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If you don't know your Asti Spumante from your Zinfandel, sommelier Courtney Cochran, the author of Hip Tastes: The Fresh Guide to Wine (due out in October) and the Hip Tastes blog, is here to help. Cheers!
Any hints to make cheap wine taste fine?
Give it some air! This works for any cheap wine, but especially reds. You don't even need a fancy decanter -- any clean vase, pitcher, or even Mason jar will do the trick. Better yet, get two and stand over the sink tossing the wine back and forth between them. Just two minutes of this will coax out the aromas and flavors of even the cheapest stuff, making it smell and taste like more than you paid for it.
What is the proper way to hold a wine glass?
By its stem. The reason: when you clutch a glass by the bowl, you warm it up beyond its ideal drinking temperature. Besides, grabbing the bowl leaves behind telltale fingerprints, which can make a glass look greasy and gross, especially if you're tucking into finger foods at the same time.
What is the ideal drinking temperature for wines?
For whites, it's about 50 degrees Fahrenheit; for most reds, it's closer to 60 degrees. So keep bottles in the fridge, then take whites and pinks out 15 minutes and reds 30 to 45 minutes before drinking in order to bring them up to their ideal temps.
How should you store wine?
If it's just for a few weeks, stick it in the fridge. However, long-term refrigeration can dry out corks and allow air inside the bottles, so if you plan on keeping wine longer, put it in a cool dark spot like a closet. Wine begins to spoil at temperatures higher than 65 degrees, so don't even think about the attic or the garage.
What questions should you ask when perusing a wine list?
I always like to ask a server what her favorite wine is on the list. If you'd like a recommendation but you're concerned about price, point to the price of a wine that's in your ballpark and say, "I'm looking for something in this range." Easy!
Should you swirl wine around in your glass or is that just pretentious bull?
Swirl away! Wine is full of aromatic compounds called esters that offer up all sorts of fabulous smells to curious samplers. These scents are stimulated by the movement of wine in your glass -- so the more your swirl, the more you'll smell.
Best regions for value wines?
Spain is hands-down the best spot for values right now. Watch for treasures from emerging areas Bierzo and Navarra (reds) as well as Rueda (whites). South America is also making some delicious wines that won't break the bank. I like crisp, food-friendly Sauvignon Blanc from Chile and the full-throttle, almost syrupy Malbecs from Argentina. There's nothing better for steak fajitas and other south of the border fare, and you can snap these wines up for around $15. Australia's also a good bet; try a dry Riesling from Western Australia or Clare Valley. Annie's Lane makes a great one widely available for about $11.
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