Wine is much more than a drink to be enjoyed with friends or after a long day at work. Sure, it’s a great way to bring out the flavours in your food, but it’s also important to look at the correct wine etiquette depending on the situation. When presenting wine as a gift, you will follow different rules than when buying a bottle for yourself.

 

Enjoy wine tasting

The best way to explore new types of wine is to take a trip to your local winery where you can enjoy a tour and the chance to sample their various products. The only way to know what you like is to taste it, and wineries are perfect for that.

Even if you know nothing about wine or wine etiquette, a winery is where you’ll learn. The staff will be more than willing to explain anything you need to know about their different wines.

During the tasting, if you take a sip of a wine that you don’t particularly like, you can discard the rest of the sample into a special container. You can also request a second small sample of a wine you like but would appreciate another flavour just to be sure. DO NOT order a second sample of every wine you taste! If you like a particular wine, you can ask to buy a glass instead of offending the winery and its staff by gobbling up sample after sample. Many wineries offer tastings in wine bars where you can sample different types of wine side by side. This is ideal for when you want to compare different types of wine and really understand your personal preferences.

 

Eating out

When making a restaurant reservation, it is usually perfectly acceptable wine etiquette to bring your own bottle of wine. That said, most restaurants charge a corkage fee, so be sure to find out how much it will cost before you decide to bring your own. In many cases it is more convenient to buy a bottle with a meal.

If you are not sure what type of wine to order with your meal, you can ask your waiter and they will be happy to suggest different bottles that will complement your meal. If you are dining with many other guests, you may need to order more than one type of wine. For example, your choice of wine might pair perfectly with your steak, but might overwhelm your friend’s chicken meal. Your waiter should always show you the bottle label before opening the wine. They should pour a small amount of wine into your glass and let you taste it to be sure. Only once approved should they serve for the table.

Your waiter should also place the bottle cap next to your seat for inspection. This way you can check if the cork is too dry or mouldy. Dry corks indicate that the wine may not have been stored properly, while mould may indicate that the wine is old. If you are not satisfied with the wine or if the cork is dry or mouldy, feel free to refuse the bottle. It’s also important to note that red wines need time to breathe, so you may opt to ask your waiter to decant the wine for you. Some wines should be served at room temperature, while others should be served cold. By the time your wine reaches your table, it should be at serving temperature, whatever that is. A bottle of white wine should not be served at room temperature and then immediately placed in an ice bucket. The ice cube will make the wine too cold.

Enjoy wine at home

Whether you’re entertaining guests or just enjoying a meal with your family, you’ll want to do some research before opening any food bottles. Each type of wine works best with certain foods, and you want your wine to complement the food. If you choose the wrong bottle, it could overwhelm the food or the food could overwhelm the wine. If you want to serve wine before the meal, you should opt for a light white wine or even sparkling wine. Essential wine etiquette includes always serving wine in the correct wine glass. White wine glasses are different than red wine glasses! Never fill the glass to the bottom. Fill only halfway to allow the wine to breathe. If you are the host, you must allow your host to serve you unless he suggests that you help yourself.

 

A gift for your host

When you attend a dinner party at a friend’s or relative’s house, you should always bring a bottle with you. Don’t expect the host to open this bottle! It is a gift for the host and the host will usually already have their wine and other beverages ready to serve.

Wine hampers

If you’re buying a bottle of wine for someone you know well, then you probably already know what they like. If so, purchase a wine basket or wine gift that includes a bottle of your favourite. If you’re buying a wine gift for someone you don’t know very well, you should choose one that is reasonably priced (not too cheap and not too expensive). It should also be a medium bodied wine if you are unsure of your personal preferences. If you are unsure, you should visit your local winery or speciality store for advice and recommendations as well as some wine etiquette tips.

With this wine etiquette advice in mind, you can be sure that you will always choose the right bottle and ensure that it is presented properly when sending wine as a gift. With so many different options available, it’s not uncommon to wonder which one is best. Apart from the many resources online, you can also rely on your hamper vendor to pair up wine and foods like cheese just perfectly in their gift baskets.