Three inspection points for judging the quality of wine: production area, year, preservation method
(1) Production area
When most people think of wine, they immediately think of Bordeaux Wine or Bourgogne Wine in France. However, when you consider the origin of wine, don't forget that the origin is equally important.
Usually, friends who like French wine can choose Pauillac, the wine producing area in the northwest of Bordeaux, because three of the famous "Bordeaux Big 5" are located in Pauillac, so there is a certain quality assurance.
In addition, according to the division of production methods, regions, history, and wine styles, wine producing areas are mainly divided into "Old World Wine" headed by traditional European wineries such as France, Italy, and Spain; "New World Wine" based on United States, Chile, Argentina, New Zealand, and Australia.
The difference between the old world wine and the new world wine :
The old world red wine follows the traditional winemaking process. From the selection of grape varieties to the planting, picking, pressing, fermentation, blending and aging of grapes, it strictly abides by detailed and unbreakable rules, respecting the traditions of hundreds or even thousands of years. Even a family tradition. Red wine producing areas in the old world must follow government regulations to make wine. Each vineyard has a fixed grape production.
Compared with the old world red wine, which advocates traditional winemaking techniques, the new world red wine is more inclined to industrial production, and will try various brewing techniques to produce wines with different styles. New World red wine usually has a strong fruity aroma, and the taste is more in line with the expectations of the general public. It tends to express the characteristics of the grape itself, and is usually made from a single variety of grapes, so women and novice wine lovers are more likely to accept it.
(2) Year
Can choosing the right production area guarantee that the wine will taste good? Not quite.
The climate, rain, and temperature in wine-producing areas will all affect the quality of grapes. For example, in 1993, France was hot and the rain was insufficient, so the quality of the grapes at that time was particularly poor. If you encounter wine produced in the same year, firstly, it needs to be kept for a long time to reduce its irritation, and secondly, it should be used to drink with wine from other years.
It can be seen that even wines of the same production area and the same quality may show different flavors due to different years.
(3) Save method
The natural wine cellars of European wineries are hidden underground for many years without sunlight. The temperature is kept at 10-15°C and a certain humidity, allowing the wine to ferment slowly and exude a charming flavor.
Therefore, it is not recommended to put unopened wine in the refrigerator, but to place it horizontally in the wine cabinet or in a cool and completely shaded place. Placing the cork horizontally can keep the cork moist and prevent the wine from coming into contact with the outside air due to cracking and shrinkage; soaking the cork can also prevent the bottle from breaking when it is opened, and it is not easy to leak when stored.
As for the wine that has been opened, it is best to drink it as soon as possible. If you want to store it, it is recommended to choose the vertical storage method, which can reduce the range of wine in contact with the air. At the same time, use newspaper/plastic wrap/plastic bag to wrap the bottle and store it in the refrigerator, which will help maintain better humidity and isolate the refrigerator.
