Wine & Spirits

1. Poss jau vesair la carta dals vins, per plaschair?

   May I see the wine list, please?

   Usage

   Asks for the wine menu in a restaurant. Canton Graubünden has its own wine regions, so local bottles may be listed

   Grammar Note

   dals is the contraction of da + ils, "of the wines". carta dals vins is the wine menu. Composed sentence; native review recommended

2. Pudais Vus recumandar in vin local?

   Could you recommend a local wine?

   Usage

   A polite way to ask for a local wine. Add your taste preference, such as dry or fruity, to get a better recommendation

   Grammar Note

   The polite Vus is always capitalised. vin is masculine, so the adjective local keeps its masculine form

3. Jau vuless in vin cotschen / alv / rosé / stgimant.

   I would like a red / white / rosé / sparkling wine.

   Usage

   Orders a wine by type: say just the one you want. Sparkling wine is vin stgimant

   Grammar Note

   Adjectives follow the masculine noun vin. The options are listed with slashes, so say only one. Composed sentence; native review recommended

4. In magiel / ina buttiglia, per plaschair.

   A glass / a bottle, please.

   Usage

   Orders wine by the glass or by the bottle. Say only one of the two, after you have named the wine

   Grammar Note

   The indefinite article follows gender: in (m.) and ina (f.). magiel is masculine and buttiglia is feminine

5. Tge vin va bain cun quest plat?

   Which wine goes well with this dish?

   Usage

   Asks staff which wine matches a dish. It is easier to answer once you have chosen your food

   Grammar Note

   ir bain cun means "to go well with"; va is the third person of ir. Composed sentence; native review recommended

6. Quant alcohol cuntegna quest vin?

   How much alcohol does this wine contain?

   Usage

   Asks about the strength of a wine. The answer usually comes as a percentage

   Grammar Note

   The order is Quant + noun + verb + subject, with the subject quest vin at the end. Composed sentence; native review recommended

7. Quest vin è setg / fritgus.

   This wine is dry / fruity.

   Usage

   Describes a wine's taste, or helps you follow staff descriptions. setg means dry, not sweet; fritgus means fruity

   Grammar Note

   è is the third person of essere (to be). The subject vin is masculine, so the adjectives stay masculine. The options are listed with a slash; choose one. Composed sentence; native review recommended

8. Jau vuless far ina degustaziun da vin.

   I would like to do a wine tasting.

   Usage

   Asks to join a wine tasting at a winery or wine bar. Reservations may be needed, so ask about times as well

   Grammar Note

   Jau vuless + infinitive means "I would like to …". Composed sentence; native review recommended

9. Betg memia dultsch, per plaschair.

   Not too sweet, please.

   Usage

   A short way to steer away from sweet wines, while choosing or after hearing a recommendation

   Grammar Note

   betg placed before an adjective negates it. dultsch is the adjective for "sweet"

10. Da tge regiun vegn quest vin?

    Which region is this wine from?

    Usage

    Asks where a wine comes from, handy for finding out whether it is local or imported

    Grammar Note

    da (from) + tge (which) + noun asks about origin. Composed sentence; native review recommended

11. Vegn il vin servì fraid u a temperatura da stanza?

    Is the wine served chilled or at room temperature?

    Usage

    Checks how the wine is served. White and rosé are usually chilled and red at room temperature

    Grammar Note

    vegnir + past participle forms the passive ("is served"). temperatura da stanza means room temperature. Composed sentence; native review recommended

12. Avais Vus vins senza alcohol?

    Do you have alcohol-free wines?

    Usage

    For people who avoid alcohol and want an alcohol-free wine. If there is none, ask about other alcohol-free drinks

    Grammar Note

    A noun after senza takes no article, and the polite Vus is always capitalised. Composed sentence; native review recommended

13. Poss jau visitar il tschaler da vin?

    Can I visit the wine cellar?

    Usage

    Asks for a tour of the storage cellar at a winery. Visits may be by appointment and at fixed times

    Grammar Note

    tschaler is a masculine noun for "cellar"; da vin specifies a wine cellar. Composed sentence; native review recommended

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