Here’s a scene many of us know. You walk into a great restaurant excited for a culinary extravaganza. As you’re knee-deep in the challenge of narrowing down five amazing dishes to the one you’ll order, the waiter returns. “Did you decide on wine?”
You look at the wine list and…recognize nothing. The waiter is staring at you. Your dining companion is too. Overwhelm sets in, that sort of frozen panic of what do I do next? I’ve never heard of these producers. How do I choose something I’ll like? Wait, how do you pronounce that?
Sound familiar? Same here. Been there. A lot. Most often, I haven’t had many wines on the list, so I can’t rely on past experience. Plus, I usually like to try something new.
If you’ve been drinking wine for awhile, there are some great resources on how to tackle a wine list, but for a newbie, the suggestions tend to be too general. They begin with “deciding on a price range” followed by “then choose white or red,” or a sort of “here’s what it tastes like, pair it with this kind of food.”
While these guidelines are a start, they don’t often lead you to something you’ll like because they’re not helping you to learn what it is that you like. Learning what you like is a BIG part of enjoying wine.
So where should you begin?
Let go of expectations
Let go of the expectation that you’ll ever be able to walk into a restaurant or wine bar and take command of the list. Wine is so vast and varied that unless you take courses to become a sommelier or are in the wine profession (and even they are constantly learning!), you’re most likely going to experience a slight panic or confusion when surveying a list.
You may be thinking, “Wait, I thought you were going to tell me how to be comfortable ordering from a wine list? Doesn’t that mean I’ll be able to handle any wine list?
No.
You have to think about it this way. That list was either created by a sommelier or a restauranteur/manager that was guided by a distributor who has access to all sorts of wine that consumers are unaware of. In other words, they have background knowledge, expertise and insider info that you and I don’t have. They’ve had time and guidance. You’re seeing it for the first time. Give yourself a break.
By letting go of the mental clutter caused by undue expectation and pressure, you’re free to focus on what will really help you-knowing your palette.
Know how to describe what you like.
I’m talking basics here. There are tons of terms to describe wine, but there are a few that give the waiter a fairly good idea of what you’re looking for. As you learn, you’ll be able to describe even more, but for now, this is a good start. (For a comprehensive list, check out 40 Wine Descriptions and What They Really Mean by the awesome Wine Folly.)
- Do you like wines that are lighter or more full-bodied? Think easy on the palette versus big, bold explosion! Or perhaps something in between, something medium-bodied?
- Are there certain varietals you like? Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Pinot Noir?
- Do you prefer something acidic (mostly used to describe white wine) or tannic (characteristic of red wine)? Think of the sensation you get when biting into a lemon (acidic) versus a dry, puckered mouthfeel you get from coffee or black tea (tannic). Maybe you like something more balanced?
- To pair or not to pair? Will you be drinking this with food or does it need to be enjoyable on it’s own? I’m not referring to finding the best food pairing. That’s a whole other discussion. Some wines taste great on their own but others really taste best with food. On their own they’re kind of blah. The acid or tannin is more prominent than anything else. Once you pair them with food, it’s a whole other story.
- Fruit-forward or dry? In other words, is it fruity/berry or not?
After explaining what you like, two or three wines may be suggested, so ask to taste them all. As you pick your favorite, pay attention to what varietal it is and what region it’s from. You’ll be clued in further to what you like, or in more technical terms, what type of palette you have.
Explore Regions
Wine lists are often organized by region or have the region listed. To me, understanding wine regions is one of the most helpful tools in choosing a wine. Pick a region each month and do your best to try only wines from that area. If you want to get even more specific, choose a sub region of that area, like Bordeaux in France, or choose a varietal, like Chardonnay from France. You’ll start to pick up on the similarities and overall taste of that region, and get an idea of what you like. (*Disclaimer: There will always be those wines that don’t resemble most others in their region. Hence, the never-ending world of wine knowledge).
For example, I’ve learned that I typically don’t like wines from Spain or Australia. They don’t jive with my palette, so I’ll skip over that section of the list and focus on regions I like, such as Italy. As I’ve explored more, I’ve realized I particularly like wines from the Peidmont region of Italy. You’ll be able to narrow it down more and more.
(*Second disclaimer: You will find wines you like in regions you don’t typically care for. If someone is really talking it up, try a taste!)
And Still…
There is always the chance that you’re not going to like what you end with. That’s just the wide world of wine. It’s as important to pay attention to what it is about a wine that you don’t like.
In summary, stop pressuring yourself! Learn how to explain the basics of what you like. Pay attention to what you like and don’t like. Explore regions. Have fun. Approach it as a learning experience, a hunt for clues that take you closer to the treasure (wine you love)! The wine list will change from an intimidating foe to your treasure map!
