Let’s say you plan on hosting a wine tasting party. And let us assume you don’t have any clue about how to begin the planning process. Don’t worry, I’m here to help you out. The good news is, there are lots of ways to get this party started.

Six wine-tasting party themes

There are 6 wine tasting party themes that you could try which is guaranteed to give success to a wine tasting party.

Wine tasting parties are a lot of fun and it is relatively easy for people to plan and host. If you are starting to plan on hosting a wine tasting party, then you need to keep in mind that you should first choose a theme for your party.

So, here are six theme ideas that you can use for your wine tasting party.

The first is called the Horizontal Wine Tasting. In this kind of theme, you will only focus on one wine variety from a single year. However, each wine will come from multiple vineyards and different producers. For example, you can focus on a 2000 Chenin Blanc from five or seven different wine producers or wineries.

In here, you will consider whether you like to taste wines from the same region or you want to mix it up by tasting the same type of wine that comes from different wineries, such as from California, Australia or Italy.

The second is called Vertical Wine Tasting. Here, the wine tastings are conducted by tasting just one variety of wine. For example, you will only concentrate on tasting the Chenin Blanc from the same producer. However, the wines will be in different vintages or years. For example, you can taste the Chenin Blanc from one winery from years 2000, 2002, and 2004.

This will show the tasters, which are your guests, on how dramatic or subtle a wine can change from year to year.

Priceless Wine Tasting is another great theme for your wine tasting party. You have to remember that people normally assume that wines that are more expensive taste better than cheaper ones. Although this may be true, you can try testing their palate by withholding the price of the variety of wine you have available for tasting. By just tasting, your guests should determine which wine is worth 120 dollars and which one is worth 10 dollars.

Price Point Wine Tasting is another great wine tasting party theme that you may want to try. Here, the wines featured will be in a similar price. The goal here is to keep the wines comparable in a baseline price which is quite flexible for you to organize when it comes to buying the wine.

Another theme is called the Big Eight Wine Tasting. Here, you will get your guests work their way through eight different kinds of wines and determine which one they prefer. This will also give your guests, particular the ones that are not very “in” to wines a new appreciation for the different kinds of wine.

The big eight wines are Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Shiraz, and Pinot Noir for red wines, and Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, Chardonnay, and Pinot Grigio for white wines.

Lastly, the Blind Wine Tasting theme can also work for your party. Just take any of the themes mentioned before, remove the labels from the bottles or put the bottles in wine bags and you have a blind wine tasting party that will surely be a lot of fun for your guests. The fact that your guests will not have any ideas on what wine they taste, it will definitely be interesting to know which kind of wine they prefer without looking at the label or at the price of the wine.

These are the six wine tasting themes that will surely make your wine tasting part a success.

Afraid you are doing it wrong?

Attending a wine tasting party is just about the most fun and enjoyable experience you can imagine. However, most people don’t attend because they have fear about not knowing how to act in such parties and afraid that they will offend someone or be embarrassed by not knowing how to taste wine.

Basically, the basics of wine tasting are actually quite simple. You don’t need to have formal training and everyone can do it. By the time you finish reading this article, you will be well on your way in becoming a wine taster and you will be ready enough to attend wine tasting parties or even go on a wine tasting vacation in some of the most prominent vineyards and wineries in the world.

As far as etiquette is concerned, the ladies are usually served before the gentlemen. In most wine tasting parties, you can expect to be served with room temperature bottled water. The water is to rinse your mouth between tastings in order for your palate to be clean for the next wine. Cold water is not served as cold water will shock your taste buds which can overall affect the taste of the wine.

Also, some wine tasting parties serve unsalted and unflavored bread or crackers. This also helps in palate cleansing, which will also get your palate ready for the next wine tasting.

When tasting wine, it is important that you should always hold the wine glass by the stem and not cup the bowl in your palm. The purpose of this is that it helps in preventing you to heat the wine with the warmth of your hands. You have to remember that this will also affect the overall taste of the wine.

It is also very important that when you attend wine tasting parties, you shouldn’t wear strong smelling perfumes or colognes and even after shave. The scent of the perfume will overwhelm the bouquet or the smell of the wine, thus, affecting the taste of the wine. You will not be the only one affected by this, but also other tasters. So, be polite and don’t wear strong smelling perfume or other scents.

It is also important that you shouldn’t smoke, chew gum, and mints before and during the wine tasting event. This can have an effect on your taste buds and you will not be able to fully enjoy the real flavor of the wine.

Tasting the wine doesn’t just involve putting the wine in your mouth and roll it around your tongue a couple of times before spitting or swallowing. You have to remember that wine tasting is all about the wine. It is about the color of the wine, the smell or the bouquet, and of course, the taste.

The first step in tasting wine is by taking a look at its color. The glasses served should always be clean and clear in order for you take a good look at the wine. The tables should be covered with white linen table cloth in order for you to see the wine’s color more clearly. You have to remember that white wines aren’t always white. It may have a yellow, green and even brown color. For red wines, you will observe that it also has different shades of red. The lighter the color of the red wine is, the older it is.

The color of the wine will also indicate the age or the flavor. Try doing a rim test to look at the color of the wine. Just tilt the glass and look at the wine. If it is purplish in color, it indicates that the wine is young. If it is brownish, it means that it is an older wine.

The next step is to smell the wine. Swirl the wine around the glass to expose the wine to the air, position the glass close to your nose and inhale deeply. Swirling also releases the flavor of the wine. You have to remember that the wine may have been in the bottle for six months to many, many years. By swirling the wine, you will release the flavors. It’s like cooking at home where you stir the food in order for you to blend the flavor.

Finally, you now need to taste the wine properly. Don’t gulp the wine down. Just take small sips and roll the wine around your tongue. You have tor remember that there are three steps in actual tasting, which is the first impression, the taste and the aftertaste.

These are the steps in tasting wine. So, the next time you are invited to attend a wine tasting party, you will be able to feel more confident as you will know what to do.

Start a club

A wine tasting organization or a wine tasting club, for that matter, is similar to a book club although, the term of being alike is through wine definitions of a person’s preference. Even so, a wine organization is something that you can organize yourself most especially if you’re that type of person who loves lingering on and sharing the goodness of wine. Gatherings of different people of different status quo are to be expected in a wine club. Some may know so much about multiple wines and some may just want to know more.

What do these people usually do? Well, in general, people involved in a wine club are those that are typically interested in meeting together at a certain period of time, taste a new or old kind of wine, judge it, then discuss how it differs from the other. Clubs regarding wines are definitely enjoyable and at the same time, educational especially if spent with friends. Clubs which focus on tasting wine alone are not similar to that other club of wine dealers that ship in and ship out wines.

If you’re planning to organize a club for wine tasters, here are some tips to be able to prepare you for the predictable and unpredictable even before you recruit friends and familiar strangers into your own-built society. A lot of clubs for tasting wine fall apart because they fail to recognize some of the vital aspects of the game. What do you need?

1. Be informed. One thing that separates one person from the other is the truth of how much one knows about a particular topic. If you are the master regarding wines, then consider your knowledge as a door for people to be encouraged to join your club otherwise read more about wines extensively. Facts about wine like how it is refined, fermented, derived, a bit of history, selling price, etc. Be sure that you, as the organizer, knows more on wine above your members.

2. Intimate relationship. Keeping a small group of people who are readily determined to stick to the organization is better than having several hundreds of undecided and doubtful minds. In numbers, the maximum member one can have is thirty people. Consider the reasons why you should prefer a smaller number of people rather than a big crowd. Some of the reasons why one should stop at a certain number of participants is that you won’t be needing a wide space for meetings or gatherings; the more people you have the more number of bottles you’ll be needing in order to sustain the number. When one says tasting, you regard to it as something that needs intimacy and not just another house party.

3. Purchase a good wine. If you tend to worry about how much it would cost you to buy a wine that’s suitable for everybody’s taste buds, don’t. On an average basis, some of the best wines cost approximately about 25 to 40 dollars every bottle which, you can split the amount among your members. This can be very reasonable in terms of just tasting the drink.

Gathering a number of people for a wine tasting organization is not hard to do. You just have to maintain an idea that will serve your members and feed them with the appropriate amount of satisfaction to stay in the group.

The best wine in the USA

If you live in the United States and you want to experience the world of wine tasting, then you will see that you don’t have to travel to France or Spain to experience wine tasting.

By just going to California, you will be able to get a taste of one of the best wines in the country.

So, just where is this wine country in California that you should go to?

The Napa Valley in California is a well known destination for wine lovers from all over the world. Part of Northern California, you will see that Napa Valley will be able to offer you not just wines, but also great food and great scenery that you and your family will surely enjoy.

Whether you are an expert wine taster or just a beginner in the wine tasting world, Napa Valley will be able to accommodate you.

Napa Valley has excellent soil, excellent weather, grapes, and vinification that makes this particular part of California one of the best wineries in the world. Here, you will be able to taste one of the best wines that the world has to offer.

Napa Valley wine tasting tours are complete with knowledgeable guides that will be able to set up entertainment according to your preferences. They will also be able to set up interesting classes, such as blending seminars, and everything about wine and food.

So, you just won’t taste great wines when you visit Napa Valley, but you will also be able to learn a thing or two about wines. In fact, after you visit Napa Valley for a wine tasting holiday, you will leave with an immense knowledge and experience about food and wine. Indeed, the Napa Valley wine tasting tours will be able to offer you a one of a kind experience that no other vineyards in the world can give.

Here, you will not just taste wines, but also learn a lot about it as well.

Napa Valley has large Estate Cellars, smaller wineries and even boutique wineries owned by families living in Napa Valley. Most of these wineries are hidden from public view which is why it is recommended that you should hire a guide. They are knowledgeable where the wineries are and they will also be able to point you to where you will find great tasting wines.

Here, you will be able to sample some of the best wines in the world. From Zinfadels, to Chardonnays, to Merlots, to Pinot Noirs, to Cabernet Sauvignon’s, you will see that Napa Valley will be able to offer you everything that you are looking for in a wine. In addition to the famous wine classics, you may even find hidden wines that are just coming out of the scene.

Aside from the wine tasting experience, you will also be able to enjoy some of the best gastronomic delights in this part of California. You have to remember that not only that Napa Valley is known for wines, but it is also known for its creativity and culinary arts.

Whether you want a luxurious wine tasting holiday or a romantic one or even a family oriented one, you can be sure that Napa Valley wine tasting tours will be able to accommodate your needs. Here, you will be able to find everything that you want in food and wine.

Nothing goes together like food and wine, unless it’s food and wine that’s been paired by an expert for maximum taste!

Matchmaking for your palate

Matchmaking for the best food to go with your wine or vice versa is a demand that needs an undivided attention especially if you are hosting a dinner party or a formal event. Food and wine are destined to be together. It’s like marriage that strengthens and enhances the experience of the entire event. It has been quite a demand for whoever is preparing the event to elicit a fine tasting wine and a menu that will go along with it. Matching has been a daunting activity. There had been rumors that stipulate regulations and rules which require adherence for one to obtain the perfect food and wine pair.

First Rule:

There is no such thing as rules, only taste experts. The only thing that separates a good match depends on the people drinking and eating it. Your choice of recipes should not hinder the matches made. What is best is what pleases your preference. It’s a matter of your palate choosing the right kind of wine for the occasion. If your palate doesn’t complement with how the aroma is filled within your nose, then there would be a contradiction.

Second Rule:

Still, rules don’t necessarily exist as what others might portray it. Interactions of flavors are one of the things that should be considered. With it, you have the opportunity to detect 4 flavors which are distinctly effective to stimulate your buds. These flavors are sour, bitter, sweet and salty. Two hundred aromas are deciphered by the nose. Combining the uptakes of your sensory abilities from both your sense of recognizing a taste from recognizing a smell, one can experience a wide array of characteristics of nuances and flavors. As you start to pair your food and wine, you have to remember that food flavor can and will contradict with the wine that you have selected although, there will be, in other occasions that it will complement with the drink.

Third Rule:

Light or heavy dishes should be considered because there is a big difference between steak with potatoes from chicken, salad and stir-fry. Generally, there is a noticeable preference of choosing a heartier food with red wines which are duller-bodied that those delicate wines with the lighter fare. As said, these preferences are all generalizations which compose majority of the masses appeal to how food should be paired. It is not an opinion. Regarding meats, it is much easier to see red wine paired with meat than any other dish.

Other things to be taken into consideration are the moment wherein one looks at the potential of pairing acidity of foods. Foods enhancing acid deposition will work very well with wines that share a certain undertone of acidity. On the other hand, foods that are lean will maintain a good combination to wines that are a drier that the foods they compliment.

No matter how you look at it, matching wine with food can still be a preference one must take into great consideration. Being able to match different types of food from different types of wine is one exciting experience which can be advised to future path-takers.

Components of this matchmaking will enhance the wine tasting strategy of a person. Remember, in every pairing that you do, take note of the effects.