If you’re looking for the perfect bottle of wine, you might want to pay attention to these important tips and tricks that will show you the standouts from the crowd
If you’re looking to wow your guests at your next dinner party, a top-notch bottle of wine is a sure-fire way to do it. However, navigating the sea of bottles in supermarkets can be a daunting task.
To ensure you’re picking the right bottle and getting the most bang for your buck, Into the Vineyard has shared some insider tips to help shoppers distinguish the gems from the duds.
With such a vast selection, you’ve got a decent shot at making the right choice.
This likelihood increases when you’re armed with the secret tips about what to look out for.
The first tip is to bypass the flashy packaged bottles. While they’re not all rubbish, ostentatious labels and big names often signify marketing, not quality.
If you opt for the more minimalist designs, these usually indicate wines where craftsmanship, not packaging, takes centre stage, reports the Express.
The back label is crucial too. If there’s a wealth of information, such as the location of the vineyard, how the grapes are cultivated, or the fermentation notes, these are good signs of quality.
If the back label is scant, it might be a generic, mass-market bottle of lower quality.
Another brilliant tip is to check the region where the wine was produced.
Cooler regions like New Zealand, Germany or northern France are renowned for producing crisp, aromatic white wines, while the warmer regions of Spain, Argentina and South Africa are celebrated for their robust reds.
Lesser-known regions boasting microclimates and traditional techniques, like Portugal’s Dão or Jumilla in Spain, often produce wines that taste far pricier than their actual cost.
Similarly, understanding your grape varieties can pay dividends. Grapes are the unique identifier of a wine, and the more you know about them, the better informed you’ll be on their flavour profiles.
Venturing beyond the typical Chardonnay to varieties such as Grüner Veltliner and Chenin Blanc can reveal a complexity and value that mainstream grapes might not offer.