Having a wine tasting party is a
lot of fun. Although, this might seem to be for only the
sophisticated crowd, anyone can learn about wine and hold a wine
tasting. This is a great way to get together and experiment with
new varietals. You can use any method of a wine tasting when you
have a party.The first
thing you need to do is determine the type of wine tasting you
want to have with your friends. The best 'first' wine tasting
method is the Big 8 because this gives everyone a good idea the
differences of varietals right up front. You can choose from the
horizontal, vertical, pairings with cheese or chocolate, or
other methods. It is up to you as it is your wine tasting party.
You will next need to determine
who you are going to invite to the party. Be sure there is
enough room for all of the guests you want to invite before you
send out any invitations. You want enough chairs for people to
sit comfortably. You also don't want to have too many people as
it could be a bad situation if people feel rushed.
When you think about the amount
of people you have at your wine tasting party will help you know
how much wine you need to buy. Be sure to have enough so all of
the guests are able to taste the same wines.
Thinking about the 'who' in who
you are going to invite is important also. You might not want to
invite friends who think they are experts on wine or they might
get a little annoying. They also might take over the entire
learning process of the different wines. This is supposed to be
fun so be sure to invite fun people and people who are open
minded.
You should design a card for
each wine being tasted. This will be filled out by each guest as
they taste each wine. They will be able to record the aroma they
smell from each wine, the flavor, what it tastes like with a
specific cheese, etc. You can also have them score the different
wines on the back of each card also.
The best way to do a wine
tasting with your friends is by holding a blind wine tasting
party. You will need black or dark colored glasses so the guests
cannot see the colors of the different wines. This way their
perceptions will be more honest and accurate.
You also do not ever want to
tell your guests what the prices of a specific wine was because
they will immediately pass judgment on whether or not it is a
good wine. Some people immediately assume wine is no good if it
is less than $100. Never tell the price to your guests,
especially if you have many different wines varying greatly in
price. It is okay to tell prices after the wine tasting is over.
It is important not to have
labels on the bottles or anywhere they can be found. If you
leave a label on the counter then you may have a cheating guest.
Allow the guests to incorporate their senses properly without
any help or hints.
You don't have to go all out
when you decorate for a wine tasting party. It is important to
have a white table cloth so the wine color can be properly
assessed. Many people like to decorate with candles, paintings,
and flowers. It is entirely up to you how you want to decorate
at your party.
Be sure you have plenty of
light at your wine tasting party. This is important or you will
have difficulty with proper assessments of the color of the
wine. You might serve a very cloudy wine but if the room is dim
and candle light is shining it may look brilliant.
When you serve wines at a wine
tasting party be sure that they are served from dry to sweet.
Start with the light white wines first and work your way slowly
to the dark and heavy red wines. You should also start with
younger wines to the older wines. If you are doing a vertical
test based on years then you will be sure to start with the
newest wines first.
When you pour wine at a wine
tasting be sure you pour enough in the glass to taste the wine
and not too much. Two ounces is usually a perfect amount to pour
for your guests to get the right amount for a proper tasting of
the wine.
Be sure to provide snacks like
unflavored, unsalted crackers and bread to your guests. You
don't want your guests to be hungry. This will also cleanse
their palate so they are ready for the next wine to try on your
list.
The most important thing to
consider at a wine tasting party is driving. If your wine
tasting party consists of people drinking the wine and not just
tasting then they will need to find a ride home. Be sure rides
have been arranged so all of your guests are safe when the party
is over.
