The only thing you need to know about wine is if you like it. Full stop. Like many things we make use of every day, we may not know the inner workings but that doesn’t stop us from enjoying or using a particular product or service that brings us joy. And it’s the same with wine – if you like it, you’re sorted!
A few tips are always useful, though.
Here are our top five:
- Try as many wines as you can – don’t restrict yourself to just one type. Even if you adore Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc, don’t be afraid to try something different every now and then. What’s the worst that can happen? If you don’t like it, just order another glass of Sauv!
- If you need to take a bottle of wine to an event or to a friend’s house and you’re not sure what people like, grab a Pinot Gris (The Sisters of course!). That’s because while Chardonnay drinkers often don’t like Sauvignon Blanc and vice versa, they’re both usually more than happy with Pinot Gris
- If you’re choosing a wine to go with a meal, think about pairing like with like. A hearty, full-flavoured beef dish, for example, would work well with a full-bodied red. A light, and more subtly flavoured, fish dish would be better with a lighter wine – say a Sauvignon Blanc, or if a creamy dish, perhaps a Pinot Gris or Chardonnay, which are lower in acidity and more ‘rounded’. Pinot Noir is great to enjoy as a glass on its own or with lighter meat dishes. And Rosé is ideal with those platters of cheeses, salamis, olives etc. because it’s really good with a myriad of different flavours
- Serve whites and rosés chilled, and reds at room temperature. Having said that, if it is really warm, Pinot Noir can be chucked in the fridge for half an hour to make it a little more refreshing
- If you and your friends are not going to finish a bottle, just put the screwcap back on tightly and it’ll be fine for two or three days, especially if kept in the fridge
