Wine Bottle Etiquette

In a Restaurant

Afew of years ago I was promoted and in celebration, my boss and colleagues treated me to an upscale restaurant. I was flying high from my promotion and was definitely full of confidence, until the wine bottle that I ordered was delivered to our table.

At that very moment I was sorry I ordered wine as I had no clue what to do when the sommelier held the bottle in front of me to inspect. I knew from watching movies that you should swirl and taste. But never having to do this, I had no idea how this should be handled. At that very moment I made a promise that I would enlighten myself on the proper etiquette of ordering wine in a restaurant. Let me take you through on what I learned since then.

The Bottle's Arrival

When the wine is presented to you, examine the label to make sure it is what you ordered. Specifically, check the producer and vintage. Sometimes a restaurant will be out of the vintage and simply bring out the succeeding year. This may not make a difference, but if you love a 1995 vintage and are brought a 1996 instead, know that there certainly is some difference. In such a case, you may decide to order a different wine.

Check that the temperature is satisfactory. It is better for both reds and whites to be too cold than too warm. Don't be embarrassed to ask for an ice bucket to chill both whites and reds.

Cork Presentation

After opening, the bottle of wine, the sommelier will present the cork to the person who ordered the wine. Do not sniff it. Doing so is likely to tag you as a wine snob. However, you can check to make sure the cork is wet, a sign that the bottle was stored properly.

If the cork happens to be dry it may have developed a disease called corked wine. This is not harmful but puts off a moldy odor and taste. If you perceive corked wine in a restaurant, send the bottle back immediately. If you're not sure, simply ask the sommelier for an opinion.

Smelling and Tasting

The sommelier's next stop is to pour a small amount of wine for the person who ordered it. Smell and taste are the best indication that the wine is sound. So gently swirl the wine in the glass to release the aroma, give it a sniff, and then taste it. If the wine does not put off any off odors such as vinegar, chances are it is fine. Remember the flavor and aroma of wine will expand and develop as it aerates. It is not appropriate to return a wine simply because you don´t like it as much as you thought you would.

The tasting process should not take long. So after you have taken your sip and approved the wine, simply say "thank you" a signal for the sommelier to pour the wine for others in your party.

Contributor: Jim Stein (Syracuse, NY)

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