Do you panic when someone asks you to choose the wine at a meal? Do you feel nervous when the waiter asks you to test the wine or when someones asks you to recommend a bottle? Well you are not alone. Two-thirds of British drinkers admit they know nothing about choosing wine so they pretend instead.
Someone who really does know their stuff when it comes to wine is Jimmy Doherty who has a history of working with South Africa’s award winning wine, Nederburg. For those of you who know nothing about wine, we’ve asked Jimmy and Nederburg to share their top wine tips, so next time someone asks you to choose the wine, at least you will know something about it! You can say cheers later!
One
Only chill white wine like Chardonnay before you plan to drink it as extended storage in the fridge will affect its taste and aroma.
Two
The quickest way to chill a white wine is in iced water, which only takes 30 minutes versus 2 hours in the fridge.
Three
Always give a bottle of quality red wine like Shiraz, time to breathe. If you can’t wait, decant it into a glass jug first to give it chance to mix with the oxygen in the air to release the flavours.
Four
The correct measure to pour for all wines is a third of the glass; this gives the wine room to swirl in the glass, allowing the flavours to develop.
Five
When pairing wine with cheese, think balance – strong wine, strong cheese. Sauvignon is generally great with cheeses like Cheddar or Gouda.
Six
Know as the world’s most popular wine, chardonnay is best paired with simple seafood such as smoked salmon and grilled fish. It’s also delicious served with oriental dishes like Thai food.
Seven
Sauvignon Blanc is a very food-friendly wine and is superb with salads, chicken, seafood, veal and light meals.
Eight
Cabernet Sauvignon is known for its depth of flavour and aroma. It’s excellent served with heart-warming roast lamb, coq au vin, red meat steak, venison, mature cheese and pizza and pasta dishes.
Nine
Shiraz is an incredibly robust wine that can be served on its own or with Mediterranean meat dishes such as spicy lamb, souvlaki or kebabs as well as with traditional roasts, oxtail and barbecued steaks.
