For centuries, wine has been considered a delicacy. This delicious nectar of the gods is consumed all over the world and is the quintessential beverage to pair with fine cuisine.
After all the years I’ve spent indulging, I like to consider myself a bit of an expert when it comes to wine. This is why I’ve decided to share my favorite 15 wine hacks that every vino lover should know .
Use frozen grapes in lieu of ice cubes.
Wine drinkers understand the temptation to add an ice cube or two to their glass in order to help rapidly cool the wine on a hot day. However, doing this dilutes the wine and ruins the taste. Instead, try popping a couple of grapes in the freezer and use them instead.
You can make frosé in less than five minutes.
To make frosé properly requires hours of preparation. If you’re looking for a quicker alternative, grab a few pieces of frozen fruit from the freezer, your favorite bottle of wine, and throw the concoction into a blender. You’ll have delicious-tasting frosé in mere minutes.
There’s a right and a wrong way to hold your wine glass.
More often than not, people have a tendency to want to hold their wine by the bowl. This is a grave mistake, as the warmth of your hand can raise the temperature of the wine. Instead, you should always hold the glass by the stem or the base (foot).
To rapidly chill a bottle of wine, wrap the bottle in a damp paper towel and stick it in the freezer.
Normally, it can take up to a few hours to properly chill a bottle of white wine . For those instances when you’re short on time, this little hack is sure to help you out and takes no longer than seven minutes of prep.
Make wine your secret ingredient in your favorite dish.
Wine is used for cooking in a variety of dishes. The next time that you and your family sit down to have pasta, try reducing a little vino into your red sauce . If you’re having fish or chicken, a white wine glaze is sure to impress.
Wine syrup over ice cream? Yes, please!
For this tasty treat, you’ll need a bottle of red ( Pinot noir works best), some vanilla extract, white granulated sugar, and just a dash of cinnamon. Combine all the elements in a saucepan and simmer on low heat until the mixture reduces; about 30 minutes total.
No bottle opener? No problem.
If you or someone in your family has a set of tools on hand, you can open a bottle of wine. You’ll first want to take a screw/screwdriver and twist it into the top of the cork. Then, use the hooked end of a hammer to slowly and carefully pull out the cork.
Use a coffee filter to strain heavy tannins and stray pieces of cork.
Every now and again, you’ll find that the wine cork will disintegrate as you attempt to open the bottle. Instead of being forced to spit out pieces of cork as you drink, try straining the bottle first using a coffee filter.
There’s a better way to save and store your leftover wine.
I’ve never encountered this problem myself, but I understand that there are those who don’t finish a bottle of wine in a single sitting. Instead of putting it back in the fridge, pour the wine into a spare ice cube tray and make frozen wine ice cubes !
To prolong the life of your wine, transfer it to a smaller bottle as you drink it.
Oxygen is the enemy of all wines. If you want to slow the oxidization process, try transferring your leftover wine into a small Mason jar. The less surface area you have to contend with, the longer your wine will stay good for.
Salt is your friend when it comes to remover wine stains on clothes.
In order to remove wine stains from clothing, you need to act quickly. First, blot the stain thoroughly with cold water and a cloth. Then, use a generous amount of salt to cover the stain entirely; let sit for three minutes. Afterward, rinse with cold water and continue blotting.
Learn to embrace the Five S’s
You don’t have to be a sommelier to drink like one. The Five S’s of wine are: see, swirl, sniff, sip, and savor. By implementing this method, you’ll heighten your wine-tasting experience, while simultaneously impressing everyone at the dinner table.
Never spill sparkling wine again!
There is an art to pouring sparkling wine, and it’s not all that dissimilar from pouring a proper pint of beer. What matters most is that you tilt the glass at a 45-degree angle and pour slow and steadily. As the liquid fills the glass, slowly bring the angle of the glass back upward.
You can quickly aerate wine using a blender.
Despite what you’ve heard or been told, all wine needs to breathe — and simply popping the cork and letting it sit will do next to nothing. If you’re looking for a quick way to expedite the process, throw your wine in a blender and crank it up to full blast for two minutes.
Red wine makes a great additive for homemade facial masks.
For this recipe, you’ll need a tablespoon of Pinot noir , a single green teabag, one tablespoon of yogurt (active cultures), and two tablespoons of organic honey. Microwave the tea for a few seconds, then combine all the elements until they form a thick paste.
