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How to Appreciate Wine. Take your wine drinking to a whole new level with these tasting tips.
You will need Blindfold Wine glasses Flavor knowledge Patience Complementary foods and
variety. Step 1. Conduct blind tastings. Judging a wine without knowing details like the vintage,
grape variety, country of origin, producer, and price is a great way to develop your palate
because you won't be swayed by outside influences. Step 2. Use the correct glass. White wine
should be served in a glass with a medium-diameter bowl to concentrate its aroma; red requires
a wider bowl so that as much air can mix with the wine as possible. A sparkling wine should
be served in a tall, narrow glass to allow the bubbles to rise to the top. Step 3. Make
sure it's the proper temperature. Contrary to popular belief, reds should not be room
temperature, but "cellar" temperature, which is about 55 degrees. And whites should not
be colder than 45 degrees. Step 4. Taste every fruit, spice, and herb you can. That way,
you'll be able to discern the various flavors in the wines you sample. Step 5. Use your
senses. As you swirl the wineglass, look at the wine's color. Notice how it coats the
glass. Sniff its bouquet, or scent; try to identify the different aromas. Now take a
sip and feel its texture and weight as it glides over your tongue. Suck in a bit of
air before you swallow, to further aerate and appreciate the wine. If you're planning
to enjoy several wines, start with the light, dry wines and end with the heaviest, sweetest
ones. Step 6. Choose wine that complements the food. If you're eating a regional specialty,
try to pair it with a wine from that area. If you're having a meal with a lot of different
flavors, choose a simpler wine, and vice versa. When possible, add a splash of the wine you're
serving with a meal to the dish you'll be eating. Step 7. Don't let wine intimidate
you. You don't need special expertise or expensive vintages to appreciate wine -- all you need
are your taste buds. Did you know The world's oldest bottle of wine, from about 300 C.E.,
is displayed in a museum in Speyer, Germany.