



We’ve listed below our Sommelier’s 5 top tips for you to hone your skills;
You should serve from the right of the guest, the opposite to food which is served from the left. Whilst serving from the right be sure to the turn label inward towards the guest to make it visible. A Sommelier will always do this to show that the correct bottle is being served.
Once turned 5 rotations or until a single spiral loop shows at the top rest the levers first notch on the lip of the bottle and hold the lever flat against the bottle so it doesn’t slide and gently lift the end of the corkscrew. Then use the second notch at the end of the lever to ease the cork out of the bottle.
If you don’t feel comfortable with this then offer the first taste to the person who ordered the wine.
When pouring the wine, be sure to hold the bottle by its base with your thumb in the indentation or the punt. This allows the label to be shown whilst pouring. Not all bottles have a punt but you can always hold by the base to show the label. This is a technique which may take some practice in controlling the pour, so grab yourself an empty bottle and fill it with water and practice away! You don’t want to be spilling when serving!
As you pour or after you can discuss the aromas and flavours of the wine with your guests - again all of this information is on the bottle if you are not familiar. You can also share your experiences with this particular wine you are serving.
All of these discussions are a great means of interaction with your guests as even the shyest people who are afraid to talk about wines are likely to engage into a wine conversation after you present and serve the wine like a professional.