Scripts for Buying Wine at a Small Wine Shop

Have you ever felt scared to walk into a wine shop and ask for suggestions? 

You’re not alone! I used to feel that too, so I made these scripts to help you feel more confident when you’re wine shopping.

​The first time I walked into a wine shop, I saw an older gentlemen behind the counter (as expected) and instantly felt intimidated to ask questions. I didn’t want to look dumb or get oversold on something. 

At the time, I'd wished I had some super simple scripts to help me tell the wine shop associate the key information necessary for them to give me a good wine recommendation like:

• what type of wine I was looking for
• what kind of occasion it’s for
• what food is being paired with the wine
• my price range (don’t be afraid to share this, turns out wine associates don’t want to oversell you and there really is a wine for every budget)!

So I decided to create those scripts to help you buy wine at a small wine shop. 

Now I’m happy to report that I'm actually good friends with that older gentleman that once intimidated me. I shop at his store all the time, we show each other photos of our travels, and he was even kind enough to give my husband and I a wedding gift! 

For when you're looking for a wine to go with dinner...

​Here's your script:

​"I'm having PIZZA tonight, what bottle under $15 would you recommend to pair with it?"

• Replace PIZZA with dinner of your choice.
• Replace $15 with your budget.

For when you want to try something new based off an old favorite...

​
Here's your script:

​"I really like French Syrah, but I want to try something new. What would you recommend under $30?"

• Replace French Syrah with the style of wine or specific style that you like.
• Replace $30 with your budget.

For when you're celebrating something special...

​​Here's your script:

​"We're celebrating my mom's birthday tonight and I need a good celebration bottle that most people would like, any recommendations?"

• Replace mom's birthday with special occasion.
• Replace most people would like with what you're hoping for. For example should it be a people pleaser wine or just something Pinot Grigio lovers would like?

For when you're looking for a certain flavor...

​Here's your script:

​"I like flavors of cherry and vanilla in my wine with high acidity and lower tannin. Can you recommend a couple bottles for me to check out?"

• Replace cherry and vanilla with your favorite flavors and aromas.
• Replace high acidity and lower tannin with your preference for the structure of the wine.

For when you're feeling adventurous...

​Here's your script:

​"What bottles in the shop are you most excited about right now? I'd love to try something new."

​No replacements, this one is just for fun!

There you have it! Next time you're going shopping for wine, give one of these scripts a try and let me know how it goes in the comments. Or better yet, come follow me on Instagram @corkandfizz and send me a message! I'd love to know what wine you end up trying.

If you're not quite sure what kind of wine you like or how to describe the flavors in your favorite wine, come join my virtual tasting club: The Cork Crew! The Cork Crew Tasting Club is a community of people that enjoy drinking and learning about wine. It's like a book club...but with wine! Each month I’ll select two styles of wine for us to focus on. We’ll then have a virtual tasting party to explore those wines along with a community event to learn from professionals in the wine community. Use code WINE101 to get your first month free!

You're also invited to get a group of friends together to book a Private Tasting with me. You can choose from themes like Wine 101, Wine & Food Pairing, Wines of Chile, and more! I'll walk you through my 4-step wine tasting process and teach you the basics of how wine is made. While you'll come out of the tasting feeling way more confidence about wine, you'll also have a lot of fun!