Helen Mol | A New Generation of Sommelières

Stupid questions are always a start. And when it comes to wine, there are a lot of questions to be asked. Rioja or Riesling? Helen Mol, the former Sommelière for White Trash Fast Food, who now works at the recently opened Pauly Saal, would always recommend visiting your local wine retailer when you're unsure about which wine to serve. "You can explain at what type of occasion you want to serve the wine, dinner with friends maybe? You can taste different wines and work out something that will fit into your budget. Wine merchants are ready for just about any question."

Naturally, some supermarkets are so well-sorted that they're a welcome option for every taste and budget, says Mol. She even says there are some gas stations whose wine selections are not to be frowned upon. "But to find your way around, you should know at least a little bit about wine." Mol recommends looking for bottles marked with the easily recognizable VDP sign. VDP stands for the amalgamation of over 200 German wineries that work according to specific quality and production standards. The eagle emblem on the bottle cap can work as a compass in a wine landscape that is so broad it can be irritating. Good quality VDP wines are available from as little as six euros.

Mol says that the pinot gris by vintner Franz Keller and the Riesling by Wiedemann are always good picks. She serves both at Pauly Saal for five euros a glass (0,1l). "When you're dining at a restaurant, you should always consider ordering a bottle. It's usually more attractive than ordering by the glass." At Pauly Saal, guests that order a bottle get one free glass per bottle.

The best thing for newbies is to pay a direct visit to a local vintner. "Even if you just happen to pass by a wine-growing area by coincidence, you should always check out the wine cellar or seasonal wine tavern. The wine will always taste best when you drink it outside, in the middle of a vineyard, surrounded by vines!"

(emh)