Confession. I am not a wine drinker. Or a beer drinker. I guess I don't have a developed palate. Or perhaps it is just that I haven't given wine a chance. Perhaps there is one out there that will not make me make a face after I sip and swirl and swallow. Big Daddy's grandmother once gave me a piece of advice, make everything a celebration. So....why not host a wine party? I have plenty of friends who are win-o's. Ok, Wine Connoisseurs. It should make for a fun evening. I consulted Epicurious for suggestions on hosting a wine tasting party.
"While you might think of wine tastings as things that take place at four-star restaurants and fancy wine shops, there are many compelling reasons to host a tasting in the comfort of your own home. With just a little planning and shopping, a wine tasting can be fun, easy, and affordable.
For advice on hosting an at-home wine tasting we spoke to Dina Cheney, a professional tasting host and author of Tasting Club. Cheney explains that compared to a cocktail or dinner party, a tasting requires significantly less planning, prep, shopping, or cleanup, leaving you more time to enjoy your friends—and the wine. Plus, with so many bargain bottles on the market, a wine tasting can be surprisingly wallet-friendly.
Cheney's at-home wine-tasting plan covers everything: scheduling the event, choosing a theme, shopping for bottles, and leading the tasting. She also shares her expertise on finding a good local wine merchant, choosing recipes (if you opt to serve food), and setting up your party space. And, if you really enjoy hosting tastings, consider forming a wine-tasting club or experimenting with different kinds of tastings—chocolate, cheese, honey, beer, and tea are perfect for tasting parties
Read More http://www.epicurious.com/articlesguides/entertaining/partiesevents/winetasting#ixzz0wANoRdyL
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8 comments:
Sounds like a fun party. I am not much of a wine drinker either, however the party sounds like fun. Great advice. Hugs, Marty
What a good idea! I'm not much of a wine drinker either.....white zin in the only one I'll even sip.
Well, J and I are a couple of wino's. Yes we are. We didn't discover this love of wine until we were in our late 40's. When my mother was still living we took many drives deep into the Missouri Ozarks to visit. Along our rte was St James Winery. They have a serve yourself wine sample/tasting table. You can circle that table as many times as you wish. They also serve cheese and crackers and other things to sample. That is when we grew to appreciate wine. J likes sweet wines and I like semi sweet or dry wines. We have wine about once a week with a meal and in winter more often.
The poster of American Gothic, in our kitchen, is actually an old (retired) label from St James Country Wines.
We would have thoroughly enjoyed your party.
well, this doesnt sound like fun at all because I do not like wine.
....I crack myself up!!!! -HM
Having a sommelier (wine geek) for a son, and a wine lover for a husband, we have hosted many wine tastings and wine dinners. I love matching foods to wine...even though I don't drink much wine. (My son chides me about this...I have a great "nose" for wine.) Hosting parties like this are so much fun...
Jane (artfully graced)
I enjoy a glass of wine, but I am definitely not a connoisseur by any means. I have been to wine tasting parties, and wine and cheese parties for social gatherings and celebrations. I have never hosted one myself. However, with all the wealth of info. out there on pairing the right wine with the right food, wide range of cheeses, appetizers, etc., you could easily pull it off. Yes - It could get pricey - depending on number of guests and types of wine you are willing to invest in.
Hi Leigh!
I am not a beer lover, but I do enjoy wine. Not a huge fan, but it's fun.
I noticed one GLARING omission in your party prep -- long surgical tubing ... it works great as flexible straws to put in the bottles, and no glasses to wash afterward. Hee hee hee....
Now you know the kind of parties WE have with our friends.
Cass
PS Just teasing -- the wine tasting party looks fun -- and with so many local wineries now, in almost every part of the ccountry, it would be fun to do the nearby wineries for tastings.
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