Summertime should always be synonymous with F-U-N! After all, you have almost all the right elements coming together: great weather, enough free time, and loads of opportunities to visit with friends and family. One of the best ways to create great summer memories is holding a home wine tasting party. It doesn’t have to be anything grand or too formal. In fact, the less stuffy you design your wine tasting party; the more enjoyable it will turn out. The trick is just to pay attention to the essential details. Even impromptu wine tasting get-togethers can become really special if you know how to make things work. So here are a couple of terrific ideas to lead you in the right direction!
1. Get the “basics” down pat!
Whether it’s a planned or impromptu, there are always these significant details in a home wine tasting party that you should take into proper consideration. That means you can’t afford to scrimp out on them! First of course are the wines you’ll be serving and the food pairings to go with them. Set a theme, even if it’s a last-minute thing, so that good wine and food pairings can be concocted. You don’t have to stick to the traditional pairings and it’ll be a blast to try something new! But make sure that you also have some “safe” wine and food combinations on-hand for your not-to-adventurous guests.
2. Add in some flavour!
Now that you have the menu all set and ready to go, it’s time to take things up a notch with a few add-ons. Remember that since it is summertime, whatever theme you choose for your wine tasting party should still have that fun, summertime charm. So why not start with your glassware and trot out some funky wineglasses for your guests. Instead of the usual plain crystal pieces, try investing in some personalized wineglasses that are uber unique and would even make great conversation pieces. Hand-painted wineglasses with colorful sprays of flowers or vineyards really spell summer. Or maybe glassware with fun caricatures that your guests can actually identify themselves with. There are loads of these customized wineglasses being sold in stores and they’re not even expensive. If you’re holding your party outdoors, putting up some cute wine tasting tables is a definite must! A wine barrel table will exude an authentic vintage charm that’s perfect for that warm, summer mood. If you’re planning on holding it inside your home or maybe in the patio or a covered lawn, an Oak Wine Table or a Redwood Tasting Table would make a wonderful centrepiece as well.
3. Don’t forget the GAMES!
It’s a party, for crying out loud so it should be all about having good, clean, wine tasting FUN. One of the best ways to create that fun, frolicking, party mood is to break the ice with some nice and easy games. You’ll certainly need this if you’re having guests over for the first time or most of them are not that well-acquainted with each other yet. A blind tasting game is one of the more common games you can play but spice it up a bit by giving out some tiny, cute prizes for those who can guess the wines correctly. Wine charms, wine naps, and other small but adorable items will really get your guests motivated. A guessing game is also a good idea but try to do it in pairs or groups so the guests can form alliances and get to know each other better in the process.
There are still a thousand and more ways to turn up the summer heat and enjoy your home wine tasting affairs to the fullest. So why not set a date with your friends, talk things out, and plan out your next tasting party. Share ideas, take notes, and most important of all, HAVE FUN in thinking up more creative ways to enjoy that next bottle you’re going to pop!
Written by: Cynette Montoya is a wine writer for Wine Cellar Innovations a company that creates custom wine racks for residential homes and commercial wine stores. Their custom wine cellars and wine racks can be found throughout the United States and featured in HGTV, DIY, Robb Report, Wine Spectator, PBS, and more. She loves writing about wood wine projects, cellar art, and more on their wine cellar blog. Find them on Facebook and Twitter and say hi!
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