How to Drink Wine: Tips to Elevate Your Experience (Part 2)

So, you’ve read Part 1 of your How to Drink Wine series and you’ve got your bottle ready to go. Everything looks good with the cork, and you’ve got your style of wine selected. We’ve got some more advice for you to make sure you’re getting the most out of your wine drinking experiencing and really savoring the flavor. Whether you’re at a wine tasting or you’ve simply decided to order wine online for a big dinner party, there’s no reason why you can’t enjoy your next glass to the fullest with these tips!

Savoring the Aroma

Once you’ve got your wine poured and, in a glass, give it a little swirl and make sure to take a moment to appreciate the aroma. The scent of the wine will have layers of complexity that will help to enhance your palette while you’re drinking it, so it’s always important to make sure you’re taking in the nuanced aromas before you take your first sip.

The Right Sip

Drinking wine should be a leisurely and relaxing process where you can take the time to really appreciate all of the different nuances and flavors of your drink. This means taking small sips, especially at the beginning of your glass. Don’t forget to also swirl the wine around your mouth for around 5 seconds so your taste buds can properly absorb all of the different flavors. After swallowing, notice the lingering taste that remains on your palette, particularly if you’re drinking red wines. 

Proper Food Pairing

There’s nothing worse than choosing what you think is the perfect bottle of wine, only to realize it doesn’t quite fit with the meal you’re enjoying. There are some standard and recommended food pairings when it comes to wine that you can use as a guidepost to ensure you’re matching the right beverage with the right dish. 

For sparkling wines like Champagne, Cava, and Prosecco, salty fried dishes like fish and chips or fried chicken are a great offset to the bubbles in the drink, but you can pair almost anything with a glass of bubbles, and you won’t regret it. For a crisp white wine like Sauvignon Blanc from Sancerre or Albariño from Spain, try pairing it with oysters on the half shell or a fresh salad with citrus fruits. If you’ve got a dry rosé on hand, selecting a dish that’s cheesy and on the richer side will be a great pairing, but again, like bubbles, rosé is one of those wines that’s super versatile and will pair well with lots of styles of cuisines. Red wine is generally paired with red meat, particularly heavier/richer varietals like Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah, but if you’re eating salmon then you might want to give a lighter red like Pinot Noir or Gamey a try. Lighter reds will also go great with grilled chicken and pork dishes. Finally, sweet wines pair best with cheesy or fruity desserts, but if you’re enjoying a spicy meal such as curry dishes or the like, a cold glass of semi-sweet Riesling or Gewurztraminer is your best bet!

Buy Wine Online at Rollers Wine & Spirits

Want to learn more about drinking wine like an expert or show off some of your new talents? Give us a visit at Rollers Wine & Spirits. We have an amazing selection of wines available and even offer different tasting and cooking events at our various locations across Hilton Head. Come show off your new skills and see all of the amazing products we have to offer!