The proper selection and serving of wine is an art. Everybody loves to drink at least one glass of a good wine, but do you know how to serve wine properly?
Wine
The most important thing is to choose a good wine. Here are some things you should know when choosing certain type of wine and how to store it. If you’ve selected a young red wine, leave the bottle in the upright position. If you’ve chosen aged wine, it is advisable to put the wine in a wine stand in a half upright position to settle the sludge. When it comes to white wines, wine cork can be pulled a few hours before serving, if wine is aged. If wine is young, pull the cork little bit, in order for the wine to breathe and not oxidize.
Opener / corkscrew – It is recommended to practice opening wine with corkscrew, before opening a bottle in front of company. Nowadays there are many different corkscrews, from electronic ones to the simple old-fashion designs. The important thing you have to know is that the corkscrew must be from stable material and comfortable to hold.
Decanter – Wine Riedel decanters are very important for wine connoisseurs. Decanting is a whole ceremony. It makes wine taste better as it separates it from its sediment which attributes to bitter flavor of wine. Also, decanting helps wine mix with oxygen which enables it to come to life making its bouquet richer and tastier. The older the wine is, the more it has to stand in a decanter before being consumed. Depending on the desired and required serving temperature, before serving the wine put the decanters into a pot filled with water.
Glasses
Wine glasses are also important when it comes to proper wine serving. They must be made out of quality glass, and thoroughly washed and dried before used.
Serving temperature
Each type of wine is served at a particular temperature. For example, white wines are served at temperature between 8 and 13 ° C. For this purpose, keep the wine in the fridge, but never in a freezer. Dry white wines are served chilled. The principle is the more dry the wine, the colder it should be served. Red wine is served at temperature between 16 and 18 ° C. Once opened, the bottle can be left on the window, if temperature is suitable. The rose is served slightly chilled between 8 and 10 ° C. This temperature is maintained by placing it in a bucket of ice. Sweet red wines are served at a temperature between 12-14 ° C. This is the ideal temperature to feel their true sweetness.
Sparkling wines are served at 8 and 10 ° C. The colder the bottle, the better are sparkling bubbles.
Once you have everything you need for proper wine serving, you can start to plan which foods you’ll serve and the party may begin.
