Tips for Selecting a Wine at a Restaurant

Many diners view the wine list as the most intimidating part of a restaurant menu, but choosing a wine that you'll enjoy with your meal doesn't have to be difficult. Here are some simple tips on how to choose a wine that you'll like - and you don't even need to know anything about grape varietals, terroir, tannins or other technical jargon.

Choose a Glass or a Bottle

First, decide whether you want to purchase a glass or a bottle of wine. Each option has its own merits, and this is a simple decision you can make without the input of anyone except the people you're dining with.

If you're alone or no one in your party has the same tastes as you, opt for a glass of wine. A single glass will cost much less than the entire bottle, and you can always order a second (or third) glass if you'd like. You'll have the flexibility to stay with the same wine or try something else if you decide to get another glass.

If you're in a group and people have similar wine preferences, skip the individual glasses and select a bottle to purchase together. You'll have more wines to choose from because most restaurants offer their rarer wines only by the bottle. Also, each person will pay less for their wine because bottles are priced lower than the cost of four individual glasses of the same wine.

When you decide how many bottles to purchase, plan on each bottle providing four full glasses. This is common, although some restaurants may pour five glasses per bottle.

Move from Light to Heavy

Second, don't start out with the biggest and boldest wine you know if you intend to order more than one type of wine. Instead, move from light to heavy as you proceed through your meal. This will ensure you don't fill up on wine before your entree arrives, and your wine choices will be patterned after your meal. Most meals go from light appetizers to rich desserts.

You don't need to know what wines are light and which ones are heavy before you go to the restaurant. Restaurant menus frequently list wines by category, with different sections for light, medium and heavy wines.

Check the Menus for Recommendations

Third, as you peruse the restaurant's menus, watch for notes and recommendations that sound good to you.

Wine menus often include basic tasting notes on each vintage, and these notes are usually written so that a non-wine-drinker can understand them. Look for simple terms like "fruity," "hint of chocolate," or "oak," and pick a wine that has descriptors you like.

Sometimes, food menus also feature suggested wine pairings. If you select an entree that has a recommended pairing, check the pairing on the wine list to see whether its descriptors sound good.

If the descriptors of the recommended pairing sound appealing, you should enjoy that wine with your meal. It will have a profile that you like and go well with your chosen food.

If the descriptors are not tastes that you'll like, look for another wine that's in the same category on the wine menu. The other wine will have enough similar characteristics to go well with your food, and it will have a taste profile that's more akin to what you prefer.

Ask the Server or Sommelier

Finally, you can always ask your server or the restaurant's sommelier for a recommendation if you're unsure of what wine to order. Sommeliers, in particular, are helpful because their job is to cultivate the wine list and help diners select vintages.

Simply tell your server or the sommelier what you like and what you expect to order for food, and they should have a few recommendations.

To enjoy a fine meal with a great vintage, visit Picano's Italian Grille and make your selection from the many winesavailable.