How to Pick a Wine

With so many options available, knowing how to pick the right wine can seem like an overwhelming task. So overwhelming, that many people shy away from ordering wine with their meal for fear of making a foolish selection. Fear not. It is easier than you expect to pick a wine that will compliment any meal, or just make a refreshing treat for the end of the day. All you have to do is follow these simple guidelines for how to pick a wine.

Things You'll Need

• Know what will be served

Instructions

How to Pick a Wine

1. Pick a full bodied red wine to accompany any meal where the main course is a heavy meat, such as beef. A strong Cabernet or Zinfindel is an idea wine to accompany this meal.

2. Pick a medium bodied red win to accompany meals where lighter red meats, such as pork or veal, will be served as the main course, or if you are serving any meal that has a tomato sauce over pasta. A good Merlot or Pinot Noir is the perfect win to pick for this meal.

3. Pick a Sauvignon Blanc or a nice Chardonnay if you will be having a meal that contains no meat at all. These wines are always a good choice for any vegetarian cuisine, but also go well with fish entrees that have a mild flavor. Any Chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc is usually a good wine to pick for a meal containing fish or chicken.

4. If you are not having a meal, but simply want to enjoy a good glass of wine at the end of the day, pick whatever wine taste good to you. Popular wines for evening sipping are Cabernets, Merlots and Pinot Noirs. But ultimately, this is a simple matter of personal preference, so experiment with different wines to see which you like.

5. For a special occasion, serve a sparkling white wine (Champagne). You really want to spend a few extra dollars for better quality when it comes to the sparkling whites. Although cheaper varieties also go well if mixed with a small amount of fruit juice.

6. Consider the price. Wines come in a variety of prices, so it’s important to stick to what you can afford. Also do not get sticker shock when looking over the restaurant’s wine list. It is common for a restaurant to charge 2-3 times the price (or more) that you would pay if you bought the same wine at a grocery or liquor store.

Tips & Warnings

• If you still aren’t sure, don’t be afraid to ask your server which wine they would recommend. They will usually give you an honest opinion, rather than just pointing to the most expensive choice. Remember, these people deal with the same wine and food selections day after day, so they know what compliments the entrée well.