| By :
Robert Winesmith
The domain of red wines is an exciting, rich and terrific world packed with everything from the nuanced subtlety of a gentle South African Merlot to the peppery opulence of Sangre de Toro, "Blood of the Bull" from Spain. In general, many of the "rules" of wine drinking have happened to be cast aside in today's world, making it more easily accessible to every person, and with the strengthened demand supply has skyrocketed, allowing for cost-effective and very delicious wine readily available to all. Still, there are many who notice that the world of wine is not as yet open to them. With so many wines to select among, where do you start? How do you adequately delight in a red or white wine and with what foods would they be ideal? Let us consider some very fundamental tips to taking full advantage of your pursuit of red wines. Do not spend a ton of hard earned cash on a bottle of wine. Leave that for later, once you've begun to research further than the brands and varietals that you prefer. There's numerous fantastic and fabulous wines that are available for somewhere between $ 6 and $ 10 a bottle, that you certainly should not need to drop $ 20 or $ 30 for a bottle of wine, at very least not yet. Stick with a varietal, for now. In other words, choose a wine that is predominantly made from one type of grape, i.e. a Shiraz, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, etc. Attempt to stay clear of blended reds initially, though they might be somewhat great tasting. By understanding the flavors of the varietal grapes, you will better comprehend what it is about the blend that you like. Avoid flavored wines or coolers that you can find at your local convenience store. These are seldom more than non-bubbly pop with alcohol in them and can lead to a nasty headache as they are quickly made from the very least pure ingredients. Start with a good Merlot from South Africa, Australia, New Zealand or Chile. These wineries are typically able to balance cost with quality quite effectively. The reason I recommend Merlot is that of all the red varietals, it is the gentlest, and tops off a broad menu of foods. Reds like to breathe. Open the bottle and permit it to sit for 10 minutes or so. This enables air to get at the wine and age it quickly. For that matter, pouring the wine into the drinking glasses and letting it to sit for 10 to twenty minutes or so quickens this process. You 'll discover the flavor is much improved by this method. Reds at Room Temperature and Whites Chilled. A basic guideline that does not always apply but is an excellent guide, nevertheless. Chilling a red eliminates many of the subtleties of flavor for which you buy the wine at all and reduces the wine's potential to grow with being exposed to air. Keep them at room temp. I pointed out above that many of the "guidelines" of wine have been disposed of, or at least loosened, such as 'red wine with red meat or pasta and white wine with seafood or poultry.' Although those are not bad guidelines, they simply are not molded in stone and at this time waitpersons and also the seasoned connoisseur will definitely not turn up his or her nose at a visitor who asks for a red with seafood or appreciates a nice, tart Chardonnay with a hamburger. Merlot with what ? While a Merlot may be a perfect complement for a spaghetti meal (especially if you have a good buttery garlic herb bread), it can easily sit beside a pork chop or fried chicken dish. A Merlot is a lovely, non-pretentious beginning to your journey and really should open the door brilliantly to a sojourn of wine loving. OK, Now What? Try a few unique brand names of Merlot from competing vineyards. Note the differences in style and substance. I'd would suggest sticking to those south of the celestial equator initially. As soon as you feel like you've tasted a number of Merlots and are familiarized with the variations, then move on to a Cabernet Sauvignon and start your journey once again. I 'd hold back on Shiraz, Syrah, Petite Syrah or Beaujolais till you have a basic knowledge of Merlots and Cabernets, once you do, then dive in to the heavy, heady, peppery joy of the stronger reds. Once you feel like you genuinely distinguish and can notice the variances of the red varietals, start experiencing the blends or the truly outstanding California red wine varietals. Good luck and enjoy!
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