"good wine is a good familiar creature" -Shakespeare
This is a tutorial designed to aid anyone who wants to overcome their fear of ordering wine at a restaurant or just wants to know more about the ritual etiquette that takes place when ordering wine. The learner will develop a knowledge of wine ordering etiquette, be able to use the correct pronunciation of different wines and common terms, and come to an understanding of what wine to choose. You may proceed in a linear fashion or jump to the section you are interested in. Cheers!
The Ritual Dance
part 3: Following.
This part of the dance is lead by the Sommelier and like any ritual, you can just go through the motions or make it an event-it's up to you. When the Sommelier returns from the cellar with your wine, it should be presented to the person that ordered it, regardless of gender. Besides the fact that this is the 90's, it just makes sense (and it is proper etiquette) to present the wine to the person who chose it to verify that it is in fact the wine that was chosen. It can and does happen that the Sommelier will present the wine to the "man of the table," and that just shows inexperience or a mental lapse. Just politely direct the Sommelier to the person who ordered the wine.
When the Sommelier presents the wine, he or she should show you the label to allow you to verify that this is the wine you ordered. You should mainly look for three things: the producer, the type (or style) of wine, and the vintage (or the year it was harvested). Pay particular attention to the vintage, because that can make a crucial difference in the quality of the wine, and once a particular vintage is sold-out, the winery cannot produce more. Now if the Sommelier brings a 1991 instead of a 1989, and you know that 1991 is a superior vintage, then say nothing; but if it is the opposite or you are unsure, then ask your Sommelier about the change. If he or she says there is no difference, that is untrue. There are always slight differences in character from year to year, perhaps due to the weather, or perhaps the winery hired a new winemaker, the point is the Sommelier is paid to know this information for the customer's benefit.
Once you have verified the wine, then just give a nod or say "that is fine," and the dance will continue.