Celebrate The Season With A Wine Tasting Party

Early September is a great time to start thinkingtheme for a large amount of guests you might
about planning some great indoor parties. Whilewant to think of something a little more practical.
you may love the freedom of entertainingWhat Wines to Serve:
outdoors and the great taste of grilled entrees,If this is your firsts wine party and you want to
when the leaves start to change, often time aattempt to please varying palettes, I usually
cozy indoor party is your best bet. Don't feel thatsuggest serving a minimum of seven wines.
planning a party indoors limits the amount of funServing this number of wines will allow you to
you can have. The colder seasons are great foroffer three red and white wines of varying
themed parties. If you're looking for aclasses (dry to sweet) as well as a blush wine
sophisticated and fun party idea; think aboutsuch as a zinfandel.
inviting a few over and hosting wine tasting party.It's helpful to consider what type of foods will be
- Choosing a Wine:accompanying your wine. There are various types'
Your average, house wine may be fine to drinkfood and wine parings, but as a general rule, you'll
with your daily meal, but when you throw a winewant to choose white wines for light poultry or
tasting party, you may want to consider going forchicken dishes, red wines with beefs or spicy
quality wine. This doesn't mean you need tomeats, and zinfandels for dishes like stir-fry or
spend a fortune, it merely means that you wantother Asian inspired foods.
to search for a wine with various characteristicsPreparing the Wines:
that you can discern during your tasting. WhenTo really get the full palate experience from each
choosing wines to offer at your tasting party,wine, it's important to serve them properly. This
take time do a little research. At the very least,means that the white wines must be chilled and
when you're shopping for the wines read thethat your red wines should be aerated. It's also a
explanation of the wine that is usually on the backgood idea to supply your guests with at least two
of the bottle. You can also ask the sales associatewine glasses. White wine is generally served in
at your local wine distributor, or browse thenarrow glass and red wines are served in classes
suggested wine lists often offered by onlinewith wide bowls that allow the wine to aerate.
retailers.Helpful Hint: You may want to keep a pitcher of
- How to Purchase Wines:water and some basic cracker in a bowl to help
The internet is a great place to look for rare andguests clean their pallets.
unique items, and wine is no exception. OftenWhat to Serve:
time's gourmet website will have a great selectionThe food that will accompany your wines will also
of wines that you can order over the internet.be important to the overall experience of your
Since they also offer many interesting cheesesguests. You will want to serve foods that go well
and other foods, search for both food and winewith wines such as cheese and cracker. Select
that can create unique palette pleasingvarious type sof cheeses so you can taste them
experiences during your party. If you don'twith assorted wines. With the right selection of
consider yourself very internet savvy or need thewine you should easily be able to pair most foods
wine in a considerably short amount of timewith at least one wine. However, it's generally not
check out your local wine distributer and ask fora good idea to serve foods that are extremely
some suggestions on what wines to purchase forstrong in flavor since they may overpower the
your party, most sales reps will be happy to helpwines. Since wine is the main focus or your father
you.choose foods that will compliment your wines, not
I also offer the following suggestion to those whowines that compliment your foods.
would like to offer a vast selection of wines yetI highly suggest keeping the menu very simple. A
don't necessarily have the budget to do so.wine tasting is a time for friends to get together
Consider asking your guests to bring a bottle ofand converse over good food and great wine.
their favorite wine, or even suggesting a type ifYou will want guests to be able to mingle. Stay
wine they could bring. Asking your guests to bringaway from meals that require you to spend
a bottle of wine will be an exciting wine to shareexcessive time away from guests and in the
favorites or new finds with friends.kitchen. I also find that serving as meals that will
Helpful Hint: The nature of a wine party is morerequire your guests to adhere to a specific eating
apt for smaller get-togethers. Invite a few friendsand drinking pattern are not as functional as meals
(10 guests is usually a pretty good number) thatthat offer the chance to eat, drink, and converse
have a love for wine. If you're looking for a partyfreely.