A wine tasting party is a great way to bring people together and learn more about wine at any time of the year! A successful wine party requires certain key ingredients, but with a bit of know-how, even the most novice host can be a wine hosting pro!
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By bringing together all of the elements including food, wine, décor and music, you’ll be well on your way to an evening or afternoon of great memories and education!
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Pick a Theme
A wine tasting party works best if it is organized around a theme. Think country, grape variety or region. It will form the glue of the party and help to focus your activities and wine selections. To involve your guests, ask them to bring a bottle that fits the theme to contribute to the evening.
Open, Taste and Talk
Instead of opening the wine bottle by bottle, I recommend opening four to six bottles at a time so your guests can sample and compare. Pour small amounts at a time, which encourages “tasting” over “drinking”. As the host, you may also want to open the party and talk about the theme you chose and why you picked it. Ask others to share why they brought the wine they did. This gets everyone engaged and learning about the wines and sharing opinions.
Impress with Glassware
Tasting wine is all about the experience and flavours – and fine glassware really does help wine taste better! To truly do your wine justice, invest in some good quality glass or crystal stemware instead of using thick glassware or plastic. Choose versatile glasses that can be used for both red and white wines, which makes hosting easy. Don’t forget to have a spittoon close by for people to dispose of wine they don’t want to finish – this also encourages responsible tasting. Don’t worry about having matching glassware, play up using different glasses this way people can also find their own glass.
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Have Fun with Food Pairings
When pairing food and wine, always match the weight of the wine with the weight of the food. If you are serving Shiraz, Zinfandel or Malbec as your grape variety (or a region that makes these varieties), choose food pairings that work with juicy red wines. Beef sliders or chocolate are a good option here. If you’ve picked Pinot Noir, Gamay or Merlot, choose medium-bodied fare such as duck and pork. If you’ve chosen Riesling, Chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc, these crisp whites go well with seafood, cheese and chicken. To achieve the perfect pairing, look to align local wines and local flavours, such as Italian wines with Italian food. Maybe even have someone shucking fresh oysters if you’re serving sparkling wine!
Groove to a Great Playlist
Music is an excellent way to set the mood for your party. Is your theme focused on French wines, Argentina Malbec or California Chardonnay? Create a playlist that goes along with your wine theme to create a great party vibe. Create a Spotify playlist and share it with your guests afterwords as well!
Keep People Moving Around
If you entertain regularly, try to host your parties in different venues or areas of your home by the fireplace, outside on the patio, or even a restaurant. Adding decorative elements is a great way to complete your theme. Look into restaurants where you can pay a corkage fee to bring in your own wine, so there is no clean up or prep and you get to sip and enjoy!
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Keep it Interactive with a Game or Two
Have decanters, ice buckets, and extra glasses out for the group to use and discover. I also recommend a game or two to keep things fun. People love getting interactive, so pick up a fun game (such as Apples to Apples) and get people involved.
Entertain Responsibly
Be sure to keep your guests hydrated. Have water and alternative beverages on hand at all times and separate water glasses to encourage responsible drinking. Know who your drivers are and keep a good selection of non-alcoholic drinks available. Don’t over serve – tasting portions are 2.5 ounces – not a full glass. Remember to have fun!
