house wine

Meaning

This is the standard, often least expensive wine offered by a restaurant or bar, typically sold by the glass or carafe. It is selected by the venue to pair well with most of their menu items.

Examples

• We'll just take a carafe of the house wine, please.

  We'll just take a carafe of the house wine, please.

• Is the house wine a Cabernet or a Merlot tonight?

  Is the house wine a Cabernet or a Merlot tonight?

• The house wine is usually a very safe and affordable choice.

  The house wine is usually a very safe and affordable choice.

• I'd like a glass of the white house wine, please.

  I'd like a glass of the white house wine, please.

• Many local taverns make their own house wine from nearby vineyards.

  Many local taverns make their own house wine from nearby vineyards.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ We want to drink the home wine.

  ✓ We want to drink the house wine.

  'Home wine' sounds like wine made at someone's house. The industry standard term is 'house wine'.

• ✗ How much is the restaurant wine?

  ✓ How much is the house wine?

  While it is the restaurant's choice, the correct term to ask for the standard, affordable option is 'house wine'.

Related Expressions

Practice

• We ordered a bottle of the ___ because it was cheap and delicious.

  💡 The standard, affordable wine offered by a restaurant.

  Show answer

  house wine

• Is your ___ a dry or a sweet red?

  💡 The default wine selection of the establishment.

  Show answer

  house wine