| Wine, Vino, the Nectar of the Gods. Whatever | | | | intensive restaurants you'd probably find that while |
| you want to call it, thanks to a growing number | | | | they more than likely have at least one bottle of |
| of vineyards and the exponentially growing | | | | wine that runs over fifty dollars, it's the ones that |
| demand for quality, affordable wine has made the | | | | run around twenty to thirty that tend to be going |
| number of wines on the market explode. | | | | out to tables, and nobody is complaining. While |
| While the expansion of the wine market has | | | | showing off your impressive bank account is |
| helped to make quality wine more affordable, it's | | | | great, don't let price be a determining factor when |
| also helped to make the choosing of a good wine | | | | choosing a bottle, or glass for that matter, of |
| at either a restaurant or grocery store a bit more | | | | wine. |
| tricky. Fortunately, there are a few simple things | | | | "How will I know how the wine tastes?" Valid |
| to keep in mind when doing so that will help to | | | | question, thanks for asking it. Surprisingly, most |
| ease the process. | | | | restaurants will give you a sample of the wine |
| Perhaps the oldest question, and the easiest to | | | | you want to try. If you go to a wine store, while |
| answer, is which wine to drink with which food. | | | | they might not be able to give you a sample, |
| The traditional response is that you drink white | | | | they should be able to give you an excellent idea |
| wine with white meat (pork, chicken, seafood), | | | | of what to expect from the wine. |
| and red wine with your red meat. While this | | | | Most restaurants use a progressive wine list, |
| generally holds true, that doesn't mean there isn't | | | | meaning that from top to bottom, the wines are |
| some wiggle room. With white zinfandel and rose' | | | | listed lightest to darkest, sweetest to driest. This |
| varietals floating around you get a mix of both | | | | means that if you want a very dry red wine, you |
| your red and white wine, which can be paired with | | | | should jump to the bottom of the list, whereas if |
| almost any kind of food. | | | | you want a medium bodied white you're probably |
| The biggest mistake made when searching for a | | | | going to want to look around the middle of the |
| wine is the fear so many people seem to have | | | | white wines. |
| with asking for advice. The smartest thing one | | | | Ordering a bottle of wine at a restaurant is not a |
| can do when trying to figure out which kind of | | | | scary event. By simply talking to the staff, |
| wine they want is to ask the question. Ask your | | | | maybe doing a little bit of research before you |
| server, bartender, ask the lady at the checkout | | | | go, and really just having a willingness to try |
| counter, ask the person at the next table (which | | | | something new, ordering wine is as easy as trying |
| I've had happen to me...it's really quite amusing), | | | | to decide if you want Miller Lite or Bud Light. Don't |
| read some wine reviews ahead of time, ask | | | | be afraid to try new things, and just remember, |
| anybody to get an opinion on what kind of wine | | | | the worst thing that can happen is that you don't |
| to go with. | | | | like it. |
| "Give me your most expensive bottle of wine!" | | | | Oh, and as a side note, while price isn't a |
| We've all seen the movies, we all know the line, | | | | determining factor, if you can't pronounce the |
| the guy trying to show off by buying the most | | | | type of wine, not to be confused with the |
| expensive bottle. Words of advice: price isn't the | | | | name...some of those are just mean and tricky, |
| end all be all when it comes to buying a bottle of | | | | then you deserve to be charged for the most |
| wine. Now I'm not trying to say that if you spend | | | | expensive bottle of wine on the list. Remember, |
| forty dollars on a bottle of wine that it won't be | | | | it's merlot (mer-low), not merlot (mer-lot). It's |
| good, but some of the most enjoyable wine I've | | | | cabernet (cab-er-nay), not cabernet (cab-er-net). |
| bought has cost me less than twenty dollars a | | | | This has been a public service announcement |
| bottle. | | | | from your local bartender. |
| If you were to go behind the bar of most wine | | | | |