© 2024 Milwaukee Public Media is a service of UW-Milwaukee's College of Letters & Science
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

How to Host a Wonderful Wine Tasting Party

wikicommons

While some will celebrate Valentine’s Day with chocolate and flowers, others might be more tempted to bring a blush to their Valentine’s cheek with wine.

Ray Fister, who runs the wine blog and podcast Life Between the Vines, began throwing his own wine tasting parties when he worked at a restaurant. The employees were able to get bottles of wine for good prices.

Fister suggests throwing a "blind" wine tasting party. To do this, Fister buys liquor bags from the grocery store, puts the bottles of wine in the liquor bags (make sure to number or mark the bags!), and keep a master list tucked away. This creates more fun and conversation throughout the party.

If you are interested in throwing your own wine tasting party, here are four questions to keep in mind:

  1. What is the point of your wine tasting? Are you trying to educate your guests? Have fun? Introduce and broaden horizons?
  2. What else should you have at your party? Fister says that there are few essentials that every wine tasting party needs to have: spit cups, water, markers for glasses, and some nosh, like cheese and crackers.
  3. What kinds of wines do you include? Let your budget help you decide what to include in the taste testing. Also consider whether you would like to have a mixture of wines (red and white) or if you would like to have wines from one brand or one kind.
  4. Are the guests rating or guessing the wine? Fister says you should try both! This creates interesting conversation and debate about which wine it is and whether it is divine or whether you are ready for the next mystery glass.