We’ve all been there, sitting opposite a hot new date and fumbling with the wine list, which seems to list about 500 options. 
A million things race through your mind: If we order the house wine does that make us look cheap? What wine should we pick in order to impress them most? What is the difference between Chardonnay and Sauvignon?
The waiter is waiting…your date is waiting…what will you choose? Arggh!
Relax. We understand you’ve probably got enough to think about, so we thought we’d offer some quick tips on how to pick a ‘corker’..
Choose your wine based on your food
Before you go straight in and order the drinks, ask your date what they are thinking about choosing to eat. Wine complements food by adding flavour and intensity. The basic rules are: Fish dishes go well with delicate and light wines like a Pinot Grigio, while red meat, like steak, is complemented best by a heartier red wine, such as Malbec. This decision alone will cut the list in half.
Match food and wine by country
If in doubt, match your food to your wine choice, by country or even region if you can. So if you are eating tapas, go for something Spanish and if you are about to tuck into Italian, look for an Italian wine, which will most likely match your tomato-based fare. Also, if you’re at an Italian restaurant, for example, there are likely to be more Italian options and this is a good sign to opt for one.
Don’t automatically say ‘no’ to the house wine
It may be the cheapest wine on the menu but often the house wine is the safest bet and goes well with a lot of the menu options. This wine will always need to maintain a certain level of quality because it has been recommended by the owner.
Don’t always choose the second or third cheapest 
You may think that the second or third cheapest wines are better value for money and don’t make you look like a cheapskate, but far from it – these wines may be better value for money than the house option.
Try to learn some of the names
Look for the names of grapes you know and have tried before and this will make you more confident when it comes to making a good choice or discussing options with the sommelier. If you can’t see a name you recognise on the menu, look at the descriptions like ‘crisp’, ‘floral’, ‘full-bodied’ or ‘oaky’ and choose a wine that is similar to one you know you like.
Do you have any other tips for us when it comes to picking the best tipple?
Tell us @lovestruck
Tweet
