| So what is a vertical wine tasting you ask? No, | | | | tastings. You can just as well do a 1995, 1998, |
| your guests don't have to be standing up to | | | | 2002 etc. Be creative and serve what you can |
| enjoy your vertical wine tasting party. For that | | | | easily find at your local wine shops. |
| matter, the glass doesn't even have to be | | | | Regarding the order to serve the wines in, their |
| vertical...although the host may prefer your glass | | | | are different opinions as to whether to serve |
| remain somewhat vertical to prevent those awful | | | | from younger to older or older to younger. The |
| red wine spills on the carpet. | | | | general belief is that the wines should be served |
| Creating and hosting a wine tasting party with a | | | | from youngest to oldest with the reasoning being |
| theme can be much less haphazard and more | | | | that younger wines tend to be more simple in |
| interesting. Theme parties tend to keep your | | | | taste while the older wines are more complex. |
| guests more focused on the central attraction of | | | | Serving wines in this order tends to build up the |
| the party, which is the wine you are serving. A | | | | palate through the tasting. |
| vertical wine tasting is a great theme party. | | | | On the other hand some younger wines can be |
| At a vertical wine tasting the guests will be | | | | quite bold while older wines may be more subtle, |
| scoring wines from the same producer, same | | | | so by serving from youngest to oldest the palate |
| varietal but different vintages. For example: you | | | | may burn out early and your guests will not be |
| could serve an Ackerman Cabernet 2002, 2003 | | | | able to enjoy and appreciate the subtleties of the |
| and 2004 or a Mason Nicolas Beaujolais Nouveaux | | | | older wines. I really feel it's all in relation to the |
| 1998, 2000, 2001 etc. As long as the wines are | | | | vintages (ages) of the wines you are serving. If |
| from the same producer and the same type of | | | | the wines are all relatively new the order of |
| wine but different years...you can chose to serve | | | | tasting may not matter. However if you are |
| whatever you like in a vertical wine tasting. | | | | throwing in a much much older vintage with |
| A vertical wine tasting party may require a little | | | | newer vintages you may want the older vintage |
| more effort, but you can create a great vertical | | | | to get special attention and consideration. |
| wine tasting by saving up on back vintages of | | | | If you're doing a blind wine tasting I would suggest |
| wines or procuring them as you come across | | | | you mix the order up as to alleviate any |
| them in your favorite wine shops. You don't need | | | | perceptions or expectancies of your guests. You |
| to do 10 or 15 years of vintage for a vertical | | | | can make your vertical wine tasting party more |
| wine tasting party. You can invite your guests to | | | | fun and interesting by turning it into a blind wine |
| a "5 Year Vintage Vertical Tasting". Too many | | | | tasting. This also ensures an impartial judgment of |
| vintages and your guests may truly be horizontal | | | | the wine. You can remove the labels from the |
| rather than vertical by the end of the party. | | | | wine bottles and place them in wine bags so your |
| There is really no set number as to the number | | | | guests have no idea the vintage of the wine. It's |
| of wines you need for a vertical wine tasting...just | | | | always interesting to see if your guest tasters |
| that you do have a few vintages of the varietal | | | | can really tell the difference between an older |
| you have chosen. | | | | more expensive varietal as opposed to that |
| Neither do you have to have the vintages in a | | | | younger and obviously much "cheaper" wine. Have |
| row. In other words, it's not necessary to have a | | | | fun with it...after all it's your party. |
| 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002 etc. order in your vertical | | | | |