Sync

Let's face it. When you're sitting in a nice restaurant, trying to impress a date, choosing a wine can be the most intimidating thing you've ever done. Especially if you've never had wine before.

That's because there are more reds and whites and in-betweens than you can shake a stick at. Most beginners don't know the difference between a Pinot Grigio and a Pinot Noir. And they assume French wines must be better simply because they are French.

But there's an entire evolving world of wine out there, and the old rules don't necessarily apply anymore.

"The first rule is that there are no rules," said Clark Trim, co-owner of Colonial Wine and Spirits in Little Rock. "Wine should be fun, and it should not be intimidating."

So to help demystify this whole business of wine, Sync called upon several local experts - Trim, Bruce Cochran, 365corks.com blogger Rob W., and Cheers restaurant owner Chris Tanner - who shared suggestions for those who would like to start drinking wine but don't know where to start.

I've been a beer drinker all my life (or at least since I turned 21). How do I make the transition from beer to wine?

Rob W., a 40-something Little Rock resident, said that he didn't start drinking wine until he was about 28. Until that time, he had been a beer drinker.

"When I started drinking wine, I started with light wines. Sauvignon Blancs, some Chardonnays, no [Cabernets]," he said.

What should I know about ordering wine in a restaurant?

Cochran said you can expect the waiter to bring out the bottle, show you the label, open the wine, and then pour you a sip. However, he said, put some thought into whether you want to buy a whole bottle. You could be going out on a limb if you don't know what you're ordering. And ordering by the glass gives you the opportunity to sample different wines during different parts of the meal.

I've ordered a bottle of wine at the restaurant. What's this business about sniffing the cork and sipping the wine?

This process is not as complex as you might think. You're not showing off your expertise here, you're checking to see if the wine has gone bad, said Rob W.

If you look at the cork and it's soggy, then oxygen has probably gotten into the bottle and affected the wine, he said. Sipping the wine will confirm this.

And, he said, it's okay to send the wine back if nothing's wrong with it but you just don't like the taste of it.

"Sometimes you order a wine thinking it will taste one way but it tastes completely different," Rob W. said.

How do I pair wine with food?

In general, white wine goes with white meat and red wine goes with red meat. But this is one of those rules that people are starting to ignore.

"Personally, I'm not a big believer in that," said Tanner of Cheers. "Sometimes I'm in the mood for a white [wine], but I'm also in the mood for a steak."

Rob W. said it's easier - and much smarter - to just drink what you like.

"If you don't like red, why would you drink red?"

Can I ask a waiter or retail wine clerk for help in choosing a bottle?

The experts agree that it's okay to rely heavily on waiters and wine clerks.

"Find a reputable retailer who can make recommendations for you," Rob W. said, noting that you should be wary of anyone who steers you toward expensive wines or continues to push something you've tried but don't like.

In a crowded restaurant, where you might feel a little more self-conscious, you can get some direction simply by asking the waiter, "What would you have with this meal," according to Trim.

Should I be leery of wine with screw caps?

Trim said that it's a myth that corks are better than screw caps.

If you're drinking the wine within a year of its production, a screw cap is the best enclosure you can have, he said. Cork has chemical compounds that can impart a flavor to wine. So why mess with a cork if you're going to drink the wine within a year?

Trim said some bottles with screw caps sell for more than $100 and that it's a myth that all capped wine is cheap wine.

Do I have to spend a fortune to get a good bottle of wine?

Rob W. said he rarely spends more than $30 for a bottle of wine. And, he said, it's completely realistic to get a good bottle for less than $10.

"I don't think you have to spend a lot of money for a good wine," he said. "There's so much 'juice' on the market that the prices come down."

I get a terrible headache when I drink wine. What can I do?

Moderation comes into play here to some extent. But drinking just one glass doesn't always ensure you won't get a headache. Trim said that tannins (a natural, bitter-tasting chemical found in grape seeds and skins) can cause headaches. And tannins happen to be more abundant in reds. So those who get headaches after drinking red wines might want to switch to whites.

What are some of the best ways to try different types of wines?

Rob W. suggested ordering wine by the glass when eating in restaurants. That way you can sample different ones throughout the meal. Also, he said, wine bars and wine tastings (either at a public place or in a private home) are good ways to try out different wines.

Will I ever learn all there is to know about wine?

"You can never know everything about wine," Tanner said.

After all, grape harvests differ from year to year. That means the wine produced by the same vineyard can be great one year, and then terrible the next.

Still, taking a wine class is a good way to learn more, said Rob W.

"Early on, if you have any interest at all, taking a class is a good idea," he said. "It takes some of the mystery out of [wine drinking]."