How to Choose Wine in a Store: A Detailed Guide

Selecting a wine from such an extensive range can seem overwhelming. Our guide aims to simplify the process for you.

Purpose of purchase

First of all, you need to decide for what purpose you want to buy wine in a store or on Puninwine online wine shop Cyprus.

As a gift

In this case, we can proceed from the fact that women, as a rule, are more sensual than men. This is expressed not only in the perception of colors and aromas but also in taste preferences. It is better to abandon tart and rich red wines and turn to sparkling, fruit and berry reds or delicate whites with minimal oak aging. Fragrant varieties such as Muscat, Gewürztraminer, or Sauvignon Blanc are perfect.

Men, in turn, are more likely to choose full-bodied, rich red wines with oak aging. They love bright sensations, so you can safely choose wines from Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinotage, Shiraz, and Sangiovese. Among white wines, it is worth paying attention to the presence of aging in oak barrels and the alcohol content (around 13-14%). Chardonnay or Chenin Blanc is a great option.

For dinner

The basic rule that will help you avoid mistakes is that the denser and juicier the food, the richer the wine should be. If the food has a light shade (chicken, white fish, creamy sauce), then white wines will suit it; if the dish is dark (beef in prunes, tuna with berry sauce, fried mushrooms), then red wine is required. But don’t forget to experiment!

Price: Old World vs New World

One of the crucial criteria when choosing a wine is its price. Of course, it can vary from store to store, but there are certain limits that retailers try to adhere to so as not to confuse buyers. In many ways, the price depends on the origin of the wine.

Wines of the Old World

The Old World for wine is France, Italy, Germany, Austria, Spain, and Portugal. However, Europe is also different. Nowadays, the wines of Greece, as well as Macedonia, Serbia, Hungary, and other Eastern European countries are gaining more and more popularity.

Wines of the New World

Everything that is not Europe is the New World. This category includes New Zealand, Australia, the USA, South Africa, Chile, and Argentina. The weather conditions in these countries are sometimes so mild that the grapes have time to ripen not once, but twice a year.

The Design and Appearance of the Bottle

The main thing is to carefully consider the bottle.

Label integrity

If you have a wine with a badly worn, torn, or dirty label in front of you, this is a sign of improper storage. Wine smudges on the label may indicate that this bottle and its brethren have been treated carelessly.

Excise stamps

Their purpose is to control the movement of alcoholic beverages and some other goods on the territory of the country. Anyone can check how a bottle of this or that wine got to them, starting from the border, ending with the shelf of the nearest supermarket.