Wine: Etiquette and Dining
Wine is beverage that is most often consumed in social situations. It brings people together in a relaxed yet sophisticated style. Consequently, opening and consuming wine, whether you are doing so at home or in a restaurant, comes with its own dining etiquette. Knowing wine etiquette is key to playing the perfect host and demonstrating a level of culture and class!
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Wine EtiquetteOne issue that comes up with wine is how to order it when out at a fancy restaurant. While ordering wine or asking the server isn’t necessarily a concern if you are out with family or friends, it can be a touchier subject if you are out with co-workers, clients or your supervisor.
Consequently, you may be concerned with the proper etiquette when ordering wine at a restaurant. One rule to keep in mind is that your server can always recommend the best wine for your hors d’ oeuvres, main course and dessert.
The Gift of WineUndoubtedly, wine makes a wonderful gift for family, friends, co-workers and clients. While you may not have a problem choosing the right wine for someone who you know well, picking a wine for an acquaintance’s palate can be a bit trickier. One suggestion is to become familiar with the types of cuisine the recipient usually enjoys. By understanding the flavors that please him or her, you can also get a feel for flavors that will complement these in a particular wine.
Similarly, you may want to bring wine to dinner party as a gift for your host. If you don’t know the menu (and aren’t in the position to ask), you may want to choose a dessert wine. By bringing a dessert wine, you can be sure that the sweeter choice will match up with whatever is served for dessert.
Serving Wine
The world of wine is complicated and often confuses many people. In fact, one of the major issues revolves around understanding what type of wine to serve in any given situation. Whether you are serving wine at your dinner party or deciding what type of wine to order in a restaurant, the choices abound.
Wine connoisseurs have set out some general guidelines for choosing wines: while heavier meals with red meats should usually be served with red wines, meals with lighter flavors or fish dishes should generally be served with white wines. However, red varieties can vary differently from the type of grape (i.e. cabernets versus merlots) to the vintage of the particular bottle. The same is true of white wines. For example, a 1979 pinot grigio will taste remarkably different than a 2003 chardonnay.
Consequently, you will want to learn more about how the vintages and grape varieties affect wine flavor so that you can serve the proper wine at any meal.
Throwing a Wine Tasting Party
These days more and more people are throwing their own wine tasting parties. While wine tasting used to be an event exclusive to wineries and upscale restaurants, it can also easily be done at home among friends. When planning a wine tasting event, you need to take a few things into consideration.
Not only will you need to plan for a variety of wines, but you should also be sure to serve plenty of snacks. The food that you serve should complement the wines you pour. Also, providing enough dishes can help prevent anyone from becoming too intoxicated.
Consider some of these questions in the planning process: do you want to have pot luck party? Do you want each person to bring his or her favorite bottle? Do you want your guests to have rating cards to chart their least and most favorite wines?
Opening Wine
While it may seem straightforward, opening wine can be more complicated than you think. Even using the proper can technique can lead to unexpected results. What should you do if the cork breaks? Why is the cork important anyways? Why do servers at upscale restaurants have their guests examine the cork?
