Wine-Tasting Party Ideas
You aren’t someone who drinks boring, run-of-the-will wines. So, why would you plan a ho-hum wine-tasting party?
The best parties keep guests on their toes. You could mix things up by choosing a theme for your wine-tasting party. Or, you can throw in special surprises that keep your guests wondering what will happen next.
If you’re stuck, here are a few tried and true ideas for a unique wine-tasting party.
1.Have Everyone Contribute to the Party Playlist
There’s no denying it: Music makes the party. But, as the host, you have too much on your hands to double as a DJ.
Rather than spinning tracks alone, why not outsource the responsibilities to your guests? With sites like Spotify, you can create playlists that let everyone add their favorite songs. All you need to do is send out a link to a shared playlist and have others drop in the songs of their choice.
A shared playlist isn’t a unique idea for a wine-tasting party. So, if you want to make it fun, set parameters around the song your guests can add. For example, you could require everyone to add at least one song that mentions wine. Someone is bound to add “Red, Red Wine” by UB40, and, as everyone knows, no wine-tasting party playlist is complete without that classic tune.
2.Setup a Wine Pairing Competition
Pairing food and wine is an art. Why not try to figure out who among your guests is the Van Gogh of this delicious style of artistry?
One idea to add a bit of competitive spirit to your wine-tasting party is a competition to see who can make the dish that pairs best with the different wines you serve. It’s simple. Let’s say you plan to serve four different types of wine to eight guests, including yourself. Once you’ve decided on the wines to serve, assign two guests to each wine on the list. These two will compete to see who can craft the best wine and food pairing.
To ensure this wine-tasting party idea isn’t ruined by both competitors accidentally making the same dish, have them share with you what they plan to prepare for the party in advance. Then, guests sample each wine during the party, followed by both pairings. After enjoying the wine and pairings, have your guests fill out a ballot with their preferred dish.
After all the wines have been drunk and the pairings have been eaten, tally up the scores. Those who came up with the best pairing idea in each head-to-head matchup will earn a small prize they can take home after the wine-tasting party. Later in the evening, you can have guests vote on the best overall dish. Naturally, the grand prize is a bottle of wine.
3.Choose an International Theme for Your Wine-Tasting Party
Wine is a worldwide phenomenon. From the south of France to Australia and Argentina, you can find grape-growing regions in every corner of the globe.
This description of wine is worthy of respect. A simple idea for anyone hoping to celebrate how wine transcends borders during their next wine-tasting party is serving wines and foods from a single country.
You could, for example, turn your party into a tour of France by serving wines such as Bordeaux, Burgundy, and Champagne and pair them with French cuisine like Brie, roasted duck, and Coq au Vin. For dessert, you can enjoy macarons and crème brûlée.
Why not take it a step further? You can play popular French jazz throughout the party and have your guests wear clothes from French designers and cologne and perfume from French companies. In no time, this wine-tasting party idea will transport your guests to a quaint cafe in Paris.
4. Ask Each Guest to Bring a “Mystery Bottle” of Wine
Anyone who considers themself passionate about wine will tell you they can name the varietal of wine they are tasting without seeing the label on the bottle. It’s time to put the wine-tasting skills of your guests to the test.
To bring this wine-party tasting idea to life, first, tell your guests to purchase a bottle of wine they have enjoyed. Instruct them to pour the bottle of wine into an unlabeled glass jar or decanter before bringing it to the party. As guests arrive, ask them to arrange the container into which they poured the wine on a table. Now, the fun starts.
Sample each of the mystery wines one by one. After guests try each wine, have them fill out a sheet of paper guessing the varietal. Later, once all of the wines have been sampled and guests have shared their idea of what each varietal is, tally up the number of correct responses from each guest to find the wine-tasting party champion.
If there’s a tie, have the top two contestants guess the price of the last bottle of wine they sample. The person whose guess is closest to the actual price wins, with the prize being a bottle of wine.
5.Send Everyone Home With A Small Gift
An interesting theme is a must-have for any wine-tasting party. But to create a truly memorable party, you must send your guests home with a special gift.
Keep in mind that unique doesn’t necessarily mean big or expensive. A simple treat can do the trick. You could, for instance, send everyone home with a chocolate truffle they can enjoy the next time they have a bold glass of red wine. You could also purchase everyone a gift card to a local winery or a guide to wine varietals from a specific wine region.
No matter what gift you choose, make sure it reminds your guests of the great times they had with good friends and fine wine.
Wine Tasting Parties Start With Lone Point Cellars Wine
Lone Point Cellars is here to make planning for your next wine-tasting party easy. Explore our collection of exceptional Washington state wines and place your first order today!