GETTING THE MOST OUT OF EVERY GLASS: A GUIDE TO WINE DRINKING
The weekend, long-awaited vacation, meeting with friends - the occasion to enjoy this perfect drink will always be! But drinking even the most expensive wine can turn into a banal booze, if you do not know the basic nuances of using this noble drink. Wine is such a drink for which the knowledge of the art of sampling is perhaps more important than for any other drink.
So, what allows you not only to take pleasure of wine, but also to appreciate its taste, to learn all the secrets of its origin, to distinguish its varieties and to recognize the shades of color and notes of its smell? Of course the basic rules of tasting.
There is a widespread belief that wine tasting is akin to art. That’s why this ceremony has no place for casual things. Everything is important here - the atmosphere, the company, the sommelier's personality, the taster's preferences, and lots of other peculiarities. And only when all the subtleties of this sacrament are taken into account, the wine drinking gives pleasure from each moment.
Do you want to learn some secrets of wine etiquette, taste it like a sommelier and enjoy your every sip? It is never late to explore!
We would share the basic rules that would allow you to appreciate all the advantages of this mysterious drink and immerse yourself in a world of unforgettable sensations.
First rule is the temperature of wine serving which means everything to the full opening of the aromatic bouquet and the first taste. Incorrect serving temperature is one of the biggest mistakes, which is not a trifle: a deviation of two to three degrees is almost guaranteed to spoil the impression of a good wine.
In order to keep the right wine temperature you should take into account that in most cases manufacturers indicate the recommended temperature range on the label. If there is no such data on, the optimum flow temperature is following:
Ø young (1-2 years old) red wine - 13-15 ° C;
Ø aged red wines with complex structure - 15-17 ° C;
Ø white dry, pink, sparkling wines - 7-10 ° C;
Ø quality white and liqueur (sweet) wines - 9-12 ° C.
One more recommendation to save all taste and flavor qualities of wine is not to store it in the refrigerator, but put there for a while before you open the bottle.
An important factor, the value of which is often underestimated, is the glassware choice. For each type of wine its own shape of glass which helps to reveal all its taste and aromatic properties is developed.
For white varieties you can use glasses with a wide upper surface, tulips shape is optimal for reds, champagne (sparkling wines) is drunk from narrow tall glasses allowing bubbles to rise. Fortified wines are poured into the glasses narrowed to the top, dessert and liqueur wines in cone shaped glasses. Explore Luigi Bormioli Magnifico collection for the incredibly elegant, yet universal stemware suitable for the most special occasions.
By the way, wine glasses should be absolutely transparent and dry wiped, otherwise the color of wine will be distorted. Also remember that the thinner the glass is, the more convenient and pleasant to drink from it. During the tasting, the glass is filled with a maximum of 2/3 of the volume and is held only by the glass leg, so as not to affect the temperature of the drink. Champagne is poured up the glass. And of course it is worth remembering the appropriate food pairing!
And the last advice on how to get most out of every glass covers directly the process of tasting. It begins with the evaluation of the wine color. The glass is raised to the level of the eyes and held straight for a few seconds, then a little bit tilted. The qualitative wine glitters, shimmering in the light and free of particles and bubbles of carbon dioxide (with the exception of champagne), indicating a spoiling.
After a visual assessment, you can proceed to check the smell. First a glass of wine is brought to the nose, take a deep breath and sniff the drink. Then the glass is rotated several times around its axis to saturate the wine with oxygen. After that, the smell is evaluated again, after saturation with oxygen the real fragrance is revealed.
The most pleasant sensation causes the acquaintance with taste. At that moment, sweetness, strength, acidity and consistency of wine are felt. A few minutes after the sip, an aftertaste that completes the acquaintance with the drink appears. It should be bright and long.
Taking into account these simple rules, the bottle of wine that you are going to open tonight will bring you real gastronomic pleasure!
At Luigi Bormioli, we take pride in our Italian-crafted, superior quality glassware. Your glasses, created using our proprietary SON.hyx ultra-clear formula, will retain their brilliant and transparent appearance and are backed by our 25-year guarantee that guards against chipping on the rim or foot, as well as discoloration or cloudiness resulting from washing. You will enjoy their beauty, durability and strength for many years to come. We aim to enhance your tabletop lifestyle and entertaining experience with a glass for every occasion. When the moment matters, the glass matters.