Date Tips: Choosing a good wine with ease!

Let’s start with the real basics about types of wines.  The following list is a basic list of some of the more popular wines you can order:

W  1.  Whites:  The following is a list of drier white varietals:
Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc, Chablis,
Chardonnay (can have an oaky or buttery taste),
Rieslings (sweeter)
2.  Reds:  Burgundy, Bordeaux, Chianti, Malbecs
3.  The Fizzes aka Sparkling Wines:  Champagnes, Astis, Proseccos.
4.  Sweet Wines:  Moscato, Sauternes

Going on a date and having to order wine or new foods can be downright scary!  With so many new foods and  foreign words,  your palms can get sweaty fast.  So the first tip is to breathe, relax, remember these are just words, you’re on a date so have fun!

If you’re really nervous, here are the first five tips that will ensure success:

1.       Let the waiter know that you’re in charge.  Take your time with the wine list and let the waiter know that you’re in no hurry.

2.        You know more than you think!   These days with so much information about foods from other countries, you probably know way more than you think!  So take a breath!

3.       Look for what you recognize.  Wine lists can be VERY daunting, HOWEVER I am sure you can identify a few names, like Chianti, Pinot Grigio, Venice, Prosecco, etc.

4.       Look for words that you might be able to easily say.  Bordeaux, Burgundy, Tuscany, etc.

5.       Match the words you know with the price.  Prices can be astronomical and so you might want to match the words you know with the prices that seem reasonable.

6.       Don’t be afraid to “mess” up.  Most wines on a wine list are drinkable so keep that in mind, and you’ll soon realize that you can’t really make a mistake.

Now if you are feeling lucky and adventurous, these next five tips can spice up your date and you might actually be surprised at how fun it is to experiment.

1.       Once you zero in on something that you may recognize, look for similar words.  For instance, if you see Chianti, there may be a Chianti Classico lurking next to, or a wine with a funny name, that is from the Chianti region.

2.       If you studied French, Italian or any of the languages you might see on a wine list, go ahead and look for words that also seem familiar and during your selection time, say them out loud.  It can be a fun thing to attempt a pronunciation and make yourself and your date giggle.

3.       Go in with guns ablazin!  If you see a wine which you can’t pronounce but you get a good feeling about it, go for it!  Learning to appreciate wine is a journey and think of this moment as a part of that journey.

4.       My overall tip with foreign words is to just try and say it!  Think of how children learn a language.  They say silly things and just giggle.  They don’t care how it’s supposed to sound and they certainly don’t care about correctness, so for a second, just try to call on that Inner Child!

5.        Ask the waiter and/or sommelier.  This tip is in the Adventurous section because it may be scary to ask for help, but if you were lost in the middle of Tuscany, wouldn’t you ask for directions?

PS.  You can always revert to, the ‘Point and Number’.   You can say “I’ll have this one” or “we’ll have a number 234”  that works and you can get back to what’s really important on a date.