If you've ever been to a restaurant that serves wine, even a more affordable option like Olive Garden, you've probably seen a table presented with a bottle of wine by their restaurant server.
When you see this happen, the table is receiving one of two services: they are either ordering one glass of wine from an already opened bottle of wine, or they are ordering an entire bottle of wine for their table.
If they were ordering the latter, the bottle would arrive at the table, unopened and sealed, usually with a cork. True to wine etiquette, the server would then break the seal in front of the people seated at the table and then give them an opportunity to try the wine before stepping away from the table.
But TikToker and former server @trashqueentm pointed out that trying the wine was not to make sure that the customers liked the wine.
Rather, it's to confirm that the wine hasn't gone bad.
You can watch the video here:
The TikToker coaches viewers to always try the wine before the server leaves the table, just to make sure the wine is still fresh. What can happen is mold can develop on the cork and sour the wine, which is called "corking."
If you ever try a wine and it smells like mildew or vinegar, and it just tastes bad, tell the server, "This wine is corked," and they will either replace the wine for you or take it off of your bill, depending on your preferences.
Fellow TikTokers were shocked that restaurants weren't more open about this process.
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Some commenters were worried about what would happen if they didn't like a perfectly okay wine.
The TikToker reassured concerned viewers that, while this process is in place to avoid customers drinking bad wine and becoming ill, servers and restaurants still care about their customers' experience and and want them to enjoy the wine they've ordered.
So, if you ever order a wine and there's nothing wrong with it but you don't like the flavor, you can tell the server that as well, and they will do their best to help improve your experience.
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The TikToker reassured viewers that while customers might be worried about wasting a bottle of wine by ordering an entire bottle only to turn it away, "a good bottle of wine will never go to waste." Instead of being served as a whole, fresh bottle, it'll join that evening's rotation of wines used to pour single glasses.
Good to know!
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@sadcommunistdog; @froglok/Bluesky