An historic beverage dating back thousands of years is wine. It’s versatile enough to both be consumed by itself and cooked with. Your choice of wine is important, as it can either hurt or help the flavor of your meal.

Your gut will tell you which wine to buy. If you already know that you can’t stand Merlot, don’t buy a bottle just because someone gave it a good review. You might end up giving it away and wasting your money.

Have you volunteered to supply wine at your next tailgating party? If so, opt for a screw-top container. These tops are much easier to remove than the standard corks. They also provide a more secure seal than corks do.

Do not hesitate to experiment when shopping for wine. New wine tasting is a great way for you to learn about other countries and wines. Give one a shot that someone at the store recommends, test out a different region or give one a try by reading the cards that are on the wine shelves. You can always locate a new favorite!

Some wine is not good when it is old, make sure you know which ones before putting it away. You’ll need to research how well your wines age for optimal drinkability. Bordeaux is an example of something that you can invest in a case of as it stores well for many years.

Visit the regions that grow the wine. You will really appreciate a wine after seeing where the grapes grow and also associate a wine you love with pleasant memories. This will help give you the right understanding, and the right language, to explain these distinctive tastes and aromas to others. Of course, you must also remember how inspirational and exquisite wine country can be. What more could you want?

When ordering at a restaurant you don’t have to always stick with what you know. If you want to impress the people you are having diner with, it is best to choose a wine they will not recognize. They won’t know what the wine will be like and they won’t be surprised by the price either.

A great tip for all people interested in wine is to understand how to take off the label from a bottle. The easiest way is to put your bottle inside the oven. Just as it starts to get hot, use your oven mitt to carefully remove the label.

So many tastes are available in wine, so have fun with them. Try to analyze all the aspects of the wine, including what makes it work with a particular meal and all of the flavors present. This will enhance your overall experience with wine.

Plan any trips to a vineyard long in advance. Work out a budget that you will keep to on your visit, and plant to bring a designated driver along. Draft some questions in advance and be prepared to articulate your preferences in wine.

Use the right stemware when serving wine. It is vital to use stemware that is clean and looks sharp, as this can improve the look of the wine quality to your guests. If it is cracked, chipped or stained, you need to spend money on a new set.

The vintage of a wine is the year the grapes were harvested, not the year the wine was produced. A wine that is labeled 1990 would of had its grapes harvested in the year of 1990. After the grapes were harvested, they were fermented and aged and then the bottling occurred. The wine most likely didn’t get sold until 2011 or 2012.

To start tasting wine, tilt the glass a bit to get a better look at the hue. Swirl your glass around and bring it to your nose in order to pick up every scent. You then take just a little sip of wine, give it a taste and then spit it back out.

One good tip to remember when you try to pair food with wine is to continue exploring the many possibilities. There are so many possibilities out there. You may play it safe; however, avid wine lovers aren’t afraid to try new things.

When at a restaurant, don’t order one single glass of wine. Keep in mind that there are six glasses of wine in one bottle, so give sharing a try. You’ll save money and all get to try something new.

Special Occasions

Champagne is not for special occasions only. People usually pop open a bottle at special occasions. You can eat most dinners with champagne. The light flavor and the bubbles are palate cleansing. Champagne is a great complement to foods with a high salt content.

As mentioned earlier, wine has a wide range of uses. By making the correct wine selection, you can greatly enhance the flavor of your meal. Use everything you’ve read here to ensure that you get the most from wine, whether you are drinking, cooking or entertaining.