What Order to Serve Wine?

When serving wine, you may be tempted to save the best for last. Unless your best is a dessert wine, don't do it.

The basic rule of thumb is this: you don't want wines to overshadow the ones that come afterwards.

Sweet wines cancel out everything that's not sweet; that's why dessert is generally served at the end of the meal.

Full-bodied wines cancel out less full-bodied wines, so you'll want to drink the lightweight first...unless the less full-bodied wine is significantly sweeter. Then the last rule is more important.

Red wines tend to overshadow white wines, so when you can, drink the white wines first. This one isn't a hard and fast rule, especially if it breaks the rules above.

Old wines should also generally be served before young ones. This is partially because old wines are more complex and less sweet. This is mostly because old wines are more expensive, on average, and you don't want your enjoyment blunted by your tipsiness.