Knowing about and appreciating wines is one of those things you’re just expected to do as an adult. The problem is, wine is a relatively broad subject, and many of us don’t have time to educate ourselves. We’ve put together a quick guide to help you become a wine master of Springfield, IL.
Different Type of Wines
The first thing you should know about wine is the different types. The most basic difference in wine is its color: it comes in either red or white. Both wines have distinct flavor profiles and multiple subcategories, so you’ll need to know about those, too.
White wines include wines like pinot grigio, Chardonnay, Riesling, and Sauvignon Blanc. These are often a bit crisper and lighter than red wines, so they’re good for people who are just getting into wine. They also pair well with lighter meals such as fish and chicken.
Popular red wines include pinot noir, merlot and cabernet sauvignon. These wines are a bit heavier and more flavorful than white wines, but it takes a bit longer to get used to the flavor. If you’re not a big fan of wine yet, you may want to start with a white or two and work your way up to reds. These wines pair well with red meats like lamb and steak.
Flavor Notes
Once you’ve got the types of wine down, you need to learn how to identify the different flavor notes. There are five tastes that the human tongue can easily distinguish between sour, salty, sweet, savory and bitter. Learn how to tell the difference between these flavors in wine and pair them with food accordingly.
You can also learn to identify more specific flavor notes in the wine. This is a skill that comes with time, but with enough wine tasting, you can identify specific flavors like lemon and oak in a bottle of wine. This is also a large part of learning which wines you enjoy and how to pair them with food.
Learning how to taste wine, pick good wine, and pair it with the right foods isn’t an easy process, but you can do it with enough effort. If you want a great wine perfectly paired with a meal for you, check out Loukinens’ on 4th in Springfield, IL.
