What Wine Should You Order During Your Dinner Date?
It’s a date. You’re sitting at a table topped with a crisp white covering, a set of shiny silverware and two empty glasses that sparkle by candlelight. The waiter or waitress arrives and slaps a huge leather-bound booklet of wines in front of you. Which one should you order? Order the cheapest glass (or bottle if you’re sharing), and you’ll totally look like a cheap ass. Aim for the most expensive bottle on the list, and you’ll look like a showy little schmuck. My trick? I usually pick a wine that’s exactly three price tags above the least expensive one on the list. It’s a safe bet in terms of appearances, but what if I wanna make a smart decision about quality? What if I actually wanna enjoy the wine that I select to accompany my meal? I know some of you have the same question because you’ve posed it to me via email. “Hey funky,” you ask, “what’s the best wine to order during a date?” My answer? “Hell if I know!” Fashion? Check. Dating? Got ya covered. Kissing? Check, check check all over your lovely little lips. Wine is a different story. Don’t get me wrong. I like the burgundy-colored liquid. I’m just not the “right” person to ask about matters of the grape. Gary Vaynerchuk? Yeah, that’s your man. I love my readers, so I gladly sat with Gary to discuss wine choices during dates. Video will be posted on Wine Library TV soon. In the meantime, check out Gary’s shout out to the FBC.
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April 25th, 2008 at 12:33 am
Its funny that you bring this up since my apt just had a wine sip tonight. I’m a huge wine fan, basically since my trip to Napa Valley this past October for my birthday.
But I have this friend who I call for all my wine needs. He seems to know EVERYTHING about wine…doesn’t matter what I’m eating. But he can describe the wine, the vineyard, and pairing to just about every meal I can think of. He’s my go-to guy when it’s my turn to make the romantic meal…
April 25th, 2008 at 9:35 am
it depends on what you are having to eat….. the old order of things have changed
a lot….. Cabs and Merlots are great with either red meat or chicken and that depends on how the meat is prepared…. while some whites are good with fish
the drier the better ….. and some blushes can be used as well if you want all your
bases covered….. it’ a brave new world….. explore….
lamesabassman…….. a loaf of bread… a jug of wine…. and wow……
April 25th, 2008 at 11:01 am
When confronted with the massive winelist, I ask the waiter what he would recommend. It sounds a little weak, but this actually puts the pressure on the waiter, to come up with a good reccomendation….his tip may suffer if he doesn’t
April 25th, 2008 at 2:43 pm
@ Brandon: Napa Valley??? Take me with you!! :) That’s great you’ve got a friend who’s a go-to guy. TOTALLY pull on Gary’s talents, too. I can’t recommend Wine Library TV enough. It’s GREAT!
@ lamesabassman: I have an eight-year old purple refrigerator magnet with grapes on it that reads: “Het leven is te kort om slechte wijn te drinken!!” (Trans: Life’s too short to drink bad wine.)
@ dkzone: Smoooooth move; I always like that one. It’s classy, courtesy and engaged. I bet you’re a great first date. ;)
April 26th, 2008 at 3:23 am
Amen to that, sistah……. am going to Napa Valley at month’s end…. for a week
and chill…. long walks…… rent a Harley…. try some different foods and to learn
a few more things about life…people….. and a little tenderness thrown in to get
ready for my next thousand miles….. and I will be with … me, myself and I…..
this will be a re-birth that was very well needed…. for at times,when you lose
one’s self…… the only one who will leaving a rice trail for the return is… you..
lamesabassman…… life is beautiful…… when you weaken…. and embrace it…
June 21st, 2009 at 9:51 am
Added to my RSS, Thanks!