If you are not a wine drinker or a new to wine drinking, ordering the right wine can prove to be a Herculean task!
If not chosen correctly wine can ruin the flavor of the food and of course the wine itself will not shine if paired with the wrong food.
So here are some easy tips on choosing the right wine:
- Choose a wine you like. If you already have a favorite kind of wine, choose that and don’t worry too much about the paring! You will still enjoy it.
- Keep the flavor of the dish in mind. The general rule is to match the flavor of the food and the wine.
- Acidic food goes well with acidic wine, since the acidity of the wine will get balanced.
- Pair heavy food with full bodied wine to enhance the flavor.
- Sweet food should be paired with wine having a hint of sweet.
- Generally, red wine goes well with red meat and white wine with white meat.
- If you dish has a number of ingredients, pair it with the most prominent element of the dish.
- If your dish has sauce, pair the wine with the sauce.
- Champagne or Sparkling wine, being light goes well with appetizers and light food.
Once you have chosen the wine, it’s now time to drink. Keep these tips in mind before you take a sip:
- Wine should be served at the ideal temperature. Sparkling wines are served chilled, white wines are served cold and red wines are served cool.
- Pour the wine to fill the glass only about 1/3rd.
- Look for the color of the wine. A brownish color suggests the wine is oxidized and not fit for drinking.
- Smell the wine and take in the aroma. As an amateur you may not be able to tell the aromas apart but the smell adds to the flavor of the wine.
- Take a sip and let it stay in your mouth for a bit before you swallow. Never gulp wine down. You may not be able to discern the variety of flavors but without allowing the taste to linger you cannot enjoy the wine.
So remember you don’t have to be an expert to enjoy a glass of wine!