Wine DON'Ts...

Here are some informative "Wine Don'ts" adapted from the Complete Idiot's Guide to Wine, which is another good read and wine resource book! (The notes in the parentheses are ours.)

•  Don't store wine in hot places or in the sunlight.
• Don't keep wine in the trunk of your car.
• Don't store your wine standing up (keep the cork moist).
• Don't fill a wineglass more than halfway (so you can swirl it).
• Don't serve wine in new, unwashed glasses.
• Don't pop the champagne cork. Slowly twist it and pull it off.
• Don't serve a white wine too cold, or reds too warm.
• Don't buy wine from the store window.
• Don't give too much attention to wine snobs.
• Don't assume a vintage date means good quality
• Don't assume a cork in a bottle is a sign of good quality.
• Don't fail to ask when you don't understand wine terminology.
• Don't take the 100-point rating system too seriously.
• Don't assume all Napa wines are superior. (Notice the many awards Temecula wineries have won)
• Don't assume the words "reserve" or "classic" on a U.S. wine label have any significance.
• Don't assume all bottle-aged wine in a single case will be of the same quality.
• Don't accept a faulty wine in a restaurant.
• Don't accept a bottle in a restaurant that hasn't been opened at your table.