Wine Tasting Parties
Wine is the beverage of romance, sophistication, celebration and casual evenings at home. With its great versatility and wide appeal, why not throw a party with wine as the main attraction? Wine tastings give your friends the opportunity to try wines they may never have tasted before. Your party can be as casual or as elegant as you like, with wine ranging from bargain-priced to extravagant. Apartments.com staff members have been to one or two of these bashes lately and want to pass on to you some ideas, tips and secrets to make your vino event one to remember.
What You’ll Need
An intimate guest list. Wine parties are best enjoyed with about eight to twelve guests, enough to have a good conversation but no so many that you have to buy a case of wine. Choose your guests as you would choose your wine, by carefully considering people whose personalities go well together and will match the mood of the evening.
A theme. Here are some ideas for wine tasting themes:
- A tasting comparison, sample flights of the same kind of wine, ex. chardonnays and
pinot noirs, by different vineyards.
- A regional theme, like Australian Whites or Italian Reds.
- A guessing theme, where guests try to rate the wines by cost or region.
- A “vertical tasting,” which is serving one wine from different vintages (years).
Wine that Matches Your Tastes. Today’s wine lover knows that a good wine may take a variety of forms. You can get a relatively high-quality wine in a box, twist-off cap or the traditional corked bottle. Wines that don’t have to age for more than a year are perfectly fine in a box or screw-top, so look for young varieties when buying wine in these types of packaging. No matter what you choose, pick wines that you and your guests will enjoy. Wine doesn’t have to be stuffy or expensive but it does need to match your personality. Choose about six to ten wines for your tasting and plan on having a few extra bottles of the ones you anticipate will be the favorites to serve after the tasting.
Food. You’ll want to serve your guests something to eat with all that wine. During the tasting, put out a basket of unflavored crackers or bread to cleanse the palette between wines. You may consider purchasing “wine crackers,” which are substantial enough to clear the palette in just one bite. After the tasting, you can offer appetizers or a light meal. Cheese and dessert are good options since they are easy to pair with wine. If you opt for a meal, a sit-down dinner is usually the preferred choice for a wine party. Make sure your menu corresponds to the wine you serve. Here are some pairings to consider:
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