Oh, wine. Many love it, but few know it well.
But how could you? There’s so much to know about our fave drink. While there are entire careers dedicated to the art of drinking and serving wine, we took it upon ourselves to find a few key tips so you can drink like a sommelier — or better yet, Olivia Pope — in no time.
Shape up. Did you know that certain glass shapes are better suited for different types of wine? Champagne, for example, is served in a tall flute as to preserve the carbonation or fizziness of the liquid. If you really want to impress your dinner guests, get yourself acquainted with which glasses are best with which wine type (get all the info here).
Temperature matters. The taste of a wine can differ depending on what temperature it’s served at. Typically, sparkling wine is served ice cold, white wine is served chilled, and red wine is served slightly below room temperature. Pro tip: for those of us drinking on a budget, affordable wine is usually best served slightly chilled. Cooler temperatures help to disguise unwanted aromas that might be lingering in the glass.
Break the seal. Practice makes perfect when it comes to mastering the art of bottle opening. Invest in a good wine opener in an effort to avoid the whole cork-chunks-in-the-bottle scenario. We also recommend you cut the seal below the bottom lip of the bottle to avoid stray drips.
Take a breather. Decanters are the secret to enhancing the taste of wine. Virtually every red wine tastes better after it’s been left to “breathe” so don’t skimp on this tip if you’re actually looking to up your wine game.
Carry it with confidence. Hold your glass like a pro by gripping at the base. This will keep you from altering the wine temperature with the body heat from your hand.
Cork it. Most wines won’t last throughout the night if you leave them open. Use wine preservers (like Corkcicle) and store the bottle in a fridge to slow down the “going bad” process.
Three cheers for the red, white and bubbly. Experiment with different types of wines to learn your tastes and to get better acquainted with the many options. White wines tend to range from light and sweet to dry and rich, while red wines can lie somewhere between light-bodied and fruity or full-bodied and savory. Make it your mission to find which wines suit your palate.
xx, The FabFitFun Team
