For Better Wine, Take Our Advice Now

There is wine everywhere — at social gatherings, restaurants, and even the grocery store. Having said this, wine can be an extremely confusing topic due to its versatility and, of course, personal taste. In order to make your wine selection process easier, read the following article.

Decrease the amount of wine you drink if you notice a headache after drinking it to accompany a meal. All wines contain sulfite, which causes strong headaches in some people. Drink water on off days, to filter some of the wine out of your system.

Sulfite warnings shouldn’t frighten you. While any wine contains sulfites, only those bottled in America must make note of this on the label. Sulfites are capable of causing allergic reactions rarely, but if you have never noticed a reaction, you are likely to be fine.

Keep your reds and whites in proper glasses. A narrow glass is perfect for whites, keeping warm air away from the drink. Red wines need wider glasses with large mouths. This will allow air to get into this kind of glass and warm it up, which makes the flavors climb to the surface.

Always pursue variety in your wine buying. Picking out wine is a good way to learn more about another region. Open your palate to recommendations from shopkeepers, sommeliers and well-traveled friends and coworkers. The wine you find might be a hidden gem.

Keep your wine cellar well stocked. Just having a white selection won’t help you when you eat beef. Expand your collection to include white, red, sweet, sparkling, fruity and floral recipes.

Think outside the box when you are presented the wine menu at a restaurant. To make an impression on your dinner guests, pick wines they may not be familiar with. They will find a new, unexpected flavor and won’t be surprised by the high price tag.

Sign up as a member of an Internet wine forum. Others who enjoy wine can teach you a great deal, and you can exchange tips with one another. You might just find that you are led to your favorite wine from a friendly suggestion made by a fellow member.

If you are serving your wine, you need to have good wine glasses. Your stemware must be clean and look sharp; if it does not, even a quality wine will seem cheap. You should never use chipped or dirty glasses to serve wine.

Don’t fill your house with only the wines you enjoy at the moment. While it is tempting to stock up, you will probably enjoy something different in a short period of time. For example, you may love white wines at the moment, but that can easily change to you liking red wines. When this happens, you’ll end up with a wine you do not consume, meaning you wasted both money and time.

There is an endless supply of wine information available on the internet. Consider printing these pages and bringing them with you when you go wine shopping. Compare your own notes, ask employees for input, and don’t let lack of knowledge make you buy a bad bottle.

Become familiar with the people you purchase wine from. If you make friends with them, you can get a heads up on good deals in the future. In addition, they may be able to teach you a few things about some of the wines they serve.

Varietal wines are made from one single type, or varietal, of grape. This is the case of Pinot Noir and Syrah. To carry this name, the wine must be 9/10ths from one varietal juice. Many wineries will introduce a different grape to make their wine taste more unique.

If you are planning to attend a wine tasting, check to verify whether or not you need a reservation. Some people mistakenly assume none are required for public events. Nothing is worse than showing up at the venue and being turned away without a reservation.

With your new knowledge on wine selection, you will have no problem making your next wine purchase. You will know how to choose wine to serve to others or drink it just for your own enjoyment. This short course should have provided you with a strong foundation.