Take Control of the Wine List

Imagine this-you are seated at an upscaleBy Geography. This wine list is organized by
restaurant with one of your best clients and thencountries of origin and often has the more specific
handed a wine list thicker than a college textbook.subcategories, like the regions or state, which is
You want to pick out the "perfect" wine tothe traditional type of wine list. If you love French
impress your client but everything looks like it iswines, this type of list makes it easy. Flip to the
written in a foreign language. After only a fewFrench section and then look at what regions or
minutes the server asks if you have made yourwines are offered. The grape varietal used may
selection, so you decide to order the most familiar(or may not) be listed next to the wines in this
thing on the menu. You are not sure yourtype of list. This is not an issue for most wine
selection will coordinate with your meals, and itfrom the US since the wine is usually labeled by
costs more than your boss will tolerate for agrape varietal, e.g., Chardonnay or Pinot Noir. The
client dinner. By the time the bottle arrives, youEuropean wine industry, however, tends to focus
have broken out in a cold sweat and are ready toon the region where it is produced and assumes
take a big gulp! The good news is thatwe know what grapes are grown. Even though
understanding the three main ways wine lists arethe principal grapes of Burgundy are Chardonnay
organized is the first step to preventing this fromand Pinot Noir, they won't appear on the bottle of
ever happening to you.Burgundy's finest wines.
There are three primary types of wine lists -Progressive. This type of list is a relatively new
those organized by the grape varietal, byapproach that is organized by the flavor and body
geography (or where it is made), and by flavorprofile. A typical category might be
profile (progressive). Keep in mind that some listsdry-light-bodied whites, and the wines in that
blend several of these methods. Let's explorecategory may be ordered from mildest to fullest.
each of these three types of wine lists:This allows diners to look for the type of wine
By Grape Varietal. Organized by the main grapethey enjoy and then order options in the same
variety used to produce the wine, this type of listflavor and body category. Your favorite grapes
definitely appeals to our varietally consciousor countries may be located in many different
culture. It may be further organized by country orcategories. Once you get the hang of these lists,
state. Thinking of the grape varietal first and thethey are tons of fun. They don't require any
origin second is an American trend. Manyspecial knowledge of geography or grapes-just a
European countries are now trying to focus moreknowledge of what you like.
on the grape varieties despite regulations that banHopefully you a have a better understanding of
the top rated wine from listing them on the label.the three most common ways restaurants will
Sections for the popular varietals, e.g.,organize their lists. The geographic and grape
Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, Cabernetvarietal lists will account for 80% of the lists
Sauvignon, are usually listed, as well as an "otherencountered, but the progressive list may be a
varietals" category for white and red. Thesegrowing trend for the future. Hopefully the next
lesser known varietal sections can often be moretime you take an important client (or that special
interesting, and is where many bargains can besomeone) to dinner they will be impressed with
found!your ability to find the right wine in no time!