Ordering wine in a restaurant can be one of the most intimidating and potentially embarrassing moments diners face when eating out.

For those of us who know little or nothing about wine, it is quite disconcerting to be given a huge leather-bound list containing many different wines and be expected to find one to suit the tastes of your fellow diners.

Luckily, LearnVino has the tools to help you get the job done with style. We can help you with deciphering the wine list, ensuring the wine you've ordered is of good quality, and—gasp—sending back a bottle that's turned or is not what you ordered.

Here are a few tips to get you started:

Always use the waiter, wine steward, or sommelier at the restaurant to help you in selecting a wine with your meal. Even if you have no idea what to select, choose any wine in the price range in which you feel comfortable.

When placing your order, inform your waiter of your choice of wine. This is the time to ask the waiter if he or she has any better suggestions for a wine at a comparable price to match your dinner. At good restaurants, the waitstaff will be informed and will be able to select an excellent wine in your price range. This method prevents them from suggesting wines outside of your price range, and you won't have to ask the embarrasing question, "Do you have anything a little less expensive?"

Text from www.grapescape.co.uk.

LearnVino Wine Pairing Challenge: Of Wine and Chinese Food
LearnVino guides you through the complex task of ordering wine with Chinese food.

Not so long ago, diners at Chinese restaurants faced a choice of generic Chablis or burgundy. Now, wine lists are available in most better Chinese restaurants. So, what to order? The task of pairing wine with Chinese food can be difficult because so many of Chinese dishes have a combination of sweet, sour, salty, and spicy sauces, and Chinese restaurants often combine meat or seafood with poultry and vegetables.

Here are some food pairing suggestions to matching wine with Chinese food:

Vegetables
Vegetarian Chow Mein: Barbera Blanc, Chardonnay
Stuffed Tofu: Chardonnay or Sauvignon

Seafood
Firecracker Prawns: Sauvignon Blanc, Gewurztraminer
Fried Tiger Prawns: Cabernet Sauvignon, Barbera Blanc
Clams in Black Bean Sauce: Pinot Noir
Whole Steamed Trout: Pinot Noir
Kung Pao Prawns: Gewurztraminer, Chardonnay

Chicken
Black Mushrooms with Chicken and Spinach: Sauvignon Blanc
Chinese Chicken Salad: Fumé Blanc

Pork
Medallions of Pork: Barbera Blanc, Muscat Cannelli
Mustard Greens and Pork Strips: Pinot Noir

Beef
Chinese-Style Pepper Steak: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot
Mongolian Beef: Gewurztraminer, Barbera Blanc

Sweets and Savories
Potstickers: Sauvignon Blanc, Fumé Blanc
Spring Rolls: Sauvignon Blanc
Sweet Rice Egg Rolls: Sauvignon Blanc

Text and image from www.wokwiz.com.