Experts have shared the ‘proper’ way to drink wine, as certain factors can alter and affect the way it tastes and smells, including the way it’s served and the glass used
Sitting down to have a glass of wine – whether it’s on the sofa, with dinner or with friends is always a nice treat, but apparently we’ve been drinking it wrong according to an expert.
Factors such as temperature and the wrong glass can alter the taste, smell and experience, so getting them right will make your glass of vino even more satisfying.
According to wine experts in Italy, there are certain ways to drink wine, starting with letting the the liquid ‘breathe’ and the way you serve it. While we’re not against having wine out of a plastic cup at an outdoor event, experts say it can affect how you pick up the scent.
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Penny Murray, export director with winery Planeta, said the right glass is important. “The type of glass you have can make the aromatics of the wine very, very different,” she said.
“It’s the shape and how thin it is. For example, if the wine is very aromatic, you have a bigger base and a smaller nose so you can get all of the aromatics in your nose. If you have a wine that is less aromatic, you need a slightly bigger top to the glass so it can express more.
Experts say wine is best served in a stemmed glass so the temperature of the liquid is not affected by the warmth of the hand, reports the Daily Mail. The same applies to sparking wine that should be served in a flute.
Penn Croft, an English vineyard said on their website: “A tall glass promotes a large vertical surface area for bubbles to travel up the glass. However, a narrow horizontal surface area can keep aromas and flavours closed off.”
Temperature is also important, as serving it wrong is a quick way to ruin the aroma and flavour. Francesca Tonnino, from Tonnino winery based in Alcamo, western Sicily, said: “Red wines that are too warm and white wines that are too cold lose their character.”
The experts also urge people to avoid adding ice cubes as it could “dilute” the flavour too. Another tip is to always let wine breathe, and drinking it too quickly can ruin it – especially red wine that can benefit from being exposed to oxygen.
Francesca Tola owner of Tola winery said: “Letting wine breathe allows oxygen to release aromas and soften tannins, helping the wine express its full character. Even 15 to 30 minutes can make a big difference.” She also advised not to fill glasses too full as it can “block aromas”.