Aiming for a new and improved you in 2016? That’s tough. Improving your wine experience? That’s not hard at all.
Because if you want to drink better wine, the first step is drinking wine better. To help you get the job done, we asked the pros for their best wine drinking hacks that will make you a better person (or at least a better drinker).
• LEARN BY DEGREES.
Aim for a middle ground when it comes to temperature. Good reds taste better with a little chill on them and good whites taste better when they’re not ice cold, says Joe Campanale, co-owner and beverage director for Epicurean Group, which includes the NYC neighborhood restaurants Dell’anima, Anfora and L’Artusi. So if a red wine isn’t being pulled from a temperature controlled cellar or wine refrigerator, put the bottle in a refrigerator for 15 to 20 minutes (or until slightly cool to the touch) before serving, says Jessica Pinzon, wine director of the Napa Valley’s Miminashi restaurant. “Wine shows more acidity and minerality at a cooler temperature, and more fruit and alcohol at a warmer temperature. Experiencing the transition of (wine) warming up in the glass will enhance your understanding and enjoyment of the wine,” she says.
• ADD A TOUCH OF GLASS.
Use clean, clear glasses with a good stem, says Campanale, who hosts the weekly “In the Drink” program on Heritage Radio Network. He uses Bordeaux-shaped glasses (your basic red wine glass) for “pretty much all wine, including Champagne.” The stem plays an important role — keeping your fingers from warming the wine.