The Right Way to Wine

Tips for wine lovers to sip like a sommelier

From the LifeMinute.TV Team

February 16, 2022

National Drink Wine Day is Friday, February 18th. We are taking the see, swirl, sniff, sip, savor approach to the next level with these tips to imbibe like a sommelier. 

Read the Label
Before uncorking a bottle of wine, look at the label. It provides information about where the wine is from, including the country and region, the vintage, and the quality. The shape of the bottle can also be a clue to the varietal. Paying attention to these details will help you determine the type of wine you are drinking and how to proceed.

Serve at the Right Temperature
Serve red wine slightly cooler than room temperature, between 62–68 degrees Fahrenheit and white wine slightly warmer than fridge temperature, between 49-55 degrees Fahrenheit. If you don’t have a wine fridge or cooler, store it away from light in a place like a basement, as long as it’s cool, not damp. Once the bottle is open, store it at room temperature. You can also refrigerate it, even red wine. When stored at colder temperatures, the chemical processes slow down, including oxidation that takes place when oxygen hits the wine.

Choosing the Wine Glass
Glassware matters. For a full-bodied red, choose a Bordeaux glass, and for a light red, go with a Bourgogne glass. For white wines, a small glass with a narrow mouth is best. But for full-bodied whites, choose a wider glass to experience the aromas. And for sparkling wines, opt for a long-stemmed glass to avoid warming it with your hands. But no matter the glass, pour a standard pour or to about the 5-ounce mark. This allows oxygen to remain in the glass to further open up the wine, giving you a rich aromatic impression.

Hold Glass Right
As mentioned, to avoid warming up a glass of wine with your hands, hold the stem of the glass, not the bowl. Pinch the stem between your thumb, pointer, and middle fingers.

Decant or Swirl
Swirling helps release the hundreds of different aroma compounds found in wine or lets it open up. Take your glass and move your hand in a gentle circular motion for 5 seconds. You can also decant wine in a decanter or glass for a minimum of 30 minutes.

Pair with Food
Never drink wine on an empty stomach, especially very acidic ones. Pairing wine with some food is not only easier on your digestive system, but it can also add to its flavor. Check out LifeMinute’s food pairings for red wine and white wine.