In the long-standing culinary culture of humanity, wine undoubtedly plays a crucial role. Whether at an elegant banquet or a casual gathering with friends, wine is ever-present. If you want to appear graceful and confident in a wine tasting event and engage in high-level discussions with other wine enthusiasts, understanding wine etiquette and social rules is essential. This article will elaborate on the etiquette you need to pay attention to during wine tasting and how to demonstrate elegance in social situations, helping you elevate your style and fully enjoy the wonderful world of wine.

Wine Etiquette: Basic Principles You Cannot Ignore

The elegant process of wine tasting is not merely about savoring fine wines; it is a multi-sensory feast of vision, smell, and taste. Mastering the necessary etiquette details can make this feast more charming.

1. Correct Way to Hold the Glass

A wine glass is not a tool to be grabbed carelessly; the correct way to hold the glass is to gently pinch the base of the glass with your thumb, index, and middle fingers, rather than the bowl, to avoid influencing the wine's flavor with the warmth of your hand and to keep the glass clean. This way of holding not only appears elegant but also allows you to better observe the wine’s color and aroma. This helps maintain the wine's temperature, avoiding the impact of your palm's heat on the wine's fragrance, while also adding an elegant posture.

2. Correct Wine Pouring Amount

• Red Wine: It is usually recommended to pour red wine to a third of the glass (about 120ml). This amount not only allows the wine to fully contact the air, promoting oxidation, but also releases more aroma, enriching the tasting experience.

• White Wine: For white wine, it can be poured to half of the glass (about 150ml), which helps maintain appropriate cooling and allows the aroma to concentrate in the glass.

• Sparkling Wine/Champagne: Sparkling wine is recommended to be poured to two-thirds of the glass (about 120ml) to maintain the liveliness of the bubbles, while avoiding excessive foam overflow. Avoid filling the glass to the brim to prevent affecting the drinking experience and visual effect.

3. Poring Techniques

• Maintain Distance: When pouring wine, the bottle's mouth should be about 2 to 3 centimeters away from the rim of the glass. This can avoid noise caused by the bottle's mouth colliding and reduce the risk of drips onto the table.

• Control Pouring Speed: When pouring, the bottle should be tilted slowly and steadily to avoid pouring too quickly, which could cause excessive foam or spill. For sparkling wine, you can first tilt the bottle and, once the foam subsides slightly, pour to the appropriate level.

• Rotate the Bottle: After pouring a glass of wine, gently rotate the bottle and then lift it up, which can effectively prevent the wine from dripping at the mouth of the bottle. This technique requires some practice, but once mastered, it will make your actions more elegant.

4. Observation and Aroma

Before tasting the wine, first observe its color. Gently swirl the glass to let the wine flow within, then observe its “legs” (the way the wine flows down the walls of the glass). Next, bring your nose close to the glass’s rim, take a deep breath, and experience the wine's aroma. This step helps you capture the aromatic characteristics of the wine, such as fruitiness, floral notes, or woodiness.

5. Tasting

After smelling the aroma, take a large sip of the wine, allowing it to cover your entire mouth and swirl around, coming into full contact with your taste buds. Pay attention to the wine's acidity, sweetness, tannins, and body. During this process, consider whether the wine is balanced and whether it showcases its region's characteristics.

6. Toasting Etiquette

In social situations, toasting is a common way to congratulate others. When toasting, ensure eye contact as a sign of respect. Avoid clinking glasses by the rim, and instead, gently touch the bowl to reduce the risk of breakage. After toasting, there is no need to drink all at once; you can savor it slowly.

7. Maintaining Proper Behavior in Social Situations

Whether at a private dinner or a large banquet, avoiding excessive drinking is crucial. To exhibit elegance, maintain moderate drinking and always remember to lift your glass gently from the table when conversing with others, rather than waving it in front of you.