In 2015, the average US citizen consumed just over 2.8 gallons of wine, good for over 900 million gallons in total. In terms of bottles, that’s just over 14 bottles per person, per year.  That number may seem either too high or too low depending on your personal habits, but the fact remains that, given that number is based off of total population and not drinking-aged population, the United States likes to drink wine.

With a country that drinks its fair share of wine comes a country of people who need to know a thing or two about what they’re drinking in order to look and act the part. Here are a few quick tips about wine that you should know.

How to Pair Your Wine

Wine pairing is a delicate science. And while some of it can be left up to the drinker to decide for themselves–everyone has their own preferences–choosing the wrong wine to pair with your dinner or dessert can make you look inexperienced. Though your friends and family shouldn’t (and likely wouldn’t) care if you chose a poor wine to go with your fish dinner, coworkers or business associates might.

There are thousands of wine pairing guides available on the internet–look one over and get a good idea of what pairs with what.  

How to Taste Wine

Pour it in your mouth and let your tastebuds do the rest of the work–it’s as simple as that, right? Wrong. I don’t mean how the sense “taste” works, I mean how to properly go to a wine tasting event and look like you know what you’re doing. Check out my guide here on YuriVanetikWine.com for more info on this.

Know the Price Points

Generally speaking, more expensive wine is going to taste a little bit better–cleaner, fresher, more crisp, etc. This isn’t always true, of course, and there are certainly bargain wines available for purchase at virtually every price point, many of which taste great. Although some people might tell you to never dip below a certain dollar amount for a bottle of wine, ignore that. Buy what you enjoy drinking that fits within your price range.

Know When to Drink it

Drinking as a celebration is as old as time itself, and drinking in office or work settings used to be quite commonplace. Now, things are a bit different, but having a drink or two in a formal–or even a work setting (think company parties, business dinners) is both normal and expected.

Know the General Basics

The basics of various types of wine are easy to learn, easy to remember and worth a quick look. I broke down the main types of wine here, including the differences between red and whites, what goes into each and what differentiates them from other types.

Wine-lovers know how difficult it can be to store wine after it has been opened. While it is ideal to drink the entire bottle in one sitting to maximize its freshness and taste, sometimes it is not feasible to do that and it is necessary to keep the wine stored for a few days.

With a corked bottle, red wine should be stored in the refrigerator after opening. When it is time to put the bottle in the fridge, make sure to place the cork back in the bottle. According to experts, the cork should go in with the stain side down While this requires more effort, it ensures that your wine will stay as fresh as possible. The clean side of the cork has been exposed to the elements for a long period of time and may impact the taste of the wine. The side with the stain has remained wet and will continue to enhance the flavor of your red wine. Place the bottle in the refrigerator right-side up and will typically last between three and five days in the fridge before it starts to go bad.

The storage process for a corked bottle of white wine is similar. Once you have opened the bottle, be sure to replace the cork with the stained side down. The wine should last approximately five to seven days in the fridge.

Screwtop wine bottles should simply be stored by screwing the lid back on tight and placing the wine in the fridge. The wine should last approximately one week after opening.

With this in mind, the key to proper wine storage is to keep the wine as airtight as possible. The wine should not be exposed to oxygen anymore than is absolutely necessary. Any airtight jar such as a mason jar can be used to store wine and keep it fresh. There are also aftermarket gadgets available to store the opened wine bottle in a vacuum-sealed bag to minimize its exposure to air. This can be useful if you plan on storing the opened bottle of wine for more than a few days, but in most cases simply storing the wine in the refrigerator with the cork placed back into the bottle or the lid screwed back on will be adequate.

Wine historians believe that the Pinot Grigio grape mutated from the red Pinot Noir grape. It is this mutation that gives the Pinot Grigio grape its gray color and even its name. While there are many who believe that the wine came from Italy originally, it actually comes to the wine world from France. “Gris” means “gray” in French, and the wine is called Pinot Gris in France. The “Grigio” portion of its name belies its Italian influence.

Types of Pinot Grigio
The Pinot Grigio, the second most popular wine in the U.S. after Chardonnay, counts a bit of a chameleon in the wine world. It can be sweet or dry, fruity or have a mineral taste, depending on where it’s from. Its taste is a bouquet of flavors, which includes grape, lemon, white peach, and apple flavors. It’s for this reason that some have even likened this white wine to lemonade. It can be that fruity and refreshing on a hot day.

History of Pinot Grigio
In the 1300s, Pinot Grigio counted as a favorite of the Emperor of Switzerland, Charles IV. However, it didn’t originate in Switzerland but rather in Burgundy, France. Eventually, the wine ended up in Italy. In time, its popularity grew until it was the most popular wine in Italy. And the most popular white wine that was exported to America.

Popularity
Pinot Grigio has gotten some pushback from a few wine drinkers. Some Pinot has not been as flavorful as other wines, due to the effects of mass production. Although a great number of wine producers are working to change that reputation, the reputation sticks. However, because of this, Pinot Grigio can be a less expensive alternative to other white wines.

Wine Pairings
Pinot Grigio wine is a light, delicate wine. As such, it makes an excellent wine to pair with fish and seafood dishes. Its lemony flavor compliments recipes, like crab salad with cucumbers, linguine with clam sauce, and grilled halibut.

Additionally, because of the lightness of this wine, it counts as an excellent wine to include on your “porch” wines list. Chill a bottle and pour a glass of it when you’re ready to have some conversation on the porch in the cool of the evening with family and friends.

The Cabernet Sauvignon is one of the world’s most popular wines. It is a wine that is full bodied, and it has medium tannins. The Cabernet Sauvignon is a wine that is best paired with food because it has a high level of acidity. Even though there are no rules with wine, a Cabernet Sauvignon can be a little bit much on its own.

The Past and Present of Cabernet Sauvignon
The Cabernet Sauvignon is a grape that got its start in France. It began by accident. Two grapes were bred together, and one was the Cabernet Franc which is red and the Sauvignon blanc which is white. From this combination came the Cabernet Sauvignon. Once this combination was discovered, winemakers throughout France began to plant this grape; it is a grape that is easy to grow, and it highly durable. Winemakers were also found of this grape because it works well in Oak. The Cabernet Sauvignon is stored in Oak; Oak helps this wine’s flavor to get heightened and beautified. The Oak storage practice is what gives the Cabernet Sauvignon it’s full body. Cabernet Sauvignon also goes great blended with different grapes; it is commonly blended with a Merlot. This blend makes the Bordeaux wine. This is the most famous wine in all around the world.

Why We Love the Cabernet Sauvignon
Cabernet Sauvignon began to be planted in countries outside of France beginning in the 1970s. It became popular in California’s Napa Valley, and soon it was being ordered in restaurants all around the world. Cabernet Sauvignon is also grown in countries such as Chile and Australia. This is the wine that has over 13.5% alcohol content. Depending on the place where the grape is grown, it may contain a little bit more or less alcohol. The Cabernet Sauvignon is a wine that it is dry, and it is rich in tannins. The flavors of the Cabernet Sauvignon are generally fruity with a hint of tobacco and vanilla. These are the flavors that come out after being stored in Oak. The Cabernet Sauvignon is grown in countries such as Chile and Australia. It is a wine that has developed over time. Its flavor has gotten even more bold, and its popularity continues to grow.

As far as varieties of domesticated grapes go, Pinot noir is the tenth most prodigiously grown, and there’s a good reason for that. Pinot noir is both one of the oldest varieties of wine in the world and one of the most popular. If you want to consider yourself a wine connoisseur, it’s worth understanding the peculiar eccentricities of this widely known breed.

It’s Notoriously Hard to Get Right
That pinot noir has managed to survive since the days of ancient Rome is a testament to its quality, but it’s doubly impressive given the specific circumstances this grape needs to thrive. Pinot noir literally translates to “black pine cone” due to the density of of its bunches, but that also makes it especially susceptible to rot and fungus. Additionally, the thin surface of the skin means that it’s easy prey for insects and pests and more sensitive to withering in hot conditions. This means that Pinot noir is especially difficult to grow and tends to lower yields than other alternatives of wine grapes. That contributes to the comparatively high prices for pinot noir on the open market.

Its Geographical Reach is Limited
That special sensitivity to hot climes means that pinot noir grows poorly in hotter regions. As a result, the most populous regions for growing pinot noir are situated in the colder areas of western Europe. The Burgundy and Champagne regions of France constitute the de facto capital of pinot noir production, but Germany and Switzerland also serve as important centers of growth. Outside of Europe, centers of production are largely reserved to areas with cool air coming in from the ocean, and California, Australia, and Chile have all developed their own farms situated to the picky needs of this grape.

It Pairs Well With Nearly Everything
Pinot noir may be a troublesome wine to produce, but it’s maintained its longevity because of how versatile it is. Due to the wide variety of fruitiness in tannic in this wine, you can usually find a variety suited to your dinner, and as a lighter red wine, it’s even a suitable alternative for drinking all on its own.

Pinot’s rich legacy and unique geographic history are a testament to the richness of its flavor and the diligence and creativity of its farmers and winemakers. If you’re looking to break open a bottle, be sure to give a toast to the people who made this unique wine a lasting reality.

Wine is made in a complex and delicate process, one that focuses on precision to achieve the right consistency regarding flavor, color, and grade. Whereas there some differences when it comes to the actual procedure required to successfully making wine, there are 5 basic steps involved in the winemaking process.

Harvesting Of The Grapes
Grapes are harvested at various stages of the ripping process. The color of the grapes determines when they are to be harvested as it affects the taste of the wine. The harvesting process involves picking the grapes from the trees in the form of bunches and placing them on specially made trays for appropriate transportation. The harvesting process can either be done by hand or by machine. Harvesting by hand involves using a pair of shears to carefully snip the bunch at the point of its attachment to the vine tree. Machine harvesting involves the use of tractors designed to hold and shake vine trees violently such that the vines fall off the trees.

Processing Of The Grapes
After picking, they are transported to factories for processing whereby human labor picks out any unwanted parts such as leaves from the grapes on a conveyor belt. They are also sorted according to grade and quality and then gently washed and rinsed. The clean grapes are they crushed and the puree transferred to a presser where the pure juice is pressed out of the crushed grapes. The extract is sedimented to eliminate any grape skins and particulates.

Fermentation
Fermentation involves letting the juice settle under specified conditions of temperature and air to convert the sugars into alcohol. This may require different processing conditions depending on the type of wine to be made. To produce red and white wine, yeast is added to ferment the juice.

Aging Process
This process involves setting the wine into the desired condition. Flavors, colorings and other additives are used in this stage to set the wine to a specified state. The process involves putting the wine into barrels for a period ranging from days to several years.

Packaging
The packaging process involves bottling and labeling the wine into appropriate containers for shipment. The conventional containment of choice is glass bottles, but some wine can also be put into large cans and barrels where it is served to customers in glasses. The labels contain information such as brand name, batch numbers, and expiry date.

As temperatures begin to cool down and seasons change, more people are beginning to change up their drinks of choice, particularly with wine. Throughout the summer, Americans have enjoyed the cool, refreshing taste of white wine and rose wine, but with the hot temperatures coming to a close, it will not be long before full-bodied red wines begin to increase in demand. As we prepare for the fall season, make sure to keep an eye out for some of these festive drinks.

Pinot Noir
The cooler weather will begin to drive more people to red wine to help keep them warmer, and a popular option for these moods is Pinot Noir. What makes pinot noir so appealing, particularly during this season, is that it stays true to a red wine without becoming overwhelming. This makes pinot noir a great red wine to serve to a group, or can be enjoyed while sitting near a fireplace. Overall, pinot noir provides enough of that richness without the flavors becoming too strong for those who only drink red wine sporadically.

Merlot
As another red wine with a subtle taste, merlot continues to be a popular choice for wine lovers, particularly as the temperatures continue to change. Merlot is typically described as having a soft, elegant taste to it, making it a great choice for a variety of foods and occasions. VinePair even recommends serving merlot to any new red wine drinkers, because of its smooth finish.

Red Wine Hot Chocolate
For those who want to mix up their evening drinks to warm up can also try red wine hot chocolate. While the drink combination has been around for a long time, it has built more attention in recent years, as more people are able to both find recipes and create their own recipes through the internet. For those interested in trying their own red wine hot chocolate, softer red wines like pinot noir are recommended. Additionally, The New York Times recommends that the chocolate and red wine be heated separately, in order to help make any added spices to pop more.

Apple Cider Sangria
For those who love the tastes of fall, apple cider sangria is a great option to satisfy those cravings. Unlike the other drinks on the list, apple cider sangria is made using a softer white wine, like pinot grigio. The base of the sangria can include things like apple slices, apple cider, and cinnamon, but can be altered using other fruits or spices. Additionally, it is recommended that the sangria be made and stored in the fridge to allow the fruits to infuse their flavors into the drink.

Wine connoisseurs have wine tasting down to talent, as it’s their profession. Close to a connoisseur, an oenophile (someone who loves wine) should know the best wine to pair with any dinner of choice. If you consider yourself a wine lover, read through Wine Pairing 101 where I’ll give you the best tips for wine and food. Here’s how you can have a great meal without compromising the flavor of your wine and food.

Salty Meals

Put your pinky out with a glass of champagne. Perfect for salty dishes, champagne is a high acid wine which the salt balances out for a great taste. Salty and sweet make for a top notch pairing. If you’re eating a salt meal or snack, pair it with a sweet wine. You’ll savor the flavor of your salty food, with enjoying the balanced sweetness of your wine.

The best types of wine for salty foods are:

Sauvignon blanc

Champagne

Zinfandel

Riesling

Sweet Dishes

Sweet food pairs nicely with sweet wine. Whether it’s a sugary meal or simply a tasty dessert, pair your dish with sweet wine. If you have a sweet tooth, then you’ll love this combination. Late harvest wine is great for sugary eats because it’s made from grapes that are left on the vine after harvest for ultimate sweetness. Another option would be ice wine, which is rich in flavor and is considered a dessert in itself. If you prefer more traditional wine, white wines that are on the sweet or semi-sweet side are also a good choice.

The best types of wine for sweet foods are:

Late harvest

Ice Wine

Chenin Blanc

Pinot Grigio

Spicy Food

A great rule of thumb for ethnic food is to pair the meal with wine from the same region. If you’re having a mexican meal, look for spanish wine. Blush wines are also great for spicy food because they often have a lighter, sweet flavor that’s refreshing from the hottness. If you’d prefer a dry wine, merlot goes well with spice because of it’s dry and dark flavor.

The best types of wine for spicy foods are:

Riesling

Zinfendale

Merlot

Cabernet Sauvignon

Multi-Flavored Meals

For a broader meal course, you may want versatile wines. Riesling is the best white wine for any meal because it pairs well with almost any dish. No matter the flavor, if you want white wine then riesling should be your top choice. Barbera is a red italian wine that also pairs well with any meal. For those that prefer red over white, barbera is a great choice.

If you love wine, you’ll learn to love it more when paired with the right meal.  

In recent years, wine experts have found themselves in a bit of hot water. If you begin to type the phrase “wine experts are” into Google, the first suggestion that pops up to complete your thought is “fake.” The second isn’t nearly as flattering, likening wine tasting experts to animal waste. 

It isn’t hard hard to find bad press about wine experts on the world wide web, and it doesn’t take much searching. People claim conclusively that wine tasting is less a collection of cultured, experienced tasting professionals and more a series of pretentious men who simply enjoy a free glass every now and again. Even Buzzfeed has jumped onto the bandwagon, publishing an article claiming to “prove” that wine experts are clueless. 

As you may have gleaned from the introduction to this post, I disagree with the likes of Buzzfeed, and the rationale is fairly straightforward. 

The idea that an expert should never be wrong is setting an unrealistically high standard for professionals in any field. Doctors misdiagnose, baseball players strike out and musical artists turn out the occasional flop. Not every wine expert is going to be 100% correct about the price point 100% of the time. 

The claim that experts give different scores at different times, or different scores from their counterparts comes down, in essence, to one simple thing: preference. A representative from a Chicago-based wine company In Grape  recently backed this fact on the social medium Reddit, saying in part 

“Taste is exceptionally subjective. Wine is a lot like music. I could tell you that I Am the Movie by Motion City Soundtrack is an amazing album, but if you don’t like high energy stuff with tons of synthesizers talking about mental struggles, then that recommendation doesn’t mean anything to you. When a wine expert says that an ultra tannic Cabernet from Napa is world-class or 100-points, they’re using their own palate as the benchmark for that rating. But that doesn’t mean you’re wrong for completely disagreeing with them.”

Claiming that the science and refined palate of a wine taster is bunk because they preferred a cheaper bottle to a more expensive one is silly. Is “The Lone Ranger” and its $250,000,000 budget, by default, a better movie than Rocky, which was made on a budget approximately 1/250th the size? Doubtful, but, like wine tasting, is up to opinion.

The production of wine is big business in the 21st century. This particular industry produces wine that come from all over the globe. Soil, climate and fermentation plays a key role in the wine’s taste, and all wineries aren’t created equal. Here are some of California’s best wineries.

1. Alma Rosa Winery & Vineyards is stunning with its unobstructed views of the Santa Rita Hills. This region is well-known for its pinot noir, and this particular winery appeared in the movie “Sideways.” Santa Rosa Winery is located in Buellton, California, and it offers long-gravel roads and an outdoor tasting bar.

2. Ferrari-Carano Vineyards & Winery is a fan-favorite thanks to Enoteca Reserve Tasting Bar & Lounge. This winery is located in Healdsburg, California, which is part of Sonoma County. Ferrari-Carano Vineyards offer an abundance of chardonnays, which are shipped here from various regions such as Carneros, Alexander Valley and Russian River Valley. The area’s Dry Creek Valley Road provides a beautiful view of Sonoma County, and there’s a five-acre garden that houses more than 10,000 tulips.

3. Opus One, located in Napa Valley, California, is a luxurious structure thanks to its striking architecture. Opus One has an opulent and timeless style about itself. The winery’s influence comes from California as well as Europe. One of the better features here is the rooftop deck, which provides splendid views of the surrounding area. In 1981, a case of this winery’s wine sold for a whopping $24,000. Some of Opus One’s available wine include merlot, petit Verdot, cabernet sauvignon and many more.

4. Hall Wine looks like a stylish home rather than a standard winery. This winery has two distinct tasting rooms that are located in two different areas. The first winery that sits right on Route 29 tend to host more visitors. The second winery sits on a hill that’s right on Auberge Road, and it provides a more intimate experience. All of the windows of this stylish little house is facing its vineyard. Hall Wine is located in Napa Valley, California.

5. Flowers Vineyard & Winery is located in Cazadero, California. This winery was founded by Walt and Joan Flowers. The scenery in this neck of the woods is stunning, including wispy pines, moss-covered trees and coastal fog. Flowers Vineyard & Winery has produced award-winning pinot noir and chardonnay.