The frugal oenophile

In keeping with last week’s news about the recession hitting the restaurant business, the WSJ’s wine columnists have recommendations on how to cut the bill when ordering wine while eating out.

I have to say that their number one suggestion, avoid wines by the glass, is tough if you’re dining alone. I’ve noticed that, outside of the Napa area, I’ve not found it a common practice in the US for restaurants to offer half bottles of wine (as you find frequently in France) or half-carafes of decent wine (as in Italy or Austria). So your only choice is the glass—unless you are ready to walk away from half a bottle.

Now, precisely because I couldn’t find decent wines by the glass at an upscale restaurant in Port Angeles (Olympic Peninsula) last November, I did ask if Washington permits carrying opened bottles in your car, & the server assured me it does. So I ordered a bottle of Pinot Gris and took it with me to enjoy for a couple more nights.

(Having grown up in California, I did jam the cork back in, wrap it in two plastic bags and stick it in the trunk of my car, though.)

I don’t get why there aren’t more half bottles around—it’s the perfect solution not only for single diners, but also for people who don’t want to order a single white or red. I suppose it’s a marketing ploy for restaurants to sell full bottles, but I think it’s short-sighted.

I do endorse Gaiter and Brecher’s recommendation of the Grüner Veltliner. That’s a terrific summer wine, perfect for sipping on a terrace watching the sun set. If you want to eat something with it, okay; but it’s fine on its own.

I haven’t seen any half-price deals around this area, although decent wines do show up by the glass at half-price during happy hours. Including sparklers, which is all I need to hear.