Wine is an essential gift this holiday season. What can novice wine drinkers do to find great wines at an affordable price? This season, there are a few things you can do to look wine-savvy.
* Choose your store carefully. You need to ensure that the store you choose is able to provide what you want, from price to selection. Many stores offer themes or special selections that are focused on specific types of wine.
* Consider different regions. Chile, Argentina, Spain and Chile all offer premium wines at lower prices. This makes them great value. Bodega Norton Privada is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, which is Argentina’s most popular grape. This wine is rich in red fruit, smoke, and coffee.
* Do your homework. Don’t buy blindly. Many stores offer complimentary wine tastings to customers.
* Pair it right. You should pair it with the right wine, whether you are having it for a holiday dinner or a party. Pinot Noir and Zinfandel go well with turkey, for instance. Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot go well with lamb, beef, and roast chicken.
* To chill or not to chill? You should consider how the wine will be stored when you purchase a wine bottle to give as a gift or take to holiday gatherings. Red wines can be best because they can be stored at room temperature. Sparkling wines and white wines need to be refrigerated in order to preserve their flavors. They are sensitive to heat and light.
* Serve it up right. Proper serving techniques are essential for a perfect wine selection to taste great. Older red wines such as those from the 1990s, should be allowed to sit in a decanter for 30 minutes before being poured into a glass. This allows the wine to be separated from the sediment. The ideal temperatures to serve red wines are 60-65 degrees and white wines 55-60 degrees.
Visit Argentina for more information about the varietals. www.norton.com.ar.
