Wine is a mysterious drink that can taste completely different depending on how you drink it.
Sometimes, they will surprise you and make you wonder, "Huh? It tasted this good."
Although,
“How should I drink wine?”
“Which wine should I choose?”
Many people may have questions like this.
As a beginner, you may have no idea.
In this article, the author, who has been a wine drinker since he became an adult, will explain the correct way to drink wine.
We also introduce how to choose wine.
After reading this article, you should be able to understand how to drink and choose wine.
Please feel free to use it as a reference.
Let's learn about the types of wine
Most people probably know that there are two types of wine: red and white.
First, let's take a look at the characteristics of red wine and white wine.
red wine
Red wine is wine that uses black grapes as an ingredient.
In addition to the grape fruit, we also use the seeds and skins.
It turns red mainly because the skin has red pigment.
The skin of black grapes is rich in a component called "tannin."
These tannins create a characteristic astringency.
Red wine has a very elegant taste.
White wine
White wine is wine that uses white grapes as an ingredient.
White grapes look like Muscat grapes.
Unlike red wine, the skin and seeds are removed and only the fruit is used.
It is characterized by its low bitterness, fruity flavor, and easy drinking.
By the way, what is Beaujolais Nouveau?
Once a year, you will hear the announcement that ``Beaujolais Nouveau is the best ever...''.
After hearing the announcement, some people may be wondering, "Is Beaujolais Nouveau really that great?"
Let me take this opportunity to explain about Beaujolais Nouveau.
Beaujolais Nouveau is "the first wine made from grapes harvested in that year."
Due to time constraints, Beaujolais Nouveau is made using a special method called "Carponic".
When made with Calponic, ``oxidation'' does not occur, resulting in a very fresh taste.
In terms of taste, it has a light texture and is very easy to drink.
This is what the world calls "Beaujolais Nouveau."
How to drink wine that even beginners can enjoy deliciously
Wine can be delicious if you know how to drink it.
Learn how to drink wine and enjoy it to the fullest.
Check the color
First, check the color of the wine.
Let's enjoy seeing its beauty.
Hold the wine glass up to the light and observe the hue, saturation, and shade of color.
At first you might think, "What's fun about this?"
However, as you gain experience, you will come to understand that you can enjoy wine visually.
smoke the wine
Allow the wine to smoke before drinking.
Have you ever seen a dandy actor spinning a wine glass in a drama or movie?
It's not just to look cool.
The wine is mixed with air and oxidized.
This is called "swirling."
Oxidation gives wine a more aromatic and mellow taste.
Swirl the wine to bring out its true potential.
By the way, oxidation of wine is generally expressed as "wine opening".
enjoy the scent
Next, hold the wine glass close to the tip of your nose and check the aroma.
Wine has a variety of scents, including fruity, sweet, and sour.
Enjoying these differences is the real thrill of wine.
Taste slowly in your mouth
Then take a sip of the wine and roll it around on the bottom.
The key is to drink enough to cover your tongue.
Take your time and enjoy the sweetness, astringency, aroma, and attack of the wine.
After that, we recommend that you mariage them (described later) and enjoy them freely.
It takes some courage to eat at restaurants, but some people enjoy it by adding ice.
It's best to drink it freely without making it too stiff.
Beginners! How to choose wine
The above is the (basic) correct way to drink wine.
However, in order to enjoy wine more deeply, ``wine selection'' is also important.
Below, we will explain how to choose wine.
Consider compatibility with dishes and ingredients
An easy-to-understand guideline when choosing wine is its compatibility with the food and ingredients.
It is often said that ``food goes well with wine,'' and it is very important to be aware of this.
By the way, the compatibility between wine, food, and ingredients is called "marriage" (meaning engagement).
If the compatibility goes well, both the wine and the food will be even more wonderful.
Even wines that are dry and difficult to drink can take on completely different expressions depending on how well they pair with the food and ingredients.
The food and ingredients that go well with it also depend on whether you choose red or white wine.
The following are dishes and ingredients that go well with typical red wines.
- steak
- roast beef
- lamb chops
- stewed chicken
- Ratatouille
- Ajillo
- (rich) cheese
- meatloaf
- Stir-fried nuts etc...
Basically, it goes well with meat dishes.
Especially when combined with a wild steak, you can experience a truly wonderful marriage.
A simple way to tell if it's compatible is whether it's high in fat or not.
Red wine generally seems to pair well with high-fat foods.
The dishes (ingredients) that go well with white wine are as follows.
- Raw ham
- sashimi
- meuniere
- Raw oysters
- salad
- (bland) cheese
- fruits
- Marinade
- sashimi
- Pork steak etc...
It goes well with fish and vegetables.
Fish dishes will be more elegant, and vegetables will be fresher.
In contrast to red wine, it is recommended to pair with something lighter and lower in fat.
Points to note when purchasing
There are a few things you should keep in mind when purchasing wine.
First, let's identify the type of wine.
For wine,
- "Bordeaux style wine" made by mixing multiple grapes
- Burgundy wine made from a single variety of grapes
exists.
For beginners, we recommend purchasing ``Bordeaux style wine.''
Bordeaux style wine always has a bottle shaped like an anchor.
The bottle on the shoulder is Burgundy wine.
In other words, when purchasing, you should choose an anchor-shaped bottle.
It is also important to check etiquette (labels).
The label lists the producer, place of manufacture, country of origin, etc., and indicates the direction of the taste.
However, it may be a little difficult for beginners to judge etiquette.
We recommend not worrying about etiquette until you get used to it.
When ordering at a restaurant etc.
When ordering at a restaurant, be obedient and ask the waiter for help.
If you leave it to the waiter, he or she will serve you a wine that matches your food and taste preferences.
However, you should also let them know how much wine you would like.
This is to prevent you from being served wine that costs far more than your budget.
Even beginners should be particular about wine glasses.
It may not seem obvious, but there is also a compatibility between wine glasses and wine.
The key is to use a wine glass that fits the wine you're drinking.
By the way, wine glasses come in a wide variety of shapes, so the reason for this is the compatibility with the wine.
Refer to the table below to choose the right wine glass for your wine.
bordeaux
Bordeaux is a wine glass that goes well with red wine.
The bowl (spout) of the glass is smaller and the rim (center) is plump and wider.
As the name suggests, it goes well with wines made in the Bordeaux region.
burgundy
A wine glass that goes well with white wine.
It has a long, sharp design.
The bowl is narrow, so you won't miss the fresh aroma that is unique to white wine.
chianti
This is a very thin glass with delicate details.
Chianti glass is a so-called "all-purpose type" glass.
You can use either red or white wine.
For beginners, we recommend trying Chianti first.
It is possible to fully experience both wines.
Temperature is key to the correct way to drink wine.
Temperature is also a very important point for wine.
You'll enjoy your wine even more if you drink it at the right temperature.
Below, we will explain the appropriate temperatures for red wine and white wine.
However, what I am introducing here is only for beginners.
Depending on the type, the optimum temperature may vary slightly.
Please consider this as a basic temperature guideline only.
Appropriate temperature for red wine
The appropriate temperature for red wine is said to be around 15 to 20 degrees.
Unlike other alcoholic beverages, a slightly warmer temperature is appropriate.
Red wines drunk at this temperature will clearly emphasize their respective virtues, such as astringency and fruitiness.
It's not uncommon to find yourself wondering, "What a huge difference it makes!" just by changing the temperature.
By the way, it is said that ``red wine is best served at room temperature,'' but there are some parts that deviate from the truth.
If the room temperature is between 15 and 20 degrees, that's fine.
However, during the daytime in summer and at night in winter, the temperature may deviate from this range.
Appropriate temperature for white wine
The appropriate temperature for white wine is approximately 7 to 12 degrees.
It is recommended to drink it chilled rather than red wine.
It has a distinct aroma and a good balance between acidity and fruit.
By cooling it down, you should be able to feel a sharp attack.
By the way, the temperature of the refrigerator is around 4 degrees.
In other words, if you take white wine out of the refrigerator and let it sit for a while, it will reach a certain temperature.
How should I control the temperature of wine?
I hope the above has given you an understanding of the appropriate temperature for wine.
However, some people may have the question, "How can I keep it at the right temperature?"
To keep wine at the right temperature, we recommend a wine thermometer.
Just set it on the bottle and it will indicate the temperature of the wine.
Thermometers are easily available on Amazon and Rakuten Market.
Sometimes they are even sold for 100 yen.
However, there are doubts about the accuracy of the 100 yen uniform price.
If possible, get a reliable thermometer.
summary
Wine is a very profound drink.
Wine takes on a variety of expressions depending on how you drink it and at what temperature.
Practice the correct way to drink wine and bring out the potential of wine.
By doing so, you will be able to deeply understand the deliciousness of wine.
How you choose is also important.
However, there are many different options available, and it can be difficult for beginners to make decisions.
For now, let's choose an anchor-shaped bottle, or a Bordeaux-style wine. Please refer to this article and enjoy wine deeply.
