Is it Gauche to Use a Wine App at a Restaurant? Here's What a Sommelier Says - CNET

Our gifting experts are obsessively searching for holiday gifts that are unique, thoughtful and suitable for any budget. Our expert, award-winning staff selects the products we cover and rigorously researches and tests our top picks. If you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. For casual drinkers, ordering wine at a nice restaurant can be daunting. Apps can help, but is it rude to use one? A sprawling wine list shouldn’t send you spiraling. Choosing a bottle of wine at retail — whether you’re browsing a well-curated wine shop or grabbing something off a grocery store shelf — is a low-stakes experience. Ordering one at a fancy restaurant is another matter entirely. With the whole table watching, you’re expected to make a quick decision that satisfies everyone’s tastes and fits the budget. I spoke with sommelier Baptiste Beaumard of New York’s Michelin-starred Restaurant Daniel about navigating wine orders at fine-dining establishments — including whether using a wine list-scanning app like Vivino or Wine Searcher is considered a faux pas. “People are often intimidated if it’s the first time they’re speaking with a sommelier,” says Beaumard. While the sommelier job may be