Sipping Soirée: How to Host a Simple Yet Spectacular Wine Tasting

It’s no secret that our passion at EWC is creating truly customised wine storage scenarios that keep your treasured vintages in peak condition. However, we’ve often found that it’s quite easy for the proud owner of a new wine wall or cellar to spend so much time gathering bottles that they momentarily forget that they’re meant to be shared and enjoyed.

Our favourite solution? A fun and easy tasting event that brings together fellow wine enthusiasts and doesn’t require a private jet to Napa Valley.

Here are just a few ideas to consider as you plan your gathering:

Good Glasses – Wines are enticing because of their inviting aromas, textures and flavours, and good wine glasses – ranging from chardonnay and red to champagne flutes – are designed to enhance those components. A quality wine glass is essential to enjoy the aroma and taste experience.

Fantastic Fare – Your incredible wine lineup is now ready to emerge from its perfectly chilled atmosphereand begin impressing your guests, so you’ll want to make sure that the food is also rising to the occasion. You could go all out with a seated meal; however, everything from socialising to post-party cleanup might be much more relaxed if you opt for an array of simple yet delicious appetizers such as:

  • Charcuterie
  • Bruschetta
  • Crudité platter with select dipping sauces
  • An assortment of fine cheeses
  • Caprese salad
  • Olives and assorted nuts

Sommelier Storytime – While it’s nice to educate your guests about the wines they’re enjoying, you don’t want to put them into a collective coma by giving longwinded lectures on soil types and growing conditions. Focus instead upon the brilliant anecdotes about real people and historical locales and cultures that are behind each of your chosen wines. Depending upon how many bottles you plan to open throughout the night, consider presenting them one at a time every 15 to 20 minutes in order to hold the attention of your guests. You can designate friends to be pourers, and while glasses are being filled, take three to five minutes to tell a story about the wine going around the room, then encourage a small Q&A session.

As summer comes to a close and holiday entertaining is still a few months away, now is a great time to think about bringing your dream wine storage scenario to life. We love brainstorming, so give us a call, text or shoot us an email to get the creative ball rolling!