Wine lovers all over the world are elevating the guest experience by hosting wine tastings at home - and they’re booming! Reimagining degustation dinners, festive season celebrations and garden parties are just the beginning; so many options for enhancing your next ‘do’.
Guests will experience an interactive evening full of spirited chatter whilst learning a thing or two about wine. Make the party as simple or suave as you desire. Just follow WineDown’s tried and tested guide for a unique wine-tasting experience. But first, it’s due diligence time…
Mates look after mates
We don’t want to be the fun police, but we are huge advocates of responsible consumption. And so, here are a few mindful suggestions to ensure your guests’ well-being:
- Water: Keep your guests hydrated by placing several carafes on the table.
- Public Transport: Don’t let guests drink and drive - provide links to public transport information for your area.
- Spittoons & Breathalysers: Top the table with spittoons and breathalysers (available at chemists) and consider non-alcohol options.
- Food: helps to soak up the alcohol. The perfect addition is a charcuterie board with a selection of cheeses, dried fruit, nuts, cured meats, jams, chutneys, and pickles.
Theme your party like a pro
Keep it simple if you haven’t hosted a tasting before. Opt for a vertical tasting showcasing the lovely nuances of one wine from vintage to vintage. Or should you be feeling adventurous, the possibilities are endless; reds, whites, blends, Champagnes, varietals, winery, wine region, country of origin, old world vs new world or a blind tasting - to name a few.
Take a moment to ponder your event name: Smell the Rosé, Brooding Bordeaux, Charming Chianti, Ballin’ Barossa, Ravishing Reds, Whimsical Whites and Chardonnay Soiree. WineDown’s glee in whipping up all these names!
Whether it’s a simple or elaborate affair, we suggest starting with these 3 steps:
- Purchase wine: select 2-4 wines that match your theme. A tasting pour is 75-90ml per glass. Based on this, you would have ten pours per bottle, making ten or fewer guests the perfect number! Ask your local wine shop to help you select the wines. Better still, call one of our wine advisors - they are a wealth of wine information.
- Research wine: you want your tasting to be informative yet not fall into ‘Wine Education Course’ territory. Know your wines; tell the story of the producer, the wine, region, vintage, style, and any other facts you find a little quirky. Don’t overdo it, though; you want to avoid glazed looks.
- Source supplies: pens, wine glasses, spittoons, dump buckets, napkins, carafes for water, and download our CellarDoor.co versions of wine-tasting placemats and wine aroma wheels.
A foolproof tasting format or best-laid plans? (Either way, it’s going to be fun!)
- Let’s pour: remember, 75ml pours! Present one wine every 15 to 20 minutes to keep engagement at an all-time high. Display the youngest wine on the left to the oldest on the right for a vertical tasting OR; lighter styles to heavier styles to dessert style wines; OR whites to reds to dessert style wines.
- Educate: guests on basic tasting skills - see, swirl, sniff, sip and savour. Refer to aroma wheels for guidance.
- It’s storytelling time: this is your moment, your debut - shine, baby shine!
- Taste: experience the wine (at least two sips) and pen your tasting notes.
- Discuss: share your wine musings and conclusions.
- Cleanse palates: a plain water cracker and some water ought to do the trick!
- Repeat steps 3-6 for each wine.
- Food glorious food: a lovely way to enhance the characteristics of the wine.
- Nightcap: perhaps a Pedro Ximénez Sherry or a Moscatel to finish?
Don’t forget to set the mood with candles, soft lighting and a playlist. Be sure to avoid scented candles and flowers; the aromas will interfere with the nose of the wine! And lastly, go the whole hog, gifting a bottle on departure; a lovely keepsake leaving guests vying for your next coveted event.