Is the thought of being handed a wine list, laden with the expectation you will choose something your date is going to love, enough to elicit a cold sweat? You’re not alone. Wine list phobia is right up there with snakes, spiders and running out of gas halfway through an Australia Day barbecue. Here’s five steps that will take (at least some of ) the trauma out of ordering wine on that special date. You’ll be impressive and, more importantly, you and the object of your desire will be enjoying great wine, together.
1.Do Your Research
Find out what your partner prefers to drink first and this will narrow the field considerably. Stick with what she likes before lashing out on the Czech Grüner Veltliner. Remember, making your partner happy is all about giving her what she wants. Note: this is one wine lesson that can be applied to all areas of your relationship.
2. Be Prepared
Call ahead or visit the venue’s website or Facebook page to find out whether it is BYO or licensed. If it’s BYO you’re one step ahead. Simply enlist the help of a knowledgeable bottle shop attendant to find something suitable and then memorise a few of the tasting notes from the back label to arm yourself with some knowledge. If it’s licensed, you’ve got a bit more work to do. In fully licensed venues, it’s safer to stick with by-the-glass options. This is great for those of you with commitment issues or if you simply can’t make up your mind. Sure, the selection is limited, but at least you have the opportunity to try a few different wines between you during the course of the night. Like dating, once you’ve found one you like, stick with it.
3. Perfect Match
While the old white meat/white wine, red meat/red wine adage doesn’t have to apply, it’s best to adhere to this simple formula unless you’re feeling confident. The reason being is you don’t want your food to overpower the wine and vice versa. Some classic matches to have up your sleeve are shiraz with steak, cabernet sauvignon with lamb, pinot noir with duck, riesling with seafood, chardonnay with chicken and sauvignon blanc with salads. Knowing what you’re likely to eat and keeping these matches in mind will give you a head start. If you manage to nail the food and wine matching challenge, you’re two out of three when shooting for that elusive trifecta of great food, wine and company.
4. Call for back-up
Use your wingman. The sommelier (a trained and qualified wine service professional) or waiter is there to help you, so let them. They know the wine list and the menu and are used to dealing with punters struggling in such situations. If you can narrow it down to a couple of options, ask for their advice and give it a crack. If she likes the wine, claim it. If she doesn’t, at least you can blame it on someone else.
5. Fake it ‘til you make it
Be confident, even if you don’t feel it. While you may not have a clue what you’re talking about, if you sound like you do, you’re in with a chance. You can preface any wine you taste with the phrase ‘Oh, this is a cheeky little…’ in order to bluff your way through almost anything. Ultimately, though, it is an adventure and should be fun. Don’t take it too seriously and always remember, it’s the company you keep, not the wine.
This post was written by Michael Ellis and is as featured in Regional Foodie Magazine – Issue 1
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