We've all been in this situation: you go to a fancy restaurant for a big date. You spent hours prepping and are looking fabulous. The ambience is hip and trendy, and the beautiful people are out. After arriving, you have a seat at the bar and enjoy a drink before you sit down. Then comes your dreaded moment: braving and analyzing the Wine List. Its 400+ bottles long and you have no idea where to start. Alas! We here at Table 9 have come to your rescue with an easy guide for ordering wine to impress!
Let's start with what kind of occasion it is. Is it a first date? A dinner to remember? Is it a business dinner? Are you asking your special someone to marry you? Or perhaps you are just getting away from the kids for a few hours and enjoying your time out. Each of these occasions warrant a different type of wine selection.
Here are some important tools to help you look like a champ!
Read your audience, figure out how much you are willing to spend and know your favorite types of wine.
Knowing your audience is probably the most important trick. Do your guests like wine? If that answer is yes, then try to have some idea of what they like to drink. If you are clueless, just look at what they drink at the bar before you sit. Your date might be drinking a cosmopolitan, which suggests she is looking for something fruit forward and easy to drink. Some great choices for your date would be a Merlot, Red Blend, Riesling, Pinot Grigio, or Pinot Noir (California only). Your boss might be drinking a scotch on the rocks, in which case he is looking for something a little more robust and full bodied. Some great selections are a Cabernet Sauvignon, Red Blend, Italian Red, or Chardonnay. Cabernet Sauvignon is considered to be the elite of wines and normally any good cab is at a high price point. However, we have some really good Cabernet Sauvignon bottles on our list that don't require refinancing your house. Example: Freemark Abbey Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa. This wine has a great balance on the palatte with layers of flavor (cedar, spice, blackcherry, and blackberry). The price: $72, a definite sleeper on the list.
When you are truely looking to impress and you have the wallet to back it up, I would look directly at Barolos. In wine circles, a Barolo is known as "the king of wines, and the wine of kings". This grape Nebbiolo is as good as it gets when it comes to making wine. It's production and quality is perfect. Due to such strict standards the price of these wines is normally high but the reward is worth it. Not to mention your guests will think of you as a "king".
Once you know your audience, decide how much you are willing to spend. Here is a quick and easy way to read any wine list. Look towards a section on the list you are interested in. Look at the highest and the lowest price. Move your eyes to the middle of the selection. If you want to treat yourself, go slightly above the middle. If you are going to be more economical, go slightly below. You are almost guarunteed a good bottle that fits into your budget.
And finally, after all of that thinking and worrying, if you have been bestowed the gift/responsibilty of choosing the wine, make sure you pick one that you like! Most of the time, you will be the one finishing the bottle anyway, so you might as well enjoy it.
Drink up and be happy,
Jared
