superman’scookie asked:


I remember when i was young and tasted wine, i swore to myself i would never taste it again. But now, a couple years later i see myself drinking wine a lot!

Tasting wine is more complex then simply drinking. Wine tasting is about more than hydration. It is a whole different experience than what you may be used to when drinking. It is more like tasting food. You want to enjoy the wine and to experience the wine.

Knowing the proper way to taste wine will allow to you appreciate the art that goes into the creation of each bottle. It will also show others that you are serious about wine and that you understand the complexity of wine tasting. It also shows you have respect for the wine and for those who made it because you are doing much more than tasting, but you are taking in every aspect of the wine.

Step 1: Look at the wine after pouring it. When the wine is first poured, before you do anything else you have to look at the wine. This is best done against a plain light colored background that will allow you to see the colors and the depth of the wine. You want to look for streaks of color or subtle hints of color variations. Make a note of the coloring you see.

Step 2: Swirl the wine in the glass. Once you have looked at the wine and noted its coloring after pouring, you can swirl it slightly in the glass. Swirl enough to get the wine to coat the glass, but avoid swirling too vehemently. After you swirl you will want to look at the wine again and note the coloring changes. Major changes mean the wine is a more complex wine. No changes means the wine is a simpler wine.

Step 3: Small the wine. After you swirl the wine and note the coloring and look again you will smell the wine. Take in the aroma and look for hints of familiar smells. You want to note the things you smell for the next step. You’ll learn terms to describe each scent as you progress.

Step 4: Taste the wine. Finally you are at the part where you can taste the wine. Do not just drink and swallow, though. You should take a small amount into your mouth and swirl it around. This allows you to get the full flavor of the wine. You should then draw in a bit of air and swirl again. You should note the tastes at this time. Also see if you pick up the hints of flavor that you smelled. Now you can swallow. Be sure to note the aftertaste.

Tasting wine is not simple, that is for sure. With these four steps, though, you can master wine tasting like a pro. You will find that following the four step approach will allow you to enjoy the wine more and also allow you to develop a good taste for the differences between wines. You will soon be on your way to being a wine expert who can recognize a merlot or chardonnay without ever looking at the bottle.

It can take time to really learn the art of wine tasting, but practicing is fun. You’ll discover a whole new appreciation of wine, gain new skills and have a fun and interesting hobby.

By: Caroline Silverstone

About the Author:

[carpwp:amazon{wine}][/carpwp]

Accessories are often considered the weak link in the wine chain that can be done without, an item that is extra, just an attachment that is less useful than wine itself. Wine accessories can be considered supplementary instead of complimentary. Through this article the function of the most commonly issued wine accessories is discussed to show how the enjoyment of wine cannot be truly fulfilled without the correct accessories forming part of the experience of wine drinking. Not to mention the extremely lucrative market of collectible items such as Victorian bottle openers and decanters.

Among the most popular wine accessories are wine glasses, corkscrews, decanters, collars, stoppers and wine racks. By aiding in storing and serving wine, wine accessories can help the enthusiast enjoy their wine experience to the fullest. Some wine enthusiasts even boast of their own personalized wine bottles and customized accessories.

Moreover, wine charms made out of silver, gold and other materials can make any wine-drinking activity more pleasing to the eyes, leading to the perception of better enjoyment. The enjoyment of wine is sensory and starts from the sight of the drink through the transparent bottle or glass after it has been poured . Wine is similar to food in that your expectations are heightened when you see it well presented regardless of what it eventually tastes like. The type of glass is important. But for some the irresistible moment is hearing that popping off of the wine cork. A sound that is captured by the ear sending all sorts of messages to the brain – either of great joy or dread, depending on ones motivation or health.

There are many styles of wine glasses, each with their own charm and personalized appeal. While wine bottle openers have become somewhat obsolete, thanks to the growing popularity of screw-caps, having a wine bottle opener still adds an elegant touch to wine drinking. Wine bottle openers can range from traditional corkscrews, wine keys and screw-pull levers to more complicated wine bottle openers driven by carbon dioxide.

Wine decanters are glass containers used to serve wine. They maximize the wine’s aeration by exposing the wine to more oxygen. This enhances the taste and bouquet of wine. It’s also easier to pour wine from a decanter because wine is less likely to spill or dribble.

Wine collars are placed around the wine bottle’s neck to absorb any spillage when the wine is poured. It’s an important accessory for preventing wine stains on your clothes or table cloths.

Wine coolers are nice to have around because they can ensure that the wine is served at its proper temperature, especially for white, rose and sparkling wine. Highly fruity wines are usually served chilled whilst dry wines are served warm. The temperature helps regulate the amount of molecules allowed to escape into the air, to an extent. Especially at wine tastings, the correct temperature can help ensure the wine taster’s olfactory senses remain unbiased. Small wine coolers can be placed right on your table top. If you have a large wine collection, you will be better served by large refrigerator units so you can keep your wine bottles chilled at various temperatures.

Finally, wine racks are used for storing wine bottles? in a slightly slanted manner to ensure that the wine touches the cork so it doesn’t dry up. Wine racks are usually accessories of serious wine enthusiasts and wine connoisseurs. They provide a neat way to utilize space when there are multiple bottles to store. With the right rack the life time of a bottle of wine can be prolonged as the cork will remain moist for longer and air would not get into the bottle easily.

If you want to save yourself from the hassles of having to store wine and buying racks or large refrigerator units, it’s best to order your wine only as the need arises. Thanks to the Internet, ordering wine is no longer a hassle.? 



By: Uwa Ujam

About the Author:

mrbmum33 asked:


It’s an informal setting with no meal being served. I’m the only man among four other women and I’m sure they are planning on drinking wine. I want to show up with a bottle without their knowlege what type of wine should I bring???

Sasha Doll asked:


I feel really stupid for asking this question, but I’m a new wine drinker. Does the bottle always specify when a wine is solely for cooking? Is the alcohol content different? Not planning on drinking cooking wine, obviously, I’m just curious.

Sharon G asked:

Not everyone will be drinking wine, as there will be children attending. As well as other drinks at a tended bar. We are planning on using boxed wines, probally a red , and white. Which wines are most popular.

Axelpeddle asked:


I’ve been a fan of wine for a long time. I have many friends that say wine is great, because after drinking wine, you can drink water, and get drunker or drunk again. Or after a night of drinking wine, in the morning if you drink water, you’ll get drunk again.

Being an avid wine fan, I have yet to ever experience this amazing phenomenon. So, is it true, and if so, why does it work.