How to Read a Restaurant Wine List in 5 Minutes Using Sommy

The server drops a thick wine list on the table, everyone looks at you, and your heart rate jumps. Sound familiar?

You are not alone. Most casual wine lovers feel awkward in that moment, even if they enjoy a glass at home. The good news is you can learn how to read a wine list in just a few minutes, especially when you have Sommy in your pocket.

This guide is your at-the-table cheat sheet. In 5 minutes, you will go from stressed and stalling to calm, quick, and confident, with clear picks that match your food, your budget, and your taste.

The 5-minute plan: how to read a wine list with Sommy

Here is the game plan you can use at any restaurant:

1. Minute 1: Snap the list and set your budget.
2. Minute 2: Tell Sommy what you actually like.
3. Minute 3: Match the wine to the food.
4. Minute 4: Spot the good values.
5. Minute 5: Handle the group and talk to the sommelier.

The goal is not to learn wine theory. The goal is to order something you will enjoy, without holding up the table.

Open Sommy on your phone, put the wine list next to it, and you are ready to go.

Minute 1: Snap the wine list and set your budget

First, you want the list in Sommy, not just in your hands.

1. Open Sommy on your phone.
2. Tap the option to scan a wine list.
3. Take a clear photo of the page you care about. If the list is long, start with one page at a time.

Sommy reads the wine names, vintages, and prices, then shows them in a clean view you can scroll through. This alone makes a chaotic list feel calmer.

Next, set your price comfort zone.

• Use Sommy's budget slider or price filters to pick your range.
• Decide if you are buying by the glass, by the bottle, or both.
• If you are with a group, ask, “Are we okay with something around X per bottle?” and set that as your upper limit.

Seeing the list filtered to wines that fit your budget takes a lot of pressure off. You do not need to feel guilty about skipping the high-end pages. Sommy will stay inside the range you give it.

Minute 2: Tell Sommy what you actually like

This is where Sommy starts to feel like a friend who knows your taste.

In the Sommy chat, talk like you would to a human:

• “I usually like crisp white wine, not too oaky.”
• “I want a smooth red, not heavy, low on tannin.”
• “I like Prosecco and light sparkling wines, not sweet.”

If you know a bottle you love, type or scan it:

• “I love La Crema Chardonnay.”
• “I like Meiomi Pinot Noir, what is similar on this list?”

Sommy uses this to shape your personal profile. It learns if you lean toward fruity or dry, bold or light, white or red. You do not need the right terms. Plain words work.

Now ask Sommy something like:

• “From this list, pick the top 3 wines I am most likely to enjoy.”

Sommy will highlight a few options that fit your taste and budget. You already look like you know how to read a wine list, even though Sommy just did the hard part.

Here is a quick cheat table for how to talk to Sommy:

If you tell Sommy…What it really meansWhat Sommy looks for“Crisp and fresh white”Lighter, higher acid whitesSauvignon Blanc, dry Riesling, some Pinot Grigio“Smooth red, not too heavy”Medium body, soft tanninsPinot Noir, some Merlot or blends“Rich, buttery white”Fuller, creamy textureCertain Chardonnay styles“Dry, not sweet rosé”Fresh, food-friendly roséProvence-style or similar rosés

Use your own words; Sommy will do the translation work.

Minute 3: Match wine to food without guessing

Now tie the wine to what is on the table.

In Sommy, type what you and your friends are ordering:

• “We are having oysters and sea bass.”
• “Two steaks, one roast chicken, and one pasta with tomato sauce.”
• “We are sharing spicy Thai dishes and some seafood.”

Then ask:

• “From this wine list, what matches best with these dishes?”
• “Give me one white and one red that work for the table.”

Sommy looks at the actual wines on the list, not random bottles from a database, and ranks them for your meal.

This is especially helpful when the table is mixed. For example, if half the group orders steak and the rest order fish, Sommy can suggest:

• A richer white that stands up to both.
• A softer red that will not crush the lighter dishes.
• A pair of wines, one white and one red, that play nice with most plates.

If you only care about your own dish, you can be more direct: “I am eating grilled salmon; what should I pick from this list?” That way you get a match just for you.

Minute 4: Spot good value bottles fast

Now you have a few options, so how do you find the sweet spot between quality and price?

Use Sommy to highlight value:

• Ask, “Which bottles on this list are the best value for money for my taste?”
• Look for wines where Sommy gives strong praise while the price is still in your comfort zone.
• Notice if Sommy keeps pointing to certain regions or grapes that are a bit off the beaten path. Those are often the hidden gems.

A few simple value tricks, boosted by Sommy:

• Middle of the list: Often, the best buys sit in the middle price range, not the cheapest, not the trophy bottles.
• Less-famous regions: If Sommy suggests a wine from a lesser-known area at a fair price, trust it. That is where restaurants often price more gently.
• By the glass vs bottle: Use Sommy to compare. Sometimes two glasses of a nicer bottle cost the same as one glass of a “name brand” wine.

You can also say, “I want a crowd-pleasing red around 60 dollars that feels like a splurge but is still good value.” Sommy will adjust its picks to that request.

Minute 5: Handle the group and talk to the sommelier

At this point, you probably have a short list of 2 or 3 wines that fit your taste, budget, and food. Now you need to get everyone on board, including the sommelier or server.

For the group:

• Show the table your top two Sommy picks and describe them in simple terms: “This one is lighter and fresher, this one is richer and darker.”
• Check quick preferences: “Anyone strongly hate white?” or “Is anyone okay with something a bit more full-bodied?”
• If tastes clash, ask Sommy: “What is one white and one red that are flexible and not too extreme in style?”

To talk to the sommelier (if one is present), you can literally use Sommy as your script. For example:

• “Sommy suggested this Pinot Noir and this Chianti as good matches for our dishes. Do you think one of these works better for the table?”
• “We like smooth reds, nothing too heavy. Sommy pointed to this bottle. Does that make sense with our food?”

You stay in control of the decision, and the sommelier gets clear guidance on what you want. It feels like teamwork, not a test.

Quick cheat codes inside Sommy

Once you feel comfortable with the basics, a few extra moves make you even faster.

• “Similar to” trick: “Show me something similar to this wine on the list, but cheaper.”
• House favorite check: If the server pushes a “house favorite,” snap it with Sommy and ask, “Is this a good value compared to other options here?”
• Avoiding hangovers from huge reds: Say, “I want a red that will not feel heavy or give me a headache.” Sommy will steer away from the most intense bottles.
• Remembering winners: If you loved a bottle, scan the label with Sommy and save it. Next time, ask, “Anything like this on tonight's list?”

Over time, Sommy remembers what you liked and did not like, so its suggestions get sharper. Your 5-minute routine turns into a 3-minute one.

Bringing it all together

The next time a server drops that long wine list on your table, you do not need to panic or guess. You know how to read a wine list in a way that is fast, simple, and tailored to you.

Open Sommy, scan the page, set your budget, tell it what you enjoy, tie your choice to the food, then pick from a short, clear list of good-value options. Use Sommy's language to talk with your friends and the sommelier, and you will look confident without pretending to be an expert.

Wine at a restaurant should feel fun, not like a test. With Sommy as your quiet partner, you can relax, take a sip, and focus on the people around the table.