In
the wine world a trusted wine advisor is a valuable resource. They can help you
with food pairings, vintages to watch for, and can help identify
characteristics you like in a wine for an afternoon of quaffing. Or the perfect
wine that will work for that holiday feast or winter barbeque.
There
is so much to learn and know when trying to choose the right wine that any help
is often valuable. Perhaps you need something lighter for a before dinner drink
or something to serve to a group of guests over the holidays. Being able to
choose a blended red for cocktail time is quite different from a lovely,
earthy, Tempranillo to go with a rare roast beef. The simple difference here is
the age of the wine. Most blends are relatively young wines and have a nice
even colour to them and a brightness in the mouth. An old wine like a
Tempranillo (aged not less than 5 years in barrels) has a much deeper flavor to
it. Let an old wine breath a bit before pouring or even better decant the
bottle into a pretty glass flagon for table serving. The much bigger flavors in
the older wine will delight your guest and be the perfect complement to a nice
meat based meal.
These
kinds of tiny tips are what make a wine advisor valuable. Not just the
difference in wines, but the way wines are a great addition to any occasion. We
like to think that wines are the app of the culinary world and no matter what
you are doing, there is a wine for that. Find and advisor you trust, and
understand. Don’t be afraid to experiment a little, it takes time to develop a
sense for wine and what you like or don’t. It is a matter of taste after all.
