By Dennis

January 9, 2007 11:47 AM | Link to this

While this is story is not about sexual discrimination but age descrimination. When my wife and I were fairly new (and somewhat younger)to the Dayton area, we went to one of the well regarded restaurants (King Cole)to celebrate our anniversary. When we asked for the wine list, the waiter presented the list with a definite attitude, (no one under 30 deserved a wine list!). However, once we ordered a good quality California red that actually matched the foods we had chosen, we suddenly became his best buddy.

By Megan

January 6, 2007 2:35 PM | Link to this

I find that when we dine out, and I pick and order the wine, which is usually the case, 9 times out of 10 the server will bring the bottle to my husband for inspection and tasting. It rubs me the wrong way since the server clearly took the order from me. Why not bring the wine to me?

By cathy

January 5, 2007 10:43 AM | Link to this

This has happened to me so many times that I cannot even recall just one particular incident! However, it has never occurred at local wine shops, and only at restaurants where they don’t know me. The staff treats my male companion with great respect. He is ordering a nice bottle of red (probably a Burgundy or Bordeaux), which I will share later… but for starters, I’m often in the mood for a nice white; and since it’ll just be me, I’m asking about white wines by the glass. Even when they have an extensive by-the-glass selection, I’m invariably offered only the swill - white zin, or KJ Chard, or a too-sweet Riesling. I must learn how to ask in a manner that doesn’t sound snooty but conveys to the staff that I want something decent.

By Nancy Bentley

January 4, 2007 9:30 PM | Link to this

A winery experience in Michigan: it’s 4:55 p.m. The 21 year old behind the wine bar is already twisting their head to look at the clock when Ron and I arrive. Ron is presented with a tasting glass… but not me! Can you spell s-e-e-t-h-i-n-g!

By Tony

January 4, 2007 2:36 PM | Link to this

Place: Charlie Trotter in Chicago a few years ago. As my wife does not drink red wine, when it was time in our multi-course adventure to have some red, she ordered a glass of Veuve Cliquot Grande Dame. Now you have to know that my wife, if she had a chance, would always drink Champagne, and we have visited several Champagne houses in France including Veuve Cliquot. Another thing is that she refuses a glass of Champagne where there are practically no bubbles. This can happen if the bottle is open too long or the glasses have been washed too many times with dishwasher soap. So when we saw the waiter come with the glass of Grande Dame, and from afar we already could see that it had not bubbles whatsoever, we already new her reaction. The response from the waiter at Charlie Trotter, for probably a $30+ glass of Champagne: “Ma’am, this is because this is an old wine!” Well, my wife let it him have it: “I have drunk a lot of Grande Dame: at Veuve Cliquot, in restaurants and at home, young and old, and there are always bubbles. Clean your glasses, open a new bottle and see what the result is.” A few seconds later we heard the familiar pop and promptly came a glass full of bubbles. Maybe a long story, but it proves the point.

By Ann

January 4, 2007 12:17 PM | Link to this

Hmmm. I don’t think I’ve experienced that. Maybe it’s because I only buy from the best. I am the primary wine buyer in our house. I’m also more likely to spend more on a bottle of wine than John…hence, the reason that I buy most of the wine.