# What's the little taste of wine at the start of the bottle called? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** wine\ **Created:** [June 20, 2024, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-little-taste-of-wine-at-the-start-of-the-bottle-called/1003085 "2024-06-20T03:35:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![griffin1977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2024, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-little-taste-of-wine-at-the-start-of-the-bottle-called/1003085/1 "2024-06-20T03:35:26Z")
So, the little taste of wine that you get when you order a bottle of wine at a posh restaurant. What’s it called? When they pour a little splash of wine in your glass, for you to taste, and make sure the bottle is not corked and undrinkable, does that have a name? Is there a fancy (probably French?) name for it other than “a little taste”? ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2024, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-little-taste-of-wine-at-the-start-of-the-bottle-called/1003085/2 "2024-06-20T03:57:12Z")
Well, the feminine form for “pretentious” is “prétentieuse”, while the masculine is “prétentieux”. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2024, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-little-taste-of-wine-at-the-start-of-the-bottle-called/1003085/3 "2024-06-20T04:54:49Z")
[Sommelier](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sommelier) Didn’t see the answer on this page, so I’m going with “Freebie” ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2024, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-little-taste-of-wine-at-the-start-of-the-bottle-called/1003085/4 "2024-06-20T05:10:09Z")
I’ve been to a lot of fine-dining restaurants, on top of visiting many wineries and talking to many winemakers, and I’ve never heard this little ritual called anything but “the taste.” I never really thought about it, but this probably contributes to people’s confusion about the purpose of the ritual. I don’t actually taste the wine at this point. As you say, it’s about checking whether the bottle is corked, and you don’t need a taste; the aroma is quite distinctive. When the sommelier gives me the small splash, I sniff it, and say either yea or nay, no taste required. (And in thirty years, I can’t remember ever having gotten a corked bottle. Production and storage standards have improved a lot over time.) ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2024, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-little-taste-of-wine-at-the-start-of-the-bottle-called/1003085/5 "2024-06-20T05:13:53Z")
I would expect the server to know whether the bottle is corked before bringing it to me. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2024, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-little-taste-of-wine-at-the-start-of-the-bottle-called/1003085/6 "2024-06-20T05:19:44Z")
Well, you can’t know if it’s corked until the bottle is opened, and the sommelier has to open the bottle in front of you. (Assuming you’re ordering a bottle. If you’re ordering by the glass, obviously the bottle is already open.) I _have_ seen the sommelier sniff the newly opened bottle himself, and not bother with the small customer pour. The aroma is strong and unmistakable. ---
**Author:** ![Askance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/askance/32/8281_2.png) [@Askance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askance)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2024, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-little-taste-of-wine-at-the-start-of-the-bottle-called/1003085/7 "2024-06-20T05:30:53Z")
And when there is no cork but [the wine is bottled under Stelvin](https://www.amcor.com/stelvin) (as is increasingly the case), there’s no need for it at all ! ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2024, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-little-taste-of-wine-at-the-start-of-the-bottle-called/1003085/8 "2024-06-20T05:37:25Z")
No need for it if it’s in in a box, either! ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2024, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-little-taste-of-wine-at-the-start-of-the-bottle-called/1003085/9 "2024-06-20T05:50:12Z")
Wait. If he poured you a taste, well obviously the cork is out. Drink that taste, I say. Unless _corked_ means something else. Furthermore, do not want some somme??dude sniffing my bottle. Obvious reasons. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2024, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-little-taste-of-wine-at-the-start-of-the-bottle-called/1003085/10 "2024-06-20T05:51:50Z")
I love me some Box Wine! And when you done, you got a good fire starter! > [@Beckdawrek](#): > > Unless _corked_ means something else. Yes, It does. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2024, 5:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-little-taste-of-wine-at-the-start-of-the-bottle-called/1003085/11 "2024-06-20T05:52:22Z")
I was sure you knew. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2024, 5:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-little-taste-of-wine-at-the-start-of-the-bottle-called/1003085/12 "2024-06-20T05:53:20Z")
I was sure you went to bed. Edit: Yes, I think I mentioned I was in the Fine Dining biz as a summer job during High School. Great tips! ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2024, 5:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-little-taste-of-wine-at-the-start-of-the-bottle-called/1003085/13 "2024-06-20T05:55:14Z")
Same here. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2024, 6:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-little-taste-of-wine-at-the-start-of-the-bottle-called/1003085/14 "2024-06-20T06:13:25Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > Unless _corked_ means something else. Corked means contaminated. > **[What Exactly is a Corked Wine and What Does Corked Wine Taste Like?](https://www.thekitchn.com/what-is-corked-wine-what-does-corked-wine-taste-like-164148)** > > Most wine drinkers are probably familiar with the term ‘corked wine’, but I hazard a guess that not as many wine drinkers really know what a corked wine tastes like, how a wine becomes corked in the first place, or how to detect a corked wine. To... ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2024, 6:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-little-taste-of-wine-at-the-start-of-the-bottle-called/1003085/15 "2024-06-20T06:37:16Z")
Obscure Music and Movie Trivia foils The Dope for mere minutes, but this has the collective Us stumped, it seems! Impressive OP! ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2024, 7:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-little-taste-of-wine-at-the-start-of-the-bottle-called/1003085/16 "2024-06-20T07:52:30Z")
Umm … maybe it’s called “the little taste of wine at the start of the bottle”? Other than that, I got nothing. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2024, 8:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-little-taste-of-wine-at-the-start-of-the-bottle-called/1003085/17 "2024-06-20T08:50:19Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > If he poured you a taste, well obviously the cork is out. Drink that taste, I say. > > Unless _corked_ means something else. A documentary to explain it [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/2o3EUVht1G0/hqdefault.jpg "Fawlty Towers: Corked wine") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2o3EUVht1G0) ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2024, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-little-taste-of-wine-at-the-start-of-the-bottle-called/1003085/18 "2024-06-20T13:17:41Z")
It’s a ritual, and I enjoy it. I’m paying $32.50 for a bottle of wine I can get in a State Store for $11.75. Give me a break, let me enjoy the ritual. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2024, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-little-taste-of-wine-at-the-start-of-the-bottle-called/1003085/19 "2024-06-20T13:23:32Z")
I would have gone with, “taste”. Not “small taste”, as small if implied. It’s not a serving, it’s just enough to taste (or smell) if the wine is off. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2024, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-little-taste-of-wine-at-the-start-of-the-bottle-called/1003085/20 "2024-06-20T13:32:37Z")
My gf is more learned about wine, so she often looks over the wine list and orders the bottle we will then share. They offer her the taste, but after trying it she’ll ask the sommelier to pour me a splash. At a sushi place that has no liquor license but allows BYOB, I once asked our waiter, who we kinda got to know over the years, if he’d like to join us in a glass. He said, “Chinese people do not drink wine” as if it were a fact that most people should know. I apologized for offering, offered my hand, and he shook it. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-little-taste-of-wine-at-the-start-of-the-bottle-called/1003085.md?page=2)