Foodies and wine lovers are being offered tips on the dos and don’ts of enjoying their favourite tipple.
The wine experts at tabl.com have revealed the best way to drink wine to get the best out of the beverage.
They’ve highlighted which glass to pair with which wine, how to hold the glass, and what temperature wine should be served at for optimal taste.
Image source: Unsplash.com
The temperature wine is stored and served is important to maintain the flavours and aroma, as drinking wine too cold or too warm can cause distaste.
How to hold a wine glass is also important. Holding the glass by the bowl can increase the wine’s temperature, ruining the flavour and aroma and leaving unpleasant fingerprints.
Caroline Lips from tabl.com said: “Drinking wine should be an enjoyable experience so it’s a shame when you come to have a sip and you’re met with a harsh or dull taste. That’s why it is important to know how to store, serve and drink your wine properly.
“White and rosé wine should be kept in the fridge but not served too cold as drinking it too chilled can mask the crisp and fruity flavours.
“Red wine should be stored at room temperature but chilled slightly before serving. Sometimes when it’s warmed too much the reaction of the complex chemicals in the drink can happen quicker, which can mess up the flavour and result in a loss of its freshness.
“Taking white or rosé wine out of the fridge 20 minutes before serving and allowing it to sit can help you reach the optimal serving temperature. Just as placing red wine in the fridge 20 minutes before you drink it can make for the perfect glass of vino.
“Other common wine drinking mistakes include using the wrong shape of glass, not letting red wine breathe before serving it and holding the glass by the bowl.”
The experts at tabl.com have named 5 ways you’ve been drinking wine wrong:
Using the wrong shape of glass
There are specific glasses to use when drinking different types of wine. Wide bowls should be used for red wine because they allow for aeration of the wine which lets it breathe therefore enhancing its flavours. White wine glasses have smaller and narrower bowls which are designed to preserve the cooler temperature and crispy acidity and direct the scent into the nose.
Serving at the wrong temperature
Red wine should be stored at room temperature but cooled before serving for the optimal tasting experience, try to have the temperature at 12-18°C. White wine should be kept chilled but not too cold when served, ideally at 7-13°C.
How you’re holding the glass
The best way to hold the glass is by pinching the stem with your index, thumb and middle finger, resting the other two on the base for stability. Avoid touching the bowl as this can increase the wine’s temperature and ruin the flavour.
Pouring wine
The proper way to pour wine is to hold the bottle by the punt (the indent at the bottom) or the bottom of the bottle, keep the glass on the table and let it fall down the side of the glass to avoid any splashes.
Let it breathe
When opening a bottle of red wine do so 30 minutes to an hour before drinking it to let it aerate, this allows the wine to breathe which can help to release aromas and smooth out any harshness.
