Once you have a grasp on the basics below, the only thing you’ll need to worry about this Valentine’s Day is how to land another date with your special someone.
* Start with Something Bubbly – Mackay suggests starting your date with a glass of Champagne or other sparkling wine – whatever the house is pouring by the glass. “It’ll make you seem sophisticated and also loosens the nerves for when the table wine is to be ordered,” he explains.
* Food Friendly wine Finds – Even before you open the wine list it’s good to have a few basics at the ready, such as which wines are extremely food friendly. Most any wine list you encounter will have at least a couple of these to choose from. Mackay names Pinot Noir and Sauvignon Blanc as some of the most widely available, food-friendly choices. Other varieties that are less common, but equally agreeable with food—such as Sangiovese from Italy or Albarino from Spain—can also leave a memorable impression.
* Make Friends with the sommelier – If you find yourself in need of a little on-the-spot advice, don’t forget about the sommelier. People often think of sommeliers as intimidating or highbrow, but Mackay sets the record straight. “Sommeliers are your best resource and love talking about wine and sharing their passion for wine with others. I would know, I’m engaged to one,” notes Mackay. Start by asking a simple, straight-forward question – you’ll be surprised how much you can learn.
* Pointing isn’t Rude – If you know how much you’d like to spend on the wine, but need the sommelier’s help in making the selection, be sure to indicate your desired price range. It helps them find the right wine most efficiently. Mackay understands you may not want to verbalize a price limit in front of your date. His tip – just point to a couple of things on the wine list in your desired price range; the sommelier will pick up on the cue.
* Share the Experience – Use the discussion of the wine to your dating advantage. If you don’t know much about wine, admit it. open up the conversation and start loosening things up by asking your date if he or she has much wine knowledge. Mackay points out, “By sharing both of your thoughts with the sommelier and deciding on the wine together accomplishes two things — taking all the heat off of yourself and making engrossing conversation with your date.” Or, if there are simply too many enticing choices to choose just one, consider ordering by the glass. This is a low-risk way to take a chance and try something new while learning about different wines together.
* Don’t Sweat the Tasting – Once you selected the wine, it’s time to start sweating those wine tasting hoops and hurdles, right? Wrong. It’s easy to taste like a pro, just follow Mackay’s three easy steps.
On the flipside, it’s also good to be prepared to handle your “perfect” date if it starts going down the tubes. If you find yourself in this situation, Mackay encourages you to just try and make it through dessert. “Order a Moscato d’Asti to go with dessert – the wine’s sparkling and low alcohol content make it very easy to drink, even if the company’s hard to swallow.”
Most of all, don’t psyche yourself out trying to remember everything you just learned. The only rule you need to live by is to drink the wines that you like with the foods that you like. By following that simple rule, you can’t help but end up with a pairing that’s perfect for you.
Courtesy of wine Market Council. For more information, visit www.wineanswers.com
Photo courtesy of wine Market Council.
* Start with Something Bubbly – Mackay suggests starting your date with a glass of Champagne or other sparkling wine – whatever the house is pouring by the glass. “It’ll make you seem sophisticated and also loosens the nerves for when the table wine is to be ordered,” he explains.
* Food Friendly wine Finds – Even before you open the wine list it’s good to have a few basics at the ready, such as which wines are extremely food friendly. Most any wine list you encounter will have at least a couple of these to choose from. Mackay names Pinot Noir and Sauvignon Blanc as some of the most widely available, food-friendly choices. Other varieties that are less common, but equally agreeable with food—such as Sangiovese from Italy or Albarino from Spain—can also leave a memorable impression.
* Make Friends with the sommelier – If you find yourself in need of a little on-the-spot advice, don’t forget about the sommelier. People often think of sommeliers as intimidating or highbrow, but Mackay sets the record straight. “Sommeliers are your best resource and love talking about wine and sharing their passion for wine with others. I would know, I’m engaged to one,” notes Mackay. Start by asking a simple, straight-forward question – you’ll be surprised how much you can learn.
* Pointing isn’t Rude – If you know how much you’d like to spend on the wine, but need the sommelier’s help in making the selection, be sure to indicate your desired price range. It helps them find the right wine most efficiently. Mackay understands you may not want to verbalize a price limit in front of your date. His tip – just point to a couple of things on the wine list in your desired price range; the sommelier will pick up on the cue.
* Share the Experience – Use the discussion of the wine to your dating advantage. If you don’t know much about wine, admit it. open up the conversation and start loosening things up by asking your date if he or she has much wine knowledge. Mackay points out, “By sharing both of your thoughts with the sommelier and deciding on the wine together accomplishes two things — taking all the heat off of yourself and making engrossing conversation with your date.” Or, if there are simply too many enticing choices to choose just one, consider ordering by the glass. This is a low-risk way to take a chance and try something new while learning about different wines together.
* Don’t Sweat the Tasting – Once you selected the wine, it’s time to start sweating those wine tasting hoops and hurdles, right? Wrong. It’s easy to taste like a pro, just follow Mackay’s three easy steps.
- The server should first show you the bottle before it’s opened. Inspect the label and vintage to make sure it is in fact what you ordered. Sometimes the restaurant will be out of the specified vintage and will bring you a different one.
- After the waiter/sommelier opens the bottle, he will present you with the cork. Simply leave the cork on the table where the sommelier places it
- Tasting the wine together is another great way to use wine to your dating advantage. Ask the waiter to also pour a taste for your companion after he pours yours. This way you both have a chance to try the wine and give your approval together. “The tasting process is actually very simple. As long as the wine doesn’t smell or taste like vinegar, rotten eggs or wet cardboard, you should be in good shape,” summarizes Mackay.
Extra Special Valentine’s Day Dates
February is the second most popular month to pop the question. Mackay proposes some easy ideas to make your moment extra special. “I like to recommend selecting an older wine, from a year that has some significance to both of you – maybe your intended’s birth year or the year you met. It’s an impressive way to make the event extra special.” Another way to mark the occasion is to start with a special glass of Champagne or sparkling wine, which is still the wine for special occasions.On the flipside, it’s also good to be prepared to handle your “perfect” date if it starts going down the tubes. If you find yourself in this situation, Mackay encourages you to just try and make it through dessert. “Order a Moscato d’Asti to go with dessert – the wine’s sparkling and low alcohol content make it very easy to drink, even if the company’s hard to swallow.”
Most of all, don’t psyche yourself out trying to remember everything you just learned. The only rule you need to live by is to drink the wines that you like with the foods that you like. By following that simple rule, you can’t help but end up with a pairing that’s perfect for you.
Courtesy of wine Market Council. For more information, visit www.wineanswers.com
Photo courtesy of wine Market Council.