If you ever feel a little lost choosing between an appropriate red or white wine, you need to learn wine 101. You don't have to be as savvy as say, Martha Stewart in the basics of wine 101, but it doesn't hurt to take some of Stewart's advice to learn wine. While the unlearned in the ways of wine 101 will state a simple preference between red and white wine, there is an obvious, greater variety. Whether Sauvignon, Chianti, Chardonnay, Zinfandel or Merlot, knowing where the grapes come from may take some time as you learn the 101's. Much of Martha Stewart's tips on wine 101 start at the surface of the glass with color and aroma. To learn the pleasures of wine you have to see the variance of the color and smell the aroma. Learn to recognize terms like "full-bodied" where the fuller the body, the darker the color. In wine 101, full-bodied also applies to the aroma of a red or white wine. Rich fruit aromas will be more potent as you learn to appreciate a full bodied red wine. When approaching your wine 101 exploration, Martha Stewart's Living magazine also places emphasis on preparation for serving. This not only helps you to learn wine in its appearance, but also in the most important part; taste. Reds are often served in roomier glasses, rather than the thinner glasses used for whites and zinfandels. The right glass enhances how you learn the obvious and subtle differences between varieties. The rim of wineglasses curve inward to allow for the swirl, which is essential for all glasses. With red wine, the wider glasses display the full-bodied color with breathing room so you learn wine aromas. Martha Stewart shows that red wine is best served at room temperature, or as you learn wine nuances, at about 50 - 65 degrees, depending on how full the body. Martha Stewart, among many pros in food entertainment, suggests white be best served a bit chilled. Your 101 experience will be all the more fulfilling if the white wine is served in the smaller, thinner glasses, which keeps chilled. Martha Stewart also suggests chilling white wine for up to a half hour at about 45 - 50 degrees before serving. Martha Stewart also encourages that you learn nuances as a social event, having a wine-101 party. Have a variety of to taste, or focus on just a few, but plan on having at least half a bottle for each person. When you get to actually pouring the wine, selecting the appropriate glass for red or white, serve just less than half a glass. Along with glass selection, you will learn every vintage breathes better when the glass isn't filled towards the rim. At your 101-party, you can also consider serving with a wine decanter. This is a process called decanting, where you will learn how vintages reveal its best aroma and taste, depending on its age. As you learn decanting for wine, you will see that younger reds have a richer presentation when they sit in the decanter for about an hour before drinking. The decanter also helps to separate the sediment that may build up in older varieties of reds. Martha Stewart's Living says this is usually the case for red wine that is more than 8 years aged. There is much more, books more, as you learn wine-101, but exploring the great varieties is half the enjoyment. Start simple and as you learn wine, your appreciation and awareness will grow. Before you know it you'll be quoting Martha Stewart, or better yet, surpass even her limited
knowledge in 101.
For a great look at wine 101 and all things wine, be sure to check out http://www.theweeklywine.com to sign up for The Weekly Wine newsletter designed specifically for the pure enjoyment of wine.
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