How to Pour Wine for a Table

Use proper etiquette to pour wine at a table.

Etiquette dictates how to pour wine for a table. The bottle is to be opened at the table. The wine host, who ordered the wine, is to be poured a small amount to sample the wine. The host's approval triggers the pouring of the wine for the rest of the guests. Serve an acknowledged guest of honor first. Follow by serving the ladies next, clockwise around the table. Finish with the gentleman, also clockwise around the table. Should the table include more than eight guests, the waiter may serve clockwise around the table, regardless of gender.

Things You'll Need

• Army knife corkscrew
• Wine glasses

Instructions

1. Insert the knife from the corkscrew into the foil at the middle of the wine bottle's drip ring. Slice around the circumference of the bottle neck. Remove the foil.

2. Insert the tip of the corkscrew into the center of the cork. Turn the corkscrew five times. Do not break through the bottom of the cork.

3. Hold the bottle in one hand. Pull the corkscrew's lever with the free hand. Ease the cork out.

4. Stand over the right shoulder of the wine host. Turn the bottle so the label faces the host. Bring the bottle to the glass and pour a small sample. Twist the bottle over the glass to avoid drips. Allow for the host to approve the bottle or send it back.

5. Move to an acknowledged guest of honor. Stand over the person's right shoulder. Turn the bottle so the label faces the guest. Bring the bottle to the glass. Fill the glass between halfway and two fingers' width before the rim. Twist the bottle over the glass to avoid drips.

6. Move clockwise to the first female guest. Stand over her right shoulder. Turn the bottle so the label faces the guest. Bring the bottle to the glass. Fill the glass between halfway and two fingers' width before the rim. Twist the bottle over the glass to avoid drips. Move clockwise around the table, filling each female guest's glass in this fashion.

7. Move clockwise to the first male guest. Stand over his right shoulder. Turn the bottle so the label faces the guest. Bring the bottle to the glass. Fill the glass between halfway and two fingers' width before the rim. Twist the bottle over the glass to avoid drips. Move clockwise around the table filling the glass of each remaining guest in this fashion.

Tips & Warnings

• If there are more than five or six guests, Cellarnotes.net says you may suggest to the host that another bottle is in order. Whatever the decision, you should ensure that all guests receive a nearly equal amount--even if doing so means that guests receive less than a normal pour.

References

• Cellar Notes: Restaurant Service
• Schonwalder: Uncorking a Wine Bottle
• Wine Intro: Pouring
• Sally Bernstein: How to Hold and Pour a Bottle of Wine
• The Gotham Palate: Wine Pouring Etiquette