Ordering wine in a restaurant can be confusing and intimidating. All the different labels, grape varieties, prices – it’s enough to give anyone pause. And when you’re out with someone who knows more about the subject than you do, what are you supposed to do?
Follow these tips for ordering wine at restaurants, and your worries will soon be over!
When you’re out with someone who knows more about wine than you do, don’t feel embarrassed to ask for some help. You will be appreciated for taking the time to learn about something, and if they know what wines are within your price range, it will make their job a lot easier!
Don’t be shy when ordering. Your server is there to take care of all of your needs so let them get started on those things right away by asking questions before making a selection yourself. You might discover something new without even trying! It’s much better to spend $25 experimenting than it would be spending $150 on an expensive bottle of wine that doesn’t suit your tastes at all. Wine selection at restaurants can be made easier with a little preparation.
Sommeliers – the wine expert
If you’re not certain about what wine to order and what is best for your dish, ask the server or sommelier. They’ll be knowledgeable on pairing a bottle of great wine with your meal and can help point out some popular choices!
Sommeliers are wine experts that work in restaurants to help customers and servers choose the best wine.
A good sommelier will know what type of wines are popular, where they come from, who makes them, how long they’ve aged, and much more! This person can also tell you if a certain vintage is better than another or which region has an excellent reputation for quality wines. They’re often called on to answer wine-related questions such as “What would be a nice white wine that pairs well with beef?”
When it’s time to order your meal at the restaurant, just remember there’s always someone ready to take care of everything for you!
In addition, if there is a certain type of wine you prefer, like a bottle of sweet fruity wine, or a dry bubbly wine, let your sommelier know because chances are they can help you find what you’re next favorite bottle of wine.
It is best to choose an experienced sommelier when ordering wine because they know the popular vintages and can help make recommendations based on your food order. When selecting a white wine, for example, if you are having seafood, it’s better to opt for a dryer white than one that has more fruit notes, in which case red might be a better choice!
You don’t need to know everything about wine like they do, but if you’d like to know more, you can ask – they likely love to talk about it as much as you do.
Try wine by the glass
Try a few wines by ordering by the glass. Sampling a wine can help you decide which ones you prefer, and it’s less expensive than wasting a whole bottle. Every glass of wine you try can be paired with different foods, as some wines go better with dessert, and others are excellent with pasta dishes or cheese.
Simple tips for ordering wine with a meal
Most white wines go wonderfully with seafood dishes, plates of pasta with cream sauce, spicy foods, and fruit and cheese plates.
Select a hearty red wine for heavier meals like pasta with red sauce, roasted chicken, beef, or salmon.
Sweet wines pair well with desserts like pies, cakes, and cookies.
Trying new wines should be a pleasurable experience. The essential thing is that you are comfortable and enjoying the fun of dining out. Once you have found that perfect bottle of wine, be adventurous and start discovering on your own which foods pair well with wine.
