Every wine lover has their favorite wine, the one they always have with their meals, cap the night with, or even recommend to their loved ones. Once you’ve chosen your comfort wine, it can be hard to look for others. Having a favorite is always nice, but the world of wine is too big and wide to be left unexplored.
Trying out new wines, and learning more by signing up for wine courses, as with any other thing, can be exciting and eye-opening. Here are some reasons that will convince you to start your journey:
1. Endless Wine Variety
Wines are classified into five major types: red wine, white wine, rosé wine, sparkling wine, and sweet dessert wine. Under each type are thousands of unique grape varieties, and each variety can undergo different winemaking processes. For instance, the most popular grapes such as Chardonnay and Cabernet can each produce thousands of different wines. Putting all these facts together, the result is a staggering array of wines with different tastes and styles.
While it may seem impossible to taste every single wine available in the market, you should try to taste as many wine varieties as you can. Don’t limit your choices to the wines you like or are already familiar with. Instead, try other wines outside of your comfort zone. This will help you build a strong taste and smell memory. Not only will you be able to enrich your wine knowledge, you’ll also have a fuller appreciation of wine.
2. Wine Helps You Enjoy Food Better
Pairing a dish with the right wine can make your dining experience a million times better. Wines have tannins or chemical compounds found in the skin, seed, and stem of grapes. When tannins interact with substances in your food such as sugar and fat, it can heighten or give new flavors to your dish.
Wine and food pairings can be quite tricky, though. Here are some basic guidelines to keep in mind:
- The wine should be sweeter and more acidic than the dish.
- Red wine goes well with meat with strong flavors, such as red meat.
- White wine goes well with meat with light flavors, such as chicken or fish.
- The wine and the dish should have the same intensity when it comes to flavor or boldness.
- If the dish comes with a sauce, it’s better to pair the wine with the sauce rather than the meat.
The more wines you try, the better can you evaluate which style goes well with different kinds of food. In time, you’ll be able to create great wine pairings that can elevate your dish.
3. It’s A Good Way To Cope With The Lockdown
Wine enthusiasts who are serious about studying wine travel to different wine regions for a more in-depth exploration. Now that there are strict travel restrictions in place, everyone simply buys bottles from local wine stores or restaurants. Interestingly, many jurisdictions in the United States have declared liquor stores as essential businesses and allowed them to run business as usual.
People have started new projects to make their time during the lockdown worthwhile, and you can make yours about wine. Whether you’re a serious hobbyist or just someone who casually enjoys wine, now is the perfect time to try new varieties. You can even start your own small collection at home. Start by getting one of the best wine coolers in the market and you’re off to an exciting wine journey.
4. Wine Knowledge Makes You More Socially and Intellectually Appealing
Gatherings and parties are always more enjoyable when wine is served. It can help foster hospitality and maintain a friendly atmosphere. If you know enough about wine, it can be a good tool for conversation. It’s an interesting enough subject even for people who don’t have the same level of knowledge or experience that you do. You can talk about different wine styles, name popular winemakers, or suggest good wine and food pairings to your friends and family.
Moreover, learning about wine definitely broadens your knowledge. Understanding wine entails studying subjects like botany, chemistry, history, and geography, among others. You don’t have to become an expert on these topics, of course, but carrying more knowledge always gives you an edge.
Being a wine lover means always being up for experiments and never saying no. If you’re drinking the same wine all the time, you’re missing out on all the goodness that wine can offer. Are you now ready to take your tasting glass to a new adventure? Find some of the best wineries in all of Europe on https://www.winalist.com/, grab hold of your wine partner and start tasting some of the richest wines.