With our country going through an economic crisis, what better way to forget about our problems for an evening, then by hosting a wine tasting party?  It is also a great way to share your favorites and introduce new varieties.
Here you will find some wine tasting party tips that can help your party go smoothly and efficiently.

The first step in planning a wine tasting party is to decide what type of tasting party you want to host. Some suggestions might be: The Vertical Wine Tasting, The Horizontal Wine Tasting, Wine and Cheese Tasting, Wine and Chocolate Tasting, Old World vs. New World Tasting, Price Point Wine Tasting, or the “Big Eight” Wine Tasting, a Regional Wine selection, just to name a few. Once you have your theme planned, make out your guest list (6-12 guests is ideal) and send out invitations at least two weeks in advance.

You should select approximately 6 wines revolving around your theme and make tasting cards for each wine. This card should include the type of wine, the producing vineyard, the year, and a brief description of the wine. Each guest should have a tasting card on which they can make notes about the appearance, aroma, flavor, and pairings of each wine. Typically, you will want to start the tasting with dry white wines or light red wines and progress to sweet white wines or full-bodied red wines. Start with younger wines and move on to more mature wines by the end of the tasting.

To make things more interesting, you could try a “blind tasting” party. Each bottle is covered with foil or a brown bag. Guests who identify the wine correctly receive a prize, such as a great bottle of wine or a book about wine tasting.

The decorations used for a wine tasting party can go along with your theme. For example, an Old World vs. New World party could incorporate Old World décor–candles, artwork, vintage bottles, etc. throughout the room. A bowl of grapes is naturally a must. You will need a white tablecloth and some linen cocktail napkins. It is also a good idea to have some light appetizers, bread for cleansing the palate in between wines, and a dump bucket on hand. Too much wine on an empty stomach can make someone dizzy, so choose finger foods that pair nicely with your wine selections. Bread or crackers are great for cleansing the palate in between each tasting.

The general rule of thumb is to allow 2 ounces per person for each glass of wine. There should be a wine glass for every guest and a pitcher of water for rinsing the glasses between each bottle.

I hope that these wine tasting party tips will inspire you to be creative and have an enjoyable evening with friends. Wine drinking is not just for the stuffy elite, it is for everyone. Prepare to be blown away by how much fun you and your friends will have together.

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