An Introduction to Wine

Wine: adds new dimensions to food. Here are some ideas to start you on your journey with wine.

• Shop at stores that have a knowledgeable staff.
• Before you go know how much money you want to spend and what your menu is.
• Ask you sales person for help in selecting a wine.
• Before buying a large quantity of wine, taste it.
• Many wine stores will open a bottle for sampling.
• If not, buy one bottle and taste it.
• Wine is typically less expensive by the case.
• A good way to keep tract of wines you lie is to keep a wine journal.
• Every time you sample a wine you like at home or in a restaurant, jot down the name of the grape variety, the winery, vintage and cost.
• When purchasing wine, keep in mind that one 750-ml bottle roughly serves four to five glasses.
• A rule of thumb is to plan one bottle for every two to three guests. Any unopened bottles can be saved for later.
• With and appetizer buffet, consider serving two or three different wines.
• Take into account the variety of foods and your guests’ wine preferences.
• When serving several wines through out a meal, start with the Most delicately flavored wine(usually a white, such ans Chenin Blanc, or a rose) and end with the most full-bodied wine (such as Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot).
• Serve white wines slightly chilled.
• Refrigerate an unopened bottle for one or two hours or immerse for 20 minutes in an ice bucket filled with ice and a little water.
• To get the full flavor from most red wines, serve them at a cool room temperature of about 65 degrees.