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Know your Pinot from your Merlot and learn the proper way to open, pour, taste, and appreciate wine with this video series.
Instructions Step 1: Open the bottle Uncork the bottle and let it sit for a few hours. Although this isn’t the most effective method to aerate a bottle of wine, it’s better than simply opening the bottle and drinking it. TIP: The more surface area the wine has, the more oxygen will be able to …
Instructions Step 1: Use a blindfold Conduct blind tastings. Judging a wine without knowing details like the vintage, grape variety, country of origin, producer, and price is a great way to develop your palate because you won’t be swayed by outside influences. Step 2: Use the correct glass Use the correct glass. White wine should …
Instructions Step 1: Splurge on quality Splurge on quality chocolate, either milk, dark or white, to pair with your wine and ask for recommendations from the chocolatier. Step 2: Balance sweetness Look for a good balance between the sweetness of the wine or champagne and the sweetness of the chocolate. TIP: The chocolate shouldn’t be …
Instructions Step 1: Look for wine from popular regions Look for wine from the most popular of the 20 different wine regions in Italy. The Northern Italian region of Tuscany is famous for its popular Chianti, Chianti Classico, and Brunello di Montalcino — red wines made from the Sangiovese grape. TIP: A general rule is …
Instructions : Don’t drink unless you’re of legal age. Drink responsibly, and never drink and drive. Step 1: Visit the Wine Institute website Visit the Wine Institute website to access individual direct-to-consumer state shipping laws via a clickable map. TIP: Some states, like Massachusetts and Pennsylvania, have banned direct-to-consumer interstate wine shipping. Step 2: Search …
Instructions Step 1: Warm tokkuri flask Warm the tokkuri flask in the warm water bath. Step 2: Bring the sake to room temperature Allow the sake to come to room temperature if it has been refrigerated. Pour it into the warmed tokkuri flask. Step 3: Prepare to heat the flask Place the tokkuri flask in …
Instructions : Don’t drink unless you’re of legal age. Drink responsibly, and never drink and drive. Step 1: Present the wine bottle Present the wine bottle to your guests. Pour the wine with the label facing them. Step 2: Begin with person who ordered Begin with the person who ordered the wine. Next, serve women …
Instructions Step 1: Use Chablis for white Use a Chablis glass, the smallest, for white wine. Step 2: Use Bordeaux for big reds Use the medium-size Bordeaux glass for full-bodied reds like cabernet and merlot. Step 3: Use Burgundy for lighter reds Serve light and medium-bodied reds like pinot noir in the largest glass, called …
Instructions Step 1: Know the definition of champagne Know the definition of champagne: only sparkling wines made in the Champagne region of France can be labeled champagne. TIP: Less expensive alternatives include California sparkling wine, Spanish Cava, Italian prosecco, and Alsatian Cremant. Step 2: Set a budget Decide how much you want to spend. Non-vintage …
Instructions Step 1: Know your dessert wines Learn the different types of dessert wines, including fortified wines, such as port and sherry, and late harvest wines, made from mature, sweet grapes. Step 2: Choose a dessert Decide what to serve for dessert and choose a wine to complement it. Cake or cookies, fruit and cheese, …
Transcript For me, it’s like when you taste wet cardboard or a wet dog. You look for great vintages. Great vintages can carry inferior producers sometimes, so a great year, like 2005 Bordeaux, 2005 Burgundy, 2004 Brunello, ’97 and 2001 in California Cabernet. A great year can really carry weight. So vintage would be the …
You Will Need A traditional or waiter’s corkscrew A bottle of wine A napkin A specialty wing- or lever-style opener
Instructions Step 1: Check out the producer Note the producer – the name of the winemaker or winemaking establishment. Recognized names often represent a dependable standard of quality, but don’t overlook smaller producers, who may be turning out as-yet undiscovered gems. TIP: Get to know a local wine merchant, who can suggest lesser known producers …
Instructions Step 1: Do your homework Many restaurants feature their wine lists online. See what’s on offer in advance of your dinner, and research any bottles that pique your interest. TIP: The cheapest wine on the menu isn’t necessarily a good value, because it’s often the one that’s marked up the most. Step 2: Learn …
Instructions Step 1: Put wine bottle in empty ice bucket Put the wine bottle into an empty ice bucket. Step 2: Fill bucket with ice Fill bucket with enough ice cubes to cover the bottle up to its neck. Step 3: Add water Add cold water – about three-quarters of the way up the bottle. …
Instructions Step 1: Find a space Find a dark, cool space in your home. It could be an unused closet or a basement corner. Step 2: Install thermometer Install a thermometer to monitor room temperature. Ideally, wine needs to be kept between 55 and 58 degrees. Above 70 degrees Fahrenheit, the wine will age too …
Instructions Step 1: Choose charms Choose ornaments for your glasses; craft stores and jewelry-making web sites offer a variety of beads and charms. Or, cut 2-inch by 1/2-inch strips of poster paper, punch a hole in each, and personalize them with guests’ names, stickers, or festive sayings. TIP: If you have a drill with a …
Instructions Step 1: Make sure bottle is chilled Champagne is best opened when very cold, so make sure you’re working with a well-chilled bottle. 43 to 48 degrees is ideal. TIP: Put the bottle in a champagne bucket full of ice. To speed up the chilling process, add cold water and a little salt. Step …
Instructions Step 1: Screw it Stick a screw into the cork. Step 2: Turn it With either your hands or a screwdriver, screw it into the cork until there’s only about half an inch sticking out. Step 3: Pull it With pliers or the back of a hammer, grab the top of the screw and …
Instructions Step 1: Pour wine into pitcher Pour the wine into the pitcher. TIP: For the fruitiest results, use a Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay, or Spanish cava. Step 2: Add vodka, schnapps, & vanilla Add the vodka, schnapps and vanilla. Step 3: Squeeze juice Squeeze in the juice of 2 limes and 1 lemon and drop …
Instructions Step 1: Drop in fruit Drop three lime wheels into the bottom of the pitcher. Add three orange wheels, and three lemon wheels. Step 2: Add lemon juice & sugar Add two ounces of lemon juice and add two tablespoons of sugar. Step 3: Muddle ingredients Muddle the ingredients using the wooden spoon. Step …
Instructions Step 1: Wipe mouth Use a clean cloth napkin to wipe the mouth of the opened bottle, cleaning it of any cork dust or debris. Step 2: Display bottle Cradle the bottle in one hand, and display the label to your fellow drinkers so they can see the maker, type, and year. If you …
Instructions Step 1: Stand wine up Stand the bottle of wine straight up for 24 hours prior to opening it. This allows any sediment to settle to the bottom. If you don’t have 24 hours, a few hours will do. TIP: In general, white wines don’t need to be decanted—letting them breathe doesn’t really deepen …
Instructions Step 1: Pick area Locate a dark, cool area in your home to place your wine rack. A basement location is best, but a closet, cabinet or kitchen cupboard will do, as long as it’s out of direct sunlight, and far from any heat source. TIP: No matter what spot you decide on, make …
