How to navigate a Tuscan wine list

Tuscan wine lists can be tricky even if you're fairly knowledgeable about wine — here's how to tackle them and get the best out of your sommelier.

It's a situation many of us have experienced at one time or another: sitting in a restaurant holding a long wine list, trying to make a sensible decision that won't raise your table's eyebrows. Wine can bring out the worst in people — anxiety, snobbishness, a desire to impress — but it doesn't need to be that way. Going to a restaurant shouldn't feel like a test; it's a chance to learn something new, find something you like and chat with a professional whose job is to help you. And that's exactly our task at Tenuta Torciano: helping you choose the right wine, taste it properly and combine it with food. It's our mission.

Wine list, decoded

Ask the expert

Our sommeliers and wine instructors are here to help you and share their knowledge. They've worked incredibly hard to build their understanding of the wine world, and they can give a professional answer to any question. It's more interesting for a sommelier to help a guest who has questions of their own, and very few guests know everything there is to know about wine. Asking specific questions about the region, the producer or the grape gives the sommelier the chance to show what they know — they'll enjoy telling you, and you'll learn in the process, storing up knowledge for the next time you order.

Wine list, decoded

Don't trust the prices

The most expensive wines are not necessarily the best, just as ordering the cheapest is not always the best choice. Lighter, less full-bodied wines can be a good bet, but let's not forget that wine is extremely personal: what is good is not always good for you, only what you like is good.

Wine list, decoded

Try different types of wines

Make sure you try more types of wine at home — it's less of a cost commitment, and you can take notes on what you like and look for something similar on a wine list at a restaurant. A wine you already know you like is a great starting point for a sommelier trying to figure out how to help you. It can help you get familiar with the different wines of Tuscany: Brunello di Montalcino or Bolgheri, for example, or Vernaccia di San Gimignano, Chianti, Chianti Classico, Super Tuscans and the Dessert Wines. That way you'll widen your choices next time you face a long wine list.

Wine list, decoded

Know your food pairings

A basic understanding of food matching principles helps too. The goal is to best match the flavor profiles of food and wine — desserts, for instance, should be paired with sweet wines, or set in deliberate contrast with them. Fatty foods work well with high-acid wines like Chianti Classico Riserva or Brunello di Montalcino, while something really light like fish, vegetables or some cheeses works well with aromatic grapes like Vernaccia di San Gimignano or Pinot Grigio. Seasoned cheeses, rich fish and white meats like chicken or turkey pair well with white wines, light reds like Chianti, and also with Prosecco or Sparkling Rosé. Large, tasty dishes need large, tasty wines, so the wine's flavor is never lost on the plate — that's the principle behind pairing steak with a full-bodied, spicy Cabernet Sauvignon, like our Bartolomeo Super Tuscan. This is what we do at Tenuta Torciano: we help you match wines, from the lightest to the most full-bodied, with different types of food, so you understand all the flavors and the best combinations. Only with real wine and food pairing knowledge will you be ready to choose the best wines to order at a restaurant, or to buy for a dinner with friends and family.

Wine list, decoded

Ask for a sample

When it comes down to it, personal taste rules all. Even if you know you like a Super Tuscan, there's no guarantee you'll love the particular one on the list. Asking for a sample lets you decide with confidence, and you never need to justify passing on a wine beyond simply not liking it.

When you visit the Torciano estate, you'll discover all the secrets of wine and food pairing, learn glass etiquette and recognize all the flavors of wine in a relaxed, informal and joyful setting. So when you get home, you'll know exactly how to choose the best wine at a restaurant, or which bottles to buy again once your own cellar runs empty.

To order our bottles, visit the website: www.torciano.com/en/shop