Top Ten Considerations Before Buying Wine
By
User:Kristenmollica @timeAndDate(1285260391)
Do you find yourself in a panic when you have to buy a bottle of wine? Do you walk into the store and just stare blankly at a giant wall of bottles? If you lack serious wine skills, this guide will help you determine how to make the right choice. Although all of the following factors are important, remember that taste reigns supreme. When in doubt, ask the friendly and knowledgeable people at the store or read online reviews to learn more about recommendations and flavors.
Type of Wine
Sweet or Dry
Besides sweetness, the other '''flavors''' of the wine should be taken into consideration; different varieties of grapes are not going to taste the same. A Riesling will taste of citrus fruits, peaches, and honey, while Syrah tastes of tobacco, black pepper, blackberry, and smoke. Besides the flavor of the grape itself, wines can be infused with different fruits, as well as spices, plants, coffee, chocolate, or vanilla. If you're a budding connoisseur and still learning about things like body and mouthfeel, many Web sites will let you browse by flavor.
Weight and Body
Whom Is It For?
Are you buying a bottle for yourself or is it a gift? Are you picking out wine for a dinner party you are throwing? Buying for yourself takes off most of the pressuresimply pick out a wine that you enjoy or try one recommended by a friend. If you don't like it, it's no big deal. However, if you are giving wine as a gift or hosting a supper, you need to choose something that will be '''agreeable''' to others.
Choosing something for an event shouldn't be too painful. First, consider the food you are serving. (Skip down to the next section to learn about food pairing.) Next, you should have at least one bottle of both red ''and'' white to accommodate your guests' preferences. If it's summer, go for something lighter and more refreshing, but in the wintertime, you'll want one that is a little heavier. Again, try to choose somewhat neutral, with safe flavors that will please even the pickiest of palates.
Food Pairing
Everyone knows red wine goes with red meat and you should have white with poultry and fish. Nevertheless, do not feel you have to acquiesce to these restrictions. If you despise red wine, why force yourself to drink it? There are no rules set in stone, so feel free to pair things according to your own tastes.
That said, pairing specific wines with certain types of food can really enhance all the flavors and make for a much more enjoyable experience. Here are some guidelines to set you on the path to deliciousness.
Cooking with Wine
The best advice anyone can give you is to use a wine that you would actually drink. The alcohol will burn off as you cook, but the flavors will remain. If you choose a cheap, sour wine, you'll be left will a notpleasant meal.
Wine Grade
A wine grade, or rating, is simply a way to measure how good a wine is. If you're buying online, you will notice a rating on a scale of 50-100 (you'll sometimes see this in stores, too). Ratings are given by top editors and wine experts, not Joe Schmoe down the block. Blind tastings are done and the resulting ratings are based on how good the wine will be when it reaches its peak. Everyone's palate is different so don't feel that you can't buy bottles with a low rating, but these are excellent general guidelines.
* '''95-100''': Extraordinary, classic wine.
* '''90-94''': An outstanding wine with complexity and character.
* '''80-89''': Very good and flavorful.
* '''70-79''': An average wine with minor flaws.
* '''60-69''': Below average; drinkable but not really recommended.
* '''50-59''': Poor, unacceptable. Not recommended at all.
Vintage
Just because a wine is vintage does not necessarily mean that it is better. Some do taste better with age, but still others are meant to be consumed within a few months, so the importance of vintage is widely disputed. Some believe the vintage chart is dead and that a skilled winemaker can make a good product regardless of the the year. Nonetheless, a bad season still might affect the taste: if you enjoyed Wine X last year but noticed it just didn't taste right this year, it is mostly likely due to the vintage. While most casual consumers don't pay too much attention, aficionados will take a region's weather pattern into consideration. If this interests you, look for region reports online. Check out
WineSpectator.com's 2009 report.
What about '''non750ml'>port will debut, but for a much higher cost.
Region
*New World Wines
**Characterized by warmer climates that produce riper grapes; the resulting wines are more alcoholic and full-bodied.
**Following the pioneering spirit of their moniker, New World winemakers are not afraid to experiment and use new techniques.
**To learn about specific New World regions, check
Wikipedia.com.
*Old World Wines
**Rooted (no pun intended) in '''tradition''' and '''terroir'''. Terroir refers to the unique characteristics of a place.
**Winemakers will use higher fermentation temperatures, which produce more tannin. This creates more complex wines that need more time to mature.
**To learn about more specific Old World regions, take a look at
Wikipedia.com's page.
Price
