Wine is not just for holiday dinners with the familia anymore. Unless you've been living under a rock, you've noticed the proliferation of wine bars throughout the country. Everyone is drinking the stuff, including college kids, your date, and even your boss. With tons of choices and lots of strange foreign words you’ve never seen before, many wine lists can be daunting enough to send you running home to a box of Franzia. Fortunately, ordering and drinking wine isn't as complicated as one may think. Put on your thinking caps and this handy wine guide will have you drinking like an enophile in no time...or at least doing a good job faking it.
#1 Drinking Wine Tip: Look at the Menu
No duh, you say? You’d be amazed how many people forego this crucial step. Unless you’re at the Chinese restaurant down the street, don’t just ask for a “house white.” Likewise, you’re not going to impress anyone by ordering a Bordeaux (that’s in France) in an Italian establishment.
#2 Drinking Wine Tip: Don’t Pretend.
If you don’t know the difference between chardonnay and sauvignon blanc, just ask. All decent servers and bartenders will be as happy to help you learn. If you pretend to know what you're talking about, expect to be secretly laughed at. Do you have a sweet tooth or are you looking for a nice glass to compliment your dinner steak? Let the bartender or waiter know and they'll offer you some selections to suit your personal needs.
#3 Drinking Wine Tip: Be Adventurous
It can be tempting to choose a wine because it’s the only name you’ve heard of before. Chianti is only one of hundreds of Italian reds, for example. In the meantime, did you know that aside from France, countries such as Argentina, Chile, and Mexico are also known for their delicious reds and whites? Either take a shot in the dark and hope for the best, or help your server pick something for you. Do you like something light and easy-drinking, or rich and full-bodied? Fruit-forward and tasty on its own, or more subdued and compatible with food? A long, lingering finish? A floral nose? Something sweet and meant for dessert? The more different wines you try, the more you’ll know what you like.
#4 Drinking Wine Tip: Play Along
The whole bottle presentation, opening, and tasting process isn’t just a fancy charade leftover from medieval times. It’s also not to see if you like the wine. It’s to insure that you won’t be drinking the wrong wine or, worse, a bottle of vinegar. First, look at the label. Is it what you ordered? Great. Once the server has poured you a taste, just take a sip, no swirling necessary. You don’t need a sophisticated palate to determine if the wine is corked or oxidized (both naturally and frequently occurring processes that make a wine taste varying degrees of “off”.) Remember, wine should never have “a kick.”
#5 Drinking Wine Tip: Drink!
This is where the swirling and the fun comes in. As long as your glass isn’t too full, grab it by the stem and swirl it around. This “opens up” the wine, allowing the aromas and flavors to stand out and harmonize. In addition to common notes like cherry, green apple, and leather, wine geeks officially recognize the essence of Band-Aids (no word if it’s just Johnson & Johnson brand), pencil shavings, and cannabis as wine descriptors. See what you can find. Or just drink and enjoy.
