Get Friendly with Wine

Wine may seem like a mystifying beverage, especially when people are seen swirling and sniffing before they’re sipping. But with some basic knowledge, you can become a fancy wine expert too. Okay, maybe not an expert – but someone who knows more than the average bear. Here’s your headstart:

Red vs. white. The main difference between these two comes from what kind of grape is used. There is no easy way to address the fundamentals of red versus white wine because there is so much that goes into the production of wine; however, red wines are usually (not all the time, but usually) hearty, bold and dry, whereas white wines are lighter, smoother and fruitier. If you like hearty and bold, consider a Cabernet Sauvignon. If you want fruity and light, go for a Riesling. If neither is to your liking, keep trying until you find what you like. One fun way to try different wines is to host a wine-tasting party.

Food and wine pairing. Pairing the right glass of wine with a plate of delicious food is subjective. There are no set-in-stone rules. However, here are a few fail-safe hook-ups to get you started:
Steak + Merlot
Spicy Steak + Zinfandel
Pork + Sauvignon Blanc
Roasted Chicken + Chardonnay
Spicy Eastern dish (such as Chinese) + Riesling
Salmon + Pinot Noir
Fish in a Rich Sauce + Chardonnay
Crab + dry Riesling
Oysters + Sauvignon Blanc
Pasta in Cream Sauce + Sauvignon Blanc
Pasta in Tomato Sauce + Chianti
Green Veggies + Chardonnay
Hard, Flavorful Cheese + Cabarnet Sauvignon
Brie Cheese + Pinot Grigio

Drink to your health! Research into how wine – specifically, red wine – may affect your health is still ongoing, but so far, it has been found to have some healthful properties. For example:  The Copenhagen City Heart Study observed 13,285 men and women for the 12 years between 1976 and 1988, and suggested that those who drank wine had half the risk of dying from coronary heart disease or stroke as those who never drank wine. According to the American Heart Association, an analysis of 13 studies involving 209,418 participants showed a 32 percent risk reduction of atherosclerotic disease with red wine intake, compared to a 22 percent reduction for beer drinkers.