Host a UN-Lame Wine Tasting Party
For a wine geek like myself, almost any wine tasting peaks my interest. I don’t care much about the surroundings or circumstances. I’ve found myself sitting at an old card table in someone’s garage, tasting a number of very nice wines, and had a great time. I have also found myself sitting at a huge mahogany conference table in a private suite at some swank hotel, also tasting some great wines, and having a great time. I can enjoy both, and everything in-between. But when YOU decide to host a wine tasting or wine party, you need to keep one thing in mind. Make it fun.
Many people just hear the term “wine tasting” and they suddenly picture themselves sitting next to some geek at a large oval table, swirling wine and taking tasting notes for 2 hours. This is enough to make a possible guest of your so-called “tasting”, schedule a dentist appointment just to get out of it.
I always recommend a far more casual and fun tasting that will guarantee 95% of your friends a great time. Drop any plans to have everyone sit down all together at a table. Turn up the music a bit and for god’s sake, invite some women. Most all guy tastings suck, unless you call it a business meeting.
Below is everything you need to know to get that wine party organized and ready to roll. Have fun and enjoy the wine.
Rule #1
Invite guests who may have the same general interest and experience level. A complete wine geek at a casual tasting, may take it upon himself to start lecturing and giving extremely boring insights on the history of wine. Casual wine drinkers don’t need to be forced into conversations with this guy at your gathering. So, screw him. Don’t invite the wine geek.
Same rule applies to the person who only drinks Heineken and can’t stand holding a wine glass. This will be the guy who asks, “What’s this stuff made from again?” while he plugs his nose and chugs glass after glass to get his buzz on. Screw him too. Don’t invite the folks from the two extremes.
Keep the gathering focussed on the folks who are interested in trying new stuff and the friends you know who would love to try a variety of wines in a fun atmosphere.
Rule #2
The location of the gathering is important, as is the location of the wines being poured at the party. I think there needs to be plenty of space for folks to move around and mingle, and if all goes well an impromptu dance floor may be generated around 11:00, so have some space.
I like to have the wines separated on a few different tables preferably at separate ends of the room. It keeps people moving and spreads thing out. Things get too congested when 12 to 20 open wine bottles are all occupying one table. Your guests will be pouring their own wine, so get ready for spills.
Greg’s Observation
Something always gets broken. Just deal with it. If nothing gets broken then these folks are way too stiff and refined. Usually it is a glass or two. Sometimes a bottle is dropped or knocked across a table, so white tablecloths and carpets beware. The more bottles placed on one large table, the more knocked around.
Rule #3
Establish a theme for the tasting. No, not costumes or togas. A theme of what wines will be poured. A free-for-all tasting with guests bringing anything they pick up last minute at the package store never works. Just ask yourself what you have been drinking lately. Then decide if you want to branch out, or stick with some wine regions that you are familiar with. If you have been drinking a fair amount of California Chardonnay’s and enjoy them, why not have an Oregon Chardonnay vs. California Chardonnay battle. It is always a good way to get a taste of the differences. Here are some other theme possibilities. Remember that the possibilities are endless.
Red Bordeaux vs. Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
White Burgundy vs. California Chardonnay
Chianti vs. California Sangiovese
Northern Rhone Reds vs. Australian Shiraz
Napa Cabernet vs. Sonoma Cabernet
Red Bordeaux vs. Meritage Red Blends
Red Burgundy vs. Oregon Pinot Noir
The list could go on and on and it definitely doesn’t need to be one region against another. Remember to also choose a price range for the selections. If you are hosting the event and also supplying all the wine, then you are a better person than me, and go nuts with the price if you so desire. However, if you are having guests each bring one bottle, fill them in on the price range you have chosen. $20-$30 a bottle may cover most situations. The Bordeaux vs. Napa Cabs may prove to be more interesting with a higher price tag. Your tasting, your call.
Take the time of year into consideration when planning the theme. A hot July night may not be the best time for big heavy reds, and an all Sauvignon Blanc tasting in the middle of a snowy December may seem misplaced also.
Two general tasting terms you may want to know are, Vertical Tasting and Horizontal tasting. These are tasting terms used regularly in the wine world. A Vertical Tasting consists of tasting wines from several different vintages or years, that were produced by one winery. A nice example of this would be tasting Cabernet Sauvignon from Joseph Phelps Winery spanning the “90”, “91”, “92”, and “93” vintages. This would let the tasters see how each vintage compared to the next and also judge the aging process.
A Horizontal Tasting consists of tasting wines from the same vintage or year, represented by several different wineries. A nice example of this would be tasting Cabernet Sauvignon from Joseph Phelps, Caymus, Robert Mondavi, and Pine Ridge all from the “1990” vintage.
Greg’s Observation
Some guests are going to get bored with taking tasting notes, while some may have never started. So don’t try to make an accurate conclusion on which wine won the contest. This is a casual tasting, so concentrate on all the wines the first time around. If you are the host at least try to get a chance to get some good tasting info on all the wines that interest you. Then, drop the tasting sheets and concentrate on the blonde over by the fireplace.
Rule #4
Provide some food. The host should put out some hors d’oeuvres, cheese, fruit, unsalted crackers, bread or other munchies you may have prepared for the evening. Have some back ups ready because guests may get hungry again a couple hours into the event. It is an option of course to match the wine theme with a food theme. Italian dishes with Italian wine, etc, etc.
Check list of party supplies.
Bottled H2O-Room temperature bottled water is good, and lots of it. Why room temp? If it is too cold it can numb you tongue a bit and that may effect you wine tasting. Guests may also use it to rinse their glasses between wines if a new wine glass is not provided for each wine.
Wine Opener-That would suck to have all that wine in front of you, and no way to get at it.
Spit Buckets-Yep, some guests will spit a bit since they are tasting so much wine. These buckets may also be used to pour water into, if folks are rinsing their glasses. I’ve seen small fish bowls used, metal Champagne buckets, and Tupperware bowls. You may have to let some folks know that it is proper and o.k. to spit.
Pens and Tasting note sheets-Supply these for yourself and the folks that may want to take notes on the wines. Click here for the DamnGoodWine.com tasting sheet (coming soon). We recommend using it for all your tastings, and for just taking notes on your daily drinking.
Wine Glasses-A 12oz. (or bigger) glass for everyone. Some hosts rent glassware and actually provide a new glass for every person, for every wine. It is a nice touch but can be a bit of a hassle to rent a bunch of glasses. If you are going to insist that each guest reuses the same wine glass through out the evening then provide enough bottled water. Did I already say that with item #1?
Food-Get it prepared in advance.
Music-Make sure you have a good selection.
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