.Champagne and sparkling wines should be served when they are very cold. Room temperature will not do for these varieties. Put champagne in the fridge to chill about 1-2 hours before drinking it.Don’t be stodgy when it comes to wine. Too much time is often spent trying to figure out all the components of wine and which wines go well with which foods. Be creative when you want to enjoy a glass of wine; have fun and relax.Do not choose a wine because of its color. The alcohol content is the same in red and white wine. White wines are usually easier and smoother to drink. Consider purchasing varieties such as Pinot Grigio and Sauvignon Blanc.The types of grapes determine if a wine is red or white. Strong bodied purple grapes make red wine. The green grapes make up your white wines, usually much lighter and crisper. These are the basic discrepancies between the two.Avoid having too many enjoyable wines in storage at any given time. Even though you might think that it’s best to keep a good supply of your favorite bottles, for the most part your preference for wine will change on a daily basis. So although you might like something in particular at the moment, there is a good chance your tastes will change very quickly. By doing this, you won’t have to drink wines you may not wish to, so you’ll save money and space.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. They can then be stored until the wine is actually bottled. Most of the time it is not until the following year that the wine actually makes it to the retail world.Try to isolate the different flavors and aromas when trying a new wine. There should be some type of fruit in there, as well as other things as well. You should also identify some secondary aromas reminiscent of smoke, caramel or honey. Focus on these different aromas so you can more easily identify them.
Screw Caps
Just because a bottle of wine has a screw-on top, don’t shun it automatically in favor of one with a cork. More and more quality varieties are moving to screw caps. They can help wines stay fresh and pure. Air is less likely to enter the bottle through a screw cap, and you certainly won’t have to worry about cork breaking off in the bottle. Screw caps are even the norm in some countries.If you find yourself in doubt, select a Pinot Noir. Versatile and not too heavy, Pinot Noir goes with any type of cuisine. Every Pinot Noir is unique; however, its flavor is in the middle of the wine spectrum, making it a safe and versatile choice.If you want to go to a wine tasting, call ahead of time to make sure you can bring your entire family. Some wine tasting events are for adults only, but there are others that cater to children with separate drinks and activities.Critics can offer an opinion, but you should not listen to them all the time. Critics will not taste things the same way you do. Use what you’ve learned here and continue to expand your knowledge.Compare wine prices online and at your local stores. One particular wine can have a huge disparity in price from retailer to retailer. Comparison shopping will help you save a ton.Think about maintaining a wine journal. This will help you organize and remember the wines that you like the best, so you try similar wines in the future. Have something to jot notes with you at all times when tasting wines.When buying wine glasses, consider buying the cheapest ones available. If they become chipped or broken, there will be no need for worry as they are easily and cheaply replaced. Additionally, you can find a suitable glass for a fraction of what you could end up paying for a high end glass. They won’t cost much to replace later.Make sure any white wine you drink is cold. It shouldn’t be served near room temperature. The best way for white wine to be chilled is by placing it in the refrigerator for roughly two hours prior to drinking it. If you want to drink it sooner, try putting it in a bucket with ice and water and it will chill in a half hour.Do you see how knowing about wine can help you? You don’t have to sip wine to enjoy it. There’s much more than that. Use the information laid out here, and you’ll start seeing how you are going to benefit from it.