Wine Pairing Tips

White with Light and Red with Heavy

It is common to pair light-bodied wines with lighter food and fuller-bodied wines with heavy, heartier,  richer and fattier dishes.

Matching flavors…it just makes sense.

Match flavors.  For example an earthy Chardonnay or Pinot Noir goes very well with mushroom or onion soup and the grapefruit/citrus taste (and acidity) of Sauvignon Blanc goes very well with fish or chicken.

Location Location!!

Regional foods and wines always go together.  If produce is grown in the same area the wines in the region fo very well together. 
Experimenting with pairing is fun and exciting so live it up. Truthfully there is not a  right or wrong answer to pairing because at the end of the day it is your preference.

Long Term Wine Storage Tips

For long term storage it is obviously critical to have an appropriate storage location.  This location should be kept at a low stable temperature, free of vibration, high humidity and dark.    

Most homes maintain a temperature of around 70° F with 20-30% humidity levels.  It is recommended for an ideal wine storage that the conditions are 55° to 58°  F and about 55-75% humidity or higher. The high humidity is important because it keeps the corks from drying out and will minimize the possibility of evaporation. The only problem you may experience higher levels of humidity is that it may produce mold on the wine labels or even loosen the labels if it was applied to the bottle with water soluble glue.

Keeping in mind that temperatures lower than 55 degrees will slow down the aging of the wines.  A consistent temperature is imperative as spoilage can occur if an area has temperatures that fluctuate.

As we stated earlier it is best that it be stored in a dark area.  Wine distributors today have been making bottles with ultraviolet filters built into the glass that help protect the contents from typical effects of UV rays. However, because you are storing wine long term you can’t be sure it will not have light exposure which could result in the wine tasting or smelling like cardboard.  This is especially noticeable in delicate white wines and sparkling wines.

If you are building a cellar in your home basement make sure it is stored away from anything with a vibration.  Sump pumps, heaters, motors or generators should be avoided since the vibrations they cause are thought to negatively affect the evolution of the wines. One additional factor to avoid is storing other items with very strong odors near the wine. It is possible that the wine can pick up the aromas of other items stored nearby.

If you do not have a suitable wine cellar, there are many types of modular wine racks and wine refrigerators that are affordable and an excellent alternative to a robust wine cellar. There are kits available that will convert regular refrigerators into suitable wine storage units.

Want to host a Wine Tasting Party?

So you want to host a Wine Tasting Party but you’re not a wine connoisseur?  Don’t fret…..it’s easy, it’s great fun and it’s affordable.  Hosting a wine tasting party is a great way to get family and friends together to not only have a great night together but to experiment with different wines.  Everyone can be involved with a blind tasting in which guests rate different wines.  Here are some simple steps to host your first party.

1. Decide on a type of wine (red or white), a country (Italy or Germany) or a region, and have each guest bring a bottle of wine.  Ideally you want about 6-8 bottles for a 10-12 guests
2. Cover the bottles in wine bags.  This way nobody knows who brought which bottle AND for novice wine drinkers they will not choose their favorite bottle because of the fancy label.
3. Tag each bottle with a number.
4. Give each guest a sheet of paper and a pencil OR create an excel spreadsheet on your lap top with each guest down the side and each wine “tag number” across the top.
5. Make sure your wine glasses have full bowls that taper so that the tasters can swirl the wine without spilling it as well as observe all the nuances of color, bouquet and flavor.
6. Fill each glass about 1/3.  Big pours ruin the entire experience as they will be tasting 8-10 varietals.
7. Set a bottle of water and an empty bowl on the table so they can empty and rinse their glass before trying the next wine.
8. Provide 5-6 simple foods so they can nibble on the food to cleanse their palate between tastings.  Suggestions would be cheese, shrimp cocktail, crackers, chicken skewers, olives, nuts, bread.  Try to have mix of rich, salty and delicate foods. 
9. Have each guest rate each wine and record on their form or the spreadsheet you have prepared.

After all the wines have been tasted, tally the scores for the best and worst bottle. Uncover the bottles and award the prize to the person who brought the top-ranking wine and worst-ranking wine.

Short Term Wine Storage Techniques

Storing wine that you will consume within 4-6 months still requires you to duplicate the same conditions that are required for long term storage. However, in some cases it might just be that storing your wine in a box in a coat closet is a satisfactory short term solution.

Short term wines will include the bottles that you just brought home from the store to be consumed or bottles that have been pulled from storage and you want them to be ready for consumption in the next few months.

Short term wine storage requires you to make sure that:

• The wine is kept in a location with stable (lower) temperature that is between 58-60 degrees
• The area is free from vibration (keeping away from a TV on your countertop, microwave, or electric can openers)
• The cork stays moist (so high humidity is recommended…if you have a basement it is ideal)
• You need to keep the bottles out of direct sunlight
• The location is not a storage area that has a strong odor (do not use the pantry!!)

If you have a wine rack that you keep in your kitchen on top of a cupboard or above the refrigerator it is best to move it to another location.  Typically we find that this is not the ideal space due to the constant opening and shutting of cabinets, the use of the refrigerator door giving contact temperature shifts as well as the vibration of the motor.

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