Wine is a fun hobby but it does a little background knowledge and the effort to develop a discerning palette. With some basic information, you can serve and drink the best wine. Read on to learn some tips and pointers and to help you get started in the enjoyable world of the grape.

Be familiar with the store where you buy your wine. Each wine store is slightly different. Every shop prices differently, offers different selections and are guided by a different focus. If you’re a wine rookie, you may not do too well with stores that have pricey labels. Find a place where you are comfortable.

In terms of trying wines, have faith in your own tastes. For example, if a friend raves about a wine that they love and you know you are not a fan of that particular type, do not run out and purchase any. This will only make you waste your money on something that will sit on your shelf.

It is not necessarily true that white wines must be served chilled. The texture is one factor to consider in temperature choice. While serving saugvignon blanc cold is best, serving chardonnay and pinot gris taste better a bit warmer.

There are certain wines that do not age well. It is best to determine if the variety of wine you purchased will stay useful if you store it, even in ideal conditions. Bordeaux is an example of wine that ages well.

Wine Experts

Be mindful of wine experts and what they say, yet also take their considerations with a grain of salt. Actual wine experts realize their limitations. In addition, remember that everyone has a different palate. If you like something an expert doesn’t, trust your own taste.

You always want to serve white wines at about forty five degrees for the best taste. Drinking them around room temperature impedes their full flavors. Before drinking champagne, chill it in your refrigerator for about one to two hours.

Consume white wines that are young and in their first couple of years. Chardonnay is an exception to this rule. The explanation behind this is that white wine production does not normally involve oak. Oak is also used for making darker wines.

There are many wines that pair well with desserts. Dessert wines generally taste sweeter than the wines that come with dinner. Dessert wines that include the ruby port and tawny port varieties will complement chocolate desserts. For best flavor, serve them at about 55 degrees.

Vintage represents the year of the grape harvest, not the bottling year of the wine. Grapes that were harvested in 1988 would be made into a 1988 wine. This wine is then fermented and aged inside wine barrels until it is time for it to be bottled and sold. They won’t show up in stores for a year or two after that.

Change which wines you buy. Try not to buy the same wine each time, in order to stave off boredom. Experiment with wines from various regions or perhaps another variety altogether. You might even save some money.

When you taste a wine, start by slightly leaning the glass in order to see the wine’s color. Gently swirl the wine around the glass. Then, inhale the aroma deeply. At that point, sip a bit of the wine, swish it around your pallet tasting it fully, and then spit the wine back into your glass.

You may feel pressured when deciding on what wine to choose. You can learn the basics in no time, then spend the rest of your life honing your wine selecting and tasting skills. Use the advice mentioned in the article and you are sure to pick a great bottle of wine.