The Gift Exchange

A wine tasting event is a great party activity and an ideal way for friends and family to experience new varietals and expand their wine knowledge. Here are some pointers for hosting an easy and successful home tasting:

-Ask party attendants to bring wine gifts and also a set of wine glasses if you do not have enough in your collection.

-Decide which type of wine tasting you would like to host. Vertical wine tasting is conducted by tasting different vintages of the same varietal from the same winery. Horizontal tasting involves sampling wines from the same vintage but from different wineries. The most fun tasting method for parties, however, is often blind taste testing as it challenges people’s perceptions and sensory capabilities.

-Display wines on a table with a white table clothe and candles or Old World decorations for a dramatic effect. Be sure to provide a pitcher of water for rinsing glasses and palettes between wines. A dump bucket for discarding wine should also be provided.

-Tasting order is very important. Typically, you will want to start with dry to sweet wines and progress to red wines. Have your guests assess wine for clarity, character, complexity, expressiveness, and varietal characteristics.

-Demonstrate and explain the five steps of wine tasting before beginning: See, Swirl, Sniff, Sip, and Savor.

-Provide guests with a pen and paper, and have them take notes and rate each wine. Compare ratings at the end of the party.

-Provide appetizers, gourmet foods, bread, and snacks. An easy way to provide a wide variety of appropriate foods is to purchase one of our luxury wine gift baskets, which already contains well-regarded wines and thoughtfully paired food choices. You simply cannot go wrong with The Napa Experience Wine Gift Basket, for instance.

Have fun and be sure to tell us of your successes!

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