10 tips to order wine in a restaurant like an expert

Has it ever happened to you that you are sitting in a premium restaurant, where there are a variety of wine options and you don’t know which one to pair with your choice of food? Well, it’s not just you but there are several people who do not know how to order that perfect wine to go along with your food. Today, we will provide you with expert tips that you can use while ordering wine the next time. (Images courtesy: iStock)

Also read: What are the 5 rules of drinking wine and why they are important

Before ordering wine in a restaurant, make sure that you ask the waiter to pour a small amount in your glass. Stir and sniff the wine and then take a sip. If you like the taste of the wine, let the waiter know and enjoy your wine.

Before ordering that bottle of wine, always know the right pronunciation. For example, Bordeaux is pronounced as ‘bore-doe’ and Chenin Blanc is pronounced as ‘shay-nin blan’, Riesling as ‘rees-ling’. If you need to talk to the Sommelier, it is pronounced as ‘so-mel-yay’.

This is something that most people would not be knowing about. When you are ready to order wine, always make sure that you check the vintage (year) of the wine. Why we are talking about vintage is that the new or young wines are priced lesser than the aged wines.

There are several restaurants that limit the wines they offer by the glass. The selection by the bottle will always be more abundant and price-wise, you’ll see a significant difference. If two people plan on consuming two glasses of wine each or you’re dining with a party of four all expecting to drink at least one glass, the bottle will be the better deal price-wise.

If you are a wine novice and want to try one for the first time, ask your waiter to suggest something that he/she recommends. Tell him/her about your taste preferences based on which they will recommend. Or ask for a wine tasting before ordering or buying that glass/bottle of wine.

Also read: Despite no added sugar, why does wine taste sweet

Most of the foods are paired as per the taste preferences For example if you want to enjoy wine with seafood, chicken, salads, and lighter foods, most servers will suggest white wines. However, if your dish is heavier and is cream-based, you should go for red wine. Also, wines go great with dessert, so, you can pair a Reisling, ice wine, or even port wine with them.

When you order wine in a restaurant, you will see that they only fill your glass till 1/3. The reason for the same is that wine should interact with the air, which means the wine will be oxidised which enhances the flavour of a wine. So, even when you buy a wine bottle, make sure that you pour the glass half full only so as to enhance the taste of the wine.

A sommelier is someone who has actually built the wine list and is an expert in wine. Thus, when you don’t know what to order for yourself, always talk to a sommelier about the best wines on his list. This way, you can save some time for yourself while enjoying a great wine that improves your palate as well.

When you are coming for a formal meeting with someone, check with the person in advance about their taste preferences and then ask the restaurant in advance for your wine selection, if it is available or not. This way, you won’t be stuck when you come for the actual meeting.

You should never feel embarrassed or ashamed when you are on a budget and meeting someone in a restaurant. You will be surprised to know that there are wines that come at a lesser price and are delicious too! You can always ask the server to bring a wine under a certain budget, and no one will ever judge you.