Here’s the Real Reason You Taste Wine Before the Waiter Pours
The common misconception is that savoring wine before the waiter pours the table is to confirm that you like the taste. This small sample is actually to ensure that the wine does not have any flaws in some way. The most common pain of coming to an otherwise good bottle is its cap, which in this case you should definitely send it back.
estimate 1% to 7% of bottles are cork-en. If you absorb it regularly, you will most likely encounter one at some point and knowing how to find a bad bottle will prevent you from having to pay for it.
To make cork wine thinner, we turned to experts for tips.
What is cork wine?
“A cork wine is caused by a compound called Trichloroanisole or TCA that contaminates the cork, bottle or wine itself during harvesting, production and even transportation,” said Vinnie Miliano, a well-known bar manager. Waldorf Astoria Chicago.
TCA is often present as a fungus in corks, but can also appear in pesticides, preservatives and cleaning products found in breweries. Barrels and cardboard boxes can also be sources of “contamination” even if high-quality control standards have been strictly implemented.
“A cork wine is not harmful to consumption, but drinking is certainly not pleasant and will definitely hurt the experience,” Migliano added.
Despite the temporary embarrassment and the disruption of dinner service, it is still A-OK to send back something that is impossible to meet the standard. After all, if you are going to take out hard cash to treat yourself and a loved one, you don’t want to go to the evening, OK, OK, Sour.
We asked Migliano and Courtney Cheney, beverage operations manager Prime Minister of the Oceanexplains how to determine whether the wine is stuffed with the wine, and the appropriate protocol for marking the problem with sommelier or server. (For more wine tips, read the best tips for sommeliers to find budget bottles and see how to properly store each open wine.)
How to tell if a wine is cork
Cork wine may smell like wet cardboard or a wet basement.
There are usually two direct indicators that detect whether a wine is stuffed: aroma and taste. “Crut wines usually smell wet cardboard, fermented or like a wet basement,” Migliano said. “If you taste it, you’ll notice that the flavor may be gentle or unpleasant, lacking the expected fruit and structure.”
Cheney echoed these exact descriptions, adding that cork’s wines would also “have a distinct astringent taste in severe cases and would also lack fruity.”
Although one might think that some weight tannin varieties are more likely to appear corks than others, TCA does not discriminate. “But it is easier to recognize cork flavor in unbaked wines because oak aging comes with a stronger aromatic,” Cheney said. “It is more likely to happen in traditional corks.”
Read more: We asked a wine professional that open-air red wine lasts longer in the refrigerator
How to send back cork wine
If you stumble upon a cork bottle, a well-trained wine professional or bar manager may remedy the unfortunate situation. “The best way is to be the easiest,” Migliano said. “Import your server or sommelier politely. No offense is taken, and most hotel professionals are trained to handle the situation gracefully.”
This may include tasting wine before changing the bottle or glass. If you are not completely sure, you can also rely on their expert taste for explanation and/or final confirmation.
“I used to have a complete Rioja that was completely stuffed,” Migliano said, adding that there is no need to “feel embarrassed or angry” at the moment. Quality verification is only part of the process and is only an important step in determining whether it affects other inventory.
“You can also check the cork, which should be shown to you on the server where the bottle is opened,” Cheney added. “If it smells moldy and damp, it may be stuffed.” Of course, if there is any kind of echo, upgrade it to the restaurant manager or owner after the meal. This can be done by email to avoid confrontation.
Read more: 7 Amazing Recipes You Can Add Wine to
No wine
Any restaurant worthy of salt will replace a cork bottle with a good bottle for free.
Cheney combines the concept of wine cork: “Crut stains are a natural failure in wine, so most restaurants will replace bottles without further problems or charges.”
While offensive sip may be unfortunate, remember that this is probably the worst thing that day. Accept it, say something, and move on. It’s no one’s fault (not even the winemaker’s fault) and you deserve a stress-free, delicious meal worth every dollar you spend.
