{"id":11041,"date":"2020-03-12T16:22:27","date_gmt":"2020-03-12T20:22:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.winetraveler.com\/?p=11041"},"modified":"2024-07-03T15:07:54","modified_gmt":"2024-07-03T19:07:54","slug":"how-to-host-a-wine-tasting-party","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.winetraveler.com\/wine-resources\/how-to-host-a-wine-tasting-party\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Host the Perfect Wine Tasting Party at Home"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

One of the best ways to explore wine is with friends. Not only is it fun to share ideas about the bottles, but it will allow you to taste plenty of wines in one evening. Plus, if you’re staying in, it doesn’t need to be expensive. Here are our top tips and ideas for how to host a wine tasting party at home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Choose a Theme<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Grape varieties<\/strong> \u2013 Choose a single variety or common blend. This works particularly well for grapes that are planted around the world like Grenache<\/strong><\/a><\/span>, Cabernet Sauvignon<\/strong><\/a><\/span> or Riesling<\/strong><\/a><\/span>. You can include wines of multiple hues with themes like \u201cPinot\u201d which could mean Noir, Blanc or Gris\/Grigio, and can be made in red, white, rose or orange styles<\/strong><\/a><\/span>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Country or region<\/strong> \u2013 Explore wines from a single country (like a \u201cTour de France\u201d) or region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vintage<\/strong> \u2013 Choose several wines from the same year if you have a special birthday or anniversary coming up. This one might take some planning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wine style<\/strong> \u2013 Taste several wines of the same style, like sparkling wines of the world<\/strong><\/a>, orange wines or ros\u00e9s<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Price point<\/strong> \u2013 Set a limit and use this as an excuse to find wines that you love at a price point you\u2019re comfortable with.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

RELATED: Orange Wines To Try and What To Pair Them With<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Source the Wine Smartly<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Major retailers like Total Wine and Wholefoods in the US, or Majestic Wine in the UK, offer discounts when you buy over six or twelve bottles. This means you can save if you buy all the bottles from the same place. Local, independent stores often have similar deals \u2013 just ask around.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

An alternative is to ask each guest to bring a bottle. This is a good idea if you\u2019re hosting a group of wine lovers who might enjoy the opportunity to share something from their cellars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Blind tastings with multiple contributors are fun \u2013 just ask everyone to bring their wine along in a brown bag. You can still opt to set a theme or price limit. Bringing both a white and red wine can also add another layer of depth to a tasting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Have Enough Supplies<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Glasses<\/strong> \u2013 At some wine parties, one glass per guest is enough. If you’re hosting the sort of party where guests might like to compare wines, make sure there are two or three of each. Some wine stores like Majestic Wine offer free glass rental. Others offer rental for a fee, but this can be expensive. In some cases, it’s a better idea to buy extra glasses for parties. Ikea has some inexpensive and acceptable options.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You\u2019ll also need a water glass per guest to help keep everyone hydrated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Spit cups<\/strong> \u2013 Even if your guests are unlikely to spit or dump wine, you should give them the option. Solo cups<\/a><\/strong> are ideal: a good size, readily available, inexpensive and opaque \u2013 so you can\u2019t see the frothy contents\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Charms or pens<\/strong> \u2013 After a few pours of wine, it\u2019s easy to forget who owns each glass. Wine glass charms<\/a><\/strong> slot around the stem of the glass and will help your guests to remember which belongs to them. Dry Erase pens<\/a><\/strong> will also do the trick.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tasting sheets and pens<\/strong> \u2013 You can optionally provide guests with a printed tasting sheet with details on the wine and space for notes. This way, they can remember their favorites.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wine bags<\/strong> \u2013 If your event involves blind tasting, you\u2019ll need to cover up the bottles. A simple brown bag from the wine store can do the trick, but there are plenty of reusable options available online too, like these<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Serve Food<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Cheese and charcuterie are the obvious accompaniment to a wine tasting, but if you\u2019re feeling creative, you could find food that matches the theme of the wine. This works well when all of your wines are from the same country or region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Water biscuits also work well as a simple palate cleanser.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Buy Enough Wine!<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

One bottle of wine provides ten 75cl samples, which is a reasonably generous pour for a tasting. Five or six different bottles is a good number \u2013 enough to keep it interesting, but not too many that guests get tired. You may want to buy some extra bottles so that guests can revisit them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s a good idea to have extra bottles open \u2013 perhaps sparkling \u2013 for when guests arrive, as everyone is likely to show up at slightly different times.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Expert Tips<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Winetraveler <\/em>asked several seasoned wine party hosts for their top tips on hosting events.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Charlotte Kristensen<\/strong> (@thelondonwinegirl<\/a>) says: \u201cKnow your audience! Not everyone wants to discuss the technicalities. It\u2019s so important to gauge your guests and adjust your tasting to give them an interesting and enjoyable experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019ll often look for a different angle that my guests will connect with \u2013 I\u2019ve even done a wine and architecture tasting before. Most audiences want to hear a story. You can always speak to individual guests who want to get into the nitty-gritty separately.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Kim Kramer<\/strong> of Kramer Vineyards<\/a> in Oregon says: \u201cHave a greeting wine. We like to meet guests as they arrive with a splash of sparkling wine. It\u2019s a festive gesture and sets a celebratory tone for the party. Be sure to select something light and refreshing.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She adds, \u201cWine tasting can be dehydrating. Be sure to have plenty of water and other non-alcohol beverage alternatives within easy reach of guests.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Food and wine writer Sophia Bennet<\/strong> (@SophiaWriter1<\/a>) adds, \u201cI think the most important thing any party host can do is be welcoming of different opinions. So many people are intimidated by wine, and the last thing I want is for people to feel like they’ll be looked down upon if they don’t like a certain wine.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bonus Tip from Winetraveler:<\/strong> When the party is over (and hopefully successful), why not keep the memory around your house? Our friends over at Redfin have offered some ideas on how to use leftover wine bottles, labels, corks and more to create wine decor<\/a> that’s practical to keep around your house. From creating wine bottle lights to repurposing the labels, you’d be surprised at the number of ways you can immortalize your favorite wine experiences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Do you have your own suggestions or strategies for hosting a home wine tasting? Share them with us below in the comments or on our Winetraveler community Facebook group!<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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