Jul 7, 2008
Hi Becky-
Thanks for stopping by! That’s a great question and I would be happy to give you my two cents on this issue. First of all, there are two different scenarios that you might encounter with something like this. The first is that you order a wine and it comes, and the wine waiter opens it, offers you a sip, you taste it and discover that it is flawed. Perhaps it is corked (smells like wet, moldy cardboard) or has been stored improperly and tastes oxidized (it might smell or taste like cooked fruit or like vinegar) – either way, the first thing you should do is to tell the waiter (or waitress) that there is something wrong with your wine. The better the restaurant, the more likely it is that the wait staff is wine knowledgeable and will be quick to taste the wine and deal with the situation. Be sure to tell your waiter or waitress exactly what it is that you feel is wrong with the wine.
Now, if your server should start to question you and begin to give you a bit of an attitude, then it is time for you to put on your toughest face and ask to see a manager. If you are sure that the wine you have been served is flawed in any way, then you should absolutely be able to send it back and get a fresh bottle or make another selection. The one key here is that NO wine server should ever make you feel like you are stupid or don’t know anything about wine. If it is a wine by the glass, just be sure that you choose a different wine or make them open a new bottle.
The second scenario you might encounter could go something like this: you order a wine, it comes, you take a taste and just don’t like the wine. Perhaps it is an oakier wine than you wanted or it is a bit sweeter than you were expecting – either way, the issue is that the wine is a bit of a surprise. HOWEVER – and this is a big however – the issue is NOT that the wine is technically flawed. And that is really the big difference between our two scenarios. If the wine were flawed, then you are within your rights to return it. But, if it just doesn’t taste all that great, my opinion is that you should go ahead and keep it. If you are in a very high-end restaurant, you could go ahead and mention to the wine waiter (or sommelier) that the wine is not what you expected – he or she might offer to change your selection. But most restaurants will tell you that you have made your choice and now you have to make the best of it. So how do you make the best of it? Well, in many cases, you are going to be better off saving the wine for drinking with your meal. The food-wine combination might just improve what’s in your glass. The other option is to make sure that the wine is at the right serving temperature. If it tastes a bit flabby or hot, then try putting it on ice for ten to fifteen minutes and see if that makes a difference.
And if all else fails, then chalk it up as a learning experience. But whatever you do, don’t hold back next time and revert to ordering to same old wine every time you are out – because the next time just might prove to be a complete and total success.
July 11th, 2008 at 4:51 pm
I agree with your advice, Sheri. I’ve taken a bottle back to the wine shop for the same reason and the merchant gladly replaced it. I brougt two lovely bottles of cabernet home only to have them brake through the bottom of the bag and burst onto the freshly cleaned tile floor. I was very disappointed to say the least. My wife called the store and explained what had happened. The manager felt sorry and asked her to send me back. He replaced the two bottles and gave me two more for my trouble. It pays to speak up.
July 12th, 2008 at 8:32 am
I’m not sure how the management of a small time eatery would handle someone with a complaint about the wine due to a small profit margin. But I can see a well established place be willing to replace the wine with another. After all some of the good customers frequently get a complimentary bottle of wine in fine restaurants, so it wouldn’t be much of a loss for them.