11/09/05 Guest choosing the wine

Welcome to Vine to Wine, this is your host Linda Moran and today we are going to answer a question from the email. A listener writes to ask for advice "I have a friend who often insists that his guests select the wine when he is treating us to dinner in a restaurant. Although I do know a little bit about wine, it makes me feel uncomfortable. What are your suggestions for best handling the situation?" Well, I think that when you are being treated to dinner in a restaurant, and the host asks that you select a wine, you should feel flattered and say thank you. I think that you may be uncomfortable because you don't know what the budget is. So do not even think about ordering an expensive bottle of wine unless you intend to help pay for it. In which case you might say how about if I split the cost with you and we can splurge on --- whatever wine. If that isn't what you want to do then consider something moderately priced but of good quality and order that. But what I like to do most of all is to narrow it down and select three or four wines in different price ranges and explain why I am interested in each one and then ask for a consensus as to what sound s intriguing to the host. Everyone participates  it is more fun and usually invites more conversation when the wine is tasted. Now don't forget I want to hear from you  tell me about your new favorite wine or your best or worse wine experience. Write to me at Linda at vine to wine dot net and thanks for joining me on today's Vine to Wine.