The master of the house should always pour the wine. Before serving it to guests, he should pour a drop into his glass and sample the flavor. He should also make sure it’s at the right temperature and that there are no bits of cork in it. Then, he can serve it to his guests from a carafe or directly from the bottle.

At ceremonies and official receptions, wine should be served from the right, and serving should begin with the women. In the company of friends and relatives, on the other hand, you can simply follow the arrangement of those seated at the table.

When pouring a red wine, carefully raise the glass with the left hand and fill it about half-way. When white wine is served, leave the glasses on the table and fill them up to two-thirds full.

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