There is nothing more satisfying than enjoying an excellent bottle of wine. To achieve that, you must first learn how to order wine, whether you are in a restaurant or bar, or purchasing online. This guide lets you choose a great wine to delight yourself in.
Stop worrying, and let’s get rid of the shame that comes with ordering your first wine!
How to Order Wine at a Restaurant?
Step 1. Know what you want
Before ordering, you must consider the qualities of the wine you want. Identifying the food you are going to order is also a great idea, as you would want the wine to complement the dish. If you have company, it is best to ask them their preference too.
Ponder these questions before purchasing a wine:
- What am I pairing it with?
- How much am I willing to spend?
- What wine style and type do I like?
- Do I want to explore other wines or stick to my comfort wine?
Step 2. Ask help from staff or the Sommelier
There is nothing wrong with asking for an opinion, especially if it is from a wine professional. Eradicate the idea that these people will only suggest the most expensive wines!
Restaurants often have sommeliers on their staff to accommodate their guests, so ask them and don’t be ashamed.
If they don’t have an expert, the staff or servers can also help as they must understand the wine list. When you ask for their opinion, notify them about what you want for your wine, your budget, and the dishes you are ordering.
Step 3. Order the wine and verify it
Order the wine you want and wait for the server to do the proper wine service. This etiquette includes the presenting, opening, and serving of your wine. You must approve if the wine’s name, producer, variety, and vintage are accurate during the presentation.
Once checked, the server will pour an ounce of wine for your approval. During this time, carefully taste and evaluate the quality of the wine. Communicate with your server, especially if it is a faulty wine.
Here’s a complete procedure of wine service to familiarize yourself with:
Step 4. Enjoy the wine
Savor every sip of your precious wine! If you have leftovers, ask the staff to prepare them for takeaway.
Suggestion: Decide on wine before the meal since not all restaurants have wide varieties of wine.
How to Order Wine at a Bar?
- Observe the set of wines available: Since bars are fast-paced environments, knowing what you want before talking to the bartender is essential. This way, both of you won’t waste much time. Look around and observe the wines they have; much better if they have a prepared wine list you can look at. Moreover, check if their bottles are already open; ordering unopened bottles will be ideal. Stale wines are inevitable at these places because people often order by glass.
- Seek opinions from others: If you are still undecided about what you want, seek a suggestion from the bartender; state what you are looking for. Also, since you are in a bar, you can ask the opinions of other goers too. But be mindful of their personal space and ask politely.
- Order and taste the wine: Most of the time, you will get a free taste of your desired wine; taste it immediately after it is served to prevent wasting the bartender’s time. Decide if it suits what you want at the moment or if you want to go for another kind.
- Pay for the wine: At bars, there are two common ways of payment: pay-as-you-go and by the tab. If you are only in for a single serving of wine, it is best to pay immediately. Otherwise, give your card to the bartender and say to keep tabs on the drinks you will order. Once the payment is settled, drink, enjoy, and socialize!
6 Tips for Ordering Wine at a Restaurant and Bar
Consider following these 6 effective strategies for a smooth ordering of wine– especially if you are a wine beginner!
- Take the “first taste” seriously: As we said, the servers will give you a taste test for your desired wine; this is the phase where you will evaluate if the wine is of good quality. Hence, you should not take it lightly and decide without considering the characteristics of good wine, including well-balanced tannin, sweetness, alcohol, and acidity. Also, check if the wine has gone bad.
- Familiarize yourself with wines: Ordering wine doesn’t start when you reach the place, sit at the table, and open the list. It begins when you start researching wine and familiarize yourself with its characteristics. If possible, know the menu of the restaurant or bar before going to save time!
- Be open to mistakes & suggestions: Be adventurous! Feel free to mispronounce the name of the wine or not know what the next step will be, as you can always ask for help. Also, be open to suggestions, and when a professional gives a different one from what you’re used to, consider giving it a try.
- Be realistic in terms of budget: Remember not to exceed your limit. Wines in popular regions are much more costly than those that are not, so you go for the latter when you have a strict budget. Wines from these regions may not be famous, but they are sure of good quality; after all, the restaurant or bar decided to add it to their list.
- Take into account the food or meal: Deciding based on your food is an excellent idea– ensure that the wine and the dish will balance or complement each other. You will never go wrong with this tip!
- Bring Your Bottle: Some restaurants allow their customers to bring their own bottles of wine but charge a corkage fee. This is an excellent strategy for meaningful gatherings where you want a specific kind of wine, but the place doesn’t serve it.
How to Order Wine Online?
Purchasing wine online is immense difference from ordering it at physical stores. However, it also has its perks like convenience and accessibility– with just a few steps, you’ll have your wine delivered!
According to Wine Enthusiast, there are three ways to order wine in the US: buying directly from wineries, wine stores, and wine clubs.
Meanwhile, Wine Folly provided a list of the best places to buy wine online. No matter where you purchase, all of these require different procedures; hence we will just guide you through the most basic steps.
- Choose your online shop: It is crucial to evaluate the online wine store where you will order. However, do not base your decision solely on the reviews; consider the shop’s awards as well. Don’t be deceived by other people’s thoughts since everyone has their taste in terms of wine. Also, ensure that it is a safe shop and not a scammer.
- Choose your wine: In choosing your wine, you must consider only your preference, or maybe the preference of the ones you’ll drink it with. Knowing the exact type of wine you want is necessary since it is an online shop; many options may tempt you. Being cautious when selecting new wines is advised, but exploring new varieties can also be an exciting part of the wine experience.
- Place and pay your order: Next, double-check your wine before checking it out to avoid mistakes. Next, proceed to payment. In most cases, online wine stores in the US prefer payments via credit or debit cards. Note that cash on delivery may not typically be an option for online purchases. But, this may still vary depending on the wine shop’s payment mode.
- Wait for your order: Wait for your order to arrive at your designated address. Once received, immediately check the package for issues; if possible, video yourself while opening the wine so you can use it if you need a replacement or refund. You can savor your wine if nothing is wrong!
4 Tips for Ordering Wine Online
Use these 4 tips to protect yourself from bad wines and other anomalies that come as risks of ordering wine online!
- Shop within your budget: Yes, shopping online might be tempting because of all the available wines, but stick to your budget. One thing to consider in your purchase is the shipping fee of the wine; this will vary for every shop and place. Also, do not compare the prices you see online with the ones in physical shops.
- Be open to adjustments: You may experience some issues regarding the wine and the service. These issues are inevitable; communicate these problems with the shop immediately. The key to ordering online is to have lots of patience.
- Not all reviews can be trusted: Choose who to let have a say on your purchase, as not every review you can read is authentic. It is necessary to do your research and focus it on the recognition of the shop or wine.
- Be vigilant and wise: Be vigilant and wise in engaging with different wine stores to protect your safety and privacy. Avoid sharing information not needed for the purchase; keep things professional too.
Final words
Purchasing wine in a restaurant, bar, or online might be intimidating and challenging. So, follow this step-by-step guide on how to order wine and let it do the trick for you! With the proper knowledge and enough confidence, you can order your preferred drink like you are a pro!
