Storage And Service Of Wine

Question 1

Decanting wine

Answer 1

1. Remove the bottle horizontally from its rack and place in a decanting basket if available. Alternatively, hold the bottle carefully, making sure the deposit is not agitated.
2. Very gently remove the top of the capsule and clean the shoulder and neck of the bottle. Very gently remove the cork.
3. Remove the bottle from the basket, being careful not to disturb the deposit. Holding the bottle in front of a light, pour the wine carefully into the decanter until the deposit can be seen near the neck. At this point, stop pouring.

Question 2

Opening a Bottle of Sparkling Wine

Answer 2

1. Remove the foil and loosen the wire cage.
2. The cork must be held securely in place from the moment the wire cage is loosened.
3. Tilt the bottle at an angle of about 30 degrees, griping the cork, and use the other hand to grip the base of the bottle.
4. Turn the bottle, not the cork.
5. Hold the cork steady, resisting its tendency to fly out, and ease it slowly out of the bottle.
6. The gas pressure should be released with a quiet ‘phut’, not an explosion and flying cork.

Question 3

What is the ideal storage conditions? What should you avoid?

Answer 3

The wines should be stored where the temperature is cool and constant and, preferably between to 10-15C.
Extremes of hot (early maturation and decline, cause off aromas) and cold (cork failure) should be avoided as should wide temperature fluctuations.

Question 4

Explain how to store a wine

Answer 4

Bottles needs to be stored on their side so that the wine stays in contact with the cork. This keep the cork moist and it maintains a better seal. If the bottle is stored standing up then the cork may dry out and the seal fail, resulting in oxidation.