Quick Tips On How To Sound Like You Know More About Wine

We all have our go-tos when it comes to ordering a drink at a bar. Maybe you are more of a mojito maven, or maybe you consider yourself more of a champagne connoisseur, but wine is where you draw the line. It's so easy to look at a wine list and get lost in all of your choices. What's the difference between red and white? Which one goes best with fish? How do you know if something tastes cheap? There are so many variables when it comes to knowing your way around wine.

For a long time, wine has been equated with fine dining at the most luxurious establishments and exuding an aura of high class. If you happen to find yourself caught in a situation in one of these places or you want to exude sophistication, there are some tips to come across as the best wine expert at your table. 

Plus, it wouldn't hurt to know exactly what it is you're drinking and where it comes from. In fact, according to Napa Valley's tourism website, even something such as the soil nutrients or how much fog is in the area can affect how a bottle of wine can taste. With so many variables surrounding wine, it's very easy to pick some quick facts to make sure you have an idea of what it is you're paying for, especially when the average markup is up to three times the wholesale price (via The New York Times).

One of the easiest ways to show off knowledge about wine is simply by describing in detail what it is that you taste. According to California Winery Advisor, you don't have to be overly fancy in your description of the wine but rather describe as much as you can.

Like any hobby, practice makes perfect. The more you experiment with wines, the better you will be able to pick up on notes of fruits or other flavor notes in each bottle. Even if you can only pick up one tiny bit of orange, you can say something along the lines of, "I taste a little citrus in this."

This tip also helps you better ask questions. According to Decanter, one of the best things you can do when ordering wine is to ask your sommelier plenty of questions. Whether asking for their specific recommendations based on the meal you will be having or perhaps the top-selling bottle, sommeliers are there to answer your questions and make sure you have a good experience. Moreover, asking questions shows confidence in knowing what it is that you want — and wanting to learn more about what you are drinking.

An important part of ordering wine, especially at a restaurant that isn't dedicated to wine tasting, is knowing which type of wine goes best with what.

According to Primer, if you are having a lighter dish, you should match it with a lighter type of wine. If you're ordering heavier, seasoned meat, you want to match it with a fuller red wine. On the other hand, lighter fish dishes would go best with a lighter white wine. Although you can naturally eat your food with whichever wine you want, these are general rules of thumb to remember in case you want to throw out a tip to your party.

Furthermore, Insider suggests that, in general, one should not be afraid to try different types of wine. This goes across the board on newer wines or vintage wines. Even lower-priced wines will shock you with how delicious they can be despite the low cost. Just like it took you a lot of attempts to find your favorite IPA, it may take more than one wine tasting to find your favorite bottle of wine.