For the wine to reveal all its qualities and tastes, it's necessary to give a hand. You have to rely on the wine from the very moment of purchasing it. Below we will try to give you some advice and to present the most frequently questions and answers to them.
Is it true that the wine can't be drunk immediately after purchase?
Yes, it is. It's necessary to take into account that the wines are very sensitive during their transportation. It is good to give the wine two days off before opening the bottle. Therefore is preferably to buy the wine beforehand.
How should be the wine stored?
As far as possible, in the darkness. In spite of the dark (green or brown glass) bottle, the wine sensitively reacts to the light. The wine "is breathing" through its cork; therefore it must be stored lying in a horizontal position, so that the cork would be always wet. But it is much more important for the wine not to be placed close to products which have strong smells.
What temperature red wines should be given to the table?
The optimal temperature is that of 14-16°C for the simple wines, 16-18°C – for those saturated. The matured wines can be served at a temperature of 9-20°C, but not more. At a temperature of more than 20°C the alcohol in the taste becomes too obtrusive, and the soft flavors are lost. The rose wines are stored in the refrigerator, revealing their best qualities at a temperature of 10°C.
What does it mean "to decant"?
Sometimes in the old, rich in extractive elements red wines a specific sediment is deposited, which consists of tanning and coloring substances. So that this sediment would not get into the glass, the red wine from the bottle is carefully poured into a glass water bottle. This process is called decantation. Sometimes the wines are decanted so that they would take more air, because the wine must "breathe".
Why do the experts smell the cork?
A bad cork can spoil the content of the entire bottle and thus the wine can acquire the "smell of the cork". In order to find out this defect in time, the cork is checked before bottling the wine into the bottle. Sometimes the cause of the bad taste is not the cork, but the poor quality of the wine. If, according to the information on the label, you were expecting a good quality of the wine and did not get it, then it is possible that you deal with a forgery. As you know, it is not so simple to prove this and to insist on your rights. The only advice we can give is to try first one bottle before buying immediately several.
How much should be the glass filled?
So that the bouquet of the wine could be fully opened, the glass should be filled not more than a half, for having the possibility "to mix up" the wine in the glass, without risking spilling it. The glasses for the red wine have to be large enough, and then the bouquet of the wine can be revealed completely. Furthermore, a good glass must be from thin transparent glass, in the form of a tulip and have sufficiently long leg. The glass must be colorless so that the "clothing of the wine" would be visible. The selection of the dishes is extremely important.
Is it true that the wine can't be drunk immediately after purchase?
Yes, it is. It's necessary to take into account that the wines are very sensitive during their transportation. It is good to give the wine two days off before opening the bottle. Therefore is preferably to buy the wine beforehand.
How should be the wine stored?
As far as possible, in the darkness. In spite of the dark (green or brown glass) bottle, the wine sensitively reacts to the light. The wine "is breathing" through its cork; therefore it must be stored lying in a horizontal position, so that the cork would be always wet. But it is much more important for the wine not to be placed close to products which have strong smells.
What temperature red wines should be given to the table?
The optimal temperature is that of 14-16°C for the simple wines, 16-18°C – for those saturated. The matured wines can be served at a temperature of 9-20°C, but not more. At a temperature of more than 20°C the alcohol in the taste becomes too obtrusive, and the soft flavors are lost. The rose wines are stored in the refrigerator, revealing their best qualities at a temperature of 10°C.
What does it mean "to decant"?
Sometimes in the old, rich in extractive elements red wines a specific sediment is deposited, which consists of tanning and coloring substances. So that this sediment would not get into the glass, the red wine from the bottle is carefully poured into a glass water bottle. This process is called decantation. Sometimes the wines are decanted so that they would take more air, because the wine must "breathe".
Why do the experts smell the cork?
A bad cork can spoil the content of the entire bottle and thus the wine can acquire the "smell of the cork". In order to find out this defect in time, the cork is checked before bottling the wine into the bottle. Sometimes the cause of the bad taste is not the cork, but the poor quality of the wine. If, according to the information on the label, you were expecting a good quality of the wine and did not get it, then it is possible that you deal with a forgery. As you know, it is not so simple to prove this and to insist on your rights. The only advice we can give is to try first one bottle before buying immediately several.
How much should be the glass filled?
So that the bouquet of the wine could be fully opened, the glass should be filled not more than a half, for having the possibility "to mix up" the wine in the glass, without risking spilling it. The glasses for the red wine have to be large enough, and then the bouquet of the wine can be revealed completely. Furthermore, a good glass must be from thin transparent glass, in the form of a tulip and have sufficiently long leg. The glass must be colorless so that the "clothing of the wine" would be visible. The selection of the dishes is extremely important.
This underground wine city appeared in galleries excavated in lime mining operations during the 70-es of the last century, at the depth of 40-85 meters, and is one of the largest wine cellars in the world. The total length of the galleries consists of 200 km, from which more than 50 km are used.
