|
Total Views:
54
|
How To Order Wine At Restaurants
You're out to dinner with your friends at a nicerestaurant, and all of a sudden it's time to
order the wine. Because your friends know that
you have some knowledge about wine, you feel the
anxious gaze of several pairs of eyes upon you.
Have no fear! Using some basic knowledge, and a
healthy dose of common sense, you'll come out
looking like a pro
The key to you being succesful "under pressure"
is preparedness. First of all, engage in a
conversation with your friends about what kinds
of wines they generallly prefer. Keep your
choices simple. For example, do they prefer red
or white wine' Sweet or dry wines'etc.What you'll
probably find out is that your friends will have
mixed answers and preferences. That's o.k., you
can order two bottles of wine that most closely
correspond to the agregate of your friend's
preferences. Next, ask what entrees your friends
are having. While you don't have to stick to the
traditional "rule of thumb" of having white wine
with poultry and fish, and red wine with beef and
pork, you'll probably end up ordering one bottle
of white wine and one bottle of red wine to be on
the safe side.
Your wine steward is always a great asset when
ordering wine at restaurants. Because you
prepared yourself with your friend's entree
choices and general wine preferences, you can now
relay that info to your wine steward. Be sure to
also let your steward know what price range you'
re interested in paying. When discussing your
wine selections with the steward, try to
translate your friend's preferences into terms
that describe wines. Terms such as "semi-sweet",
or "fruity", for example better enable the
steward to make suggestions that are apppropriate
for your group. Other terms to use are "dry" or "
citrus." You don't have to know every term in the
book, however a few key terms are helpful.
So now you've ordered, but you're not out of the "
woods" yet. When the wine arrives, you'll be
expected to sample it and make sure it's ok. When
the steward presents the wine to be sampled, hold
your glass at a comfortable level and swish the
wine up the sides of the glass. This helps to
release the aromas. Make sure that the wine isn't
"corked." While rare, "corked" wine happens and
needs to be replaced.
Take a small amount of wine and move it over your
entire tongue so that all your taste buds come in
contact with it. The trick to tasting wine is to
help the aromas of the wine to enter your nasal
passageway at the rear of the throat.
If the wine is satisfactory, nod to the steward
approvingly. Your friends will then be served. At
this point, you're sure to be a "hero" with your
friends! Nothing enhances a good meal like an
appropriate wine. And remember, when in doubt ask
the steward for advice, they are professionals.
Feel Free to reprint this article and distribute
it to your favorite newsletters, ezines, and
websites. Please don't erase links, change any
content, or alter the resource box.