Ask Arthur

Here is a list of most frequently asked questions from our members.

Q) What should I do if the cork breaks in the bottle?
Q) I'm having a party and I don't know how much to serve?
Q) I am having a dinner party and do not know what wine to serve with the meal?
Q) How long does a bottle's freshness last after its cork has been removed?
Q) What is crusted port?
Q) What is Tannin?
Q) What wine should I use for cooking?
Q) Why is the grape traditionally known as Tokay-Pinot Gris or Tokay d'Alsace now known as Pinot Gris?

If your question hasn't been answered then email Arthur your query by clicking on Contact Us and he will get back to you as soon as possible.

Q) What should I do if the cork breaks in the bottle?

A) Gently tip the bottle on its side, so that the wine is forcing the cork out. Then gently reapply the corkscrew into the broken cork, until you think it is well into the remaining cork, but not coming through the bottom of the cork. Using the lever on the lip of the bottle, carefully pull the cork out, remembering as it starts to come out, to straighten the bottle, so that the wine does not spill.
back to top

Q) I'm having a party and I don't know how much to serve?

A) On average you get six glasses of wine from a 75 cl bottle. If you are having a buffet, but are serving the same drink all the way through the buffet, it is not unreasonable to expect that each person will drink between three and four glasses. Obviously this depends on the age group attending the buffet and the occasion. The younger the age group and the happier the occasion, assume that more wine will be consumed. For a 100 person buffet you will need approximately six cases of wine.

If you are having a Champagne reception followed by a dinner, then account for two glasses per person and three to four if there is no dinner to follow. However, with Champagne there are only five glasses to a bottle. For a 100 person reception with dinner to follow you will need approximately 4 cases of Champagne and double if there is no dinner to follow.

If you are having a dinner party for four, have 2 bottles. If there are 6 people then think in terms of serving 3 bottles, for 8 people 4 bottles and so on.
back to top

Q) I am having a dinner party and do not know what wine to serve with the meal?

A) If you have already chosen the food on your menu, then take a look at our Custom Search and select the food you are serving to determine what wine to drink with your meal.

If you just want a rough, easy going, rule of thumb guide then think along the following lines:

The best way to get a dinner party going is to serve a glass of Champagne as an apéritif. However if that breaks the budget and it's the summer then a glass of Rosé or a Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc or a Riesling can all be served as an apéritif.
With the meal if you are having a salad or a vegetarian type starter, then a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc will be nice.
For avocado with prawns, look at a Sancerre, an Australian Sauvignon Blanc or a Premier Cru Chablis. With fish Sauvignon Blanc, Muscadet or Chablis will always taste good.
If you are having a Bar BQ then a Shiraz or a Zinfandel.
For beef stews look at Châteauneuf du Pape or a Shiraz.
Chilli needs a light fruity wine like Beaujolais.
With poultry, red wine such as a red Burgundy or a New World Pinot Noir is suitable or if you fancy white wine then drink a Chardonnay, dry Sauvignon Blanc or a dry Semillon.
Game requires a big heavy red; a Bordeaux, a Rhône, or a Burgundy.
When serving red roasts you need a very good red Bordeaux or a Cabernet Sauvignon from the New World (we think the younger the guests the more appropriate the New World Cabernet Sauvignons would be).
If you are having Oriental food, particularly Thai food then Sauvignon Blanc, Oaked Chardonnays or Alsace Pinot Blanc are good white wines to serve.
Merlot is good with pastas with a meat sauce, and for creamy pasta dishes serve a Chardonnay or a Muscadet.

Q) How long does a bottle's freshness last after its cork has been removed?

A) If you re-cork the bottle and lay it on its side in the refrigerator then it will keep its freshness for a few days as coldness slows the oxidising process down. However, if you do not replace the cork the wine will be oxidised by the next morning.
back to top

Q) What is crusted port?

A) A style of port produced to offer some of the qualities of vintage port in a shorter time, and therefore at a more reasonable price.
back to top

Q) What is Tannin?

A) It is the resin from the skin of the grape that is combined with the flesh of the grape pressing. It contains acidity, which is needed to give the wine balance and longevity. It has a drying effect on the gums and tongue.
back to top

Q) What wine should I use for cooking?

A) The golden rule is not to use "off" wines. For white wine simply remember to avoid tart wines and be careful using sweet wine as the wine is concentrated by cooking. Generally white wines require an equal amount of stock or water, compared to red wines, which are often the only liquid used. Avoid heavily oaked wines, aromatic, flowery or very fruity wines, but do use a full-bodied wine, to produce an excellent sauce.

Remember, if you have your own question which has not been answered on this page you can email Arthur your query by clicking on Contact Us and he will get back to you as soon as possible.
back to top

Q) Why is the grape traditionally known as Tokay-Pinot Gris or Tokay d'Alsace now known as Pinot Gris?

A) Hungary claims that the term Tokay is unique to its country and therefore under the 1993 agreement between Hungary and the EU it was agreed that no other country is able to use the word Tokay on a wine label.
back to top