If you have a special occasion or simply want to sample great wine with friends, hosting a wine-tasting party is an amazing activity to bring loved ones together!
In this article, we’re breaking down everything you need for hosting your wine party.
What You’ll Need to Host a Tasting Party at Home
Ensuring you have the right supplies is the first step to a successful wine-tasting party. Here are the main items you will need:
- Plenty of wine bottles
- Bottle opener
- Glassware
- Water bottles
- Napkins
- Notecards/tasting sheets
- Palate cleansers (water crackers)
- Spittoon
- Decanters (for bold reds)
- Meal or appetizers
If you don’t have enough of something, for instance, enough glassware, you can rent quality wine glasses for around $1-$3. You can also seek out quality second-hand glassware if you plan to throw another wine party in the future!
Spittoons and dump buckets are small receptacles that can be placed on the table. These are great for allowing guests to get rid of excess wine by either spitting or dumping the glass.
Lastly, a planned meal or charcuterie board full of crackers, cheeses, meats, and fruit is essential for complementing the wine’s tasting notes and keeping your guests satisfied.
Now that you have the supply basics down, let’s consider how much wine you should buy before hosting a wine tasting.
How Much Wine to Buy for a Party
It’s better to have too much wine rather than too little. How much you supply will depend on your guest count and what kind of pours you’ll be serving.
A good rule of thumb is to have one bottle of wine in each category for every six guests.
Generally, a selection of 8-10 wines is good when serving 2-3 ounce pours and 3-4 different wines are great if you plan to serve more generous 6-ounce pours.
A standard 750ml bottle of wine contains about 25 ounces; therefore, each bottle will serve about 4-6 full glasses or 12 tasting pours.
Standard Pour
Around 6 ounces, similar to what you would find when ordering wine at a restaurant.
Tasting Pour
A much smaller pour of around 2-3 ounces is the classic serving size for wine tasting.
It’s important to remember that guests are not obligated to drink the entire 2-3 ounce serving, especially if you plan to serve over six different types of wine throughout the evening.
Now, let’s see how to choose the best wine for your tasting party.
How to Choose a Wine for the Tasting
It’s generally best to supply the wine yourself when hosting a tasting party. This way, you can keep selections aligned with your chosen theme and research facts to share with guests as they sip throughout the night.
Of course, your guests can make suggestions beforehand and pitch in monetarily to contribute to your role as the sole supplier, but this is up to you.
Here are several things to consider when choosing wine for your tasting party.
Match it With a Theme
A theme is best as it makes everything feel cohesive. Here are a few different themes to consider:
Popular Varietals
An easy starter theme, you can choose famous wines sipped throughout the world. Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Sauvignon Blanc are some of the most popular choices.
Compare Old World and New World Wines
Old World refers to European wines, while New World wines are those crafted outside of Europe. Compare Bordeaux blends from France with those made in Napa Valley and taste the difference.
Blind Taste Wines at Different Price Points
A fun way to see how cheaper wine compares to its more expensive counterpart. You might be surprised if a $12 Cabernet Sauvignon tastes just as excellent as a $50 bottle.
Limit to One Category or Type
Limiting tastings to just one category can open a broad range of possibilities. If you choose to serve only white wine, for example, compare Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio, Riesling, Moscato, Chenin Blanc, Chardonnay, Grüner Veltliner, and Sémillon.
One Country, Different Regions
Explore popular wines from different regions within the same country. For example, Cabernet Sauvignon from Loire Valley, Bordeaux, Burgundy, Rhone Valley, and Alsace will vary in taste.
A Trip Around the Globe
See how one type of wine varies depending on location. For example, sample Sauvignon Blanc from Australia, New Zealand, France, and California to taste the difference.
Best Appetizers for a Wine Party
Whether you’re serving appetizers or a full spread, food is essential for any wine-tasting party. Here are some classics that never fail:
Cheese Board
The salt, protein, and fat in cheese will balance the acidity and alcohol in wine. Choose harder cheeses like aged cheddar for robust reds like Cabernet Sauvignon. Strong cheeses like stilton are excellent with fortified dessert wines like Port. Choose feta for Rosé and light white wines.
Fresh Tomato Appetizers
Caprese salad with tomato, mozzarella, basil, olive oil, and balsamic vinegar is excellent for bringing out the tomato notes in Merlot and Zinfandel.
Smoked Salmon on Cucumber
Cream cheese, salmon, and cucumber are excellent with full-bodied white wines like Chardonnay.
Bruschetta
A classic Italian pairing for robust red wine, this recipe calls for tomatoes, olive oil, and herbs atop toasted bread.
Mushroom Quiche
Perfect for bringing out the earthy qualities in Pinot Noir.
Prosciutto Flatbread
Prosciutto, tomato, and olive oil are great for bringing balance to acidic wines like Chianti.
Shrimp Cocktail
Perfect with dry, light white wines like Riesling, Pinot Grigio, or Sauvignon Blanc.
Deviled Eggs
The fat in deviled eggs nicely balances acidic white wines like dry Riesling and Rosé.
Oysters
A fancy classic pairing for Champagne and Prosecco.
Artichoke Dip
A Mediterranean treat perfect for light wines like Rosé.
Bread and Olive Oil
Classic and straightforward, add balsamic vinegar to this for red wines.
After choosing an appetizer, make a checklist ensuring you're prepared for the party.
Your Checklist for the Evening
Here are a few tips for a smooth night, ensuring guests have a great time.
Set the Mood
The right music, lighting, and decor are key for an atmospheric experience. Low light is excellent for an evening tasting, as long as everyone can see the wine. For music, classical and jazz never fail. Live music like a band or D.J. can also add more interest.
Have a Schedule
A schedule may sound rigid, but it’s key for ensuring guests stay entertained. Choose an exact time to begin tasting and schedule the appetizers or meal accordingly.
Have an order for your wine, and limit each explanation to around 2-3 minutes. Introduce a new bottle of wine every fifteen minutes to keep things moving.
Have a Party Host
Whether this is yourself or a designated expert like a Sommelier, having someone to keep things on schedule and entertaining is ideal.
Hire a Chef if Needed
Even if you're just serving appetizers, designating someone for food service provides one less thing to worry about. A chef can cook interesting renditions of popular wine-tasting pairings and introduce each course.
Eliminate or Limit Environmental Aromas
Since wine tasting depends on sight and smell, make sure any odors like fragrances or scented candles are eliminated.
Serve Wine at the Appropriate Temperatures
Here’s a quick guide so that you can serve your wine at its best:
- Sparkling wine: 40-45 degrees Fahrenheit.
- White wine: 40-50 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Red Wine: 55-65 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Dessert wine: About 55 degrees Fahrenheit.
Play a Game
Incorporating wine party games is another way to keep things lively and fun. Blind tastings, wine bingo, or wine trivia are a few fun examples.
Now You’re Ready for a Great Time
Whether introducing friends to your favorite wines or cultivating an evening based around global cuisine, these tips will help you have a successful wine party at home.
If you’d like to enrich your wine knowledge further, check out our Podcast and Wine Online 101 for everything related to the world of wine.
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