Serving Wine: Pouring Protocol

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Whether pouring wine for friends and family or total strangers, the key thing to remember is to pour for everyone.

Sharing a glass of wine is a great way to relax and enjoy time with friends. Whether to complement a wonderful meal or to be savored on its own, wine’s delectable complexities make the perfect addition to any occasion. Check out these Questions & Answers

Is There a Proper Way To Pour?

The proper way is the simplest way: holding the bottle in one hand, extend your arm, extend your arm out in front of you (it should be at a 90° angle to the glass); then gently tilt. Now pour until the glass is roughly half-full (at about 3–4 oz, a standard 750ml bottle will yield 6–8 servings this size), taking care not to drip. Once finished, pull the bottle up and back while slightly twisting your wrist counter-clockwise; this will help prevent more pesky dripping as you move on to the next glass.

Who Gets Served First?

At a casual gathering with friends, any order will do. But if a romantic tête-à-tête, or a family or business event, erring on the side of convention will keep you in the clear: Beloved before significant other, boss before employee, guest before host, woman before man.

And What’s With The Glass Half Full?

Glad you asked, as it seems to confuse. But as anyone who’s attended a wine tasting knows, this space allows room for swirling the glass, increasing its contact with the air and releasing more aromas as it goes!