Many of us love our glass of white wine, but when it comes to red wine, well … we just don’t like it. Red wine tastes “bitter” – so what’s a white wine drinker to do?
Here are 6 easy steps to learning to love red wine:
1. Shop for a “ripe and round” red wine.
These wines are technically dry but have the taste of riper black fruit. Asked the wine manager of wine assistant at you local Ultra Liquors to assist you. Use descriptors to describe the rich flavors you want: jammy, ripe, lush, black fruit, round, big fruit, ripe, blackberry, cherry or rich. A wine with a “jammy” characteristic will have a perceived taste of “sweetness,” even though the wine is not sweet. A “rich” wine is the opposite of a “lean” wine. A lean wine does not exhibit or release the ripeness of the grape.
2. Request a medium-bodied wine.
Some foods are best with a full-bodied wine, but medium-bodied is a good place to start, and works well with or without food. A lighter-bodied red wine can be risky. Lighter” may result in “thinner,” and thinner wines are not attractive.
3. Ask about wines made from these grapes.
Shiraz, Syrah, Grenache, Zinfandel (red Zinfandel – not white Zinfandel), and perhaps some Merlots and Cabernet Sauvignons. The Shiraz, Syrah, Grenache and Zinfandel grapes are inherently a bit fruitier than the noble grapes of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. The vintage and the winemaker are the final factor. It’s the fruit of the grape that makes the wine delectable. The Ultra Liquors wine professional should be your guide.
4. Only buy red wine that have a grape-name on its label
A wine made from a specific grape(s) should always be better than just a “red” wine.
5. State your price range
If you are prepared to pay R50 or above for a 750 ml bottle, and you’re willing to take a few chances for not a lot of money, you can find a nice red wine. For R100 to R150 you can find a really lovely red wine. Price does make a difference because it relates to a grape of better quality.
6. Practice
Pour about 3 cm of your red wine in an big wine glass. Let the wine breathe. As the grill heats-up, munch on favourite crackers or bread, maybe some cheese. Place the wine glass on a table; place your fingers on the base of the glass and get the wine swirling. This puts air into the wine and softens the tannins (the “bitter” taste). Aerating red wine is important. Before you know it, “swirling” the wine becomes a pleasant habit. The crackers or bread will ready your palate for the wine. Resist the urge to try the wine without food. With the first couple of sips, moisten all the taste buds in your mouth (this absolutely makes the wine taste better) – resist throwing it to the back of your mouth and swallowing. Take the burgers off the grill and enjoy you perfectly balanced foods.
Be determined – don’t lose heart if the first couple of wines aren’t appealing – it grows on you!
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