Wine at a restaurant: the first date

Wine is the French people’s favourite alcoholic drink. To sum it up in a few figures, 81% of French people drink wine, and nearly half drink it at least once a week.

France isn’t just a nation of wine drinkers; it’s also one of the world’s most popular and highly regarded wine producers. At home, but especially in restaurants, wine plays a central role in the experience. By the bottle, the carafe or, above all, the glass, wine is the guest of honour on all sorts of occasions. The one we’re focusing on today is the first date.

As eagerly anticipated as it is nerve-racking, a first date is when you really get a feel for the person opposite you. You want to be sincere without being a bore, show your best side without coming across as arrogant, and do it all without putting too much pressure on yourself! And let’s be honest: a little glass of wine can give you some courage and help break the ice. So why not use your order as a chance to show your date a little of what you know?

Today at Flakon, we’re here to help you choose and order wine at a restaurant on a first date. So relax, read on and take notes. 🤓

How do you choose a good wine at a restaurant?

First, let’s look at the things to consider when choosing your wine.

Our first tip is to start with one glass each. That way, you can choose two different wines. No disagreements and twice the flavours! More importantly, take it slowly: you don’t necessarily know how your body will react, and it’s always nicer to enjoy the moment with a clear head. 😆

Let’s get down to it: how do you choose?

On a date, there are still some dishes best avoided. For obvious reasons, steer clear of anything with too much garlic or fresh herbs. To play it safe, we suggest familiar dishes that are easy to eat with a knife and fork or chopsticks. Once you’ve chosen your food, pick a wine that pairs well with it. Your wine should complement your meal, neither overpowering its flavours nor fading into the background.

For meat, especially dishes in sauce such as beef bourguignon, we suggest a red. It’s a safe bet. Besides, red wine is THE romantic drink. You could also opt for a dry white, which pairs beautifully with white meat. If you’re having fish, choose a dry, fruity white — delicious. 

Your choice will also depend on the wine list. Take a look at it first, but above all, don’t hesitate to ask your date what they think and what they like. That’s much nicer than playing the expert and risking sounding arrogant. We suggest telling your date and then your waiter which flavours or wineries you enjoy, while asking for advice. Humility is a sign of confidence too!

Finally, taste your wines together so you can share the moment — consideration goes both ways. And don’t hesitate to say what you think while letting the other person have their say: choosing together is very romantic.

Our Flakon recommendations

Now that we’ve covered how to approach it, let’s get down to the wine itself. To make sure you choose well, stick to tried-and-tested favourites.

For vintages, we recommend four: 2005, 2009, 2015 and 2019. These were fruitful years in the vast majority of French wine regions.

What’s more, with our tried-and-tested picks, you can easily find a glass you’ll enjoy at any restaurant without breaking the bank.

When it comes to reds, Bordeaux wines are a particularly good choice. With its wide range of winemaking styles, flavours and grape varieties, the Bordeaux region has plenty to delight your palate (and your date’s). A Pomerol or Saint-Émilion, for example, would pair perfectly with a main course. Made with Merlot, a grape known for its softness, ripeness and elegance, these wines are easy to enjoy both with food and on their own.

The same principle applies to white wines: look for something light and not too sweet. We’d avoid Monbazillac, for example, with its fairly intense flavour and high sweetness. It’s more of a wine for celebrations or colder days. Instead, go for a lively, fruity white that will awaken your palate without overwhelming it.

To help you do that, here are our recommendations:

• Pouilly-Fumé from the Central Loire: made from Sauvignon Blanc grapes, this wine has a fresh, mineral taste. Its distinctive bouquet has even earned it the nickname ‘gunflint’.
• Picpoul de Pinet from the Languedoc: this wine proves that the Mediterranean climate can produce generous, well-balanced whites.

Now you’ve got everything you need to shine without embarrassing yourself on your next date. Wine is fascinating to learn about, but it’s also a pleasure to share. So bring your date along for a wine-derful time.

Oh, and we nearly forgot the most important thing: be yourself!