Sip, sip, hooray.
There’s a right way and a wrong way to drink wine, say experts — and just in time for the holidays, the vintage virtuosos at Tabl.com are sharing helpful tips for enjoying the perfect pour.
Some important reminders include which glass to pair with each wine, how to properly hold the glass, and what temperature wine should be served at for optimal taste.
Caroline Lips from tabl.com explained: “Drinking wine should be an enjoyable experience, so it’s a shame when you come to have a sip and you’re met with a harsh or dull taste. That’s why it is important to know how to store, serve and drink your wine properly. “
“White and rosé wine should be kept in the fridge,” she continued, “but not served too cold as drinking it too chilled can mask the crisp and fruity flavors.”
“Red wine should be stored at room temperature but chilled slightly before serving,” Lips added.
“Sometimes when it’s warmed too much the reaction of the complex chemicals in the drink can happen quicker, which can mess up the flavor and result in a loss of its freshness.”
“Taking white or rosé wine out of the fridge 20 minutes before serving and allowing it to sit can help you reach the optimal serving temperature. Just as placing red wine in the fridge 20 minutes before you drink it can make for the perfect glass of vino.”
She noted, “Other common wine drinking mistakes include using the wrong shape of glass, not letting red wine breathe before serving it and holding the glass by the bowl.”
Keep reading for the 5 ways you’ve been drinking wine wrong, according to the pros. Cheers!
Don’t use the wrong shaped glass
There are specific glasses to use for each type of wine. Red wine should be paired with wide bowls due to their ability to allow for aeration of the wine.
This lets the drink breathe, therefore enhancing its flavors.
White wine glasses have smaller and narrower bowls — designed to preserve the cooler temperature and crispy acidity and in turn direct the scent straight into the nose.
Don’t serve wine at the wrong temperature
A stark reminder: red wine should always be stored at room temperature but cooled before serving for the optimal tasting experience.
Experts suggest having the temperature set to 53-64 degrees.
As for white wine, the delicate drink should be kept chilled but not too cold when served, ideally placed at 44-55 degrees.
Hold the glass correctly
The best way to hold a wine glass is by pinching the stem with your index, thumb and middle finger.
Drinkers should rest their other two on the base for stability. Avoid touching the bowl as this can increase the wine’s temperature and ruin the flavor.
Pour your wine correctly
The proper way to pour wine is to first hold the bottle by the indent at the bottom — or the bottom of the bottle.
Then, keep the glass on the table and let it fall down the side of the glass to avoid any unwanted and messy splashes.
Always let your wine breathe before drinking
Opena bottle of red wine 30 minutes to an hour prior to drinking it, to let it aerate.
This allows the wine to breathe which in turn helps release aromas and smooth out any harshness.
