Tips for Choosing the Right Wine for Dinner
Picano's Italian Grille • April 14, 2022
When ordering wine to accompany your meal at a restaurant, you must choose from a wide variety. The factors to consider are the type of grape, the region or country of origin, the wine's age, and the quality. These factors are hard to decipher if you are not a wine professional.
Read on to discover some tips on how to choose the best wine for dinner.
Check the Label
Since most restaurants will allow customers to read the labels of the wines on the menu, use this opportunity to learn more about the available wines. Some of the things you can know from the front and back labels of wines include:
- The producer
- The sugar level
- The region of origin
- The alcohol %
- The age
- The importer
The information above will help you choose a wine that matches your tastes and preferences. For example, if a restaurant doesn't offer your favorite wine, you can select another from the same region.
Alternatively, you can choose a wine from the producer you know and consider reliable.
Let the Dinner Guide You
Your dinner will be tastier if you choose a wine that perfectly matches the food. Instead of selecting the wine that sounds most appealing or the cheapest on the list, choose a wine that properly complements your food. The simplest way to choose the best wine for your meals is to pair similar flavors.
For example, you can choose an acidic and fruity red wine for a classic dish like lasagna. The acidity of such wines will cut through the creamy cheese and infuse your food with rustic flavors.
For meat dishes, like Braciola, choose dry, tannic wines. The tannin molecules will soften that fat in the meat, releasing more of the meaty flavor. Moreover, the fat in the meat will reduce the wine's astringency, giving it a smoother and less bitter taste.
Choose Rosé or Sparkling When Unsure
Since sparkling and rosé wines pair well with almost anything, you can play safe with any of the two whenever you have no idea what wine matches your meal. The acidity of wine combined with the effervescence will always liven up your menu.
Ask for Help
Despite the satisfaction of navigating a wine list without help, the bottom line is choosing the best wine to accompany your meal. Therefore, you should not struggle with the list when there are professionals to help you. Your server will provide the information you need to decide. Some suggestions might also introduce you to some quality but overlooked varieties.
A mobile app can also come in handy when choosing your perfect wine from a list. These apps offer comprehensive wine ratings and guidelines to help you navigate wine lists easily.
Avoid Choosing by Price
A higher price does not necessarily mean you will enjoy the wine. However, since it isn't always easy to choose the perfect wine from a list, some people order by price. The best way to choose a wine for dinner is to let the meal guide you.
Check the Tasting Notes
If you are unaware of the wines on a restaurant's list, you can rely on tasting notes to choose one that best matches your meal. Taste notes offer crucial information about a wine, including flavors and aromas, appearance, and overall ratings.
Since there is no one-size-fits-all in the world of wines, you must carefully choose a wine that matches your dinner for the best experience. Use the tips above to identify the perfect wine to accompany your meals. At Picano's Italian Grille, we offer various wines from Italy, Napa Valley, and other regions around the world. Contact us for more information about our wine list.
