The simplicity of enjoying wine starts with a foundation of knowledge. That foundation begins when you seek out an education. Your wine education can begin today by reading this article in full and gathering the advice within for your own use. This will lead to many years of great enjoyment.

Never cook with a wine that you do not enjoy the flavor of. When wine cooks down during the cooking process, it concentrates. Any flavors that you do not like will be more prevalent, which means you will not like the taste of the food you have worked so hard to prepare.

Your wine must be stored properly for preservation of taste. Any wine can be negatively affected by temperatures outside its optimal range. Flavors should be allowed to reach their full potential by storing wines between 50 and 55 degrees. There are refrigerators designed to store wine, or perhaps your basement is cool enough.

Build a relationship with the salesperson or owner of the wine store. Don’t be afraid of getting recommendations from them. While you may get some that aren’t fantastic, you can usually find some that are passionate about wine. They can also personally recommend certain kinds. Getting familiar with these people can also help them get to know your preferences.

Discussion forums offer valuable insight on wine and all it has to offer. There are many good ones available, and they represent another opportunity to talk to others and find wines that are worth the try. Before you sign up, make sure to check out the boards thoroughly to see if it is a community that you would like being a part of.

Swirling is part of tasting wine. Make the circular motion necessary from your elbow rather than your wrist. Doing so will enable you to smell the wine, enhancing the flavor of it as well. Making the motion just using the wrist is difficult and often will not have the desired effect.

Champagne and sparkling wines should be served when they are very cold. At a room temperature, it is not possible to taste all the flavors. Chill your champagne for a few hours in the fridge before drinking it.

If you wish to get a wine that’s lighter, don’t pay attention to color. Red and white wine contain identical amounts of alcohol. Still, white wines usually are easier to drink. The Pinot Grigio and Sauvignon Blanc wines are the lightest you can get, so think about getting these for your dinner table.

If you are cooking with wine, don’t hesitate to ask the wine shop-owner/manager for advice. He or she has likely tasted most of the wines available, and can give you an educated suggestion for wines that will enhance your recipe. The shop may even have wine on hand for tasting.

With all of this advice under your belt, you’re sure to know more about wine now. This will allow you to be a better sommelier in your own home, at a friend’s house or elsewhere. This will lead to many more delicate glasses of wine gracing your lips and a great deal of enjoyment ensuing.