Choosing Wine in a Restaurant

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Choosing Wine in a Restaurant
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• Some wine lists in restaurants are longer than
  War and Peace, while others feature minimal
  choices which can leave you equally as baffled.
  Unless youre a wine connoisseur, choosing the
  right one can often seem a tricky task,
  especially if you and the other dinner guests
  have selected different meals, possess different
  budgets and have differing tastes in wine. At the
  very worst, having to select the wine can put you
  under unnecessary pressure and spoil what should
  really be a pleasurable occasion.

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• So just how do you go about choosing wine in a
  restaurant?
• Firstly, take your time to make sense of the wine
  menu
• Try and work out how the listings are arranged so
  that making your selection is simplified. Are
  they listed by color, country, region or type?
  Once youve established that, you can begin to
  narrow down your options.

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• Determine which wine(s) the other diners would
  prefer
• Asking the others at your table if they prefer
  white wine or red, is a good place to start, and
  if you have a mix of those who like white, red or
  even rose, then you can select a bottle of each
  depending on how many will be drinking it and how
  thirsty they might be! They may also have a
  preference, in which case you can look for it on
  the list and order it if its there. Failing
  that, asking the waiter or sommelier (wine
  expert) for their recommendations would be
  sensible, too. Having an idea of your budget will
  help narrow down the options as well.

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• A small example of some popular wines found in
  restaurants is listed below
• Red wines (easy drinking and inexpensive) -
  Beaujolais
• (bold)
  - California red Zinfandel
• (light)
  - Pinot noir
• White wines (dry)
  - Soave, Pinot Grigio
• (full bodied)
  - Chardonnay
• (medium dry)
  - Chenin Blanc or Riesling

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• Take your food choices into account
• Even a novice wine drinker will know that there
  are certain foods that pair well with certain
  wines, and even if you dont know, doubtless one
  of the other diners would appreciate that fact.
  The waiter or sommelier would certainly be able
  to show you which wines would complement the
  types of foods you have chosen. For example,
  spicy foods can be paired with sweet white wines
  like Riesling, while woodier wines with a little
  more depth of flavor, such as Chardonnay, would
  suit creamy or seasoned dishes. A strong red wine
  like a Chianti, Bordeaux or Burgundy complements
  a juicy steak.

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• Once youve made your selection, youll be asked
  to taste it
• When the waiter brings the chosen wine(s) to the
  table, as the selector, you will be asked to
  taste it and this is more about ensuring that the
  wine has not been corked and tastes as it
  should. You will soon know if the wine is off,
  and if it is and the waiter or manager concurs,
  then of course you will not be charged for it but
  will be presented with another bottle and a fresh
  glass

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• Northshore Brasserie is one of the best fine
  dining restaurants in Knoxville, TN serving
  homemade French Belgian cuisine in a relaxed yet
  elegant atmosphere. We serve a variety of beer,
  wine and hearty food. Visit our Northshore
  restaurant, we help you choose the wine that
  complements your food.