Las Vegas Weekly

July 31, 2010 · 5:24 PM

Valentino’s Piero Selvaggio offers his five tips on ordering wine

By Robin Leach

Piero Selvaggio at the Vino 2009 Italian Wines conference.

Photo: Heat Communications

CNN featured the story “5 Tips on Ordering Wine at a Restaurant: Piero Selvaggio of Valentino in The Venetian,” and it is too good to not share with Vegas DeLuxe readers:

Be positive

“First and foremost, go with the attitude that you will like the chosen wine and it will be a challenge to the food you put in your mouth. So, in the era of information, do some research on the particular vintage of the wine you are contemplating to order, or ask. Every restaurant today has the duty to have an informed person on the floor to answer any -- yes, any -- of the questions you may pose. Don’t be intimidated by foreign mispronunciation.”

Stay away from expensive wines

“A good restaurant should have many choices in the $40 to $60 range depending on the quality of the wine, cellar size, service and stemware. Don’t cave in if the server wants to sell you a more expensive bottle. If they are out of stock, make sure that their suggestion is in the same price range and similar in taste, vintage and varietal to what you desire.”

Complement the food

“Wine pairing with dishes from the menu is a good alternative for learning and understanding the matching and what to expect to taste. A wine has to be a complement to what you eat -- a pleasant refreshment and continuation of various palatable sensations.”

Examine your wine

“Always make sure to smell and look into the glass. It will tell you if the wine is fresh and/or flawless. Once you get familiar with the sense of fruit and aromatic scents of the wine, you’ll be able to tell if it will support what you are eating."

Pay attention

“Don’t just drink the wine like water or Coke! Think and pay attention. It is a lively product that has been grown and perfected for your pleasure, so it is important that you appreciate the product and its value.”

Robin Leach has been a journalist for more than 50 years and has spent the past decade giving readers the inside scoop on Las Vegas, the world’s premier platinum playground.

Follow Robin Leach on Twitter at Twitter.com/Robin_Leach.

Follow Vegas DeLuxe on Twitter at Twitter.com/vegasdeluxe.

Follow VDLX Editor Don Chareunsy on Twitter at Twitter.com/VDLXEditorDon.

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