Tasting of wine is considered an art to appreciate the beauty of wine. The basics of wine tasting are look, smell and taste. But do remember that even if you can smell numerous different smells, your taste perception should be focused on sweetness, sourness, saltiness and bitterness. You can ascertain the flavor of the wine by the combination of taste and smell.

Look- After pouring the wine in a glass, take a good look at it. To have a perfect look, view the wine glass against a white background.For red wines the colors will be purple, maroon, red, ruby, brownish or brick and for white they will be pale yellow, clear, light green, amber or golden.

Serving wine is another art, which if done properly, greatly enhances the enjoyment of drinking wine. As a rule white wine should be served before red, young wine before old and the best wine should be served last. A number of things should be kept in mind before serving wine; here are some tips that can be useful for you while serving wine.

Serving temperature- It is the most important factor of wine serving because the temperature of the wine affects its taste and aroma. Different wines are served at different temperatures. A very common misconception is that red wine should be served at room temperature which is completely wrong. You can use a wine thermometer for enjoying the wines at the best temperatures.

The golden rule of thumb for holding wine glass is to always hold the glass by its stem. Whatever is the size and shape of the glass or whatever type of wine it is, the same rule is applied every time. If the glass is held by its bowl, the heat of the body will warm the wine. The change in temperature can affect the taste of wine and change its characteristics.

Most white wines and Champagnes are served chilled. If the glass is held by its bowl, the alcohol in the wine will give a sharpness to it, making it difficult to drink the wine. Also you cannot see the clarity or proper color of the wine, if the glass is not held by the stem. To hold the glass properly, hold the stem of the glass between

Wine is an exotic and classy drink enjoyed by many people throughout the world.  With wine’s ever increasing popularity, many people have started to become amateur wine collectors. But most people are ignorant on how to store the wine properly so as to enjoy it for longer period. The basic rule for storing wine is to keep the bottle sideways, away from heat and light. Here are some factors that should be considered for storing wines-

Temperature- The ideal temperature to store wine is between 55-59 °F (12-15°C).The temperature should never exceed beyond 75°F (24°C) because the wine starts oxidizing at 75°F.

It is always confusing to decide what gift one should give that can appeal to the recipient and also look good. Thoughtful gifts with personal touch are always appreciated. Wine gift baskets can be an ideal and classy gift, which can be easily prepared at home. Here’s a short guideline to prepare wine gift baskets

The Basket- Choosing the right basket is the first step to prepare the wine gift basket. Choose a basket with the right shape and size depending on how many items you want to include in it. You can choose a metal, wicker, plastic or any other type of basket material according to your choice and budget.

The Wines- While selecting wines first consider the taste of the gift recipient.