«"Surfer friend looking for good ideas, it's time for me to give you my tips and tricks for great wine, tested and approved by myself, Roxane, smitten by Bergerac Wines!"
Ideally you wouldn't open a bottle that has been transported, rather you let it rest a while before opening it. But sometimes we must drink it immediately. In this case, be sure to carry it upright, wedged in your car trunk. Thus, the air between the wine and the cork will remain at the top and not mix with the wine. However, if you are storing the wine at home in your cellar make sure it is lying down so that the wine is in contact with the cork keeping it wet, otherwise the cork will dry out and the wine will spoil.
Treat yourself to an aroma box. They generally contain the most characteristic and common aromas. They are also fun for evenings with friends. You will find all sorts of aroma boxes, with many different flavours, in wine shops, bookstores, specialty shops, Internet ... If you go to Bergerac, you can test your skills at the sensory table in the House of Wines.
Tobacco weakens the perception of taste so don't be surprised if you can't always appreciate or recognise the aroma of a wine. Try not to smoke one hour before a tasting, and especially not during, as you could miss out on some of the amazing flavors.
There is no specific time, the properties on the Bergerac Wine Route welcome you with pleasure. But it is more difficult to find people at the property in times of harvest and during meal times when the family meets. Feel free to call your desired estate to be sure they can welcome you. Contact us for details of the properties on the Wine Route or visit the website.
Unless there is a major fault, it is difficult to define what is a bad wine and what is a good wine, as these are subjective assessments. Everything is a matter of personal taste. If you do not like a wine, say that you do not like it. You may absolutely love a wine that others don't appreciate. Everyone has their individual taste that should be respected.
Place the bottle in hot water and wait for the label to come off by itself. Don't try this technique with adhesive labels, it will be mission impossible! Try something else: put the bottles in a hot oven a few minutes to heat and soften the adhesive layer then detach the coveted label. But be careful of the "cook time", the paper can brown very quickly ... and also be very careful not to burn yourself !
Few of us have 'the perfect cellar' where the temperature does not exceed 12 ° C. Nontheless keep your bottles at home horizontal so that the cork does not dry out. With synthetic corks or screw caps, this problem does not arise.
Bottled wine should always be opened in front of you. If it seems corked, do not drink it, ask the waiter to verify the cork taint and change the bottle. Don't wreck your dinner by not daring to ask for a replacement. Cork taint can happen to all wine at all levels !
In Quebec, this is a very common practice. In France, for the moment, this practice is rare. There are some restaurants where you can bring your bottle/s on condition that you pay a corkage fee.
To chill a bottle in the refrigerator takes 2 to 4 hours. The quickest way to chill the bottle is to immerse it in a bucket filled with water and ice. On the contrary, if the wine is too cold, it is best to serve it and then hold the bowl of the glass in your hands for a minute or two.
This happens sometimes. No panic, nothing serious. Just remove the pieces in your glass with a spoon.
Don't wait until the stain dries. Soak it with water or an acidic liquid (white wine, lemon juice), then let it dry. Then it should wash out. Otherwise, sprinkle the stain immediately with salt and rub lightly. Let the salt penetrate for half an hour before rinsing with clean water.
Special carpet: Sprinkle generously with salt then rub the salt gently into the stain. Wait half an hour, then vacuum the salt before removing the excess with a damp sponge. Repeat the process of delicate rinsing with a sponge until the stain is gone.
