Things to Know When Tasting Wine for the Table
From the Royals to Your Palate
The practice of a sommelier tasting wine for the table began with royalty. The sommelier had two jobs: select a bottle that paired with the meal, and taste it to make sure it was still good and hadn’t been poisoned. While the idea of being the tester may seem unsavory today, the practice has shifted. When you order a bottle of wine at some restaurants, the sommelier may take the first sip, wanting your wine experience to be pleasurable and the bottle to be perfect. They’re checking for wine that hasn’t been tainted by a bad cork or another flaw. A bad cork opens the wine to early oxidation, trichloroanisole, or other bacteria that leave it with undesirable flavors, so the sommelier uses their senses to catch any flaws and make sure you get the freshest bottle.
The Time I Tasted Wine for the Table
I was in New York City this past Thanksgiving, and while eating at a fine dining restaurant, my parents decided to order a bottle of wine for the table. Because my parents were tucked into the corner of our table, the server looked to me.
He brought the bottle we’d selected and presented it. At the time I was 21 and hadn’t experienced this before. He showed me the bottle with the label facing me and asked if it was correct, and if I was willing to taste for the table.
So many questions popped into my head. Was that the correct bottle? Why did he choose me? What was I supposed to look for in the flavor? Would I like it? What if I didn’t?
He poured the sip and gave me time to try it. I swirled the glass, glanced at the color, smelled the aroma, and took a sip, doing everything I’d seen in the movies. Moral of the story: the wine was good, and I approved the bottle. But one question stuck with me afterward: what was I actually supposed to be looking for?
What Am I Looking for When Tasting Wine for the Table?
After a little research, and with help from Amanda, I got the answer. The reason the server or sommelier presents the label is so you know it’s the bottle you ordered.
If you’re familiar with the wine’s flavor, the label and the taste should match, confirming that a lower-value or incorrect wine wasn’t swapped in. Restaurants do this so you know your wine isn’t counterfeit, and in case the server brought the wrong bottle by mistake.
After they pour a sip, swirl the wine to let the aroma build and check the color. Smell it and make sure there’s no off-putting scent. When you taste it, watch for unsavory flavors like mildew, vinegar, or a musty taste, any of which can mean the bottle is flawed. If it’s correct and unflawed, you’ve done your job and the table can enjoy.
What Happens if I Don’t Like the Wine That Was Selected?
This one is a little trickier. A few factors can sway whether you keep the bottle. If it isn’t flawed and the dislike is simply a matter of preference, it can be hard to get a restaurant to take it back.
Price plays a role too: a $25 bottle is more likely to be taken back than a $250 bottle, since restaurants are in the business of making money, and an opened bottle only has a limited window to be resold.
Sending a bottle back may mean the restaurant has to put it on special or offer it by the glass to other guests. Another option is to ask the server or sommelier to aerate the wine to soften a sharp flavor. As a general rule, once a bottle is opened for you, assume you own it: use your judgment, but explore other options before sending it back.
Enjoy the Gift of Tasting Wine
Inevitably, the table’s eyes will be on you during this process. Whether you selected the bottle yourself or someone curated it for you, this is the moment to show off a little wine knowledge. See if you can pinpoint the notes you’re getting, and try to explain why the wine pairs well with the meal. Wine is an art carefully crafted for your enjoyment, so take the time to appreciate the differences in wine from around the world.
AJA takes pride in our crafted Malibu Coast wines. We hope this gives you a little history and guidance on tasting wine for the table. As always, thank you for supporting AJA Vineyards, and stay tuned for more wine content soon.
Happy tasting!
Braden