在商業場合上點酒的能力並非無關緊要。而商務人士的一言一行都會被當作判斷其能力高低的依據，點酒是否乾脆老練且讓人皆大歡喜，或許被賦予了遠遠超出其本身的意義。
We were conducting a wine-tasting dinner for our company last month with some pretty high-level executives from a broad spectrum of industries. What they all had in common was this question: When I'm at a business dinner and they hand me the wine list (either because they think I know something about wine or because of my position)， what the heck am I supposed to do?
上個月我們為本公司舉辦了一場葡萄酒品嚐晚宴，赴會的有一些來自各行業的級別相當高的主管。他們都問到一個同樣的問題：在商務晚宴上別人把酒單遞給我時(或是因為他們以為我懂點葡萄酒或是因我擔任的職務的緣故)，我到底該怎麼應付呢？
John answered in one word: 'Cheat.' To which several people replied: 'Cheap?' Well, yes, but let's start at the beginning。
約翰的回答是一個詞：“忽悠”。有幾個人迴應道：“便宜？”(譯者注：英文中CHEAT和CHEAP僅一字母之差，且讀音非常相似)嗯，兩者都對。但還是讓我們從頭說起。
Ordering the wine at a business function is not unimportant. Business people are judged by just about everything they do, and an ability to order wine crisply and well probably takes on far more significance than it should. When we first wrote about this issue in 2000, we quoted someone who still remembered a young associate, 20 years earlier, nervously looking over the wine list and finally telling the sommelier, 'I think we'll try the Lancers.' In fact, this situation is even more fraught than it was in 2000 because of the recession. Back then, the person forced to choose the wine could simply focus on a California cult Cabernet or some other fancy bottle and everybody would be happy. These days, the bottom line when it comes to wine really is the bottom line. Successful business people are supposed to be able to identify value - and the wine list is no exception. This is where the 'cheap' comes in。
在商業場合上點酒的能力並非無關緊要。而商務人士的一言一行都會被當作判斷其能力高低的依據，點酒是否乾脆老練且讓人皆大歡喜，或許被賦予了遠遠超出其本身的意義。我們記得當我們的文章在2000年首次涉及這個話題時，我們引述了某個人講述的20年前的故事。他記得有位年輕的助理緊張地看著酒單，最後告訴侍酒師，“我想我們就嚐嚐Lancers吧”。事實上，由於目前經濟的不景氣，這種事情的發生比2000年還要頻繁。在那個年代，被迫點酒者可以索性將重點放在加州California cult Cabernet酒或其它精美的酒上，而這樣做也會讓人皆大歡喜。如今，點酒的底線還真的是指價格的底線了。成功的商業人士都應該是識貨的，在點酒上也不會例外。這就是我們所說的“便宜”的意思。
And here's where 'cheat' comes in: More and more restaurants have their wine lists online. Find it and study it before you go. See what fits into your budget and look up the wines online. By the time you are handed the list, you'll be able to make a snap judgment that will make it appear you know what you're doing and are a quick decision-maker to boot. If the wine list is not online, drop by the restaurant in advance, look over the list and talk with the sommelier. It's a small investment in time that will pay big dividends。
現在我們說說“忽悠”是怎麼回事：如今越來越多的餐館把其酒單放在網上。請你上網找到酒單並在赴宴前對它進行一番推敲，看看有什麼酒在你的預算之內，然後在網上了解一下這些酒。這樣，當你拿到酒單時就可以迅速做出判斷，且這會讓你看起來像是很懂行而且是能迅速拿主意的人。如果網上找不到酒單，那就請事先到餐廳走一趟看下酒單並與調酒師聊聊。時間上的這點小投資會讓你有大回報的。
Even if this isn't possible, at least spend a few minutes doing some Web browsing on the type of wine likely to be listed. Northern Italian restaurant? You probably will see a delightful, well-priced Barbera. Greek restaurant? At least you can remember that Assyrtiko is the famous white wine from Santorini. If this simply isn't possible, here are some tips:
即使在上述條件不允許的`情況下，你至少要在網上花上幾分鐘對可能出現在酒單上的葡萄酒做些調研。去北義大利風味的餐廳嗎？那酒單上可能會出現令人愉悅且價格公道的Barbera酒。去希臘風味餐廳？那你至少可以記住Assyrtiko是著名的產自聖托裡尼島的白葡萄酒。如果所有這一切都不可能，那麼下面還有一些建議給你：
1) Move fast. The longer you stare at the list, the more your associates will assume either that you know nothing about wine and you're lost or that you know a lot about wine and that the wine you order will be the greatest experience of their lives。
爽快地點酒。你越是對著酒單發呆，你的同伴們越是會認為你因對酒一竅不通而一頭霧水，或是會認為你是個葡萄酒行家因而你今天花如此大心思點的酒會令他們喝了終身難忘。
2) Skip anything that's familiar. No one is going to be impressed if you order Kendall-Jackson Chardonnay or Yellow Tail Shiraz and, in fact, they will be outraged at the restaurant's price. You will be punished for staying in your comfort zone. More broadly, for value, avoid the whole long lists of the most-familiar wines: American Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay. A wine that is unfamiliar is more likely to impress your associates。
跳過大家熟知的酒。如果你點了Kendall-Jackson Chardonnay或Yellow Tail Shiraz，沒有人會覺得你挺在行。而事實上，他們還會為這種酒在餐廳裡賣到如此貴的價格感到憤怒。為了不出錯而保守行事，你會受到懲罰的。也就是說，為了物有所值，你應該避開最為大眾熟知的那一長串葡萄酒名字如American Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon和Chardonnay。點上一瓶無人知曉的葡萄酒，會更讓你的同伴們對你刮目相看。