If you ’ re anything like me , the process of finding a wine that is both delicious and at a reasonable price point can be intimidating . There are so many options to choose from : rosé , merlot , chardonnay , pinot , malbec , and cabernet , just to name a few . When selecting wine , the scene usually unfolds like this : I walk around the wine store , admiring the various bottles , determining which bottle has the coolest label . Then , whatever pretty bottle is within my price range is what I end up purchasing . While I have undoubtedly come across some truly interesting wines by following this method , I am more often than not disappointed that a wine was either too sweet or too bitter to pair with the delicious dinner that I carefully prepared . I know that I could ask the retailer for advice , surely these folks know their products . What if for once though , I could come in armed with the knowledge and expertise of a wine connoisseur who has the ability to make a wise choice without input from the seller ?
Enter the in-home wine tasting experience , available exclusively to 360 Blue homeowners and guests . Complete with several flights of wine , your own private sommelier , and a gourmet cheese plate , it ’ s every wine enthusiast ’ s dream . Last week , I grabbed a few friends and we settled around the kitchen island , wine glasses in hand , eager to gain a better understanding of this fermented grape .
To start , we were asked to pick one of four tasting groups to focus on : Fundamentals of Tasting , New versus Old World Wines , Wines of Italy ; and for those looking to branch off into liquor , Whiskey Fundamentals . Since most of us are wine novices , we opted for the Fundamentals of Tasting and a sprawling gourmet cheese board . The tasting began with three samples of whites : those that are fresh & bright , rich & ripe , and aromatic followed by reds that were classified as soft & fruity , big & bold and blends with character . With each sample we were provided the history of the wine , where it grows , what pairs well with this blend , and how to find other wines classified in these same sub-categories . Our wine expert also covered basics such as how long to keep wines open for , what the ideal temperature should be for drinking , and the difference between a corked wine versus a screw top wine . Aside from the benefit that we could drink as
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