Hosting your wine-tasting party is a great way to get together with friends and enjoy a few bottles of wine. You might not be a sommelier, but that’s okay.

You can host an enjoyable party for everyone, whether your friends are wine-club members or newbies who want to explore California. Here are some tips and guidelines to help you plan your first party, in-person or virtually.

Make sure you keep your gathering small to choose the right spot.

Many COVID-19 restrictions do not address the need for a great wine-tasting event. To avoid a spoiled event, make sure you adhere to CDC guidelines.

If you are hosting an in-person event, ensure enough ventilation and space for social interaction. If you are hosting this event in the summer, these requirements should be easily met. Rental facilities might be more difficult to find if you are hosting the event in the winter months. This could mean that there is a smaller guest list.

It’s also a great choice to be in your own home.

There are many other reasons to have an exclusive guest list. Groups of 10-12 people are likelier to break up into smaller groups during the event. This is a good rule of thumb that allows you to limit your party spending by dividing a 24-ounce wine bottle into 12 2-ounce tasting portions.

A full glass of wine is expensive, and guests might stay the night if they drink more than one glass.

Wine tasting party ideas:

Your imagination is the limit of your options when it comes to themes. There are many ideas for wine-tasting parties that others have suggested. These are some ways to make your red wine display memorable.

• You can taste horizontally. Choose wines from different years, but not necessarily from the same region. To see how climates and winemaking traditions affect the drink’s character, compare cabernet sauvignons from other vineyards or pinot Noir from different regions.
• Taste vertically. This is when you compare the same wine from different years. This can be done with chardonnay and sauvignon blanc.
• Taste by area. You don’t need to know the year or “vintage” because you are experimenting with wines from different countries or areas. To enjoy the aromas of wine from France, Italy or Napa Valley and get a broad overview, you can try various wines.
• Explore the spectrum. Red wine, roses, white wines, sweet to dry.
• Blind tasting. Cover the label or place the wine in a bag. You can see the brand and price tag to determine if older wines are more easily identified. No matter how old the wine may be, good wine is still good.

Send invitations

Invitations are essential if you plan to invite people to your wine-tasting party. You can send invitations by email, Facebook, or mail two to three weeks ahead of time. You can ask your guests to RSVP to know how many food and drinks you will need. This will allow you to plan for additional items such as table decorations or artful paper bags.

Choose wine pairings and food combinations.

Pairing wine with food allows you to explore the subtleties of flavour interactions. Pair wines with small dishes, or offer appetizers and hors-d’oeuvres to break up the tastings.

This will ensure that your guests don’t drink on empty stomachs. Wine connoisseurs often recommend that wine be tasted before being eaten to preserve the wine’s residual flavours.

You may have heard of matching wine and cheese or even wine with a meal. You can also pair riesling with brunch dishes or with a couple of wines with chips, popcorn, or Girl Scout cookies.

Adding a second tasting can make your wine tasting party into a dinner party.

Decide what suits you best by reading up on some great Wine and food pairing ideas.

Make sure to stock up on supplies always to have what you need.

After calculating the amount of wine and food you will need, it is time to get the goods.

You don’t have to go to the store to buy some items. But you can save your stress and have it delivered.