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Wine Tips: Etiquette and Dining

Wine is highly regarded for its wonderful qualities, including both taste and aroma. To truly enjoy the entire rainbow of wine varieties, especially in social settings, a few rules of etiquette apply.

Etiquette for Wine

Wine etiquette at restaurants can be confusing. At fine restaurants, the wine list typically arrives first. This can be an intimidating showing of unfamiliar names mixed with a few well-recognized terms. Unless you choose to enjoy a glass of wine prior to your meal, it's best to figure out what you want to eat before choosing your wine.

Once you've decided on the menu courses, consult with the server or wine steward, unless you already have favorite selections in mind. He will be more than happy to help you select a bottle to complement your food.

Etiquette for Wine Tasting

Here are the proper steps for tasting wine once it arrives at your table:

The server will arrive with the bottle, first presenting the label for inspection. Do read the label briefly and verify that it is indeed the correct vintage.
The server will uncork the bottle. Some people like to check the cork for signs of spoilage. If the wine has turned, the cork will produce an off odor.
The waiter will pour a small glass of wine for the person who ordered it. The person will note the color of the wine, smell it, looking for any foul odor, and taste it to ensure that it hasn't spoiled.
Once the person says that the wine is good, the server will pour glasses for the rest of the table.

Wine Etiquette: Tipping

Some controversy surrounds wine tipping etiquette. You may think that a higher-priced bottle requires the same tip as a less-pricey choice. Wine tipping etiquette, however, states that if you're able to afford expensive wine, you should include the requisite gratuity based on the entire cost of the bottle.

Generally, you should tip between 10 percent and 20 percent per bottle, depending on the service you receive.

Wine Etiquette for Home

Wine etiquette continues at home as well. When serving, it's important to have the right tools on hand to make an artful presentation for your guests. You'll find an amazing array of foil cutters and sophisticated openers at any kitchen or wine store.

For proper etiquette, you should also serve your wine in the proper glasses. You can buy glasses for serving white, red, champagne and specialty wines.

Etiquette for Opening Wine

It's always a good idea to practice opening wine if you aren't familiar with the process. You don't want to have to ask one of your guests for help because you can't uncork the bottle. Here are the basic steps for opening wine with a waiter's pull:

Start with the bottle on a flat surface that puts the neck of the bottle at elbow height.
Remove the metallic wrapper around the neck by using the blade of the opener.
Making sure that the corkscrew is perpendicular to the surface you are working on, twist the corkscrew evenly into the center until the majority of the screw is buried.
Hook the metal lever over the rim of the bottle and pull up. The cork should easily slide out.

If you can't uncork your wine, consider buying screw-cap bottles. Screw caps continue to gain popularity, eliminating some of the necessary wine opening skills. Many fine wines even come with screw caps.

Wine Etiquette: Giving Wine as a Gift

Presenting a wine gift is not usually as simple as picking up a bottle on the way to someone's home. If you're dining with old friends, you'll already have an idea of their wine preferences. However, when meeting with new acquaintances or selecting wine for peers and bosses, it becomes more complicated. A good rule of thumb is to pick a mild wine that isn't too bold. You might even choose to pick one of your favorites.

When giving wine as a gift, etiquette dictates the process. Spend too little on the wine and you might insult someone. Pay too much, however, and you risk looking pretentious. To be on the safe side, buy a wine that is priced in the middle range.

Wine gift baskets are also appropriate, depending on the occasion and the person receiving the gift. At most wine stores, you'll find an array of luxury bags and baskets for presenting your wine. You can fill these with wine as well as with wine accessories. You might even want to throw in some cheese and crackers to complement the bottle.

If you are bringing wine to a dinner party, don't pre-chill the bottle unless you are responsible for bringing the wine. If you pre-chill the bottle, the host may feel required to serve it.

Wine Etiquette: Serving Wine

The etiquette of serving wine is fairly straightforward. Use the correct glasses and have the wine at its ideal temperature. In general, chill red for 10 to 20 minutes. (Though not a popular idea, chilling red wine actually exaggerates the tannins and gives the wine more taste.) Give white wines a 20-minute rest before pulling the cork.

Vintage red wines sometimes require several hours of decanting to allow the sediment to settle and the aromas to reach their full bouquets. At bottling, white wines are by nature ready to drink.

How to Host a Wine Tasting Party

A wine tasting party is a wonderful way to explore different varieties and have a fun get-together. Hosting a wine tasting party is often as easy as asking each guest to bring their favorite brand or varietal. For larger gatherings, it's wise to limit selections to three to five wine types.

In order to plan for the right appetizers and food, you may want to target a specific wine region, such as France's Bordeaux region, or even limit the choices to specific reds or whites.

A successful wine tasting party includes the right selection of cheeses, breads, crackers, vegetables and fruits. You can also elect to serve heavier dinner fare. For instance, big bold reds could go with a hearty beef course, or whites could pair well with a selection of grilled poultry or fish.

Many companies are getting in on the act of assisting with wine tasting parties. For a set price, they'll bring in a selection of wines and can even provide the food. Some companies will even waive their fees to the host if the guests purchase a certain number of bottles during the party. Your local wine store may also offer in-home tastings for a fee.

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