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Trying new wines is fun, but trying new wines with friends is even better! An in-home wine tasting is a great way to learn about wines in a stress free environment. Plus, getting to drink five (or more) bottles of wine at a time in the name of education is an added bonus! But what exactly do you need to host the perfect wine tasting at home? I’ve got you covered.
Here is my guide on hosting the perfect wine tasting at home: 
WHAT DO I NEED FOR A WINE TASTING AT HOME?
Here is a list of supplies you’ll want to get before you host your wine tasting.
Now that you’re nice and prepared, here are some other tips to follow for a perfect at-home wine tasting experience. 
KEEP IT COZY
An event with too many people can make it hard to stay focused on the wine. On the other hand, having too few people runs the risk of not having enough wine! The optimal size of a wine tasting group should be from 5-10 people. This way, each person can contribute one bottle of wine, and it’s not too overcrowded.
THEME IT
Be specific about the type of wine you’re tasting. For example, focus on a certain grape like Pinot Noir. Or pick wines from a specific region, like Tuscany. Having a large variety of different types of wines is too much to keep up with, and can make the discussion difficult. As you become more familiar with how a wine tasting works, you can work towards more elaborate themes.
SET THE SCENE
Now that you have your group and your theme, you can get the scene set! A quick tip before is to inform each member of your group to bring a bottle. Set a price range, and keep it in line with your theme.
Setting the table Getting the table equipped with all the necessities makes the night go by much smoother. You’ll want to start by putting down a white tablecloth (nothing too fancy in case of spillage) so that everyone can see the color of their wines. Keep your dump bucket close, and have bowls of crackers spread across the table. It wouldn’t hurt to have a water pitcher in the middle as well. Setting each space Each space should have just one wine glass. If you’re looking to compare the different wines more in depth, you could supply each person with two or three glasses, but this is completely optional. You’ll also want to provide each person with their personal spittoon. For a wine tasting, it’s totally appropriate to spit wine in order to taste it without the effects of alcohol, so it’s nice to provide this option!. You’ll also want to have a notepad and pen for note taking, a wine tasting guide, and a water glass at each spot.
Not sure where to start when it comes to tasting the wine? Check out this episode of my podcast, The Cork & Fizz Guide to Wine, to learn my simple 4-step wine tasting process!
FINISH WITH A MEAL
After all that palate stimulation, everyone’s bound to be hungry! Make a meal and appetizers ahead that everyone can enjoy, and that can pair well with your wines. You can place all the bottles on the table, let everyone enjoy their favorite, and chat about your final observations!
Remember, wine tastings are all about exploration, and should be a fun experience. If you’re looking at this and thinking “that’s a lot of work!”, let a professional run your tasting! At Cork and Fizz, I offer a variety of themed wine tasting experiences to choose from. Pick which one interests you, grab your friends, and let me handle the rest. Explore my virtual wine tastings here. Or, if you’re in the Seattle area, check out my in-person tasting option!
10 Comments
12/6/2022 06:10:18 am
It's great that you explained that 5-10 people is the ideal size of a wine-tasting group. My friend recently found his fondness for wine. He is even planning to go on a wine-tasting tour for his birthday.
Hailey, Cork & Fizz
1/12/2023 05:51:19 pm
A wine tasting is such a great way to celebrate a birthday!! And yes, I’ve learned the hard way that more than 8-10 people at a wine tasting party can get pretty wild! 12/6/2022 06:12:20 am
I want to try a wine tasting, but I'm not sure how to do that kind of thing at home. It makes sense that I would want to ensure that I get the right supplies for this. I can see how having napkins available would be important.
Hailey, Cork & Fizz
1/12/2023 05:50:19 pm
Yes, having all the supplies handy is super important! And spills are almost inevitable when wine is around so napkins are a must! 1/12/2023 11:29:48 am
We watched a movie about a wine-tasting contest last week, and it made us want to host our own wine-tasting party next weekend. That's why we're glad you described which supplies we'll need to plan the best wine-tasting party for our friends, so we'll keep reading your tips right now. Thanks for the information on how to set up the perfect space to taste different types of wine.
Hailey, Cork & Fizz
1/12/2023 05:47:29 pm
So glad to hear you found this helpful! Research is a key step in planning a wine trip in my opinion. That way you find exactly what you’re looking for and find lots of options!
Hailey, Cork & Fizz
1/12/2023 05:48:56 pm
Oh, how fun! What movie did you watch? Wine tasting parties can be so fun but it sure helps to know where to start! If you’re ever looking to learn more about wines or have a guided tasting at your party, you know who to call! 4/13/2023 10:39:20 am
My favorite part of this article is that five to ten people are the most accurate members of people for a great wine-tasting experience. My best friend told me the other day that he was looking for a tour that would help us gather more information about his favorite wines. He asked if I had any idea what would be the best option for us to consider having a gourmet restaurant experience. I appreciate you helping me learn more. This will consider us trying a wine tasting for a great experience. 7/19/2023 09:43:00 pm
I appreciate you saying that a group of 5 to 10 individuals should be the ideal size for a wine tasting. My friend likes to sample wines. I'll ask my pal to get up to 10 buddies so we can go on a wine tour. Thanks for pointing out that five to ten people is the best number for a group when it comes to wine tasting. I will keep that in mind so that we would have fun this weekend when I buy various types of them. It will be the way I want my birthday to be celebrated, and it is perfect for me because my circle of friends is definitely small. Leave a Reply. |
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