Serving and Drinking Wine as a Professional Sommelier

7 Tips to serve wine as a professional sommelier

We all have a certain tendency to do things automatically, without thinking the reason why it done thay way. But doing them one way or another can make all the difference, thats why its important to know.

One of those things that we do automatically is to serve wine on our tables, and we all have in our minds the stereotype of the right way or trying to make good use of the quantity. On this occasion we are giving you some tips to serve it like a professional:

There is an order marked by the body of the wine
As a general rule, they are served following a basic progression or order that will go from the lightest to the largest body. Not only the pairing matters, the very body of the wine will guide you to serve it properly.

For example:
white → pink → red
youth → breeding → reserves
dry → puffed → sweet

All of them would be logical orders based on the body of the wine, since the more color, aging or sugar a wine will always have more dry residue and therefore it will be more corpulent.

Needless to say, the above rule will always be subject to pairing, any detail matters to enjoy a well served glass of wine.

Choosing the right cup

It is not worth any glass that we have at home, the golden rule is that they must be slightly closed at the top so that the aromas do not escape and be able to appreciate them, both in still and sparkling wines.

In addition, it is important that it has a long stem, and the glass should always be held by it, so as not to heat the wine when picking it up.

Correctly uncorking the bottle

Except in sparkling wines, the bottle should never move when uncorking it, what moves is our hand and the corkscrew. A bottle should never be uncorked in the air, we must keep it on a table or stable surface at all times and introduce a quality corkscrew in the middle of the cork for proper extraction. The tip of the ringlet should not exceed the opposite side of the cork, as debris could fall into the wine.

Experts usually give the cork a little twist before removing it so that some air enters and takes it out more easily. Remember that you always have to clean the mouth of the bottle after opening it, to remove debris. In this article you can read more about how to open a still wine.

The exact temperature

It is well known that wines exposed to high temperatures enhance the alcohol and those served at very low temperatures camouflage the aromas, so we must be very careful when serving them, since each one has its ideal temperature to be enjoyed in its highest potential.

In fact, in winery, controlling the bottle's temperature is crutial , the slightest change of variables can cause the wine to lose all its flavor. And on the contrary, by serving the wine at its optimum temperature, even a mediocre wine can surprise. The effect of temperature on wine is very important and  it makes a big difference when tasting a wine.

And although there are those who believe that reds are served from the weather and cold whites, this is a false statement both can be served fresh and also from the weather at a never very high temperature, with a certain tendency to be cool, to be right

Until which point should a glass be filled

Nowadays it is difficult to give a standard measure to serve the right amount in a glass. The measurements of the cups have changed and standards are hardly kept.

There are general rules which suggest to fill a third of it, being even less if it is white wines, so that they do not heat up.

Although if the glasses are smaller, such as sparkling or generous, more quantity can be filled.