Sample different wines from one region, such as Napa Valley, Santa Barbara wine country, Willamette Valley, Rioja, New Zealand, the South of France, or whatever you like. [3] X Research source Taste varietals produced in different parts of the world, such as drinking only the Cabernet Sauvignon produced in Napa Valley, France, or Argentina. Do a horizontal tasting. Taste only 2012 Chardonnays produced all over the world. This may be tricky to find, though. Do a tasting by one winemaker. If you really like Robert Mondavi, Cake bread, Stag’s Leap, or Duckhorn wine, for example, try several different wines from this one winemaker. Sample only reds, whites, sparkling wines, or dessert wines. Just remember that dessert wines tend to be sweeter and may be more difficult to taste.
You can tell your guests what the situation is when you invite them, so they know if they should come with a full stomach, or if they should prepare to eat.
The glasses should have stems so the guests don’t warm the wine with their hands. [5] X Expert Source Murphy PerngCertified Wine Consultant Expert Interview. 19 February 2020. The glasses should be clear so the guests can see the color of the wine.
Obviously, the wine. Pick your wines based on the theme you’ll be going for. In general, it’s good to have wines in different price ranges, from pretty cheap to more expensive, if you can afford it. Make sure that you have enough wine for your guests – a bottle of wine can pour 5 regular glasses of wine, or enough for 6-10 people to taste the wine. Back-up corkscrews in case yours break. A wine opener. A spittoon. This can either come in the form of a large bowl in the center of the table or as small paper cups for each guest. An ice bucket for chilling white wine. This will keep you from running to the fridge. A white tablecloth or white napkins. This will help your guests see the color profiles of the wines. A tasting grid. This can help your guests identify the flavors of the wine and jot down their impressions. You can find some great ones online. [8] X Research source An aerator or decanter for the wine. This can help bring out the flavors in a red wine. Bread or crackers to taste in between wines. Cups of ice water for your guests as well as a pitcher of water for the table.
You should try to invite people who have a similar knowledge about wine. If everyone knows almost nothing, then that’s fine, but you want to avoid the awkwardness of having just one person who knows absolutely nothing, or that one guy who is Mr. Wine Expert and tries to educate everyone else at great length.
Don’t put out any flowers or scented candles. This strong aroma can make it more difficult to recognize the flavors of the wine. Opt for a bowl of grapes instead.
Wines that are similar, like the same varietal of wine for 2011 and 2012, should be tasted one after the other.
Aromas and flavors. Any flavor or aroma that comes to mind should be written down, whether it’s blackberry, honey, lemon, chocolate, pear, earth, or pomegranate. Texture and weight. See if the wine is light and crisp, full-bodied, rough, or smooth. Balance. Does the wine have a smooth mixture of flavors, or does one flavor, such as oak or tannins, dominate the beverage? The finish. See if the wine lingers on your palate or if it disappears the second you swallow it. A good wine should linger.
Prosciutto wrapped around melon Cheese A light pear salad Chocolate Fruit compote Flan
