The Basics of Wine Selection and Storage

Wine is a very popular alcoholic drink that is ever present on tables during festivities, celebrations, and other special occasions. This is made from the fermentation of grapes although technically, other fruits or plants can also be fermented to make wines. Different types of grapes and fermentation processes are used to make different types of wine. Basically, red wine is made by fermenting grapes with their skin on while white wine is made from grapes that are fermented sans the skin.

Wines have varied prices depending on the kind of grapes used and the fermentation and aging process they have undergone. The finest wines can cost thousands of dollars but of course, there are also affordable wines that are of good quality.

If you know the type or brand of wines that your guests prefer, it is always safe to choose them but if you are not familiar with their preference, select wines based on their price and quality. Inform the store personnel of your budget so he or she can show you the wines that are within your price range. Wine stores usually allow their customers to sample their wines and to be successful in buying wines with excellent quality, you need to consider the following: color, aroma, body, taste, and aftertaste.

Color

The age and maturity of a wine is indicated by its color. And, a wine that is old and mature has a better taste and fuller flavor compared to the young ones. Young white wines are very clear and pale while the older ones are clear with a golden hue. Be careful not to choose young white wines that are gold in color because they have been oxidized during bottling, which is an indication of poor quality. For the red wines, the young ones are those that are purple in color and the old ones are brick red or amber in color.

Aroma

You can determine the flavor of the wine based on its aroma which is usually associated with different fruits and spices. Wine connoisseurs agree that the best wines are those that have a complex set of aromas.

Body

Wines can be light, medium, or full-bodied depending on the viscosity, consistency, thickness, and texture. When serving wines during a formal dinner, it is customary to serve the light ones first and save the full-bodied ones for the main course.

Taste and Aftertaste

Wines are composed of tannins, alcohol, acidic molecules, and different flavors and in a good wine, all these should be balanced. However, wines such as Barolo and Rutherlen Muscat are designed to have components that are out of balance with each other. For the aftertaste, it is said that wines with a longer finish are made from the best grapes and most meticulous fermentation and aging processes, and they therefore have premium quality.