The best wine tips for beginners can be more than just: sip, taste, and enjoy, right?! There has GOT to be more to it...
Especially for beginners, getting the best wine tips can give you a greater appreciation for the craft, and lead you to some *mind blowing* wines.
Literally, wines that you never thought existed... They taste THAT good!
I mean I can get overly excited (only sometimes) about drinking some knock-off-the-chair kind of wines. But, if we are just starting out, how do we get there?!
You probably are wondering how to get to the to-die-for relationship with wine. So, that is why I have nailed down some of the best wine tips and tricks to get your love affair with wine on the road!
Here you will see uncommon wine tips, where to get the best affordable glassware, how to store your wines, the basics of wine types, what temperature to drink your wine, and more!!
This post is all about wine tips for beginners.
Top 10 Secret Wine Tips and Tricks
No more waiting around, let's get started so you can drink. that. wine. ASAP!
1. Uncommon tip: Find a winemaker
I don't mean to hunt down a winemaker, or stalk them, or anything like this, so just as a disclaimer...
Though, I am serious about finding a winemaker! Lots of winemakers have a following. Some even go as far as having a "cult" following because their customers are THAT loyal (and obsessed) with them.
(Think Screaming Eagle...)
I didn't know this until I worked for a winemaker who had a cult following.
It can be so incredible to know who made your wine *from literal grape to glass*. I don't know what it is... It breeds some beautiful connection almost inexplicable.
You get the opportunity to learn the land where the grapes were grown, the person who made them, and now you get to drink it... Ah-may-zing!
2. Invest in decent glassware.
The glassware you choose is vital to the overall experience of your wines. If you do anything in this list, do this!
When I worked in California wine country I learned how *literally* life-changing a good wine glass can be.
People can get super intricate with wine glasses to where they cost an arm and a leg... Though, that does not need to be your reality.
You can find the best glassware for affordable prices, and here is the secret:
Get glassware that is thin glassed.
Thin glass allows for, what I call, a red-carpet-ride for the wines. The less glass in your mouth means the more wine and that can only be a good thing!
Guide to Affordable & Best Glassware That Will Change the Literal Game
2. Know how to store your wines.
Another really important wine tip for beginners!
Store your wines in a temperature consistent environment. Best case scenario, store in a cool dark place.
If you do not have a cool or dark place, store in your closet on the floor. Since heat rises it will be cooler on the floor. Storing wine is an important part of wine tips for beginners!
You might know this by now, but store your wine bottles horizontal! This will keep the cork moist and avoid any cracking-cork situation (which you do not want!).
Storing wine correctly will give the wine the opportunity to be top tier once you are ready to drink it.
(Hint hint: how long to age wine depends on the type of wine you have, so read up on that!)
3. Elegant wine tools?
A really fun addition to any wine dinner, date, or single night in are the endless array of wine tools.
Wine tools are sometimes *not necessary* but adds some pizazz and that extra oomf to your wines.
It's like garnishing your margarita with a lime wedge and a cocktail umbrella: it just feels right!
First up, a unique and classy decanter.
A decanter is perfect for red wines, or wines with higher tannin levels, to allow them to "open up" and the flavors to round out, plus it looks very classy!
Perfect for when you are sharing your bottle with others, or are on the end of the bottle and you are ready to finish it off yourself.
Next wine tool that is a great wine tips for beginners, wine aerator!
Much like a decanter, it helps the wine open up to be enjoyed a bit sooner than just leaving it in the wine glass.
It can be a joyful addition to your wine bar at home.
RELATED POST: 9 Insanely Gorgeous Wine Bar Ideas to Make Your Home Totally Irresistible
4. Engage in the 'swirl'.
This might just be me, but when I am drinking a glass of wine the first thing I do is swirl.
Swirling increases the surface area of the wine to increase aeration (much like the tools above) which helps to open up the wine. It oxidizes the wine which leads to flavor development.
So, the more you swirl the more the flavor develops? That's the idea!
How to engage in the 'swirl':
- Hold your wine glass by the stem.
- Placing it between your index and thumb, as if you are holding a wand in Harry Potter.
- Use your wrist to gently move the glass.
- The wine will swirl in 360 degrees, and now you've done the 'swirl'!
The swirl will add elegance to your wine drinking and assist in expanding the flavor development! The ultimate wine tips for beginners begins with the swirl!
5. Host a dinner party.
If you are enjoying your homemade wine, this one is for you!! There is no better way than hosting a dinner party to celebrate a new batch of wine.
Or to enjoy a lovely bottle from your favorite winery.
- Invite friends
- Pair with some elegant meats and cheeses
- Talk about the vineyard, flavors, etc
Simple as that!
RELATED POST: 17 Inspiring Wine Night Ideas to Transform Any Ladies Night
6. Create a beautiful environment.
What I mean is create a space that will be fruitful for enjoying your beautiful glass of wine.
For example, here are some ways to create an ample environment:
- Run yourself a bubble bath
- Get yourself flowers and place in a vase
- Pair with delicious snacks
- Light candles
- Put on silky pajamas
- Do a face mask
- Listen to Adele, Erikah Badu, or your fav artist
- Read a book
Do some of these, or all, and enjoy the environment you create. I mean you really can't go wrong here.
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Have a glass of wine at sunset after you:
- Get a massage
- Get your nails done
- Get a facial
The idea here is to create the ambiance for you to fully enjoy your wine. Even if it is just one glass, the environment we create will make or break a wine (especially a really nice wine!).
7. Get familiar with the most popular wines.
As a beginner, you honestly might already be aware of the most popular wine varietals...
You know cabernet sauvignon, pinot noir, pinot grigio, etc etc.
You probably already have a favorite... So, getting familiar with these even more so will help you expand onto them.
For example,
- Know the dark reds
- Know the more floral white wines
- Know the more oaky whites
- Learn the regions in which wine is made
- How is each region different (Spain vs California vs France)
Man, I could go on and on for the basics because its *so* easy to expand onto what you already know.
8. Drink your wine at the right temperature.
Different wines are best at different temperatures! Room temperature often ranges from 68-75 degrees F.
The General Rule of Thumb:
- Serve lighter reds a bit cooler at 55 degrees F.
- Serve fuller bodied reds closer to room temperature at 65 degrees F.
- Serve younger reds at room temperature.
- Lighter whites serve at 50 degrees F.
- Fuller whites (like Chardonnay) serve at 55 degrees F.
Now, if you have made your own wine. Maybe fruit wines or grape wines...
Understand the tannin levels you have. Did you add tannins? What is the ABV?
If you have a higher tannin level, then you want to serve more like a red wine. Alternatively, the higher the alcohol content (ABV) the more chilled you want to serve the wine.
9. Save your leftover wine correctly.
Now, you may be questioning, there is a correct way to save leftover wines? And in some ways, yes!
When you have leftover wine that is top tier wine you almost NEED to keep safe, there are a couple options.
- Use argon gas to prevent any further oxidation of the wine. So, when you go back to polish off the bottle, the flavor would have stayed decently the same.
- Keep cool and store in the fridge! The cold temperatures will prevent chemical processes that change the flavors to occur.
Wine tips for beginners are pretty straight forward: find a winemaker, invest in decent glassware, share with friends, and more!
This post was all about wine tips for beginners.
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