Attending the best wine testing events in Melbourne is a fun way to spend free time, but what if you’re too tired or unable to attend one that’s further afield? Why not consider hosting your own wine tasting party at home? It’s a fun and interesting way for friends and family to enjoy themselves, learn new things, and simply share a good time!

If you’ve never hosted such a party before, here are a few useful tips to get you started!

Tip 1: Select a Theme

A wine tasting event of any kind is not an excuse to drink as many random wines as possible and get totally drunk. Even if wine tasting is just a kind of side event to a wider party you are having, you should try and theme it somehow. For example, you could theme the wines by origin, with all the wines being Victorian or from South Australia.

Other theme ideas include different price brackets, grape type, vintage, or style such as dessert wines or rich red wines to enjoy with a nice steak. There are many possibilities, but choosing an interesting theme will help make the party more appealing.

Tip 2: Get the Right Supplies

Obviously, you’ll need to be sure that you have enough glassware for everyone in attendance. Everyone will need at least one glass, but having 2 glasses per person is better since it will allow them to try 2 separate wines simultaneously and really compare them from fresh glasses. One further tip for your glassware is always to use sharp, clear glasses placed on white backgrounds. This allows the best vantage point from which to compare colour.

You’ll also need spit buckets to allow those who want to eject unwanted wine to do so. A nice addition to the supply list is some little notebooks and pens --- these would make nice gifts --- to allow guests to make notes on wines they taste and on which ones they might be interested in purchasing for themselves later on after they leave.

Tip 3: Offer Food

Wine tasting doesn’t require an entire meal, but offering some simple items to use as palate cleansers, and some more luxurious items to just complement the occasion is always nice. Simple palate cleansers include plain bread or crackers. It’s important not to use anything too flavoursome or characteristic as a palate cleanser. If it’s a hot day, you could use sorbet, too, but it can numb the mouth if over consumed.

On the more luxurious side, think about cheeses, olives, fruits like cherries or strawberries, and perhaps some simple fresh rustic finger food like Italian bruschetta. The keywords should always be fresh, rustic, and tasty.

Tip 4: Other Aromas are the Enemy

To give your guests the best-possible experience, you want the only thing they taste or smell to be the wines that you have on offer. Therefore, remind your guests not to wear perfumes or strong-smelling lotions that will create other smells around them and compete with the wine smells. In your own home, don’t use scented candles or place aromatic flowers about the place. Choose a spot that will ensure the wine is the “star” of the aroma and taste in that area.

Tip 5: Research Temperature and Consider an Order

The order we suggest below might not always work if you have a very specific theme, but you can use it as a reference. Do some research to find what temperature each wine serves best at and endeavor to achieve the right temperature before serving. When starting, begin with sparkling wines if they are on your list. Follow the bubbles with light white wines, followed by richer whites, then rose wines, light reds, rich reds, and finally dessert wine.

Knowing this, you should be able to build a workable list whatever theme you are using. Finally, don’t forget to have fun and don’t take it all too seriously!