Wine
Got a passion for wine? We’ve uncorked ten ways to enjoy your favorite vintage. Cheers!
Store Properly
To help that fine young wine age, store it properly. Temperature is the most important thing to consider. If it’s too hot, wine will age faster. If it’s too cold, deposits could develop. Keep temps at a constant 55 degrees Fahrenheit and your favorite vintage will age slowly, gracefully and with more complexity.
When should you let your wine breathe? It’s best to do this with a fine red wine that you’ve decided to serve young, instead of letting it age. Oxidizing accelerates the ageing process, bringing the wine closer to how it should taste years down the road. So, next time you open a young, tannic red (such as a Bordeaux or California Cabernet) remember to decant it.
Wine isn’t just for sipping--it's a tasty way to add flavor to recipes! Hormel.com suggests using good quality wine, because cooking or reducing a "cheap" wine will bring out the worst in an inferior vintage. A well balanced, young and powerful wine will stand up to high temperatures and long cooking times. Visit our link for a variety of recipes.
Need to chill wine in a hurry? Place a bottle in a bucket of ice water and let stand for about 10 minutes. For sparkling wine, ideally it should be chilled in the refrigerator for at least four hours before serving. But, if you’re in a time crunch, cool it off in ice water 20 – 30 minutes.
When washing wine glasses, refrain from using detergent or soap. It leaves residue on the glass which affects the flavor and aroma of the wine. If you put your glasses in the dishwasher, run it without detergent. And, if you hand wash them, do it with hot water and a brush designed specifically for cleaning stemware.
Oenophiles and wine neophytes, we’ve got the ideal show for you! Flip on Fine Living for Andrea Immer’s "Simply Wine." As one of only 11 female Master Sommeliers in the world, Immer’s intention is to demystify the complex world of wine. Discover food and wine pairings (try Champagne with sushi, or Riesling with crab cakes), and great bottles that won’t break the bank.
Here’s a tasty tip--if you love white wine, sip on 2002 California Chardonnays. According to winespectator.com, these wines are superb due to ideal weather conditions, and are destined to be one of the best vintages in California history.
Wondering how much to serve at a party? According to robertmondavi.com, a bottle of wine yields six 4-ounce glasses. Most guests will usually drink two glasses of wine per hour during cocktail parties. So, if you’re expecting 15 people, plan on serving 30 glasses of wine (or five bottles). Visit our link for more tips.
Love a glass of bubbly every now and then? Brut is a lighter body; prestige cuvee is a medium body; and rosé has the fullest body. For a palate pleaser, pair sparkling wine with cheese, such as the Domaine Chandon Brut Classic with Goat Cheese. And remember, once opened, a bottle of bubbly can last up to a week in the refrigerator.
Here’s how to pour like a pro! If it’s a still wine, pour directly into the center of the glass. When serving bubbly, hit the inside of the glass--this will preserve the bubbles. And, when you’re finished pouring, control drips by giving the bottle a slight twist as you pull away.
