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Well, whatever you do, don't eat it. The rest of your party might suspect you don't get out much. To be honest, we always assumed we were supposed to give the cork a hearty sniff, but that's actually not the case. According to several sources, sniffing the cork proves you're a novice. Cooking Light states: "Nobody is sure how this pretentious practice even began. There is absolutely nothing you can tell about wine from smelling the cork." OK, good to know. But why does the waiter put it on the table? It mainly has to do with tradition. The patron is supposed to confirm that the label on the cork matches the
one on the bottle. If they don't match, you may be dealing with a less-than-reputable restaurant. You should also make sure the end is wet. That's a sign the wine was stored properly. Of course, too much analysis can make you look like kind of a dork. If you're the evening's host, we recommend taking a small sip from your wineglass instead. Unless it causes a gag reflex, drink up and be merry. Side note: Many argue that screw tops are actually superior to corks because they keep the wine fresher. Alas, perhaps due to their long association with "lower-end" wines like Chateau de Mad Dog, the screw top isn't widely used (though it is making progress).
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