In vino veritas, or truth in wine – Pliny the Elder once said so. And since then, all mankind has echoed him, often repeating this phrase for centuries. After all, wine – it is the most popular alcoholic drink in the world!
It is unlikely that at least one solemn event or just cozy home gatherings with relatives or friends can do without it. And the traditional autumn mulled wine is definitely unthinkable without delicious wine…
However, choosing a good wine at a reasonable price often turns into a real quest. Among the wine shelves of the store, it is easy for anyone to get lost, except perhaps for professional sommeliers.
Which wine to choose for a successful party or a good dinner? Read the article estet-portal.com!
1. What kind of wine to choose for a reasonable price
2. Which wine to choose from different production regions
3. How to drink good wine
What kind of wine to choose for a reasonable price
So, you — in the shop. Around – hundreds of bottles with mysterious inscriptions. Which wine to choose? With a beautiful label, a sonorous name or a country you have been dreaming of visiting for a long time?
If you are in a specialized liquor (and even better – wine) store, do not hesitate to ask a consultant for help. This is the meaning of his work here – help confused customers with a choice.
However, some consultants immediately lead to exorbitant price tags, ignoring the announced budget. And some (especially if the situation takes place in a supermarket) do not know much about wine tricks. So if the counselor trick didn't work, we'll try to do it ourselves.
If you didn't stop by for the Widow Clicquot or collectible Bordeaux 30 years old, then most likely you are counting on a moderate price of the drink.
In this case, you should pay attention to promotions. Discounts do not always indicate problems with the expiration date or quality of the product. Sometimes there are so-called "crossroads": the store orders more bottles than it manages to sell by the time of the new order. In order to clear the shelves faster, the wine is displayed at a bargain price.
If you plan to buy wine for a large company, you will definitely win. Stores often offer a bulk discount if a customer buys six of the same bottle instead of just one.
Also, look out for obscure regions and new names. Do not chase after the promoted regions. For example, you are unlikely to find a good Bordeaux for little money. But Portuguese and Greek brands, for example, are usually of decent quality and do not bite. in price.
Don't focus on the year of manufacture, unless, of course, you are looking for replenishment for the family cellar. In the case of budget wines (in particular, white ones), the opposite principle applies: the younger, the better.
Any basic young wine aged 3 years will be much tastier than 5 years old.
By the way, the myth that that wine with a cork is better than an analogue with a screw cap is outdated. Today, many excellent winemakers (including those costing over 100 euros per bottle) equip bottles with conventional screw caps.
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Which wine to choose from different regions of production
Continuing the previous section, once again we focus on little promoted brands and regions of production.
Italian wines are most often associated with Chianti, but wines from Abruzzo, Marche, Calabria can be just as good. And they certainly won't hurt your wallet like that.
From moderately expensive countries, experienced sommeliers also recommend the Portuguese regions of Douro and Dao, as well as Greek Assyrtiko.
As a rule, the further south the region of origin of the grape, the richer and sweeter the wine, and the more intense its aroma. For example, a French Chablis Chardonnay will be fresher and more acidic (not to be confused with sour!) than a Chilean Chardonnay.
Professional sommeliers even have the concept of trendy wines. Yes, it turns out that the fashion for this type of alcohol is changing in the same way as for bags or shoes!
When it comes to white wines, this year everyone switched from Italian Pinot Grigio to New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc with berry flavors.
Spain rules the roost among red wines. But if earlier the famous Rioja was in the trend, now samples from Navarra, Valencia, Catalonia, Aragon and Toro are in vogue.
By the way, now so-called orange wines are in vogue – white, made according to the technology of red. They are infused with grape pulp and become tart and textured on the palate. Orange wines are now famous for small local producers from Georgia, who have already begun to enter the world markets.
How to drink good wine
Forget the old motto: red wine – for meat, white – to the fish. No one in the wine world has been thinking in such categories for a long time.
If you choose wine for a plentiful feast, focus on young and acid varieties. They are versatile in combination with food. Suitable for both baked meat and fish, as well as any salads – from light to the king of feasts «Olivier».
However, if you want to impress your soul mate or guests with the knowledge of the intricacies of matching wine to
Salmon + rose from Provence
- Sea fish (sea bass or sea bream) + sauvignon blanc
- Oysters and other seafood + Chablis (or any other acidic young wine)
- Jamon + Spanish red wines from Rioja and other regions
- Brie or Camembert + light red gavi wine
- Dor Blue Cheese + German Riesling
- Pecorino + Chianti
- Gorgonzola cheese + semi-sweet nutmeg
the larger the glass should be. For example, a powerful cabernet needs more space to open – that is, a yulpan-shaped glass with a volume of 600-800 ml.
And for light wines,universal tulip glasses (the so-called "Bordeaux") are enough. They will fit most budget varieties. But glasses of an elongated shape (flute) are designed for sparkling wine, as they retain sparkling and aroma longer.
How to quickly cool a bottle of sparkling wine?Put it in an ice bucket and add salt to the ice. It will corrode the ice, and it will release cold more intensively. The wine will cool down in minutes! Sommeliers are strictly forbidden to add ice to glasses of wine! This will dilute its taste and supercool the noble drink.
With the choice of the right wine, neither autumn rains nor approaching frosts are terrible. Because only in this way, in our latitudes, you can feel the taste of the Spanish sun, the aroma of French flowers and the taste of Italian dolce vita.Take our advice
– and you will definitely be able to choose a good wine that will brighten up any holiday or just sincere gatherings on an autumn evening. Moreover, by its distinctive features, you can choose a worthy wine without even opening the bottle. Have a good hunt! And, of course, do not forget that you should always know your limit in drinking alcohol!
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