Fine wines...

[21TonyK]

Following on from a few wine threads here's a question for those who enjoy fine wines when dining out.

How many restaurants offer you the service of pre-ordering your wine so that it can be opened or decanted before you arrive? Or, how many have the ability to provide virtually any wine if ordered 72 hours ahead?

Just a few ideas, only seen this service once and then only offered if you requested a menu and wine list in advance.

[Whoozit]

Interesting idea. I don't remember seeing this offered anywhere, although if it's a good restaurant the sommelier should be only too happy to pre-sell you on something expensive and make sure it's served up in ideal conditions.

If you're a regular I imagine it'd be easy to ask.

[Lefty]

I've seen it once, in a place in Cumbria that has since closed (but only because the owner/head chef died, not because it was a crap restaurant!).

Same place would also let you pre-order certain dishes that required either very slow cooking or very long marinading time.

Great idea, as an extra service.

[Melman Giraffe]

This sounds good; however I prefer a menu with a recommended wine to go with each course. In essence a tasting menu with wine matched by the chef maybe included in the price per head!

[mike325112]

Melman Giraffe said:

This sounds good; however I prefer a menu with a recommended wine to go with each course. In essence a tasting menu with wine matched by the chef maybe included in the price per head!

A Wine degustation - I had one at Gidleigh Park a few years back - absolutely wonderful, a tad pricey though at an additional £85 a head...