How to Host a Wine-Tasting Party
Are you up for the challenge of hosting the ultimate wine-tasting party?
Here is why that is a great idea:
Wine-tasting events can be not only entertaining but also educational experiences for everyone involved – the guests AND the host. If done right, you’ll get to learn by drinking – should we say more?
And, don’t worry, we got you back. We prepared the only guide you’ll ever need to help you organize and host your wine-tasting party including tips on planning, choosing wines, serving food, and all the little details that will make your party the talk of the town.
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Tip #1: Choose a Theme
Choose a theme for your wine-tasting party and you are already off to a great start!
Consider focusing on a specific region, grape variety, or wine style. From a lineup of Chardonnays from around the world to a celebration of sparkling wines, the possibilities are endless. Selecting a theme will make it easier for you to choose your wines, add intrigue to the event, and last but not least – let your guests know that you know what you are doing.
Here are some popular wine-tasting themes for inspiration:
• New World vs. Old World (e.g. Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand vs France)
• Wines by style: Big and Bold Wines or Elegant and light wines
• By country or region – compare the top 5 wines from the same country or a classic wine area.
• Blind tasting is always a crowd-pleaser. It adds to the excitement, keeps your guests on their toes, and when done right – has an exciting element of competition to it.
Tip #2: Select Wines
Go for value. When it comes to wine, it is always best to invest in value-for-money wines that align with your chosen theme. Great-tasting wine that compliments your theme, and simply makes sense, will always impress more than the most expensive, but completely wrong wine. To make sure that there is a logic in the selection – designate only one person to do it.
How much wine to serve?
A standard tasting pour is about half the size of a regular serving, at around 2 oz (60 ml), and a bottle of wine contains about 12 taste servings. Calculate the amount of wine needed based on the number of guests, ensuring there’s enough to go around. With some extra bottles, just in case.
Usually, on a 2-hour wine tasting, you will need around 4 to 6 different wines.
What is the order to serve wine?
The unwritten rule is, that when tasting white wines, you will want to start from dry to sweet. With red wines: from light to full-bodied. As we taste, our palates change. Some wines stay longer on the palate and others are so elegant and light that you won’t be able to taste them if they’re served after a bolder wine. This is also the reason why it is recommended to start with younger, drink-now wines and move to the more mature and complex wines towards the end.
What You Need
Tip #3: Essential Supplies:
Prepare your tasting area with all the necessary supplies:
• Wine
• Wine Opener
• Wine Glasses
• Water Glasses
• Wine Tasting Placemat
• Palate Cleanser – crackers, bread
• Personal Spittoon – a cup
• Pitcher of water – for rinsing glasses and as a palate cleanser between wines
• Dump bucket – for discarding wine before the next pouring
• Decanter – for bold, complex reds
• Wine bags or aluminum foil to wrap the wine bottles – for blind tasting
• Pen, paper
Provide tasting mats for guests to record their impressions of each wine, including details such as the style, flavor profile, do they like it or not… If you want to keep the tasting a bit more casual, give your guests a pen and paper for them to write down their notes. Remind them to rate the wines—which wine they liked, loved, hated, etc.
Tip #4: Set Up The Tasting
This is where choosing a theme also comes in handy. Create an atmosphere for your wine-tasting party by adding theme-related details. No matter if your theme is Spanish night or Pretty in Pink – the detail options are endless. You can use candles or string lights to add warmth to the place, but (and this is important!) make sure your guests can see the wine clearly.
And – the ultimate sign of a great host: show your guests that you know them by arranging the seating to encourage conversation, so they can engage with the wines, but also with each other.
Before guests arrive:
Before guests arrive decant any bold red wines that need air. Set the table, organize the appetizers and, get your aperitif wine ready. Some light, sparkling wine, or a light wine cocktail will make a perfect aperitif.
Tip #5: Pair Wine with Food
Food that is well paired with wine, affects the way the wine tastes. A good food and wine pairing provides more pleasure than if you taste them separately. But don’t go overboard with the food. It is a wine tasting after all. Offer a selection of single-serve bites that pair well with the wines being served. Think of it this way: easy-to-prep foods that pair well with wine. The most popular choices are cheese, fruit, bread sticks, charcuterie board.
Remember to provide palate-cleansing options like plain bread, crackers, and water to refresh the palate between tastings.
Tip #6: Educate Through Wine Stories
Before the party, make sure you write down the basic information about each wine. We speak from experience – this will come in very handy during the tasting.
Everybody loves a good story. Try to find and share the stories behind the wines. This will keep your guests’ interest, start a conversation, and make them remember the wine (and your party) longer.
Keep the educational aspect light and engaging, and avoid lengthy lectures. No PowerPoint presentation, PLEASE!
Tip #7: Guide the Tasting
Guide your guests through the tasting, encouraging them to use all their senses to fully experience each wine. Provide guidance on how to swirl, smell, and taste the wines, allowing guests to explore the aromas and flavors of each sip.
Serve the wines with intervals of 10 to 15 minutes between each pouring. This way you’ll give your guests enough time to taste the wine and take some notes.
Tip #8: Get feedback
After the party, it is always a good idea to get some feedback from your guests. Find out what you can do better next time, and/or enjoy the well-deserved praise.
Wine is so much more than a beverage. It’s an experience shared amongst friends, and among wine enthusiasts – has the power to build a strong sense of community.
Hosting the best wine-tasting party requires planning and attention to detail, but most important of all – a passion for sharing great wine with loved ones. If you have that – you are already halfway there. We should know!
And, if you would rather just relax and enjoy the party – we will be happy to help with all the planning, sourcing, fun stories, guiding, wine supplies…leaving you to be the guest at your own party.
Contact us, and until then – stay thirsty and be wise!
