Uncorking 5 Myths about Wine

Hattiesburg, MS

There’s always time for a glass of wine. What kind of wine, though? Wine is hard to figure out unless you’re a connoisseur. There’s no easy way to jump in and immediately know what grapes taste like from varying areas. It doesn’t help that wine has so many strict rules. Can wine go in your fridge? What kind of special glasses should do you use? How do you know what food to eat with your wine? Don’t stress any longer, Lincoln Road Package Store of Hattiesburg, MS is here to help you by uncorking five wine myths.

Myth #1 – Screw tops mean cheap wine

Does a screw top closure mean the wine is a cheap wine? This myth exists because just a couple of decades ago, cheap wine always had metal screw tops. That is no longer the case. High-end wines from around the world have begun using metal screw closings. Why move from cork to screw top? Corks are encased in tradition, but they can come with their share of annoyances. Corks can allow air into the bottle. That air passing in through the cork over time was used to help the aging process. That’s why wines that aren’t meant to be drunk young, such as Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Grigio, which are moving towards screw tops.

On the other hand, air sneaking into your wine through the cork can also produce contaminants. Trichloroanisole, also known as TCA) is a ”cork taint.” That means this chemical compound produced when oxygen enters your bottle through the cork, creating a damp, musty smell that can ruin the flavors in your wine entirely. Aside from air complications, we’ve all experienced a crumbling cork that leaves bits in your bottle.

Myth #2 – Red wine causes headaches

We’ve all heard that red wine causes headaches. Many of us have, in fact, experienced first hand a pounding head after a couple of glasses of red wine. Sulfites in red wine have been blamed for these headaches for years. Sulfites are used in the aging process of wines and occur naturally in your wine. The issue here is, sulfites really aren’t the bad guy in your bottle. Sulfites exist in dried fruit and deli meats. Those don’t give you headaches, do they? Not to mention, white wines also contain sulfites. It is much more likely your headache is thumping like a club beat because you’re dehydrated. If you drink loads of water with your wine and still receive pounding headaches, then you should consider that you are maybe allergic to a compound in red wine. An antihistamine will solve that allergy issue.

Myth #3 – Wine glass shapes matter

You may have heard that certain glass shapes are meant for certain wines. You may have heard that bowl-shaped glasses are for chardonnay, tall skinny glasses are for cabernet, flared glasses are for rose, goblets are for ports, and martini glasses are for vintage champagne. Having said that, it’s all not true. In 1973, Sommelier glassware started a series of stemware for different varieties of wine. That’s when the myth of shapes of your glasses affecting your wine drinking experience began. Much serious wine taster will possess a few different types of stemware, but the most common form of glassware gaining popularity are stemless glasses. They offer the same aeration of a regular wine glass while having a low profile that sits nicely on your table, but they don’t affect the flavor of your wine.

Myth #4 – Red Meat = Red Wine, White Wine = Fish

Don’t get us wrong; we believe that red wine and a 22oz sirloin are a delicious pairing. But, that doesn’t mean that your wine pairing should be based solely on color. Elements such as acidity, tannins, fruit flavors, and oak treatments should help decide a pairing. Tannins, for example, cut the darkness of a ribeye, but a glass of champagne could also do the trick. Sweet wine is better for cutting heat. Wines that process high- acid content pair well with foods that have a high acid content; Chianti and tomato sauce.

Myth #5 – The color of wine dictates temperature

Red wines should never go in a refrigerator. White wines should remain chilled. Lincoln Road Package Store has a simple serving rule of thumb. Red wine is served between 62 and 68 degrees Fahrenheit. White wine is served between 49 and 55 degrees Fahrenheit. We’re not saying take the temperature of your wine, but clearly serving wine at room temperature isn’t correct entirely. Chilling either color of wine for a short period of time will bring it to the ideal temperature. We recommend 20 minutes for reds and 40 minutes for whites.

Liquor store in Hattiesburg with a great wine selection

If you’re looking for wine or have questions about wine and live in the Harrisburg, MS, area, we are here for you. Lincoln Road Package Store carries around 800 different wines and knowledgable curious staff. Consider us a one-stop-shop for all of your wine needs. You can call ahead to make sure we have everything in stock that you’re looking for. If you call and we don’t have it, we can always order it. Let Lincoln Road Package Store help you with all of your wine myths and facts by calling us today at (601) 268-3677.