Pairing from a Wine List

The wine list in a restaurant is there to help you select a wine to go with your meal. However if you don’t know much about wine it can be difficult to make the right choice or to stomach the price of a bottle of wine. A wine list can sometimes list wines that are more expensive than your whole meal itself.

There are ways to get around this and to learn to choose from a wine list so that you can pair the wine with your meal perfectly. It’s inevitable that you will have a few hits and misses but it’s always fun to come across wines that you like.

Oh, Waiter!

Different restaurants will have trained the wait staff to varying degrees when it comes to knowledge of the wine list. Some will know it intimately and help you to pair your meal with the right wines while others will merely know the names. It’s however always a good idea to ask your waiter what wines he would recommend with what you are ordering.

Regions

Usually a good wine list will have wines from all over the world. This doesn’t just mean a selection of European wines. Often there are wines from South America, Australia and even South Africa on most wine lists. South American wines are often very enjoyable and easy to drink. You can’t go wrong with an Argentinean red when you are ordering a steak. Australia generally produces great white wines but also has some enjoyable red wines.

By the Glass

Ordering by the glass is often more affordable than buying a whole bottle. It also allows everyone at the table to order something that they would like or a wine that goes better with their meal. You can also drink different wines throughout the meal when you order by the glass.

This way you can have a different wine with each course. For example a white wine to start with your seafood appetizer, a red to go with your steak, and a nice rose to pair with dessert.

Pairing with Food

Traditionally it has always been red wine with dark meats and white wine with white meats and seafood. This is slowly changing as each wine becomes more individual and versatile. Think about the flavors in the food you are ordering. A light meal goes better with a white wine. As do creamy dishes. A red wine pairs well with heavier dishes, game meats and spicier foods.