Serving wine is as much about preserving the tastes and properties of each wine as it is about presentation. Follow these simple tips and you will be well on your way to more fully enjoying your wine.

Buying: If you know your wine, you already know how to buy it. Walk into the store or the winery and grab it. On-line ordering is great as well. If you are a beginner, go to a wine store or a beverage-specific store and tell the clerk what you think you are looking for. They are usually very knowledgeable and helpful…or, just call me on the air, I'm always happy to show off.

Storing: Keep this simple. Wines should be kept in a cool, dark location. Keep them away from direct sunlight and heat, and you'll be fine. Many people simply convert a closest to a wine cellar. It's not ideal, but it's acceptable. If you want to go extravagant, you need to go underground into a basebment or invest in a wine refrigerator, which keeps everything at a nice, cool 62 degrees. For much more on this subject, check out the "How to Store" section of the site.

Temperature: People freak out about wine and temperature too much. Just like storing your wine, don't over-think this. Serve white wines (and that God-awful rose crap) lightly chilled (55 degrees is the perfect temp). Reds should be served at room temperature (65 degree ideal).

Opening: Peel away the label around the top rim of the bottle, exposing the top of the cork. Remove the cork gently and pour the wine. Most wines don't need to breathe, but if you are drinking a younger red wine (Merlot or cabernet especially) you may want to decant it, which simply means pouring the wine into a large glass pitcher with a nice wide mouth on it.

Glasses: There is a specific glass for every type of wine. I, of course, have them all. You'll at least want to get a basic set of white and red wineglasses. Red wineglasses have a larger settling area and mouth for breathing purposes. The best ones are made of crystal, but don't get ridiculous, unless you can afford to. And please, for the love of God, NEVER drink wine out of plastic. Fill wineglasses between one and two-thirds full, not to the rim.

Drinking: Before drinking your wine, grab the glass by the stem and gently swirl it in a circular motion (this mixes up the flavors and tannins of the wine and encourages more of its flavors and aromas to come out). Place the opening of the glass over your nose and take a good deep breath. Try to recognize what you smell. It will range from oak to chocolate to pepper to a wide variety of aromas. The more you do this, the more you will be able to recognize a great wine without even tasting it. After smelling, remove the glass from your nose slightly and get a whiff of fresh-air (this generally clears your nasal palate and prepares you to enjoy the taste of the wine). Finally, you are ready to drink. Take a small mouthful and swish it around gently in your mouth (not like Listerine). Then, swallow and enjoy. Again, try to recognize aromas and flavors. Repeat as necessary. Get a ride home.

Saving: Red wine keeps no more than one day. Never chill red wine. White wine you can save for 2 days in the refrigerator. At least, this is what I've been told. We have a rule at Williams Manor: finish what you open.