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How to Present a Wine
At dinner parties or in restaurants, properly presenting and serving a bottle of wine honors the guests and is a time-honored ritual. Ceremonial in nature, the formal presentation of the wine follows old traditions but also serves practical purposes. Offering a taste to the host in a restaurant or an honored guest at a dinner party ensures that the wine hasn't spoiled in its bottle. Presenting the proper amount of wine in the right type of glasses enhances its flavor. Add this to my Recipe Box.
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Instructions
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Bring spotless, dust-free wine glasses to the table, bar or serving area. Place a glass in front of each guest who will partake.
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Place a cloth napkin over your forearm, folded in thirds, to collect any drips spilled from the bottle while pouring. Cradle the wine bottle on top of the napkin with the bottom in the palm of the hand, label facing out at all times. Never carry the bottle by the neck or below your waist.
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Announce the wine's varietal and vintage, keeping the label facing your guests at all times.
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Hold the bottle upright at the lower part of the neck. Cut an "X" into the foil on the top of the cork, peeling the foil off to avoid contamination. Most corkscrews include a knife on one end for this purpose.
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Grasp the base of the bottleneck firmly with one hand and the corkscrew with the other. Place the sharp end of the corkscrew directly into the center of the cork and turn the corkscrew clockwise with even, steady pressure straight down. Rest the pull lever on the lip of the bottle while puling down on the corkscrew handle to lift the cork out of the bottle. Remove the cork without tilting or twisting the bottle, which may require some practice.
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Place the cork next to the guest who ordered the wine if serving in a restaurant. Wipe the top of the bottle with the clean napkin prior to pouring as required by tradition, especially with an older vintage. Wiping will remove any material at the lip of the bottle.
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Pour a taste, approximately 1 oz., in the glass of the diner who ordered it if you're serving restaurant patrons. Return the bottle to the presentation position, label facing guests, and wait for the host to taste the wine and approve the bottle. Once approved, pour wine for the other guests at the table beginning with the women and ending with the host.
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Pour an equal amount for all guests, not more than 5 oz. in each glass. Pour slowly toward the center of the glass, filling to just below the widest part, usually less than half a glass, so the wine vapors fill the glass and allow the guests to swirl the wine without risk of spillage. Finish pouring the wine, tilting the tip of the bottle upwards and slightly rotating your hand so it doesn't drip. Wipe the mouth of the bottle against the cloth draped over your arm to catch drips between pouring glasses. Set the bottle approximately 4 to 6 inches in front of the ordering guest or guest of honor when pouring is complete.
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Tips & Warnings
Choice of wine glasses is important in achieving the best possible presentation of the wine. Wine enthusiasts recommend wide, round glasses with red wine. Pour white wine into tall, tulip-shaped glasses. Sparkling wines require a small, tall and thin glass.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Pouring wine image by Nikolay Okhitin from Fotolia.com
