You've been drinking wine wrong as expert reveals common mistakes that make it taste bad

Many of us fancy ourselves as a bit of a wine connoisseur in the comfort of our own homes, ceremoniously popping open a bottle, giving the glass a swirl and proudly showing off our tasting techniques. But before you sink too comfortably into your evening indulgence, some actual wine experts have shared their top tips on how to truly savour your vino.

Having revealed that everything from choosing the correct glassware to ensuring the ideal serving temperature plays a vital role in our quaffing experience, it turns out that we could actually be doing it all wrong. Lucky for us, the experts at tabl.com have revealed the best way to drink wine to get the very best out of the beverage.

According to Caroline Lips of tabl.com: "Drinking wine should be an enjoyable experience so it's a shame when you come to have a sip and you're met with a harsh or dull taste. That's why it is important to know how to store, serve and drink your wine properly."

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Every drop deserves better than a plastic cup, so follow these five easy steps and your taste buds will thank you for it.

1. Serving wine at the wrong temperature

The temperature at which wine is served has a direct impact on its taste. Caroline said: “White and rosé wine should be kept in the fridge but not served too cold as drinking it too chilled can mask the crisp and fruity flavours."

The sweet spot for white wines is 7-13°C. For red wine, store it at room temperature but cool it slightly before serving.

Caroline added: "Red wine should be stored at room temperature but chilled slightly before serving. Sometimes when it's warmed too much the reaction of the complex chemicals in the drink can happen quicker, which can mess up the flavour and result in a loss of its freshness.

"Taking white or rosé wine out of the fridge 20 minutes before serving and allowing it to sit can help you reach the optimal serving temperature. Just as placing red wine in the fridge 20 minutes before you drink it can make for the perfect glass of vino."

2. Choosing the wrong shape glass

It turns out, not all wine glasses are created equal. While it can be tempting to tip your wine into the first glass, teacup or mug you can find, your favourite tipple deserves better. According to the wine experts, red wine should be poured into a glass with a wide bowl, allowing the wine to aerate and breathe. This enhances the flavours and aroma.

White wine glasses, on the other hand, should feature a narrower bowl to keep the wine cool and preserve its acidity, while directing the scent straight to the nose.

3. How you hold your glass.

This one has nothing to do with looking uber cool as your sip on your tipple, but more about how sweaty your hands are. Wine experts advise holding the glass by the stem, not by touching the bowl. This simple mistake can change the flavours and aromas.

Holding it by the stem also keeps your fingers away from the surface of the glass, preventing those unsightly fingerprints.

4. Pouring it the right way

Pouring wine correctly seems like a no-brainer, but there's a technique to it.

Wine connoisseurs advise: "The proper way to pour wine is to hold the bottle by the punt (the indent at the bottom) or the bottom of the bottle, keep the glass on the table and let it fall down the side of the glass to avoid any splashes."

5. Letting red wine breathe

The final step to achieving that perfect sip is giving red wine the chance to breathe.

Experts suggest that to truly savour the taste, one should uncork the bottle roughly 30 minutes to an hour before serving. This crucial step allows the wine to breathe, enhancing its array of scents and softening any sharp edges.