Whether your favorite wine tasting location is closed to the public or you’re just looking for a fun activity to enjoy from home, we’ve made a resource to help you plan the perfect wine tasting experience. Read below to get started.
If you’re looking to create an in-home tasting for members of your household, we have you covered. Follow the step by step instructions below to plan your ideal wine tasting event.
Is this event for a birthday, anniversary, or other celebration? If so, you’ll probably want to plan your theme around the interests of the person or holiday you’re celebrating. Carry out the theme in everything from tasting menu colors, streamer and party decorations, flower arrangements, dress code, and more.
The most important thing to consider when planning your wine tasting party is which wines you’ll want to feature. Try to pick and choose wines according to a specific theme (like Bordeaux-style wine selections or area specific wines.) You’ll also want to make sure you organize the order of your wine tasting so that you taste the lighter wines first and end with the fuller-bodied wines.
Supplies for the wine tasting may include any of the following:
If you’re planning to make food to serve during your tasting event, try to pair your menu with your selected wines. For help, make sure to visit our recommended pairings.
Looking to take your in-home wine tasting event to the next level? Try to build tasting note information or score cards. For examples, make sure to visit our tasting package resources for help when wine tasting from home.
When in doubt on how to taste or score your wine, remember the five “S’s” of tine tasting:
If you or your guests prefer to wine taste via video chat or virtual webinar, make sure to read the ideas below:
A virtual tasting theme is a great way to add a special tuch to our virtual event. Carry our your theme in your:
Set a time and date for your event well in advance (at least two weeks) to give your guests plenty of time to plan and order their wine. Send out a link with the time and date to a video chat room and make sure everyone has access to the chosen platform. Technical issues are the fastest way to ruin a fun wine tasting event, so be sure to trouble-shoot prior to the event.
Order your wine selections far enough in advance that you won’t have to worry about them arriving too late for the virtual tasting. Try to order at least a week in advance, and store the wine somewhere they won’t get too warm prior to the tasting.
If you’re thinking of adding a cooking demonstration or wine pairing to your virtual wine tasting, make sure to match your menu to the right wine pairings. Then share the recipes with your guests well ahead of the event so that they have time to find ingredients.
If you’re planning to rate the wines, host a friendly competition, or add fun and valuable information to your event, try creating information guides and score sheets that match your theme. These can be easily designed and shared by copying winery-provided information and tasting notes or by including a guide on how to taste and take notes for each selection.
When it’s finally time to start tasting wine, consider sharing the following process with your guests. Consider trying to:
Just remember, the most important thing to do during a wine tasting is to enjoy!
Want more information on how to create a tasting experience from your home? If so, make sure to watch our current virtual tasting videos through the link below: