There are usually three kinds of groupings that you’ll find on the wine list. Wines may be grouped by the kind of grape, where the grapes came from, and the flavor. Some lists may combine two or more types of groupings.

Let’s look at each of the three kinds of wine lists:

Kind of Grape: The list is mainly organized by the variety of grapes used to make the wine, but if may also include location information. In the US it is common to list type of grape and origin, in Europe most wine lists focus on the type of grape.

By Origin: This kind of wine list is arranged by what country it came from and usually has more particular subcategories, like state and regions. So, if you really like French wine this kind of wine list makes it simple to use. You just flip over to the French section of the list and look for what wines are available. The kind of grape used to make the wine may be listed also. In the United States, the kind of grape is almost always listed but in European countries they just assume you understand which grapes are grown in different regions.

By Flavor: This kind of wine list is a pretty new one and it’s categorized by the body and flavor profile. A usual classification could be light-dry-bodied whites. The wines that are in that category could be ordered from fullest to mildest. This will allow you to see the kind of wine you like and then order wine in those same body and flavor category. Your favorite countries or grapes could be located in several different categories.

After you get used to looking at the wine list, they will be a lot of fun. A wine list does not require that you have a special kind of knowledge of grapes or locations, you just need to know what you like.

If you find yourself a bit overwhelmed by complex or unfamiliar wine list, ask the wine steward for help. A good sommelier will try to find just the right wine for the meal you are ordering.

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