Wine your manners

By The weekly winer 19 October 2007 07:36:00

Ever been in a situation where you had to be the one who ordered the wine for your entire dinner party? 

The waiter or sommelier brings the wine and then there's this whole procedure you have to go through.  Such a hassle isn't it?  Well, it's not as complicated as you might expect.  Sure there's a couple steps in ordering wine, and sure we don't really know if the wine we've selected is in fact a good choice.  There's really nothing to worry about.  Chances are most of the people at your table or in the whole restaurant for that matter, aren't wine experts and no one expects you to be either. As the person who orders, having a little confidence and a little know-how can go a long way. 

Picking your grape

First and foremost, choosing the wine is not only most important, it's everything.  Picking a wine that everyone at the table will enjoy is much simpler than you think.  A good way to determine is to get an idea of what type of food everyone will be eating.  Whether it be steaks, seafood, or Tom Yum Koong, getting a wine that compliments most of the food on the table is a wise decision in itself.  Most restaurants that serve wine usually have a wine sommelier available to help make suggestions.  Don't feel ashamed to ask them for help since it's their job to know which wines go with their foods. 

Handle with care

Once a selection has been made, the sommelier or waiter will bring the bottle for you to inspect.  Ever wonder what it is you are supposed to be looking for?  I have.  But in reality, inspecting the wine is as simple as sniffing and sipping, literally.  But before that, you want to make sure that the bottle you're holding is in fact the one you ordered.  Checking the name of the vineyard, type of grape, and vintage is quite crucial in your decision making.  Just a digit off on the vintage can change the taste, quality, and not to mention, the price.  

Now that the wine is right, it's time to taste.  Some sommeliers will hand you the cork.  It was said that in old times, noblemen and kings had their servants sniff their wine corks to see if their wine has been poisoned.  So unless you believe you might be assassinated, there's no need to sniff the cork.  It is wise however, to check if the cork is moist because that's a good sign that the wine had been in proper storage. The sommelier will pour a small amount for you to inspect.  Even if you don't exactly know what you're looking for, gently swirl the glass to let the aromas breath, and then simply give it a sniff.  Once you've warmed up your senses, take a sip and swish it around as if painting your palate with flavor.  This is where that little bit of confidence comes into play.  There's no need to look for hints of cherries, or dark chocolates, apples or pears, just simply if it appeals to you.  The wine should be fine as long as it doesn't smell or taste like vinegar.  Upon your approval, the sommelier should pour glasses all around and it's all thanks to you. 

Ordering wine couldn't be easier, right?  So the next time it's your turn to choose the wine, keep these simple yet affective wine etiquette tips in mind.  

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