I love wine. But don’t get me wrong, it took me a while to get on board with it. I definitely didn’t like it to begin with and I started with rose. Rose wine is definitely one that is easily made very sweet and is more tolerable when you’re trying it for the first time. White wine was actually the last type of wine I tried as my parents are big lovers of the red vino. Even as a wine lover myself, I still find it difficult to pick out wines. However, Independent Wine has been sending me some incredible wines to try and that is a little different to what I’d normally try from a supermarket or restaurant. I always to look out for the usual grapes, rather than pick something that I’ve never tried before. So how do you pick out a good bottle of wine without landing yourself with something that tastes like vinegar or has a funny after taste? Here are some tips to pick a good bottle of wine.
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Start Off With White Or Rose
Although I am the biggest fan of red wine now, if you’re starting off in the wine world, I’d always suggest white or rose. I typically would have white or rose over the summer and preference red wine as an autumn/winter warmer. Just like your taste palette, you will mature and end up loving red wine eventually. You can’t really go wrong with rose wines and if you’re looking for some sweet, try to avoid anything that’s too dry. The more dry a bottle of wine is, I often find it’s less sweet as a result. With white wines, I love a Chardonnay or Saviougn Blanc. My favourite white wine that I’ve had ever had is Thomas Pico’s Chardonnay, which I had in Paris a few years back. If you ever have the pleasure of seeing it, then get a bottle. It’s honestly incredible.
Think About Flavours You Enjoy
When it comes to wine, there’s a whole variety of flavours out there to enjoy but with so many, you need to figure out what it is you like. Perhaps you like more citrusy flavours over fruity? Maybe you want a bit of spice or perhaps a bitter aftertaste. Whatever your preference, it’s a good idea to look at what you enjoy and go from there. Independent Wine is very helpful because it mentions the notes (flavours) that you should taste in the wine.
Consider The Occasion
Depending on the occasion might factor in what type of wine you go for. When it comes to birthday or dinner parties, you might want to get a wine that’s tailored to the person you’re giving it too or that is a balanced wine that’s sure to be a fan favourite. Anything that’s easily drinkable and not too heavy is going to be crowd-pleasure, however, if it’s for a date night with you and your partner, pick something you’ll both like. For group settings, white wine is probably the firm favourite for most people as this can easily be made into a white wine spritzer or adding a couple of ice cubes into it can make it more enjoyable.
Percentage Is Important
In my opinion, the percentage of a wine is important and I think a ballpark to aim for when shopping for wines is 12.5-14%. From my experience, anything below 12.5% isn’t as good. I think with percentages, they’re going to vary depending on the wine grape and I think it’s especially important for the white wine and red wines.
Have you taken a look at the wines available on Independent Wine? Let me know what your favourite wine is in the comments!
*Disclaimer – This is a sponsored post with Independent Wine.