The first date is nerve-wracking enough without having to worry about what wine to choose to impress your new friend!
One of the great things about wine on a date is that one bottle is a defined amount, normally about five glasses. If sharedequally it is unlikely that you will fall off your chair drunk after half a bottle of wine!
However, there are some other social sins that can be committed whilst choosing wine on a date.
First Date Wines
First, you need to decide whether you want white, red, rosé or sparkling wine. This is perhaps the most important decision. As a general rule, red wine is more of an acquired taste and it can be harder to select a good red wine. Therefore, when you do not know your companion’s tastes it may be wise to steer clear of the red wine section.
Sparkling wine can make you appear a little pretentious or if you go for a cheaper version, a tightwad; so this is usually best avoided. If you are not sure whether your companion likes wine at all, rosé wine is often a safe option as it often lacks the sharpness that people commonly dislike in wines.
How Much to Spend on a First Date?
Remember more money doesn’t always mean more quality. If you are very new to wine, go for a house white. A house white is unlikely to be extremely imaginative or unusual but is almost always perfectly drinkable. For this reason, it is a safe, middle of the road option.
If you want to impress, look for something other than the house white. Keep away from extremes until you know your companion a little better, so don’t go for bone dry whites. Instead, opt for a fruity dry wine that appeals to those who like both dry and medium whites.
Whilst neutral wines may seem like a bit of a cop-out, bear in mind that you simply want a drinkable wine that does not offend.
If you are really not sure what to choose, why not offer your companion a choice of glasses as an aperitif while you have a beer or spirit. This way you can judge your companion’s taste. Even if they select a spirit, you can still get a measure of whether they prefer sweet or dry wines.
Of course, you could always give your companion the choice…
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