It's very hard for the Retail Wine Goddess to go out to eat at restaurants that have a wine list for one simple reason. I actually know how much the bottles cost. I ventured out the other night to a new chain restaurant that opened up that bills itself as a wine bar. I had an overall bad experience as the service was slow and the food was not that great and also inconsistent, but the wine part killed me.
I originally decided that it would be cheaper to get one bottle of wine, but after looking at the prices, I went though the roof. I know that a bottle of Gascon Malbec sells in the retail store for around $11.99. This restaurant was charging 4X the price! That's a big jump. So, I opted for a couple different glasses so that I would at least feel that I was paying for the experience of trying a few new wines.
When the server came over, she said, "the wine list is extensive so if you need any help with your selection, I have a cheat sheet."
She said what?
Could you imagine if you came into my wine store and started asking me about wine and I put my hand up and said, "hold on, I have a cheat sheet."
Talk about not knowing your business. By the way, the wine list is one page long. It is not a book or extensive at all. There are 94 wines on this one page of which about half are available by the glass. I consider myself a librarian in the wine store. It is my responsibility to know about thousands of wines I sell. And in this situation, I would make damn sure I knew my wines to help people pair their dishes, give them a better experience and make more tips!
With my appetizer I ordered a glass of the ZD Chardonnay. The server said, "what?" I repeated that I wanted a glass of the ZD Chardonnay. The server said, "what?" I showed her the menu and pointed. There are only 11 Chardonnay's on the menu. I think a server should have at least tried to learn the names.
It took her a half an hour to get our first glass of wine. We though that the bar was backed up, but no, the bartender gives the server the actual bottles to pour table-side. And since they are already opened (usually) you don't have to wait for the server to open them.
Later on, the server had the audacity to tell me that the Master Sommelier (there are only 214 in the world according to the Court of Master Sommeliers) himself (he selected all the wines) actually visited the restaurant and trained them himself. She then proceeded to say how she didn't like wine, but she liked beer.
How did I luck out with this awesome server? Could you imagine trying to buy wine from me at the wine store and me telling you how much I hate wine, but here, try this bottle!
There is only 1 Petite Sirah on the menu. Just 1. It's listed in it's own section. My husband ordered the Petite Sirah. The server had no clue what he was saying.
So, chalk this up to bad training, along with poor service and mediocre food. This wine bar had no flights, no cheese courses and no knowledge of the wines.
Yes, it's tough for a wine snob to visit one of these places, it's even tougher when you're in the business.
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