Have a cooler or plenty of space in your refrigerator to keep the wine chilled.
Quality wine can be the heart of an event, but knowing put on a successful evening surrounding wine is the key to a memorable soiree. Wine tastings or wine parties can be set up for several reasons, either social or commercial. Wine events often draw a diverse crowd that typically includes knowledgeable aficionados who can take a sip and identify the vineyard and year a selection is from to novice drinkers who know their whites from their reds but not much else. A successful wine event is an enjoyable experience for people who fit both descriptions and everyone in between. Add this to my Recipe Box.
Instructions
1. Plan the goal of your wine event. For a social event the focus can be on the wine, food and engaging company. For a fundraising event or to introduce consumers to wine you're selling, the focus is on both the social aspect and the financial component.
2. Select the location. A commercial event may be held in a restaurant or bar that's looking to build customer attendance on a certain night or attract a new crowd of customers. Those places might work well for a fundraiser or social wine event as well, but so could a private club, art gallery, or someone's home. Pick a location that accommodates the number of guests you want to attend. A crowded wine event will not be comfortable for guests or be successful.
3. Send invitations. Plan on between 10 and 25 percent of the people you invite not being able to attend. Request an RSVP by a certain date on the invitations so you have a firm number of attendees.
4. Create the wine tasting list. Select at least six quality wines, but not more than eight. Have a range of wines from white, light reds, heavier reds to dessert wines. Select a theme if desired. For instance, pick wines from one specific region or make only local selections.
5. Plan a menu to accompany the wine. Instead of providing a full meal, arrange a selection of complementary foods in tasting-size portions. Use foods from the same region the wine is from or hors d'oeuvres that match the tastes of the wines.
6. Gather the needed items for each guest. There should be one glass per each type of wine for every guest. So for 10 guests for a six-flavor wine event, you need 60 glasses. A clean glass must be used for every new wine. They can be smaller or even plastic disposable wine glasses, but real glasses are a more elegant selection. Have a corkscrew handy to open the wines. Provide plates and utensils if food is being provided.
7. Prepare a packet for each guest with information on the wine, the food selection that will accompany it, the history of the region or winery and tips on tasting. An aroma and flavor chart is helpful, as well as instructions on swirl the wine.
8. Enhance the atmosphere with light recorded or live music. Set the music in the background and make it appropriate for the type of event you're having. Be sure it doesn't overpower the event or keep people from conversing.
9. Have a wine expert on hand to answer questions, especially if the wine is for sale. A representative from a winery can give detailed, firsthand information on the wines being tasted.
10. Provide time for fundraising if this is the reason for the event. Also allow time for conversation if the event is social. Do not let the fundraising lag or take up too much time, or allow the social aspects of the event to make the guests forget about the wine. Maintain a comfortable, steady pace that is relaxed and not rushed.
11. Provide note cards for guests to rate their selections or make personal notes on the wines in the case they want to purchase them.
Tags: wine event, each guest, event social, wine event, wine food, wines from