How To

How to Choose a Sangiovese

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By eHow Contributing Writer

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So, you might be the type of person that won't drink a drink that you can't pronounce and that is why you have never tried Sangiovese wine. Once you learn proper pronunciation, you will soon find that ordering this wine is well worth it. Sangiovese is a medium-bodied red wine that pairs well with anything from pizza to wild game. Read on to learn how to choose a Sangiovese.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Step 1

Learn about the grape. The Sangiovese grape is thin-skinned and needs a great deal of sunlight in order to ripen. This grape produces fruity flavors and high acidity.
Step 2

Discover how Sangiovese tastes. It is neither big and bold like a Cabernet, nor soft and mellow like a Merlot. Sangiovese is high in acidity, low in tannins and tends to taste fruity, as opposed to earthy or herbaceous.
Step 3

Know when to drink Sangiovese. This is not a wine that gets better with age. For optimum drinking pleasure, consume within four years of its vintage date.
Step 4

Read the label. Some wine makers tend to blend the Sangiovese grape with others such as Cabernet or Pinot Noir. Read the label to be sure you are choosing a wine that is made from 100 percent Sangiovese grapes.
Step 5

Visit your local wine merchant and ask for help choosing a Sangiovese wine. This will ensure that you are buying a true Sangiovese.

Tips & Warnings

Decant this wine. It is young and racy. The fresh air will help mellow it a bit.
Try Rosso di Montalcino Sangiovese or Frescobaldi 2005 Castiglioni Sangiovese. They are both made from 100 percent Sangiovese grapes and are under $15 a bottle.
Don't age this wine. It is true that a few Sangiovese wines will stand up to aging, but only a few. Aging this wine will result in what is called a "dead wine," meaning it will lose its youthful vibrancy and its predominant fruity flavors.
Pay attention to serving temperature. Serve this wine between 50 to 55 degrees F. Serve it too warm and it will taste too acidic; too cold and you won't taste any of its varied fruit flavors.

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