A few years ago on a flight home, a gentleman sitting next to me sparked a conversation and, as always, our conversation eventually led to wine. He had just finished a meeting with a key account he had been entertaining over the previous few days in Miami. While we were talking, he revealed that over the years he had always ordered the most expensive wine on the list not only to impress but because it made him feel more confident he was choosing a superior wine.

We had a little talk.

Choosing the most expensive wine on the wine list is one of the most common mistakes made at business dinners. It is always better to err on the side of frugality. Unless you need to splurge for the occasion, it shows your business sensibility and fiscal responsibility. But balance is important because you don’t want to order so cheaply you insult your guest.Most experts agree $30 to $60 is the considerate upper midrange.

Many restaurants now have the wine list on their websites, making it easy to take a sneak peek before meeting guests to have some sense of price and selection. This is a good way to be prepared with a few safe bets for varietal and price. The safe bets are wines most people are familiar with and easy, friendly drinking styles. Business meals are generally not the time for experimenting. Pinot noir is usually the best overall bet. Merlot, chardonnay and pinot grigio are usually well priced and made in easy drinking styles.

If you have a proclaimed wine connoisseur guest, it may be best to offer the list for them to order for the table. This gesture will take the pressure off of you, and make your guest feel special.

If you are going to order multiple bottles and want to splurge, order the most expensive bottles first. Later on most diners are well into conversation and flavors of the foods and much less attention is focused on the wine label.

These are a couple of wines showing up on local wine lists.

THE BUSINESS DINNER VALUE 2011 Anne Amie Pinot Gris, Washington (about $30 a bottle on a wine list)

THE BUSINESS DINNER SPLURGE

2011 Goldeneye Pinot Noir, California (about $95 a bottle on a wine list)

Lorri Hambuchen is a member of London’s Institute of Wines and Spirits. Contact her at the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, P.O. Box 2221, Little Rock,Ark. 72203, or email:

[email protected]

Food, Pages 33 on 02/26/2014