Wine Storage and Service
Why store wine? Change in flavor from development over time Can’t drink it all at once Investments
What is proper storage Temperature Humidity Vibration Light 55° or at least very little temperature variation Humidity 75% in order to keep cork moist enough to retain seal Vibration Speeds up the aging process so little as possible is desired Light Causes the formation of free radicals that create an off taste
Type of storage Short term versus long term Short term Long term Accessibility Marketing tool Long term Controlled atmosphere Meant for backup or investment purposes
Service Sommelier – cellar master Sell wine Control storage of wine Tools of the sommelier Corkscrew Glassware Decanters
Proper service temp White wines often too cold red wines too warm at “room temperature” See chart for temperatures
Etiquette and proper service Identify host Make recommendations Return and confirm order Open bottle Pour host taster Serve ladies first Finish with host
Red wine service with decantation Wine may need decanting to remove sediment Wine is slowly poured into a decanter while the position of the sediment is viewed through the bottle
What to do with alternative closures (screwcaps) Treat just like a cork Remove and place on table alongside bottle Remove when guest have been served Don’t make a big deal out of it
How to handle mishaps Excuse yourself and try to fix problem away from the guest If the cork breaks, may need to filter wine to remove cork pieces May need to try a new bottle
How to handle rejected bottles Understand faults and flaws to determine if guest is correct If bottle is ok, just not what the guest expected, use for by the glass or amenity pours If bottle is bad, determine if replacing with the same wine would result in the same problem May need to recommend a new wine
Responsible service Servers, bartenders and owners are responsible for the service of alcohol Can be legally responsible if guest is overserved Many locations require liquor service training before servers can work