Overwhelmed by wine menus?
Still not sure what glass of wine to order? Hugo Lefevre of Eno helped compile this simple quiz to narrow down which varietal might be your best bet.
Our methodology:
If you take your coffee with sugar, chances are you won’t be turned off by a sweeter wine. If you only drink lagers, you may not enjoy an in-your-face cabernet.
Once you’re done, remember to still chat with your server before ordering:
Differences arise among varietals, and the way a wine tastes can vary significantly year to year depending on growing conditions.
1. What’s your favourite movie theatre snack?
(A) A big bag of popcorn.
Extra butter, please! (B) Sour Patch Kids (C) M & Ms (D) Raisinets (E) A hotdog
2. What would be your last meal?
(A) pad Thai, extra spicy (B) Sea bass in a light butter sauce (C) A slice of chocolate cake (D) A juicy steak and mashed potatoes (E) A lamb chop
3. How do you take your coffee?
(A) As cappuccino (B) Black (C) As a mocha Frappuccino (extra caramel) (D) As espresso (E) As tea
4. What’s your favourite type of chocolate?
(A) Nutella (B) Milk (C) Fudge (D) Dark (E) A light ganache
5. What’s your favourite type of beer?
(A) Lager (B) Belgian-style (C) Hard cider (D) IPA (E) Pale ale
6. It’s summer. You’re dying to bite into a juicy ...
(A) Cantaloupe (B) Granny Smith apple (C) Kiwi (D) Plum (E) Apricot
7. If you could hop on a private jet right now and go anywhere, where would you tell the pilot to take you?
(A) A castle in Burgundy, France (B) The rolling hills of Mosel, Germany (C) A cottage in Alsace, France (D) A modern resort in Napa Valley, California (E) The craggy coast of Oregon
8. What aroma of a candle are you most likely to buy?
(A) Campfire (B) Fresh-cut grass (C) Vanilla bean (D) Scotch and tobacco (E) Plum pudding
9. What’s your favourite breakfast meat?
(A) Bacon (B) A side of fruit — I’m a vegetarian (C) Honey-glazed ham (D) Steak (E) Sausage with fennel
QUIZ RESULTS Mostly A:
Chardonnay Because it’s aged in oak, this white wine often has a woody finish and a buttery aftertaste. Full of acidity, it pairs well with spicy and fatty dishes because it helps cut through the richness. “The acid helps dry up the fat content,” Lefevre says.
Mostly B: Riesling or Sauvignon
Blanc Fresh and sometimes flowery, Rieslings and Sauvignon Blancs are semi-sweet white wines that pair well with tart or bitter foods and lend crispness to a dish.
Mostly C:
Gewürztraminer Sweet, velvety and bordering on syrupy, this varietal of white wine can have hints of ripe lychee, pineapple and passion fruit. It’s usually ideal for anyone with an incurable sweet tooth. “Don’t be intimidated by the name of the grape,” Lefevre says. “If you can’t pronounce it, you have to try it.”
Mostly D:
Cabernet Sauvignon A heavy hitter in the flavour department, Cabernets are bold and fullbodied red wines. They tend to linger going down due to high tannins — you can usually detect flavours of dark fruits and even black pepper in them.
Mostly E:
Pinot Noir For those who prefer a gentler red, Pinot Noir has you covered. It’s flowery with hints of sweet stone fruits, such as cherries, peaches and apricots.