How a Sommelier Can Help You with Wine Pairings

When you go to a good restaurant and are seated at the table, you will be approached by the waiter for your food order and by a sommelier. This is a professional specializing in recommending the best wine for the food you have ordered.

Yes, each type of wine goes with a specific food. Red wines go well with meat and cheese plates, while white wine goes well with fish. However this is just a general idea, because there are dozens of types of wines to choose from.

The Sommelier Is There to Help You Make the Best Choice

You must not feel intimidated when a sommelier approaches you and offers assistance with choosing the wine. They are not there to judge you, but to help you enjoy your dinner paired with the perfect wine.

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Here is what you need to do when discussing wine options with the sommelier:

  1. Indicate the Dishes You Are Ready to Order

The simplest way of getting the best wine is telling the sommelier what you want to order. You will get the best recommendation both for the main course and for dessert. In some situations, the sommelier will be able to indicate the best wine to go with both dishes.

Unless your heart is set on a specific food, you can adapt your menu option so that you don’t have to drink two different types of wine.

  1. Tell the Sommelier What Wine You Prefer

Wine connoisseurs go to specific restaurants and wine bars simply for enjoying a specific variety. They are less interested in the food, but are willing to eat anything that goes well with their favorite wine.

In this instance, the sommelier serving the best wine near me, will recommend the best vintage available in the wine menu, as well as various types of dishes you may order. In this way, you will make the most of your visit to the restaurant and the enjoyment of your favorite wine.

  1. When Unsure, Tell the Sommelier What You Like in a Wine

Some people are not wine connoisseurs. They can’t tell a Pinot Noir from a Cabernet Sauvignon. They simply know what type of wine they like. So, don’t feel bad about telling the sommelier that you don’t know wine varieties, but prefer a full bodied wine with fruity flavor.

This is everything a wine specialist needs in order to recommend you a wine that you will truly enjoy.

  1. Talk with the Other Guests to Find a Type of Wine You All Enjoy

When you go out with a group of friends, it is natural that everyone has a favorite wine. In some cases, you all like the same thing. But what if everyone wants something different? The solution is to find a common ground – a lighter or a full-bodied wine, red or white, etc.

Once you got to this agreement, the sommelier can recommend the best wine to satisfy the entire group.

  1. Find a Wine within Your Budget Discreetly

You don’t want to advertise the fact that you are looking for an affordable wine. Thus, you can point a price to the sommelier and say that you want a wine in that region. Everyone else will understand that you have a favorite geographical region. But the sommelier will understand exactly what you mean and make an adequate recommendation.