5 wine myths – cracked!

Thought everything you’ve heard about wine at those wine tastings or wine classes was true? Sorry, but we seriously need to get the record straight on some of the ridiculous myths floating out there… Enjoy!

Wine tastes the same, no matter which glass you use

Some bloggers or writers will tell you that you really don’t need a different shaped glass, depending on the colour of the wine you’re drinking, but many wine experts disagree with this. In fact, a really good wine will taste completely different when served in a different glass. This has to do with the aromas produced by the wine in various glasses. Want to test if for yourself? Get a really good bottle of wine and pour it into a few different types of glasses. Then, have your own wine tasting. Have some crackers and water on hand to cleanse your palate in between sips and let us know your findings! However, drink sparkling wine in a water glass is definetely not recommended, we recommend drinking champagne in a tulip glass, whose shape is precisely between the cup and the flute.

Red wine needs to be kept at room temperature and white wine needs to be served right from the refrigerator

This one is sooo not true! Red wine is actually served best at about 15 degrees Celsius (60 degrees Fahrenheit) and white wine is best served a bit cooler than that, but not at refrigerator temperature. Red wine should be put in the fridge about 15 minutes before you serve it for the best flavour and white wine should be put in the fridge about 30 minutes before serving. If you’re storing your white wine in the fridge, please let it sit out for at least 15 minutes before serving. Don’t believe us? Conduct a taste test with the same red served at room temperature, vs. a bit cooler and the same white wine served right from the fridge, vs. a bit warmer. You’ll notice a difference, guaranteed!

After a few days, you need to toss any leftover wine

While it’s true that wine starts to get that vinegar-y taste if you take more than a few days to drink it, we’ve found a way to make that bottle of amazing wine last so you don’t have to pitch it: Use a wine preserver , which removes any remaining air from the bottle and prevents oxidation, which spoils your wine. If you know you won’t be able to finish your wine within a few days, a wine preserver will help ensure it tastes just as good as the first day you opened it (even weeks later).

All wines get better with age

Sorry, but the reverse is typically true. After a few years, most wines actually get worse. There are some rare wines that do get better with age, but the majority of the wine on the market should be consumed within a few years for the best experience. And, many of the wines that increase in value over the years actually do so because of their rarity, not due to any improvement in taste.

A wine’s colour comes from the colour of the grape

False! Believe it or not, all grape juice is usually a clear to golden colour. The colour of your wine actually develops during the fermentation process, as grape skins are soaked with the juice. If the grape skins are soaked for a short amount of time, your wine colour will be rose (blush), and if it’s soaked for a longer amount of time, the your wine will appear red.