How to Choose Wine for a Dinner Date

Being single in today’s world is complicated and moves quickly with all the apps and dating sites. In order to find that perfect match people will go through all kinds of trouble. When you meet someone new that you are interested in, you want to put your best foot forward. The other person is most likely talking to multiple people, and you are just one of the many trying to win them over. A good way to show how worldly you are, you can use knowledge of wine as a way of impressing a potential partner. Wine can be erotic and sensual when used the right way. Wine has been shared by people going back thousands of years. Almost every culture on Earth has rituals and celebrations that include wine.

A basic knowledge of wine is paramount when going out to dinner or making a meal for a date at home. I will break down the various wine varietals and which food they pair best with. The wine that you choose will depend on the food that is being served. If you are serving or eating fish we recommend that you pick a Sauvignon Blanc. This wine is usually citrusy and goes very well with any fish. When you serve fresh fish it is most likely served with butter and lemon and this wine pairs perfectly with that. We recommend Kim Crawford from New Zealand. It is priced reasonably and will be perfect for your seafood dinner. Don’t be fooled by the screw cap on this or any other wine. That is not an indication of quality. Also, you can substitute Fume’ Blanc which is simply an American version of Sauvignon Blanc. Always make sure that you taste the wine when it is presented if you are the man and you ordered the wine. If you are at home pour a little bit in a glass and taste it. Then fill the other persons glass before filling your own. Keep the wine chilled but it can be enjoyed even if it is not very cold. Some people actually prefer it at room temperature.

If you are serving red meat there are many different wines that will go with beef. The most well known will be a hearty Cabernet. A dry red wine goes perfectly with a nicely cooked steak. When you order red wine to pair with your meal make sure you ask about the tannins. The heavier red wines have more tannins and enhance the flavor of the meat. Other varietals that go well with beef are Red Zinfandel, Malbec, and Petite Syrah’s. Always taste the wine before you pour the glass for your date. Swirl the wine in the glass to release the aromas and let the wine breathe. Red wine can be served at room temperature so there is no need to chill. Although some red wine drinkers like to drop an ice cube into their glass, we recommend drinking at room temperature.

When it comes to pork there are a few choices that you can make that will make the flavors pop. If you are eating an herbed pork then we recommend a nice Chardonnay with a rich, buttery flavor. Chardonnay with it’s oak and fruit flavors won’t over power the herbs on the pork. If you are eating something that has sausage or bacon we recommend a Riesling. Riesling is a sweeter wine that will balance the saltiness of certain cuts of pork. Whenever ordering wine to pair with pork make sure that you know the seasoning on the pork for best results.

Chicken pairing depends mostly on how the bird is prepared. The herbs that is used will determine the correct wine you should choose. If you are eating something spicy we recommend Pinot Noir. Pinot Noir is a light red wine that will go well with a chicken dish that is not overly heavy. We love Pinot Noir’s from Oregon or Washington state. The cool weather and lush valley’s make this the best region for Pinot’s. If the chicken dish is spicy you could go with a Chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc. These will offset the spiciness and bring out the full flavor of the chicken.

If you are going to eat pasta then you have to choose a good red wine. The Italians have perfected the art of eating and drinking quality wine. Our first recommendation when eating pasta with a red sauce is an Italian Chianti. There are regions all over Italy that grow the best wines for Italian food so finding one should be very easy. We think that Sangiovese wines are the best and are on almost every Italian restaurant’s wine list. Make sure you savor the smell and taste as you enjoy some fine Italian food. It is something that needs to be enjoyed slowly.

Now it is time for dessert. You can order coffee and maybe an after dinner drink but we recommend a good dessert wine or port. These two wines are at opposite ends of the flavor spectrum. Port is made from the left over stems and seeds from the wine making process and is very heavy and strong. Dessert wines such as ice wine are very sweet and are at times very expensive. The reason being that they are made from frozen grapes and don’t occur very often. Whatever you choose to drink when you are on a date, always make sure you are confident, and use this little guide to help make you look like you know what you are talking about.