Whether it’s an informal dinner with friends or an elegant lunch, knowing who is responsible for uncorking the bottle is essential. It’s not just a matter of courtesy, but also of helping to create the right atmosphere and make the dining experience more enjoyable for everyone.

In this complete guide, we’ll look at the different situations you might encounter and offer practical advice, based on wine etiquette, on who should open the bottle of wine.

Who should open the bottle of wine: rules of etiquette

Wine etiquette includes precise rules regarding the opening of the bottle. The responsibility for this act varies depending on the situation and context. Generally speaking:

• At home or as a guest: the task of opening the bottle belongs to the host.

• At a restaurant: the opening is entrusted to the sommelier or the waiter.

However, as often happens in the world of wine, even these rules can have exceptions. Wine Etiquette, in fact, adapts to different circumstances, the type of event and the level of formality. In the following sections, we’ll look at each situation to see who should open the bottle of wine.

Wine at home: who should open the bottle according to etiquette

In an informal setting, such as a dinner with friends, colleagues, or a family lunch, whether at your own home or someone else’s, the general rule of wine etiquette states that the host is the one who should take care of opening the bottle.

That said, in relaxed and friendly environments, it’s not at all a mistake if someone else opens the bottle, as long as the host delegates the task.

In many cases, the host may choose to entrust the opening of the bottle to the most experienced person at the table, as a gesture of respect and recognition of the guest’s skills. This is a form of courtesy and humility, helping to create an atmosphere of participation and mutual appreciation. If one of the guests is a sommelier or a wine enthusiast, don’t hesitate to ask them to uncork the bottle: besides being an elegant gesture, it ensures a proper opening and more precise service, thus enhancing the experience for all diners.

Wine at the restaurant: who should open the bottle according to etiquette

When it comes to formal dinners or lunches at a restaurant, wine etiquette becomes stricter: in this context, there are no exceptions, as the guest never opens the bottle. It is the sommelier, or in the absence of the sommelier, the waiter, who takes care of opening the wine bottle.

These rules are not just a matter of form; they represent a true ritual of hospitality, expressing elegance, attention and respect for the guest. Opening wine at a restaurant is therefore not merely a practical act, but a moment of care and professionalism that helps make the dining and wine experience even more refined.

Opening wine on special occasions: gifts, parties and picnics

Let’s now look at who should open the wine in some special circumstances, in order to have a complete and clear understanding of the different situations you might encounter. Even in these cases, etiquette provides simple yet valuable guidelines, allowing you to act with good taste and discretion at all times.

Wine as a Gift

If you receive a bottle of wine as a gift, you may often wonder: should I open it right away or wait? Etiquette suggests respecting the gesture of the gift and, if possible, opening it immediately. The gift giver may later request that it be opened on another occasion. In any case, the responsibility for opening the bottle lies with the recipient of the gift.

Parties

During parties, ceremonies or important toasts, such as birthdays, anniversaries or other special occasions, the responsibility for opening the wine usually falls to the guest of honor. It is a symbolic gesture that represents the moment of sharing and the start of the toast.

In the case of events not dedicated to a specific person, such as corporate parties or community occasions, the opening of the bottle is the responsibility of the event organizer.

Picnic

We wanted to include this particular case because etiquette takes on some really interesting nuances here. In more informal and spontaneous settings, such as a picnic or an outdoor lunch, practicality prevails: the person who has the corkscrew takes care of opening the bottle.

If several people have one, the task can be entrusted to the person who is most experienced or confident in handling wine, to avoid small accidents or awkward movements. Similarly, the person with the corkscrew can choose to delegate the opening to another participant, perhaps someone considered more skilled or passionate.

In short, you now have a complete picture of who should open the bottle of wine in different circumstances: at home, in a restaurant or during special occasions. By following the rules of wine etiquette, you can handle every situation with confidence and style.