Weekender Vol III

You scream, I scream, we all scream for wine tastings!!!

For those of you that know me on a personal level know that I can't go a summer without a little wine tasting. There's something to be said when summer comes around and you're having picnics and outdoor dinner parties that a little adventure with wine is a must. For some of you (location being the key) you can hop in your car and drive an hour to the nearest winery, although for the rest of you, I've devised a fun soiree that you can host anywhere, any time...

I've hosted a few wine tastings over the years and found that having 3 whites and 3 reds are a great way to learn and have fun with your guest. Here are the tools you'll need to have a fun wine tasting soiree :)

6 bottles of wine of your choice (suggested bottles include Pinot Grigio, Savignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Chianti, and Cabernet Savignon) Remember the sky is the limit, so if you have savvy wine drinkers, select varietals that are a little off the beaten path
one wine mat per person
brown paper lunch bags to disguise the wine (much easier than taking off the labels) Number each bag to coincide with the wine from white-red, light body- full body (the wines above are listed in order of body style)
food pairings to include popcorn, bread, apricot jam, chocolate, spiced nuts preferably almonds

When your guests arrive, have the wine mats set-up with 6 empty wine glasses and the food pairings accessible for all of your guests. Be sure to also have water available. For every 10 guests you will need one bottle of wine each (you will be pouring one ounce pours for starters).

Things to look for when wine tasting:
Color- some whites are almost a clear color where others are more golden; reds usually start at a ruby color going into the rich plums
Body- Light body to full body. This is determined by the "legs" on the glass after swirling the wine, aka how quickly the wine drips down the glass.
Aromas- often times I've heard people describe wine smelling like grapes and as accurate as that is, not exactly what we're looking for here. There is a sensory in your brain that is like a light switch that takes a few sniffs and suggestive wording to turn-on. Encourage your guests to say the first thing that comes to mind, you'd be surprised how many others might agree.
Next is the taste, sip a little wine and aerate the wine by making a whistle face and breathing air in. I know this is not the most eloquent means to describe the process, I might consider posting a video feed should there be enough requests.
After everyone has sipped the first wine, allow them to try a sip with the food pairings to see how each item either enhances the wine or why it doesn't work.

Once you've done this process, you can reveal the wines to see which of your guests could guess the proper varietal. As a fun parting gift, I often have extra bottles of wine to give to the guests should they guessed correctly.

I'd love to hear about your wine parties and especially love to see pictures of your sassy soirrees. Remember to drink responsibly and have fun!!