| A Wine Tasting Party is an ideal way to get | | | | drinking after the tasting is finished. People usually |
| friends and family together to learn about wine | | | | like to further enjoy the wines they just tasted. |
| and experiment with new or unusual varietals. It | | | | Provide simple hors d'oeuvres for the guests |
| can help to break the ice and give your | | | | between wines, allows for guests to cleanse their |
| partygoers some great conversation down the | | | | pallets and sets them up to fully experience the |
| line. I myself had a wine tasting bridal shower. | | | | next wine. You also want to limit the chances of |
| Rather than the usual shower games we tried | | | | your guests over-indulging and driving home |
| different wine and paired yummy food with it. It | | | | intoxicated. Some good choices are mild cheese |
| was a great icebreaker and gave guest that didn't | | | | and crackers, bread, oyster crackers, popcorn |
| know each other something to chat about. | | | | (very nice with champagne), and nuts. If you are |
| There are different styles of wine tasting parties | | | | feeling a little fancier you can also try some |
| that you can throw. Two general tasting terms | | | | smoked meats, mild chocolate, or fondue. |
| you may want to know are, Vertical Tasting and | | | | Typically, when tasting wines, you will want to |
| Horizontal tasting. These are tasting terms used | | | | work from dry to sweet with white wines and |
| regularly in the wine world. A Vertical Tasting | | | | progress from light to full-bodied with red wines. |
| consists of tasting wines from several different | | | | Have your guests sample each wine by itself, |
| vintages or years, that were produced by one | | | | assessing the wine's unique color, smells, flavors |
| winery. A nice example of this would be tasting | | | | and then introduce the appropriate cheese pairing |
| Cabernet Sauvignon from Clos Du Bois spanning | | | | and have them reassess the wine's qualities in light |
| the "90", "91", "92", and "93" vintages. This would | | | | of the subtle flavor changes. |
| let the tasters see how each vintage compared | | | | I like to pour all of the wine ahead of time and |
| to the next and also judge the aging process. | | | | then let my guest sample the wine at leisure |
| A Horizontal Tasting consists of tasting wines | | | | adding their own notes to the "scorecards" and |
| from the same vintage or year, represented by | | | | sampling the different munchies. You can also |
| several different wineries. A nice example of this | | | | have a designated leader to talk about each wine |
| would be tasting Cabernet Sauvignon from Joseph | | | | as you go through the wines to have a more |
| Phelps, St. Francis, Chateau Souverain, and Robert | | | | structured tasting. |
| Mondavi all from the "1990" vintage. | | | | After the tasting is over collect all the scorecards, |
| To make your event a bit more challenging, you | | | | core the wines, tally each taster's score and then |
| can also offer a "blind tasting" experience. In this | | | | rank all the wines. Have a quick announcement to |
| case, you pour each wine without identifying the | | | | go over the favorite wines and/or the winners. |
| label, allowing guest to incorporate all of their | | | | Give out any prizes you may have and then |
| senses to identify different aspects of the wine. | | | | encourage everyone to enjoy some more food. |
| For example you can give the labels' descriptions | | | | Some tips and things to have on-hand at your |
| and see who can match the descriptions with the | | | | wine tasting party are: |
| wine. Or score who is able to recognize the most | | | | Bottled Water or Pitchers of Water -Room |
| about each wine giving a point value to | | | | temperature bottled water is best. If it is too cold |
| characteristics such as varietal, country of origin, | | | | it can numb you tongue a bit and that may effect |
| vintage, price range or whatever you think would | | | | you wine tasting. Guests may also use it to rinse |
| be fun. The guest that is able to identify the most | | | | their glasses between wines if a new wineglass is |
| wines or characteristics correctly wins a prized | | | | not provided for each wine. |
| bottle of wine or perhaps a book on the art of | | | | Wine Opener and possible a spare so that you |
| wine tasting. | | | | can have a friend help you open all these bottles |
| Yet another option is to do a food focused wine | | | | of wine. |
| tasting party. For this style of party I would | | | | Spit Buckets-Some guests will spit a bit since they |
| suggest choosing 3 reds and 3 whites. You can | | | | are tasting so much wine. These buckets may |
| pair wine with food and/or cheese and the guests | | | | also be used to pour water into, if folks are |
| can decide which goes best with which type of | | | | rinsing their glasses. I've seen small fish bowls |
| food. Or you can make cards up to point out | | | | used, metal Champagne buckets, cardboard cups, |
| why each wine goes with each food, leaving out | | | | and Tupperware bowls. I like to let everyone |
| any competition and just highlighting the wine and | | | | know ahead of time that it is very okay to spit! |
| food. | | | | Some people may not know that it is proper and |
| I would suggest keeping decorations simple. It is | | | | ok to spit. |
| best to use white table clothes or place mats | | | | Pens and Tasting Note Sheets or Scorecards - |
| when doing a wine tasting so that when you hold | | | | Lots of people will want to take these home with |
| your glass against it you see the true color of the | | | | them so that they can remember the great |
| wine. If you are using candles it's best to use | | | | wines they tried. |
| unscented so that it doesn't interfere with the | | | | A Wine Place Mat for each taster (contains a |
| aroma of the wine. | | | | pattern for placement of wineglasses). |
| Design a tasting card that specifies the type of | | | | Wine Glasses-A 12oz. (or bigger) glass for |
| wine, the producing vineyard, the year and a brief | | | | everyone. Try to have the same style for each |
| description of the wine (usually found on the | | | | taster. Some hosts rent glassware and actually |
| wine's label). Make sure that each guest has their | | | | provide a new glass for every person, for every |
| own tasting card to record the wine's distinct | | | | wine. It is a nice touch but can be a bit of a |
| appearance, aroma, flavor, and cheese pairing | | | | hassle to rent a bunch of glasses. If you are going |
| nuances. | | | | to insist that each guest reuses the same wine |
| It is also nice to have a place mat designating | | | | glass through out the evening then provide |
| where each wine will go. This helps to keep | | | | enough bottled water. |
| everyone on track and from getting the glasses | | | | Food - Prepared in advance. |
| mixed up. | | | | Prize - (optional) for a blind tasting winner |
| Have enough wine for approximately 1 ½ | | | | Humor - encourage your guests to share their |
| ounces per tasting sample (1 bottle usually serves | | | | thoughts and humor on each wine |
| 10 tasting samples) and a few extra bottles for | | | | Music - It's always nice to have a good selection. |