How to Order Wine With Dinner
Being presented with a large wine list can be daunting when you're dining out. However, ordering wine with dinner doesn't have to be an intimidating experience. After all, wine is meant to be enjoyed. Knowing a few basic principles about wine pairing will help you through the selection process. Most fine dining establishments have sommeliers who are enthusiastic about wine and eager to help you pick a wine to suit your taste and budget. A knowledgeable server can make recommendations as well. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Decide whether you'd like an aperitif. Aperitifs are alcoholic beverages served before a meal. Champagne and light white wines such as sauvignon blanc make great aperitifs. Ask your server or sommelier to recommend a Champagne or light white wine. Most restaurants offer wine and Champagne by the glass; if you're not interested in ordering an entire bottle, ask for a recommendation from the list of wines or Champagnes by the glass.
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Tell your server or sommelier about your intentions. If you're thinking about ordering a couple of different wines over the course of the meal, let your server know that you'll need to keep the wine list until you've decided on a starter and an entree.
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Peruse the wine menu. There are no strict rules in pairing wine with food. However, many wine enthusiasts recommend going from light to dark --- or from white to red --- over the course of an entire meal. Typically, appetizers and salads are more delicate than entrees; thus, white wines are a good choice because they tend to be less overpowering. If you're having an appetizer or salad before the main meal you should choose a white wine you enjoy. Some people prefer oaky chardonnays, while others prefer lighter white wines, such as pinot grigio, chenin blanc or riesling.
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Choose a wine or a couple different wines. Many wine connoisseurs advise pairing white wine or a light red wine with fish or poultry. Heavier reds -- such as cabernet sauvignon, merlot and zinfandel -- tend to complement beef and lamb. Ask your server or sommelier for recommendations, if you're not sure which wines to choose. Servers and sommeliers are generally sensitive to their guests' budgets. If you want to stay within a certain price range, you can always point to a wine on the list and say, "I was thinking about this." It's likely your server or sommelier will understand and make recommendations within your price range.
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Tips & Warnings
You can contact a restaurant ahead of time to ask for a copy of the wine list. Many restaurants have websites with food and wine lists available for online viewing. If you're planning an important business dinner or a special dinner with friends, you can also visit the restaurant beforehand and speak to a sommelier or server about the wine list.
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- Photo Credit white wine and red wine image by jimcox40 from Fotolia.com
