The world of wine is full of commonly held ideas, beliefs and misconceptions that can be more than a little confusing for wine fans. The O’Briens team is here to help, as always, so here are 5 common wine myths – debunked! Does the ‘spoon trick’ really keep the fizz in your bottle of bubbly? Do you always have to spend a lot of money to get a good bottle of wine? And can you ever put red wine in the fridge?
Here, we’ve taken a look at some common wine myths and folklore and reveal the truth behind them. Armed with your improved wine knowledge you can not only impress your friends, you can shop with more confidence too - and exploring our current wine offers is a great place to start!
1 The myth: Expensive wine is always better
In what may be good news for your wallet, the price of a wine does not always indicate its quality. Provenance, region, grape variety and winemaking techniques all contribute to a wine’s taste and quality. Yes, there are some exceptional wines that demand a high price point but there are also plenty of wines that are less expensive but taste great and offer excellent value.
And don’t dismiss personal preference too! Really, the best wine is a wine you love, whether it’s an affordable bottle or a luxury buy. (However, spending a little more on something very special can really add to a sense of occasion if you’re celebrating an anniversary or birthday or want to give someone a gift.)
2 The myth: Placing a spoon in a bottle of Champagne keeps it fizzy
Have you ever popped a silver or metal spoon into the neck of an open bottle of Champagne or sparkling wine in the hopes of keeping its bubbles for longer? You’re not alone but does the spoon trick actually work? We’re afraid not, no.
The idea behind this commonly held notion is that somehow the spoon will help to preserve carbonation and keep the wine fizzy for longer. In reality, the best and probably only way to keep Champagne or sparkling wine fresh is to use a proper stopper designed for sparkling wines.
3 Screw caps mean lower quality wine
Now, this is an interesting one and points to a significant trend in the world of wine. In short, a screw cap has no bearing on the quality or price of a wine. And an increasing number of winemakers are moving away from traditional natural corks.Other closure types such as screw tops or ‘technical corks’ (you’ll know them by their smooth, even textures) can effectively seal the bottle and minimise the risk of the wine becoming tainted or ‘corked’.
While some wine fans may miss the ceremony of using a corkscrew, the fact that a screw top means an opened bottle of wine can be securely reclosed to be enjoyed later is a good consolation prize!
4 Red wine should be served at room temperature
This one is less straightforward, as most reds are best served at room temperature – but ‘room temperature’ might be cooler than you think. And, to further complicate things, some reds actually benefit from being chilled! Serving a wine at an optimal temperature allows it to fully express all its character and flavours so it’s worth doing a little research depending on the style of wine you’re planning to enjoy.
Lighter reds with low tannins such as Pinot Noir are best served slightly chilled (about 15˚C) while fuller-bodied red wines should be served at the aforementioned room temperature. And what is that? According to the HSE Sustainability Office, the optimal room temperature is 18˚C – 23˚C, but the ideal serving temperature for red wines actually ranges from 15˚C -18˚C. Something to keep in mind when you’re opening your next bottle of red.
5 All wines improve with age
When you think of wine it can conjure up images of bottles gathering dust in a spectacular cellar somewhere and it’s easy to assume that all wine gets get better with age. In fact, that’s not the case and only certain wines, such as high-quality red wines such as Bordeaux or Barolo, as well as ports and some white wines are meant to age well.
Most wines are meant to be consumed within a few years of being released by the winery, so you can go ahead and enjoy that bottle you just bought!