Here are 20 of my favourite wine tips that you can use.
Over the years, I have sipped through countless wine tastings, talked with sommeliers and taken classes. (And plenty of notes.) Along the way, I have picked up some brilliant tips. Some of these tips are from experts. Some are clever tricks for parties. Some are geniuses. (You’ll never see your salad spinner in the same light again).
Here is my collection of wine knowledge, gathered from bottles, bites, flights, and failures. But before we continue, why should I listen to you? I am a WSET Level 2, 3 Wines Award holder and love a good hack, tip or trick.
1. Chill Red Wine
The red wine should not always be served at room temperature. This phrase refers to the temperature in a 17th-century French chateau and not your overheated home.
Lighter Reds such as Pinot Noir, Gamay and Barbera are deliciously slightly chilled. Please put them in the refrigerator for 15 to 20 minutes before serving. They’ll taste brighter and more refreshing on hot days.
2. Hack: Chill wine quickly with a wet towel
Need to cool a bottle quickly? Wrap the bottle in a tea towel soaked in water and place it in the fridge for 10 to 15 minutes. The moisture will speed up the cooling process. Don’t forget it.
Alternatively, you can throw the bottle in an ice bucket filled with salt and water. The salt lowers the freezing temperature, and the bottle will chill faster. That’s science, baby!
3. Use a Salad Spinner for Small Bottles
This is a crazy but brilliant idea. In your salad spinner, place a small bottle or can of wine surrounded by water, ice, and salt. Spin for 2-3 minutes, and voila: ice-cold wine.
It also works with cans of G&T, but that is a separate blog post.
4. If you want to pair wine with chocolate, make sure that you do it right.
It’s not easy to pair wine with chocolate. Red wine’s tannins can clash with dark chocolate’s bitterness, making the whole thing taste bad.
The trick is to pair a sweet wine and a dessert. Try Port and dark chocolate or Brachetto d’Acqui and berries. It’ll completely change the way you think about wine and dessert.
5. Cleaning Glasses Only with Hot Water
It is not recommended to wash your wine glasses in washing-up liquid, especially when you are using expensive ones. Soap residue can ruin the smell of your wine.
Rinse with hot water and let it air dry. Then, polish the glass with a lint-free cloth. Bonus wine tips and tricks: I dry my wine glasses with an old cotton T-shirt.
6. Decanting Cheap Wine Can Make a Big difference
Here’s one of my favourite wine tricks. If you have a cheap bottle of wine that is a little harsh or tight-tasting, pour the wine into a large, wide container, such as a vase or jug, and let it breathe for 30 minutes. This will soften the tannins and help the flavours open up.
No decanter? Swirl it like you mean it. Even 30 seconds in a large glass will help.
7. Use leftover wine in ice cube trays
You don’t need to waste that last splash of wine. Pour the wine into an ice-cube tray and then freeze. Use the cubes later in sauces or stews.
The frozen rose cubes are a great addition to summer cocktails.
8. How Much Does a Glass of Wine Cost?
Most people overpour. A standard wine pour is 125ml-150ml. One 750ml wine bottle is equal to 5-6 glasses. Use a measuring cup to track how much wine you are serving or drinking. You’ll be amazed.
9. Do not sniff the corks. Don’t Sniff Corks.
It doesn’t matter what the cork smells. You can’t tell anything from the smell. You should check the wine for any strange smells (wet cardboard = corked). Never trust the cork, but always your nose. The cork can taint wine by giving off a musty or mouldy odour. Approximately 1-7% of wines bottled with natural corks are estimated to be “corked” due to the chemical compound 2,4,6-trichloroanisole (TCA).
10. Flat Sparkling Wine? Add a Raisin.
Drop a single raisin in the bottle if your Bubbly is losing its fizz. This gives the bubbles a clinging object and can help to bring back some sparkle. This won’t work perfectly, but it is a great party trick.
11. Keep wine cool with frozen grapes
Hot day? A warm glass of red wine? Pour a few grapes into your glass. The grapes will chill your wine, but not water it down as ice might. You’ll also get a frozen fruity snack at the end. You could call it a bonus snack!
12. Traveling with Cushion Bottles and Socks
Are you going to a party or storing bottles in your luggage? Wrap the wine in sports socks to prevent it from clinking or, worse, slamming. This is a budget-friendly and effective way to use that odd sock without a mate.
13. Add leftover wine to Pasta Sauce
Do not throw away that last splash of red wine! Pour it into your tomato-based sauces, risottos or stews for a boost of flavour. White wine can add brightness to sauces, and red wine gives richness to the ragu. Waste not; taste more.
14. No Wine Strainer? Use a coffee filter
Grab a filter for coffee or a clean muslin towel if your cork has crumbled in the middle of the pop (we’ve been there). Pour the wine through to remove all the cork bits.
15. Why swirl your wine? Why Swirl Your Wine?
Have you ever noticed that people are swirling their wines like they were auditioning for MasterChefs? It’s for a good reason! The swirling helps release the aromas of the wine so that you can get a better taste before sipping. A wine glass’s curved rim traps aromas.
16. Basics of Pairing: Weight to Weight
What’s the best way to pair wine with food? Pair heavy foods with full-bodied wines such as Cabernet Sauvignon or Syrah. Light dishes? Consider light wines, such as a Chardonnay or Pinot Grigio. Whitefish goes well with Pinot Grigio or grilled chicken and Chardonnay. You want to feel the same vibes as you do when dating.
17. Turn bottles on their side (It is not just aesthetic).
Always store wine bottles with corks lying down. The cork will stay moist and not dry out, preventing oxygen from entering. Dry corks = crumbled wine and oxidised wine. Horizontal is the key.
18. It’s OK to Spit on Tastings
It’s perfectly normal to spit the wine out at wine tastings. This helps you to stay sober and taste the differences in wines. You can still enjoy the taste and finish of the wine without drinking every drop. Pros do it, so you can, too.
19. Use the Metal Spoon to Keep Sparkling wine Bubbly
Opened a bottle of Bubbly, but not finish it. Put a handle-down of a metal spoon into the neck and put it back in the refrigerator. The metal spoon helps to regulate the temperature of the neck of the glass bottle and slow down the bubbles. It’s not known why this works, but I like it when it does.
20. Drink what you like
You don’t need to adhere to “rules.” Drink what you enjoy. If you like red wine with fish or white with steak, go for it. Enjoying wine is not about analysing it to death.
