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Hello there! I'm Dr. Vinifera, or "Vinny" for short. Ask me your toughest wine questions, from the technical aspects of winemaking to the fine points of etiquette. I hope you find my answers educational and even amusing. Want to see more of them? Check out my archive. And here are my most Frequently Asked Questions.

Dear Dr. Vinny,

Is it important to swirl your wine clockwise?

—Alex P., Miami

Dear Alex,

Swirling your wine helps release its aromas, but no, the direction of swirling doesn't matter. You can swirl wine clockwise, counterclockwise, or not at all if you prefer. It doesn't matter if you're in the Northern Hemisphere or Southern Hemisphere, left-handed or right-handed. The biggest decision about swirling should be, "Which way makes it less likely that I will spill my wine?" For me, it's usually with the glass still on the table, counterclockwise, and slowly.

—Dr. Vinny

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