Guide to Pick and Pop the Right Wine
Date Added: March 21, 2008 05:57:17 AM
The first thing to know about wine is that it is not all created equal. So if you need wine as a gift, for a party or to share with a friend you will need a little forethought and knowledge for each situation and it does not involve knowing which wine is on sale. A little knowledge of wine can pay dividends that you will see in the grateful expressions of your friend’s faces. With that here are some tips for that will allow you to choose from among the rows of bottles to select the right wine for the occasion.
The first thing to know about wine is that it is not all created equal. So if you need wine as a gift, for a party or to share with a friend you will need a little forethought and knowledge for each situation and it does not involve knowing which wine is on sale. A little knowledge of wine can pay dividends that you will see in the grateful expressions of your friend’s faces. With that here are some tips for that will allow you to choose from among the rows of bottles to select the right wine for the occasion.When choosing the wine it may be very tempting to do so by the colorful label or perhaps the shape of the bottle, but you should resist that urge. Take a moment to ask the sales clerk that is there and you may just find a gem of a wine. If you are dining out it is the job of the sommelier to assist you in finding that perfect wine for the occasion so put them to work. When you are ordering by the glass you may ask for a taste first and a quality restaurant will be more than happy to oblige. If you are in doubt about the wine to choose go with a name that you can trust such as Mondave, Antinori, Geyser Peak or Lehmann. A well known winery on an international scale can’t lose credibility by letting their clients down.
When you are thinking of pairing the wine with your food, don’t focus on the type of wine which is supposed to match your meal. If you don’t like the wine it does not matter how good the pairing is because you will still not like it. It you decide you want to experiment a little though you might want to try some of the pairings that follow.
One type of sparkling wine is Champagne but there are other kinds as well. If a wine is called Champagne it has to come from a region in France called Champagne. Other good bubbles also come from Italy, United States, Australia and Spain.
- Of the two types of Sparkling Wine try popcorn, caviar, potato chips, bacon and eggs with Blanc de Blanc. The Brut Champagnes are an excellent match with fish in cream sauces, various cheeses or chocolate chip cookies.
- A few of the name brands to try include Gloria Ferrer, Gosset, Iron Horse or Perrier Jouet.
One of the most popular wines in the United States is the Cabernet Sauvignon. Most of the popular California wines are made from the Cabernet and you should be familiar with it if you want to make an impression.
- Cabernet Sauvignon goes will with hamburgers and fries, wild game, chicken and pot roast.
- A few of the names you can try are Montes Alpha, Clos du Val, Penfolds and Joseph Phelps.
You should know about the name Gamay because it is one of the best red wine bargains available. The fruity grape is best known for its use in Beaujolais wines from France, but is gaining notoriety in both Canada and California.
- Gamay will go well with pizza, roast chicken, more spicy sausage and potato based dishes.
- Some of the names to try include Mommessin, Preston and Jadot.
A Pinot Noir is a food friendly red wine. The best known of the Pinot Noirs is the Burgundy and they are abundantly produced in the United States, New Zealand and Australia.
- Great foods to pair with the Pinot Noir include pumpkin soup, grilled salmon, tuna and anything with a mushroom sauce.
- Some of the better names include Byron, Drouhin, Mount Riley and Dehlinger.
The most popular white wine in America is the Chardonnay. A full bodies wine made from the chard grapes. Some of the world famous chardonnays’ are made in California and Australia.
- Some good foods to match with a chardonnay include chicken tamales, lobster, crab, vegetable lasagna or grilled cheese sandwiches.
- Nice names you can try include Kim Crawford, J Lohr, Ruffino Libalo or Louis Latour.
Now you should be able to take on those wine lists and choose that perfect wine. You will be a hit when your recommend that great Chardonnay to your date to try with her lobster. If you continue to try new wines and expand your knowledge you will get better at recognizing great wines and pairings.
