{"id":11286,"date":"2024-03-14T09:50:11","date_gmt":"2024-03-14T09:50:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/luxurygoldbdev.wpengine.com\/?p=11286"},"modified":"2025-12-18T18:52:43","modified_gmt":"2025-12-18T18:52:43","slug":"how-to-talk-to-a-sommelier","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.luxurygold.com\/lg\/how-to-talk-to-a-sommelier\/","title":{"rendered":"Luxury Travel Secrets: How to Talk to a Sommelier"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Picture the scene: a sommelier comes over as you flick through the wine list. There are dozens, maybe hundreds, of options to choose from. You feel overwhelmed: you know what you like, but you&#8217;re interested in trying something new. It can be hard to know what to ask a wine professional, or how to talk their language. We caught up with Aisling Bury, sommelier and Restaurant Manager at <a href=\"https:\/\/olivetreebath.co.uk\/\">The Olive Tree in Bath<\/a>, UK \u2012 the city&#8217;s only Michelin-starred restaurant, which as a Luxury Gold guest you&#8217;ll visit on our <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.luxurygold.com\/tours\/british-royale\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">British Royale journey<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2012 to learn how to talk to a sommelier on your travels.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Meet Aisling: Sommelier &amp; Restaurant Manager at Olive Tree, Bath\u2019s only Michelin Star Restaurant \ud83c\udf77\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/OPXohz126FU?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h2>What is a sommelier?<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">First things first: what is a sommelier? Essentially, it\u2019s the wine expert employed by a restaurant to help select wines for the venue. They talk guests through the wine list, helping them choose a good match for their dish. Depending on the country, a sommelier usually has a diploma or qualifications from an institution such as the Court of Master Sommeliers. Much of their role happens behind the scenes: designing a restaurant\u2019s wine list \u2012 which can run into the tens of thousands of bottles \u2012 and working with head chefs to plan food and drink pairings. But they&#8217;re also here to guide you. If you\u2019re wondering how to talk to a sommelier, think of what you want from the chat: usually, to help them understand your tastes while also learning a bit about the evening\u2019s wines and getting some new recommendations. Go in confidently with this bluffer\u2019s guide to sommelier talk.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>For further reading: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.luxurygold.com\/lg\/best-italian-white-wines-2023\/\">From Prosecco to Pecorino: a Guide to the Best Italian White Wines For 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<h2>Dishes and varieties<\/h2>\n<div id=\"attachment_11334\" style=\"width: 810px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-11334\" class=\"wp-image-11334 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/www.luxurygold.com\/lg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/olivetreebath_1708149668_3304521202516145462_5879252331-1024x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Overhead image of fine dining plates of food \" width=\"800\" height=\"800\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.luxurygold.com\/lg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/olivetreebath_1708149668_3304521202516145462_5879252331-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.luxurygold.com\/lg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/olivetreebath_1708149668_3304521202516145462_5879252331-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.luxurygold.com\/lg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/olivetreebath_1708149668_3304521202516145462_5879252331-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.luxurygold.com\/lg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/olivetreebath_1708149668_3304521202516145462_5879252331.jpg 1080w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-11334\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Olive Tree specializes in seasonal fine dining (credit: @olivetreebath on Instagram)<\/p><\/div>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">By the time a sommelier comes over to your table, you\u2019ll likely have had time to peruse the menu, and this is vital. You might like a Pinot Noir or a Sauvignon Blanc at home, but your choice of dish is the biggest influence on the wines they will choose. This is especially true of dishes involving red meat, fish, chocolate or cheese, but everything from herbs to char-grilling can influence their choice. So before your chat, note the dishes you\u2019re most interested in ordering. Try to communicate what you like: even if you think you don\u2019t the terminology of wine tasting, you&#8217;ll certainly know which flavors your palate responds to. Think of it like ordering a cocktail: you might tell a barman you prefer bright, acidic, citrus flavors, or mellow, sweet or fruity flavors. Those same preferences can be transferred to wine, so don\u2019t be afraid to describe your favorite things to your sommelier.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A sommelier will often talk to you about dryness versus sweetness and the options of full-bodied, medium-bodied or lighter wines. These choices enhance different textures and flavors in your food: so a fatty meat might need a juicy, acidic wine to cut through that fattiness, while an off-dry white wine has the sweetness to complement spicy dishes.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><em>For food lovers: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.luxurygold.com\/lg\/foodie-road-trip\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Why South Africa is the Ultimate Setting For a Gourmet Road Trip<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<h2>Scent and clarity<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-11333 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/www.luxurygold.com\/lg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/getty-images-k7GNVLLPCkc-unsplash-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"Mature male smelling a glass of red wine\" width=\"800\" height=\"534\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.luxurygold.com\/lg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/getty-images-k7GNVLLPCkc-unsplash-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.luxurygold.com\/lg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/getty-images-k7GNVLLPCkc-unsplash-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.luxurygold.com\/lg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/getty-images-k7GNVLLPCkc-unsplash-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.luxurygold.com\/lg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/getty-images-k7GNVLLPCkc-unsplash-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.luxurygold.com\/lg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/getty-images-k7GNVLLPCkc-unsplash-120x80.jpg 120w, https:\/\/www.luxurygold.com\/lg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/getty-images-k7GNVLLPCkc-unsplash-255x170.jpg 255w, https:\/\/www.luxurygold.com\/lg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/getty-images-k7GNVLLPCkc-unsplash-345x230.jpg 345w, https:\/\/www.luxurygold.com\/lg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/getty-images-k7GNVLLPCkc-unsplash-1320x880.jpg 1320w, https:\/\/www.luxurygold.com\/lg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/getty-images-k7GNVLLPCkc-unsplash.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Once a first wine has been selected, your sommelier will pour you a small glass to try. But don\u2019t knock it back just yet. \u201cThe first thing you\u2019re going to do is swirl the wine,\u201d explains Aisling Bury, who encourages diners to get a deep noseful of the wine\u2019s aroma. \u201cYou\u2019re looking for things that smell out of place; so scents of wet cellar, damp cardboard, a caramel note or just generally an unpleasant vinegar smell.\u201d Next, you should <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">hold the wine up to the light, taking note of the color and transparency of the liquid. \u201cYou\u2019re looking for clarity,\u201d explains Aisling. \u201cUnless it\u2019s a natural wine, you want it to be clear and not foggy.\u201d Natural wines aren\u2019t filtered or fined, due to their low-intervention style of winemaking, hence a slight cloudiness when you hold them to the light. Feel free to talk to a sommelier about how the wine was produced and any unusual techniques.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Your sommelier may also talk to you about the \u201clegs\u201d on your wine. Aisling explains: \u201cWhen you swirl a wine and it goes up the glass, it\u2019s how slowly the little rivulets of liquid stream down the inside of a glass. The slower they move down suggests a higher alcohol content or sugar content in the wine.\u201d Think of it as syrup running slowly down a glass surface, but water running quickly, hardly leaving any trace. The sweeter the wine, the slower the \u201clegs\u201d.\u00a0 \u201cMost people think that it\u2019s either to do with the age of the wine or the quality of the wine, but it\u2019s actually a lot simpler than that,\u201d says Aisling.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>Tasting the wine<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Now, time to taste. Expert tasters swish a mouthful of wine around their mouths, identifying any sour, sweet, mineral, fruity or tannic notes. Tannins are substances from the wine skins and seeds that give your mouth a dry, coated feel, and are most common in red wines. You might take a small sip of air through your mouthful of wine to oxygenate the liquid and bring out different flavors.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One myth Aisling wants to bust is that this first taste is a chance for diners to give a wine the thumbs-up. \u201cYou\u2019re not checking whether you like the wine,\u201d she says. \u201cAt this point you\u2019ve made your choice, so you\u2019re checking to see if the wine is faulty, not whether or not you like it.\u201d If either you or the sommelier detects a dank, musty, wet cardboard smell, or unpleasant taste, they may conclude the wine is \u201ccorked\u201d and decide to open another bottle. Being corked simply means the bottle has become contaminated with cork taint, creating a chemical reaction. A sommelier may show you the wine\u2019s cork, which will also smell if the wine is corked.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Assuming the wine is of a good standard, take this opportunity to ask your sommelier questions about the country of origin and the winemakers who created it. They can tell you which grape varieties it is made from, what the terroir (earth) is like at the vineyard, any unusual methods that were employed, and which other foods it pairs best with.<\/p>\n<p><em>We also think you&#8217;ll like: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.luxurygold.com\/lg\/best-restaurants-in-spain\/\">For Fine Dining in Spain, This City Sets the Gold Standard<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<div class=\"mceTemp\"><\/div>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Three experiences to put your knowledge to the test<\/span><\/h2>\n<div id=\"attachment_8043\" style=\"width: 810px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-8043\" class=\"wp-image-8043 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/www.luxurygold.com\/lg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/939TTCGY2021-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"A rose tasting in France\" width=\"800\" height=\"534\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.luxurygold.com\/lg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/939TTCGY2021-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.luxurygold.com\/lg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/939TTCGY2021-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.luxurygold.com\/lg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/939TTCGY2021-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.luxurygold.com\/lg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/939TTCGY2021-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.luxurygold.com\/lg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/939TTCGY2021-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/www.luxurygold.com\/lg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/939TTCGY2021-120x80.jpg 120w, https:\/\/www.luxurygold.com\/lg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/939TTCGY2021-255x170.jpg 255w, https:\/\/www.luxurygold.com\/lg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/939TTCGY2021-345x230.jpg 345w, https:\/\/www.luxurygold.com\/lg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/939TTCGY2021-1320x880.jpg 1320w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-8043\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Fashionable mature women having fun toasting and drinking wine at luxurious restaurant in France<\/p><\/div>\n<h3><strong>Ros\u00e9s in Provence, France<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">On Luxury Gold\u2019s 12-day <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.luxurygold.com\/en-gb\/tours\/ultimate-southern-france?\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ultimate Southern France<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> tour, you\u2019ll stop by the prestigious Ch\u00e2teau La Coste winery outside Aix-en-Provence, to see its outdoor art and sculpture collection, stroll among the vines and try the acclaimed ros\u00e9s. It\u2019s had an \u201cOrganic Agriculture\u201d label since 2009 thanks to its biodynamic methods of farming and production.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong>Cool-climate reds in Chile<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Boutique winery Kingston Family Vineyards handcraft small-production batches of Pinot Noir, Syrah, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc in the cool climate of Chile\u2019s Casablanca Valley, pioneering cool-climate reds as well as the white wines Chile is most famous for. Visit while touring the continent on Luxury Gold\u2019s epic, 23-day <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.luxurygold.com\/en-gb\/tours\/grand-south-america\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Grand South America<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> journey.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong>Scenic tastings in South Africa<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">On a nine-day <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.luxurygold.com\/en-gb\/tours\/spectacular-south-africa\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Spectacular South Africa<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> tour, you\u2019ll meander through the luscious green countryside north of Cape Town, enjoying a scenic drive through the wineland towns of Paarl, Stellenbosch, and Franschhoek, packed with incredible vineyards. South Africa\u2019s diverse wines are also a big part of your delicious Farm-to-Table meal at the award-winning Werf Restaurant, which is renowned for its sustainability.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><em>Dine with us at The Olive Tree in Bath when you join our 10-day <a href=\"https:\/\/www.luxurygold.com\/tours\/british-royale\">British Royale Journey<\/a>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Picture the scene: a sommelier comes over as you flick through the wine list. There are dozens, maybe hundreds, of&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":32,"featured_media":11332,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[65,51],"tags":[442,214,76,68,377,157],"class_list":["post-11286","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-concierge-tips","category-cuisine","tag-exceptional-dining","tag-fine-dining","tag-food","tag-france","tag-south-africa","tag-wine"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.1 (Yoast SEO v27.4) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Luxury Travel Secrets: How to Talk to a Sommelier - Luxury Gold<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"What is a sommelier, and what should you ask them? 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