There is a ton to know about wine, from what one will be the best with food, to which one will be good for the occasion. There are a lot of websites and books that have been written about wine, and this article can help you increase the knowledge that you have. Make sure to remember these tips at your next social occasion.

Your wine must be stored properly for preservation of taste. Any wine can be negatively affected by temperatures outside its optimal range. Store wines between 50 and 55 degrees to be safe. Either purchase a wine cooler or store them in your basement for best results.

Buy one single bottle of wine and taste test that first. You can always purchase additional bottles later. There are many different wines, and it is hard to know which ones will meet your approval. Do not buy a case at first.

Wine can help you make a wonderful sauce for beef dishes. All you need to do is pull out a red wine you love and pop some into a saucepan with a little butter. Let the sauce simmer and thicken, allowing a portion of the alcohol to cook out. Pour over the beef and enjoy.

Don’t be afraid of participating in an online discussion forum. These places are great to discuss wines and get great ideas. Before you sign up, make sure to check out the boards thoroughly to see if it is a community that you would like being a part of.

Not every white wine must be chilled before serving. The texture is one factor to consider in temperature choice. Chardonnay and pinot gris are two wines that benefit from being served warm, while sauvignon blanc is best served chilled.

It can really pay off to have a wide selection of wines on hand at home. Don’t just stock the basic red or white. Try different types of wine, including sparkling, red, white and sweet, if you want to be a great host to your friends and family.

Cold temperatures are best for sparkling wine or champagne. If you try drinking them at room temperature, you will not get the full flavor that the wine has to offer. Before you drink your champagne, be sure to chill it in the refrigerator for at least an hour.

Enjoy your wine, and have fun tasting the many different varieties available. You may spend time analyzing the distinctions of each wine and the pairings for which they are best suited. Enjoy the wine, be creative, wine is a feel good beverage.

It is important to properly plan for your trip to a winery. Ensure that you will have a ride home from the winery, and set a firm budget for your visit. Think about any questions you have and know how to explain your tastes in wine.

Don’t fall for filling a cellar with wines you like now. Even though you may have an urge to stock up, people’s wine tastes are always changing. Thus, while you may like that wine at present, you may dislike it down the road. This could lead to an abundance of wine, which could cost you a lot of money.

Vintage refers to the year when a wine’s grapes were harvested, not when the wine was produced. If a label states “2010” on the label, that can mean the grapes were harvested in the fall of that year. The grapes are then fermented in barrels, aging until it’s time to bottle the wine for sale. The actual wine might not have hit the shelf until perhaps 2011 or maybe even 2012.

Once you have some basic knowledge about wine, everything else will start to fall into place. There are some guidelines, but it’s mostly preference. Find out which wines go well with your needs and allow your taste buds do the talking. Be sure to apply what you’ve learned in this article also.