Having a wine and cheese party is a good idea, where everyone brings a bottle of wine and some finger foods to share. A thoughtful and simple-to-host wine-tasting party that is well-planned and easy to organize can make a memorable event. These expert-recommended menus and ideas for hosting a cocktail party or gathering will make you all smarter and more positive. You might just discover a new favorite wine, a variety you love, or appetizer recipe that you will be making again and again.
7 Wine Tasting Party Ideas
Instead of leaving it up to chance, invite your guests to Venmo/Cash App/ApplePay for the wine. This will allow you to be more deliberate about the selections and prevent you from ending up with ten identical rose wines. You can also designate wines that guests should bring. To help you make your choices, choose one of the below wine-tasting menu topics.
Our Guide to the Best Sweet Champagne & Dry Champagne for Your FlavorBlind Tasting
This is Maurice DiMarino’s favorite format for wine and beverage management at Cohn Restaurant Group San Diego. It forces you to forget any previous criticisms or raves. You can add an interactive and competitive element to the event by placing a selection of bottles in paper bags (hence, the “blind”) and asking guests to identify the grapes. The person with the best answers wins a bonus bottle to take home.
Let the food be your guide
Instead of worrying about whether the wine-tasting menu matches the wine, (spoiler alert! : If you like wine, it will pair well with anything you eat), let the food speak for itself. Skedsvold suggests that everyone choose a dish and then asks for a wine pairing. For example, make a Chicken Curry and then taste it with a red rose, white, sparkling, and sparkling wine before you choose your favorite.
Variety Pack
Sipping on different wines back-to-back can help you learn a lot. Although Chardonnay’s flavor is not as obvious as Riesling or Sauvignon Blanc, it’s easy to see why. Keep this in mind when choosing a bottle of each white and red wine (DiMarino recommends Pinot Noir and Cabernet Sauvignon) The subtle (and sometimes stark) differences in acidity, body and alcohol can be observed by each sampler.
A keen eye for value
A great wine doesn’t have to cost a lot. A wine shop is a great place to go for a casual wine tasting party. They will be happy to recommend wines at a price that’s affordable, such as $20. There’s a good chance they will have delicious suggestions to share. Ask everyone to try one of each and then you can either guess the cost or choose the most expensive.
Comparison of the Old and New World
A grape that has been grown in different countries can taste completely different. Compare Malbec from the old-world (Europe), and the new-world styles (anywhere else outside of Europe). Wines from the old world tend to have lighter bodies, more acidity and minerals, as well as lower alcohol and more fruity flavors than those from the new world. You and your friends can see the differences between the white and red grapes.
Wine-Tasting Menu Ideas
DiMarino prefers that the wine-tasting menus are completed after the tasting activities to ensure a clear taste experience.
Pairing food and wine can often alter the wine’s overall flavor. This is why I recommend saving any hors-d’oeuvres or dinners until the end. You can always save some bottles for food! He says.
DiMarino states that a variety in the flavors of your wine-tasting food spread could help you to see how certain foods don’t work with certain wines like tart lemony Merlot recipes.
It’s a good idea to have extra bread and crackers for snacking between tastings to give you a fresh start.
Svedsvold suggests dinner recipes that you can enjoy after the formal tasting portion of the evening. This means you are generally on the right path when you serve wine from one nation alongside a traditional recipe made in the same country.
How to host a casual wine tasting party
Stock up on these equipment and other items if you host a wine tasting party at your home. This will ensure that the experience is smooth and stress-free.
There should be enough space for seating. You can set up chairs in a large area or have your wine tasting party on a patio or deck.
Wine. Svedsvold explained that technically, a “tasting pour” is two ounces. There are twelve 2-ounce pours in each bottle. “I wouldn’t recommend tasting more than six wines, as you might get tired and tasteless. Three wines is the most I would try for the sake variety. It’s okay to have additional wine, and you’ll probably enjoy more wine with dinner. So estimate approximately half to one full bottle per guest. You can start small pours for each guest and have them return for more if they wish.
An ice bucket, wine fridge or refrigerator. The best wine temperature will allow you to enjoy the flavors. Sparkling and white wines should be kept in the refrigerator for 15-30 minutes before tasting. This will allow them to warm up to 40- 50 degrees F. Red wine should be stored at room temperature for 30 minutes before you plan to taste it.
Glasses. DiMarino suggests that you rent glasses from a local rental company if you are hosting large groups. A classic white wine glass can be used as a default, even though different glasses release different aromas. It can be washed in water and reused between wines. Svedsvold says that it is best to have the same glass size and shape for each guest for wine tasting.
Corkscrew. Some bottles are now topped with corks, but others have twist-off caps. This Houdini corkscrew is a great choice for quick opening. It costs $30, Target.
You will need plates and utensils. These are essential for enjoying the delicious wine-tasting menu with delicious food.
Pen and paper. You will need to provide enough paper and writing tools for each guest so they can take notes or answer questions.