Wine & Reading Society

Entertainment Tips

The Friendship Test

A good glass of wine was part of the lives of Tamsin, Reagan, Sarah and Freddie. We think you will want wine to be part of your Book Club meeting, too!

Here are some helpful tips to make you a wine service expert.

Wine Glasses

Choose glasses that are crystal clear so you can observe the color and clarity of the wine; a tulip shape is preferred for maximum wine enjoyment. This shape allows you to gently swirl the wine to release its aroma. There are glasses made for every varietal; start with two types: a smaller bowl for whites and a larger bowl for reds.

Wine Temperatures

Be sure not to serve white wine too cold or red wine too warm. Whites should be chilled to a temperature 45 to 55 degrees F. Red wines should be served at “cellar” (as opposed to “room”) from to 55 to 65 degrees F.

Decanting

Decanting can work for young or more mature wines for different reasons. Decanting a young red wine that has not had a chance to age in its bottle can soften the tannins (the astringent compounds like those found in tea that tend to be more pronounced in a young wine) and develop the flavors. Pour a young red wine into a decanter and let sit for up to an hour.

Older red wines (five years plus) may contain sediment in the bottom of the bottle. This is tannin which precipitated out of the wine over the course of time—one reason older wines may taste softer and more elegant. Let your older bottle stand upright for a day to allow the sediment to fall to the bottom. Then carefully pour into a decanter leaving behind the bit of wine at the bottom which contains the sediment.

Quick Tip: Be sure your glasses are large enough so when they are halfway filled there’s room to swirl and allow the wine to breathe.

Allowing air to get to the wine enhances its aromas and flavors.

Visit Harper Collins Publisher's Reading Guide for discussion tips and relevant questions Linking off page.