TIP! Get to know your local wine shop. Not every shop is the same.

When pairing wine with food, you might be lost like many people. Very few people, in fact, are experts in this area, so do not feel ashamed that you are in need of assistance. This article contains great tips on food and wine pairings.

TIP! If you get wine on a beloved shirt, get some Windex. Windex is much better at fighting wine stains than regular soap and water.

If you’re having seafood, go with Pinot Grigio. This wine, in particular, makes the food taste even better. There are other white wines that go great with seafood, too. Seafood and a good bottle of white wine make for a perfect classy meal.

TIP! It is a good idea to purchase just one bottle to determine whether you like a new variety of wine. Since there are many different varieties, this gives you the opportunity to sample several and find one that is right for you.

Store your wine correctly to preserve its flavor. Temperatures to any extreme can damage your wine’s taste. Around 50-55 degrees is the optimum temperature for wine storage. You can use a special wine refrigerator or simply store them in a cool basement.

TIP! Get a wine cellar when you’re trying to keep wine good and valuable when you buy it. That is important if you get pricey wine you don’t want to keep in the kitchen but want to drink eventually.

An amazing sauce for any beef dish can be made using wine. Just place some butter in a saucepan with a bit of wine. Allow sauce to simmer a bit to thicken up and cook out some of the alcohol. You should then drizzle your sauce over your beef dish.

Wine Cellar

TIP! Preserve the quality and flavor of each glass of wine by taking care to serve it at the appropriate temperature. Red wine is best and more flavorful at about 60 degrees.

If you want to start a wine collection, you should invest in a good wine cellar. This is vital if you have wine that you spent a lot on. A wine cellar has the ability to maintain wine quality for the long term.

TIP! There is nothing to be alarmed by in regards to sulfite warnings on labels. All wines contain sulfites, but only American distributors have to include a warning on the label.

All cheap wine isn’t bad. Try a wine from the country of Chile. The prices are always within your budget. Their Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc are excellent choices. Argentina, New Zealand and South Africa also offer great prices on great wines.

TIP! Try to avoid using corked wine when attending a tailgate party. The reason is because you can manage screw tops easier than corks because you don’t need a wine opener to open it.

If you frequently get headaches after drinking wine, try drinking smaller amounts. Wine contains sulfites, which can be the cause of more frequent headaches. You just need to drink moderately at all times.

TIP! It is helpful to learn how to get the label of a bottle of wine. Just put it into the oven and, once hot, peel it off with oven mitts.

Try not to believe every word that a wine expert shares with you. The best experts actually review their recommendations as they discover new wines. Their tastes may not mirror your own very well. So, make sure to trust your own instincts over that of an expert.

TIP! Make a point to have fun when experimenting with different wines. Too much time is often spent trying to figure out all the components of wine and which wines go well with which foods.

Sparkling wines and champagnes must be served very cold. Whenever you drink these wines at room temperature, it’s not possible to enjoy the complete flavor that they can provide. Put your champagne inside a good refrigerator to serve it chilled.

TIP! Consider joining an online wine forum. Wine lovers can teach some things and you could even share some of your knowledge with them.

Enjoy yourself when it comes to wine. Often, you will break down and analyze every aspect of wine, from its flavors and construction to what wine works appropriately with certain meals. Have fun, get creative and enjoy your wine, as it is meant to make you feel good.

TIP! White wines should be consumed within the first two years of purchase. Chardonnay is an exception to this rule.

If you are a fan of the best wines, take some time to visit the wine country. You’ll garner a new appreciation of wine on such a trip. You learn plenty about tasting and enjoying wine on the trip. Your trip can teach you and relax you simultaneously.

TIP! Only buy wines you enjoy. Some establishments attempt to promote only certain brands or varieties.

Color is not a factor in terms of a wine’s lightness. Red and white wine contain identical amounts of alcohol. It is true, however, that white wines are usually palatable by anyone. Pinot Grigio and Sauvignon Blanc are two of the lighter options available.

TIP! Avoid filling your wine cellar with the wine choices that you like at the moment. You might want to fill your cellar, but you may not like the same wines in the future.

The type of grape in use dictates the taste, color and aroma of a wine. For strong bodied wines, choose red wines made from purple grapes. White wines are made with green grapes, which are often much lighter and crisper. These are the basic discrepancies between the two.

TIP! The vintage of a wine is the year the grapes were harvested, not the year the wine was produced. Grapes that were harvested in 1988 would be made into a 1988 wine.

The first two years is the prime time to drink whites, while they are young and new. Chardonnay is an exception to this rule. Oak barrels are not used to store most white wines. However, wines that are darker in hue do involve oak in their production process.

TIP! It can be fun to try out different wines. Avoid the temptation to stick with what you like, as you will soon get bored of it.

When you are going to be serving wine, you have to be sure that your stemware is right for that occasion. You must use stemware that’s clean and crisp, because it really can make the wine experience more pleasurable. You should never use chipped or dirty glasses to serve wine.

TIP! Before serving red wine at a gathering, open up the bottle and let it breathe for about 1/2 hour. As oxygen mixes with the wine, the wine will develop a better taste.

The year that the grapes were harvested is what the word vintage refers to. Thus, a 2010 vintage contains grapes harvested in that year. They’re aged and fermented in barrels until they’ve been bottled and sold. The wine likely won’t make it to the shelf for another year or two.

TIP! Grab the newsletter for your closest winery. Most wineries organize special events regularly and will advertize discounts.

As mentioned earlier, there is a lot to know about wine, including how to pair your food with it. After reading this article, you should be able to determine the correct wine and food pairings with ease. Sometimes experimenting is the best way to find out.