How to navigate a Tuscan wine list

Tuscan wine lists can be tricky even if you already know a fair amount about wine. Here is how to tackle them and get the best out of your sommelier.

It is a situation many of us have faced at one time or another: sitting in a restaurant, holding a long wine list, trying to make a decision that will not raise your table's eyebrows. Wine can bring out the worst in people — anxiety, snobbishness, the desire to impress — but it does not have to be that way. Going to a restaurant should not feel like a test; it is a chance to learn something new, find something you like and talk with a professional whose job is to help you. At Tenuta Torciano our task is exactly this: to help you choose the right wine, learn how to taste it and combine it with food. It is our mission.

Ordering at the restaurant

Ask the expert

Our sommeliers and wine instructors are here to help and to share what they know. They have worked hard to understand the world of wine, and they can give a real answer to any question you ask. It is more interesting for a sommelier to help a guest who has questions, and very few people know everything about wine. Asking specific questions about the region, the producer or the grape gives the sommelier a chance to show what they know — they will enjoy telling you, and you will learn in the process, building up knowledge for the next time you have to order.

Ordering at the restaurant

Don't trust the prices

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

Ordering at the restaurant

Try different types of wines

Try more types of wine at home: it costs less than ordering blind, and you can take notes on what you like, then look for something similar on a wine list when you are out. A wine you already know you love is a great starting point for a sommelier trying to help you. It also helps you get familiar with the different wines of Tuscany, such as Brunello di Montalcino or Bolgheri, or Vernaccia di San Gimignano, Chianti, Chianti Classico, Super Tuscans and our Dessert Wines — so you have more choices ready the next time you face a long wine list.

Ordering at the restaurant

Know your food pairings

A basic understanding of food matching also helps. The goal is to match the flavor profiles of food and wine, or to create a deliberate contrast: desserts, for example, pair well with sweet wines. Fatty foods work well with high-acid wines, such as Chianti Classico Riserva or Brunello di Montalcino, while something light like fish, vegetables and some cheeses pairs well with aromatic grapes like Vernaccia di San Gimignano or Pinot Grigio. Seasoned cheeses, rich fish and white meats such as chicken or turkey go well with white wines, a light red like Chianti, or with Prosecco and Sparkling Rosé. Big, tasty dishes need big, tasty wines, so the wine's flavor is never lost on the plate — this is the idea behind pairing steak with a full-bodied, spicy Cabernet Sauvignon, like our Bartolomeo Super Tuscan. This is exactly what we do at Tenuta Torciano: we help you match every wine, from the lightest to the most full-bodied, with the right food, so you understand the flavors and the combinations that work. Only through wine and food pairing will you be ready to choose confidently at a restaurant, or when shopping for a dinner with friends and family.

Ordering at the restaurant

Ask for a sample

In the end, personal taste rules everything. Even if you know you like a Super Tuscan, there is no guarantee you will love the specific bottle on that list. Asking for a sample lets you decide with confidence, and you never need to justify turning down a wine for any reason other than that you simply don't like it.

When you visit the Torciano estate you will discover all the secrets of wine and food pairing, learn glass etiquette and recognize the flavors of wine in a relaxed, informal and joyful setting. So when you get home, you will know how to choose the best wine at a restaurant, or which bottles to buy again once your own cellar runs low. To order our bottles, visit www.torciano.com/en/shop.