Hosting a Successful Wine Tasting Party: The Basics

Party planning can be a daunting task. There’s the food, the music, the décor… and then what if there is a lull or your guests aren’t mingling like you had hoped? Hosting a wine tasting party is the perfect way to ensure that your guests are entertained and have something to talk about throughout the night. Today, Ashley Pepitone of Camp Makery shares her best tips for hosting a successful wine tasting party!

The Guest List: It’s nice to have a good mix of wine knowledge. Don’t shy away from inviting some friends who are avid wine enthusiasts as well as those who are more on the novice level. Those who know more about the different varietals will be excited to share their knowledge, naturally sparking good conversation!

The Food: Keep it simple but sufficient. Time your party to begin after dinner so guests aren’t expecting a full meal and come with something in their stomachs, but provide a decent sized spread. Stick with finger foods and small plates so that guests are encouraged to mingle and try different flavors with different wines. Cover the gamut of savory to sweet- even if the sweets are just a beautiful tray of truffles. It is fascinating to discover how different wines pair with foods! Stay tuned and I’ll share the perfect stuffed mushroom recipe in a later post!

Hosting a wine tasting party is the perfect way to ensure that your guests are entertained and have something to talk about throughout the night.

The Ambiance: You want to have some music playing in the background, but nothing distracting. I love Spotify for automatic playlists that take care of the thinking for you! I personally like the “Cocktail Party Jazz” station for this type of event. As far as décor, keep the lighting a little lower than usual, but not too dark! You want your guests to be able to see the color of their wines.

The Wine: Of course, the most important component! When serving your wines, the general rule of thumb is to go from white to red, dry to sweet, light to heavy, and young to old and if you’re pouring anything sparkling, save that for the finale. A general example would be as follows:

1. Pinot Grigio
2. Sauvignon Blanc
3. Chardonnay
4. Pinot Noir
5. Merlot
6. Shiraz / Syrah
7. Cabernet Sauvignon
8. Champagne/Sparkling

Keep your pours on the small side so that your guests are able to appreciate each wine fully. Be sure to provide non alcoholic options as well, such as fruit-infused waters to use as palate cleansers and to keep everyone hydrated.