Your Handy Guide To The Etiquette Of Pouring A Glass Of Wine

As an independent wine retailer, we supply fine wines to the hospitality sector as well as to private customers. When you order a bottle in your favourite restaurant, you may have noticed that the sommelier has the art of pouring a glass down to perfection. If you want to emulate their technique to impress your guests, here’s a handy guide!

Select the correct glassware

The type of glassware you use will impact your wine drinking experience, so begin by selecting a suitable glass. Ensuring the glasses are sparkling clean before use will make the occasion feel more special. As a rule of thumb, red wines are served in larger glasses with wider bowls to allow the aromas and flavours to fully develop in contact with the air. 

The flavour of white wine is not impacted by oxygen, so it’s served in smaller glasses to preserve the chill. Sparkling wines are served in tall narrow flutes to maintain the effervescence and concentrate the flavours. 

Hold the bottle correctly

When serving a guest, hold the bottle from the base. You can either wrap your dominant hand around the lower end of the bottle no higher than halfway, or place your thumb in the dimple under the base of the bottle, which is known as the punt. Make sure that the label is facing the guest so that they can see which type of wine is being served. 

Prepare to pour

If you are serving a guest at the dinner table, it’s traditional to stand to their right to pour, and to serve ladies first. However, these older rituals are dying out so it’s fine to just work your way around the table if that’s easier. Leave the glass on the table and pour slowly to avoid splashing, aiming for the middle of the glass without touching the rim.

A standard wine measure is 150 to 180ml, which depending on the size of the glass will be about one-third to half full. Do not fill the glass more than halfway, because this will make it difficult to swirl and release the aromas. As soon as you have finished pouring, rotate the bottle slightly and return it upright to avoid drips.

Catch the drips

Have a napkin handy to mop up any drips that occur, particularly if you are pouring red on a white table cloth. Dark coloured napkins will hide any stains. Take extra care when pouring sparkling wine, as the fizz may rise above the rim of the glass. 

Don’t worry if this all sounds a bit much to take in at first: practice makes perfect. If you are simply enjoying a casual weekend glass of wine at home, you probably don’t mind too much how it is poured, as long as it tastes great. However, it’s nice to have a little professional insight for when the occasion might demand it!