Ordering wine demystified

A. The puckering you speak of is likely caused by tannin in the wine.  While acidity could have the same effect there is one way to tell what you’re experiencing. 

Here’s a way to distinguish: If the wine is acidic you will salivate; the reason being your body tries to balance the PH (potential hydrogen), by making you excrete more of your saliva.  If you don’t salivate, but your mouth still puckers, then it’s being caused by tannin.  Tea also contains tannin (tannic acid).  If you have ever had a cup of strong tea you’ll have certainly experienced tannin.

Unfortunately, though, you will not know what wines are tannic until you take a drink unless you ask.  Many people are afraid to ask about the various wines on a restaurant’s list but this is clearly a mistake, because the bottom line is that if you want to pick a wine you’re going to enjoy it’s important to effectively communicate to the sommelier what taste profile you prefer.  There are just too many different tasting wines out there to leave it to chance, especially when you consider how much money some restaurants charge for wine.

This is a great lead-in into the second question.

Q. “I drink one glass of red wine every night, but want to know more about the quality of wine I am buying.  I don't know what to buy (just look for red wine) and am unable to order what I want in restaurants.  Want to know the names and types of good red wine.”

A. Simply put, people are very often intimidated about asking too many questions at restaurants – when it comes to wine.  They quickly rush through the ordering and sampling ritual, just to get it over with.  Rushing things can mean you likely won’t secure a good match for the food you’re eating.  Unfortunately having a good match for your food is paramount to really enjoying the dining experience (at least in my humble opinion!)

There is a secret weapon you can use, though, so that you get the ordering and sampling wine ritual down pat, and I’ve mentioned before: Bowe Packer’s e-book “The Wine Connoisseur.”

Bowe will teach you step-by-step how to order wine like a seasoned pro, how to properly sample the wine.

You will be able to order the wine you like – without overpaying, have an overall great dining experience and gain all kinds of knowledge and insights into the world of wine.

That way you do not have to be intimidated by the ordering and sampling process.

That’s not all though: He covers all kinds of topics such as: how to find wines for any occasion or how to match with any food, and all the questions you might have about wine, wine accessories, wine making, health benefits, guides to picking wine for any occasion. 

He also includes great bonus material along with a complete audio version of the book so you don’t have to sit there and read it.  You can listen to the audio book on computer, download to your iPod, and burn it to your CD – whatever you wish! You can listen to it as many time as you wish so that you really retain the material.

To find out how you can access the eBook and complete audio version for no extra charge subscribe to my free newsletter: Red Wine Academy - All about red wine! Just enter your email address below.  We will not share your email with anyone and you can unsubsribe at any time.