If you are reading this article it means that you have noticed this detail, perhaps during a formal dinner, or you know that this is the norm to follow. In any case, you want to know why wine should be served from the right side and with the right hand. Well, we are ready to satisfy your curiosity. You will discover something really interesting.

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Why should you serve wine from the right side and with the right hand?

The wine is served from the right side, using the right hand, mainly for practical reasons, functional to facilitate this operation, without taking unnecessary risks, and with full respect for the diners and guests. There are also reasons that we can define as "historical", linked to a practice that was performed in the past to avoid poisoning, but they seem to represent only an interesting curiosity.

In the next paragraphs, we will see these two reasons in detail. Read carefully, you will discover why wine should be served from the right with the right hand.

1. The practical reasons for serving wine from the right with the right hand

Let's start with the main reason why wine should be served from the right side with the right hand, the practical reason. Wine should be served from the right and with the right hand because it is the most comfortable, functional and, in some ways, logical way.

To understand why serving from the right side with the right hand is the easiest and most practical option, we must remember how the glasses should be arranged at the table.

➤ According to etiquette, glasses should be placed to the right of the diner.

Most people are right-handed, so placing the glasses to the right of the plate allows the diner to use them more comfortably.

Considering how the glasses are arranged at the table:

➤ pouring the wine to the right of the diner is the most convenient and practical method, avoiding disturbing the guest or diner.

Imagine serving the wine from the left side, with the glasses on the right side of the diner. The waiter would be forced to invade the guest's space to pour the wine into the glass. This could disturb or annoy the diner. A situation that Etiquette takes care to avoid.

And why should you use your right hand? Always to avoid invading the space of the diner or guest.

➤ pouring the wine from the diner's right side and with the right hand, the one furthest from the diner, is the most practical method because it avoids possible contact and interference with the guest.

Convenience is the main motivation that explains the rule of serving wine from the right side and with the right hand.

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2. The historical reasons for serving wine from the right with the right hand

Now let's move on to what we have called the "historical" explanation. As we wrote at the beginning of the article, this is a curious reason, but it cannot be considered the main one to explain why the wine is served from the right with the right hand.

History is full of poisoning episodes. Especially in the Medieval and Renaissance era it was a widespread practice. It often happened that, during ceremonies and banquets, poison was added to the glass of the victim.

The way in which the poisoning occurred was often as follows: the poison was inserted into special capsules in the rings of those who served; the wine was poured with the right hand from the left side, the one most hidden and closest to the diner; the wine was poured with the palm of the hand facing up and the back of the hand facing down, towards the glass. In this way, the poison was made to fall from the rings, without the victim realizing it. The poisoning was complete.

To avoid this practice, precautions were taken. For example, the person serving the wine was made to taste it first. Furthermore, in some European Courts the rules for serving wine were modified, imposing the right side (the left side was considered dangerous and unlucky) and the use of the unhidden hand, the right hand, with the back strictly upwards .

It is a fascinating and curious motivation, but it cannot explain, except in a minimal way, why wine is now served from the right and with the right hand. Fortunately, today, there are no longer any reasons related to the safety of those who drink.