Dear Sir, Of course wine should be enjoyed as and with whoever one sees fit, but I expect that there are sometimes protocols to follow when connaisseurs gather together and open a famous vintage. Any input on that?
Answer From Expert Roger Bohmrich MW
I couldn't agree more with your sentiment: wine is meant to be enjoyed above all! You are also right that some serious wine drinkers - for example, journalists, collectors or trade professionals - would prefer to respect certain standards and established etiquette. You could argue that the enjoyment of wine could be handicapped by rigid customs. On the other hand, some practices are grounded in common sense, or at least learned outcomes. For example, it is a generally accepted norm to serve younger before older wines in a vertical tasting of vintages. I have found personally that this is a reliable approach - bold and assertive before mature and subtle - but there are those who like to do it the other way around. Another issue is the order of service: light before heavy, delicate before rich, unwooded before oak-matured, dry before sweet. Following this strategy seems to fit most palates. It has been customary to serve white before red (I'm referring to dry versions), but that custom is evolving - signifying that all such protocols may, and do, change with time. In the ancient Mediterranean, and even 19th century Europe, sweet wines were far more popular than today and were no doubt drunk with all types of food.
