There is no denying that the culture of alcohol drinking in Poland is growing year by year. Nowadays, we do not only reach for vodka and beer, but more and more often Poles are trying slightly more sophisticated beverages, i.e. high-quality wines. However, before we reach for the best winesIt is worth learning a few basics about how to handle them. How should wine be opened, what is decanting and how do you choose the right glasses? These and much more can be found below.
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Wine decanting: when, how and why?
It is important to know that wine, before it reaches the consumer, can spend many years in the bottle. During this time, various types of precipitates will precipitate from it, which may interfere with the correct perception of its flavours. Of course, this is not harmful and can be quite easily dealt with. To do so, the wine must be decanted.
Fortunately, this is not a particularly complicated process. This is because it is recommended to pour the wine from the bottle into a decanter and leave it for some time before serving. This will get rid of all the sediment and, in addition, aerate the wine, allowing all its aromas and flavours to be released.
Wine and serving temperature: key principles for optimum taste
Another extremely important point that we absolutely must bear in mind when serving wine to our guestsis to ensure that it is at the right temperature. Should the wine be chilled like a beer, or should its temperature be higher? It is better to find out, because wine that is too warm or too cold can change its taste considerably.
Everyone is well aware that there are all kinds of wines available on the market. They are divided not only into white or red wines, but also into sparkling, sweet or aromatic wines. They should all be served at a slightly different temperature.
A classic red wine should have a temperature of around 17-18°C. The lighter and more delicate the wine becomes, the lower the serving temperature should be. Thus, 8-9°C for white wines and 6-8°C for rosé wines. So, as you can see, there is even a 10°C difference between the two extreme types of wine.
Glassware for connoisseurs: choosing the right wine glasses
Each wine lover is well aware that it is not only what you drink, but also what you drink from that counts. On the market you can find a wide variety of wine glasses with really diverse characteristics. So it is worth knowing how to choose the right glass for drinking wine.
The obvious basis and characteristic of of each wine glass is its colour - it absolutely must be made of transparent glass. This is very important because a transparent glass will allow the colour of the drink to be admired, whether you are drinking white or red wine.
Another critically important feature is the leg of the glass. It is worth paying attention here first and foremost to its length. A good glass should have it long enough to be grasped entirely with the hand without simultaneous contact with the wine. If this is not the case, the heat of the hand will warm the wine, which can cause a change in its taste.
What, on the other hand, is the question of capacity? It is assumed that the glass should allow us to stir it without any effort or risk of spilling the wine.
The art of wine opening: techniques and tools for perfection
No less important than taste and aroma of wine is the proper preparation for its consumption. The key in this case is how bottle with wine will be opened.
Of course, everyone is well aware that wine is opened using a special corkscrew or a barman's chervil. However, whichever tool is used, it is crucial that the cork is not punctured - the wine must under no circumstances come into contact with the metal. In addition, when removing the cork, the bottle must not make a distinctive sound - the cork must leave the bottle completely silently.
But what if we don't have any corkscrews on hand at the moment? Nothing lost, because we can still enjoy the taste of delicious wine. In this case, there are two solutions - using a knife, for example push the cork in or use even an ordinary cigarette lighter to heat the neck of the wine, which will gradually cause the cork to slip out.
Wine and table decorations: inspiration for elegant presentations
Everyone knows perfectly well that food and drinks taste much better if they also look great visually. This is why the world's best chefs take such care with the appearance of their dishes. Very interestingly, this also applies to the circumstances in which wine will be drunk.
It is advisable to take care of the appropriate table decoration when drinking wine. So it is worth taking care not only of the right tablecloth and plates, but even the cutlery. Everything is, of course, a matter of taste, but it is recommended, for example for red wine, that all items are kept in white or silver.
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