Content

• Steps
• Method 1 of 3: How to choose wine in a store or restaurant
• Method 2 of 3: How to Choose Special Red Wines
• Method 3 of 3: How to Choose Special White Wines
• Tips

Attention:this article is intended for persons over 18 years of age.

It may seem like choosing a bottle of wine at a store or ordering wine at a restaurant is easy, but this is often not the case. It is necessary to choose not only between red and white, but also between grape varieties, different quality and regions of production. When choosing a wine, you should also consider its cost.

Steps

Method 1 of 3: How to choose wine in a store or restaurant

1. 1 Read the information on the label to understand what the wine might taste like, what its strength is and what it can be paired with. Many people buy wine just because they like the label, but it's worth going further and reading the manufacturer's description. Manufacturers often note special tastes in the bouquet of wine, its character, and also offer options for combinations with food. If you're in a restaurant, read the description before ordering wine. Most often, there is at least a line of description next to each wine.
   • Typically, wines with multiple grape varieties and wines marked as still are cheaper, but less flavourful and less balanced. These wines are made from several varieties of grapes that grow in different regions and are not suitable for other types of wine. However, this wine is suitable for everyday use and goes well with simple food.
   • If the wine does not have a description, ask the waiter questions. There is a high probability that it is the waiter who knows what kind of wine is contained in each bottle and what its features are, which is rarely indicated on the menu.
2. 2 Consider the richness and filling of the food, and pair it with the right wine. The rule "red wine to meat, white wine to fish" oversimplifies the principle of choosing combinations. More important is how wine and food complement each other. "Heavy" food is usually hearty and full-bodied (such as meat sauce, hot dish, hearty soup, or stew), so it requires a rich wine to break through the dense flavor. Food and wine should not interrupt each other - they should have similar richness.
   • Wines that are characterized as full-bodied, full-bodied, complex, rich, or layered are best paired with hearty dishes. Even dense whites can be rich and complex, making them great with spicy and hearty dishes.
   • Wines, which are characterized as light, balanced, bright, refreshing, go well with lighter meals with less intense flavors: vegetables, pasta, fish, chicken and light cheeses.
3. 3 Find simple wine and food combinations. For example, pair a light citrus wine with chicken and lemons. Pair the grilled pork with a rich wine with a smoky flavor. Such combinations will be win-win and will emphasize the best qualities of both wine and food.
   • When choosing combinations, think about how the food would taste if the flavors contained in the wine were added to it. For example, if you have a rich red wine “with hints of chocolate, spice, and blueberry,” consider whether the chocolate, spice, and blueberry matches what you have on your plate. There are no ideal selection methods, but this is where you can start.
4. 4 If you're not afraid to take risks, try pairing contrasting flavors. There are two approaches to the selection of combinations: based on the principle of similarity and according to the principle of difference. Neither approach is entirely correct, but you should try both to make it easier for you to choose your wine. If you choose to opt for contrasting flavors, strive for balance. For example, salty and acidic foods like oysters can be balanced with a light fruity sauvignon blanc... Spicy, fatty curries can be balanced with sour, fresh citrus wines (such as rose wines).
   • When choosing contrasting combinations, pay attention to the acidity of the food and its texture. Sour wines with a pungent taste are suitable for fatty foods and creamed dishes, and sour foods can be balanced with richer and less bitter wines.
   • Large and complex dishes that mix different flavors (such as paella) go well in contrast to simple, balanced wines. Thanks to this, the dish becomes the center of attention, and the light wine adds nuance to the taste of the food.
5. 5 Pair sweet fruit wines with spicy food. Dilute the spice with sweet wine - this is a classic combination. Remember that there are light wines among both reds and whites. Most often, the wine list of any institution has lighter and more refreshing wines.
   • Sweet wines like Riesling can be combined with spicy food, and woody wines (for example, chardonnay) are suitable for creamy dishes and foods with various spices.
   • If you plan on eating a spicy meal, pair it with a wine with hints of citrus fruits, berries, and flowers (such as honeysuckle), as well as light hints of spices (such as vanilla).
   • This does not mean that you should order sweet (dessert) wine. Choose wines with fresh, sweet, fruity flavors over sweet wines.
6. 6 Try to select more expensive wines by rating. If you want to impress someone, first explore the options available. There are special Internet resources and printed publications dedicated to the wines that are on the market in your country. In addition, you can use special applications (for example, Vivino) and read reviews online to quickly determine if a wine is worth the money.
   • In some shops, wines with high ratings are marked with special labels.At the same time, only wines with such labels cannot be sold in a store, and you should not refuse to buy wine if it does not have this designation on it.
7. 7 Ask a waiter or wine shop assistant to help you choose your wine. The waiter will be able to offer you several options for your chosen dishes, and you should know what kind of wines you are offered and which of them will go well with your meal. Wine shop assistants are often knowledgeable and can advise you on wine based on your budget and the food you plan to pair the wine with. The consultants receive and taste hundreds of wines every month.
   • Some high-end restaurants have sommeliers or in-house wine experts. They help owners match red wines and wine-food pairings.
8. 8 Consider the year the wine was made, but remember that all wines behave differently during the aging process. All wines change over time and acquire new properties. Plus, all wines do it differently, which makes it difficult to pick a wine by year unless you're a wine expert. However, some wines have something in common:
   • If you choose a light and refreshing wine, go for a younger wine. Over time, this type of wine loses its fruity flavors.
   • Stronger and more complex wines need several years of aging to develop.
   • Aging softens the tannins on the palate, that is, the bitter aftertaste that is clearly visible in many wines.
   • The intensity of the taste usually increases with aging, however, some wines have a hibernation period when nothing changes in the taste, but after a while this process starts again.
   SPECIALIST'S ADVICE

   

   Samuel bogue

   
   
   Certified Sommelier Samuel Baugh is the Wine Director of the Ne Timeas Restaurant Group in San Francisco, California. Certified Sommelier, Zagat 30 Under 30 Award Winner and Wine Consultant for several of the finest restaurants in the San Francisco Bay Area.

   Samuel bogue
   Certified sommelier

   If you are looking to buy an aged wine, choose a wine with a high acidity level. Sam Baugh, sommelier, says: “If you want an aged wine to be fresh and lively, look for wines with a particularly low pH valueas these wines are more acidic. The acid acts as a preservative, thanks to which the wine acquires new qualities gradually. Wine high in tannins it becomes softer and velvety as it matures. "

Method 2 of 3: How to Choose Special Red Wines

1. 1 Taste wine from the Côtes du Rhône region for an inexpensive and versatile red wine. This blend from the south of France is very easy to drink and to pair with food. The wines of this region have a light and mild, usually fruity flavor that goes well with almost anything. If you want to buy a foreign, but not very expensive wine, choose wines from the Côte du Rhône region.
   • In French, this region is spelled like this: Côtes du Rhône.
   • There are also white wines from this region that pair well with fish, but they are less common. Nonetheless, these are good white wines.
2. 2 Buy sangioveseif you want to taste bright and acidic Italian wine. Of course, it will go well with almost all Italian dishes, as it is light, sour and contains subtle notes of spices, cherries and even tobacco. Sangiovese can mix with cabernetto get a thicker flavor.
3. 3 If you're looking for a simple wine that's easy to pair with food, look for the vibrant fruity merlot. But remember that merlot - these are popular wines, so their taste can vary significantly. Most often merlot has a bright fruity taste, but if merlot aged in an oak barrel, may have a smoky flavor. The best wines merlot produced in France and in the north of the United States.These wines, like the Côtes du Rhône wines, blend with almost everything, but they have a richer and brighter taste.
4. 4 Pick up a classic cabernet sauvignonif you prefer rich, multi-layered, full-bodied wines. This wine is made from grapes that grow in the Napa Valley and has a multi-layered taste with notes of currants, dark berries and even olives. Drink this wine with hearty flavors. This way you can enjoy the rich flavors of food and wine.
   • If you want to get the most for your money, choose cabernet sauvignonbecause it is an inexpensive wine with a good taste, which is explained by the fact that it is easy to grow Cabernet grapes.
5. 5 If you want a wine with a rich spicy taste, choose a viscous and peppery wine shiraz (made from Syrah grapes). Guilt shiraz can be more or less saturated and dense. They are made from spicy, tangy grapes, and these notes pair perfectly with a comparable spicy meal.
6. 6 Choose bright spicy malbecif you need wine for pizza or barbecue. This French and Argentinean wine is strong, spicy and sweet. It pairs well with simple, hearty, greasy meals, making it perfect for a snack night, barbecue or pizza.
7. 7 Buy cabernet francif you want to taste a rich, spicy wine with a rich bouquet.Cabernet Franc known for notes of blueberries and violets, as well as a rich and almost coffee aroma. It has a lot of tannins, which makes it full-bodied and bitter.
   • This wine goes well with stews, red meat, dishes cooked over a fire.
8. 8 Pay attention to the fruity zinfandelif you like rich berry flavors. This wine contains notes of raspberry, cherry, raisins. This wine has a unique strong yet fruity taste that makes it ideal for consumption without food or with hearty meals. This wine has a high alcohol content, so it can easily overpower the taste of a lighter dish.
9. 9 Buy expensive extravagant pinot noirif you're willing to splurge on wine. Pinot grapes are difficult to grow, which is why high-quality pinot noir are expensive. However, if the grower has done everything right, these grapes give the wine a complex, rich and multi-layered flavor. Know that good wine pinot noir should cost at least 1200-1300 rubles. Cheaper wines are not worth the money.
   • Pinot noir is a complex wine that also suits hearty complex dishes. However, it also pairs well with desserts (such as luxury chocolate).

Method 3 of 3: How to Choose Special White Wines

1. 1 Take a closer look at chardonnayif you are looking for a simple wine that will go with everything in the world. It is one of the most popular grape varieties. Chardonnay has a fresh citrus flavor with a green apple flavor. It produces a well-balanced and versatile wine. Chardonnay grapes produce a wide variety of wines, from sharp and bright to oily and woody.
   • If you are on a tight budget, chardonnay would be the best choice.
   • Chardonnay can be aged in oak barrels, but this is not always done. Have chardonnay, aged in an oak barrel, has a warm vanilla flavor, while chardonnaythat has not been cask aged, lighter character and brighter flavor.
2. 2 Pay attention to light and bright wines pinot grigioif you want wine to pair easily with dinner. This wine is suitable for fish dishes, chicken and even some more hearty dishes (especially Californian pinot grigio). It is usually a light and fruity wine, often with hints of pear and citrus. This wine is low in alcohol and oak flavors, so it is easy to drink even without food.
3. 3 Know that with sauvignon blanc it is impossible to make a mistake. It is one of the most common grape varieties. It contains notes of citrus, berries, even peach.This wine goes well with light unsaturated dishes and with simple drinks and snacks. Sauvignon Blanc is made from a variety of wines (they are aged and fermented in different ways), so it is worth trying several different wines from this grape variety. You will see that they will all be different.
   • Sauvignon blanc Ideal for cooking as it has a little acid in it that doesn't clog the flavor.
4. 4 Buy Rieslingif you want to taste sweet, dry and rich wine. Riesling is a German grape variety. The wines from this grape are produced in different ways: from harsh and dry to very sweet, which makes this variety multifaceted. Dryer wines of this variety are best combined with shellfish and spicy dishes (for example, Asian). Aged wines are good on their own as dessert wines or in combination with harsh cheeses.
5. 5 If you are not sure about your choice, buy rosé wine. A simple acidic rosé wine will be a good choice for any meal, while a sparkling rose will clear the palate, no matter what you eat. Rosé wine does not have a good reputation, but it is completely unfounded. Rose is great to drink with or without food, and is suitable for events with a lot of people if you don't know what the food will be.

Tips

• The best wine is the wine you like. Trust your taste and know exactly what you love.
• To learn more about wine, start taking notes on the wines you taste, capturing the brand, year, and flavor.