How to store and serve wine
Want to get the most enjoyment from every glass of wine? Here are some frequently asked questions about handling wine.
What should I do when my wine arrives?
Once your shipment arrives, check for accuracy and make sure there is no bulge in the cork upward and out of the foil. (Your wine should be in perfect condition - we check each bottle before shipping. Call immediately if anything appears odd.) Note that some of our wine is bottled without foil. Some like to keep their bottles in the shippers - just make sure they are on their side. If you have a basement cellar, store them there - just keep them off of the floor to avoid contact with dampness. Even better, put them in a temperature controlled wine cooler, at around (58-62 degrees F). Lay them on their side. If no fridge or cellar is available, put them anyplace away from heat and light and vibration - any cool, relatively dry place is ideal.
When are the wines ready to drink?
We usually bottle age our wines prior to release. Give them a few days to relax after their journey. Our white wines are ready to enjoy upon release. If you do wish to open our red wines, we recommend a light decanting prior to drinking. The wines will continue to improve with age over the next 1-5 years, and should be most enjoyable 6-12 months after their release.
What temperature is best for wine?
We suggest serving our white wines between 40-45 degrees F. If you've placed one in your fridge, pull it out and let it come up a few degrees before serving. We recommend serving our red wines at (58-62 degrees F). If you have a wine cooler it's easy, just set it for 55 degrees F. If you don't have a cooler or cellar, we recommend putting them in the fridge for 20-30 minutes to get them down to about 55. Once they are up to temp, uncork them. We always recommend decanting, and letting them breathe for about 20 minutes. You can also decant them and put in the fridge for 20 minutes to let breathe. Doing so with most red wines can be rewarding!
What kind of wine glass should I use?
The bigger the better. Large glass just seems offer more visually and will release the aromatics better. Make sure your glass is spotless. Sacrificing a few drops in the glass with a swirl and dump will remove any cloth or residue. Typically red wine Bordeaux glass will be a bit taller and have a larger bowl than white wine glasses. In general red wines are bigger and bolder wines so they require a larger glass to allow all those aromas and flavors to emerge. Because of this, we always go for a Bordeaux glass for red and white wines. For Pinot and Chardonnay, the burgundy glass, (usually is designed to get the most out of the wines). These are not as tall as the Bordeaux glass, but the bowl is larger than the Bordeaux glass, designed to direct the wine to the tip of the tongue to taste its more delicate flavors.
What food should I serve with wine?
Our white wines are perfect with hard cheese, shellfish, salads, or even solo by the glass. Our Pinot is great with duck, pork, rich fish like salmon and swordfish. The red blends are bigger wines and demand richer foods like red sauces and seared meats. Olive, nuts and cheese are always great.
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