The overwhelming majority of our citizens know about wine only that it can be red, white, sweet, semi-sweet and dry. This knowledge is usually enough. Problems begin when you have to choose a good wine in the store. We will consider the important nuances that you should pay attention to when choosing a drink.
It is believed that only professionals (sommeliers) can determine the quality of wine, and a common man cannot do it. In fact, wine is an ordinary commodity with simple characteristics, the meaning of which can be understood by everyone.
Wine selection rules in the store
1. We buy only dry and sweet wines. The fact is that semi-sweet wines are popular only in Russia and neighboring countries. Often, for their preparation, the lowest-quality wine materials and production waste of other types are used.
In addition, semi-sweet wines contain more preservatives than dry and sweet wines. This is due to the fact that dry wines do not contain sugar, so their fermentation is difficult. In sweet varieties, sugar is a natural preservative.
When you buy semi-sweet wine, you agree to drink a low-quality product that contains a lot of preservatives and other chemicals.
2. The name of the manufacturer. On the front side of the label of good wines, their manufacturer must be indicated. All honest distilleries strive to make their products recognizable. They print their name (trade mark) in large letters on the label, and do not hide behind a small print.
3. Harvest year. Good wines are labeled with the vintage of the grapes. If this information is not available, most likely you are buying a diluted concentrate or another achievement of modern chemistry.
4. Grape varieties. Quality wines in the lower and middle price range are made by mixing (blending) several grape varieties, the producer must name them. For example, a bottle of Italian Chianti wine may contain the following information about varieties: Sangiovese 80%, Colorino 10%, Punitello 10%.
If you see the inscription on the label: “wine made from selected grape varieties”, this is a drink made from leftovers that are not suitable for the production of quality wines.
The exception is French wines. According to the legislation, the producers of this country have the right not to indicate on the label the variety of grapes used. The quality of their products is controlled on a regional basis.
5. Container and cork. I advise you to buy only bottled and barrel wine. A beverage made from cardboard bags is good for cooking at best, but you shouldn’t drink it. If the manufacturer saves on packaging, this is a sure sign of poor quality.
When choosing a wine, pay special attention to the cork. It should not leak or dry out. Modern wine corks are made from wood and plastic. Although the plastic does not dry out, wooden corks are preferable as they do not affect the taste and smell. The first thing experienced winemakers do after opening a bottle is sniffing the cork. If you smell a musty smell, you can’t drink wine, it has deteriorated.
6. The price of the bottle. Only naive people believe that there is good wine on sale at a price below 350 rubles per bottle. There are no miracles in the world, a quality product cannot be cheap.
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