Wine is an extraordinarily complex subject to discuss. As well as the actual product of wine itself, there is the culture, history, geology, genetics, and agriculture to consider. It might seem like a simple task to start reading, and learn about wine. However, when you begin probing, you will discover a seemingly endless amount of different information.
How can you learn about wine, without being bombarded with details that are not essential?
For a long time, different wines were learned in relation to different regions. This was a simple enough system, and it worked for generations. However, these days there is wine being produced in practically every place on the planet. It should go without saying that these regional lines, which were once in place, have been blurred. What is a modern wine enthusiast to do? Luckily, this guide will tell you the 10 most important things that you should know about wine.
- Learn the Most Popular Varieties of Wine
If you want to know what wines you like the most, you should learn the 18 “international varieties” of wine grapes. They are used to make a range common, and popular, wines. After you have thoroughly tried all 18 types, you should have a fairly good knowledge of the kinds of wine that are out there. You will also find it easier to decide on your own preferences.
- Learn the Most Popular Regions for Wine Making
There are a lot of different countries producing wine, and they are starting to compete with the traditional winemakers of the world. However, if you only know three different countries for wine, it should be France, Italy, and Spain. These countries produce a huge amount of the wine in the world; they produce some of the best wines in the world; they produce some of the most popular wines in the world. Once you have a solid handle on these big three regions, you should, of course, expand your knowledge.
- Learn Why Some Wine is More Tart Than Other Wine
The tartness that you detect in some wines is due to its level of acidity. This should not be confused with a high alcohol level, which will also give you a sharp tasting experience.
- Learn How Sugarless Wine Can Still be Sweet
How can a wine that has zero residual sugar still taste sweet? There are a few things that can cause this, such as the region it was made, if it was aged in oak, and the type of grape that was used.
- Learn How to Request Wine You Will Like
Once you have started to learn about tasting wine, you will probably want to buy some wines that you like. It helps to learn the main characteristics of wine, and how to describe them.
- Learn How to Stay “Cool” While Drinking In Social Situations
Wine is meant to be a social thing; you should learn how to properly act around people who enjoy wine. If you know at least a little about wine tasting, you will be able to remain calm and in control.
- Learn How Long to Wait Before Drinking a Wine
Most of the world’s wine is intended to be drunk the year it was made. However, some wines will improve over time. If you learn to identify wines that are suitable for aging, you can keep them for longer and allow them to improve.
- Learn Why Various Vintages Taste Different
You might assume that every particular label of wine will taste identical, no matter the year it was made. Regions cannot maintain the same climate each year, and there are some other factors that can affect different vintages of wine.
- Learn How Much You Should Pay for Good Wine
Rather than just buying expensive wine, you should buy wines that you actually like. Learn how much you should expect to pay for different varieties of wine, and stop assuming that more expensive is always better.
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- Learn that Wine Drinking Should be Special
Wine is not just for getting drunk; it is an adventure. You should treat wine tasting like any other fine experience, and respect it as somewhat of an art. More importantly, keep wine drinking fun and social; avoid becoming a snob.