What's in a Wine List?

When I was younger I was always slightly daunted when handed a wine list in a restaurant. I didn't really know what I was looking at and therefore tended to stick to what I thought I knew. This had the effect that I tended to order the same wines time and time again, never really taking the opportunity to explore what was on offer. It was only as I became older and I began to engage with the sommelier more and more that my love of wine developed. From this point on my understanding of wine grew confidently and I actually learnt how to navigate my way around a wine list.

These days, wine lists range from a simple piece of cardboard on a table which can be glanced through quickly, to something resembling a door stop sized hard backed fiction. The later would probably require you to set aside a couple of hours to go through it in any realistic detail. I have always been intrigued by the size of a wine list. This is one time when biggest is defiantly not best. Of course, the bigger the list the more choice you undoubtedly have, but in earnest how long can you spend choosing a wine when you are in a restaurant. When it comes to top level fine dining a voluminous and expansive wine list is expected, almost demanded, but this should really be a one off occasion. For more day to day eating out a single side of A4 should be more than sufficient.

Personally I like to see a bit of variety in wine lists. Yes, there should be some classics there, as well as the staples, but it is always nice to see a few intriguing choices as well as a couple of relative unknowns. As long as it’s clearly laid out with some sense of logic you should be able to select a bottle with relative ease. Whatever you do, never feel pressured to make up your mind what it is you should choose. Take your time and if you aren’t sure don’t be afraid to ask the sommelier for advice or a suggestion. After all, he or she is there to help you.

I must admit that as a Bordeaux lover I do have a bit of a tendency to over analyze what is in this section of the list. I think that this maybe my OCD side coming out. Note to self that I must remember to keep it in check. That said, there is nothing really that wrong with spending 45 minutes or so pouring over the varieties of Pomerol, Margaux, St Emillion etc is there!