Matt I must say that your rendition of the RITUAL of wine selection / serving / drinking leaves me humbled. I had a bottle of Pinot Nior with Lynn & Suzi some time back where the server did all he could to fulfill the RITUAL. Regrettably, it was all very much beyond the sophistications of an Iowa Farm Boy such as me.

The waiter showed me the bottle and I did manage to see that it was what I ordered. However, the rest of the RITUAL was quite lost on me. He handed me the cork but I assumed he wanted me to dispose of it so I threw it at Lynn. I know now that I was supposed to smell it to see if the bottle was “corked”.

He then poured me a small amount intending for me to swirl it around to check the color and oxygenate it before sampling it for my guests. Alas, I simply chugged it and asked for seconds while muttering about the need for man-sized servings. Your article now equips me to better understand the nuances of wining while dining. Thank you!