If you have decided that this is the year that you get to learn more about wine, this resource is for you. We will take you through how select, serve, and enjoy the best type of wine in 2022.

Buying wine

The first step in enjoying a good bottle of wine starts at the store. To ensure you have a fantastic wine bottle, you have to buy it in the right places. We always advise people to get wine from the winery or at a wine store, and this is because they know the best way to store bottles. They should always store wine away from light, movement, and extreme temperatures.

They also often have a person to help you out. While buying your wine, ensure that you read the label. Wine labels can reveal so much information about the wine. For example, if you’re looking for Greek wine and come across our Dourakis wines in the supermarket, you will notice that we have labels explaining different things about the wine. Read the labels and see what appeals to you.  

Look at the vintage, which is the year on the label. If we have 2018 on a label, this means that the grapes that made that wine were harvested in 2018. Some people prefer younger wines for white wines and older wines for red wines. However, do your research and ensure that you’re getting the year that works for you.  

Each wine label will detail the country and winery the grapes were grown. Through your wine tasting journey, you can get to explore different wine regions and travel the world through wine. This is always an exciting journey for any wine lover. 

Storing your wine

When you get home, store your in a cool, dark place and avoid moving it a lot. You should chill white and sparkling wine in the fridge before you serve. You should serve red wine at 53 °F – 69 °F and white wine at 44 °F – 57 °F. These are the temperatures that bring out the best flavor.

Serving your wine

Glassware has a significant effect on wine taste. Each wine has its glassware requirements. For example, red wine should always be served in wide wine glasses, and the glass should be wide-brimmed and have a large body. This ensures that the wine gets adequately aerated. You will often notice that people swirl their wine when they taste it to let more air in.  

White wine should be served in narrower glasses as they do not need to be aerated. For sparkling wine and champagne, there should always be served in flutes. These come in many designs, but they are long, conical glasses that allow the wine to hold the bubbles.

source : wine folly

Tasting wine 

Set the stage

When you are serving wine, ensure that you’re serving it in a clean, airy room, and this will ensure that you are always getting the best wine flavor. Ensure that the room does not have strong perfumes or loud noises to get to appreciate the wine you’re taking. 

Serve

Pour your wine slowly into the right glass. When serving, do not fill the glass to the brim. Serve about a third to a half of the glass. However, for sparkling wine, you can serve a bit more. If you’re serving white wine or sparkling wine put the bottle back on an ice bucket so that the wine continues to chill. For red wine, you can put it in a decanter, a large container that allows the wine to aerate.

See 

Look at the wine and notice its color. Hold your glass against a white background. You can use a piece of paper or a white tile. What is the color of the wine? For example, is the wine straw-colored, yellow or clear for white wines? For red wine, is the wine red pink, purple or violet? Are there any sediments, is the wine cloudy, or is the wine clear? Cloudy wine shows that the wine might have an issue. Deposits indicate that the wine is corked (faulty) or older. 

Smell

Put your nose into the glass lightly. Slightly open your mouth, and this will ensure that you’re getting the primary scents. Wine can smell like tropical fruits, berries, chocolate, and even spices.

Sip

Sip your wine slowly, then generously, and try to taste different flavors on both occasions. Does the flavor also correspond to the smell? What are you tasting?

That is how you learn about wine. Whether you are a new wine taster or a seasoned one, consider getting a notebook to register some of what you are learning. If you come across a bottle that you enjoy, note it down. Wine tasting is also a very personal process, and what tastes good to one person might not taste good to another. Be very open-minded to find out what appeals to you. We hope you enjoy this journey. Cheers!

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