Not everyone is a wine expert neither has to be. However, there are some etiquette rules you must consider when you’re serving and drinking wine… specially if you’re at a public place! After reading this article, anyone will think you’re a world wines expert!
Try to imagine you’re in a restaurant with some invited guests:
- Sommelier is coming to serve you with wine. He filled up about 1/3 of your wine glass. What should you do now? Should you taste it or shouldn’t you? Yes, you should. Do not expect for sommelier to go away. You should taste the wine and, if it’s ok for you, ask him to serve your guests. This rule is even more valid if it’s an old wine, which flavor may be not the best. Thus you can avoid unpleasant experiences for your guests.
- But how should you taste the wine? First step is to pick up the glass, of course, doing it the right way: holding the stem to maintain the correct wine temperature. Apart from this advise, this gesture is more elegant than hold it with the whole hand!
- Now you have the glass in your hand. No, this isn’t the right moment to taste it yet. Before doing it, observe its color intensity and its clarity. Carefully swirl your glass in circular movements to spread aromas and flavors. Get your nose closer to fill your senses up and smell it. These are the first steps for you to have the best wine taste experience.
- Now you are finally ready to have your wine taste. No, you are not going to drink all the wine that is in your glass. Drinking it all at once not only prevents you from taste the best flavors of the wine, but also is not a correct gesture. Washing your mouth with the wine like if it’s an elixir is also a rude and unnecessary action you should avoid. You should take small sips to enjoy the moment.
- Meanwhile, during meal, after the sommelier had left, you are intending to serve your guests, once their glasses are empty. Don’t forget to fill the glasses in the right proportions, up to 1/3. (Actually, if a wine bottle had been correctly shared, it should fill 5 glasses, about 150 ml per glass.) Remember that wine must accompany your meal, so you mustn’t drink excessively to avoid unpleasant surprises.
- While serving your guests, be careful not to drop wine to tablecloth or, worse, for your own clothes. So, serve the wine gently, holding the bottle with both hands. At the end, carefully rotate it and nothing will get dirty. Furthermore, it’s an elegant gesture and your guests will certainly appreciate it.
Cheers to you!
