How to Order Wine Like a Pro

Going out for dinner with friends or business colleagues and not sure how to navigate the wine list? Here are some tips to make you look like you know exactly what you’re doing when ordering wine even if you feel completely clueless!

Discretely indicate your price range

Nothing would be more embarrassing than ordering a bottle you can’t afford. You don’t want to look cheap but at the same time, few people out there can order wine without concern for the price. If you have a price range in mind, when the sommelier comes over to your table, you can discretely point to a price on the wine list to indicate the range you’re comfortable spending in when you ask for recommendations.

A bottle if consuming at least 3 glasses

If you’re with guests that will drink wine with you, buying a bottle will give you more wine for your money. Plus, you can buy a better bottle for the money you spend.

Going out for dinner with friends or business colleagues and not sure how to navigate the wine list? Here are some tips to make you look like you know exactly what you’re doing when ordering wine even if you feel completely clueless!

Look for lesser known by-the-glass options

For those times when you order by the glass, choose wines that are less obvious and go for the indigenous types. They’re priced at a better value than Chardonnay and Merlot, too.

Skip the house wine

House wine is usually cheap and the people who drink it don’t really care about the taste as much as the buzz that comes with it. You can always ask your server about the house wine. Some places might surprise you with a house wine that’s of good quality.

Screw caps don’t matter anymore

Once upon a time in the world of wine, screw-cap wines were an indication that the wine was of low quality. Nowadays, you’ll find some fantastic bottles of wine without a cork in it. It’s becoming more common for environmental reasons so don’t worry if it is corked or comes with a screw-cap.

Go with the flow

If the restaurant you’re dining in has a huge selection of Italian or French wines, it’s probably what they favour. If you see a small selection of wines from the US, it’s a safe bet to say that the sommelier at the restaurant has a better handle on the imported stuff so go with it and be delighted.

Not every wine you order while you’re dining out will be something you’ll love, but if you stick to these basic tips, you’re more likely to find something new that you’ll look for the next time you eat out. Now that you know what to look for, go invite some friends to join you out for dinner!