I write all too often about the detail of specific wines and all too rarely about the mechanics of how to serve and handle them. But at this time of year, when many of us are in entertaining...

François Audouze, Paris-based organiser of www.wine-dinners.com , is seen here at the Clos de Tart tasting demonstrating his own special way of extracting particularly old corks. He was...

It’s not all grim for Gordon Ramsay. Despite the recent bad press hounding him, it seems that his sommeliers are leading the pack. On Monday last week, Sud de France, the new moniker for...

The 2009 UK Sommelier of the Year, announced last night after a tense final at Tate Modern, is 27 year-old Laura Rhys from Gérard Basset’s Hotel TerraVina near Southampton, which Nick visited...

In Part One , we looked at how much wine, water, and non-alcoholic drink to provide. Here are some specific suggestions as to what sort of wine to serve at which sort of gathering....

Quantities   A tricky one, this. Individuals' capacity for alcohol varies enormously, as you have doubtless observed yourself. No-one could possibly accuse a host who...

Some people think that because of their age or status, it is somehow not 'done' to bring a bottle. Others would never dream of crossing a friend's threshold without a bottle of wine in...

For me, choosing the right wine to serve on a particular occasion is almost as thrilling as the wine itself - perverse as that may seem. It gives me real pleasure to feel that the bottle, or...

Caoimhe Goggins, Ireland:   Does wine with a screwcap need to be tasted by the customer (I'm a waitress)? Or is it just going through the motions, as it can't be corked?...

Spencer Sokale, Glen Ellen, CA:   I have a bottle of 1846 Lafite Rothschild that I shall open on June 10th for my friend's 60th birthday.  Can you give me any advice...

Julian Townsend, Isle of Wight: I see there is a new wine preserver system for opened bottles, called Pek, which also heats or cools the wine to the right drinking temperature (see...

Peter O'Neill, US: I just took delivery of a lot of older Leoville Las Cases that I bought at auction - 2 '66s, 4 '78s, 6 '79 and a solitary, lonely bottle of 1970. I have read a couple of...

David Honeywill, Surrey: A question about "tears" or "legs". I am confused over the significance of tears being left on the inside of the glass after swirling. Could you please explain what...

Luiz Horta, Brazil: Last week during a dinner I had an aged Vouvray Huet that was decanted. As the restaurant temperature was near 28 degrees I came with the "momentous" question about how to...

Joe Asch, NH: The wines of certain makers need a good hour or two of time in carafe to open up. I am thinking of wines from Dominique Laurent, Domaine Leroy, Domaine Raveneau and Jean-Marie...