Tips for The Wine Lover Who Dreams of Paris

We had a great opportunity to talk to Rebecca Banks, the wine manager of the Balthazar; a place where, according to Rebecca, every waiter is like a sommelier. Two to three times a year, staff and managers are required to take wine courses that focus on a different wine-making region. For you skeptics out there, they even have to pass a final exam. Without a doubt, the Balthazar's wine knowledge, supplied via Rebecca, is seemingly abundant.

In the midst of all the hustle and bustle of the restaurant, Rebecca and I had an intimate conversation and taught me about all about the wines from France.

Here's to the French wine we dream of drinking, but know little about:

Throwing a party that needs wine (I mean, c'mon, what party doesn't?)?

• Try choosing a medium-bodied wine like: Chardonnay or Burgundy.
• Red wines: Pinot Noir from Burgundy or anything from the Cote du Rhone.

We've heard about old world and new world wines, but we may not know what they mean. Next time you're looking at a wine list, keep in mind these differences:Old World Wines: Here, we're talking about places like Italy and France that have produced wine for centuries. These are wines that you can drink in the middle of the day and still OK to go back to work, says Rebecca. The alcohol content is usually lower in these Old World Wines. There is a higher acidity, more earthiness, and they're not too fruity.

New World Wines: New World Wines would be, for example, our domestic wines from California, Oregon, and other lands that were not always wine-producing regions. Unlike Old World wines, these regions have fruitier wines and are much more alcoholic. Beware!

Rebecca says that her favorite wine-making region is the Loire Valley in France. There's a lot of grape diversity from the Loire, lots of experimentation, the wine is high in acidity.

Best Choices from the Loire

• Cabernet Franc
• Pinot Noir
• Be sure to drink these wines when they're still young.

Good Vineyards from California (in case you can't experience the Loire)

• Grgich Hills: Great Merlots and Cabernets
• Tablas Creek: Great Rhone style wines
• Tolucay: Nice Zinfandel Red Grapes

Tips for Storing Wine

At your last party, did your guests left you with three bottles of wine too many? Or have you just been trying to save up a nice collection of your own wines without a cellar? Here are our tips to keep your wine fine for as long as you want.

Basically, you should try to keep your wine in a cool, damp location.

Rebecca likes to store her red wine at 60 degrees Fahrenheit and her whites at 50 degrees Fahrenheit. If you're a lover of champagne too, store that at 45 degrees Fahrenheit to prevent an explosion when you open the bottle. Be sure to store roses with your white wines.

No space for a wine cellar? No problem! You can store the wine in a cool place inside the closet, or even under your bed!

Something that people don't realize: Wine should be kept on its side. It keeps the cork moist so that it won't dry and shrink, thus making your wine more susceptible to the dangerous oxygen.

Is decanting right for you?

Many people are confused when it comes to decanting. What's it used for? When should I do it? What isit exactly?

• Decanting helps take out sediments that may have settled in the wine, to air out (thus oxygenating) the wine, change the wine temperature, and helps make wines more fuller-bodied.
• Usually, people decant wine that is over 10 years old.
• If you can't get a decanter, don't worry. Using a glass vase or pitcher has the same effect - and it may even be prettier!