The ITALIAN DISPATCH By Eric J Lyman

The ITALIAN DISPATCH By Eric J Lyman

✍️ How to Offend a Sommelier (without meaning to)

More than 20 years after passing the exam, I still have questions

Eric J Lyman's avatar
Eric J Lyman
Jun 09, 2026
∙ Paid
A modern still-life taken during a meal at Reale, in Abruzzo (EJL photo)

I’ve become an absentminded swirler.

The habit took hold over years of conducting and attending wine tastings. And in that context, it makes perfect sense. Swirling releases a wine’s aromas and helps reveal its character. But nowadays I often find myself swirling drinks that make no…

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