Tips for Choosing the Right Wine for Your Meal

By Guest Blogger, Marie N.

Tips for Choosing the Right Wine for Your Meal

 

It appears to be an innocuous task – just go out and find the bottle of wine you can drink during or after the meal. However, as we all know, there is more than meets the eye with the wine-selection conundrum. It is not just a matter of red or white. Type of grape, level of quality in the region, tinctures, the method and seasoning all play a crucial part in determining a specific texture or taste. If these factors make your head spin, here are some basic tips for choosing the right wine for your meal.

Read the label

Most people already have a favorite label, but they usually cannot remember why they have chosen it. Sometimes, this preference is a matter of superficial appearance – the label simply looks interesting. The next time you browse the wine-section, turn the bottle around and read the label tentatively, do not merely skip through it. The descriptions on the back often point to the specific flavor texture of the wine, which can help you make the right decision. You should just know that labels which contain expressions like “table wine” and “blend” have far more inferior tastes which are unbalanced and bland – as they use grapes that come from a variety of areas.

 

Be mindful of adjectives

If you dislike sweet wines, you should know that “fruitiness” is not a factor. Some types of Riesling and port wines can be more syrupy, with a distinct sweetness. This does not mean they are “fruit forward”. In fact, some fruity wines that contain tropical fruit tinctures and honeysuckle can be surprisingly crisp once you taste them. “Rich” and “dense” wines are served best with heavier, meat inflected meals and goulashes. “Balanced” and “crisp” wines are good for light meals rich in vegetables and leaner meats.

 

Red or white? Depends on the occasion

Supple red wines are always a good choice – they are rich in resveratrol, the wine’s top health-promoting antioxidant. Since red wines are fermented with the grape skin that contains this antioxidant, there is no other type of wine that is richer in resveratrol. On the other hand, high-quality white wine is the best friend of those who want to keep lean – it tends to be lower in both alcohol and calories while still retaining the health quality.

 

Rosé if you are unsure

If you are having one of those days when you are absolutely not making your best decisions, or if you don’t know what sort of wine will go best with the new meal you are trying, rosé is the way to go. Dry and crisp wine of a light-pink texture is the versatile little palate cleanser that can go well with any meal, but especially light nibbles and cheese plates. Additionally, if you are in an especially festive mood, you can purchase a bottle of sparkling rosé to match the occasion.

 

Opt for lower alcohol percentage

The alcohol percentage in your wine bottle of choice correlates directly with the sugar quantity in the said bottle. This is due to the fact that alcohol comes from the sugar contained within the grapes. If you have a lower tolerance for sugar, this means you should go with wines that contain less alcohol, and you are definitely better for it – you can have more glasses without the fear of getting sloppy. Most wines have between 9% and 16% alcohol, so you can work your way within those parameters.

 

Choose sustainably farmed wines

If you read a label that says the bottle contains “sustainably farmed wine”, this means it was made without using pesticides and chemicals that are detrimental to your health. If any such wine is within the acceptable price range for you, always opt for this one since it is made from certified organic grapes and it doesn’t contain added sulfites.

Before you choose the perfect wine, you have to take the pricing into account. Study the general price tags of a variety of wines in your local store or area to always know the ballpark of the money you will have to give up when you venture out to purchase the bottle(s). Just remember one important thing – a fancy looking bottle and a steep price tag do not necessarily mean it’s a wine of top-notch quality.

Tia, and TipsfromTia.com  is trying to keep you looking good and
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