Top Tips to Help Navigate Around the Most Common Pitfalls of Wine Investment
Most people think of wine as a luxury item. So, certainly you would want to get the most out of it. More and more wine enthusiasts are looking for information in regards to their favorite beverage. Everybody makes mistakes, including wine lovers. However, by knowing, and avoiding these biggest mistakes wine drinkers (and investors) make, you might find yourself enjoying wine even more!
Holding your glass the wrong way
The general rule of holding a wine glass has always been to keep your hands off the body of the glass. So as to avoid a dirty and smudged glass, as well as preserve the right temperature of the wine, be sure to hold the glass by the stem.
Gripping the glass this way will help prevent your body heat warming the beverage. This applies to white, red and sparkling wines, since all have varying optimal temperatures.
Serving at the wrong temperature
Chances are that you are serving your wine either too cold or too warm. So many drinkers have the tendency of drinking red wine while it’s too warm and white wine when it’s too cold. You need to understand that temperature can make or spoil your wine.
If you are serving red wine, keep in mind that red wine that is too warm will be less aromatic. Therefore, ensure you cool it down slightly prior to serving it. On the other hand, drinking white wine when it is too cold destroys all of its aromas, leaving you with a taste that is more acidic.
Decanting Too Long
Decanting wine is popular in every wine lover. Decanting can greatly improve the tasting experience of wine, and it can also ruin it. It is important to know how long you need to decant your wine. Decanting brings in oxygen, which releases flavors and aromas but it also increase the rate of chemical reactions that causes wine to degrade.
Extended decanting of wine can kill its aromatic properties. Once the wine is over decanted, chemical reactions cause high acid levels. Decanting wine for about 30 minutes is adequate.
Storing It Wrong
If wine is stored upright, the corks dry out, and air eventually gets in to the wine, hence spoiling it. Wine needs to be stored lying on its side so that it will be easier to see any sediments that may form in the wine.
A lot of people store wine at the warmest parts of their home, or in a place that gets a lot of sunlight. Wine that becomes too hot for a long period of time will lose its flavors and probably turn to vinegar. Ultraviolet rays can give wine an unpleasant smell too. Be sure to store wines in cool, dark places away from light.
Over-thinking It
There are some rules to pairing wine with different types of food. These are simply guidelines, not mandatory rules to follow. Do not always stick to the rules. What makes drinking wine fun is trying new ones, and discovering new pairings on your own. Wine should be enjoyed in the company of others. You do not need to have an extensive knowledge and ability to blind taste wine, and be able to pair with different types of foods.
At least try to determine what types of dishes will turn out well with the wine you are serving. Enjoying what is in your glass when you are drinking it is the most important thing about wine. All you have to care about is having a good time drinking your wine.
Investing without professional assistance
Investing in fine wine is tricky. Just loving a certain type is not enough to help you see visible returns. It is important to consult with a wine merchant prior to spending any money. Settle on a budget, and together talk about your interests.
You are advised to purchase good quality wines with a reputation, such as Chateau Lafite or Mouton Rothschild wine; these have a track record, so chances of ending up with plonk in 5-10 years are really slim.
Last but not least, it is important to have patience. Good-quality wine takes times to mature and appreciate. Opt for adequate storing conditions and before you know it, that case you just purchased may increase in value.
Category: Wine Investing
Great tips. I’m right with you on the “don’t over-think it”. I mostly prefer to just drink my wine with some fresh fruit and dark chocolate, so I don’t pay attention to all the meat and cheese talk.