How to choose the right wine

Choosing a fine wine can be a nightmare, particularly when you've got someone to impress. You have a dinner party - you've planned the menu carefully dusted off your best service and wine glasses, and had prepared everything - except for wine selection. There is just too much to think about, and everyone else always seems to know so much more than you do about it. You stand there for ages looking at the seemingly endless shelves of the various bottles, and the more you think about the harder it becomes. That's why we've assembled a few tips on what to look for and how to choose the perfect wine for your meal. 

First and most importantly, you need to match wine with food you will eat. Everyone has different opinions about how the wine will taste good with different foods, but there are some fundamental guidelines you can follow if you're not sure. The easiest way is to match the color of wine for meat, you can not go wrong. If you eat red meat, choose a dark red Cabernet and Syrah. For lamb or pork a medium bodied red like a Merlot will be less heavy, while still providing a rich flavor. Chicken and fish dishes can often be overwhelmed by red, so it is best to go after a crisp white instead, such as a Chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc. If it is a special occasion or party, you may be better off with a sparkling wines, served in fancy Champagne flutes. 

Once you've worked out the kind of wine you want, check where it comes from. Wines from various regions will vary dramatically in quality, so it is best to do a little research on the best regions. If you are not sure that France is always a good effort and has been producing fine wines for hundreds of years. Italy is a second, and Chilean wines are very popular at the moment everything, especially the Red. 

Another thing you should check is the vintage of the wine, or the year it was bottled. A real wine buff to know that they were good years for each region, and will only buy vintages they know came from a very good harvest. For the rest of us non-experts, it can seem like a lot of guesswork, but if you know the basics you can at least be on track. A common misconception is that the older a wine is, the more it tastes. It is true that most red wines better with a little aging, but most wineries not distribute these reds in a few years after bottling to give them time for maturing. This means when displayed on shelves, they are ready for drinking, and will taste good. Most whites or sparkling wines do not need an aging, and is good to drink right away.