Many people love to have a glass of wine with their meal. There are many different varieties of wine from red to white and everything between, and each can really enhance the food you are eating. This article will help you to discover different wine types, and which foods taste the best with them.

Do not judge a wine on its year of production alone. Just because a wine was made a long time ago does not mean that it is a quality wine. Be sure to investigate the wine thoroughly so that you are not fooled into paying top dollar for a bottom shelf wine.

Keep in mind that the color of the wine is not always the same as color of the grapes that are used to make it. The color results from the process of wine making and it is the skin of the grape used in the process that gives an individual wine its final color.

Take a blind taste test of a few wines. Judge them on flavor, scent and boldness. Ignore the most sought after qualities like price or the winery's region. Tasting blindly is a great way to get your honest opinion on the wine itself, without getting tricked by the hype that sometimes goes into certain varieties.

Keep a wine journal. Write down the names of wines that you taste and what you think of them. Over time, this will develop into a great resource for you. It is also nice to look back and see where you came from and what direction you are headed in when it comes to your wine preferences.

If you go to a restaurant with a sommelier, do not hesitate to ask for help when choosing your wine. The sommelier will know everything about the wines on the menu and will even be able to make a personalized recommendation if you let them know what kind of wine you usually enjoy.

It is important to properly plan for your trip to a winery. Decide in advance how much money you want to spend, and be sure to have a sober driver lined up. Make a list of questions you want to ask and be ready to explain what kind of wine you enjoy.

If you are not too familiar with wine, make sure to shop at a wine store. While many grocery stores and even some convenient stores carry wine, they do not have the staff on hand who really understand wine. If you shop with professionals, you will have a better chance of finding the wine you want and gaining valuable information in the process.

Select the right stemware for the wine you are serving. Glassware should be clean, well rinsed and dry to improve the appearance and allow the natural flavor to come through. If you aren't comfortable with the way yours looks, think about purchasing a new set.

Don't shy away from ordering or buying a bottle of something that you can not pronounce the name of. The clerk is not going to care. If they own the business, they are happy to make the sale. If they just work there, they are watching the clock until the end of their shift and will not remember you in an hour anyway. Don't deprive yourself of tasting new wines because you can't speak the name.

As you can see, the type of wine you drink with your meal can really make a difference as to the taste. Apply the tips from this article the next time you are going to have wine with dinner for an enhanced experience. Before long you will become a wine expert.