We were recently asked this by a waiter, someone relatively new to that line of work: “When a customer asks, ‘Is this a good wine?’ is it acceptable to say, ‘Whatever tastes best for you is a good wine.” I get tired of always having to say that yes, it’s a good wine (or an ‘excellent’ wine or whatever).

We turned to some other people who have waited tables or worked as bartenders for their opinions. Here are a few of their responses:

“I think that when they ask that, they’re really wanting more information about the wine because it’s one they’re unfamiliar with. They’re looking to you to be some kind of expert. Have you tried the wine yourself and can you give your opinion? You can certainly say yes, while also providing some helpful information. Such as: ‘Yes, it’s a very good wine, especially if you like wine that is very dry.’” - Bob (bartender)

“In a way, it is an odd question, if you think about it.  After all, can’t we assume that all the wines on the list were chosen to be there because someone thinks they’re good? But we do get it from customers all the time.  I agree with Bob that the real question is, ‘Can you tell me something about this wine to let me know whether I would enjoy it or not, given my particular tastes?’ I think the best course is to give them what information you know, but keep it basic. This usually means telling them if it is a sweet wine or a dry one, if it is heavy or light.  You might tell them, ‘It’s very popular,’ if that’s indeed the case.” - Natasha (server)

“Don’t be afraid to steer them to a different wine if the situation calls for it.  That doesn’t mean you have to knock the wine they’re asking about. For example, you could say, ‘This is a great wine to have with steak. But for the fish you’re having, I would recommend …’ and offer one you know is more appropriate. They’re still free to order the wine they originally asked about, of course, but maybe now they will consider something else, and you will be seen as a wine authority in any event.” - Chen (server)

:Personally, I’m not against shading the truth a little when it comes to commenting on a wine. One of the central tenets in our business is that you don’t disagree with the customer.  Once they’ve picked out a specific item, even just to ask about it, you can’t go wrong by praising their choice, even you are really not that enthusiastic about it.  So tell them it’s a good wine, a great wine even!” - Rita (server)

To those of us who spend time musing over subtle distinctions between this Malbec and that one, or this Chardonnay and that one, it can be startling to realize that to some folks, all wine tastes the same.

We recently had someone ask us, “Really, what is the difference between red wine and white wine?  Because they all taste the same to me.”

We’re guessing that this person has not been a wine drinker for very long.  With time she will more than likely develop a nose and palate for distinctions between different types of wine, not only between reds and whites but also between different varietals within those two broad categories.

When it comes to reds vs. whites, it’s hard to generalize.  Any statement we make about red wines, for example, will have many exceptions.

Nonetheless, we’ll make a stab at it.

Red wine is generally more robust than white wine.  It is “thicker,” for want of a better term, having more weight in the mouth.  It is usually drier (less sweet) than white, although it can be quite fruity in its own right.  Red wine is usually to be drunk at room temperature.

White wine is generally feels lighter in the mouth than does red wine. It tends to be sweeter.  For these reasons, people are more likely to quaff a white wine than they are a red, which tends to be sipped and savored more slowely (we’re not saying people can’t or shouldn’t linger over a white wine; it’s just our observation that they frequently do not).  White wine is frequently chilled before it is drunk.

Don’t worry if you are one who doesn’t notice much difference.  If you stick with wine drinking, trying different many different varieties, the distinctions will eventually become apparent. Don’t fret over it, though, and don’t let wine snobs put you down over it.   Just enjoy the wine you drink, at whatever level of appreciation you happen to be.

Sometimes a question about wine totally stumps us.  The question we got was, “How much should I expect to pay for a bottle of red wine at a nightclub?”

The answer really  depends on too many factors to be able to give a blanket answer.  Is it an upscale nightclub, or one that is less pretentious?  What city is it in?  Does it make most of its money on its drinks?  Does it have an extensive wine list (in which case it is more likely to offer some inexpensive options), or a short one?

If you are not used to ordering wine in a nightclub or restaurant, there are a few generalizations we can offer:

Ordering wine by the bottle will cost you less than ordering the same amount of wine by the glass. That is, 5 glasses of wine X will cost more than a bottle of wine X.

There will usually be a “house red” and a “house white.” These will generally be the least expensive wines on the list.

Restaurants and nightclubs tend to mark up their wine significantly over what you would pay in the grocery store or wine shop.

It’s unlikely you will pay less than $20 for a bottle of wine in a nightclub, and $30 or $40 might be more usual.  On the other end of the price range, the sky’s the limit.  Some clubs and restaurants will have wines n their list that cost well above $100, and wines of several hundred dollars are not unheard of.