Fabulous Wine Night Ideas
The unique aromas, the complex flavors and finishes on the palate – taking that first sip of wine as you settle into the weekend is unlike any other experience. So, why not share it with friends or family? Wine nights are a fun way to bring everyone together and introduce their taste buds to exquisite new varietals. And they’re quite simple to plan, too! All you’ll need is some incredible wine and a few great ideas to make the get-together memorable. Here are a few fabulous ideas to try.
Craft a Charcuterie Board with Wine
Every wine night needs a charcuterie board! It’s one of our favorite wine night ideas because it’s always a crowd-pleaser and doesn't require much preparation or clean-up. But creating the perfect charcuterie board involves more than arranging meats and cheeses in interesting designs. You must balance the flavors and textures of your wine and prepared bites.
Sparkling Wines & Crisp White Wines - Highly-acidic wines like Riesling and crisp wines like Sauvignon Blanc pair well with soft, creamy cheeses. Try fresh goat cheese or brie. These wines are also balanced by the delicately sweet and salty flavors of prosciutto. Finish your board with complementary additions – pistachios, wildflower honey, crackers, and fruit.
Light- & Medium-Bodied White Wines - Choose semi-firm cheeses and bolder prepared meats with these wines. A few ideas for your wine night board include Gruyere, soppressata, and dijon mustard.
Rosé & Light-Bodied Red Wines - The fresh, berry flavors of light-bodied wines pair wonderfully with salty and nutty cheeses like Machego. Charcuterie boards with these wines may also include prosciutto, figs, and toasted breads/crackers.
Medium- & Full-Bodied Red Wines - Bolder wines can handle bolder flavors, so take full advantage. You can add aged, salty cheeses to these boards – they will balance tannins in red wines. Be sure to finish it off with some flavorful condiments and crackers!
Play the Guess the Price Game
Looking for fun ideas to liven up wine night? Channel your favorite game show host with Guess the Price! The guess the price game involves holding a blind wine tasting with a few different varieties. It’s easy to learn and can be as complex as you’d like. Here’s how it works:
Pick a handful of wines for guests to try. They could all be regional wines like California or Washington wines. Another idea is to compare international and national wines.
Cover the wine labels, so only you know which wine is which.
Pour samples of the wine, and have everyone guess its price. Continue until they’ve tasted and guessed the prices of all wines. They can also rank their favorites for a fun twist!
Reveal the wine prices – and which variety they loved most.
Test Your Knowledge with Wine Trivia
Add a competitive edge to the night by testing everyone’s wine knowledge. This wine night idea is a great way to keep guests engaged and the conversation flowing. Feeling generous? Include a prize for the winner, like a nice bottle of wine or a set of wine glasses.
There are ready-to-play trivia games that include multiple-choice trivia questions with various difficulty levels available for purchase online, but you can also make your own. Just write down your questions on note cards. Use some of these wine night ideas to test their inner sommelier:
1. What is the most widely-planted grape in the world?
A: Cabernet Sauvignon
2. How much wine is in a standard bottle?
A; 750 mL
3. How many bottles of wine are in a barrel?
A: About 300 bottles
4. Which country has the largest area of vineyards?
A: Spain
5. How many varieties of wine grapes are there?
A: Around 10,000!
Play wine trivia directly after your guess the price game and blind wine tasting to keep the fun going, or spread games out across the evening for a balance of small bites and conversation.
Pair Wine with a Chocolate Board
Not interested in serving a charcuterie board with wine? Break from tradition by opting for chocolate instead. These boards have recently become more popular for celebrations thanks to their decadence. Their rich and complex flavors also make them perfect for pairing with wine, especially full-bodied red wines such as Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.
Anything chocolate will do for this sweet treat – not just solid chocolate. You’ll also want to add some fruit for color and flavor balance, like strawberries or raspberries. Other wine night ideas include:
Milk & Dark Chocolate
Assorted Chocolate Truffles
Chocolate-Covered Nuts or Pretzels
Shortbread Cookies – with or without a chocolate coating
Chocolate-Covered Cherries or Strawberries
Assorted Nuts (plain, to balance out the sweetness of the chocolate)
Chocolates have their ideal wine pairings in the same manner as cured meats and cheeses. Generally, milk chocolate goes well with sweeter white whites (think Riesling); dark chocolate pairs with full-bodied reds and red blends; white chocolate works exceptionally well with rosé and sweet dessert wines. Consider your taste preferences and decide which chocolates work best for your board!
Sip & Learn with Wine Bingo
Another one of our fabulous wine night ideas is bingo – with a twist. Wine bingo is pretty much the same as regular bingo, except the bingo board numbers are replaced with wine varietals. The caller directs players to sample the first wine, and the players will try to determine which wine it is based on its aromas, flavors, mouthfeel, and color/appearance. They’ll mark the wine they believe they’ve tasted on their bingo card. This continues until the last wine is sampled. The person that correctly gets bingo wins!
Tip: Like wine trivia, you can make your own wine bingo cards to customize the game to your wines or preferences.
Preparing the Perfect Ideas for Wine Night
One thing that's non-negotiable for wine nights? Serving high-quality wines. They’ll not only pair well with chocolate boards and other bites but elevate your evening. And don’t forget the wine opener!
From charcuterie boards with wine to guess the price game and blind wine tastings, there are plenty of possibilities to make your wine night fabulous. Choose one or a few of these wine night ideas to keep the fun flowing like your wine.