Wine Sense

If you think the wine smells or tastes off, you should be confident in telling the waiter or wine director. After all, you’re paying for it, and you should not subject yourself to drinking a corked bottle. Don’t feel bad about the restaurant losing money. In many cases, an off bottle gets returned to the distributor. 

What happens when you order a bottle of wine and simply don’t like it? If you confidently ordered the bottle on your own, without consultation from a sommelier or wine steward, it is generally not appropriate to send it back - especially if it is an expensive bottle. However, if you requested assistance from the staff and don’t like what they suggested, it is within your prerogative to express displeasure with the wine and send it back.