Serving wine

The vast array of corkscrews, glassware and wine gadgets available to the wine enthusiast is an indication of how complicated serving wine can be.

In this chapter we look at the essentials of serving wine, and how you can do justice to your wine without unnecessary fuss. We also explore the etiquette of serving wine, whether you are the host or a guest.

The chapter includes: serving wine at the right temperature; how to open wine bottles; pouring wine; and decanting and breathing. We move on to choosing glassware to enhance your wine; laying the table; and how to clean and care for glassware. The chapter ends with planning for a special occasion, and looks at delicious wine-based drinks, including several classic cocktails.