In the midst of the current Covid-19 crisis, your favorite wine bar or restaurant is likely closed for the coming weeks. Without our usual social outlets, we’re all going to be searching for productive (or at least enjoyable) ways to spend our time at home. Why not learn about wine? And while you’re at it, play classic childhood games, but with wine themes? If you didn’t stock up on wine, no problem. We have a few fun wine games you can play with or without wine!
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Host a Blind Tasting Party
Sheltering in place with friends or roommates? A blind tasting party is a great way to pass time and learn something about wine while you’re at it. If you don’t have enough people at home to pull off a tasting party, this could be a romantic evening activity for you and your partner.
To successfully host a blind tasting, you really need the three components provided in this kit in addition to wine glasses.
This kit includes pencils, labels for the wine glasses, bags to cover up the wines, a simple wine aroma and flavor guide, and some pre-printed wine tasting notecards for participants. The kit accommodates up to 10 participants with 5 wines. Or 5 participants with 10 wines. One participant with 10 wines is not recommended (unless of course, you are a sommelier or wine scholar cramming for an upcoming exam)!
If your wine tasting group wants to more in-depth than the content that is provided in the kit, you might want to use a resource that explains the “why” and “how” and not just the “what” of the wines you are tasting. This indispensable handbook on flavors released in early 2020 will definitely up your blind wine-tasting game!
Somm Blinder Cards
If you’re a fan of the Somm Movie series or Somm TV, the folks over at Flask Fine Wines have a great wine deck from the makers of the Somm documentary series. These Somm Blinder Cards are similar to the Wine Game Kit, but will definitely take your tasting up a notch!
With this game, you essentially need the cards, wine, wine glasses, a decanter (optional), pens and paper for scorekeeping, and a spit bucket. The taster with the lowest points gets to clean the spit bucket!
Test Your Wine IQ
Looking for a wine game that doesn’t require wine? If Trivial Pursuit is right up your alley, the folks at Helvetiq have this nice Wine IQ game that can be played with as few as 2 and up to 12 players. (Good for a Zoom or Facetime session with family or friends?)
If you (and your friends) don’t know much about wines, don’t worry. Like in Trivial Pursuit, this game offers a huge variety of questions. The variety makes it easy for wine geeks at all steps in the wine learning journey to play. For example, some of the cards ask about the etymological source of “wine words.” There are math and science questions as well!
Wine Word Puzzles
We love a good wine word puzzle. And let’s face it, there actually might be such a thing as too much Netflix. When you need a nice, quiet activity that still stimulates the brain, word puzzles are the best. That’s why KnowWines developed a flight of FREE wine word searches. Perfect for passing time while sheltering in place!
Wine Bottle Puzzles
Looking for a hands-on wine bottle puzzle? Those who love 3-D puzzles, wooden puzzle toys, or solving engineering challenges might enjoy one of these brain teaseing wooden wine bottle puzzles. Simply place a wine bottle inside the wooden base then follow the instructions to build the puzzle around the wine bottle!
Whine Games Conversation Starter
Days of social distancing having you at a loss for conversation? This Whine Barrel Conversation Starter does not require wine, and it can be used in person or over Zoom or FaceTime. Inside the “Whine barrel,” there are 150 cards for conversation starters. Not many of the cards are actually about wine, however, so serious wine students might want to pass this one up.
Foodie Games: Wine and Food Mad Libs
Many GenXers likely remember playing Mad Libs on the school bus or on road trips (with the Etch-a-Sketch buried under the seat!). This fun throwback game can be played alone or with friends. At KnowWines, we personally look forward to unplugging with the Mad Libs Eat and Drink game (and we also look forward to rediscovering the joy of writing dirty phrases in fill-in-the-blank templates!).
Wine Board Game
For folks who like to take it slow with a nice, focused board game, this unique viticulture game will transport you to Tuscany, Italy, where you (or you and a partner) are given a set of supplies to build a vineyard and winery! The game is constructed of very high-quality pieces. It’s also a strategic game that can be played with two players, but is not as competitive as Catan.
WineOpoly Board Game
Finaly, we’re rounding out our collection of wine games with this classic play on Monopoly - only with wine! The game pieces are wine bottles, corks, and glasses, and Park Place has been replaced with Champagne! Roll the dice and advance to Cheers! We think this is a fun, festive way to spend an evening.
Wine Games Conclusion
There are a number of wine games on the market. Some wine games are wine-themed plays on old favorites, while others are classic games enclosed in a wine-themed box or barrel.
Some wine games can be played by yourself, with a friend, or with a large group. These group wine games can be adaptable to online play if your friend is not able to meet up with you in person. Other wine games are for serious wine enthusiasts or for wine newbies to play with a sommelier friend.
Regardless of the game you choose, you’re sure to have fun with or without wine.
We hope this will help you to fill an evening (or two) with some good, wine-themed fun!
Cheers!