Red wine comes in many flavors. Some can be sweet while others feature full tannins and intense notes. Cabernet Sauvignon makes an excellent accompaniment for meat dishes while Merlot can be consumed more casually.
As you sip a glass of wine, pay attention to how long its flavors remain on your palate – this is known as its finish.
1. The Finish
There are numerous ways to appreciate red wine. Your preferred method will depend on both personal preference and the occasion; what works for one may differ greatly from another – say for a winery wedding as opposed to just sipping with friends on a Friday evening.
When selecting red wines, begin by considering its finish. If the flavors linger more than a minute in your mouth before dissipating quickly, that indicates a long finish; otherwise it has short finish characteristics.
Body and acidity should also be taken into account when selecting a wine. Body refers to how heavy or light a wine is; lighter wines, like Merlot, make an ideal casual wine option that pairs with most dishes well. For bolder wine choices with more intense flavors like Malbec or Zinfandel wines. They feature fuller bodies and more intense flavors – these wines pair better with heartier dishes and decadent cheeses!
2. Decanting
Decanting wine involves pouring it from its bottle into another container such as a carafe or glass, with the intention of exposing its aromatics and flavors to oxygen and intensifying them. This allows more air into its aromas and flavors of the wine and intensifying their experience.
Decanting also helps minimize wine’s contact with sediment. This thick substance – composed of yeast cells and grape skin fragments – can add an unpleasant flavor if left in contact with its substance, making decanting even more important for older red wines that tend to have more sediment than whites.
Some wine experts argue that decanting is necessary to enhance a wine’s finish, which measures how long its flavors linger after being swallowed. However, decanting should take into account each wine’s individual qualities and level of quality – cheap red wines with shorter finishes may benefit from some aeration while premium aged wines often do not need such treatments; too much airing could even create bitter flavors!
3. Swirling
Red wine requires time and oxygen exposure in order to develop its flavors fully, so before drinking it it should be swirled to increase contact with air and intensify aroma.
Swirling wine exposes its ‘legs,’ or streaks of liquid that move down the inside of the glass as you swirl it. These streaks serve as an indicator of viscosity – and reveal an alcohol content.
Swirling works best with larger wine glasses, since having more room makes it easier to create an impressive swirl without spilling any wine out. Once you’ve perfected the art of swirling, try smelling the wine to experience its complex aromas; in particular, for Merlot you may experience scents of blackberry and black plum, vanilla and cinnamon notes as you swirl it – this full-bodied wine pairs nicely with both savory foods as well as desserts boasting distinct flavors.
4. Sipping
With dinner comes a glass of red wine , says horus cafe– and that can be good for your health! Red wine contains resveratrol which helps prevent heart disease and protects against diabetes, but too much alcohol consumption may pose health issues; therefore it is wise to consume red wine in moderation.
When choosing a red wine, take note of its label. This can tell you which grape varieties make up its blend and where it was produced; furthermore, the label can provide information about its body – how bold or light it may be.
If you’re searching for a casual wine to pair with food, opt for lighter-bodied red wines like Merlot or Pinot Noir as these won’t contain as many tannins that could dry out and displease your mouth. For cocktails or binge watching sessions on the couch, select fuller-bodied wines such as Cabernet Sauvignon.