How to Order Wine Without Going Broke or Looking Like an Idiot
If ordering wine in a restaurant makes your heart race and your palms sweat, you can relax. I have some tips you can use to survive with your ego and bank account intact.
First, never go to a restaurant unless you know your budget for wine, otherwise you could go broke trying some expensive cult wine recommended by a smarty-pants sommelier.
The easiest way to choose wine in a restaurant is to make the wine steward or sommelier your new best friend; it’s their job to ensure you have an enjoyable dining experience. He or she is there to recommend wines that match your style preferences, their menu, and your budget—they're your personal wine guru for the moment. If there isn’t a wine steward, ask your server for help, nowadays most quality restaurants have servers who are knowledgeable about wine.
Here are some tips for guaranteed wine ordering success:
- You can chicken out entirely and buy by the glass. It saves money, is a terrific way to taste several wines at once. It can be an impromptu mini food and wine pairing session and you don’t have to commit to a bottle you may or may not enjoy.
- Review the wine list carefully. Note how it’s organized, whether it’s by region, varietal (a fancy name for grape), style, or categories such as light, dry whites, big bold reds, etc. Understanding this will guide your selections and questions.
- Go three wines up from the bottom of each section to find hidden gems that offer value and quality and are often a favorite of the sommelier.
- Avoid any wine that can afford national print or TV advertisements because they are spending money on the ads rather than what’s in the bottle.
- Always ask your waiter about specials on wine, you could potentially find delicious wine and get a price break.
- Never be afraid to ask questions, if you don’t understand a term, have never heard of a wine or region, or are unsure about what style of wine you prefer. Chances are your dining companions are in the dark as much as you are.
- Tell the sommelier you love a certain wine (fill in the blank), and ask if he has a wine similar in style and price.
- If you are shy about talking price, point to a wine on the list, put your finger on the price, and tell the sommelier you want a similar wine. They’ll get the message.
- Ask the sommelier what they think is drinking well. You will get to taste a wine at its peak.
- Always ask, “Which wine do you think is best with our food?” Sommeliers are trained to do this so both the wine and food taste great.
- Ask which wines are the sommelier’s favorites. This will endear you as a customer, and you’ll find superb wines at reasonable prices.
Cheers!
