We’re in the business of wine tasting and wine education, and we believe that there’s no reason learning can’t be fun. Wine tastings should be relaxed, no-fuss affairs among friends (in other words, a party!). Love entertaining? Curious about wine? Great! Here are the steps to setting up an amazing event that will both impress your friends and teach them something, too.
How to Host a Wine Party
Decide what you want to know about wine and do the research:
Are you planning an upcoming trip to a specific wine region, like Bordeaux or Napa Valley?
Do you have a favorite grape variety you’d like to know more about, like Pinot Noir or Chardonnay?
Are you curious about how wines differ from vintage to vintage?
Do you want to explore wines similar to your go-to brand, but slightly different?
Now that you know what you want to learn, use online resources (like our blog!), wine books, or local experts to find the answers you’re looking for, along with the best wines to help share your findings with your friends. Remember, this is exploratory learning! You don’t have to have all the answers, just enough curiosity to keep asking good questions! If you feel nervous about doing the research on your own, hire a sommelier or wine expert to attend the party and help you run the wine tasting (your local wine shop can help you find someone!).
Select a general time frame for the event.
Hosting a tasting just for fun or to connect with friends is a wonderful idea, but you might also want to consider coordinating your tasting with a birthday, promotion, or holiday. Wine parties also make a fun and engaging gift for bridesmaids and groomsmen.
Use a scheduling tool.
Select a few specific dates and times for the event and present them to your potential guests to see which will work best. Yes, we understand it is difficult to get any group of adults together! Consider using Doodle, Evite, or Facebook Messenger to help everyone decide on a date more efficiently (and without a long chain of emails!).
Choose a location for your wine party.
We recommend a home dining room with a table that can provide a space at least 22” wide x 16” deep at each sitting area — you’ll want everyone to have room for a tasting grid, wine glass, and other sampling items. A simple white tablecloth (or no tablecloth!) is fine. If you don’t have a big table, KnowWines can create the extra space needed with portable folding tables that can be covered with a tablecloth.
Finalize your guest list.
Based on the results of your Doodle poll (or another invitation tool you may have used). We recommend four to eight participants because it is a intimate group size that can fit at one table and allow the space and time for conversation and questions. An odd number of people is also perfectly fine.
Plan your food pairings.
You’ll want to have simple, palate-cleansing crackers for your tasting, but you can provide as little or as much additional food as you like. Find out which foods pair best with the wines you’re serving (ask an expert or do a simple Google search) and prepare them in advance, if possible.
How to Prepare Your Home for a Wine Tasting Party
So, you’ve planned the party and are expecting a handful of friends to arrive later that day to learn about wine with you. Here are a few tips for day-of party preparation:
Set the Table
Set up your table with enough glasses for all your attendees to taste each wine. You should also have a spit bucket, napkins, a pitcher of water with water glasses, plates for your food pairings, and of course, the wine and food. Depending on your guests, you could add some fun wine glass charms to lighten up the mood!
Be Mindful of Aromas
Don’t light any strong candles or wear heavy perfume the day of the tasting. This could interfere with properly tasting and smelling the wine.
Relax
… and enjoy learning with your friends!
Want to offer your guests a memento of the evening? Check out our favorite gifts for wine lovers.
Cheers!