I wondered which of the two approaches was the correct one: should the wine be poured first for the person who tasted it? Yes or no?

I thought it would be interesting to dedicate an article to this topic because the matter is not as straightforward as it may seem. Let’s clarify things and provide precise answers to these questions.

Should the person who tastes the wine be served first? Here is the answer

According to the principles of traditional Wine Etiquette, the answer is: no, the person who tasted the wine should not be the first one to be served.

The rule states exactly the opposite: the person who tasted the wine should be served last. All the other guests should be served first, following the correct order of service, and only at the end should the wine be poured for the person who tasted it.

At this point, it is natural and legitimate to ask why: what reasons lie behind this rule? Let’s explore them below.

Why is the person who tastes the wine served last?

The reasons behind this rule can be found, as is often the case with Wine Etiquette, in the principles of courtesy, care, and consideration toward the other guests at the table.

The person who tastes the wine has a very specific role: they perform a quality check, verifying and ensuring that the wine has no faults and giving the approval to proceed with the service at the table. Our blog readers are well aware of this, as we have dedicated a specific article to explaining why wine is tasted at a restaurant.

Once this responsibility has been fulfilled, having already tasted the wine, even if only in a small quantity, the person who carried out the tasting should wait. According to traditional Wine Etiquette, the correct practice is to serve the other guests at the table first.

The person who tasted the wine should not receive preferential treatment by being served first, as this person has already had the chance to experience the wine before the other diners. The priority should instead go to the guests who have not yet been served.

Based on what we have explained so far, it might appear that the sommelier made a mistake in one of the two restaurant experiences I described. In reality, this is not the case...

Is it wrong to start the wine service with the person who has already tasted the wine?

The rules of Wine Etiquette, although rooted in tradition, are not immutable: over time they are often revised, reinterpreted, and adapted to new contexts, changing habits, and evolving tastes.

This rule regarding wine service has also been reconsidered from a modern perspective. In contemporary Wine Etiquette, in fact, the order of service is applied with greater flexibility.

In more informal and less formal dining environments, many sommeliers choose to start the wine service with the person who tasted the wine. This is mainly a matter of practicality: it is natural and efficient to continue serving from that same position.

For this reason, this approach is no longer considered a mistake. What matters most is that the service remains organized, discreet, and attentive.

We also consulted several sommeliers from our expert network and we found that opinions are divided between the two approaches: some continue to follow the traditional rule, while others embrace the more modern interpretation.

Ultimately, I can say that the two procedures I experienced in the two restaurants I visited were both correct. There was no mistake, simply the application of two different wine service traditions.