How to Serve Wine in a Restaurant
If you own or work at a fancy restaurant, you may serve wine to your guests. Although the act of serving wine may seem fairly simple, they are certain rules of etiquette that apply and should be followed. Serving wine the proper way will impress you customers.
- Greet the customers and pass out wine menus. Determine how many people will be drinking wine, and the type of wine they will be drinking.
- Place the appropriate number of wine glasses onto a serving tray. Make sure the glasses are clean and free of any food particles or fingerprints. You may want to wipe each of them with a clean cloth before placing them on the tray. Take the tray of wine glasses to the table and pass them out to each guest.
- Take your tray back to the bar and set it aside. Select the type of wine you will be serving and carry it out to the table. Hold the bottle so that the bottom is cupped in one hand and the neck of the bottle is held lightly with the other. Take the bottle over to the person that ordered it.
- Use a corkscrew or wine key to remove the cork from the bottle. Ask the guests if they would like to examine the cork. If not, you can dispose of it.
- Pour the wine into the glasses. It is polite and proper etiquette to serve the ladies first. After each lady has been served, you may begin to serve the men. Always serve the person who ordered the wine last.
- Allow the guests to taste and sample the wine. Ask if they are happy with the wine or would like to try a new kind. Check back to see if anyone needs their glass refilled and over to pour the wine for them.