Things You'll Need:
- White linen napkin
- Waiter-style corkscrew
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Step 1
Show the bottle to your guests. Give the guest--either at a restaurant or at home--a chance to see the label of the bottle they will be drinking. In a restaurant, this has the added benefit of allowing the guest to verify that you will be opening the correct bottle. To present the bottle, support it on a linen napkin at a 45-degree angle with the label facing the guest.
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Step 2
Repeat the wine and vintage. In a restaurant, it is wise to repeat the name of the wine and the vintage when you present the wine just to make sure there is no confusion. At home, this step is optional, but it will save your guest from having to closely examine the label to see what you are serving.
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Step 3
Wait for approval. As a restaurant server, always wait for the guest to give you the "go-ahead" before you open the wine bottle.
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Step 4
Open and pour the wine. Once the wine is presented, verified and approved, it's time to open the bottle. A waiter-style corkscrew with a hinge is the easier to use at a table. To open, remove the cork with a quick circular motion of the knife in the top of the corkscrew, pull out the cork and wipe any residue from the neck of the bottle.
