Experiment or Homework
Keep in mind that even the experts will not be familiar with every selection on a wine list. If you are a novice and your are going on an important date, you should do a little homework to get some idea of what you might want to order. Unless you are feeling extremely adventurous, a restaurant is usually not the place to try something new since the mark up can range from 100 to 200%.
The Wine List
Today, most restaurants have a wine list, but expect a myriad of shapes and sizes. Some establishments might simply offer just a house red or white, while others have a daily blackboard to outline their rotating selection. Most wine lists are presented as a printed menu, with the wines arranged by color; red, white, and rose and the region of country. Additionally, many establishments will number their wines on the list, which helps big-time if you do not know how to pronounce the wine. You can simply say, "I will have the number 8".
Before you order, you are going to want to factor in what you are going to be eating. Unfortunately, not a lot of menus give advice on food pairing. If you need some help talk to the wine steward, or sommelier. They are there to help you make the best decision for your occasion, and a good one will not try to take you out of your price range.
Getting the Best Wine for Your Money
� Skip the house wine. Unless you are familiar with the house wine, don't bother because they generally carry the highest mark up.
� Scan the wine list too quickly to get an idea on the average price of a bottle. Try to stay within this median price range where the mark ups tend to be average.
� Choose a wine from the same region as the restaurant's food specialty. A good French restaurant, for instance, should have a solid selection of French wines.
� Ask the server for a recommendation. Just ask if they have any special values currently.
� If two or more at your table are going to have a few glasses of wine, it is cheaper to order by the bottle than the glass.
Corkage
Many restaurants will open and serve a bottle of wine brought by the patron. A quick call to the restaurant will confirm if this is possible, and if so, they will charge a corkage fee. They usually charge between $5 and $15 per bottle, although some restaurants will charge a lower fee if the wine brought is not on their wine list.
About the Author
Contributor: Stuart Glasure, A wine enthusiast and publishing member of the Wine Learning Center at http://www.WineDefinitions.com.
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Now your wine tasting should also have plenty of great snacks for everyone to chow down on. You will want to look into the best cheese to serve with various wines as well as the right crackers. You should choose wine and crackers, and even some nuts that will complement the wine you are having at your wine tasting. This is a great way to make the most out of the wine available while keeping something in the tummies of your guests.
If you do not want your wine tasting guests to drink too much on an empty stomach or they could get too drunk too fast. You also need to take into consideration just how much each guest should drink. And whatever you do don't let anyone drive home after they have been at your wine tasting and they have had too much to drink. Drinking and driving after a wine tasting is a definite no-no.
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