The Art of Serving Wine: 5 Small Details That Make a Difference

With summer entertaining on the horizon, wine is likely to make its way onto more tables, from long lunches and garden gatherings, to relaxed dinners at home. And while choosing the right bottle is one thing, how you serve it can make just as much of a difference.

Fortunately, good wine etiquette doesn't require years of experience or an encyclopaedic knowledge of grape varieties. A few simple considerations – from serving temperature to how much you pour – can help bring out the best in a bottle and make the experience feel that little bit more deliberate.

“Good wine etiquette is really about getting more enjoyment from the bottle,” says Bianca Leonard, Brand Manager at lifestyle technology specialist Solenco. “You do not need years of wine knowledge. Often, it is the small details that make the experience feel more considered.”

Whether you're hosting friends, ordering wine at a restaurant, or simply opening a bottle after a long day, these five rules are worth knowing.

1. Get the temperature right

When it comes to wine, temperature matters more than you might think. It can influence everything from aroma and flavour to how fresh or full-bodied a wine feels.

And while the familiar advice to serve red wine at “room temperature” may sound straightforward, that's not necessarily ideal – particularly during a South African summer. Reds are generally better served slightly cooler than a warm room, while whites and sparkling wines benefit from a more pronounced chill.

The trick is to find the balance. Wine served too warm can taste heavy and lose some of its freshness, while wine that is excessively cold can have its aromas and flavours muted.

“We’re seeing more attention being paid not only to chilling wine, but to keeping it at its optimal temperature,” says Leonard. “Precision wine coolers are offering a more elegant alternative to ice buckets, giving hosts greater control over taste, and ensuring the last glass is every bit as enjoyable as the first.”

2. Let it breathe – but don't overthink it

You may have heard that simply opening a bottle allows it to “breathe”. In reality, removing the cork exposes only a relatively small amount of wine to air.

Pouring the wine into a glass and giving it a gentle swirl is a much more effective way of encouraging its aromas to develop. Take a sip after a few minutes and see how it changes. If the wine seems to be opening up, give it a little more time.

One notable exception is sparkling wine. Swirling it vigorously isn't necessary and can encourage the bubbles to dissipate, so when it comes to Champagne and other sparkling varieties, a gentle pour is all that's needed.

3. Know when to decant

Older wines are sometimes decanted to separate the wine from sediment that may have developed over time. Meanwhile, younger wines can benefit from exposure to oxygen, which may help them become more expressive.

However, if a wine already smells inviting and tastes balanced shortly after opening, there is no need to reach for the decanter simply for the sake of it.

There is also another detail worth considering: temperature.

Once wine has been transferred from a bottle into a decanter, it can begin moving towards the temperature of its surroundings. This means that aerating a wine is only part of the equation; you still want to make sure it reaches the glass at a temperature that suits the style of wine.

4. Don't fill the glass to the brim

A generous pour might seem hospitable, but filling a wine glass to the top leaves little room for one of the simplest pleasures of drinking wine: swirling it.

Leaving some space in the glass allows you to move the wine gently, helping release its aromas before you take a sip. It also makes the glass easier to handle without the risk of spilling.

The amount you pour can vary depending on the type of glass, the wine, and the occasion. As a general rule, however, restraint is useful. You can always top up the glass later.

5. Understand what that first taste is really about

At a restaurant, the moment a waiter pours a small amount of wine into your glass can feel surprisingly formal. But you aren't being asked to judge the wine or decide whether it meets some personal standard of perfection.

The first taste is primarily about checking that the bottle is sound.

Give the wine a quick smell, take a sip, and consider whether anything seems noticeably wrong. If you detect a clear fault, such as cork taint or oxidation, it's perfectly reasonable to mention it to the server.

There is an important distinction, though: disliking a wine doesn't necessarily mean there is something wrong with it. A wine can be perfectly sound and simply not suit your palate.

Ultimately, wine etiquette is less about following rigid rules and more about creating the conditions for the wine to be enjoyed.

“Get the temperature and aeration right, give the wine some room in the glass, and take a moment to taste it properly. Small changes like these can make the whole experience more enjoyable”, says Leonard.

So, as summer entertaining approaches, think beyond the bottle itself. A well-chilled wine, a considered pour, and a little patience can turn even a casual glass into a more enjoyable part of the occasion.

Images: Supplied