Ordering wine at a restaurant can be intimidating. It’s a little different everywhere you go, and there are so many wines out there to choose from. How do you make the right choice? Most restaurants have “by the glass” and “by the bottle” menus. Purchasing by the glass is a much smaller investment and risk. If you don’t like it, you spent a lot less and there’s not an entire bottle of wine you don’t care for in front of you. However, the “by the bottle” selection tends to be more extensive and you have enough to share with the table. Here are a few tips on ordering wine while dining out:

1. It’s about you and your preferences. Don’t let a lengthy wine list or a seemingly snobby server or sommelier intimidate you. Ultimately, the purpose of buying a glass or bottle of wine is for your enjoyment. The best wine is the wine you like. Everyone’s palette is different. The “rules” are there to guide rather than confine you.
2. Learn the lingo. Knowing how to communicate within the wine world can help ordering go more smoothly. You don’t need to know all the jargon. Focus on some of the basics such as weight (Would you prefer something light-bodied and crisp or full-bodied and rich?), flavor (Do you like wines that are fruity, spicy, earthy, or buttery?), and texture (If you want something smoother, you’d like a wine lower in acid or tannin.). 
3. Be specific. Once you know a little of the lingo, it’s important to be specific. There are lots of wines that fall into the category of dry red. However, if you tell your server or sommelier that you prefer a bold, earthy, dry red, they will have a much easier time narrowing down the wines fitting those criteria. 
4. Select your food first. Good food deserves great wine. The flavors and textures in food and wine affect each other. They can either enhance or degrade your dining experience. The server should be able to help you choose a wine that will pair well, but you can brush up on some pairing preferences of your own with this guide. 
5. Talking price is not taboo. It’s not against the rules to tell your server or sommelier the price range you want to stay within. However, if you are looking for a more subtle way to get your message across, try showing a wine at the price you want and saying “I’d like something similar to this.” while pointing at the price rather than the name of the wine. 
6. Taste before you accept the wine. If you purchase a bottle of wine in a restaurant, the server or sommelier will often open it for you and present you with a taste and the cork. This is to check and see if the wine is “good”. That doesn’t necessarily mean whether or not you like it. Rather, it’s to ensure it has not experienced cork taint, which happens in 1-3% of wines with natural cork closures. You can also ask to have a small taste of a wine that is on the by the glass menu. If you like it, order a glass and enjoy!

*Bonus tip*

Ask if they have anything open that isn’t on the by the glass list. You may get a chance to try something new and unexpected. 

If your favorite restaurant doesn’t serve your preferred local wines, ask your server about them. Who knows, maybe the next time you dine, they will!