If you love dining out with friends and family but find wine ordering overwhelming, read on! To make things easy, here are a few tips from Ontario's winemakers.

How do I start?

First, decide how much you want to spend. Then decide on a white or a red. This will depend on your personal preferences, as well as what you're ordering for dinner. Don't be afraid to ask the waiter for suggestions or experiment with "wines by the glass".

What do I do next?

The waiter shows you the bottle, presents the cork to you, and then pours you a small taste for your approval. What do you do now?

He/she shows you the bottle to make sure it's what you ordered. If the waiter presents you with the cork, just place it on the table. Many wines are now bottled with artificial 'corks' and the ritual of examining the cork is no longer observed or recommended. The waiter will pour a small amount in your glass so you can check the aroma - be sure to swirl it in the glass. If the aroma is questionable - take a sip to make sure the bottle is not spoiled. Remember, this sip is not to decide if you like the wine but to check if the wine is healthy.

What else should I know?

There are several ways to match food with wine. The rule used to be red wine with red meat, white wine with fish and white meats. Today, everyone agrees the best wine to match with a food is a wine you enjoy, regardless of colour. If you want some hints on what wines might mix best with specific foods, visit the Great Grapes or Wine-Food Matching Tool section.

If you think their menu looks great, wait until you see the wine list.

A world-class meal deserves a world-class wine. And no one knows that better than this year’s VQA Restaurant Award of Excellence recipients. No wonder more and more of Ontario’s finest dining establishments are making a point of offering their guests the very best Ontario VQA wines.

To learn more click here. Or better yet, make a reservation and experience a bottle first hand.