| Like everything learning how to choose wine will | | | | Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc. Each of these |
| take time and effort. Effort will come in reading | | | | produce a certain type of wine and taste. Some |
| about the subject and educating yourself of the | | | | of the tried and true wines that go great with |
| many ways to judge a wine. That being said I am | | | | dinners are Chardonnay grapes, Zinfandal and |
| sure that you have found out that there are | | | | Merlot. The Zinfandal is a stronger wine than the |
| countless books that have been read on the | | | | Chardonnay and Merlot, if has more of a spicier |
| subject of choosing the right wine and if you | | | | taste so I would not recommend it with spicy |
| want to really be a professional about it you will | | | | food. It should pair more with more mild food like |
| have to spend countless hours preparing yourself | | | | fish or any seafood. It also goes well with steak. |
| for the subject. This article is not meant to | | | | Step 3 - Understand vintages - Wines that age |
| provide every step in choosing the very best | | | | longer tend to get zestier. Also, some years were |
| wine, but it is more meant to give you a crash | | | | better than others. A good vintage bottle will |
| course in choosing wine and directing you where | | | | show the age for which the wine was produced. |
| to find more information. That being said here are | | | | From this age you can reference it in a wine |
| a few steps when choosing a wine for your next | | | | pocket guide that will provide the lowdown of |
| dinner. | | | | what happened in that year in the wine industry. |
| Step 1 - Where the wine is made matters. This | | | | This will give you a better idea as to if the wine |
| can be said for a lot of instances. Prize horses | | | | was a good year. |
| come from winning stock. A prize pig comes | | | | Step 4 - Understand pricing - A lot of people will |
| from a prize winning sow; the same is true for | | | | say that a more expensive wine will taste better |
| wine. There are a lot of wine makers that | | | | than the less expensive wines. Well, this is not |
| produce wine that would make you do a double | | | | always true. There are some stinkers that have |
| flip, but there are even more makers who should | | | | been aged for years and are exceptionally |
| not even be in the business. So, step one buy | | | | expensive. So, unless you really know the |
| from the best. In the United states the best | | | | producer and have frequently brought their wines |
| known regions to purchase wine would be from | | | | and enjoy their taste don't rush to purchase |
| Napa Valley and Sonoma counties, as well as | | | | these brands. The less expensive brands could |
| Oregon. If you are traveling outside of the United | | | | taste even better. |
| States then look for wines that come from | | | | These are very basic characteristics for |
| French areas like Bordeaux and Burgundy regions. | | | | purchasing wines. If you want to know more on |
| Step 2 - What Grape Types work? The grapes | | | | this subject I suggest that you spend some time |
| that work with wine are Cabernet Sauvignon, | | | | at your local book store and purchase a few |
| Pinot Noir, Merlot, Zinfandel, Syrah, Petite Sirah, | | | | books to really do an in-depth study. |