For those of us who enjoy socializing over a glass or two of wine, hosting a wine tasting can be a great way to discover new wines and stimulate great conversation.
Checklist:
Amount of Wine Needed First of all, it is important to know how many people you are inviting to the event, thus ensuring you have the right number of wines, glasses and an appropriate amount of food. Ideally, you should offer a few different wines with a 2oz pour in each glass for sampling. A standard 750ml bottle holds 25oz of wine.
Glassware In order to properly "nose" (smell) and taste each wine, it is recommended that you have a separate glass for each wine that you sample; if you taste 5 different types of wines, each person should have 5 different glasses. There are many places where you can rent glasses for a party and return the unwashed glasses after the event.
Themes A theme can make the tasting even more interesting. Some theme suggestions are:
- White Wine only: Regions – South Australia, Ontario or California - New World vs. Old World: Varietal – Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, etc - Wine & Cheese pairings - Bubbly or Bring Your Fave
Suggested Tools - Tasting notes - a short description of each wine can be very useful – these can easily be acquired from wineries' websites, other internet resources, or your friendly neighborhood Wine Merchant (Kenaston Wine Market, of course!). If you are conducting a sit-down tasting, notes can be placed at each guest's place setting. - Tasting Sheets - Guests often wish to take their own notes when evaluating wine at a wine tasting. Download and print a copy of a Wine Evaluation Sheet to use. - Food – Fresh baguette cubes or slices are useful for cleansing the palate in-between wines, and any other food can be served to match the wines or the theme of your tasting. Need help pairing wine and food? KWM's friendly staff will be happy to help you with your menu. - A Wine Educator - Need help with your event? KWM has a number of wine educators on staff who can be employed to speak about wines and wine tasting at outside events. Our educators can help you select a theme that works for your guests and fits your budget.
Useful Items -Waste Buckets -Pens or Pencils -Corkscrews -Water and Water Glasses -Ice Bucket and Ice for Whites and Sparkling -Local Cab Companies' Phone Numbers
How to Taste Wine 1. Look at the wine - Hold the wine up to a white background, i.e., a piece of paper or a white tablecloth. Evaluate the colour – is it pale or bold, straw, golden, ruby or purple, for example? 2. Smell the wine - Lightly swirl the wine in the glass before smelling – this will cause air to oxygenate and open up the wine's aromatics. Does the aroma or "nose" have fruit, or spice, herbal or earthy elements? Or something completely different? 3. Taste the wine - Sip a small amount and make sure it covers all of your tongue. What are the flavours you find? Is the wine heavy and bold on the tongue, or is it light? Consume or spit out the wine into the provided waste bucket. What flavours linger on the tongue? Does the wine stay on your palate for a long time and have a long finish? What are your overall impressions?
A Reminder Drinking and Driving – remind your guests to be responsible and find alternate transportation home from the event. This can include (but is not limited to) a designated driver, taxi, bus, or walking.
Most Importantly A Wine Tasting is educational, but it should also be fun. There is really no "wrong" way to taste wine. While some of your observations may be similar to others', you may prefer different wines than your tasting-colleagues - vive la difference! Don't take the process too seriously and you'll come away with much more knowledge and plenty of great memories.
