For a lot of people, drinking wine is a great way to relax and celebrate occasions. Drinking wine or wine tasting, however, is not just about the taste or moments you share with friends. It is also about finding creative ways to experience different varieties and explore adventurous food and wine pairings as well.
Now that social distancing measures are still in place, there are almost no parties or festivals to attend. Your favorite restaurant or pub may be also inaccessible at the moment. How then can you get a good wine experience while you are at home? Well, you are in the right place. In this article, you will be learning some of the best ways to enjoy your wine at home.
Have A Virtual Drinking Party
People aren’t allowed to meet up for kickback parties where Beer Pong or a wine version of King’s Cup reign supreme. Fortunately, drinking parties can still push through, albeit virtually, with the help of technology. You can create a chatroom with friends or family using Zoom or other video conferencing apps. If you’re craving a generously poured wine alongside human connection, hosting a virtual wine-drinking party would be a brilliant idea.
What makes a virtual drinking party a party? Well, aside from drinks, you clearly need fun games. Yes, that’s possible! Here’s a couple of fun virtual party games that you and your friends can try:
- Quiplash – Jackbox games, a Chicago-based video game developer, created Quiplash. It’s a battle of wits that’s intended for three to eight players. The game will test you and your friends as you compete against each other to be crowned as the group’s funniest one. The game will surely induce fits of laugher even without alcohol.
All you have to do when playing Quiplash is answer prompts, like ‘I didn’t mean to kill her! I just____.’ You’ll go head-to-head with your friends and vote to decide whose answer is more funny or clever. Losers then have to take a shot or sip of wine.
- Most Likely To – This game won’t just help you enjoy your wine at home, but it also helps you find out what your friends think about you. Basically, everyone participating in the game votes on who in the group is the most likely to be or do something, i.e., most likely to be needing help getting out of a club after one too many drinks, or most likely to be a politician. The one with the most votes should take a sip or shot of wine.
- Join Virtual Wine Tasting Events
Just a few months ago, most people would have laughed at the idea of wine tasting events done virtually over platforms like Zoom or Skype. Now, because of the pandemic, you’ll find computer screens full of people holding, swirling, and sipping glasses of wine.
Here’s what you need to do if you want to join a virtual wine tasting:
- Check for information online about the tasting event you want to join.
- Find out more about the event from their Facebook/Instagram profiles or pages.
- Wait for announcements regarding online signup forms or registration links.
- You’ll receive a Zoom meeting or Skype meeting link after registering or signing up.
- At the scheduled time, click on the provided link to enjoy the wine tasting activity live.
Explore A Variety Of Food And Wine Pairings
Remember that every dish you’ll choose to pair with a win will have more than one component. For example, when you try to pair wine with chicken, it’s not only chicken; it will also have spices or herbs and a side dish of veggies. While it’s true that you have to consider many things when it comes to food and wine pairing, you actually just have to emphasize one part of the dish and match your wine to that element.
Here are a few excellent foods and wine pairings you can try:
- Chardonnay with mild, semi-soft cheeses.
- Sauvignon Blanc with fatty white fish, scallops, or oysters.
- Pinot Noir with strawberries, figs, dried fruits, or mushrooms.
- Riesling with pears, chili peppers, apricots.
- Merlot with bearnaise or Bolognese.
- Syrah with coffee-based desserts, rhubarb pie, or black forest cake.
- Cabernet Sauvignon with beef stew, rib eye, or venison.
Since you will enjoy the wine alone or with only a few select close friends and family, it’s a good time to be more adventurous and experimental with your pairings. You can test spicy dishes with white wine, or try out more exotic kinds of cheese to go with your wine.
How To Prepare A Good Bottle Of Wine At Home
Enjoying a glass of wine at home is only possible if you know how to prep your wine. This includes knowing the right temperature and the kind of glass that the wine should be served in.
- Serving Temperature – Wines should be served at an appropriate temperature to get the best out of them. Wine served at extreme temperatures will lose its fruity and flavor qualities. The right temperature would depend on the kind of wine you choose.
For instance, red wines should be served at room temperature. The strong taste of spice, oak, and alcohol would not do well if it is served in hot temperatures. Red Wine is best served between 55- and 65-degrees Fahrenheit, just a little bit cooler than room temperature. To achieve this, put the bottle inside the freezer for only about 10 minutes before serving.
On the other hand, white wines are best served chilled, but not frozen or icy. Otherwise, it will lose its flavor and emphasize the wine’s acidity. They are best served between 41 degrees and 48 degrees Fahrenheit. To achieve this, the bottle should be stored in the fridge and removed about 20 minutes before serving.
- Choose The Right Wine Glass – There are different types of wine glasses and each would match a certain wine type. Generally, glasses for white wines are smaller than glasses for red wines. This is necessary because red wines need to oxidize to develop their flavors well. Hence, they need a larger space to breathe and get richer.
For white wines, choose glasses that have tapered tops and narrow bowls. It will help your wine achieve greater aromatic concentrations and allow the flavor and intensity to last longer. Also, remember to take the wine glass by its stem and never by the bowl so it will not get warm too quickly.
Conclusion
Despite social restrictions, you can still enjoy a splendid wine experience right in the comfort of your home. Buy a bottle of your favorite wine at the liquor store, serve at the right temperature, and pour it into the right glass. To make it more fun, why not host or arrange a virtual drinking party with friends or loved ones?
You can also join virtual wine tasting events if you want to connect with fellow wine lovers globally. Go ahead, sit on your lounge, ready your laptop or mobile device, pair your wine with some good food, and enjoy it virtually with friends from around the world!