Wine is a famously sophisticated beverage and an essential component of almost every social occasion; it is an indispensable part of social gatherings, dinners, and events. Some of us may even enjoy sipping wine in the comfort of our own home (while preparing a meal or watching a movie). Considering the popularity and the ‘sophisticated’ reputation that wine has gained over the years, it is important to study and practice wine etiquette.
Some might claim that life is gradually becoming more informal and casual, and that that change also applies to manners. That claim may be true to some extent, but I still hold that wine etiquette is beneficial – even necessary – to everyone.
No one wants to be the person who can’t properly hold a wine glass in a formal event. Faulty manners might even lead some to endlessly examine and sniff a cheap wine bottle in an average restaurant.
In this article, I will walk you through the basic do’s and don’ts of wine etiquette; these guidelines will help you navigate the path to an elegant wine experience in both professional and social settings.
Five social wine etiquette rules that you should know:
Pouring wine:
When you pour your wine, make sure to not overfill your glass. Firstly, a full glass cannot be swirled to properly enjoy and appreciate the wine’s taste and aromas. Secondly, overfilling your glass can almost seem like you are trying to hog the wine – an appearance that is far from elegant.
Make sure to follow these guidelines:
- Pour your wine until your glass is one-third to half full; never fill your glass to the brim!
- Try to keep the amount of wine in your glass equivalent to the amount in the glasses of others.
- Always offer to fill others’ glasses before you fill your own.
Proper glass holding:
Elegant women carry things properly: themselves, their bags, and definitely their wine glasses.
Wine glasses were specifically designed for a reason, and should be held properly. A stemmed glass should be held by the stem, and not by the bowl, for three reasons:
- Holding a glass by its bowl leaves unattractive smudges and finger marks.
- Our hands generate warmth that can change the temperature of the wine, which should be slightly cool. By holding our wine glass by the stem, we maintain the correct temperature of the beverage for a longer period.
- Holding a glass by the stem instantly looks more dainty and elegant.
Display good wine etiquette by holding your wine glass by the stem. Holding your wine glass properly may take a little while to get used to, but it eventually becomes a second nature.
A quick note: you may occasionally come across wine experts who hold their glass of red wine as a tennis ball, with the stem falling between their fingers. Such a way of holding the glass is meant to warm the temperature of the wine if it is too cool (red wine should be served a bit warmer than white or sparkling wine). If you are not a wine expert, who completely understands wine temperatures, I advise you to stick with the stem.
Sniff tests:
One of the steps of properly drinking wine is to do a sniff test before you taste it. A quick test can determine whether the wine is faulty or suitable for drinking. Also, a brief sniff test, especially after you gently swirl the wine, can help you smell the aromas of the wine and make your wine drinking experience more enjoyable and memorable.
With that being said, long sniff tests do not fit any place or occasion. If you spend too much time sniffing and appreciating your wine in a business dinner or in a casual restaurant, you can come across as pompous and pretentious.
Save long sniffs only to high-end restaurants, wine tasting rooms, and to the comfort of your own home; keep your tests short, sweet, and simple everywhere else.
Avoiding marks:
We usually drink our wine slowly, and take many breaks between each sip; by doing so, we can leave multiple mouth mark on the glass. Such marks are neither pleasant nor elegant.
Learn from the female members of the British royalty, who minimize their marks by always drinking from the same part of the glass. This rule is especially important for women who wear lipstick.
Toast etiquette:
Celebrations and social gatherings with wine can often involve a toast and a clinking of glasses.
Firstly, if you clink your glass, do so carefully and gently; otherwise, you might break someone’s glass or your own. Make sure to clink the central part of the bowl, because the edge is very fragile.
Secondly, be elegant and polite; refrain from crossing other people’s arms to secure a clink.
Thirdly, always look your toasting-partner in the eyes.
Lastly, know that you can always choose to make a subtle gesture in the air; you don’t always have to physically clink the glasses.
A final word about wine etiquette:
As elegant women, we should always strive to follow proper etiquette and manners in all aspects of our life. With that being said, don’t worry about etiquette so much as to mar your enjoyment.
These wine etiquette guidelines are here to help you enjoy the experience and to leave a good impression. If you struggle with any guideline or rule, gradually change it until it becomes easy. Eventually, like any other habit in life, etiquette and manners will become natural.
Keep growing to become the most elegant version of yourself!
I’d love to read your thoughts! What do you think about wine etiquette and manners? Please share in the comments below.
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