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 that turns out to be the case, don’t get mad at the person who asks you about what you are looking for in a great wine. Your actions could be impressive for people dining or drinking with you, but rest assured there will be somebody with questions. And this snobbish ritual could put you in a very embarrassing situation.

This type of display is best left to the wine aficionados in wine tasting clubs. Other than that, this ritual has long since become passe’ in our modern world. Even if a Sommelier presents you with a bottle of wine for your approval, do not perform what I call the Wine Snob Dance. Just do not do it.

If you find yourself unable to resist the behavior, just understand you are likely to expose the wine server and yourself to an embarrassing and awkward moment in time. So just fight the urge and let the server pour the wine and then slip off to more important duties.

While you manage to restrain yourself, realize that the larger the group the more likely you will experience a wine snob performing the wine swish, swallow and glowing attributes of the wine selection. For they just can’t refrain from describing the chocolate and berry nose, satiny finish and the slight taste of tannin. Just know they most likely don’t really have a clue, it’s all just made up crap.

There’s very little that entertains me in a restaurant more than seeing a pompous ass putting on the dog and pony show when confirming the quality of the wine selected. It’s even more enjoyable if I happen to know the wine he is sampling at the moment and it is an average wine at best. Or even better if it is considered to be less than average.

Best practice these days require that you select a wine that you like and enjoy. Nothing more and nothing less. It’s important to realize that your taste is just as good and important as that of anyone else. After all. isn’t the object of drinking wine to enjoy it and be sociable? Do you care what fruity smell it might have or whether some candy can be associated with it. I doubt it.

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.

There is no payoff for being a wine snob. There is a big payoff for selecting a nice wine that you like and enjoy. A pleasant outing and keeping your dignity in tact is really worth killing the urge to appear as a wine expert. Let the quasi wine snobs look ridiculous . You will be glad you did.

Tags : Wine