Good questions when:

Purchasing a Bottle of Wine

Contributed by QuestionSense Editors

• Do I want red or white wine?
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• Red wines go best with red and hearty meats, heavy pastas and meaty snacks. White wines go best with chicken, fish, seafood, light pastas and snacks. You can pick red or white for most cheeses, although reds usually provide better complements for milder cheeses

• Do I want a dry or sweet wine?
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• Dry wines are better with serious cuisine, while lighter wines can be served with snacks and desserts. The major red wine varieties ranging from intense to light include cabernet sauvignon, zinfandel, shiraz or syrah, merlot, burgundy or pinot noir and chianti. The main white varieties ranging from dry to light and fruity include sauvignon blanc, pinot blanc, chardonnay, chablis blanc, rhine, chenin blanc and white zinfandel.

• What does the age or vintage have to do with the taste of the wine?
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• Red wines markedly improve in the bottle, so you want a vintage at least three years old if you can find it. White wines generally peak in flavor after one to two years in the bottle, so look for the youngest white vintages.

• What do I do if I am going to a dinner party and do not know what is being served?
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• Pick a moderately dry red wine like a merlot or burgundy that's three years old or more, or a moderately dry white wine like a chardonnay that's less than two years old.

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