Selecting The Right Wine For That Special Occasion

Do you find it hard to pick out the perfect wine for a special dinner or event?  We have a checklist of particular things to look for in a good wine.  This should help you make a great choice in your next wine purchase.

1. The Whites: When your guests first arrive and are enjoying the appetizers a white wine is always the perfect choice. They are commonly lighter and drier and leave the palate fresh for the main entree’. Some of the whites such as the Chardonnay can also be introduced during a rich dinner such as “Coq a Vin”, with its beautiful creamy wine sauce. Another suggestion is the Sauvignon Blanc that is excellent served with a first course salad or shrimp cocktail or even a plate of delicate fish.

The Cadillac of the whites would be a sparkling champagne.  A good champagne would be served at only those very special events in one’s life.

2. The Reds: Now you are ready to serve that special dish you have worked on all day and planned especially for your dearest friends you must choose just the right wine. This is when you go for the full bodied red. One of the most popular is a Merlot. Being a lighter red but still full bodied it is perfect for saute’ed chicken, grilled pork or roasted lamb.

Oregon produces a great Pinot Noir.  This wine is a combination of plum, vanilla, and blackberry.  Because of its light and fruity flavor it could also be served after dinner.

The spiciness of the Shiraz would make it a great addition to a spicy Mexican dinner.  It would enhance the flavors a make a simple meal of enchiladas and tacos seem elegant.

The perfect wine to complete an Italian meal would be a Chianti.  With its rich flavor and deep red color it blends easily with ravioli and pizza.  When you finish the wine, the beautiful raffia wrapped bottles make great candle holders and set the mood for your romantic Italian dinner.

A robust Burgundy would be the red to choose for a fine standing rib roast or delicate filet mignon.

The main thing when hosting a dinner party is to have several choices in wines.  Everyone has their own preferences when it comes to wines.  We have offered a few guidelines of which wines would compliment a particular meal.  It is also fun to introduce your friends to a new and unusual wine they may not have tasted before.

If you are a true wine connoisseur you may want to experiment with your own creations. Producing your own wine at home can be quite rewarding. You can make a variety of fruit wines that would actually be a great addition with most desserts. If you would like to learn more about making wine visit Fruit Wine Making

More information on wine making can be found here Merlot Wine Making Recipe