SWISHER — Going into a wine tasting, it can be easy for the average Joe to be intimidated by master winemakers. I know I was. My first experience ordering high-end wine was at a renowned French ...

Have you ever found yourself in a restaurant being asked if you want to taste the wine and wondered what on earth you were supposed to do? Do you sniff it? Swirl it? Sip it? Tell the waiter it's ...

There’s a particular kind of betrayal that occurs when you bring a bottle home from a great night out. In the restaurant, it was bright, layered, perhaps even a little life-changing. At home, on a ...

Wine service can feel intimidating if you're not experienced with the ritual. The swirling, sniffing, and polite approval after that small initial pour might seem like theater or a simple taste test.

Why is the tasting “ritual” frowned upon by some as over-the-top snobbery and considered as essential to the enjoyment and appreciation of wine by others? No one frowns when observing the customary ...