“Is this wine dry?”
When it comes to white wine, many people prefer something dry with no noticeable traces of sweetness. Many white wines, for example a Riesling from the Moselle, an Alsatian Gewürztraminer, or sometimes the cheaper Chardonnay from the New World, can show a clearly noticeable residual sweetness. Therefore, even with sparkling, rosé or red wines, you can always ask the question about the wine’s freshness. You should avoid this question only with sweet wines.
“Do you have local wine?”
Tasting local wines protects the environment because wine does not have to be transported hundreds of kilometers in trucks. There are also local grape varieties to explore in many countries, exciting you won’t find anywhere else. How about a spicy complement from Bündner Herrschaft or a fruity Cornalin from Valais?
“What wine goes with your meal?”
Especially when you eat something, you should be careful that the wine goes with the meal. Even the prettiest Barolo will have a slightly metallic taste when paired with a sushi dish. So let the staff give you two or three suggestions on which wine goes best with your chosen dishes.
“Do you have anything that isn’t too heavy?”
There is great variation in the weight of a wine, especially in red wines. A Châteauneuf-du-Pape with more than 15 percent volume drives significantly more than a Fleurie from Beaujolais. If you want to get back to work after dinner, opt for a light wine.
“Do you have any old red wine available?”
Many noble, mostly red wines sometimes need several hours in a carafe until they develop their full drinking potential. Unfortunately, many people don’t always have that long to wait for the wine to finally be ready to drink, especially in restaurants and, for example, at lunch. Therefore, if you do not want wine to disappoint you, you should definitely ask this question.