EXCLUSIVENew York sommeliers reveal the expert wine tips everyone should know

  • Eitan Spivak is the wine director at the one Michelin-stared restaurant Vestry 
  • Sommelier Jenni Guizio is also a partner of the hotly-anticipated Zimmi's eatery
  • Both offer their top tips around the art of drinking wine in a seductive way 

If you're looking to improve your wine game to impress on your next date, then take a sip down and drink up. 

DailyMail.com has spoken to two New York sommeliers to get their expert advice on how to navigate the world of wine in a simple yet seductive way. 

Eitan Spivak, who is the wine director at the one Michelin-stared restaurant Vestry at the Dominick Hotel, says that before you start with tasting anything 'ALWAYS hold the glass by the stem.'

Meanwhile sommelier Jenni Guizio, who is also a partner of the hotly-anticipated Zimmi's restaurant in the West Village, says the best way to start is knowing what you like - 'even if it's just red, white, rose or bubbles before you start getting into regions and vintages.'

Read on for ten top tips about the art of wine drinking, which could prove useful not only in the world of dating but also on the business front.

 

Always hold the glass by the stem

Sommelier Jenni Guizio, who is also a partner of the hotly-anticipated Zimmi's restaurant in the West Village

Sommelier Jenni Guizio, who is also a partner of the hotly-anticipated Zimmi's restaurant in the West Village

One big give away around a proficient wine drinker, Eitan says, is the way they hold a glass and the correct way should be 'by the stem NOT by the bulb.'

Along with looking more elegant, Eitan explains that there is a practical reason to this. 

He says: 'Practically speaking, your hands will warm up your wine over time faster and you will also smudge your glass by holding the bulb. 

'By holding the stem, your glass will retain its polished sheen.' 

 

Know what you like

Before venturing out on a dinner date, Jenni says it's best to know what kind of wines you like and have the confidence to run with it. 

'This sense of confidence can be attractive,' she says. 

The wine connoisseur continues: 'Know your preference for white, red, rose or bubbles... or even natural wine.

'You can take it one step further, and if you really liked a wine at a party you went to or that you had on vacation in Italy write it down and look it up. 

'Find out a little bit more about it and read some notes on the wine to arm yourself with key vocabulary to share with your server or sommelier. Things like grape variety, region and some tasting notes can be helpful.' 

 

Ask your server or sommelier for advice

If you're the one in charge of the wine order on your date, Jenni recommends talking to staff to get their opinion. 

This can make the whole prospect much less daunting.

She says: 'Whether all you know is you like a dry red wine or you've just divulged that you passed your level one exam, you should strike up a conversation with the server or sommelier about what they're into. 

'Most good restaurants have staff training and taste wine regularly with their team so there's a good chance they are knowledgeable around what the best pairings are for what you've ordered or what's new and exciting based on what you like.' 

 

Opt for the wine pairing 

Both Eitan and Jenni say an easy way of exploring wine with a date is by opting for a wine pairing if you are at a fancier spot.

At the Vestry, where Eitan is based, there is a multi-course seafood heavy menu with different wines for each course, and he says this proves to be a very popular choice. 

Jenni adds: 'A wine pairing is well worth it if you're feeling in a splurgy mood.  

'You'll get to try a number of different wines and hear a little something about each one as you go.' 

With tasting menus and wine pairings, Jenni also notes that 'most restaurants will print the pairings on the menu for you to take home with you,' so you can remember the tipples you had. 

 

Swirl your wine first 

One big give away around a proficient wine drinker, Eitan says, is the way they hold a glass and the correct way should be 'by the stem NOT by the bulb'

One big give away around a proficient wine drinker, Eitan says, is the way they hold a glass and the correct way should be 'by the stem NOT by the bulb' 

Before you plunge into your wine, Eitan recommends give it a good swirl around in your glass to get a feel for the aromas. 

Offering some direction, he says: 'Give the wine a swirl around in the glass, stick your nose in the bulb, and talk about the wine's incredible "bouquet."'

If you want to impress your date further, serve up some of the things you can smell. 

Eitan advises: 'The nose of a wine is completely personal but start with which fruits you can pinpoint. 

'For white wine, the fruit profile is generally categorized by citrus, pomaceous (related to apples), stone, or tropical. 

'For red wines, the fruit will be either red, black, blue, or some combination. It can be fun to compare notes with your dining partner and this makes for a good icebreaker.'

 

Get familiar with importers 

As you learn more about the world of wine, Eitan and Jenni say that a great way of landing on bottles you like is by familiarizing yourself with importers. 

Eitan explains: 'One of the best ways to understand a certain style of wine is to know who imports it. 

'Certain portfolios have a house style and understanding some of your favorites will help you choose a wine faster, and concisely.'

In a restaurant setting, Jenni says you could speak to a sommelier and ask if they have any wines from an importer you are familiar with. 

She adds: 'They will be able to translate that into a recommendation or perhaps another importer that you'll discover even more producers from.'

 

Combine wine and travel

Wine is a great way to spark memories around travel, Eitan and Jenni say, and this can, in turn, impress a date. 

When browsing a wine menu, you could relate a bottle to a place you have been in the world to spark fresh conversation.

Eitan muses: 'Experience is the best teacher. One can only read so much about wine, but without any context, it's hard to paint an accurate picture. 

'Not only is wine a beverage, but it is also the coming together of art, culture, and history. By telling your date this, not only will it seem like your curious about wine, but it also shows that you want to seek out new adventures.'

Jenni adds: 'Choosing a bottle from somewhere important to your date or you both can also make a night memorable. 

'Maybe you went on a fantastic trip to Greece and a bottle of Assyrtiko from Santorini would hit the spot, or you went hiking in Patagonia and so you opt for a Chilean grape grown at altitude.'

 

Discover producers

Once your knowledge of wine starts expanding, Jenni recommends focusing on the producers you like. 

She explains: 'Even more impressive then knowing grape variety or saying you like wine from Napa and Sonoma is knowing producers.

'Every producer is unique, whether it be in their winemaking practices, something they do or don't do in the vineyard, and or the terroir they are working with. 

'Neighboring producers can make two totally different wines from the same type of grapes so it can be very helpful and impressive to know a little something special about the ones you like.'

 

Don't overindulge 

Lastly, Eitan warns that the most important thing on a date when it comes to wine is to not overindulge. 

He concludes: 'My tried and tested tricks around wine are intended to be fun and lighthearted, but it is my duty to also warn everyone to pace yourself and to not overindulge. 

'Wine should be shared with the ones you love most. However, nothing good can happen if you over consume. 

'I'm sure everyone reading can relate to this, but I can almost guarantee there won't be a second date if you make a fool of yourself on the first one. Be safe and have fun exploring the wild world of wine!'