When Wine Arrives at Your Table
Despite the fact that drinking a bottle of great wine is supposed to relieve stress rather than cause it, many restaurant patrons tend to get a bit nervous when the wine arrives. If you're one of the millions of people who are unsure of what to do or how to react when the waiter or sommelier brings the wine, just follow the advice of a wine expert and turn the experience from uncomfortable to enjoyable.
Master Sommelier Andrea Immer is the host of the Fine Living series Simply Wine with Andrea Immer. She is also the Dean of Wine Studies at The French Culinary Institute in New York City, the author of several best-selling books about wine, and the wine columnist for Esquire magazine. In April 1997 Immer won the Sommelier Society of America's 'Best Sommelier in the United States' title. Here she explains exactly what to do when the wine arrives:
- Check the label.
When the server arrives, he or she will present your bottle to you. The first thing you should do is look at the label to make sure that it's the wine that you ordered and the year you selected.
- Check for oxidation.
Now your job is to check the condition of the wine by looking, smelling, and tasting. The first thing to check for is oxidation, which is indicated by a brownish color or a tired, dried out smell like a fruit that's lost its freshness.
- Check for corkiness.
Secondly, examine the wine for corkiness. This doesn't mean that there's cork floating in the glass; it's a condition caused by a non-harmful residue in the cork, and is characterized by a musty smell and taste, reminiscent of a wet basement.
- Send it back when necessary.
If the wine exhibits signs of oxidation or corkiness, or is otherwise unsatisfactory, don't hesitate to send it back and request something else.
- Enjoy yourself.
Of course, the wine you order will most likely be fine, and instead of sending it back, you'll get to enjoy it with your meal. In Immer's opinion, this is when the real fun begins.
Next: Tipping in a Restaurant
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