Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
3 things to never do with your wine
Wine is an experience that should be enjoyed however one wishes too. But there are a few things that people do that can stump your wine experience.
So here are 3 things that you should never do with your wine.
Sometimes, people add ice to their wine to chill it quicker. And while adding ice to your wine might chill it, what it also does is water down the wine. This way you won’t be able to enjoy your wine thoroughly. You won’t be able to experience the flavours and aromas. So this is a big no no.
There’s a lot of talk about how red wines should be had at room temperature. But here, room temperature is referred to anywhere between 15 to 18 degree celsius. In India, our room temperatures are way beyond that, so it’s important to cool down your reds. Wines that are too warm end up tasting very harsh and too alcoholic, and sometimes even bitter, and you definitely don’t want that.
It’s not advisable to keep your wine in the food fridge for longer periods of time, as your fridge can be too cold for the wine. Over a period of time, this can dry out the cork, and when you try to uncork the wine, the cork might crumble.
3 ways to use leftover wine
While it’s recommended that you finish a bottle of wine the day you open it, sometimes, people tend to have some leftover wine. So here are three things you can do with leftover wine.
- Drink it the next day. Hopefully your wine is still fresh, and you kept the bottle in the fridge, and it doesn’t taste dull and acetone like.
- Cook with it. Adding wine to food adds a unique taste and texture to the dish. Incase of white wines, you can make prawns in butter, garlic and white wine sauce and incase of red wines, you can add it to stews, or saucy dishes. You can also make a wine reduction to add to various dishes, or perhaps search up a recipe for desserts that have wine in them!
- Make vinegar with it. Use it as a dressing to salads or make marinades or sauces for using in dishes. Wine vinegar is really easy to make. Would you like me to show you how?
Make sure to refer to this the next time you have leftover wine and don’t know what to do with it.
3 wines to drink on your anniversary
Picking a wine for a special occasion, especially for your anniversary, can be quite confusing. With so many options available, it’s hard to narrow down on one bottle that will make your day all the more special.
So if you have an anniversary coming up, then here are 3 wines that will help you make your special day more memorable.
Nothing says celebration like a bottle of fine bubbly and Krug is the Holy Grail of Champagne. The Krug Grand Cuvee Brut has been making Prestige Champagnes since 1843 and is made by Master Blenders blending wines from 250 different plots, adding the complexity of 150 reserve wines from up to 12 different vintages.
Pink is the colour of love and the rock angel rose is a powerhouse wine that rivals any rose from Provence. It is from the same house that makes Whispering Angel but is more structured and complex and promises to deliver a bigger and richer experience – just as you’d expect on your anniversary.
A confident expression of a Cabernet Sauvignon from Penfolds, one of the most revered wineries in the world. The grapes are picked from across all the premium wine growing regions of South Australia, This wine has nuances of mint, chocolate, olives, cigar box, cassis, hmmm. It has concentrated flavours and will easily mature over the next decade or so. Perfect for your anniversary celebration.
4 things to look for when tasting wine
Professional wine tasting requires a lot of practice, and a lot of knowledge. One needs to know the different possible grape varieties, the different wine regions where they come from, how various grape varieties taste, and so on.
However, for those who are not familiar with wine education, you can still enjoy a wine and learn how to taste a wine on the basis of 4 simple things.
The colour can tell you a lot about the wine. It can tell you how old or young a wine is. White wines tend to gain colour as they age, and red wines lose colour as they age. For example, if you uncork an aged white wine, the colour of the wine will be more towards yellow rather than a pale straw colour. Similarly, with red wines, you will see them becoming lighter, and sometimes, if the wine has been through a bit of oxidation, it can become brown.
The aromas of a wine are very important, especially for professional tasters. Highly qualified wine tasters can derive the different aspects of a wine, for example its varietal, the region it comes from, just by smelling the wine. So, what you want to do is swirl the wine, and take a little sniff. Most wines are fruity, so the majority of times, you should smell some sort of fruit. If the wine is of a better quality, then you can also get floral notes, perhaps some smokiness. And if the wine has gone through oak ageing, then you’ll be able to smell more mineraly, earthy notes.
Once you’ve made your first assessment of a wine by smelling it, it’s now time to taste the wine. When you taste the wine, see if it’s a dry wine or a sweet wine. Can you feel its acidity on the palate? Is the alcohol percentage in balance? For red wines, you can also assess what the tannic structure feels like. Is it heavy on the tannins? Does it leave a drying sensation in your mouth?
The last thing you need to look at is if the wine is balanced. Are all the components of the wine working well with each other? Or can you feel something stand out in particular? See if the taste of the wine lingers on your palate for long. Many times, the longer the finish of the wine, the higher its quality. And lastly, see if you’ve enjoyed the wine. Assessing each and every aspect of a wine would mean nothing if you don’t enjoy it.
5 reasons why whiskey is like wine
1.) Both whisky and wine undergo barrel ageing for developing complex flavours and smoothness. Fine wine ages in oak barrels between 6 months to 2 years, fine whisky generally ages longer, and can age from 5 years up to 50 years.
2.) Just like wine can be made from a single grape variety, or can be blended with different grape varieties, whisky too can be made from a single malt, or with a blend of different malts. This is known as blended whisky.
3.) High quality whisky and wine both express terroir. Wine made from the same grape variety can have different nuances from different parcels of land. For example, a Pinot Noir from Burgundy is different from a Pinot Noir from New Zealand. Similarly, whisky from Lowland, Highland, Speyside, and Islay will all have different aromas and flavours.
4.) The tasting procedures for both wine and whiskey are similar. You see for noticing the colour, swirl to release the aromas, sniff to appreciate the aromas, sip to taste and savour the long, persistent finish, the flavours, and textures in both.
5.) They are both appreciated by their aromas and flavours. In fact, whiskey and wine often have similar aromas and flavours, like oak, charred wood, smoke, vanilla, sweet spices, dried fruit, and cherry, to name but a few.
7 Californian wines available in India
It’s no secret that Californian wines are making a mark in India. Lots of wine drinkers are looking to explore different styles and expressions coming from around California. So here are 7 Californian wines available in India that you can try today.
Inspired by France’s Loire Valley, this Chenin Blanc opens with aromas of honeydew, watermelon, and mango, along with floral notes of jasmine and orange blossom. To the taste, it reveals refreshing flavours of peach, Meyer lemon, cucumber, white tea, and white pepper.
If you love a good Chardonnay, then this one is the one to go for. The Wente Morning Fog Estate Grown Chardonnay bursts with aromatics of melon and green apple, with notes of toasty oak and vanilla, as a result of barrel ageing.
This crowd-pleasing Pinot Noir boasts aromas of baking spice and vanilla. On the palate, it is marked with wild blueberry, raspberry, and blackberry, with hints of roasted hazelnut.
This is a full-bodied wine with a silky texture that opens with aromas of aniseed, red, and blue berries, with a touch of tobacco and dried flowers. It’s a stunning expression of a Zinfandel, and finishes with juicy layers.
For those who are all for big, bold reds – you must add this one to your next shopping list. Aged in American oak, this Cabernet Sauvignon boasts bright fruit with savoury notes, along with aromas of sage, thyme, a core of red fruit, rich with wild strawberry, raspberry, and just-picked plum.
With bright acidity and fine tannins, the Robert Mondavi Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon shows vibrant fruit shining from start to end. On the nose, the wine shows aromas of cherry, plum, sage, sandalwood, mint, and vanilla bean. On the palate, one can expect flavours of sweet black fruit, warm oak spice, and a chocolatey texture.
A dark, inky, red in the glass, The Sheriff of Buena Vista is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Petite Syrah, Syrah, Petit Verdot, Mourvedre, Grenache, and Mission. It unveils fragrant aromas of blackberry, blueberry, and currants, with nuances of violets. On the palate, this medium-bodied wine expresses dark fruit flavours that are layered with herbs and a hint of dark chocolate.
How to know if your wine has gone bad
There are times when we drink a wine that is not in its best condition. For those who are just getting into the world of wine, it can be quite confusing to understand if a wine has gone bad or not. Especially since not many people are well-versed in the actual way of tasting wine.
So when you’re served a wine at a restaurant, or maybe you uncork a bottle you picked up from the store – how do you know it has gone bad? Here are 3 sure shot ways in which you can tell whether your wine has gone bad or not.
1.) Wine must smell fresh and fruity in most cases. If the wine smells like nail polish remover or acetone, or musty cardboard, it indicates spoilage.
2.) Your wine must not taste sour. A wine can be a little sweet or dry, but never sour. If you feel that your wine is sour, it might have started getting spoilt, or might already be spoiled.
3.) The aftertaste of the wine must be pleasant. If you find a mousey taste, or a dusty taste on your palate after the first few sips, then your wine has definitely gone bad.
The next time you think your wine is spoiled, refer to these three points to know for sure. And if you’ve been served a spoiled wine at a restaurant, don’t hesitate to send it back.
The 4 parts of a wine glass
The wine glass is undoubtedly one of the most elegant looking pieces of glassware out there. Not only can a wine glass be used to enjoy wine, but one can also use it for various purposes like smoothies, water, mimosas, spritzers, sangria, saké, and more.
Let’s take a look at the 4 main parts of the wine glass, and what they are used for.
The base (also known as the foot) of the glass is designed to keep the glass standing upright and stable. A glass with a wobbly base is prone to breakage.
The stem is the part where you hold the glass. Some stems are longer than others, but contrary to popular belief, the length of the stem doesn’t really matter. It’s simply used to hold the glass in your hand.
The bowl of the glass is what holds the wine. Most good quality wine glasses will have bowls that are generally wider at the bottom and taper at the top. When you fill the glass up to 1/3rd level, the air comes in contact with the wine, especially when you swirl – and here, the bowl of the glass collects the aromas. More aromatic wines do better in a wider, bigger bowl, as they are more complex.
The rim of the glass (also known as the lip) impacts where the wine will land on your palate. If the rim opening is narrow, the wine will land at the tip of your palate, allowing you to taste the fruitiness and acidity of the wine. If the rim is broad, the wine will be taken at the back and sides of the palate where you can experience the tannins and structure of the wine. Hence, this directly impacts how you taste the wine.
Vegetarian food and wine pairings
When it comes to pairing wine with food, the majority of people tend to gravitate towards a meat or chicken dish to pair. But what many people miss out on is that vegetarian food also pairs impeccably well with wine.
So here are 4 classic vegetarian food and wine pairing combinations.
Mushrooms and Pinot Noir make a perfect match. Mushrooms are earthy yet delicate just like the Pinot Noir. Whether you are eating mushroom stroganoff or mushroom masala, a light, fruity and rustic Pinot Noir will work wonders with the mushroom dish
Another staple in vegetarian homes, especially when we have guests, is Paneer. Paneer (cottage cheese) is soft, creamy, mouth-coating, and works best with an unoaked or lightly oaked Chardonnay. For example, a Chablis from France or a South Australian Chardonnay from Adelaide. The mouthwatering acidity of these wines will cleanse your palate and refresh you for the next bite.
Another staple in Indian vegetarian households. For this, choose a white refreshing wine like a Sauvigon Blanc or a Chenin Blanc – and you can try one from India. You want to keep things light, fresh and not too overwhelming like the dish.
Lovers of big bold reds, you’re in for a treat. The hearty, robust, and rustic flavours of kidney beans or chickpeas, cooked in any Indian style with masalas or tadkas would pair beautifully with a Cabernet Sauvignon from Italy, Bordeaux, or California.
What is the use of a decanter?
One of the most asked questions amongst wine enthusiasts is what is the use of a decanter? And should we invest in one?
Let’s start by talking about what a decanter really is. Ideally, a decanter is a vessel in which a liquid (which is usually wine or whisky) can be poured.
Originally, a decanter was used to decant older wines to separate the sediment that is sometimes held at the bottom of the bottle. This sediment can be bitter-tasting, and the wine is tipped into the decanter, leaving the sediment in the bottle.
But that’s not all. A decanter can also be used for younger wines, to help open the wine by agitating it and exposing it to oxygen by tipping the wine into the decanter and giving it a good swish.
Should one invest in a decanter? If you’re an avid wine drinker, a decanter would definitely be a good buy, as it can also act as a great way to serve wines at parties – especially if you don’t want anyone to know what wine you’re serving, or perhaps, the label on the bottle has come off.
