Etiquette Questions, Answered: Entertaining and Guests

Must I Serve My Guest's Wine?

Q. If I receive a bottle of wine as a gift from a dinner guest and it is appropriate for the meal, must I serve it? Or is it OK not to open it at all?
Paul Mesple
Fresno, California

A. If you asked your guest to bring a bottle of wine, then by all means serve it, whether it’s the ideal pairing for your dinner or not.

If it was unexpected, consider it a gift and yours to use as you see fit. (Simply say, “Thank you. I look forward to enjoying it.”) Likewise, if you receive flowers, you can either put them out for guests to look at or leave them in the kitchen to arrange later. If you get chocolates, you can serve them with dessert—or hoard them (lucky you) to savor, alone, the next time you’re watching Modern Family.

—Michelle Slatalla