How to Host a Wine Tasting
A Matter of Taste
With wine, keep in mind that no rules are written in stone. It all comes down to what tastes good to
you. However, there are a few steps you can take to ensure that your friends will get the most out
of their wine tasting experience.
What to Serve
You can sample white wine, red wine, sparkling or a mixture of the three. Sparkling wine is a great
way to start the tasting because it awakens the taste buds. You will want to progress from lighter
to fuller-bodied wines to ensure that one wine doesn’t overpower the flavor of the previous wine.
You can choose a theme such as “Italian Wines” or “French Wines.” Serve wines from different
regions of Italy or France.
How to Serve It
- Glasses- White wine is commonly served in a smaller, slightly curved glass that helps hold
the wine’s chill and accentuates its delicate flavor and aroma. Using large, bowl shaped glasses
helps to heighten the flavor and aroma of red wine.
- Temperature- White wines should be slightly chilled: refrigerate an unopened bottle for 2-3
hours. Reds should be served at a cool room temperature (60-65 degrees). Pour approximately 1 1/2
ounces of wine into your glass.
- Food- For purists, serving unsalted crackers or bread allows guests to cleanse their palate
between sips of wine. Make the evening more festive by serving light appetizers to complement the
wine. With an Italian themed tasting, try serving seasoned olives and Reggiano Parmesan cheese.
How to Taste - A Sensory Experience
Wine tasting involves three senses: sight, smell and taste. Here are some steps in appreciating the
characteristics of wine:
- Lift your glass up to the light or a white background. The wine’s color should be clear and brilliant.
- Next, swirl the wine gently in the glass by holding the stem and keeping the base on the table.
Swirling will mix the wine with the surrounding air and will help release the wine’s bouquet, or
aroma. Then take a good sniff of the wine, inhaling deeply. Try to identify what you smell, such
as fruits or flowers. As a rule, if the wine smells good, it will taste good.
- Take a sip, suck in a little air and roll the wine around in your mouth to pick up all of the
wines nuances. After you’ve swallowed, savor any lingering flavors. Think about whether the wine
tastes dry, semi-dry, sweet or semi-sweet. Does it taste heavy-bodied, light-bodied, or somewhere
in between? Does it taste fruity? By thinking about what flavors or sensations are in the wine,
you can begin to identify the characteristics you prefer.
The important thing is that there are no right or wrong answers. Follow your taste buds.
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