We've all been there. You get seated at a table and the waiter hands you the wine list. A shiver of fear and doubt climbs up your spine. You want to look confident, cool and knowledgeable. You want to order the right thing. But the list is so long and everyone is going to order different dishes off the menu. Panic!
Whether you are out with friends, entertaining the in-laws, out with a date, or at a business dinner, I have a few easy tips that will make you look smooth, feel confident, and help you make smart choices for the occasion.
- If you're in a large group, just go ahead and order both a white and a red wine. Don’t waste time asking around who likes what. Take the initiative and order.
- Two smart wine choices that compliment most dinners are a Sauvignon Blanc and a Pinot Noir. However, if you are at a steak house, Cabernet and Chardonnay are bolder wines which go wonderful red meat. I suggest you go for a big California Cabernet.
- When the wine arrives, and the waiter pours you a taste, sniff and taste the wine. Don’t worry. You are not trying to see if the wine is a particular vintage or style. You are simply tasting it to see if it is "corked". That is a wine term meaning a bottle that has gone bad from exposure to oxygen. How will you know? Sniff the glass. If it smells a bit like paint thinner or nail polish remover, then it’s bad. (This rarely happens. It’s only happened to me once.) There's no need to sniff the cork, by the way. It tells you nothing about the wine. Just set it aside.
- Once you have tasted your wine, simply thank the waiter. Don’t feel the need to do wine talk and get yourself in over your head! Just enjoy your wine and friends.
About the Author
Sandra Muller known as "THE WINE CHICK", has been instructing popular wine seminars by guiding people through the world of wine with her her unique philosophy: "Match wine with your mood, not just your food!"
