Buying and Serving Tips

• When buying wine, start with a good retail wine shop that carries a wide range of wines. Then, look for an informed store employee who will help you make a selection, keeping your tastes and the food you're serving in mind.
• Generally you'll find wines in 750-milliliter-size bottles. Some wines are also available in a larger 1.5-liter size, ideal when entertaining a group. You may want to sample a wine in a smaller bottle to ensure a good choice before investing in a larger bottle.

• Serve wines at temperatures that will heighten their flavors. White and rose wines should be lightly chilled, and reds should be around 65 degrees.
• To serve a bottle of wine, just open the bottle and pour; most wines don't need to "breathe."
• Fill wineglasses one-half to two-thirds full so you can capture the wine's aroma. For appetizer and dessert wines, serve smaller portions.