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If you’re looking to enhance your wine experience to impress on your next date, then take a sip and drink up.
DailyMail.com spoke to two New York sommeliers to get their expert advice on how to navigate the world of wine in a simple yet seductive way.
Eitan Spivak, wine director of the Michelin-starred restaurant Sacristy At the Dominick Hotel, they say that before you start tasting anything, you should ‘ALWAYS hold the glass by the stem.’
Meanwhile, sommelier Jenni Guizio, who is also a partner in the long-awaited From Zimmi West Village restaurant, says the best way to start is to know what you like, “even if it’s just red, white, rosé or sparkling, before you start looking at regions and vintages.”
Read on to learn ten important tips on the art of drinking wine, which could prove useful not only in the dating world, but also in the business arena.
Always hold the glass by the stem.
Sommelier Jenni Guizio, who is also a partner in the highly anticipated Zimmi’s restaurant in the West Village
A big telltale sign of a good wine drinker, Eitan says, is the way they hold the glass, and the correct way should be “by the stem, NOT the bulb.”
Aside from looking more stylish, Eitan explains that there is a practical reason for this.
He says: ‘Practically speaking, your hands will warm the wine faster over time and you will also dirty your glass by holding the straw.
‘If you hold the stem, your glass will retain its polished shine.’
Know what you like
Before you venture out to dinner, Jenni says it’s best to know what kind of wines you like and have the confidence to try them.
“This sense of confidence can be attractive,” he says.
The wine expert continues: ‘Know your preference for white, red, rosé or sparkling wine… or even natural.
‘You can take it a step further and, if you really liked a wine at a party you went to or drank on holiday in Italy, write it down and look it up.
‘Learn a little more about the wine and read some notes about it to arm yourself with key vocabulary that you can share with your waiter or sommelier. Details such as grape variety, region and some tasting notes can be useful.’
Ask your waiter or sommelier for advice
If you’re the one in charge of ordering wine on your date, Jenni recommends talking to the staff to get their opinion.
This can make the whole prospect a lot less daunting.
She says: ‘Whether all you know is that you like dry red wine or you’ve just divulged that you passed your level one exam, you should start a conversation with the waiter or sommelier about what they like.
‘Most good restaurants train their staff and regularly taste wines with their team, so there’s a good chance they’ll know what the best pairings are for what you’ve ordered or what’s new and exciting based on what you like.’
Opt for wine pairing
Both Eitan and Jenni say that an easy way to explore wine with a date is to opt for a wine pairing if you’re in a fancier location.
At Vestry, where Eitan works, there is a multi-course seafood-based menu with different wines for each course, and he says this proves to be a very popular choice.
Jenni adds: ‘It’s worth pairing a good wine if you feel like treating yourself.
‘You’ll get to taste several different wines and hear something about each one as you go.’
With tasting menus and wine pairings, Jenni also notes that “most restaurants will print the pairings on the menu for you to take home,” so you can remember the drinks you drank.
First stir the wine
A big telltale sign of a competent wine drinker, says Eitan, is the way they hold the glass, and the correct way should be “by the stem, NOT the bulb.”
Before diving into your wine, Eitan recommends swirling it well in your glass to get a feel for the aromas.
To give some pointers, he says: ‘Swirl the wine in the glass, bring your nose close to the bulb, and talk about the incredible ‘bouquet’ of the wine.’
If you want to impress your date even more, serve him some things that he can smell.
Eitan advises: ‘The nose of a wine is a completely personal thing, but start with the fruits you can identify.
‘In the case of white wine, the fruit profile is generally classified as citrus, peptidic (related to apples), stone fruit, or tropical.
‘For red wines, the fruit will be red, black, blue or a combination of both. It can be fun to compare notes with your dining companion and is a good way to break the ice.’
Get to know the importers
As you learn more about the world of wine, Eitan and Jenni say a great way to find bottles you like is to get familiar with importers.
Eitan explains: ‘One of the best ways to understand a particular style of wine is to know who imports it.
‘Certain portfolios have a style all their own and understanding some of their favorites will help you choose a wine more quickly and concisely.’
At a restaurant, Jenni says, you could talk to a sommelier and ask if they have any wines from an importer you’re familiar with.
She adds: “They can translate that into a recommendation or perhaps another importer with whom they will discover even more producers.”
Combine wine and travel
Eitan and Jenni say that wine is a great way to spark memories around travel, and this, in turn, can impress a date.
When browsing a wine menu, you can relate a bottle to a place in the world you’ve been to start a new conversation.
Eitan reflects: “Experience is the best teacher. One can only read so much about wine, but without any context, it is difficult to paint an accurate picture.
“Wine is not just a drink, but also the union of art, culture and history. If you tell your date this, you will not only seem like you are curious about wine, but you will also show that you want to seek new adventures.”
Jenni adds: ‘Choosing a bottle from somewhere important to your date or both of you can also make for a memorable night.
‘Maybe you had a fantastic trip to Greece and a bottle of Assyrtiko from Santorini would do you good, or you went on a hike in Patagonia and opted for a Chilean grape grown at high altitude.’
Discover the producers
Once your wine knowledge starts to expand, Jenni recommends focusing on producers you love.
She explains: ‘Even more impressive than knowing the grape variety or saying you like Napa and Sonoma wine is knowing the producers.
‘Every producer is unique, whether it’s in their winemaking practices, something they do or don’t do in the vineyard or the terroir they work with.
‘Neighbouring producers can make two completely different wines from the same type of grape, so it can be very useful and impressive to know something special about the ones you like.’
Don’t overdo it
Finally, Eitan warns that the most important thing on a date when it comes to wine is not to overdo it.
She concludes: ‘My tried and tested wine tips are meant to be fun and light-hearted, but it’s also my duty to warn everyone to take it easy and not overdo it.
‘Wine should be shared with those you love the most. However, nothing good can happen if you consume too much.
“I’m sure all readers can relate to this, but I can almost guarantee that there won’t be a second date if you make a fool of yourself on the first. Be safe and have fun exploring the wild world of wine!”
