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Wine at a dinner party

The grapes and regions people mention, how to taste and talk about wine, and how not to look lost when they hand you the list.

Listen with headphones. When it asks a question, answer out loud before it tells you.

Old World versus New World: Old World labels the place, New World labels the grape. Burgundy means Pinot Noir if red, Chardonnay if white.
Chardonnay: lean and steely in Chablis, buttery and oaky in California.
Sauvignon Blanc: crisp, grassy, grapefruit; great with goat cheese and fish.
Pinot Noir: light, silky, cherry; the heartbreak grape and the safest red with food.
Cabernet Sauvignon: big, tannic red from Napa and Bordeaux's Left Bank; steak wine.
Tasting words: body, acidity, tannin, finish. Balanced is the highest praise.

Merlot is soft and plummy. It leads Bordeaux's Right Bank, and it is Cabernet's blending partner on the Left Bank.
Syrah and Shiraz are the same grape. It is savory and peppery in France's Rhône, and riper and jammier in Australia.
Malbec comes from Argentina. It is dark, plummy, and good value.
Champagne comes only from the Champagne region of France. Brut means dry. Prosecco is Italian and fruitier.
Riesling is aromatic and high in acid, from bone-dry to sweet. Saying you love dry Riesling earns respect.
Chianti is Italian, made from Sangiovese. It is high in acid and food-friendly.
Terroir is the Old World idea that place shapes the wine. Old World and New World styles are tendencies, not laws.
Pairing rules: match weight, acid loves fat and salt, tannin loves red meat, and spice loves off-dry Riesling.
Ordering: pick a mid-priced bottle, avoid the second-cheapest, and treat the small pour as a fault check only.

Old World names the place, New World names the grape. Burgundy is Pinot Noir if red, Chardonnay if white.
The ladder: Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Cabernet. Match the weight of the wine to the weight of the food.
Syrah and Shiraz are the same grape. Brut means dry. Terroir is the Old World idea that place shapes the wine.
Body, acidity, tannin, finish. Balanced is the highest praise.
When in doubt, ask: what made you pick this one? Pinot Noir is the safe bet, and a small pour is only a fault check.

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