Wine
What would you like to know about wine? Perhaps you’re a beginning collector, or maybe you’ve run into a situation where you want to cook with wine. No matter what the case may be, it’s time to learn more. Keep reading to find out more about wine and its uses.
Wine should be stored in a dark, cool location. One of the best places to help your wine remain fresh if you do not have a wine cellar is in a closet in your basement. Store your bottles on their side away from any light sources to help it remain fresh.
The next time you need to clean up a wine stain, grab some Windex. You will get better results from Windex than from soap and water. Use it as soon as you can before the stain sets.
When you drink a bottle of wine, make sure that you do not throw it out, even if you have a small amount left. Wine can stay good for a long period of time and you never know when you may have a craving for that type of wine in the future.
Allow red wines to warm up. Often, red wines are stored at temperatures near 60 degrees. The best temperature for serving red wines is above 70 degrees, which allows the full body of the wine to be present. When you open a bottle of red, allow it to sit and come to room temperature before drinking.
Reduce your intake of wine during the week if you notice that you are getting a lot of headaches after you drink it with a meal. The sulfates contained in wine can cause frequent headaches. Therefore, if you get these headaches, it is best to drink in moderation.
A good tip if you’re interested in learning more about wines is to simply do your homework on them. Do as much reading as you can about wines and the industry, and before you know it, you’ll be the most knowledgeable person about wines among all of your friends.
Learn the pronunciation of all of the wines that you serve so that you sound as professional as possible when you are around your guests. This can go a long way if you are having a party or get together with friends in your house. There are common names for wine, so get acquainted with the lingo.
There are many different message boards you can join to talk about wine. You can learn many things for other connoisseurs, and you might be able to teach them something as well. You might find a wine you really love based on a suggestion.
Go global in your wine selecting process! Previously, fine wines were considered to be exclusive to certain countries. These days, however, nearly every continent is producing a delicious wine. Limiting yourself to only France or Italy will keep you from enjoying amazing new creations from places like Australia and Brazil!
You should have some clear goals in mind when shopping for wine. Establish a budget and make a list of the different occasions you will need wine for. Shopping for wine can be a lot of fun but do not get carried away by an enthusiastic seller who presents your wines you will have no use for.
Make sure you take a moment to talk with the person that is serving your table. Becoming friends with these people can usually cause you to save a lot on wine in the future. In addition, they may provide you with a notice on great wine deals you probably weren’t aware of.
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.
Give your wine a little time to breathe before enjoying a glass. A decanter, a carafe or even a large glass works well for this. Pour just a little bit of wine into the container of your choice. Let it stand for 10 minutes. Try it and then compare it to a sampling straight from the bottle. You should now be able to figure out what the differences are between letting it sit there and not letting it.
A good tip if you’re offering wine at a restaurant is to make sure you know how to properly care for the wine. There’s nothing more annoying than ordering some wine by the glass, only to find out that it wasn’t properly cared for and it wasn’t very good because of it.
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 you are cooking with wine, the type of dish you are making indicates whether you will need a dry or sweet wine. For savory dishes, always choose a dry wine. If you want a dry white wine, try a chardonnay. Dry red wines include merlot and pinot noir.
Search for online information about different wines. Look for a wine discussion forum and read the comments until you feel confident enough to add your own ideas. If you are unfamiliar with international wines, this is a great place to find information. You can gain enough information to try a few wines you would not otherwise have considered.
If you are going to a party or a gathering, and you would like to bring wine, try to stick with something that is not too strong. Pinot Noir is a great choice for occasions like this, because it goes with most food. Regardless of what the host is serving, he or she should appreciate it.
You now have a better idea about wine and how to make the most of it. You can cook some great dishes with wine, and you can also use it to accentuate some rather delicious meals. Remember all the advice you’ve learned so that you can put it to good use.
