Is there a 'right' way of drinking wine (red or white)?

Answer 1

Well, here goes:

Reds should be consumed from a red wine glass (belled more for better aeration). you can hold the glass by the bell since the wine should be served at a cool room temperature.

Whites should be served chilled in a white wine glass (narrower means less surface area to volume, ergo warms slower). hold the glass by its stem.

Now the complex part: for just tasting a wine:

Promethius' general recommendation for wine tasting:
1) When presented the cork (or uncorking your own bottle) inspect the cork for any rot or seepage which would indicate wine had penetrated all the way through the cork. Some people also smell the end of the cork. True afficionados feel the inside end of the cork to ensure that it is damp from wine... indicating that the bottle was stored properly: on its side.
2) pour (or be poured) a small amount (or if you're at home, just pour the standard half glass... why pour twice?).
3) You don't "shake" the wine in the glass, that's bad form. Swirl the wine. You may then look through the side of the glass against a relatively light background color to see the "legs" of the wine (this is basically how the wine flows back down the sides of the glass). Different wines have different expectancies for the consistancies, so you'll have to get used to what you're looking for here over time.
4) Smell the wine. There's no set way to do this, just however you feel gives you the best sense for the scent of the wine. I prefer one sharp "sniff" followed by a couple slower smells.
5) Sip the wine. Again, there's no set method to do this. Some people like to swish the wine back and forth across the tongue, others just to hold it. I like to let it "glide" back from the front of the tongue to the back. The important part is to hold it in your mouth for a bit to get the full flavor (including the finish)

Answer 2

red's should be decanted to let breath
the best way is to put 10 single sheets of cheese cloth over the bottle you wish to pour it in to and very slowly pour it in you don't want the air chugging back and forth that mixes it up and don't pour out the last 3/4 " of the bottle let stand for a least 2 hours
this will make the reds smother
I never liked reds until I went to a winery and they did this and now I am a fan

With whites most like them cold but they can be served warm

the glass matters you want to have the sides shaped like a c
pour only 1/3 full and spin the wine around

This is important smell the wine once let out your breath and then smell again and let the smell stay in your nose and while holding your breath that a sip.

Smell is part of your taste doing all of this will enhance the experience.

Answer 3

Actually everyone here is wrong! Just kidding, but in reality, when really trying to taste wine appropriately, only about a quarter of a glass or less is all you want to pour at a time. This allows you to swirl the wine aggressively to liberate its aroma. Even half a full glass is too much to do this. Most professional wine glasses are quite large (like the Riedel Sommelier series of handblown glass) so even a barely full glass is quite a bit of wine. In restaurants, if I am going to order wine by the glass, which I rarely do, I will often ask for a separate glass once they bring the filled up glass. That way I can pour some into the other glass a bit at a time.

Answer 4

Cork: When presented with the cork (I don't think this is as widespread as it used to be), just put it aside - you don't need to sniff or inspect the cork unless you're really worried about the vintage

Sample: The waiter will pour a small amount in your glass. Swish it around, and take a sip. If it's unbearable, tell the waiter (vinegary), otherwise signal that it's good, and he'll pour

White wine: hold the glass by the stem - holding the bowl will heat the wine more quickly

Red wine: bottoms-up!

Answer 5

Let me clarify, if I can...
There is a "widely accepted and recommended" way of drinking wine, which involved temperature at which it is served, certain glasses, sipping, etc.
However, to quote a Robert Mondavi wine consultant I met on a plane once... "there is no wrong way to enjoy wine".
If you like your red wine chilled and your whites at room temp, go for it. After all, who are we pleasing here? You.
Be advised.. most reds taste better at room temp (70-ish), the complex fruits really comes out. (I'm a red fan)
But seriously, if it pleases you to drink Merlot out of a Bugs Bunny jelly glass with ice cubes...who's to tell you you're wrong?

But do try to accomodate guests with a more standard approach.

Answer 6

Red wine served at room temp. (55 degrees) and white wine served chilled. Never gulp your wine, but sip it. Always fill glass half way so the wine can breathe.

Answer 7

hi dhiraj,why ru asking this question to firangis.
main bata huun
since the red wine is little warm, have it in a glass which has long stem below and hold it at bottom most of the glass,as for white wine,u can hold the glass at just below the end of the base.

Answer 8

Regardless of the color, the most important thing to remember when drinking wine, is, of course, the positioning of the pinky finger. It's important that it is fully extended, as if you are pointing out the person across the room or table from you. If you are really hoitty-toitty (or gay), you'll not only have the pinky fully extended, but you'll almost be able to arch the thing to where it points straight up to the ceiling/sky. Just be careful as to not poke your eye out when sipping down your vino.

Answer 9

Red is served room temp in a bowl type glass,White is best chilled in a flute glass.Sip both and enjoy,or if you had a crappy day Git-r-done and toss the cork,Santas coming with the mail.

Answer 10

The shape of the glass is very important as well. Sorry, I live on the border to France.