Choosing a bottle of wine or ordering it at a restaurant seems like a simple task, but often it's not. Beyond the question of whether it is better to combine a red or a white with certain dishes, it is necessary to choose the type of grape, the quality and the region from which it comes. When choosing, you will also need to take into account how much you can spend.
Steps
Step 1. Decide between red and white wine
- Choose a red if you need to pair it with a rich and hearty meal, such as a potato side steak.
- Choose a white if you need to accompany a lighter meal, such as a fish dish.
Step 2. Determine how much to spend
- Avoid very cheap wines.
- Keep in mind that a good bottle of wine doesn't have to be expensive.
- In some cases, a bottle that has an affordable price can be better than one that costs five times as much.
Step 3. Choose the wine according to the grape variety
- You may encounter some problems when you have to consider the grape variety. Even if only certain types of grapes are used to make wine, it is possible to obtain different characters from a single grape variety. For example, a bottle of Merlot usually has a vigorous and fruity taste. However, Merlot aged in oak barrels can have a smoky flavor.
- Read the label on the bottle if you intend to choose the wine in a shop or look at the description in the menu to understand if you might like the grape.
- Ask the waiter for a taste if you plan to grab a wine at the restaurant.
Step 4. Consider the vintage
- Generally red wines need to age a few years to have a better flavor. You can get a bottle of red wine and keep it for a year or two to enjoy it better.
- It is preferable to drink certain wines, such as Pinot Grigio, when they are relatively young. Some achieve a better flavor in the first or second year.
Step 5. Consider which dishes should be accompanied by the wine
- Some wines, such as Malbec, go well with more frugal foods, such as pizza or barbecued meat.
- Sweeter wines, such as Riesling, pair well with spicy dishes, while woody ones, such as Chardonnay, go well with creamy dishes or dishes cooked with herbs and spices.
Step 6. When choosing wine, ask for help if you are still feeling very confused
- The waiter should give you suggestions on the choice of wine that will accompany your dishes.
- Some more elegant restaurants may have sommeliers who help customers choose wine and pairings with courses.
- Depending on where you live, it is likely that you will find staff with winemaking skills in the nearby wine shop. You may receive recommendations based on your price range and the dishes you would like to accompany with wine.
