We love eating out at delicious fancy restaurants. A fine dining experience often comes with choosing the right wine. Luckily for you, most upscale restaurants have an in-house sommelier who can give you suggestions, but it can get expensive listening to a sommelier’s choice. If you want to make a sensible choice yourself next time and feel proud about it, here are some tips to help you choose wine at a restaurant.
Do Your Homework
You’ll be paying dearly for a bottle of wine at a restaurant, so it makes sense to do your homework first. Remember the last time you skimmed in panic through the long list of available wines at a restaurant, wishing some familiar names would appear so you don’t have to guess the rest of the choices? To avoid such a situation, do some research online first about the wine menu before the dinner date.
If the wine list is not available online, consider calling the restaurant to ask. They will be happy to inform you and even make a few suggestions depending on what will be served that day.
Start with a Sparkling Wine
Sparkling wine is easy because it can work wel
l with any appetizer. If you are still unsure about the wine for the main course, it’s best to order a sparkling wine to buy some time to make a decision. Italian Prosecco or Spanish Cava can be great sparkling wine choices.
Know the Grape Varieties and Wine Regions
Wines coming from popular regions are often priced higher than those coming from lesser-known ones. If you want to make a sensible choice at the dining table, it’s best to have a basic knowledge of the major regions and grape varieties. Choosing a lesser-known region or a unique grape variety will add a surprise factor to your dining experience, which may end up being quite good.
Above are some tips to help you make better wine choices dining in a restaurant. When paired properly, the wine can bring out the best in every dish. It’s worth learning about wine pairings because it will improve the dining experience for the rest of your life. Even when shopping for wines at a supermarket, being knowledgeable will help you make the right choice.