Why does wine confidence reset every time you see a new wine list?

I can enjoy wine at home know what I like and feel pretty comfortable with my choices but the moment I’m handed a menu at a restaurant it all disappears. Suddenly nothing looks familiar and every option feels like a risk.

Wine lists feel overwhelming in a way shelves at a store don’t. Different regions, unfamiliar producers, higher prices and the pressure of ordering in front of other people all make it harder to trust your instincts. Even if you’ve had similar wines before it’s hard to connect that experience to what’s on the page.

It’s strange because your taste hasn’t changed just the context but that shift is enough to make something enjoyable feel stressful. It makes me wonder how much wine confidence is actually about knowledge and how much of it is about feeling comfortable in the moment.