Wine FAQ
What does terroir mean?
It is a french term describing the unique environment in which a wine is produced. Including soil, topography and climate. In short what it is that makes this particular wine unique and what sets it apart from other wines made from the same grape etc.
What is decanting and is it necessary?
Decanting is done for two main reasons.
First to pour the wine without getting sediments in the glass och this is for aged wines primarily. If the bottles are stored horizontally in for example a wine cellar it is a good practice to get the bottles up from storage and have them standing vertically for a day or two beforehand to let the sediments sink to the bottom. When pouring the wine into the decanter have a light source so you can see the clarity of the wine and stop poring when you see sediments in the neck of the bottle.
The second reason for decanting is to aerate the wine to "open it up" and air out gases like carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulfide. The wine begins to change when exposed to oxygen and sometimes for the better and sometimes for the worse and not everybody agrees on if wine should be decanted or not.
My suggestion is to try the wine straight from bottle to glass and then the same wine after 30 minutes to an hour of decanting and see which you like the best and if you notice any difference.
How long does an opened bottle of wine last?
For red wines between 3-5 days refrigerated. Just do the old taste test. If it tastes ok then it is ok. Most wines will go a little bit flat after a few days.
White wines should last between 5-7 days.
Also make sure the wine is corked when stored.
Tasting wine at the table in a restaurant?
When presented with the wine you ordered check the bottle to make sure it is the correct wine and vintage (checking the cork is also a good way of seeing that it is in fact the correct wine). Smell it to make sure it doesn't smell damp or mouldy. Taste it to make sure it is not "corked" or faulty. If it is corked it will taste like wet cardboard (not that I have tasted wet cardboard) and be very flat generally and few fruity notes.
It is important to note that you don't taste the wine to see if you like it. You taste the wine to make sure it is the correct wine and that there is nothing wrong with it. If you think it might be "corked" just tell the sommelier and they will taste it also.
