Should You Taste the Sample Pour? Sommelier Etiquette Explained
Dreading the pre-dinner swirl-and-sip? Here’s when to taste, when to trust your somm, and how to spot flaws—without killing the table vibe.
Tag sommelier
Read MoreShould You Taste the Sample Pour? Sommelier Etiquette Explained
Restaurant Wine Etiquette: Should You Taste the Sample Pour?
Unsure about tasting that sample pour? Here’s why servers present the bottle, when it’s fine to skip the sip, and how to ask for a somm check.
Restaurant Wine Etiquette: Sample Pour, Sniff, Trust the Somm
Do you have to approve the sample pour? Dr. Vinny says sniff for flaws, trust the somm, and stay relaxed. Here's how to handle it like a pro.
Burgundy Wine Markups: Winehog Calls Out Greedy Restaurants
Steen Öhman (Winehog) vows to drop Burgundy restaurants with obscene wine markups in 2026. Why gouging hurts wine culture—and how diners can respond.