Tips for Ordering Wine in Mendoza

Selecting wine off a menu can be a harrowing experience, even in your native language.  But come to Mendoza and find yourself in a sea of borderline bilingual waiters and it’s easy to become quickly overwhelmed.

Thankfully, we’ve got some tips to help you navigate the wine list, wield the language, and wind up with a wine you can both enjoy and afford, the next time you order out.

1. Don’t wait

In Mendoza, the general rule for eating out is that any open table is fair game.  In all but the most formal restaurants, don´t wait to be seated.  Simply grab a chair and make yourself comfortable, the waiter will then come to offer you the menu.

2. Match your thirst

If you don’t think you and your dining companions can finish an entire bottle, check the menu, or ask the staff if they offer wines by the glass.  Most restaurants will offer at least one white and one red wine by the glass.  If that’s the case, you can ask for a taste before ordering. And just to cover your bases, ask how long ago the wine was opened, anything more than a day or two is too long.

• Do you offer wine by the glass?   –   ¿Ofrecen vinos por copa? 
• Can I try the red wine/ white wine?   –   ¿Puedo probar el vino tinto/ blanco?

3. Make friends with the sommelier

Most quality restaurants have a sommelier on staff, a specialized wine waiter who has most likely formally studied wines, liquors and pairings.  A good sommelier is not a sleezy salesmen and most are enthusiastic about helping you choose a wine that meets your tastes and your budget.  Don’t shy away.  Tell them what you like, what dish you’ll order and what your price range is.  Listen to their suggestions, ask questions and don’t be afraid to try something new.

• Is there a sommelier who could recommend a wine for me?   –   ¿Hay un sommelier que me pueda dar una recomendación?

4. Check the bottle

Before removing the cork, the waiter should present the wine to the person at the table who ordered the bottle.  This is not to show off the gorgeous label, it’s to ensure that the bottle that will be opened is the wine you ordered.  Check the producer, varietal and year. And check the cork if you can, to make sure it has a nice wine-stained bottom, indicating that the bottle was properly stored.

• It´s alright   –   Está bien

5. Check the temperature

Wine is not like leftover pizza – where some like it hot and others take it cold.  It really only shines when its served at the proper temperature. That includes red wines, which are best slightly chilled (particularly in warm climates like Argentina). In case you didn’t travel with a thermometer and wouldn’t use it even if you had one on hand, simply feel the side of the bottle with your palm.  For whites and sparklings it should feel quite cold and form a layer of condensation, and reds should feel cool to the touch.

• I think the wine is warm   –   Me parece que el vino está caliente.  
• Could you please bring an ice bucket?   –   ¿Podrías traer una frapera por favor? 

6. Swirl and Sniff

The waiter will then serve a small portion of wine to the guest who ordered the bottle.  This is the chance to evaluate if the wine has any flaws – not if you like the wine.  Unfortunately, once you’ve affirmed that the bottle is the wine you ordered, you are on the hook to pay for it.  However, if the wine has an unpleasant odor, and it covers the fruit aromas, it may be corked, and you’ll have to send the bottle back. Corked wines tend to smell dank and musty, like wet cardboard or wet books.  Tell the waiter you think the wine is flawed and order something different.

• I think this wine has cork taint   –   Me parece que este vino tiene sabor a corcho
• This wine may have a defect   –    Puede ser que tiene un defecto

7. Drink then chew

Make sure the wine arrives before the food.  A little pre-meal sipping can be lovely, but starting the meal and waiting on the wine is a sure way to kill the mood.

8. Drink in order

If you’re ordering multiple bottles in the same meal, it’s important to uncork in the right order so your palate can experience each wine without being tainted by the wine that came before it.  Here are the general rules to follow: drink white to red, dry to sweet, young to aged, light-bodied to full-bodied.

BYOB in Mendoza:

Most Mendoza restaurants allow diners to bring their own bottle of wine.  However, it´s best to always check ahead of time and to expect a corkage fee ranging from 40 pesos and upwards.

• Can I bring my own bottle of wine?   –   ¿Puedo llevar mi propia botella de vino? 

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