When it comes to celebration, high-quality wine always gives it a festive note! It immediately attracts attention at first because of its luxurious look and beautiful bottle compared to other wines. It is common to buy a bottle of wine for a special occasion, although trends show that wine is increasingly being drunk as an aperitif, a welcome drink at events, casual gatherings exhibitions… If you are looking to impress someone with a nice, luxurious bottle of quality wine such as those Oddbins has in their offer, it is important to choose an appropriate one for the occasion. Below, you will read more about how to spot a great luxury wine so you can impress your loved ones!
1. Know the wine grape types
Although wine is made from grapes, it is not the usual table grapes that can be found in a local market. Wine grapes (Latin name: Vitis vinifera) have a thick skin, a smaller grain, are sweet, and contain seeds. There are over a thousand different types of wine grapes, but only a few are the world’s most commonly grown types of grapes. Tasting these wines will give you a good insight into the range of aromas found in each wine, and the alternative varieties with a similar taste that have been added, so if you prefer a particular wine, you may like some of its alternatives.
Some of the most popular types of red and white wine grapes are:
- Cabernet Sauvignon (red)
- Syrah (red)
- Zinfandel (red)
- Pinot Noir (red)
- Chardonnay (white)
- Sauvignon Blanc (white)
- Pinot Grigio (white)
Keeping wine at a uniform temperature is the most important factor affecting wine quality. It is necessary to avoid storage places that are affected by large temperature changes, e.g. storing wine in the basement. Wines stored in places such as basements, garages, attics, etc., can be frozen in the winter months, while in the summer months due to high temperatures they can be “overcooked” and thus lose their natural properties and get too alcoholic. The ideal temperature for storing wine is from 12 to 15 ℃. The temperature higher than ideal accelerates the aging process of wine and harms the chemical processes in it.
2. Look for a wine with no added sulfites
Sulfites are compounds of natural origin that are the product of fermentation. All wines have some sulfite, but many winemakers add extra sulfite to their wine products as a preservative. So, although it is almost impossible to buy wine without sulfites, you can still find some without sulfite or a low sulfite content. If you want to avoid them as much as possible, look for bottles that say there is no added sulfite on the label or find organic wines that are made from organically grown grapes and do not contain added sulfites. (Just make sure you drink them as soon as possible; they’re not designed to age well)
3. Avoid overly oaked wines
On the one hand, wine made of stainless steel carries unadulterated aromas and structure, on the other hand, it is rare for a wine to reach world fame by coming out of a steel barrel. Each material gives the wine a different taste. However, what happens with oak barrels is that it gives wines a strong flavor that many people do not like. Pay attention to getting a wine that has been stored in barrels made from other types of wood that ages the wine appropriately and gives a nice flavor.
4. Make sure the price is fair
Many people think that you have to pay a lot of money for a glass of quality wine. We are committed to proving that good but cheap does exist!
Don’t fall for phrases, such as good is always expensive, price is not a guarantee of quality.
Pay attention to wines with discounts and sales and control their shelf life. Maybe the wine is old or outdated. Sure, you’ve heard that wine gets better with age, but that does not apply to low-quality wines.
Wine producers from Argentina and Chile value their products cheaper, even though their wine is equally delicious. Remember the most important rule: the taste of the drink does not depend on the grape variety, but on the technology and barrels they used for storage. To choose a bottle of a cheap but quality product, look for the inscription “natural wine”, it is true that it has an expiration date, but it is filled in the same place where it was produced.
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