How to choose wine in store: a comprehensive guide
Food / / December 19, 2019
Alexei Mitrofanov
Brand Ambassador wine boutique L-Wine.
The purpose of the purchase
First of all you must decide for what purpose you want to buy wine.
As a gift
Of course, the ideal is to take into account the tastes bestow. But if you do not know him very well, it will cause trouble.
In this case, you can proceed from the fact that women tend to be more sensual nature than men. This is reflected not only in the perception of colors, fragrances and men's compliments, but also in taste preferences. It is better to abandon the tart and rich red wines and pay attention to the sparkling, fruity-berry red or a delicate white with a minimum aging in oak. Very well suited fragrant varieties such as Muscat, Gewurztraminer and Sauvignon Blanc.
Men, in turn, are increasingly choosing full-bodied, rich red wines with aging in oak. These "brutal" love bright feeling, so you can safely choose wines from Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinotage, Shiraz and Sangiovese. Among white wines you should pay attention to the presence of aging in oak barrels and alcohol content (around 13-14%). Are perfect Chardonnay or Chenin Blanc.
For dinner
On the topic of combining wine and food I have written tons of literature. We will try to fit in a few basic principles of life hacking.
- Light acid white wines with an alcohol content of 9 to 12%, without aging in oak barrels perfectly combined with vegetable salads, white fish without dressing, seafood dishes, but without the heavy viscous sauces.
- Saturated Full-bodied white wine with an exposure of 13 to 14.5% in oak and alcohol content can be drunk with any white meat in t. H. pork, fish in cream sauce, tuna and grilled poultry.
- Light berry red wine without oak aging and alcohol from 12% to 13.5% in the same suit dishes that full-bodied white, but can add to the white meat in sauce or berry berry unsweetened snacks.
- Full-bodied saturated red delayed from 13.5 to 15.5% in oak and alcohol can easily cope with steak, Lamb on a spit, and other solid food thermally treated.
The main rule, which will help to avoid mistakes - the thicker and juicier food, the richer the wine should be. If the food has a lighter shade (chicken, white fish, cream sauce), then it will suit the white wines; if dark dish (beef in prunes, tuna with berry sauce, fried mushrooms), then the required red wine. But do not forget to experiment! ;)
Price: Old World vs New World
One of the most important criteria when choosing a wine is its price. Of course, from shop to shop, it can vary, but there are certain limits, which are trying to adhere to the retailers to avoid causing misunderstandings among buyers. In many ways, the price depends on the origin of the wine.
The wines of the Old World
Old World wine - it FranceItaly, Germany, Austria, Spain and Portugal. With a growing rate, changes in VAT and other overhead costs in 2019 the price of wine is of acceptable quality from European countries will be in the region of 800-1 000 rubles per bottle. Range from 1 000 to 1 500 rubles will already give a sense of depth of flavor. From 1 500 rubles occur samples which give no shame. A wine price from 2500 will give the feeling of exclusivity and refinement beverage.
But Europe, too, is different. Now more and more are gaining popularity wines of Greece and Macedonia, Serbia, Hungary and other Eastern European countries. They are more humane ratio "price - quality" in comparison with the French wines, Italian and Spanish.
Wines of the New World
Everything that is not Europe - it's the New World. In this category were New Zealand, Australia, USA, South Africa, Chile, Argentina. Weather conditions in these countries, sometimes so soft that the grapes ripen not once, but twice in a year. This is used only very massive wine producers in the category of 300-400 rubles. acceptable quality wines begin with the price of 500-600 rubles on the shelf. From 1 000 rubles, you can find a drink with a long aging in barrel or bottle. From 1 500 rubles - a high-quality wine. If you decide to purchase wine from 2 000 rubles, feel free to leave it on the shutter speed, and after the 2500 rubles begin beverages with the claim to exclusivity.
wines Russia
Some believe that Russia, along with China, Canada and India - the so-called new New World. In contrast to the wines of the last three countries, Russia presented wines in the domestic market is quite broad. Quality is very uneven, not only from manufacturer to manufacturer, but even from year to year.
Buying Russian wine for 2000 rubles, is not always possible to be sure that the level of quality it corresponds to blame for the same money, say, Chile. Therefore, we recommend to focus on the price from 400 to 1000 rubles. In this category the risk of error is not so large, it will be possible to experiment.
Design and look of the bottle
We decided on the purpose of purchase and price category. Now the main thing - carefully consider a bottle.
The integrity of the label
First of all look at the label itself. If before you wine with very shabby, torn or dirty label is a sign of improper storage. wine smudges on the label may say that this bottle and her fellow despise. Carelessness and inattention warehouse workers can be expressed also in the storage of wine in a strong light, near heat sources or extreme cold. Such stresses are not going to use the contents of the bottle.
excise stamps
In our country works EGAIS system (Unified State Automated Information System). Its purpose - to control the movement of the Russian Federation of alcoholic beverages and other products. Anyone can see how a bottle of a wine came to him from the border, ending the nearest supermarket shelf. It's enough to download on a smartphone official app "AntiKontrafakt Alco" or options third-party developers, "AktsizKontrol", "AlkoSkaner".
Price: Free
Price: Free
Price: Free
Price: Free
Price: Free
On the spot, scan the telephone excise stamp. So you get all the information online. If the report is not listed in the store where you found this bottle, boldly refuse to buy. However, the scan need to check penetration: Returns alcohol products - is not easy for the store, and for the buyer.
The color of wine
Rate it, do not buy, you get only in a transparent bottle. However, if such an opportunity, remember that white wines darken with age, and red - lighter. If before you 1-2 years of red wine, and the color of his terracotta or brown, then go around the side of a bottle. Also, the wine should not be cloudy. If white is not crystal clear, but with a kind of veil, it is necessary to return it to the shelf.
Rosé wines are also changing its "color" over time. They should not be orange or brick-red, but can be quite different shades of pink.
The notch on the bottom
The recess does not speak about the quality of the wine nothing. For a long time there was mythLike indentation created to Slow sediment in the wine going on the walls of the bottle. It supposedly helps prevent turbidity when applying. However, such a recess called Punt, served only one purpose - to gain a sustainable bottom of the bottle. When the glassmakers worked manually, otherwise it was impossible to do.
The depth of the recess depends on the desires of a particular manufacturer, and sometimes on the specific production region.
glass thickness
There are light and heavy bottles. Light - with thin walls. They poured the wine, not intended for long-term storage. Suppose you are not confused. The fact that they do not have the capacity to extract, and then spend money on expensive packaging does not make sense. These wines are best revealed within 1-2 years.
Heavy thick bottle walls usually made of dark green or brown glass. They are intended for long aging. In addition, the weight of the bottle - one of the parameters, which causes the subconscious desire to buyBecause you hold in your hand is something "meaningful and significant."
Bung
Cork from natural materials better suited for wines with potential for aging, as oxygen passes microscopic dose bottle (wine helps to develop and grow old). However, for the wine "every day" is better helical tube is suitable. It is practical and protects the wine from the cork of the disease, giving an unpleasant musty tone guilt.
Corks are of different lengths, but it affects the price of the product and its marketing image: a stopper wants to leave a souvenir.
Look at the price of the beverage and bottling year. If the wine 1-2 years is hidden "screw" and stands up to 1000 rubles, feel free to take. If the wine five years' endurance has a screw cap, it is better to turn to more expensive wines or take a drink with cortical cork.
Labeling Information
Labels can tell you about all the fault, so before you buy you should pay close attention to it. And of course, do not hesitate to seek the help of kavistam - advisers in the departments of alcoholic beverages. They will help you choose the wine and tell you where to find the information you need.
region of production and manufacturer's name
The region is usually written in large print on the wines of the Old World, as in Europe, the main criterion in the selection of wine is not a brand or variety, and "address" of origin. Known regions such as Chablis, Bordeaux, Champagne is a guarantee of quality for the customer.
But the manufacturer's name usually appears as a logo and may not be evident. Domaine De La Choupette, Château Latour Martillac, Askaneli Brothers, Vinultra, Oleg Repin, Esse - all these names of manufacturers.
Grape sort
Each variety has its own character. Podyschu own among the huge diversity and try to buy it just by experimenting with the regions and producers. So you can find the perfect for yourself wine style. After it will be easier to ask questions kavistam in wine bars, sommelier at the restaurant or simply search the internet for information on the topic of wine.
There are two basic "camps" among varieties: autochthonous (caused by natural breeding and growing only in a certain area, ie.. indigenous) and international (once they were autochthonous, but the migration of nations, wars and colonization spread them everywhere).
We list the main varieties.
international
- Red: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Malbec, Carmenere, Syrah (shiraz in the New World), Cabernet Franc.
- White: Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Semillon, Pinot Blanc, Aligote.
autochthonous
- Red: Sangiovese (Italy), Tempranillo (Spain), Pinotage (Bring out the man, not by nature, South Africa), Nebbiolo (Italy).
- White: Albarino (Spain) Fiano (Italy), pikpul (France), Loureiro (Portugal), Kokur (Russia), Müller-Thurgau (Austria), Chasselas (Switzerland).
To continue the transfer of autochthonous varieties can be infinite, because everything in the world they, according to various estimates, from 6 000 to 10 000. Among them there appear the one that I loved you.
sugar content
The legislation of all countries on the content of sugar varies, but in Russia there is a uniform standard, which determines the classification of wines. You can easily remember:
- dry - 4 g / l;
- semidry - from 4 to 18 g / l;
- semisweet - from 18 to 45 g / l;
- Sweet - not less than 45 g / l.
Dessert wines usually called wine with a very high sugar, About 150 g / l, but this category is informal liking only sweet tooth.
quality Category
The smaller the area of the square, the grapes from which went to the production of wine, the better should be the final result. The thing is that the berries - a living product that is subject to environmental influences and mechanical damage. All effects have consequences for the wort (the pressed juice), which will then make wine. Therefore, in Europe, particularly in France, have come up with the quality of the classification of the place of origin of the grapes. Then the practice adopted elsewhere.
So, in all, there are three main categories:
- Vin de France - table wine, the grapes for which could be collected on the entire territory of France (the name of another European country, respectively, indicate the origin of the wines from this country). Easy for every day.
- IGP - local or table wines with an indication of the place of origin of the grapes. The most well-known in the Russian market - IGP Pays d'Oc (light wine from the south or south-eastern France).
- Appellation contrôlée / Protégée (A. C.) or Appellation d'origine protégée (A. O. C.) - a guarantee not only the high quality of the drink, but also its typicality, ie the compliance with certain rules of winemaking (on grades, term exposure), inherent in the wines from the region.
Italian winemakers refer to categories other acronyms. DOCG (Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita) and DOC (Denominazione di Origine Controllata) - This higher level drink quality, the hallmark of which is the ribbon on the neck bottle.
Now you are ready to purchase ideally suited drink! :)
see also🍷🛒🧐
- 5 tips to help you choose a good wine
- How to order and taste wine
- What does the cost of the wine depends on? Explains a professional sommelier