How can a little bottle of fermented grape juice be so darn intimidating? Sit down at a nice restaurant and you're handed a fancy book of wine selections — sometimes in a language you don't understand. You may be a connoisseur. But what if you're not? Do you close your eyes and point? Make a decision based solely on price? Pretend you know what you're talking about and potentially get something you don't like? Or ask the waiter or waitress for assistance and risk sounding ignorant?

Remember, wait staff are required to be familiar with the options and how those pair with the food they sell. Some restaurants even have a well-trained wine expert, or sommelier, on staff. My best advice is to avoid stressing yourself out and just go with a professional recommendation. This is a great way to try new wines — and eventually become an expert yourself. But always keep the following suggestions in mind too:

Pairing and Preference
Most of us have heard that white wines such as Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc pair better with lighter fare, such as fish and chicken, while reds like Syrah (Shiraz when from Australia) or Merlot are better matches for heavier red meat-and-potatoes type meals. It's a smart guideline. But in the end, you can and should order whatever you enjoy drinking with whatever you feel like eating. I for one have a serious sweet tooth, therefore Gewurztraminer is my old standby with just about any meal.

Price
You can buy a wonderful bottle of wine on sale for less than $10 when shopping online or browsing your local liquor store. And while restaurant markup will probably prevent you from finding such a deal while dining out, don't worry about looking cheap if you order the least expensive option on the menu — especially if it's a wine you already know and love. The bottom line is that your budget is a very important factor. And after all, you're paying for something that's likely to disappear within the hour.

Where to Order and Learn More
Visit Wine.com to learn much more about wine — and order by the bottle, in a collection or as part of a Valentine's Day gift basket such as "Cupid's Backpack." You'll also earn 4% back from ConsumerClub.com on all your purchases at Wine.com. You can find more incredible wine gifts, such as the "Luxury Wine Tote and Wine," and earn 4% back from ConsumerClub.com at AllWineBaskets.com.

Expand your wine smarts further at About.com. Refer to the Wine Encyclopedia at WineVegas.com for specific terminology. Make a game of your wine education with the "Wine Smarts" flash cards at PlumParty.com. You can also sign up for a free three-day pass to WineSpectator.com, where you can read articles, find wine recommendations and access ratings and tasting notes for thousands of fine wines.