How to choose wine in a store: a detailed guide

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

Choosing a wine in an environment of great variety can be a daunting task. Our guide is here to make it easier for you.

Purpose of purchase

First of all, you need to decide for what purpose you want to buy wine.

For a present

Of course, ideally, you need to take into account the tastes of the gifted. But if you don't know him very well, it will be difficult.

In this case, we can proceed from the fact that women, as a rule, are more sensual in nature than men. This is expressed not only in the perception of colors, aromas and male compliments, but also in taste preferences. It is better to refuse tart and rich red wines and pay attention to sparkling, fruity and berry reds or delicate whites with minimal aging in oak. Aromatic varieties such as Muscat, Gewürztraminer or Sauvignon Blanc work well.

Men, on the other hand, are more likely to choose full-bodied, rich red wines aged in oak. Real "brutals" love vivid sensations, so you can safely choose wines from Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinotage, Shiraz and Sangiovese varieties. Among the white wines, it is worth paying attention to the presence of aging in oak barrels and to the alcohol content (in the region of 13-14%). Chardonnay or Chenin Blanc are perfect.

For dinner

Tons of literature has already been written on the topic of wine and food pairing. We will try to fit the basic principles into several life hacks.

• Light acidic white wines with an alcohol content of 9 to 12%, without aging in oak barrels, go well with vegetable salads, white fish without dressing, seafood dishes, but without heavy viscous sauces.
• Full-bodied, rich white wines aged in oak and alcoholic strength from 13 to 14.5% can be drunk with any white meat, including pork, fish with a creamy sauce, grilled tuna and poultry.
• Light berry red wines without aging in oak and alcohol from 12% to 13.5% are suitable for the same dishes as full-bodied whites, but they can complement white meat in berry sauce or berry savory snacks.
• Full-bodied rich reds aged in oak and alcohol from 13.5 to 15.5% will easily cope with steak, lamb on a spit and other dense food that has undergone heat treatment.

The main rule that will help to avoid mistakes is that the denser and juicier the food, the richer the wine should be. If the food has a light shade (chicken, white fish, creamy sauce), then white wines will suit it; if the dish is dark (beef in prunes, tuna with berry sauce, fried mushrooms), then red wine is required. But don't forget to experiment!;)

Price: Old World vs New World

One of the most important criteria when choosing a wine is its price. Of course, it can vary from store to store, but there are certain frameworks that retailers try to adhere to so as not to cause bewilderment among buyers. Much of the price depends on the origin of the wine.

Old World Wines

The Old World for wine is France, Italy, Germany, Austria, Spain and Portugal. With the growing exchange rate, changes in VAT and other overhead costs in 2019, the price for wine of acceptable quality from European countries will be in the region of 800-1,000 rubles per bottle. The range from 1,000 to 1,500 rubles will already give a sense of the depth of taste and aroma. Starting from 1,500 rubles, samples appear that are not ashamed to give. And wines with a price of 2,500 or more will give a feeling of exclusivity and sophistication of the drink.

However, Europe is also different. Now more and more wines are gaining popularity in Greece, as well as Macedonia, Serbia, Hungary and other Eastern European countries. They are distinguished by a more humane price-quality ratio compared to wines from France, Italy and Spain.

Wines of the New World

Everything that is not Europe is the New World. New Zealand, Australia, USA, South Africa, Chile, Argentina fell into this category. The weather conditions in these countries are sometimes so mild that the grapes have time to ripen not once, but twice a year. This is used only by producers of very large-scale wines in the category of 300-400 rubles. Wines of acceptable quality start at 500-600 rubles on the store shelf. From 1,000 rubles, you can find a long-aged drink in a barrel or bottle. From 1,500 rubles - high quality wine. If you decide to buy wine from 2,000 rubles, then feel free to leave it for aging, and after 2,500 rubles, drinks begin with a claim to exclusivity.

Russian wines

Some believe that Russia, along with China, Canada and India, is the so-called new New World. Unlike the wines of the last three countries, Russian wines are widely represented on the domestic market. Quality varies greatly not only from manufacturer to manufacturer, but even from year to year.

When buying Russian wine for 2,000 rubles, it is far from always possible to be sure that in terms of quality it corresponds to wine for the same money, say, from Chile. Therefore, we recommend focusing on the price from 400 to 1,000 rubles. In this category, the risk of error is not so great, there will be an opportunity to experiment.

Bottle design and appearance

We have decided on the purpose of the purchase and the price category. Now the main thing is to carefully examine the bottle.

Integrity of the label

First, look at the label itself. If you see wine with a badly worn, torn or dirty label, this is a sign of improper storage. Wine smudges on the label may indicate that this bottle and its siblings have been neglected. The carelessness and carelessness of warehouse workers can also be expressed in storing wine in strong light, near sources of heat or extreme cold. Such stresses do not benefit the contents of the bottle.

Excise stamps

In our country, the EGAIS system (Unified State Automated Information System) is operating. Its purpose is to control the movement of alcoholic beverages and some other goods on the territory of the Russian Federation. Anyone can check how a bottle of this or that wine got to him, starting from the border, ending with the shelf of the nearest supermarket. All you need to do is download the official Anti-Counterfeit Alco application on your smartphone or options from third-party developers: ExciseControl, AlcoScaner.

Without leaving the checkout, scan the excise stamp with your phone. This will give you all the information online. If the report does not include the store where you found this bottle, feel free to refuse the purchase. However, you need to scan before punching the check: returning alcoholic beverages is not an easy task both for the store and for the buyer.

Wine color

You can only appreciate it without buying it in a transparent bottle. However, if there is such an opportunity, remember: white wines darken with age, and reds - brighten. If in front of you is a 1-2-year-old red wine, and its color is terracotta or even brown, then go around such a bottle. Also, the wine should not be cloudy. If the white is not crystal clear, but with some kind of veil, it is worth returning it to the shelf.

Rosé wines also change color over time. They don't have to be orange or brick-colored, but they can be completely different shades of pink.

Notch on the bottom

The notch says nothing about the quality of the wine. For a long time, there was a myth that the depression was created so that during long aging the sediment in the wine would collect on the walls of the bottle. This supposedly helped prevent haze when feeding. However, such a notch, called a punt, served only one purpose - to obtain a stable bottom of the bottle. When glass blowers worked by hand, it was impossible to do otherwise.

The depth of excavation depends on the wishes of a particular manufacturer, and sometimes on the specifics of the region of production.

Glass thickness

There are light and heavy bottles. Lungs - with thin walls. They are filled with wines that are not intended for long-term storage. Don't be confused by this. The fact is that they do not have the potential for aging, which means that it makes no sense to spend money on expensive packaging. These wines develop best within 1–2 years.

Heavy bottles with thick walls are usually made of dark green or brown glass. They are designed for long exposure. In addition, the weight of the bottle is one of the parameters that, on the subconscious mind, makes you want to buy, because you are holding something “weighty and significant” in your hand.

Cork

A cork made from natural materials is better suited for wines with aging potential, as it lets microscopic doses of oxygen into the bottle (helps the wine develop and age). However, for wines “for every day”, a screw stopper is better suited. It is more practical and protects the wine from cork disease, which gives an unpleasant moldy tone to the wine.

Cork stoppers come in different lengths, but this affects the price of the product and its marketing image: you want to keep such a cork as a souvenir.

Look at the price of the drink and the year it was bottled. If the wine has been closed for 1-2 years and costs up to 1,000 rubles, feel free to take it. If a five-year-old wine has a screw cork, it is better to turn to more expensive wines or take a drink with a cork stopper.

Information on the label

A label can tell everything about a wine, so you should pay close attention to it before buying. And of course, do not hesitate to seek help from the cavists - consultants in the alcoholic beverages departments. They will help you choose the wine and tell you where to look for the information you need.

Production region and manufacturer's name

The region is usually written in large print on the wines of the Old World, since in Europe the main criterion when choosing a wine is not the brand or variety, but the "address" of origin. Famous regions such as Chablis, Bordeaux, Champagne are the guarantor of quality for the buyer.

But the manufacturer's name usually looks like a logo and may not be conspicuous. Domaine De La Choupette, Château Latour Martillac, Askaneli Brothers, Vinultra, Oleg Repin, Esse are all names of manufacturers.

Grape sort

Each variety has its own character. Find your own among the huge variety and try to buy it, experimenting with regions and manufacturers. This will help you find your perfect wine style. Then it will be easier to ask questions to cavists in wineries, sommeliers in a restaurant, or simply search the Internet for information on the topic of wine.

There are two main "camps" among varieties: autochthonous (arising as a result of natural selection and growing only in a certain territory, that is, indigenous) and international (once they were autochthonous, but the migration of peoples, wars and colonization spread them everywhere) …

Let's list the main varieties.

International

• Reds: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Malbec, Carmenere, Syrah (Shiraz in the New World), Cabernet Franc.
• Whites: Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Semillon, Pinot Blanc, Aligote.

Autochthonous

• Reds: sangiovese (Italy), tempranillo (Spain), pinotage (bred by man, not nature, South Africa), nebbiolo (Italy).
• Whites: albariño (Spain), fiano (Italy), pickpool (France), loureiro (Portugal), kokur (Russia), müller-thurgau (Austria), chasselas (Switzerland).

You can continue to list autochthonous varieties endlessly, since there are, according to various estimates, from 6,000 to 10,000 in the world. Among them there will definitely be one that you will love.

Sugar content

The legislation of all countries regarding sugar content differs, but in Russia there is a single standard, which determines the classification of wines. You will easily remember:

• dry - up to 4 g / l;
• semi-dry - from 4 to 18 g / l;
• semi-sweet - from 18 to 45 g / l;
• sweet - not less than 45 g / l.

Dessert wines are usually called wines with a very high sugar content, about 150 g / l, but this category is unofficial and is only loved by those with a sweet tooth.

Quality category

The smaller the area, the grapes from which went to wine production, the better the final result should be. The thing is that berries are a living product that is subject to environmental influences and mechanical damage. All influences entail consequences for the wort (squeezed juice), from which the wine will then be made. Therefore, in Europe, in particular in France, they came up with a quality classification according to the place of origin of the grapes. Then this practice was adopted by other countries.

So, there are three main categories in total:

• Vin de France - table wine, grapes for which could be harvested throughout France (the name of another European country, respectively, indicates the origin of the wine from this country). Easy, for every day.
• IGP - Local or table wine with an indication of the origin of the grapes. The most famous on the Russian market is IGP Pays d'Oc (light wines from the south or southeast of France).
• Appellation contrôlée / Protégée (A. C.) or Appellation d'origine protégée (A. O. C.) is a guarantee not only of the high quality of the drink, but also of its typicality, that is, compliance with certain rules of winemaking (in terms of varieties, aging) inherent in wines from this region.

Italian winemakers designate categories with other abbreviations. DOCG (Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita) and DOC (Denominazione di Origine Controllata) are the highest levels of beverage quality, the distinctive mark of which is the ribbon on the neck of the bottle.

You are now ready to purchase the perfect drink!:)