Wines & Tasting Orders

The origin of the expression seems to come from the navy: if the white flag is above the red one, the sailors stay on board and nobody moves. If red is above white, it's free time, and everyone's getting out! But there is another use...a way to remember that white wine is tasted before red wine! Unfortunately, it doesn't rhyme in English as in French, but yes, in wine, there is a tasting order! There are a few simple rules that allow you to best appreciate the quality of the beverage and the work of the winemaker.

The tannins of red wine mask the flavours of white wine. We therefore prefer the liveliness of a white wine before the power of a red wine. But this only applies to dry white wines: a sweet or syrupy white wine after a light red is much better than the opposite! Moral: when you say "white wine", you are saying, "first choice"!

You are a wine expert if you serve...

• Wines in increasing order of power and quality.
• White and rosé wines before red wines.
• Light wines before powerful wines.
• Young wines before old vintages.
• Dry wines before sweet wines.
• Chilled wines before wines at room temperature (between 18 and 20°C).