So, I’m a little late getting out my wine blog this week, because I had a DIY home project. My friend Maggie was kind enough to come down and help me with this particular project. When I asked her to help, never in a million years did I dream it would take us 6 1/2 hours or feel like it put our bodies through a boxing match. So here’s a wall in my living room I painted a dark brown almost 9 years ago. (That’s Leo, watching a cat movie)
My sister gave me the wallpaper for Christmas to do it in a different style. When I asked my friend Maggie to help, who knew putting up wallpaper was going to take such a toll on our poor bodies. This is hard work folks. LOL
But it’s now done in a wallpaper that looks like distressed barn board and I absolutely love how it turned out. And although the blog is called ‘Helpful Hints,’ that has more to do with wine than home improvement.
So, this is the type of helpful hint I’m good at. You’ve all seen the meme ‘Being an adult is wondering what to make for supper for the rest of your life”? The below hint helps with that problem.
I’m kidding. I’m going to give you a few helpful hints around a wine bottle, to make your life a little easier.
- When to Decant a wine and why?
Decanting wine is all about exposing the wine to oxygen, or you may have heard it as ‘letting the wine breathe’. Aerating the wine, especially many reds, can release more of the wine’s aromas, and soften the tannins. Most red wines are stuck in a bottle for a few years, not moving. Decanting shakes it up. When I was studying to become a Sommelier, they would first have us smell and taste a wine without decanting or swirling. Then they would get us to swirl. It’s amazing how the wine comes alive, especially the aromas.
2. How can I keep my opened wine a little longer?
During our Tuesday night girls night, one of the ladies bought a bottle of wine that she opened on Saturday night. When she took a sip, she said ‘it didn’t age very well’. It was a white wine, a blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay. Many people feel because the wine has a screw cap, and it closes easily, it’s keeping the wine. Helpful hint. If you choose to put the cork half way in, or screw the cap back on, your wine is going to be exposed to the elements, and it’s not going to last very long. Invest in a good wine stopper that seals. Plus a red wine will last longer than a white, and always refrigerate it.
3. I drink white, but I would like to start drinking red. What should I start with?
I get this a lot at wine tastings. The biggest shock people face when going from white to red is the temperature of the wine. So, it’s OK to chill your red wine. Start with some lighter reds and work your way up. Try a Pinot Noir, chill it, and see what you think. Another wine to try is Beaujolais, it’s light and fruity and should be served chilled as well. I don’t know if I would go from a light white to a Cabernet Sauvignon or a Shiraz.
On that note, let’s take a look at a couple of new wines. First, a gorgeous white wine.
From Banfi Vineyards in the heart of Tuscany Italy, comes this fantastic blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay. You get the body of the Chardonnay and the light acidity of the Sauvignon Blanc. I really loved this wine. The Tuscans really know how to make great wine and with Italians the wine is all about the food. That’s why I think some of the most food-friendly wine in the world comes from Italy. This one is up there on the list. At $16.99 it’s a great deal.
And for my red, I’m going to stay in Italy.
I believe this was my first time trying this wine, and I loved it. We got together and had lasagna and Caesar salad, and the Italian wines hit it out of the ballpark. Ernest Hemingway called Valpolicella “a light dry wine as friendly as the home of your favorite brother”. I think this is more of a medium bodied wine, but so tasty and so smooth. Under $20 a bottle, try it. Even if you are trying red for the first time.
It’s been one of those weeks. Till next week, Cheers
Wine-It’s Just My Opinion 