22 FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT WINE!!

1. What Wines Should I Serve At A Party?

You want wines that aren’t too high in alcohol, so people can have a good time without getting too drunk.

2. Is Drinking Wine Good For You?

There’s long been discussion about the risks and rewards that drinking wine has on your health. It really is true that wine – particularly red wine – does contain several antioxidants, such as quercetin and resveratrol, which may play a part in helping to prevent heart disease and cancer, (one or two units a day). But primarily for men aged over 40 and post-menopausal women (and only when consumption is limited to five units a week – that’s just two standard glasses of wine). But there are better ways to achieve this, such as taking regular exercise, quitting smoking, following a healthy, balanced diet and addressing other risk factors such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol. We would always recommend Drink Responsibly, and everything in moderation.

3. What Is Wine Sediment?

Put simply sediment can form naturally in wine both during the fermentation process and while maturing in a bottle. Some wines are more likely to develop sediment and some wines will almost never form sediment. Wine sediment isn’t harmful and can be perceived as a sign of wine’s quality, but you will normally want to separate sediment from wine before serving and drinking.

4. What Makes A Wine Sweet?

A semi dry red or white wine has a level of 0.5 to 1.49% residual sugar. A semi dry wine has a hint of sweetness and more of a ‘fruity’ taste than a dry wine. A dry red wine will not have the taste of sweetness, due to the sugars being fermented into alcohol, and the tannins and acidity in the wine.

5. Are Flavours On A Wine Label Added To The Wine?

No, these are just what we call tasting notes. They are a guide for what the wine may taste like to you.

6. Should I Spit Out The Wine At A Wine Tasting?

You don’t have to. Only spit if you don’t want to become too inebriated!

7. How Many Glasses Are In A Bottle Of Wine?

A standard bottle of wine holds 750 ml. approximately six glasses (125ml per glass), a size that enables two people to enjoy three glasses each.

8. Are Screw tops Bad for a Wine?

No, they are actually excellent. They prevent a wine from every being corked. Lots of winemakers are using screwcaps for this very reason. They don’t signify that a wine is cheap!

9.How Do I Choose A Wine For A Dinner Party?

If you would like your wine paired to certain foods you are eating, visit one of our 8 stores where our trained staff are happy to help.

10.Do I Need Special Products To Get Out A Wine Stain?

Blot, don’t rub. Dab at the stain with a damp, white cotton cloth to absorb any excess wine. …Pull the fabric taut. Slide a bowl under the fabric, centering the stain over the bowl. … Sprinkle salt. … Add boiling water. … Machine-wash.

11.What’s The Average Alcohol Content in a Wine?

Most wines are between 11 and 14 percent in alcohol.

12.Why Is Rosé Pink?

Red grapes were used to make the wine and a wine gets its colour from its skins. When the winemaker crushed the grapes, they allowed the skins to come into contact with the juice for only a brief time, thus the colour is pink, instead of red

13.Do I Need To Decant My Wine?

Slowly and carefully decanting the wine ensures that the sediment stays in the bottle and you get a nice clear wine in the decanter, and subsequently in your glass. A second and more everyday reason to decant is to aerate the wine. Many young wines can be tight or closed on the nose or palate.

14.What’s The Difference between Different Wine Glasses?

Typically Red wine glasses will be a bit taller and have a larger bowl than White wine glasses. In general Reds are bigger and bolder wines so they require a larger glass to allow all those aromas and flavours to emerge.

15.If I Need To Cook With A Wine, What Should I Buy?

You should always cook with a wine you like to drink. For example, if the recipe calls for red wine, choose a red you love to drink on its own.

16.Can I Buy A Good Bottle Of Wine For Under €10?

Trust your wine Merchant, speak to one of our trained staff members, and they will point you in the right direction. We have plenty of good quality wines on offer for €10 and under.

17.Why Do Some Wines Give You A Headache?

Some things to keep in mind if some types of wines give you headaches: Not all wines have the same amount of potential irritants like tyramine and histamines in them, even if they are seemingly similar.  This means that aside from colour, two white wines or two red wines might be totally dissimilar, and might have different effects on a drinker. Some people suffering headaches after they drink red or white wine might actually be suffering from dehydration, an effect from alcohol. It’s believed that tannins can block serotonin production, causing blood vessels in the brain to constrict, and resulting in a migraine. Histamines cause blood vessels to dilate in folks lacking an enzyme to process them, which may result in a throbbing headache. But for most of us, the cause of a wine headache is simply drinking too much wine and not enough water. The mythical wine headache cure? It’s simple: the cure for a wine headache is to stop one, before it ever starts. In other words, don’t overdo it…especially at an office party!

18.How Do I Know Which Wine To Pair With A Meal?

There are no rules to this really, but it goes without saying, certain wines do taste better with different foods. If you are unsure and would like something to impress your guests, please call into your local O’Donovans Store, and our trained staff would be happy to point you in the right direction.

19.Can I Chill Red Wine?

Absolutely! Red Wine Should Be Served Cool — 15 to 20 Degrees Celsius. The most common misconception with red wine is that it is ideal to serve it at room temperature, when in fact serving it cool is the best way to enjoy it. The Lighter the red is, the nicer it is cooler. Place in the fridge an hour before serving.

20.How Long Does Wine Last After I’ve opened it?

The time frames vary depending on the specific type of wine but for still whites, reds, and rosés, I would say two to three days is the absolute maximum you’d want to keep an opened bottle. After being open for a couple of days, a wine’s aromas will go flat, its native flavours will subdue, and the wine may appear overly sour or acidic. For best results, I suggest finishing the wine within two days of being opened.

21.Are All Sparkling Wines Called Champagne?

No. Only sparkling wine from the Champagne region of France can be called Champagne. Other names for sparkling wine are Prosecco, Cava.

22.How Do I Know If A Wine Is Corked?

If wine is corked, it will have an odour that you wouldn’t expect from a good wine. It may smell musty, or like damp towels, wet dog, wet cardboard or newspaper.The taste of the wine will be dull and will not exhibit any fruit characteristics. Some people also describe corked wine as tasting astringent. Always test the wine before allowing it to be served to others. This allows the host to see if the wine is fit for consumption and prevents pouring the wine into many glasses before a discovering that the wine is not fit for drinking. Return your corked wine to the store you purchased it from and we would be happy to replace it or offer you a refund.

X