the website of

Party Consultant Michelle Hylton

Wine Tasting Party

"One not only drinks the wine, one smells it,  observes it, tastes it, sips it 

 and...one talks about it." ― King Edward VII

Looking for a easy to throw party in which you can enjoy fine wine and conversation, then host a wine tasting party. Invite a few friends or couples and ask each to bring their favorite bottle of wine for everyone to taste or as the host provide the wine for tasting. Make sure you get a mix of red and white wines for tasting, at least 4 or 5 bottles.

Set your table with a white or solid colored table covering, cocktail plates, napkins, water glass and wine glass for each guest. Make sure each wine glass stem has a wine charm to identify your guests' glass. You'll need a pitcher of water to rinse their glasses with and a large dumping bucket/bowl to discard extra wine in the glass and rinse water. You could set the pitcher and rinse bowl off to the side of the room on a different table. That way the aroma of the discarded wine doesn't interfere in the wine tasting.  To clear your palate between wine tasting, you want to provide plain crackers or bread so that each wine can be experienced to the fullest. Also, fill their water glasses.

Use a low centerpiece on your table so that conversation can flow. Do not burn candles, as the scent may distract from wine tasting. Try using LED candle lights.  Provide a small notepad and pen by each guest to take notes on the wine they tasted.

For a formal wine tasting, you can cover the bottles and number label them or use a wine tasting kit. At the end the wines can all be revealed.  If you have guest bringing the tasting  bottles, have more of a contest on whose wine choice is the favorite. As each guest taste the wines, have them mark in order of 1-5 which is their favorite. Tally the votes at the end to announce a winner and give out a prize!

Set up a light buffet of crackers and cheese, fruit, small hors d'oeuvre and don't forget some sweets and coffee to end the night.  Guest can snack on this before and after wine tasting.

Remember when tasting wine, you need not pour a large amount into each glass, about 2 ounces per tasting.  The temperature of all the wines being served should be room temperature to get the best flavor out of the wine.

The Basic Six-Steps to Wine Tasting are:

1. Look at the wine's color, view its density and shade of color, take note of these factors. It's important that the glass in not more than a quarter full and the white or solid  table cloth covering helps to see the color better. Remember to hold your wine glass by the stem and tip it to a 45° angle to view.

2. Swirl the wine in the glass, why? It helps release the aroma, so you can continue on to the next step.

3. Be Nosey! - Smell your wine after giving it a swirl to take in the aroma. That means you have to stick your nose in your glass. Hey, if everyone does it, it won't seem so awkward!

4. 10 Second Taste -  It's time to taste the wine. Take a sip, swirl it in your mouth and lift your tongue to get a full mouth experience.

5. Now swallow or if you must, spit. If your guest want the option of spitting the wine out, then provide additional bowl by their place setting for this. At most informal wine tasting, your guest will swallow. 

6. Finally, take notes on it's color, smell and taste and whether you like it or not. 

Enjoy your night and remember to laugh!  

Links:

 Cheese & Wine: A Guide to Selecting, Pairing, and Enjoying

Return Home