It is not enough to buy simply expensive wine - it is important that it goes well with the dishes served with it, and also has a good price-quality ratio. There are also special criteria for the selection of certain types of wines, for example, sweet or semi-sweet.
How to read a wine label
The information on the bottle of wine will help you in making the right choice. It should be noted that the division into semi-sweet and sweet wine exists only in Russian terminology. On French labels, for example, such wines will be labeled demi-sec and doux, with doux being the sweetest dessert wine.
In addition, information on the year of wine production is given on the bottle. The oldest wine is not always the best. Much depends on whether the grape harvest was successful in a particular area. If you are planning to buy an expensive wine for a long aging, buy a special wine guide with the classification of the most successful wine years. For example, in most regions of France and Northern Italy, according to reference books, 2000 was one of the successful years, while 1999 wines, on average, do not have a high taste.
Sweet wines are well suited for long-term storage, for example, sauternes only improve their taste properties even after 20 years of aging.
There are other markings that indicate the high quality of the wine. For example, the Millesimé indication speaks of ensuring that the grapes were harvested in a specific year and that the wine is suitable for long-term storage. On the labels of French Finns, you can find the abbreviation AOC - Appéllation d'origine controlée. This designation indicates that the wine meets all the standards of the brand and the region. Such a mark is placed on champagne, sauternes and a number of other drinks that meet high requirements.
Why serve sweet wines
The choice of a suitable product depends not only on the degree of sweetness of the wine, but also on its flavor bouquet. Sauternes, one of the most valuable sweet French wines, is traditionally served with foie gras with kiwi confiture and white bread toast. This combination is considered a classic French Christmas snack. Sweet and semi-sweet champagne often accompanies fruits or young cheeses with a delicate taste.
When choosing wines for your meals, keep in mind that foods and drinks from the same region are best combined.
Sweet or semi-sweet Muscat can be served as an aperitif before lunch or dinner. This wine can be accompanied by the simplest food, such as crackers or homemade tapas.
Sweet white wines go well with fish. They work best with red fish, which should be cooked with a sauce.
Port wine should be singled out as a sweet red wine. Strong flavored cheeses such as Gruyere or Cheddar are a good match. Port is one of those rare wines that go well with chocolate and various delicious desserts made from it.
