​Wine is a beverage enjoyed for its complex flavours and aromas. But to truly appreciate it, proper etiquette plays a role. This guide delves into the art of holding a wine glass, taking sips, and serving wine to guests - all to enhance your wine experience, whether you're a seasoned host or a curious newcomer.
 
Holding Your Wine Glass - A Touch of Class
Gone are the days of clinking glasses by the bowl. When holding a wine glass, aim for elegance and practicality. Here's the key:

• Pinch the Stem: Grip the base of the stem between your thumb, index finger, and middle finger. Your remaining fingers should naturally rest on the lower part of the stem or base.
• Why the Stem Matters: Holding the stem prevents your body heat from warming the wine. Warmer wine can alter its taste and aroma, diminishing the experience.
• Fingerprint Free: An added benefit of holding the stem is avoiding unsightly fingerprints on the bowl. This is especially important for red wines, where a clear view of the colour adds to the enjoyment. Ladies, if lipstick stains are a concern, try wetting your lips before sipping.

 
Sipping with Grace - Savouring the Experience
Now that you're holding your glass properly, let's explore the art of sipping:

• Small Sips are Key: Take small, delicate sips to fully appreciate the wine's flavour profile. Swirl the wine gently in the glass before each sip to release its aromas.
• Savor the Journey: Let the wine linger on your tongue to experience its full range of flavours.

 
Serving with Confidence - The Host's Touch
As a host, serving wine graciously adds a special touch to your gathering. Here are some tips:

• The Napkin Trick (Optional): While not essential, tying a napkin around the base of the wine bottle can prevent drips and condensation from making the bottle slippery.
• Serving from the Right: Approach guests from their right side when pouring wine. This ensures you don't bump their arm or invade their personal space.
• Keeping Glasses Topped Up: As the host, you can politely monitor guest's wine levels and offer refills. However, avoid overfilling glasses. A general rule of thumb is to pour around 4 ounces (100-125 ml) at a time. In a restaurant setting, your server will handle this task.

 
Conclusion
By following these simple tips, you can enhance your enjoyment of wine and impress your guests with your newfound knowledge. Remember, wine is a journey of discovery, and with proper etiquette, you'll be well on your way to becoming a confident participant in this delightful world. So, raise a glass, embrace the experience, and let the art of wine unfold!

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​The drinking and cultivation of coffee has a relatively short history in Australia. Coffee landed on the Australian shores from 1788 on the first fleet from abroad. It has been said that during the first fleet’s voyage, it made a stop in Rio de Janeiro for plants and seedlings to grow in the new lands. 
 
At the time, coffee was often mixed with “fillers” like chicory and other food products such as mustard or eggshells, that had no business being in coffee. This changed with the arrival of immigrants to Australia, notably after the second world war, who brought their own styles of coffee-making with them.

Coffee became a well-known, popular beverage and cafés were set up to accommodate a little taste of Greece, Italy, Hungary, and the former Yugoslavia, from the 1950’s onwards. These immigrants  also brought with them different coffee grinders and coffee accoutrements, such as a briki, cafeteria or moka pot, that would fill the walls, piquing the interest of the consumers enjoying coffee and dessert with friends.
 
​By the 1970’s and 1980’s, the hot trend was for Australians to sit at a café and eat newly discovered, and even exotic desserts and biscuits, with their coffee, may it be cappuccinos, lattes, flat whites, long blacks etc. Australian’s are frequently ranked as top consumers of coffee. Many of the original coffee houses in Melbourne, Sydney and Adelaide still stand, even with their original fit out, now making icons of the Australian coffee scene. Namely: Pellegrini's Espresso Bar and Mediterranean Wholesalers.

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#auersmont #coffee #cafe #australia #melbourne #etiquette #etiquette tips #etiquetteschool

Having been born and lived in Australia most of my life, we were taught that the Australian Aboriginals were the first to occupy and that was it.  Unfortunately, 35 years ago, we were not taught how to interact, understand their language or culture.  Today, going into classrooms now, we are better e quipped and regularly have interactions with elders and now have cultural centres where we can better understand their connections to land and people.

​Indigenous Etiquette – Australian Aboriginals and Torres Straight Islanders
What is Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander etiquette?  I recently asked a Yorta Yorta brother and a Pitjantjatjara sister both living in Alice Springs, their advice:

• These traditional cultures place importance with building and maintaining rapport and trust. When introducing yourself, do it with warmth and sincerity.  Talk about yourself first. Be slow, simple and methodical, as English may not be their first language.  Dialects such as Kriol, Aboriginal English or Torres Strait Creole may be spoken.  There are over 300 Aboriginal languages spoken throughout Australia and Torres Strait Islands.

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• It's best to avoid eye contact at first and look away while you are talking.  It is a gesture of respect.  Direct eye contact may be viewed as aggression, rudeness and disrespectful.  Always observe the other person's body language, then use it to guide your own facial expressions and body language.  Be mindful of cross-gender eye contact, only do so when there is conversation initiated.

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• Avoid asking too many questions, if you are not familiar with them, explain why you need to ask questions.  The best way is to speak about who you are, where you are from, where your family is from and where you’re going.  Perhaps, use a story to get the answer to your question.  They will tend to open-up.

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• A form of direct respect is using the titles of ‘Aunty’ or ‘Uncle’, they may not be your actual family or even older than you.  If you have been living in an area a long time and are familiar with its people, you may be honoured and asked to call someone their ‘sister’ or ‘brother’.​ ​

• Listening is imperative.  Due to spoken and body language differences, the person may make an explanation of something in a way that you are not used too.  Take time out to actively listen, do not interrupt or talk-over, show kindness.  You may want to paraphrase and repeat back what they said to show you are listening and wanting to understand.

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• Be aware that due to language differences or due to shyness, that an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander may say ‘yes’ to your questions, even if they are not in agreement with you. They may simply wish to end the conversation and by saying ‘yes,’ they feel like they can conclude the exchange, especially if they do not understand what you are saying. It is wise to take time to explain in a parable or story, what you need or require.  You may need to find an interpreter.

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• Be mindful of personal space.  Standing too close, especially with the opposite gender, could be sending signals that could be interpreted wrongly.  Best to keep the usual amount of distance away.  Always ask permission to touch another person.
• Time is counted differently.  Community values and family responsibilities will be prioritised over time.  When making an appointment, be flexible.

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• Breaches of confidentiality can lead to shame (shame is the feeling of humiliation or distress) based on over-sharing personal and private information with others.  It is advised to have serious discussions, holding it in a place the person is most comfortable, private and away from public spaces.  Talking about ‘men’s’ and ‘women’s’ business needs to be kept private and confidential, you want to engender trust and rapport.  Once that is broken, all association with that person could end permanently.

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• If you are travelling around Australia and Torres Strait Islands and want to walk on their land, you must ask for the owner or elder permission to approach them, then you are able to ask if you're able to walk on their land.  You must be able to make an acknowledgement of country.  It is a way that we can show respect for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander heritage and have an ongoing and open relationship with the traditional owner of the land.

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• Please be aware, different states, different areas, tribes or associations of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, culture and language will differ.

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