Spirited, Bold and Complex -
It’s All About the Wine! (not your relationship status)
Are the expectations for this year’s holiday party a little daunting? Take the pressure off! Here we reveal four simple steps to throwing the perfect wine tasting party – with all robust, never-blah details included.
-----
4 Easy Steps to Throwing an Unforgettable Wine Tasting Party
 1. Decide on the Number of Guests – They say, three’s company, four’s a crowd…but not for this party! We suggest you invite enough people to make it worthwhile (between 6-12) but not so many that your guests feel it’s impersonal.
2. Choose a Theme – Whatever mood you’re trying to create, there’s a wine party theme to match. The options are numerous and include offering selections from a specific geographical region (“The Great Italians,” anyone?), by grape varietal (“All About Reds”), by vintage, wine maker, local flavor, and the list goes on…
3. Get the Supplies – Stocking a few staples ensures guests have a great experience.
- Wine (of course!) – For a tasting, assume that you’ll get 5-10 glasses per bottle (depending on how generous of a pourer you are!)
- Plain bread or crackers – something light to clean the palate between tastings.
- Clear wine glasses – at least one per guest.
- Pitcher of water – to clean out glasses between tastings.
- Dump bucket – to get rid of excess wine before the next pouring.
- Cheap white tablecloth – for assessing the color of the wines. If your guest list is boiling over, consider white napkins as a portable way to achieve the same effect.
- Food for thought. You don’t want your guests feeling too giddy after the first round, so we’ve supplied a chart of some delicious food pairings to serve along with your wine.
- Don’t forget the Newhall Klein Wine Tasting Party Kit, complete with designer bottle wraps, place cards/coasters and score cards. These festive kits are available at the NK Market.
4. The Tasting – Finally, get the party started!
- Experts suggest you begin tasting with the lightest (sparkling wines, roses, then light whites followed by full-bodied whites) and progress to the heaviest (light reds to more full-bodied reds followed by dessert wines). This will keep your taste buds acute, so you can better appreciate each wine in the series. Use scorecards to note color, aroma and favorite flavors. For your next party download the Wine-Tasting Aroma Wheel to add to the fun!
- As wines are being poured, keep an eye on how much goes into each glass. The target amount is about one ounce. This allows for the proper aeration of the wine and enables you to swirl the wine and bring out the aromas – without wearing it!
Now that you know how to throw your own wine tasting fête, don’t forget to enter for your chance to win an NK Wine Tasting Party Kit!
See all news... |
