There is a lot to learn about wine; from which type complements a meal best, to the most appropriate bottle for the specific occasion. There are literally hundreds of books, blogs and websites out there to connect those who adore cooking, drinking and entertaining with wine. Pay attention and you can be sure your next dinner or party will be a success.

Wine Tastings

Go to wine tastings! Wine tastings are fun to go to and can teach you a lot about wine. You can even turn this into a social event. Have your wine loving friends come along. You may be able to strengthen the bonds of friendship while indulging in your new hobby at the same time.

It pays to follow your gut instincts as you try new wines. When you don’t think a wine is for you, don’t go out and buy it. You’ll just be wasting money with a purchase that you thought you would dislike anyway.

If you ever get a wine stain on your favorite shirt, reach for the Windex. Windex can easily combat fresh wine stains as opposed to water and soap. The faster you treat the stain, the better your chances of preventing the stain from setting.

Store your wine in the proper element to keep it fresh and tasty. Temperatures that are extremely hot or extremely cold can damage the taste of any wine. Keep your wines around fifty-five degrees for optimal flavor. Specialized wine fridges can be used, or wines can be kept in cool basement spaces.

Buy one bottle to just try it out. Your tastes may not lie along traditional lines, and you do not want to spend all that money just for appearances. It is wise to purchase just one bottle before you decide to buy a whole case.

Beef Dish

You can create a delicious beef dish sauce with wine. Just use your favorite red wine and add a little bit of butter to the saucepan. Simmer it for a little while to burn off the excess alcohol and to thicken the sauce. Next, take your beef dish and spoon some of the sauce over it.

Buy yourself a wine cellar in order to maintain your wines properly over time. This is vital if you have wine that you spent a lot on. The cost of the cellar will more than pay for itself when it keeps your expensive wines from going bad.

If you truly want to appreciate wine, visit a vineyard. You will have a deeper appreciation for your favorite drink. In doing so, you allow yourself to develop the knowledge, lingo and experience needed to communicate the subtleties and special qualities of wine. Wine regions are usually extremely beautiful and pleasant to visit.

Once you know a bit about wine, you should be able to use that knowledge to search out more advanced topics. While guidelines do exist, all that really matters is your own taste. Find out the basics and then how to pair it with food, then you can pick one you love. Keep the advice you’ve read here in mind also.