Brought to you by Faustino.
Are you a wine connoisseur or a pinot novice?
Either way, it won't matter with our handy guide to choosing the perfect bottle of wine.
Here are a few things you should remember before you buy your next tipple.
1. Look at the back of the bottle
Just like a book, you should never judge a bottle of wine by its front cover. The front label might be colourful and eye-catching, but the back of the bottle is where you will get most of the details about the wine.
Information such as fruits, flavors, the aging process, importers and region are normally included. Keep an eye out for any stamps of approval like awards or reviews—all signs of a good wine.
2. Remember the saying “Goes with where it grows.”
This is particularly important if you are buying wine to accompany a meal. When trying to match your wine with your menu, look at the country/region of origin. Chances are that it will pair perfectly with the cuisine of that area. For example, Spanish food such as tapas and paella pair excellently with Spanish wines like Faustino.
3. Don't turn your nose up at screw tops
Many people wrongly think that screw top wines are of a lower quality than corked wines. This couldn't be further from the truth. Buying wine with a screw top is not only practical (say goodbye to fights with your corkscrew), it also removes the risk of the wine being corked. This is when bacteria infiltrates the cork and gets into the wine, spoiling it.
4. Take note of what you like
If you find a particular wine that you enjoy, whether in a restaurant or at a friend's house take note of it. Over time you will begin to realise that you might like wine from a certain region or a certain brand, so you can look out for them in future.
5. Ask for help
If you're ever not 100% about a certain wine ask members of staff in your local off license. Usually, they are very knowledgeable about the wines they stock and will be able to point you in the right direction. We have all got to start somewhere after all.
6. If all else fails download an app
As with everything else in life, there is an app for that. There are lots of good apps to help you choose what wine to buy.
Vivino Wine Scanner allows you to simply scan a wine label with your phone and will give you reviews and ratings from other people who have purchased the product in return.
