Wine Press: 5 tips for how to read a wine list

You are in a nice restaurant. You want wine with your meal. Then the waiter hands you a menu or maybe even two menus – one for food and one for wine.

That’s when a lot of people panic. Suddenly you are faced with a long list of wines, many of which are unknown and extremely expensive.

What to do? Order a cocktail or a beer instead?

No fear. You can handle it. Maybe you just need a little help. And that’s what I hope this week’s wine column is able to do.

I can tell you that I used to dread the thick, book-length wine lists you still find in some fancy restaurants. Even now, it can still be quite intimidating, especially since you can’t spend all night picking out a bottle of wine. The point is that you want to enjoy the wine with your meal.

I will add that many restaurants have done away with such huge wine lists. Part of this has to do with the incredible investment of space and money required to build an extensive wine cellar. Most restaurants simply don’t have the resources to do so anymore, especially since the prices of certain coveted wines have skyrocketed. (And yes, I’m looking at you, Burgundy and California.)

But the good news is that there are often a few good, affordable wines on most wine lists. You just need to know what to do and how to navigate the list.

So here are 5 tips on how to approach a wine list at any restaurant.

I hope you like it.

5 TIPS FOR READING A WINE LIST

1) Have a budget in mind – There is nothing wrong with only spending a certain amount of money on wine in a restaurant. In fact, I find this can be a very helpful way of narrowing down the wine list to wines you can reasonably afford.

Sure, it would be great to order a bottle of 1982 Bordeaux worth over $1,000. And if you can afford it, by all means order the bottle. Just make sure you invite me.

But for the rest of us, setting a limit on how much money you’re willing to pay for a bottle of wine is perfectly acceptable. It could be $50 or $100. Whatever quantity you choose, it’s fine and will likely make deciding which bottle to pick that much easier.

2) Look for well-known wines first – When the list is filled with a dizzying array of wines, it can be comforting to find a few familiar names. It’s like seeing a familiar face at a crowded party. Go over and say hello.

Another good reason to look for wines you know is to see how much the restaurant charges for them. Most restaurants used to charge twice as much as most bottles of wine in a liquor store. Many restaurants these days seem to charge triple that, which still annoys me.

But when you see a wine you know and enjoy that fits your budget, at least now you know that if all else fails, you can always order that wine. Think of it as your backup wine in case of an emergency. For me, many red wines from the French Rhône region are often my favorite wines in many restaurants, as they are often on many wine lists and are often inexpensive.

3) Branch out from crying you know – Now that you’ve hopefully found a few familiar wines, branch out a bit. If the wines are organized by region – which is often the case – look at other wines from the same area that fit your budget.

If the wines are organized by varietal – another common approach – do the same. If you see a pinot noir or chardonnay that you know and love, are there others in the same price range on the list?

Remember this is not a test. There is no wrong answer. And the worst that could happen is that you order a wine that you don’t like. It is in order. Next time you go to the same restaurant, order a different wine. It’s not the end of the world.

4) Don’t be afraid to ask questions – This might be the hardest part for many people, especially men. We’re notoriously reluctant to ask for advice, especially when it comes to directions or TV remotes. We can find out.

I’m sure you can. But talking to people about wine is part of the fun of ordering wine at a restaurant. When you are with others, be sure to ask them if they have any preferences when it comes to wine. Actually, this should be the first question you ask.

And don’t be afraid to ask the waiter a question about the wine or a recommendation. Also tell the waiter how much money you are willing to spend. I used to really appreciate that when I worked in a wine shop. And most of the waiters too. The good guys are there to help you.

5) If in doubt, order by the glass – If you absolutely cannot decide which bottle of wine to order, most restaurants sell wine by the glass. This is a great way to sample a wine or two during the same meal. You might even be able to taste more if your roommates don’t mind offering you a sip.

And if you really like a certain wine by the glass, next time order a bottle. Oftentimes, ordering a bottle is cheaper than ordering wine by the glass. A bottle of wine used to contain four glasses of wine. Now many restaurants are trying to squeeze five or six glasses out of the same bottle, another trend that annoys me.

But that’s another story for another day. And here’s hoping you find the wine of your dreams next time you’re dining with family and friends – or at least a decent wine that doesn’t cost a small fortune.

Bottom up!

(wine press from Ken Ross appears on Masslive.com every Monday and in the Republican weekend section every Thursday. Older “Wine Press” articles can be found here. Keep following Ken Ross Twitter and Instagram and Facebook.)