26 Wine-Buying and Wine-Tasting Tips to Make
You Feel (and Sound) Like a Wine Expert
by www.SixWise.com

Do you enjoy a good glass of wine but feel largely inadequate when asked to choose a bottle from a restaurant menu or store shelf? Will it go with the meal you're eating? Is it sweet or dry? Should you let it breathe? Does it need to be chilled? And what type of glass should you serve it in?

Keep in mind, enjoying a glass of wine should be a pleasant experience, not a nerve-wracking one.

The endless components of wine "etiquette" and variety truly are mind-boggling to the average wine drinker, but there's good news.

You don't have to be a sommelier to know what you're talking about when you talk wine. In fact, you can learn the basics you need to impress the vast majority of your friends and family just by reading through the tips that follow.

The Rules on Decanting

What is "decanting"? It's simply the process of pouring wine into a glass container, or decanter, so it can "breathe." Simply stated, being exposed to the air begins the wine's oxidation process, which will help to improve its flavor and aroma. Here's the scoop on decanting:

1. Red wines are typically the ones that need to breathe, though certain white wines (particularly young, astringent varieties like white Burgundy) may also benefit from the process.

2. Most wines will breathe adequately in 15-20 minutes.

3. Young wines with high tannin levels (such as a young Cabernet Sauvignon) need to "breathe" the longest, for about an hour.

4. Mature wines (eight years old or more) should be decanted to remove sediment from the bottle, but will lose their peak flavor if left to sit too long.

5. Simply uncorking the wine bottle is NOT enough to let it breathe; you must pour it into a different container, even a wine glass or pitcher, first.

6. When you pour out the wine, pour it from as high as you can into the container (without spilling it) so that it gets even more air exposure as you pour.

What Temperature Should it Be?

Both red and white wines have a temperature at which their flavors are ideal. Generally speaking, if you serve a wine too warm it can taste alcoholic, while a wine served too cold will lose many of its subtle flavors.

There are many intricacies to what makes a certain wine best at a certain temperature, and this is why there are special wine cellars and refrigerators geared at just that. But assuming you're not going to be chilling or warming your wine to the exact degree, here are the rules of thumb that will serve you, and your wine, well:

1. In the United States, most people drink red wine too warm and white wine too cold.

2. Red wine is generally best served at around 60-65 degrees F. This is obviously much cooler than most people's "room temperature," so you should, ideally, put your red wine in the fridge for about 20 minutes before serving.

3. White wine, rose wines and champagne should be chilled to about 45-50 degrees F, which is warmer than fridge temperature (which is about 35 degrees F). For cheaper whites, put it in the fridge about two hours before serving. Higher quality white wines should be put in the fridge for just about an hour before serving.

Wine Glasses: Which Type for Which Wine?

There are seemingly as many wine glasses as there are wine varieties, but there are really only a few things you need to know to pair a wine with a proper glass.

1. Choose a glass that's clear and plain. Etchings in the glass and colorings detract from the complex color of the wine.

2. Choose a glass that's large enough to hold the wine and swirl it around to release its aroma.

3. The glass should have a stem so that you don't change the temperature of the wine by holding it in your hand.

4. The glass should taper in at the top. This is to direct the wine's aroma toward your nose.

5. Generally, champagne and sparkling wines should be served in a flute, white wines in a standard (small to medium-sized) wine glass and red wines in a glass with a larger bowl.

How to Taste Wines

The BEST wine is the one that you enjoy most, no matter what the ratings or label says.

Wine tasting is a favorite pastime for many, and, really, it's geared toward helping you determine which wines are your favorites. These are the tips to fully appreciate the wines you sample.

1. Start with the lightest wine (sparkling, rose, light whites, heavier whites) and move to the heaviest (light reds, heavier reds and desert wines).

2. Pour a small amount of wine in your glass and notice the color. Younger red wines will be redder than older ones, which tend to be more brick-colored or brown. Whites that are older will have more color and may take on honey hues.

3. Swirl the glass. This helps to aerate the wine and release the aroma.

4. Sniff the wine by putting your nose in the glass. Notice the fruity or earthy aromas.

5. Take a sip and let the wine spread over your tongue. Swish it around your mouth gently and hold it there to notice all the complexities of its flavor.

6. If you're only tasting a few wines, it's OK to swallow them, but if you're at a large tasting you should spit the wine out into the provided receptacle.

7. Take a sip of water to cleanse your palate, then repeat.

Miscellaneous, But Important, Wine Tips

Here are the final tidbits you need to round out your wine repertoire.

1. When choosing a wine in a store, don't be swayed by a fun label. Just because it's cute or decorated for the season doesn't make it a good wine.

2. When choosing a wine, be wary of those up front or near the counter in displays. These are often the slow movers that the store is trying to unload.

3. Remember that choosing a wine is about your personal preference. You can usually rely on notes written by wine-shop staff to attest to the wine's flavor or sweetness, or ask an employee to point out some wines that suit your palette and price range. Many wine shops and supermarkets also hold wine tastings so you can get an idea of what you like.

4. As a general rule of thumb, pair lighter wines with lighter foods, and heavier wines with heavy foods.

5. To save leftover wine, red or white, pour it into a small glass container so that there is NO air left in it (a glass jar works well for this). You may spill a bit of the wine to do this, it will be that full. However, the absence of air will keep the wine from oxidizing too much. Store the container in your refrigerator, then take it out prior to serving to allow it to warm slightly.

Recommended Reading

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