Here is another guest post from Chris Withers of the Two Guys Wine and Travel Blog.
When you are planning a dinner party, you probably go over every last detail time after time to make sure that you have thoroughly prepared. There are a lot of aspects to consider, including the food you will provide, the table settings you will set, and the drinks you will serve. With many different wines to choose from, you might have a hard time deciding which one you will serve at your dinner party. As one of the most popular of the red wines, you cannot go wrong with Cabernet Sauvignon. Initially from France where it was prevalent for years, it is now a popular choice produced in California as well. When this drink is served just right, the rich flavor will be the talk of the party. The following are some tips for serving your wine.
Choose The Right Bottle
When you are looking at different bottles, realize that the older the bottle, the more mellow the drink. As the wines age, they become more smooth, which allows you to enjoy your food as you are drinking. If you serve a bottle that is too young, it could be too sharp and will overtake the flavor of the food you are serving.
Cool The Bottle
When you serve this wine, you want to be sure that the temperature is just right. It is possible to over chill your drink, just as much as it is possible to leave it just a little too warm. To allow your bottle to come to the right temperature, take it from room temperature and let it sit in the refrigerator for about twenty minutes. If you don’t have a refrigerator handy, an ice bucket would do, cutting the time down to five minutes.
Aerate The Drink
Uncork your bottle and let the air mix with the drink about an hour before serve time. This allows the drink to have the best flavor and also lets some of the odors out that might hide the true aroma. You could also put the drink into a decanter so that it can aerate faster.
Choose A Glass
When looking for a good glass to serve your drink in, try to find some large, round glasses. When you hold the glass, hold it by the stem so that the drink will not warm with your body temperature.
Pour The Wine
Your drink will probably have some sediment in it. This does not mean that the drink is bad, but just that the pigments and tannin have broken down and settled. When you pour your drink, use a funnel that has a filter on it to catch the sediment. This will also help to aerate the drink. When the drink reaches the widest area of the glass, you should stop so that you and your guests can swirl the drink and not risk a spill.
Serving this drink does take a certain amount of knowledge so that you get it just right. If you want to truly impress the guests at your dinner party, make sure to read up on a few tips before your get together. Always remember how to choose, cool, and aerate your bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon before you pour it in the perfect glass and you will have success.
Article courtesy of Chuck Withers of the Two Guys Wine and Travel Blog, follow him on Twitter @twoguyswine for more updates on wine, travel and many more international delights.
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