What to Look for in Your Wine

It doesn’t take an expert to know that having the right glass of wine with a delicious meal is about as good as life gets. Of course, not everyone that steps foot into Hargrove’s Fine Wine & Spirits knows what they want in a bottle of wine, which can create a bit of purchasing anxiety when it comes time to select the right one.

At our San Antonio wine store, we always are happy to offer suggestions to any customers in need of assistance, and there are a few ways to find the right wine for your needs. It could start with a simple wine tasting in-store, but even without that, it’s not so hard once you understand the way certain wines pair and in what circumstances each is best. Ask yourselves the following questions before heading into our local wine store, and you’ll find the right wine in no time!

White or Red?

Because red wines are made with the grape skins still intact, they tend to be darker in color and richer in flavor. Pinot noir, for example, is great for foods with earthy flavors, while a delicious California Cabernet or Bordeaux is an ideal companion to juicy red meats.

As far as the white wines are concerned, Chardonnay is great with fish, while Champagne pairs beautifully with foods that are salty. Meanwhile, a Moscato is a sweet white wine that goes well with fruit-based desserts.

Rosé wines, which have the acidity of a white wine but the fruity character of a red wine, are best with rich, cheesy meals.

Sweet or Dry?

The amount of natural sugar leftover during the winemaking process determines how sweet the wine will be, but it’s important to remember that just because a wine is fruity, like a lot of red wines, they may not always be sweet.

Those interested in sweet white wines can try a Moscato, a Spumante, or some of the sweet Rieslings, but sweet red wines also are available, including ports and Lambrusco and Rachetto sparklers.

The dryer wines usually are reds, and they often pair best with Mediterranean and Italian dishes like pasta and Greek salads. For those, try a Merlot, Malbec, Zinfandel, or Sangiovese.

Know Your Year

Even casual wine drinkers know the year of the vintage makes a great deal of difference in the quality of the wine, and the reason why is quite simple: the grape crop in certain regions are better in certain years. There are peaks and valleys when it comes to harvesting the perfect grape, with extreme hot or cold affecting how those harvests turn out. While most wine is delicious, there is no questioning that in some years, the wine is even better. Higher-end wines like the ones we sell here at Hargrove’s Fine Wine & Spirits can last three to ten years or even longer, but knowing the good years for certain regions certainly can help you find the best wine for your tastes.

Consult a Wine Expert

Of course, if you have any difficulty with any of these factors for choosing wine, just ask someone at Hargrove’s Fine Wine & Spirits to help you track down the perfect bottle.

The experts at our store look forward to helping you find the perfect wine for your dinner or special event.