Wine Etiquette
Here's a list of wine etiquette "do's" and "don'ts" for wine tasting, dining out, dining in, bringing wine and giving wine.
| Wine Tasting - Do |
Wine Tasting - Don't |
- Discard wine you don’t like. All tasting rooms will supply a receptacle.
- Ask for another small taste of a wine you weren't’t able to completely understand the first time.
- You may also taste wine at a wine room. Most wine rooms offer “flights” – a sampling of several different wines side by side. Most flights contain several different producers of one grape variety so they’re good for side by side comparisons.
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- Don't feel like you have to know a lot about wine to try it out. A winery is an excellent place to learn about wines.
- Don’t hesitate to let winery staff know you’re a new wine drinker trying to determine your likes and dislikes. Knowledgeable staff will be more than happy to explain the different wines and styles.
- Don't ask for a second pour on every wine. If you find a wine you like, it’s in much better taste to purchase a full glass.
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| Dining Out - Customer Dos |
Dining Out - Server/Sommelier Dos |
- If bringing your own bottle of wine, find out what the restaurant charges to open your bottle, the corkage fee.
- Consult with your waiter or the sommelier, wine steward, if you're unsure which wine to order.
- Decide what you’re ordering before choosing your wine so your server can recommend a wine that pairs nicely.
- Ask your server for several recommendations in various price ranges.
- Make sure your wine selection will pair well with everyone's meal.
- Reject the wine if it does not come close to your expectations.
- Remember, red wines will need to “open up” (be exposed to air for a while) to taste their best.
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- Show the bottle label to guests before opening to confirm correct bottle and vintage, year, ordered.
- Pour a small amount into glasses for guests to look at, taste and give approval.
- Put the wine cork next to place setting so guests can see if the cork has any mold on it or if it's too dry. This may suggest that the wine hasn't been properly stored.
- Make sure wine is served at the proper temperature. Keeping white wine in an ice bucket will make it too cold.
- Expect a tip of 10% - 20% of the wine price if you've assisted guests to the best of your ability.
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| Dining In - Do |
Dining In - Don't |
- Serve a wine that pairs well with food.
- Serve a lighter white wine or sparkling wine if guests want a glass of wine before dinner.
- Use the appropriate wine glasses.
- Allow the host/hostess of dinner party to serve your wine for you, unless he or she suggests you help yourself.
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- Don't serve wine in plastic or paper.
- Never fill a glass to the top with wine. Leave at least 1/2 the glass empty, sometimes closer to 2/3 depending upon the type of glass.
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| Bringing Wine - Do |
Bringing Wine - Don't |
- Bring a bottle of wine if you're a guest to a party.
- Servers should plan out wine selections ahead of time in order to pair with the meal.
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- Don't expect your wine to be opened that evening.
- Don't bring a bottle of white wine already chilled. This assumes you expect the host/hostess to open it.
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| Wine Gifting - Do |
Wine Gifting - Don't |
- Choose a bottle you know they will enjoy.
- Purchase a bottle they may not be familiar with, but you know they’d be open to trying.
- Stay neutral if you’re buying wine for someone you don’t know well.
- Shop at a wine specialty shop and ask the expert there for recommendations.
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- Don’t go to a grocery store and choose blindly yourself.
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For more information, visit www.basic-wine-knowledge.com. |
| Wine Tips |
Storage. Store wine with the bottle on its side or upside down to keep the cork moist. Keep wine at room temp. (55-65 degrees) in a basement or garage, and away from heat, vibration, and direct sunlight.
Chilling. Chill champagne or sparkling wines for 3 hours (to 40 degrees), and white wines for 20 minutes to 2 hours (45-50 degrees). Reds are served at room temperature (60-65 degrees).
Aging. Most wines are ready to drink when you buy them. Fruit wines should be consumed as soon as possible after purchase. Some dry red wines will age nicely in the cellar. Take time to meet the winemaker and discuss the aging possibilities for your particular purchase.
Food. Certain foods and spices just don't harmonize with wines. For example: vinegar, onions, garlic, fishy hors d'oeuvres, spices, mustards, etc.
Wine Order
- Always drink white wines before red wines.
- Drink dry wines before sweet wines.
- Drink in reverse order of age, drinking younger first and older next.
- Practice serving two different wines of the same variety - work up in quality and down in years.
Interesting Facts
- A bottle of wine contains approx. 500 calories.
- Wine contains considerable amounts of Vitamins A, B, and C.
- Wine contains all 13 essential minerals - Ca, P, Mg, Na, K, Cl, S, Fe, Mn, Zn, I, Co, Cu.
- There is no known human pathogen (germ that produces disease) that can live in wine.
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