[Drinking wine] Part 2: Things you need to know about etiquette

Speaking of manners, there's something I've been wondering about for a while.

Yes yes, what is it?

Is it okay to toast with wine glasses?

There are many websites and books about toasting, but in the world of wine, "Avoid clinking glasses" is good etiquette in formal situations.

But everyone loves to do that "Clack!" thing.

Yes, but in formal toasting situations, you don't clink your glasses together. You just raise your glass and say "Cheers!"

But if it's not that kind of occasion, I think it's okay to do it differently depending on the time and situation. After all, a toast with a loud clang creates a better atmosphere.

Of course, if you are using thin, high-quality glass, it is best to avoid this as there is a risk of it breaking.

So, here I want you to remember that "you don't clink glasses in formal situations," and there's no need to frown when you see other people clinking their glasses to go along with the atmosphere and think, "They have no manners."

I see, so there are times when it's okay to crash and times when it's not.

I agree.
In Europe there is already a culture of toasting by clinking glasses together.

However, you have to be careful not to touch the spout to the glass , as it will break.
When making a toast, clink the bowl containing the wine together.
The ball part is the strongest.

I see!

Can I say "cheers"?

Of course, that's fine (laughs).

Also, I don't think we have to just import European culture and do exactly what the Europeans do.

Since it's coming to Japan, I think it's fine to mix it with Japanese culture and have fun with it.

So, rather than just pairing wine with Western cuisine, I think pairing it with Japanese or Chinese food is something that countries with a rich food culture do.

I think the Japanese banquet scene is also a great part of Japanese culture.
If a new wine brand comes into an area like that and has to be strict about everything, people will think of wine as being too bothersome.

Even if you don't really care that much, if there's a risk of breaking the glass, I think it's fine to just refrain from banging it. After that, feel free to do as you like.

So I don't feel like it's too much of a hassle at my shop because I don't use glass that breaks that easily.

I see, so it's okay to toast with a bang at Bokumo. That's good (laughs).

Just put the balls together and clatter! (laughs)

However, high-end restaurants and wine bars where a glass costs around 2,000 yen use high-quality glasses, so I definitely think it's best not to do this there.

But in those kinds of places, you don't get the "Cheers! Yeeeeessssssss!" vibe.

That's right (laughs)

It's a matter of adults reading the situation properly (laughs).

Also, speaking of manners, there's the "lipstick issue."

What is that? (laughs)

I've never heard of that before (laughs).

Lipstick gets on glasses, right? What do you two do about that?

Shouldn't you just wipe it?

Every single time? Every time you drink it?

Hmm, I wonder how he's doing?

I guess I'd just use my fingers to pinch it.

Ah, you do this with your finger. Then you wipe your finger with a napkin or tissue.

But maybe the act of wiping itself is embarrassing, so I want to casually hide it.

I'm not saying there's a right answer to this, but lipstick on a glass really doesn't look good.

What I thought was a bit odd was the glass that had a bit of lipstick left on it after a drunk woman left (lol).

picture~~~~~~!
Sticky, sticky, sticky, all the way around?

I wish that would stop (laughs).

That's right (laughs)

It's good manners to drink from one place.

There are no rules or anything, but I think most people would think the same way.

I think it might bother the drinker too if it's in multiple places.

I also find it annoying when I drink wine after eating a meal, with the wine sticking to the glass.
I wipe my mouth.

That's right.
But when you're really drunk, you just do it (laughs).

I'd like to know where that lipstick that doesn't come off even after wearing it for a whole week is from (lol)

So, basically, it's better to drink from one spot, and if you get lipstick on it, most people wipe it off with their thumb.

The wrong answer is to apply lipstick all around!

Ladies, be careful when you're drunk!

Yes (lol)

Also, speaking of etiquette , I would like you to be a little more careful about the perfume you use.

That's right!

It's not good to overdo it.

Even if you feel uncomfortable eating with someone, it can be hard to say anything unless you are on a very close relationship.

That's true. The perfume is quite strong.

The aroma is especially important for wine.

If you know you're going to drink wine today, I think it's best to keep perfume to a minimum even if you normally wear it.

If there are people around you who want to enjoy wine, be considerate of them.

I also think that because Japanese people have good noses, many people are concerned about it.

In Japan, wearing too much perfume is considered unwelcome in any situation. It's best to be especially mindful of this when drinking wine.

Also, this isn't really good etiquette, but it's best to avoid brushing your teeth or eating mint tablets right before a meal.

You won't be able to taste the wine anymore, so it's a shame.

Um, don't those drinks you have before you start drinking alcohol make your tongue tingle? Does that mean I should stop having those as well?

Please make it into a pill now.

I see (laughs)
Even so, it's something you ingest before drinking alcohol, so I never really thought about it. I would chew gum before going out to drink.

It's also best to avoid spicy curry if possible. Foods that are extremely spicy tend to numb your sense of taste.

I love the combination of curry and red wine.

Yes, recently more and more people are combining curry with wine, so as long as it's not too spicy it's up to your preference.

But mint is quite strong, so it's best to avoid it.

Of course, that's fine in a casual setting, but if you want to dress up and drink some good wine today, you should be careful about what you eat beforehand.

By the way, I've always wondered about how to hold a wine glass. What's the correct way to hold it?

I know what you mean! I was curious about it, but somehow I didn't feel like I could ask anyone!

I guess holding it by the legs is the correct answer, right?

It's not the cup part, is it?

For reference, let's look at the names of each part of a wine glass.

How to hold a wine glass:

• Stem holder (holds the leg part)
• Ball holder (holding the ball part)

There is such a thing, and both are fine.
Surprisingly, there are a lot of people overseas who hold the ball.

Surprise! It doesn't matter which one you choose!

Many Japanese people have been taught that they should hold the board by the stem, but that's not necessarily the correct way to do it.

This is because in formal international settings, "ball carrier" is the correct term.

The reason is that when you stand up to make a toast, spilling something is the worst thing you can do, so holding a ball is considered a formality at banquets.

So if you think about it that way, it doesn't matter either way.

However, I've heard that if you hold the bowl part, the wine will get warm , so is that true?

It's certainly true that holding the ball will transmit temperature, and I understand why many people in Japan think that it's correct to hold the stem.

But when you watch a lot of foreign movies, the scenes where people drink wine are usually like this, with everyone holding the glass by the bowl.

It certainly does seem that way now that you mention it~

So when I see a customer holding a ball, I think, "Oh, that looks foreign."

Wow! There are people like that, it's really interesting!

However, I personally hold it by the stem because it's easier to turn.

Also, you can see the color of the wine well, so it's visually enjoyable. It also gives you the feeling that "I'm about to enjoy the wine!", so I like holding the glass by the stem.

Is there anything I should pay attention to when pouring wine?

I agree,
First of all, the basic rule is that the person being poured should not hold the glass .

While it is good etiquette to hold the glass when drinking other types of alcohol, it is not rude to not put your hand on the glass when drinking wine. Just wait for it to be poured. Some people hold the base of the glass to stop it moving, though.

That's right~!

There are some people who have a habit of just picking up a glass. My mom is like that too.

Yeah, there are people like that.

I don't think there's anything wrong with that, but please don't hold the glass up above the table when someone pours it for you. I've made mistakes like that many times.

At tasting events with lots of people, there are times when you have to hold the beer in the air while pouring, and even professionals will spill it sometimes (laughs).

My way of thinking is more on the casual side, so it often doesn't work for me at high-end French restaurants.

However, I believe that integrating wine into everyday life is essential for Japan's food and alcohol culture.

Yes, I'd like to get closer to you. (laughs)

That's right.

If people think there are strict rules, it will be harder for them to take on a challenge, so I think it's better to have as few rules as possible.

There's no one in our generation who goes to a high-end French restaurant once a month. And for the younger generation, it feels like they're not going to use the manners they've learned.

So I think it would be good if there were families where having a bottle of wine at the dinner table was a more common occurrence. In those situations, it doesn't matter whether you hold the glass by the stem or by the bowl.

I hope people will enjoy it without feeling too tense .

Also, sometimes I think it would be cooler if I didn't drink with my elbows on the table.

That's not just wine etiquette! (laughs)

I guess the way of drinking alcohol is ingrained in me (laughs).
It feels like taking a sip from a sake cup (lol)

It's fine if it looks good. But if you're hunched over and resting your elbows on the floor, it's a bit disappointing. (laughs)

Yeah, I’m definitely curious about that (laughs).

Wine glasses are different from normal glasses because you have to tilt them. And the most uncool thing to do when you're drinking from them is to drink them like this... Yes, you sip them just like you would with sake.
Lift your elbows! (laughs)

lol lol lol

If you're holding the ball and your elbows are on the table, the wine won't reach your mouth.

It's painful to watch all that (laughs).

Well, that aside,

When it comes to etiquette in the world of wine, for example, if you go to a nice bar and everyone else has a glass set down, but you're the only one holding a glass to have it poured, it can be a bit embarrassing.

I think it would be enough to just remember those bare minimum essentials.

Just hearing that makes me feel like I can drink wine with confidence!

Other than that, you should be mindful of the basic etiquette and be aware of the time, place and occasion.
We are adults after all! (laughs)

Yes, I believe everyone has their own way of enjoying wine!
I hope you enjoy it!