With warm weather moving in, spring is the perfect time of year to throw a casual wine tasting party at home for you and your friends. Whether you're a novice when it comes to wine or you fancy yourself a sommelier (just without the official training), throwing a wine tasting party is easy — just follow these 12 expert tips.
"My tip is simply to know your audience and to be authentic (you do you!), whether that means uncorking Champagne, or a worthy equivalent like i Clivi Brut Nature 'RBL' (a dry, sparkling wine that I import based on Northeastern Italy's native Ribolla Gialla grape) or Spritz from a can. Feel out what your guests are into and don't go too crazy — just make them feel welcome," says Gemma, the founder of Giannoni Selections.
"Keep it intimate. This encourages conversations and makes it easier for everyone to stay focused on the wines," says Brenna Lofquist from Armstrong Winery. "Taste through a series of similarly styled wines — it's even fun to compare and you can provide paper and pens for guests to take notes. Set out crackers or some other kind of palate cleanser and provide small bites for after the tasting. Or, if you're feeling adventurous, try doing a little extra research to figure out which foods pair with the wines you'll be tasting. And as always, have fun and enjoy!"
"Pick a theme for your wine tasting: Whether it's by region, color, food pairings or even how to make certain wine cocktails, it's great to have a foundation for what brings you all together for the tasting. And too, sometimes it helps to set a budget for finding wines that match your theme," says Laura Demetrious, the community manager at The Palate Club.
"During your wine tasting party, break the ice with your guests by talking about the wine. It helps to learn the lingo, but no need to get pretentious — wine is meant to be approachable, enjoyable and fun. Use the wine tasting to discuss things like tannin, acidity and aroma."
"Spring means fresh and bright, and I love wines that are also fresh and bright," says Allison Levine from Please The Palate. "Whether you have white, rosé or even red wine, remember to chill your wines before drinking them. A glass of chilled red wine is quite refreshing. There is a world of wines to explore and even one grape variety will express itself differently depending on where it is from. Pick one grape variety, such as Sauvignon Blanc, Albariño or Vermentino, and select a few bottles from different regions and producers. Then, open these bottles and see what they might have in common or how they differ."
"For a fun spring wine tasting party, choose wines with a theme," says Anna Maria from Unraveling Wine. "After a long winter, it'll be great to choose wines from warm beachy climates. Imagine being in the Greek islands sipping Assyrtiko or the south of France sipping rosé or even a zippy Zibibbo from Sicily. The best part of planning a wine tasting around a theme is the host can create dishes/appetizers from each location. After all, if it grows together, it goes together."
"Hosting a spring wine tasting can be a lot of fun and your guests get to learn something new about wines," Anna Maria continues. "If your friends are ready to take their wine tasting skills to a new level, sign up for an online wine tasting course and learn a new skill all together under the guidance of a sommelier. Signing up for an online course takes the pressure off the host to plan it."
For your wine tasting party at home, pick up a few bouquets of fresh spring flowers to help set the mood. Feel free to mix and match flower types when you're picking out your bouquets. Not sure what kind of flowers to pick for your spring wine tasting party? Any of these will do:
If you have extra flowers or want to win the "hostess with the mostess" title, gift flowers to your party guests on their way out the door.
"For spring wine tastings at home, have the energy of your wine mimic the energy of your party—and the season! That means lively, fun, flirty wines, like still and sparkling rosés, bubbly whites, light and juicy reds and gluggable oranges," says The Natural Wine Company team. "Offer a grazing table full of little bites like fresh and dried fruits, cheeses, cured meats and crackers — don't shy away from unexpected pairings! Provide all-purpose white wine glasses, and if the weather permits, utilize a rooftop setting for the ultimate wine-themed spring soirée."
Since springtime is perfect rooftop or patio weather, if you can accommodate your wine tasting party outside — do it! If you live in an apartment community, check into utilizing the community lounge or an outdoor fire-pit area for your wine tasting party.
"While the wine is certainly the highlight of your party, having snacks that pair with the wines can make the wine tasting party experience even more fun," says Seattle lifestyle blogger Anna Osgoodby. "For a spring party, consider taking a sweet twist on classic appetizer recipes by using fresh berries. This could include blueberry baked brie, strawberry ricotta bruschetta or a fruit salsa — all options that pair well with white wines or rosés, too!"
"People really struggle with pairing ideas but if you want to really hit it out of the park, just remember this simple rule for your wine tasting party: what grows together, goes together," says Nancy, owner and CEO of couch + cork.
"The best way to pair your lovely whites and rosés, perfect for welcoming spring, is to get some locally crusty bread, goat cheese, high-quality olive oil and your spice and herb collection. For each wine, cut a portion of goat cheese and pour (separately) a few tablespoons of olive oil into a container. Roll the goat cheese in herbs and spices from the region and pop in the fridge overnight. Put a teaspoon of the same herb mix in the olive oil and cover. This is the perfect — and easiest — way to nail your pairings every time!"
"Spring calls to mind wines with acidity. Fresco in Italian literally means 'fresh' which is a word I think of when I am walking in a spring morning, feeling a cool breeze, perhaps smelling damp earth from recent rainfall and seeing flowers and plants coming to life," says Sheila Donohue, founder, CEO and sommelier at Vero. "As a sommelier trained in Italy, we learned to use the word 'fresco' when a wine had just the right amount of acidity to make it refreshing. Hence the tie into wine!"
"Acidity is a necessary element in wine to make it balanced. If a wine does not have acidity, wine experts call it a 'flabby' wine which means it is lacking the structure that is needed to make it balance with the fruit and any natural sugars present. If you taste a wine that does not have acidity, you'll find the aftertaste 'heavy', like drinking syrup. When drinking wine, wine experts will give higher scores to a wine that leaves a mouth feeling 'clean' afterwards. That is the acidity at work!"
Some of Sheila's official recommendations include Albana grape wines, artisanal proseccos from Valdobbiadene, Italy, white wines from the Lugana wine region and Nebbiolo red wines from Northern Piedmont, Italy. Or, if you're looking to serve wines with high acidity, try a Barbera from Aldo Clerico or Schioppettino grape wines from Fiuli, Italy.
"A perfect way to welcome spring is to host a salad bar wine tasting party. Salads are fresh and crisp, just like spring; and the bright colors awaken the senses," says Niambi and Ayanna from 3 Ladies On A Vine. "The possibilities are endless, and guests will have a blast creating their one-of-a-kind salad. The options of lettuce, vegetables, fruits, meats, cheeses, dressings and toppings pair well with a variety of wines. Pair a crisp and citrusy white wine, like a Sauvignon Blanc, for vinaigrette salads. A buttery, oaked Chardonnay will pair nicely with Ranch dressing. Pour a Riesling for a spicy Asian-inspired salad. Grab a fruity red wine with dark fruit notes, like a Pinot Noir, for salads with balsamic dressings. Pick up a food-friendly Rosé that pairs well with most dishes."
"If you're serving special wines, create a menu that shows them in their best light. The most successful pairings are those that enhance and elevate both the wine and the food," says the Jordan Vineyard & Winery. "A simple rule is staying mindful of alcohol levels in the wines you serve. Wines with lower alcohol (less than 14 percent) tend to have brighter acidity, which makes them easier to pair with an array of foods."
Both the 2017 Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon and 2019 Jordan Chardonnay are perfect wines for a spring wine tasting party at home.
Remember, there are no rules when you're hosting your own wine party at home. Do what you want — keep it simple or as fancy as you like. Whatever you do, though, don't forget to clink wine glasses and say "cheers" with your party guests!
Charlsie Niemiec has spent the last 10 years working as a content marketing and social media editor and strategist. With in-house experience ranging from The Elf on the Shelf to CNN to Piedmont Healthcare, Charlsie has freelanced for the last four years with clients ranging from ESPN to the Atlanta Beltline. When she's not copyediting or scrolling on Twitter, she is walking her very scruffy wirehaired terriers mixes Leonard and Biscuit or probably watering one of her 54 houseplants.