Phenomenology of the inexperienced customer: why choosing wine can be a real drama

When dining out, choosing wine can become a real existential dilemma. Many customers, in pursuit of extreme savings, opt for the cheapest wine on the wine list, or to avoid appearing cheap, go for the one just above it, even if it costs only two euros more. But the truth is, price doesn’t always guarantee quality, and you risk ending up with a glass of ‘shoe polish’ that makes you long for the farmer’s wine.

Choosing wine by trusting the Internet

Some customers prefer to do their research online, reading reviews and ratings, but how reliable is what you find on the web? Unfortunately, the people writing on these apps are often amateurs themselves. Others, on the other hand, try to impress their dining companions by reading the wine list with an expression worthy of a professional sommelier, dropping terms like "fruity bouquet" or "spicy notes," all while the food cools. But in the end, the glass does the talking. So be careful, because that date you’re trying to impress will definitely notice if you’re faking it or if you actually know what you’re choosing.

Choosing the wrong wine can ruin the dinner … and the atmosphere

Let me share an anecdote: there was this customer who, with the wine list in hand for at least half an hour (while the sommelier silently thinks, "He surely knows his stuff; he'll pick a great bottle!"), finally makes the difficult decision of selecting a bottle to pair with the tasting menu. He gestures for the sommelier, who approaches, and the customer utters the fateful words: "Moscato Passito." But wait! A sweet wine for the entire meal?

The role of the Sommelier

Fortunately, there are those who decide to trust the restaurant’s sommelier, the expert who can recommend the perfect wine to accompany not just a dish, but the entire evening. This way, you can avoid ordering a White Barolo or a Cabernet Sauvignon, or worse, a Moscato Passito for the whole meal! In short, choosing wine at a restaurant can be a lot of fun if you let yourself be guided by an expert and abandon your preconceptions. In the end, it doesn’t matter if you go for the most expensive wine or the one recommended by the sommelier; the important thing is to enjoy the company.