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Hosting a Wine-Tasting Party
The pleasures of a wine tasting are twofold: first, acquainting
guests with new wines, and second, the participation and enjoyment
of each guest.
Once you've selected a theme, hosting
a wine-tasting party is easier than you would imagine. Choosing
a Theme A tasting's theme can come from a favorite grape variety,
with a sampling of wines from around the world or from various U.S.
wineries. Or you might concentrate on one type of wine, such as
Pinot Noir from the Russian River Valley in Sonoma County California.
And for a celebratory theme, Champagnes and sparkling wines are
incomparable.
After deciding on the theme, ask each
guest to bring one bottle of wine that suits the theme. To be sure
that all the wines fall within a certain quality range, specify
a price range: for example, Zinfandels between $5 and $10 or $12
and $25. If your focus is white wines, be sure to remind guests
to chill their selections beforehand.
Ifthe guest list is small, the entire
group can sit around a table. For larger gatherings, place the opened
bottles on a sideboard and encourage your guests to sample the wines
as they wish. Either way, each participant will need a napkin, pencil
and paper for note taking, a water glass and, of course, plenty
of wineglasses. If it's a sparkling wine or Champagne tasting, stoppers
will be needed to keep the bubbles bubbling once the bottles are
opened.
Your guests won't have to spend time
copying down names of wines, so slip a numbered tag around the neck
of each bottle. They can simply record the numbers of the wines
they like. The wine's names can be matched to the numbers later.
As for food, wine tasting requires the
participants to use their senses to appreciate flavor differences
among the wines, so it's best not to make the task more difficult
by serving complex foods. Simple, mild-flavored canapés, hors d'oeuvres
and finger foods or a selection of great breads and cheeses-work
best. If the wine you're serving is from a particular country or
region, complement it with foods from that area.
As informative as it is enjoyable, a
wine-tasting party is an event that you and your guests will remember
long after the last bottle of wine has been emptied... or let's
hope so!
Get Barefoot and Have
a Great Time!
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