How to Pour a Bottle Of Wine

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Learning to properly pour a bottle of wine can help you impress your dinner guests, or, more likely, land a restaurant job waiting tables. Either way, it never hurts to have exquisite manners.

Step 1: Wipe mouth
Use a clean cloth napkin to wipe the mouth of the opened bottle, cleaning it of any cork dust or debris.

Step 2: Display bottle
Cradle the bottle in one hand, and display the label to your fellow drinkers so they can see the maker, type, and year. If you are a waiter, display the bottle and label directly to the person who ordered it.

Tip
If you’re pouring a white wine, wrap the bottle in a cloth napkin to prevent the warmth of your hand from damping its chill.

Step 3: Pour
Bring the mouth of the bottle just above the rim of the glass, and pour.

Tip
If you are a waiter, pour a small “tasting” amount for the person who ordered the wine and wait for their approval.

Step 4: Don’t overfill
Only fill the glass about a third of the way up.

Tip
Pouring only a third of a glass allows red wine to aerate and helps bring its bouquet to fruition.

Step 5: Twist & wipe
As you finish your pour, twist the bottle as you lift it away from the glass to prevent dripping and wipe the top of the bottle with the clean cloth napkin.

Step 6: Place whites in bucket
Place unfinished white wine bottles in a wine bucket with ice to keep them cool. If you are a waiter, be sure to ask if the guests would prefer the bottle of white on the table.

Did You Know?
Ancient wine was originally fermented, transported and stored all in the same vessel — a clay pot called an amphora.