Whether you are looking to improve your knowledge of wine just because, or are going to be working in the industry professionally, there is no denying that knowing a fair bit about it is sort of like arming yourself with life essentials. Be it a cocktail or any other event, it is useful and somewhat impressive to be able to offer some insight into this age-old beverage that has undoubtedly gained the approval of millions around the world. Aside from knowing which are white and which are red, it is important to be able to know how these wines are created, and what makes some of them more prized than others. Here is something to help you get started.
Know the Ingredients
Though the wine-making process is a whole other subject altogether, we all know that grapes are used to create wine. However, what fewer people know is that there is a specific type of grape that is typically used for wine. Wine grapes as they are called, or Vitisviniferain Latin, are not like your average grapes. They look different in that they are smaller, are generally sweet and come with thick skins and seeds. In a particularly mind-blowing fact, there are supposedly a whopping 1,300 types of wine grapes around, although only a handful of these, 150 to be exact, are actually used to produce wine.
Know How to Serve
Whilst picking the type of wine you want is obviously the first step, as any wine enthusiast will tell you, the next part is what mainly counts; the serving. Basically, one of the first things you should know is that each wine retains its taste based on the glass it is served in. So if you thought that all those wine glasses you see around are just for fun, well they are not exactly. They have each been moulded to hold a specific kind of wine, so one may be able to taste it in all its glory. A Semillon white wine for,instance,would be handled differently to port. In the same way, you should learn about which wines are designated for which glasses.
Develop Your Palate
The wine connoisseurs you see around today are the result of many, many years of training. It takes time and dedication to learn about the world of wine inside out, and one of the first things you should learn after learning to serve wine is developing your palate. Once you have learned to identify some of the main wines out there, start digging in. It is actually a very interesting subject, well worth looking into. Over time, you will learn to develop your palate, training it to know which wine is which with your eyes closed. That is when you put your wine graduating cap on.
Enlist a Pro
If possible, enlist a pro on your journey. If you have a friend for instance who is a wine fanatic, even that will be very useful. It always helps to have someone who knows what it is all about guide you since the first steps are essential. If they can teach you the right methods of tasting wine, that will be even better. Some culinary short courses also include wine as a part of their material, as it is important when it comes to pairing with food, and therefore essential for gastronomic purposes.
