2. How to master the pour
4. Use the right wine glass
If you're looking to impress your partner, you
will want to start with the pouring process.
When you pour the wine, try not to clang the
top of the glass with the neck of the bottle.
When you are finishing your pour, give the
bottle a slight twist upward to keep it from
dripping.
Scientific studies have been done and there
is a method to the madness. Red wine glasses
are generally larger and have a bigger bowl.
White wine glasses are narrower and taller.
There are some companies that make glassware that is specific to the type of grape that
a wine is made from, such as Cabernet Sauvignon or Bordeaux glasses.
3. Spillage is never good
If you’re a little nervous on the big night and
you happen to spill some wine, it is important
to know how to save yourself, your clothes
and maybe the relationship. Typically, you
can blot the spill with a paper towel then immerse it in soda water, blot it again and then
apply a baking soda paste. There are commercial products like Wineaway that will do
the job, too!
Based on a starting point
of 50 degrees:
Whites – refrigerate for 3 to 4 hours prior to service. Initial pours will be chilled;
optimal flavors of the wine will be displayed as the wine begins to warm by
way of ambient room temperature.
Place wine in a ceramic bottle holder
for dinner. The wine will hold a good
temperature of roughly 45 degrees in
the chiller and “open” in the glass it will
warm to 50 – 55 degrees as you enjoy
the wine.
Reds – remove from “cellar” storage (50
degrees) about 20 minutes prior to service allowing the wine to warm. Optimal
enjoyment level for reds is between 62
and 66 degrees
INSIGHT
5. Storing wine for the special night
The basic rule of thumb for wine storage is
“cellar temperature” which is generally about
50 degrees. Equally important is the serving temperature. On the whole, American’s
consume white wines too cold – resulting
in closed, tight, uninteresting, flat-flavored
wines – and red wines too warm – yielding
“hot,” alcoholic, burned, over-cooked flavors.
How To Find A Good Wine Store Near You
1. Check Yelp for the spots that have the most
reviews. Ask your friends or coworkers for
ideas
2. Call ahead and see if they are nice and helpful
over the phone.
3. Just because it’s larger, doesn’t mean it’s better. Smaller stores often are more diligent
about what they carry, and help you find
something you’ll like. But sometimes big
stores have a great selection too, just make
sure someone knowledgeable is on hand.
4. Once you get to the store, tell the folks at the
wine store what you’ll be eating, the name of
a wine you’ve liked in the past, and what your
budget is. They should steer you in the right
direction.
February 2015
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