The wine list- a leather bound nightmare?

It can be daunting, that thick leather bound book filled with all the wines in the restaurant. And you know every eye at the table is watching to see what you will order, and how you carry yourself. But don't let choosing a bottle of wine detract from you fun, because wine with friends while enjoying a great dinner should be just that, fun.

If it comes down to you making the decision for everyone at the table, first start by asking around the table what meal people are planning on ordering. This way you can start to narrow your choices significantly. If most are ordering lighter dishes, then you can limit your choices to whites or softer reds. If it is a highly mixed table, consider a Pinot Noir, a substantially oaked chardonnay, or even a Zinfandel's extra fruity nose. Most likely unless everyone is looking at richer meals with reduction sauces, or highly concentrated flavors you will want to steer clear of the biggest wines like Bordeaux or Barolo.

Next you should consider budget. While no one wants to be cheap, if you are splitting the tab with others you should be sensitive to what they typically order or drink. Also remember restaurants normally mark up the price double. Which means the more expensive the bottle the more the markup. We traditionally order bottles in the $25-40 price range, and spend a little more for special occasions.

Sticking with wines you like is a very safe bet, and a great opportunity to share a "sure thing" with your friends. Announcing that you see a wine that you have always liked with a meal will put everyone at ease as well knowing it won't be a flop. If you really want to experiment, than picking a style and region (like a Russian Valley Zinfandel) you are familiar with, but trying a different winery can be a fun way to expand you depth and knowledge.

How much to order? The general rule is one bottle for every 3 moderate drinkers, Adjust this level to suit the present company. If getting more than one bottle, you can try ordering a couple different vintages to match subsets of the meals ordered.

Lastly, do not discount the help your server may possess. Most good restaurant servers are quite knowledgeable about the wines and food and can help make a few recommendations to narrow your search.

Remember, wine is to be enjoyed, and a meal with t a less than perfect wine is still better than no wine at all.