The Fall season…days are getting longer, the evenings cooler… the grape harvest season is upon us. Celebrate the harvest by hosting a wine tasting! What an ideal way to get friends and family together to learn about wine and experiment with new or unusual varieties.
* Mix it up – Feature a bunch of different wines in all kinds of price categories from SUPER cheap Two Buck Chuck to crazy expensive. See if your guests really can tell the difference. Make SURE to disguise the labels.
* Create a Wine IQ test – Pick four kinds of wines, all different: a Shiraz, Merlot, Cabernet, etc. and cover the bottles. Then see if the guests can actually tell you which one is the Shiraz and which is the Merlot – you’ll be surprised!
* Make it a potluck – Have your guests bring their favorite wine and the perfect accompanying dish. Be sure to give suggestions of what goes well together. Try serving chilled shrimp, vegetables with light, creamy dips, and mild cheeses with Chardonnay or Bordeaux whites. For a heavy red such as Cabernet or Merlot, try hearty beef appetizers and strong cheeses. Asian foods will compliment fruity white wines such as Riesling or Gewurztraminer. Pinot Noir is enhanced with game, dark poultry, and smoked meats.
* Take it away – A wonderful way to set the tone for the evening is to greet each guest with their own wine glass engraved with their name and the date of the party. They’ll love using it throughout the evening and it makes a wonderful take-away from the event. Your guests will remember how much fun they had each time they use it.
* Reuse your wine bottles – Don’t throw away the wine bottles! Reuse them as vases to put flowers in for decoration to use on a cocktail table or buffet. You can also use them as a candle stick holder. The wax will melt down the bottle, creating an edgy, vintage-looking piece.
Leave a Reply