Wine guides
Wine lists: compare glass, bottle and budget
Check the serving size and displayed price before comparing wines. Set a spending limit, describe your food and use only entries whose identity and price are clearly readable.
GetSIPP editorial team · Published
Start with the serving size
A glass price cannot be compared directly with a bottle price. Check the volume and column headings. The same wine may be available in several sizes. If it is unclear which price belongs to a wine, ask the restaurant instead of guessing.
Give a clear limit
Try: ‘Which dry white bottle on this list, under €30, could suit my food?’ This is an example budget, not a claim about a particular restaurant’s prices. If none of the readable wines fits, adjust your criteria or ask the staff.
Scan without losing the columns
Photograph the page straight on, in even light. Include headings and prices. For a dense list, take a clear picture of each column or page without cutting off wine names. Compare the suggestion with the actual list: the restaurant must confirm availability, vintage and final price.
Your questions
Is the most expensive wine always the best choice?
No. The choice depends on your preferences, food and budget. Useful advice explains why an entry suits you, without treating price as a measure of personal preference.
These guides explain styles and methods. They do not replace information about the actual bottle, wine list or producer.
Keep exploring
How to describe your taste in wine
Start with freshness, texture and the aromas you enjoy. Add your food and budget. A clear description is more useful than choosing a famous name without knowing its style.
Food and wine pairing: start with the sauce and cooking
Consider the dish’s intensity, sauce and cooking method before choosing a wine colour. Fish with lemon and fish in a creamy sauce may call for different styles.
How to read a French wine label
Find the producer, wine name, origin and vintage if shown. A label identifies a bottle; it cannot establish its current price, storage history or exact taste.