Host a Wine Tasting like a {Pro}

By {Whitney}

Wine.  It's a beautiful and complicated thing!

Regardless of how much we know {or don't know} one thing is for certain, we LOVE to drink it!  Keep that in mind when you're hosting a wine party/tasting.   It can be a little intimidating at first, but with these fool-proof tips you'll be more confident than David Beckham donning his skivvies during a Super Bowl commercial.

1.)  Pick a fun theme such as; Summer Sippers, Around the World, Hearty Winter Reds, Southern French Gems, or Blind Price Comparisons.

2.) Choose wines that are off-the-beaten-path!  There is so much information at our finger tips that with just 5 minutes of internet research, you will already know more than 90% of your friends.  There is no excuse to pick a boring Cab or Chard that you've had a million times because it's "safe."
One of my favorite go-to wine info sites is www.winefolly.com

•  Search for obscure grape varieties such as; Bonarda, Aglianico, Cinsault, Picpoul Blanc, Grenache Blanc

OR

•  Search for obscure wine regions such as; Loire Valley in France, Casablanca Valley in Chile, or Priorat in Spain.

3.)  A typical 750mL bottle is approx. 24 oz.  In a restaurant, a pour is usually 5oz.  If you're doing a "tasting" of a about six different wines, I would suggest 2 oz pours.  (That is 12 pours/bottle and a half a bottle per person)

4.)  Keep the glassware the same.  No need for fancy shapes and sizes.  Less complicated for the host…the better!

5.)  Say you're doing 3 whites and 3 reds.  It is only necessary to have 3 different glasses per person.  You can start with the whites and then pour the reds in the same glass.  Whatever you do, DON'T rinse them with water!   It waters your wine down significantly and can lower the alcohol content by almost 6%. No Thanks!

6.)  Always taste from dry - sweet.  If you drink sweet first, it will make a dry wine taste unpalatable!  Bitter and yucky.

7.) Quick Tasting Tips

• Why do you swirl?  To coat the glass with the wine and release the aroma.  
• What are legs?  Legs just indicate how viscous the wine is (alcohol and sugar levels.)  This does not indicate quality level at all. It merely gives you hints as to grape variety, and climate in which the wine was produced.  Imagine swirling cough syrup in a wine glass…that stuff would take FOREVER to come down the sides, right?  That's because of it's high sugar and alcohol content.
• When you smell the wine, think of being in the grocery store.  Which area of the store are you?  Are you in the produce section?  Citrus fruit, Red fruits?  Are you in the baking spices?  Vanilla, Clove?   Are you in the meat section?  Smoked Meats, Grilled Meats?   This practice will help jog your memory of aromas you are already very familiar with but may not be able to easily identify in a wine.
• What do you taste?  Is it acidic?  Is it tannic (i.e. does it leave an dry, astringent taste in your mouth.)  

8.) Whatever you do….have FUN and don't take it too seriously!

Cheers,
Whitney