Are You A Wine Snob

Do you take the glass and swish the contents around after the Sommelier pours a small amount of wine in your glass, and then set your nose over the glass rim acting as if you know what the heck you are checking for?

If so, the show might look impressive to anyone slightly interested in your actions, but what if someone asks you what your are doing while performing this snobbish ritual? Will you have an answer or just be embarrassed?

To dodge the embarrassment bullet, realize that checking the nose of the wine and testing it on your palette is for days long gone. When presented a bottle of wine at your table in a restaurant, for your sake, please don’t ever perform that ritual. Even if the Sommelier presents the bottle and has an expectant look on his face, just don’t fall into the trap. Do not and I mean do not fall into it.

If you do accept the challenge, chances are you and the server will end up at the center of an uncomfortable and awkward moment. So for both of you, just tell the wine Sommelier or server that you are sure the wine will be fine and let them pour and be on their way.

A popular trend presently with wine aficionados is to sip some wine, expose it to their palette and then gently swallow it. And then come forth with some extremely flowery language describing how it has a satin finish, or hint of Blackberry and Chocolate or some other crazy sounding mixture. When you hear someone do this, you know you are most likely in the presence of some overly self important wine snob. Unless you happen to be at a tasting held by a wine club.

It’s utterly amazing to watch someone who knows as much about wine as you do, spout off with these grandiose labels and attributes for an average wine. Many times for even less than an average wine. I can guarantee you there is no shortage of these quasi wine aficionados.

What is acceptable now a days, is to just select a wine type that you like. Regardless of the situation or even the food that is being served. It’s all about enjoying the experience of drinking wine. Your taste is just as good as anybody else’s and your opinion just as valid. After all, do you really care if there is a hint of Watermelon or the delicate scent of Rose emanating from your wine glass.

Here is a great money saving tip for enjoying wine during a dinner out. Call ahead and ask the restaurant manager if their establishment will allow you to bring your own bottle of wine and just add a corkage charge to your bill. Many upscale restaurants are fine with this practice. That way you really do get to drink a wine you like and not have to pay $20 to $30 or more for a bottle of $12 wine.

Whatever you do, just enjoy drinking your wine. It will turn out to be a much more pleasant and enjoyable experience, than if you try and put on the dog and try and impress people with knowledge you may not possess.