DIYER’S GUIDE TO #WINE

ETC

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It’s Molly and I believe if it’s always 5 o’clock somewhere, the wine must never stop flowing! We chatted with Harry Hansen, senior winemaker at Napa Valley’s incredible Sterling Vineyards, about our drink of choice in this month’s installment of the DIYer’s Guide. If you want to be the hit of happy hour or toast of the town, follow these tips when it comes to all things wine. Cheers!

Wino Forever: When it comes to serving, wine aficionados adhere to these basics:

  • Red wines are best served in a wider glass with a wide opening so the flavors can spread out and the wine can get more air, which will release bold aromas and flavors.
  • White wines should be served in a glass with a narrower opening because the small capacity keeps the temperatures cooler for longer and the aromas will waft well in a narrower glass.

The 5 S’s: You can add amateur sommelier to your resume by remembering these five flavor identifiers.  

  • See: Look at the color and viscosity of the wine. Can you see through the wine or is it totally opaque?
  • Swirl: Swirling your wine helps release some of the wine’s natural flavors and aromas.
  • Smell: Wine is often smelled before being tasted in order to identify some components. Harry suggests identifying two flavors based on the aromas. There are three types of wine aromas: primary aromas, secondary aromas, and tertiary bouquets. Primary aromas come from grapes and include fruit, herb and flower notes. Secondary aromas come from fermentation and yeast aromas. Finally, tertiary bouquets come from aging, oxidation and oak such as baking spices, nutty aromas and vanilla.
  • Sip: Swishing wine around in your mouth a bit allows for it to touch all areas of your tongue so you are able to pick up the different elements of taste like sweetness or bitterness, and the different flavors.
  • Swallow or Spit: Harry assures us that we shouldn’t be ashamed to spit out your wine. It is a common practice in tasting to ensure you are drinking responsibly and have the opportunity to truly experience various wines.
  • Ask Yourself: Did you like the wine? Was this wine unique or unmemorable? Were there any characteristics that shined through and impressed you, would you have it again? More after the break…

Guest Bearing the Best: We never arrive to a party without a surefire hostess gift, a bottle of wine. Harry advises us to bring a wine that you love and want to share. Pick something that matches the season, party theme or a bottle that you know your host will enjoy long after the party ends. For example, something light and fruity, such as a rose, is the perfect complement to a summer pool party. Holiday get-together? Pick your favorite red for perfect protein pairings all holiday season long.

If you know what food is being served you can try to bring a wine that pairs well with it.  The best way to do this if you find yourself unsure is going by country of origin. For example, if you know the host/hostess is serving Italian food an Italian wine is always your best bet because the wine and the ingredients in the dinner will typically have similar flavors.

Best If Drank By…: Wine is best enjoyed within a few days after opening. Sparkling wine has the shortest window. A full bodied red and most white wines the wine can be enjoyed up to four days after opening, if stored and sealed correctly. There are tools after opening that keep air out of the bottle, which will help your wine stay fresh for longer.

Storage: If a wine cellar is still on your “Someday” Pinterest board, remember to keep your wine cool because heat is the number one enemy for wine- but don’t keep it too cool. If you are storing your wine for a short period of time, the refrigerator is fine, but if you want to keep it for a long time it needs to be put in a lightly cooled cellar. For those that you are storing longer, make sure to store it on its side and away from humidity without being shaken.

Taste and See: Spending the day at a winery should not only be considered America’s pastime because it’s fun, but it’s also the best way to find a wine you like. There are thousands of types of wines each made a little differently and the only way to know which ones you prefer is by continually trying different sorts. What is great about visiting a winery and doing a tasting is that you get to taste a number of different wines that you may not try otherwise.

Note from Jenni: Check out some of the snaps from my AMAZING behind the scenes tour at Sterling Vineyard in Napa Valley! I had so much fun meeting a crew of new bloggers, plus my new BFF, Hannah Simone from New Girl, and seeing every step of wine making. Thanks so much Sterling for an unforgettable trip!

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This post was made in partnership with Sterling Wines, thank you for supporting all the amazing sponsors who make I SPY DIY possible!  All thoughts/opinions are 100% my own. Wine is intended for those whom alcohol is legal and appropriate. Please Drink Responsibly!


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