The typical wine advertisement shows a handsome couple relaxing by the fire, sipping wine. To me, there is no greater waste of a good red wine than drinking it like a cocktail, either at home or at a bar. In traditional wine drinking countries, wine is almost never served as an aperitif or an after dinner drink unless it is fortified. If you're just having a drink, have a martini or a beer or a sherry. But save the red wine, or the dry white wine, for dinner.
Wine is meant to go with food.
When Baron Eric de Rothschild took over Chateau Lafite-Rothschild in 1977, he invited a few people to come to the chateau for a long weekend to sample every vintage produced since the Rothschilds bought Lafite in the 19th century. As many of the wines as possible were tasted at the table, with meals. Desai' s tastings, usually spaced over three or four days, are always done in restaurant settings. Like Rothschild's weekend, they are not really tastings but a succession of resplendent meals.