Like Book Club? You’ll LOVE Wine Club!

There’s a new social club climbing the ranks; Wine Club. Not that unlike book club, except with wine! [WD senses nods of approval from the crowd]. The notion of a wine club, whilst not new, was reimagined for this article from a desire to find WD’s 74-year-old mother a club she’d actually enjoy. [Not sure why Mahjong or Quilt Club didn’t appeal]. Who doesn’t love to gather with friends, chit-chat and learn a thing or two about the wonderful world of wine?

With a few simple tips, you’ll be on your way to hosting a wine club that all your wine-loving friends want to be a part of. Before you know it, Diane Keaton and Jane Fonda will be sipping wine, starring in a movie loosely based on your wine club. To quote the film Book Club [somewhat loosely], “There’s a wine out there that makes you feel things you didn’t think possible. It’s a glorious journey to finding which one!”

Words to the wise (a few tips)

Leadership: nominate an organiser; they don’t need to know much about wine.

Members: keep it intimate - 4-6 is a good number.

Location: mix it up and move it around.

Wines: 4-6 bottles - everyone can bring a bottle to taste and take the leftovers home! Set a price range between $20-$50. Each member should research their wine.

Duration: 2-3 hours, including time for a catch-up and nibbles.

Taste and Discuss: Allow each member time to introduce their wine; nose, palate, country of origin, region, vintage, and age of the wine. You’ll find some good tips in our ‘How to host a wine tasting at home’ WD article.

Events:  think outside the box; winery tours, mystery wine time (see below), guest speakers (invite a winemaker or sommelier to speak via video), get your local winery involved or host an evening at a wine bar.

Responsible service: breathalysers are a must! (you’ll find disposable ones at the chemist for under $5).

Food: cheese and charcuterie, bread and dips or have the host cook up a pot of spaghetti (make Nona proud) or scrumptious goat’s cheese tarts.

Water: keep members hydrated.

Spittoons: ensure you have spittoons for those watching their alcohol consumption.

The big debut

The first time the club meets, you may like to run through the Five S’s tasting method; see, sip, swirl, sniff, sip and savour and have some wine aroma wheels handy. Remember, you want members to be engaged, discussing the wine together. Wine-tasting journals are the perfect way to collate your experiences as a keepsake.

Your evening may flow something like this…

1.     Plonk your bottles on the table on arrival.

2.     Club leader to run through The Five S’s (see above).

3.     Member to introduce wine.

4.     Taste - 75 ml pours only.

5.     Discuss.

6.     Repeat steps 3-5.

7.     Vote on your favourite wine.

8.     Discuss a theme for the next meeting. Some ideas; regions, varietals, old world, new world, verticals, styles, red or white blends, winery focus, Christmas-worthy wines and young or aged wines to get you started.

9.     Ensure someone is allocated to research the theme of the next meeting. Just enough for a quick introduction will do.

10. Food and more chit-chat (don’t forget to share public transport options to get home!)

When you want to shake things up

Everybody loves a mystery! Bring a bottle encased in a paper bag (classy, we know) and play a little ‘Mystery Wine Time’. What’s that, you ask? Only WD and CellarDoor.co’s favourite pastime [and how we hone our palate]. Based on the late Len Evans Wine Options Game, it’s the opportunity to put your wine knowledge to the test, throwing your comfort zone to the wind and having a guess.

It goes a little something like this…

Members stand and are asked a series of two-option questions to tease out the mystery wine. Place hands on head for option 1 and hands on hips for option 2. The host reveals the answer, and if you get the answer correct, you stay in the game; if you get the answer wrong, you are eliminated. The goal is to reveal the producer, grape variety and vintage and win a bottle of wine. The last person standing is the winner. Below are some examples of questions that may be asked:

Is this an old or new-world wine?

Is the country of origin Australia or New Zealand?

Does it have a light or full body?

Flavours; is it dark fruits and spice or bright red fruits and florals?

Is it low in tannins or high in tannins?

Is it Cabernet Sauvignon or Pinot Noir?

Is it a recent vintage or an old one?

Does it come from Coonawarra or Barossa?

Would anyone like to guess the Producer?

Was it made by Wynns Coonawarra Estate or Wolf Blass?



And whilst everyone loves a win, getting it wrong and discovering more about the wine is even more fun!

And because WineDown can’t help herself, here are some musings for club names; 50 shades of wine, Crush club, The perfect pair, Fabulous and fermented; Serendipitous sippers; Toasty and tart; Cellar-scapades; and Plonk on the palate. We hope you enjoy creating your own!