From Sparkling to Fortified, wine comes in a range of styles, colours and alcohol levels. No matter if you are having a dinner party, out for the evening, or just enjoying bottles at home serving wines in the right progression will allow you to enjoy each to the fullest.
Pairings aside if you are drinking multiple wines here are some tips on what should be poured first.
Serve wine from Lightest to Heaviest
Starting with your favourite wine is a great idea if you are not drinking any lighter wines, so if your evening includes some lighter wine options serve them first.Beginning with sparkling wine, then light whites, into rosés or oak-aged whites, followed by lighter reds, and end with the boldest red you have on offer.
Serving wines by weight in this progression with allow your palate to experience each glass to the fullest. Going the opposite direction with make lighter wines seem lighter and more acidic than they truly are.
Start with Dry Wines before Sweet Wines
Our palates naturally gravitate to sweet flavours, and those flavours have a tendency to stick around.
Serve wines with the lowest sugar content first like dry whites, rosés and reds. Moving into sweeter styles later in the evening.Although dessert wines are lighter than full and jammy reds their high sugar content is ideal as the last wine of the night. Serving in the opposite direction will make dry wine seem drier than they truly are.
Enjoy wine from Youngest to Oldest
Whether enjoy a vertical wine from a sole winery or just serving an aged bottle in an evening, start with the youngest wine before serving the oldest. Older wines need more time to open, then younger wines. Not only that but when tasting the same wine across multiple years serving from young to old will allow your palate to taste the progression of age vintage by vintage.
