The art of wine appreciation is honed through experience, patience and a willingness to try new things. Red wine is often considered to be an acquired taste – something far more divisive than its paler counterpart. While you may be partial to a refreshing chardonnay or a crisp, zesty pinot grigio, dipping your toes into the vast, mysterious world of red wine could be far more enjoyable than you think. Here is an essential guide to help you appreciate red wine for the genuinely incredible beverage it is.
Start With Crowd-Pleasing Options
As mentioned, red wine can be divisive – not everybody enjoys the strong, tannic qualities of Malbec and Nebbiolo. That being said, the world’s most popular red wine, Cabernet Sauvignon, is, in fact, robust and highly tannic. If you’re new to red wine, start with crowd-pleasing, drinkable varieties that are slightly sweeter and fruit-forward, such as Shiraz, Zinfandel, and even Pinot Noir. If you have a sweeter tooth, you may also enjoy fortified wines like Ruby Port and even mulled wine which is typically made with fruity, medium-bodied reds.
Learn How To Taste Wine Like An Expert
From an outside perspective, the art of wine tasting may appear pretentious, even ludicrous. However, there is method in the apparent madness. If you want to learn how to appreciate wine like an expert, the following multisensory steps are necessary:
- Visually inspect the wine – the colour and consistency of a wine can tell you a lot about its quality.
- Swirl the wine – swirling helps to aerate the wine, releasing unique aromas and flavours.
- Smell the wine – also known as “nosing”, this process is crucial as approximately 80-90% of what we perceive as taste actually comes from our sense of smell.
- Take a sip – after sipping, let the wine sit on your tongue for a moment so it coats your mouth, allowing you to experience the full extent of its complexity.
Attend A Wine-Tasting Event
Booking a place at a wine-tasting event can be a wonderful experience. Enjoyable and educational, wine-tasting events are designed to take participants on a journey of discovery as they are invited to sample numerous varieties of wine from around the world. These fascinating experiences are usually led by expert sommeliers and winemaking professionals, who regale the audience with their knowledge of viniculture. The beauty of a wine-tasting event is that you can sample various wines without committing to purchasing a whole bottle beforehand.
Visit Winemaking Regions
What better way to immerse yourself in the world of red wine than to visit some traditional regions historically famous for winemaking traditions? Regions such as Bordeaux in France and Rioja in Spain are a wine enthusiast’s paradise, with vast, bountiful vineyards and ancient wineries. Sipping wine in its region of origin is a desirable experience for any wine lover. If nothing else, this is an excuse for a vacation in some of the world’s most visually beautiful and tranquil areas.
Be Adventurous
Once you’ve become acquainted with popular varieties of red wine, you may want to branch out and try some lesser-known types, such as Pingus, which is highly sought after and critically acclaimed. If you stick to the same tried and tested favourites, you may never discover the hidden gems of which you become tremendously fond. Consider heading to your local wine merchant or liquor outlet and requesting the staff pick out something different for you to try.
Use It In Cooking
As explained in this article, using red wine as a cooking ingredient is an excellent way to add a complex depth of flavour to various dishes. You can use red wine to deglaze a pan after sauteing meat or vegetables, creating a savoury and flavourful base for soups, sauces and stews. Red wine can also be a superb ingredient in marinades for steak, lamb, venison and other rich red meats – not only does it add flavour and moisture, but the acidity in red wine helps to break down the proteins in meat, tenderising it to perfection.
Along with incorporating it into the cooking process, mastering the art of choosing the perfect red wine to complement your culinary creations can truly elevate your dining experience. As a rule of thumb, match the quality of your wine to the intensity of your flavours.
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