How Restaurants Come to Choose Their Wines

shutterstock_116900962When you find yourself staring at a wine list menu the size of the Yellow Pages, you can sometimes be left wondering how the restaurant came to select such an extensive list. A large wine list takes a massive investment, so how do they know that the gamble will pay off and the wine will actually sell?

According to Gianfrano Sorrention, owner of New York's Il Gattorpado and The Leopard, it's not a problem, telling Fox News that if the $1000 bottle of Giacomo Concerno's Barola Monfortino doesn't sell, he will simply drink it himself with his wife.

This generally doesn't happen, however, as Sorrentino carefully selects each wine, ensuring each dish on the menu is perfectly matched with a wine that will not only compliment the meal, but will steal the show. He sits down with his sommelier and together they select wines that fit the mood of the restaurant.

In his case, Il Gattopardo's traditional Southern Italian-inspired comfort food calls for lots of Southern Italy wines. Even so, you will find a range of other spectacular wines from around the world, which cater to everyone's desires.

His choosing is clearly working, as ll Gattopardo just celebrated its 12th anniversary.

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Mireille Kilgour

Mireille Kilgour

Mireille Kilgour has been an entrepreneur for 35 years in the hospitality sector. French born, she has been an accomplished business owner and operator for a number of Sydney venues. Leading the industry with high profile institutions such as Lamrock Café Bondi, she has endless passion for the industry, and now has the pleasure of supporting restaurants to fill their tables with the new Good Food Gift Card program.