Do you panic when asked to order wine? Get confused when choosing a bottle for someone you want to impress? Do you let the man pick the wine - even though he might know less than you? If you answered yes to any of these questions, it's time to wise up on your wines...
Care to taste?
The waiter's given you a splash of wine to taste - but what should you look for? "If it smells musty, it's probably corked", says Odd bins wine expert Gallon Brown."If it tastes vinegar, that's also a sign the wine's tainted. Don't be afraid to speak up if it doesn't seem right - it's more common than you'd think for wine to be off. If you're not happy, you have every right to say so."
THE PERFECT WINE FOR...
Just as you wouldn't wear the same outfit to every occasion, different events call for different drinks. We asked wine experts Calm Brown and Mark us Del Mon ego to recommend the perfect bottle for any event:
YOU'VE GOT: LUNCH WITH SOME CLIENTS
YOU WANT: A good all-rounder
Red lovers should try a fruity Cabinet Saucepan, around £17 at a restaurant. Its smooth finish goes well with any food.
OR For white fans, try a bottle of light, dry Saucepan Bland. You'll pay about £15 if you're dining out.
YOU'VE GOT: SUNDAY LUNCH WITH YOUR BOYFRIEND'S PARENTS
YOU WANT: Something impressive
A pepper Shores(red) costing £6-£8 is a good choice, and won't leave you sleepy in the afternoon.
OR Bond with his mum over a Pilot Grigio, around £5. This white has peach and apricot aromas - perfect for setting a girly mood.
YOU'VE GOT: A DINNER PARTY WITH FRIENDS
YOU WANT: Something sophisticated
Go for a full-bodied Malbec - its smooth texture and intense red colour really blows people away. Expect to pay £4-£9 at the supermarket.
OR Try a dry, crisp rose. It's refreshing, super-drinkable and goes beautifully with light dishes.
YOU'VE GOT: A NIGHT IN WITH THE GIRLS
YOU WANT: Something easy to drinkAclassic Chardonnay has a zingy, citrus flavour that's perfect to drink in between bursts of danceing. Expect to spend around £5.
OR Try a rose - its sweet aroma will go perfectly with nibbles and can be bought for as little as £2.99 a bottle.
WINE DICTIONARY
CORKED: Wine that has come into contact with an ill-fitting cork. The wine's either tainted with chemicals from harmless fungus on the cork or has come into contact with the air and oxidised.
GOT LEGS: Legs are the trails of wine left inside your glass if you swirl it. Some experts say the sweeter the wine, the more visible the 'legs'.
NOSE/BOUQUET: The aroma of wine. This influences how it tastes.
FULL-BODIED: 'Body' describes the weight or texture of the wine in your mouth. A full-bodied wine is often rich and has many flavours, rather than being a bit watery.
'OOH, MY HEAD'
Ever wondered why some wines leave you feeling like your brain is dancing the rumba, while others let you off scot-free? Wine produced in Europe contains all sorts of additives. A bottle can contain more than 50 preservatives, flavourings and additives, and they don't have to be listed on the label. So some wines aren't as natural as you'd think, and these unnatural ingredients can affect how you fell the next day. Red wines have more congeners(chemical prodced during fermentation), than white, which aggravate hangouve symptoms.
