Today we’re clearing a minefield of wine myths! An avalanche of folklore envelops the lip of the wine glass, and we’re here to dispel the misinformation. So wine enthusiasts, pick up your favorite Cellar Beast wine from our wine shop or from our wine club, and join us in busting some of the most common misconceptions surrounding bottles of wine. Cheers!
Myth 1: Only Red Wine is Good for Your Health
Let’s start with a cliché – red wine is the one with health benefits. But both red and white wine are chock-full of antioxidants – resveratrol in red, and flavonoids in white, among others. Both can assist your heart health. In moderation of course. Don’t miss out on that medium-bodied wine, like our crisp Chardonnay, or an easy drinking wine, like our zesty Sauvignon Blanc, because you think it’s not doing your body any good. At Cellar Beast we make a wide variety of both red and white with equal attention given to health and taste!
Myth 2: Wine Gets Better with Age
It’s an old saying that every wine gets better with age, but that’s simply not true. Many wines, of course, do benefit from being cellared and consumed at a later date, but only those that have been made specifically to be aged. In fact, the vast majority of wine produced around the world is not made to be aged, and most should be consumed within a few years of the vintage turning up in stock. Aging wine really depends on the grape variety used, the winemaking methods employed, and the storage conditions, and many of these are intertwined and difficult to disentangle. Natural wines tend to change flavor profile over time as well, so you may have a wide range of experiences from the same varietal at different times. So don’t feel guilty about not being the type to cellar your wines; there’s nothing wrong with enjoying your favorite wine quite fresh.
Myth 3: Screw Caps are Inferior to Corks
Contrary to popular belief, the screw cap is not a sign of inferior wine. It is actually better – not to mention cheaper and more reliable – than cork, giving a reliable seal and protecting the wine from cork taint. The best bottle of wines all over the world (especially in New Zealand and Australia) are increasingly bottled under screw cap these days, and that is a good thing. At Cellar Beast we hand bottle every vintage with real cork, but that is largely to complement our Old-World style and dedication to delivering quality into your wine glass.
Myth 4: White Wine with Fish, Red Wine with Meat
Sure, it’s a rule of thumb, but this rule is made to be broken. Essentially, the goal is balance. The flavour, acidity and texture of the wine should complement the dish. A light bodied Pinot Noir can work wonders on grilled salmon, and a rich Chardonnay can go down a treat with roast chicken. Don’t be afraid to experiment with a selection of wines; wine and food matching is all about what your palate likes. We love to make full-bodied wines here at Cellar Beast that challenge the norm and push the senses.
Myth 5: Expensive Wine is Always Better
Price is not necessarily a direct reflection of value, there are many bargains to be found at every price level, offering wine access to everyone. High prices can reflect the cost of making the wine, a level of rarity, and certainly the prestige of the brand, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t some stellar affordable wines. The ideal choice for wine is the one you love.
Myth 6: You Should Always Decant Red Wine
Decanting is also a great way of improving certain wines, particularly older reds or those with sediment and tannic wines, but not every red needs to be decanted. Many lighter reds and younger wines don’t need it, and can be consumed without decanting. Some whites can benefit from decanting too, particularly full-bodied Chardonnays. The point is to aerate it and let it breathe, so typically the longer the decant, the better. Experiment with your decanting adventures and have fun!
Myth 7: Rosé is Just a Summer Wine
Rosé is widely considered to be a summertime sipper – but who says it can’t be enjoyed year round? The fact is that, in all its styles, from dry to sweet, from light and simple to rich and deep, its versatility means that it’s perfect for any time of year, from winter brunches to early spring picnics. Our Cellar Beast rosé is a wine that tastes of summer any time of year. Previous years have seen wine club only offerings of Willamette Valley Pinot Noir rosé and Grenache/Syrah rosés that were not available outside of wine club members.
Myth 8: Wine Should Always Be Served at Room Temperature
The serving temperature of the wine can also change the way it tastes. Red wine should be slightly less than room temperature, about 60-65°F (15-18°C), while whites are better at chilled temperatures of 45-50°F (7-10°C). Even sparkling wines can serve better at their proper temperatures between 40-45°F (4-7°C). Proper temperature can improve the flavor of your wine, bringing out the right aromas. So, go ahead and slightly chill your reds, or let your whites warm up a bit before serving.
Myth 9: Wine Legs Indicate Quality
If you swirl your wine and look at the inside of the glass, you will see those streaks of wine running down the side. You know those? They are called ‘legs’ or ‘tears’. Wow! Tears in your glass! That must mean its a high quality wine, right? Wrong. Wine legs are caused by alcohol evaporation, alcohol content, and surface tension. They are not a measure of quality, only alcohol levels. Smell it, taste it. Does it harmonize in your mouth? That is what matters. We make each Cellar Beast bottle with our full attention to detail so we know what to expect to taste out of every single bottle.
Myth 10: Only Men Can Be Great Sommeliers
Let’s just burst the balloon on this myth once and for all – there is nothing about being a great wine expert that has anything to do with gender! Some of the greatest sommeliers in the world are woman, and there is no reason that they should not be. While the body of knowledge for being a wine enthusiast at this level is considerable, it is passion, wisdom and a finely-tuned palate that makes a great sommelier, not the gender. Cellar Beast just happens to be a team of talented and diverse individuals who are all masters of wine.
Conclusion: Explore Cellar Beast Wines
Wine is best enjoyed with friends and family - so, let’s wrap this all up. I hope we’ve shown you a couple of silly wine myths and also rekindled your zest for enjoying wine without the myths getting in your way.
At Cellar Beast, we’re on a mission to make wines that shatter your expectations with every sip. We make a selection of wines at various price ranges; big reds, crisp whites and refreshing rosés in addition to natural wines, orange wines, and organic wines just for you. Our Côtes du Rhône style Jeune Bête recently took a 95 point rating at the American Wine Invitational Competition. So next time you are looking for a selection of wine gift, order them online straight to your home through our wine subscription and try them out. You’ll be pleasantly surprised. Cheers! Go to our wine store here.
About Cellar Beast:
An independent winery and a strong work ethic team of winemakers, wine producers, masters of wine, and sommeliers selecting and curating a level of service and presenting a library of dry wines, particularly with earthy notes, to the wine business. We will educate a custom crush client on the exquisite pallet of flavors from wine grapes from the West Coast via our custom crush services, custom wine label services, and bulk wine offerings. You will notice a wide selection of quality wines in our exceptional wine campus, especially in a French winemaking style where we stand out in an area that is known for sweet wines. When coming in for one of our tasting sessions amongst barrel storage, you are coming in for a wine class. We designed the tasting to tantalize your palate, unveil your sense of smell from primary to complex, blind tasting, and opening up your mind to be able to taste and enjoy a wide variety of quality custom crush wines with the Cellar Beast emblem on them, or your own wine labels as wine gifts through a price range and variety of flavors without spending tons of money.
And to the wine club members, we present selection of approachable wines including sparkling wines made in Méthode Champenoise, dry white & dry reds, even orange wines, biodynamic wines, and natural wines that will surprise and change your perception in this wine business when it comes to quality of wines from a wine subscription service and adorn your wine collection. The Cellar Beast small lot wine winemaking process has been awarded Double Golds and Best in class in different wine competitions, 97 rating points at Sunset International, and double golds across different categories of wine, all available for custom wine labels. As members of a broad community, Cellar Beast regularly donates wine gift baskets and wine gift sets to a variety of great causes.
