As a beginner, when it comes to wine, there are probably a lot of things I don't understand. There are probably some things you don't fully understand, such as the differences in colors, how to drink it, and how to enjoy it. Starting from this time, we will explain how to enjoy and drink wine that is easy for beginners to understand, divided into five parts. The first part is "Home Edition". Wine is not something to be enjoyed only at restaurants. Even beginners can enjoy drinking it at home as long as they know how to enjoy it properly. but,
- I don't know how to choose wine
- I received some wine, but I can't figure out how to enjoy it.
- I don't know how to drink basics
The number of people who say this is overwhelmingly large. This time, we will explain how to enjoy wine at home, which is easy to understand even for beginners.
[For beginners] 6 steps to enjoy drinking wine at home
How to enjoy wine at home can be divided into six steps. Although it is simplified for beginners, the basics remain the same even if you become an advanced player.
- choose wine
- prepare a glass
- Buy food that goes well with wine
- adjust temperature
- hold the glass correctly
- Enjoy slowly
However, it is not at all difficult. Please refer to the detailed explanation below.
STEP 1: Choose wine
Let's choose the wine now. There are four points to consider when choosing wine.
Choose a genre
As you know, wine has
- red wine
- White wine
- rosé wine
- sparkling wine
There is a genre called. However, if you don't know the difference between red and white, you tend to choose a wine that doesn't go well with you. There are differences by genre as follows. Consider the differences and choose the one that suits you best.
- Red wine: Rich flavor, strong acidity, and astringent tannins.
- White wine → Fresh with a refreshing taste, smooth and easy to drink
- Rosé wine → Fresh with a slightly refreshing taste, and fruity with a hint of fruit.
- Sparkling wine → Because it is carbonated, it has a refreshing feeling and a pop taste.
As long as you understand these differences, you should have no problems.
I don't care about the country of origin
If you are a beginner and are choosing wine to drink at home, you don't have to worry about the region of origin. There are many varieties such as Provence and Bordeaux, but let's get over the complicated ones for a moment. Also, it doesn't have to be a European wine. Even wines from the so-called "New World" such as America and Chile can be enjoyed very deliciously.
Check if there is mold on the cork
If you want to enjoy wine at home, even beginners should check to see if there is mold growing on the cork. This is because ``wine with mold on the cork is likely to be of high quality.'' "If mold grows, it's no good" is not the case. "It's better if it's moldy." This may be difficult for beginners to accept, but there is a reason for this. The fact that mold is growing means that
- At the right humidity and temperature for wine
- In a moderately dark room,
- It was matured without being moved unnecessarily.
This is because it is proof that. In other words, it was ``in good condition.'' The mold itself is not a problem as long as you wipe it off with a cloth. Please be assured that mold will not grow on the inside of the cork.
Check if wine has seeped into the cork
Next, check to see if the wine has seeped into the cork. This is because it can be said to be a sign that the quality of the wine is not good. If wine is seeping into the cork, it may be experiencing unnecessary temperature changes. When there is a temperature change, the internal pressure of the air is applied inside. When there is internal pressure, the cork lifts up a little, creating a small gap. In other words, wine leaks through the gap and seeps into the cork. Therefore, if your wine cork is seeping, it may have been exposed to unnecessary temperature changes. If you choose wine, be sure to check the condition of the cork.
STEP ② Prepare glasses too
Once you have selected your wine, prepare a glass as well. This is because the appropriate glass is different for each wine. There are many different wine and glass pairings. However, if you want to enjoy wine at home, and if you are a beginner, then you should prepare something called an all-purpose wine. There are other classifications such as tulip type and burgundy type, but there is no need to think about them for now.
STEP 3: If possible, buy food that goes well with the wine.
Let's buy some food that goes well with the wine. This is because by pairing wine and food, you can enjoy it in a sophisticated way at home. The synergistic effect of pairing wine and food is called "marriage" and is highly valued. However, many people may not know what food goes well with each type of wine. If so, we recommend that you match it to the color of the wine. I'm not saying it's a perfect match, but as long as the colors match, you can't go wrong. For example, white wine is best paired with white fish and risotto.
STEP ④ Adjust the temperature
The key to enjoying wine is to maintain it at the appropriate temperature. Even beginners can enjoy delicious wine at home as long as they know the temperature. The appropriate temperature for wine varies by color and body. However, it is extremely difficult to understand this properly, so let's understand it as follows.
- Red wine → 15 degrees to 18 degrees
- White wine → 7 degrees to 10 degrees
- Rosé wine → 7 degrees to 10 degrees
- Sparkling wine → 4 degrees to 7 degrees
Adjusting the temperature of wine is very important for enjoying wine. Even if you are a beginner, be sure to carefully control the temperature.
STEP 5: Hold the glass correctly
It's a little more detailed, but when thinking about how to enjoy wine at home, the way you hold the glass is also important. However, it is not difficult even for beginners. Wine glasses always have a thin handle. Generally called the stem, the correct way to hold a glass is to naturally support it with your fingers. The purpose of having a stem is to "not transfer body heat to the wine." As mentioned earlier, temperature is important for wine. Therefore, temperature changes due to body temperature should be avoided as much as possible. That's why you need to have a stem. Furthermore, holding a stem is considered common etiquette in Japanese restaurants and bars (unless they are very international). If you drink outside instead of at home, it's a good idea to get into the habit of holding the stem while drinking at home.
STEP 6: Swirl and drink slowly
Once you have your glass, first swirl it. Swirling is the ``motion of shaking a wine glass'' that you often see on TV. To the uninitiated, it may seem like you're just trying to dress up. However, swirling has a very important meaning: ``mixing wine and oxygen to oxidize''. The swirling method is very simple.
- With the wine glass on the table,
- Pinch the stem between your index and middle fingers,
- turn lightly
That's basic wine swirling. It is recommended that the direction of rotation be counterclockwise. This is because if it is rotated counterclockwise, even if a wine drop were to fall, it would not hit the person in front of it.
3 recommended wines that even beginners can easily understand how to enjoy at home
So far, we have explained how to enjoy wine at home for beginners. If you know the above information, you will be able to enjoy wine quite deliciously even at home. However, there are many people who say, ``I don't know what wine to choose.'' The wines listed below are easy to understand how to enjoy them at home, even for beginners. If you are unsure, try choosing from the following wines.
Red wine: Delor/Medoc (Delor/Medoc) Red/half bottle
Delor Medoc 375ml red half bottle Delor Medoc
For red wine, we recommend Delor/Medoc. Delor is a very famous winery that is currently sold in over 75 countries. It has an easy-drinking texture, yet has the richness of a red wine and a firm fruit flavor. It has a rich aroma that can be said to be a model for red wine, and the quality of this red wine exceeds its price.
White wine: Golan Heights Winery/Yarden (Golan Heights Winery/Yarden) white
Golan Heights Winery Yarden Chardonnay [2021] 750ml/White
Golan white wine produced by the new power of Israel. It is characterized by the scent of apple and pear, a burst of fruit, and a subtle tropical fruit scent. It is sweet and easy to drink, and has a character that even beginners can get into.
Rose wine: Marrenon/Petula Rose
Marenon Petula Rosé [2022] 750ml・Rosé
For rosé wine, Marrenon is recommended. It features a gentle taste and well-balanced texture typical of rosé wine. It has a berry flavor and a rich drinking experience, but a hint of spiciness tightens the whole thing. Overall, this is a rosé wine that is very easy to drink, and even beginners can easily get used to it.
Sparkling wine: Cavicchioli/Lambersco Biaco Dolce
Kacicchioli Lambrusco Bianco Dolce [NV] 750ml, white, slightly foaming
Sparkling wine for the masses representing Italy. It has a very fresh taste and a smooth texture. The moderately sour berry and rose aromas are complemented by sparkling, giving a very satisfying feeling.
