How to choose a good wine? This is a question that concerns all wine lovers and non-wine lovers as the number of wine labels in Greece is increasing. We see new wines almost every day from well-known producers as well as from new producers we are hearing for the first time. Entering a good wine cellar, a good eshop or even the supermarket we see a wide range of wines, in all shades of white, red and rosé, from the most economical to very expensive wines. How do we choose the best wine?


1. By asking you go to the City

The easiest and fastest way to choose a good wine is to ask someone who knows more about wines than we do. For example, the employee of the winery or the customer service of an eshop or even a friend or acquaintance of ours who knows something about wine. If we give the employee of the winery the necessary information such as some wines we have tried and like, what food we will accompany it with, how much money we are willing to spend, etc. then he will definitely recommend 2-3 good wines that we will probably like . After all, let's not forget that taste is subjective and not everyone has the same tastes.


2. With what food will we accompany our wine?

The most important thing to consider before choosing a wine is what food to accompany it as not all wines go well with all foods. With the right food we can better perceive and enjoy the special aromas and taste of a wine. So if the menu includes beef with red sauce, a heavier dish, then an aged red wine would be a perfect match. But if the menu includes seafood risotto in a white sauce then the best choice is a cool white wine.


3. Which year should I choose?

Before deciding which year will be the wine you will choose, you should first carefully observe the conditions of preservation. If you are in a cellar and the place where the wines are is not cool even in the summer then maybe you should go to another cellar. Wines need the right storage conditions such as a temperature of around 17 degrees and corresponding humidity. As long as there are the right conditions then you can proceed to choose the year. If you want red wine then the older the better. Of course depending on the wine as some wines do not allow for long-term aging. Also keep in mind that the older it is the more expensive it will be. If on the other hand you have chosen a white or rosé wine then it is better to choose the previous year. That is, now we are in 2016 so the best would be a white wine of 2015 as usually white wines are not suitable for aging and those that are can need special aging conditions.


4. Always look carefully at the label

It is good to choose wines from well-known producers, unless the winery employee has recommended someone else. It is also good to choose wines which on their label have the indication "PDO" which means "protected designation of origin" and to look at the origin of the wine. Finally, many labels also display the awards that each wine has won in Greece and abroad.


5. What variety to choose?

The choice of the variety of each wine depends on everyone's taste preferences as each variety has its own special characteristics. In each bottle, in its description, you will see what variety it is and its characteristics. It is good to choose a wine that has only one variety and not a combination of varieties, for example 100% Agiorgitiko. However, this is not absolute as there are wines that have perfectly married 2 or even 3 varieties.


These are the basics that everyone should know before buying any wine. Do not forget that we must open the bottle of wine at least half an hour before consumption to let it breathe properly in order to enjoy its special aromas. If we put it in a jug, then even better. Some aged red wines need even 2 hours to breathe before drinking.


An easy way to tell if the wine we have chosen is really good wine is to notice if it leaves tears in the glass when served. If it does leave, then congratulations, you have chosen a high quality wine! Unfortunately, in recent years, many wines of poor quality have been released on the market, and special care is needed when buying a wine. After all, let's not forget that life is too short to drink bad wine!