How to confidently choose wine at a restaurant

You’re the one at the table who knows the most about wine. Or at least, that’s what your friends have decided. 

Anxiety takes hold and suddenly you feel yourself catapulted back into the classroom on the last day of finals. That godforsaken classroom.

Of course you can’t back out now. What you need is a generous dose of confidence and our advice: #everythingwillbealright.

• ASK FOR THE WINE LIST

 It should arrive together with the menu or, now that we’re all more digital and purportedly less boomer, you should be able to see the complete list by scanning the QR Code. But if that’s not the case, then ask for it with a withering look. Just so they know who the drinker is.

• FIGURE OUT WHAT THE PRICE LIMIT IS FOR THOSE AT THE TABLE

To be clear, we don’t want you to pry into their wallets. But it is, of course, important to know the budget you’re dealing with, whether you’re at a lavish dinner with wine experts and regular clients of Michelin-starred restaurants, or at a reunion with old friends who don’t even know the difference between a Chateau Margaux (minimum €400) and a good Morellino di Scansano (maximum €25).

• CHOOSE A WINE ACCORDING TO THE LOCAL REGIONAL CUISINE

Make it simple. Are you in a traditional Sardinian restaurant? Great. Choose a Vermentino or a Cannonau. Are you about to enjoy a five-course Tuscan meal? Don’t waste time and choose a Sangiovese.

Keep calm and #BeLocal.

• STAY WITH THE CLASSICS

It’s not the right evening for strange experiments or flights of fancy, stick to the wine pairing cornerstones:

• fish goes with white wine, unless it’s fish soup with tomato or baccalà (cod). In that case dare to order a light red;
• meat goes with red wine.

If there are conflicting opinions, then suggest a nice Metodo Classico sparkling wine. It’s like black. It goes well with everything.

• HAVE PEOPLE ORDERED BOTH FISH AND MEAT AT THE TABLE? THE SOLUTION IS A ROSE’

Oh, so not only have they left you with the thankless task of choosing the wine, but they also have complicated tastes. Surprise them with a rosé, it goes well with both land and sea dishes.

• WOULD YOU PREFER A FOREIGN WINE? OK, BUT GET YOUR WALLET READY

If you want to be alternative and a little bit exotic by choosing a foreign wine, then hats off to you. But choose one with a medium-high price tag, especially if you go with a French wine. A good bottle there costs more. If you need to stay on the less expensive side, then don’t leave the country (= drink Italian). 

• CHOOSE TWO WINES AND CONSULT WITH THE SOMMELIER

If “eeny meeny miney mo” doesn’t work, don’t worry. Delegate. Ask the sommelier’s advice and pretend, of course, that you’ve chosen your two favorite labels and not randomly.

• CAREFUL ABOUT THE TEMPERATURE

The last thing to keep an eye on in order to impress your friends, is the temperature of the wine. You wouldn’t want to drink an ice cold white in the winter or a warm red in the summer, would you?  Surprise everyone by taking a white out of the ice bucket or by putting a red in. At first not everyone will understand, but then you’ll be hailed as a prophet of Italian oenology. 

Great. You’re ready. Head high, shoulders back, and repeat in front of the mirror: I am not afraid.

#Playbook