■ Keep a supply of your “house wines” on hand for impromptu gatherings. When you discover wines you particularly like, stock a few extra bottles to open whenever friends drop in. Your guests may get to taste something new, and you won’t have to rush out to shop. ■ You don’t need a wine cellar to store bottles you’ll be drinking within the next year or so. Just keep them in a cool place away from direct sunlight such as the kitchen pantry or hall closet. ■ Have fun with favorite wine flavors — chardonnay, white zinfandel, cabernet sauvignon and merlot. These wine varietals are crowd-pleasers, so experiment with ones from a region or winery that is new to you. ■ Quick wine calculation: A standard 750 ml bottle of wine has five glasses. To estimate how much wine you’ll need, plan on two glasses of wine per person for most occasions. ■ Need to chill a bottle of white wine to serve in a hurry? Immerse it in a 50/50 combination of ice and water. It will be ready to sip in about 20 minutes instead of the hour or so it takes to chill wine in the refrigerator. ■ The glasses you have are the glasses to use. You don’t need special stemware to enjoy wine; your everyday wine glasses, tumblers or colorful, outdoor glasses are great for casual entertaining. ■ Leftover wine stays fresh for days! Don’t worry about having wine left over after your guests have gone home. An opened bottle of wine will stay fresh and delicious for three to four days when recorked. ■ Keep whites in the refrigerator. Keep reds on a counter away from heat. ■ If you’ve tossed the cork, an inexpensive bottle stopper or even some plastic wrap secured with a rubber band will do. VG.
Wineries & Wine Sellers on the Peninsula
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Simple tips for wine lovers
NEWCOMERS’ AND VISITORS’ GUIDE
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Fall 2009 | Winter 2010