eHow launches Android app: Get the best of eHow on the go.

How To

How to Order Wine at Restaurants

Contributor
By eHow Contributing Writer
(3 Ratings)

A good restaurant should be able to accommodate all levels of wine drinkers - from beginners to aficionados. The more precisely you can communicate your wishes, the more likely it is you will get a wine that you love.

Difficulty: Moderate
Instructions

Things You'll Need:

  • Restaurant Guides
  • Wine Local Guidebooks
  • Credit Cards And Loans
  1. Step 1

    Have some idea of how you want the wine to communicate with the food you will be eating. Know more than whether you want a white or a red; think about the time of the year, whether or not you would like to eat a heavy or light meal, and how much you want to spend.

  2. Step 2

    Talk to the wine steward, or sommelier. He or she is there to help you make the best decision in your price range.

  3. Step 3

    Learn the lingo. Speak to the sommelier in precise language that explains exactly what you want. (For example, "I want a wine that will hold its own with the venison, but that doesn't have overpowering tannins, and I'd like to stay in the $40/bottle range.")

  4. Step 4

    Learn the meaning of wine terms like fruit forward, smoky, chewy, structured, bright, jowly, citrus, effervescent, creamy and fatty.

  5. Step 5

    Share your expertise or interest with the sommelier. They love to talk about the intricacies of wine, even with amateurs.

  6. Step 6

    Put your wine choice in the hands of the restaurant staff if you are in a good restaurant. They are professionals.

Tips & Warnings
  • Don't hesitate to share your level of expertise with the wine steward. A professional will want to contribute to your understanding of what you order and subsequently drink. It's okay not to be an expert.
  • Know that 95 percent of restaurant diners put their wine choice in the hands of the restaurant staff.
  • Regulate how much wine is in your glass. You will get a much better understanding of a wine's complexity by pouring small amounts into your glass.
  • Research the wines you are interested in drinking. If you are going to a restaurant that specializes in northern Italian cuisine, it would be a good idea to be familiar with the regional aspects of wines from that area. This will bring more importance to your wine choice.

Post a Comment

Post a Comment
  • Have you done this? Click here to let us know.
I Did This

Related Ads

Local Listings
Get Free Parties & Entertaining Newsletters

Copyright © 1999-2009 eHow, Inc. Use of this web site constitutes acceptance of the eHow Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.   en-US Portions of this page are modifications based on work created and shared by Google and used according to terms described in the Creative Commons 3.0 Attribution License.

Demand Media
eHow_eHow Parties and Entertaining