- Swirling too hard. And spilling it all over.
- Putting ice cubes in your wine. Place the bottle in a bucket of ice or try liquid-filled stainless steel “ice-cubes” or even frozen red or green grapes—so as not to dilute your wine.
- Mispronouncing Meritage. To be correct, remember that it rhymes with heritage.
- Leaving newly purchased wine in your car on a hot, summer day. If it’s hot enough, the wine can boil, pop out the cork and oxidize.
- Forgetting the sparkling wine you were trying to chill down in the freezer until it explodes.
- Bringing a $10 bottle of wine to a wine exchange party that stipulates between $20 and $30.
- Serving red wine at room temperature. Contrary to popular thinking, red wine tastes best when slightly chilled—stick it in the fridge for about 10 minutes before serving.
- Filling your glass to the rim with a special wine that was meant to be shared among a group of friends. Remember, there are only four, 6 ounce glasses of wine per bottle.
- Topping off someone’s wine with a different and, perhaps, cheaper wine. Just because it’s the same color doesn’t mean the wine tastes the same or is of the same quality.
- Being a snob or know-it-all about wine. Keep your ears, mind and taste-buds open. Even Leonardo Da Vinci once said, “I am still learning.”
