Who gets the last pour of wine?

At a casual meal at a friend's place with two couples we don't know so well, I went to refill my glass and accidentally emptied the bottle. One of the other guests made comments about the wine running out that I suppose were humorous, but I felt like he was having a go. Was it such a big deal, considering there were two other open bottles on the table?

Accidentally, you say? Who among us can say - hand on heart - that he has never "accidentally" smuggled 16 items through the 15-items-only till at the supermarket? Never "accidentally" failed to keep the lift doors open at the sweaty approach of the guy from your office with the sulphurous body odour?

I'll give you the benefit of the doubt because I too have been guilty of pouring myself a splash at a shared table only to find - red-faced - that the said splash was all that remained in the bottle. It's not a great look.

In some countries - Japan is one - it's spectacularly poor form to pour your own drink when in company. In Australia, in a casual setting such as the one you describe, it's fine. But spare yourself embarrassment and snide comments by following your grandmother's last-biscuit-on-the-plate rule - offer the wine to others before pouring for yourself. Do it whether the bottle is mostly full or almost empty.

The tricky part here is that, when there's only one biscuit left, it's obvious to all. Good manners demand that those to whom it is offered decline, and only accept if pressed repeatedly. But dinner guests are less likely to peer through the darkened glass of a bottle to see that only a little remains. If the wine is white and the lighting dim, a low level may not be obvious. Odds are your table mates will hold out their glasses and say "thank you" - and that last half-glass you were coveting will be gone.

In the scenario you describe, you might refill your tablemates' glasses with wine from one of the other open bottles before "accidentally" finding a puddle remaining in the bottle you really like. "Ah," you might exclaim, "there's still a bit here, I didn't see - anyone mind?" Just be aware that if it's the nicest bottle on the table by everyone's definition, they'll have to be particularly well refreshed not to see through your ruse.

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